Variety (August 1925)

VARIETY'S LONDON OFFICE 8 St Martin** Place» Trafalgar Sqaar« FOREIGN CABLE ADDRESS, VARIETY. LONDON 2096^199 Refmit Wtdnesday, August 12, 198i^j AUSTRALIA Sydney,. July IS. The midwinter season la now in full swing, with a majority of the bouses doing: big business.. The out- standing hit of the season has been •cored by Pauline Frederick In "^rlng Cleaning" at the Criterion, under 'WiUiamsott-Talt manage- ment. The press were unanimous In saying that Mlas Frederick made a personal triumph, but were dl- Tldjed In their opinion regarding the play. A big boost was given the attraction when a Sydney minister attacked it from the pulpit. Miss Frederick is supported by a bril- liant oast, including June Blvldge, Mayne Lynton, Qeorge Benaud, Thelma Buness, Nancye Stewart, Aose Dlano and John Bedouin. Wllliamson-Tait have given the piece a great mounting. George D. Parker produced. "Cappy Ricks" Is doing nicely at the Palace under the joint manage^ ment of Philip Lynton, Carroll and Wllllaineon-Talt. Business is of a payable nature because of the small expense in production and salary list. Ward Lyons as Cappy Is a And. The supporting cast is weak. Lyons has been engaged by Peter B. Kyne to play the role in London. . Fuller-Ward have a hit in "LltUe Jessie James" at the Opera House. Dorothy Brunton scored, but lacks a slni^ng voice. Harry Angers, principal comedian, got across, but Bscott, from London, failed to Im- press.. Leslie Pearce Is a corking juvenile, while the McLeans hit with clever dancing. The show carries an excellent chorus. A Jaxs band under the capable hand of Hamil- ton Webber takes the place of an orchestra. The boys work well, out lack dresalng. ^ WUIiamsoB-Tait produced for the first time here "The Street Singer" wtth Gladys Moncrleff. Miss Mon- crieff was outstanding with a bril- liant voice. Claude Fleming was Uie best of the men, witb the ex- ception of Arthur Btlgant. Noel Leyland disappointed as leading man. Cast ineludea Willie Payne, Leslie Btolland, Beryl Walkely and Jack Ralston A Mouthful London, Aug. t. After a first night at a legit theatre recently the manager went backstage and complained to a member of the company that he was quite unintelligible. The actor was exceedingly sorry, but explained be was trying out « n«w set U false teeth. London revue, "Snap," at the Pal- ace with poor results. The TivoU is presenting a strong bill this week. Harry Green is play- ing "The Cherry. Tree" to a real hit Others Include Iris and Phyl- lis, Brn Hastings, Zoronda La Belle, Fred Bluett. Nora, Jan and Carl, Keith Desmond. Aldor Trio. Playing the Bijou are Charles- ton's Jasx Band, Victor Burke, Clivc Wallace, Foys, Huley and Bent, and George Wallace Revue. Notes PauUne Frederick's next produc- tion will be "The Lady" for Wll- llamson-Talt at the Criterion. George Parker wiU stage. Sir Harry Lauder will do a brief season in each ot the princtn.o cities at Australia prior to his re- tirement from the stage. WritM Kreisler, famous violinist, has made a tremendous sueeem hn this country. FuIIwr's Tbeatrea. Ltd., have sold the old Princess;, small-time vaude- ville house of this city, for |S6o.OOO. The old house Is to be demolished and a modern department store erected. FRANK VAN HOVEN Do you ever get tired talking about Frank Van Hoven. Yes, some- ttanes I do but If I ever get too tired to talk about Frank Van Hoven then Frank Van Hoven will starve to death and Frank Van Hoven does not believe in starvation. Frank Elgotlstlcal Van Hoven P. 8. This week, Hennepin, Min- neapolis. This is postscript to other mes- sage well anyway goodnlghtr I am hopping into bed at Tom Jardine's oabln where two years ago this month I won the tin cup champion- ship stander of pain of the world from Joe Towie. The tin oup Is a bit rusty and bant sUU bangs on the wall and in a way Its funny and In other ways it brings back more tears than one. PRANK VAN HOVEN DIraotion, EDW. 8. KELLER ''Easier to Read Mr. AtkiiMon Than Contradict Him,'' Says Ashton Stevens "^^■-^j^^s;. The new musicians* preliminary award has been Issued from the Ar- bitration Court, Melbourne. Musicians in general theatrical I work are to get about $25 a per- formance, picture show musicians about $10, elreus musicians around |l.(0. Rehearsals are to be paid son-Talt ' Sir Harry Lauder eame Into the Itoyat for a three weeks' season un- der the manairement of Carroll and WIlllamson-TaH. Business was very good - and should continue so throughout the brief season. Sir Harry takes up the entire'second half and scored his usual big success. His company Includes Bd Gray, juggler; Navarre, atngev; Hilo Duo, Hawaiian act; W. y. lM>hinson, paper tearer, and vCSame and Kellaway, dancers. for under certain conditions. His Honor refused to allow a claim for annual holiday pay or ex- | Peggy ComeD. tra money when a performance was broadcast. AMERKAMS ABROAD Paris. Aug. S. Ib Paris kMt week: Grace Clarke, Krueet Ataxander (Journalist); Irma Kraft; Arthur Somers Roche (writwr): William OrilDth. Baall Sydney, Ollda Gray and husband. Oil Boag; John 8. Robertson and wife, Josephine LoTett: 8. Elliott aaa Charles Smith <Aasoctated Press): Thomas Meighan. Charlotte Oreenwood, Florenxe Zlegfeld, with wife (Blllle Burke) and daughter; Chicago, Aug. 11. AabtoB Stevens, In his column In tha *«eraM>-Bxamtner" fk>lIowlng the arrival of Variety here last week containing the second letter from O. A. Atkinson on American Alms and people, again commented, aa Mr. Stevens bad done upon Mr. Atkinson's first letter to Variety: a. A. Atkinson answers his own Question more bitingly than we answered it for him when this British film critic recently asked us, through Variety, whether the American photoplay^ with Its extravagance, drinking and con- tempt for marriage, is represen- tative of American life. Mr. At- kinson is a queer bird in the modern aviary, a wit and a mor- alist teo. And how be can write! • • • ■• ^s?. -■ QuofUng WiU Hays. '^ air« going to sell America to the world with American motion pic- tures," Mr. Atkinson piUlessly comments: "American pictures have been sold, but America has not been sold, except in the cyn- ical sense." And he goes on to say that there is a world-con- tempt for the film that reacts on every one connected with the business, critics included. 'Xtur' profession," declared England's fbremost cinema erltlo, "to a matter of derision, not alone to t highbrows and faddists, but to ordinary commonsensioal people " • • # "Talk of art in connection wltli films," says Mr. Atkinson, "and you provoke the gibe, 'Art whor* Tet he feels that cinematography to aa art, potenttolly a great art. Only "socially eonsldered. It to an ooteaat." And he advises us to throw Into the Paolfi. "the artificial growth of box offloe conventions that I have called the American soctol photoplay" • • • • '♦» Mr. Atkinson tells us to give up apelng Europe and show our- no selves as we really are. Tou Li are," he says, patting us on the back with the left hand whUe he makes ready to swing the right, "the most genuine people in the world, and we love you when yon are genuine. It is then that we. i feel blood is really thicker thanM /. your legal drink." And he of- Im fers, "in all humility," this fllm- produclnc formula: "When you are satisfied that you have made your photoplay safe for democ- racy, why Bet consider what amendments you can reasonably Introduce to make It safe for aristocra<77" And, mueh as I love argument and my country His of thee, I find It easier to read Mr. At- kinson than contradict him. *^ Tlvoll is doing good business with -Royal Squadron Syncopators and Wish Wynne featured. The band scored a Mg hit. Win Quintrell, leader of the house tfrol^tra. cames Ibn to the stage and'eonducts. Miss i^Wynne got over alcihr with several v.character songs. Eddie and Edna, ^acrobats, pleased. Scott Saunders, .i, songs, over; Romany Trio, musical, rather amateurish; Hoker and Sew- ard, dancers, hit; Lecardo Bros., acrobats, scored with comedy; Maxim Brodi, songs, over. Milton Hayes, billed as "The King's Jester," to the featured a6t next week. LONDON NOTES A sudden cold snap has bucked business up considerably. Monday matinee showed capacity at tht Col- iseum, where Diaghiloff to finishing his long season of Russian ballet. Strangely enough "Les Matelote," the ballet which the company broke Its season to produce In Paris, ap- pears to have been the least unsuc- cessful of the repertoire, although one of the moat enjoyable from the standpoint of a noruMl audience. Fullers are doing jrreat business with "Veterans of Variety," com- pany of five old-time stars, Includ- V. ing Jake Freedman, George Camp- bell, Arthur Slater, Lily Berand and . yio Hinton. Bill includes Victoria p and Frank, athletics; Henie French: '^ Mick Morton, songs and talk; Tay- lor and Summers, and Mllner and Story. Show genuine entertainment. "The Ten Commandments." at the Prince Edward, now in the last three weeks, is second only to New York run of the feature. "Olrl Shy" is at the Crystal Pal- iVce, under Union iTheatres* direc- tion. .*f- MeliMurne "Rid Boots" is at His Majesty's for a run after a good season in Syd- ney. The show is under Wllllam- •on-Tait management. Puller-Ward has quite a hit with •No, N. Nanette" at the Princess. Hugh Ward personally supervised the production. Thurston Hall will appear next Week at the King's In "The Broken TVIng" for Wllliamson-Tait. Lee White and Clay Smith are presenting their revue, "Let's Go," to succoM at the Athenaeum. Howett Worster is prrst'ntinR the Tha schoolboy's* classic, "Tom Brown's Schooldays." has been dramatised and will be seen in the West End, with Tom Douglas In the name part. The author is said to be a hitherto unknown. "East Lynne" was revived recent- ly. With Ethel Irving as the mto- gulded Isobel. There may be a boom In these ancient dramatic works. Even "Uncle Tom's Cabin" is threat- ened, and not so long ago a well- produced revival of "Marto Martin, or the Murder In the Red Barn," did well In the suburbs. Yonng Actor Held On BteckmaU Charge London. Aug. 3. A. Wilson, a young actor, recently arrived at Windsor with a show and swiftly put a money getting plan Into execution. The first move was to write a lo- cal gentleman saying it was to his (the gentlemen's) boieflt to fix an appointment with the writer imme- dltely. This was don« and Wilson arrived. Following the formal Creetlngs, Wltoon accused his host of various things not generally discussed and said |B00 wouKI keep his mouth shut This was the cue for the stranger to take the center of the stage and Wilson wept bitterly when he beard the local magistrates de- scribe his get rich quick attempt as blackmail. 'n'he Beggars Opera" finishes its second run at the Lyric, Hammer- smith, early In August. Nigel Play- fair's next production will be "Pris- oners of War." a play recently pro- duced by one of the Sunday evening societies. Edith Craig's production of "Mlran- dolina," at the Barnes, has been postponed owing to the success of Mordaunt Sharp's "The Offense." SEDAHO'S HEW ACT London, Aug. 2. O. O. Sedano, formerly Elisabeth Brown's partner In vaudeville (Brown and Sedano), closed at the Centaur Club, sailing for Paris for a brief stay. Sedano has a new act, Sedano. Lunina and Jean, the latter being Jean Egbert, an American cnrer here for some time. The act returns to America Se^t. S on the Majestic. SAILINGS August 12 (New York to London) Rudy Sieger (Mauretanto). Aug. 12 (London io New York), Leopold Friedman, Ed Schiller, An- drew Melville. Mrs. George Tilyou (MajesUc). Aug. 8 (London to New York), Beth Berl (AqultanU). Aug. • (London to New York) Princess Wahletka (America). Aug. S (London to New York),' Jenie Jacobs, PauUne Cooke Reported through Paul Taussig A. Son, 104 Bast 14th street: Aug. t (New York to London), Selma Braats,, Alfred Blecher (Deutschland). ■ Aug. « (New York to London), Frank Masters, Bstelle Brody, Lew Hearn (Berengarto). ARRIVALS A MeMoge from Shore or Ship will guarantee a Room at THE PICCADILLY WHERE ALL THE SHOW FOLK STOP .Cable AddreM: PIQUDILLO, LONDON Aug. I (from London), Dorothy Donnelly (Adriatic). Aug. t (from Hamburg), Eddie Cantor (Rotterdam). >. i .4..>, Linder Heads Film Authors Paris, Aug. 2. Foltowing the resignation of Michel Carre as chairman of the French society of film authors be- cr.use of inside dlwigreement with the committee, Max Llndfr was elected president ' •! '' F' .... 'j*'. CORSO» ZURICH Zurich, July SI. The Corso is an unpretentious theatre in Zurich. Swltserland, fronting on the beautiful lake after which the town to named. While not imposing In appearance, even as European music halls go, it ptoys rather expensive shows. The bill for the fortnight extending July 14- II held Horace Gokllii as-beadliner. The Illusionist waa billed like a cir- cus and, firom all appearances, was drawing. Freddy and Doll opened. The act to much the same as others of its type. The turn did not seem novel to the patrons, who bestowed only slight acclaim. Mtos Hartley, an aertolist, was second. Her routine consisted of feats on a trapese hung out over the orchestra. Rather dar- ing because of that contingency. She did very well. Apada and MlrmlUo, a couple of dainty fellows in female impersonations, got the hit of the early section. They disclosed a series of four dances, changing costumes for each. As the l>oys removed their wigs conclusively, they fairly raised the roof. With speeding they would do very well for the SUtes. Hlrukawa Family, four Japs, stopped the show completely. The first part of the act bordered on the conventional, with perch work and umbrella spinning. As the old boy juggled the daughter In midair, though, the orowd swung around in their seats. Later, as the young man of the quartet walked up a rope over the auditors, extending from the rear wall of the sUge to the gallery, and slid back to the ros- trum, there was tumultuous ap- ptouse. A sure and certain ctoser for America. Rudolph Sieber, dialect stories and songs, proved quite a favorite with the Swtos folk, who reoalled him several times. The Ur- banillos closed the first section. Four persons form the complement —a man, a woman and two midgets. The smaller of the midgets proved little short of a riot. He is 27, but looks like a kid of six. Much of the acro- batic fare Is novel and striking. They should prove equally as popular any place In America. Leopold Buron, musical clown opened after "the pause" (as Inter- mission is styled over here), build- ing as he proceeded. Some of his eccentricities were novel. Horace Qoldin closed, doing 45 minutes that seemed but 20 The Illusionist is stepping faster than ever, and he always was a quick r.®'^.?,'"- 1^* **»« Co"^"®' Ooldwin used his Sawlne a Won an In Half" for the concluding experiment, selling It like a million dollars. The natives were speaking of nothing else as they filed out. GoMln Is carrying Quite an array of help on this side, perbaps because they are not so ex- pensive. Admtosion at the Corao here and at the KUrsaal In Lucerne compares favorably with that charged in the big-time houses in the Rtates. Bills in Switzerland are changed twice monthly. Bamvel Savoir's "White Elephant" Paris, Aug. B. "L'BIephant Blanc" is the comedy by Alfred Savior promised fqr the Madeletn theatre next season, irlVh Andre Brule and Madeleine Leiy. !,■ •Oflr' Oscar Aflche Takes Up Water Healem London, Aug. l An Indication of the dearth of op* portunity for theatrical activities i» England is instanced in the case sf Oacar Asche, one of the best aetor% and producers hare. '^ Asche has done relatively little M the past few years since the ck>se of •H3hn Chin Chow," which he pro* dueed and hi which be ptoyed dull- ing tha four solid years' run at HW Majesty's. From this he amassed more than a comfortable fortune. Chafing under his inactlviti«._, Asche has embarked upon a eom^ «■ mercial enterprto^ He has takei^ 1 up the agency for a new patent ■ water heater and is reported to bf doing very well. FBEICH TKOUFE FOR GANAB4 Parto, Aug. 2. - Mme. Andree Pascal and Paul c;a« pellani ar« again organising an ex* tended season for Canada next falL The troupe will include George* Colin. Geo. Vltray, Rene Blanchard^ Marcel Herrand. Rene Montis. Mar- celle Geniat, Coutant Lambert aaA Eve Longuet. 0£HHT'SBAIS OFXRS Paris, Aug. 2. The 20-piece dance band headeA by Harry Denny has started at tM Acacias cabaret, where Harry PM-< cer is in charge. The boys win be here for about three weeks. Budapest Likes "Charley's Aunt' Budapest. Aug. l ^\ "Charley's Aunt," at the Magyar Sxinhas, to in its eighth week. The old Brandon Thomas farce ii well liked here and gives signs of attaining a long run. The locaf presenutlon Is its first in eithsT Austria or Hungary. <-'t New Film Distributing Co. Paris, Aug. 1 The Clnedor Company has beeif constituted with a fcapital of one mlH Hon francs and registered offices ai 126 Rue de Provence for the dise trlbutlng of moving pictures undei management of Jaaque Kamlnskyi Est. WILLIAM MORRIS AOKNCT. lae. WM. MORXIS WM. MORMS. J% PstMai BIdg.. IMS Broadway. New T THE uller schools OF DANCING 148 Charing Cross Road LONDON Director, JOHN TILLER