Variety (Dec 1926)

■ *« 1 ■ ■ v r _^ p OP F ' f CI N CABLE ADDRESS, VARIETY, LONDON 8 St Martin's PUce, Trafalgar Square r v ■* *-* 1 *■ 2096 3199 Regent Wednesday, December 1, 1924 VARIETY'S LONDON OFFICE "American Mercury" Gives Space On Why "Variety" Is So Terrible This month's (December) "American Mercury," now on the news- stands, has a lengthy story on Variety written by Hugh Kent. It explicitly explains why Variety is terrible, even as a horrible example of unkempt, illiterate and freakish journalism, trade or not Through a personal note continuously interjected into the tale, Variety sidesteps reprinting the article. It's a story with no little humor. Mr. Kent, a newspaper man, is seemingly and extraordinarily familiar with Variety, also some of its reporters. Mr. Kent strips bare the slang Variety uses. He explains it is the Jargon of the show business, but claims Variety uses its own word coinage to quite some degree. The story says that Jack Conway is the greatest master of slang in America. It quotes a portion of one of Con's reviews of the bill at the Palace, New York, in proof. Also in the story is a part of one of Sime's notices with the comment it needs a key for under- standing, at the same time implying Bime didn't know what he was writing about, either. Otherwise the story, and in "The American Mercury," that sits on top of all the high hat periodicals, Just sorta buried the Variety boys in a flood of embarrassed pleasure over the thought that "The Mercury," by Mr. Kent or its famed editors, Henry L. Mencken and George Jean Nathan, had found there was or is anything in, around or about Variety worth printing. Accustomed to wallops and kicks for years and expecting noth- ing but, that "American Mercury" story squared many things. Not alone is the publisher of Variety appreciative of the kindly attitude of "The American Mercury" as evinced, but that appreciation goes double for Mr. Kent, for what he said and for what he might have said—but didn't. RISQUE DINNER IN LONDON IS SHOCK Actors Write Stage Golf- ing Society — Prince Honor Guest London, Nov. 28. Theatrical London is all agog over the risque features Introduced into the program of the Stage Golf- ing Society dinner last Sunday. The shock was emphasized due to Prince Arthur of Connaught be- ing guest of honor at the affair, with the Duke of Leeds and the Marquis of Carlsbrook, cousin of the King, among those Invited. It is understood no fewer than 50 actors have written the Society de- ploring that the function over which Sir <3erald DuMauricr pre- sided, could become so rabelaisian. German Screen Girl's Dance Almost Starts Riot Paris, Nov. 28. Valeska Gert, new art dancer from Berlin, appeared at the Comedie des Champs Elysees mati- nee, In a seriorf of terpsichorean movements which did not seem to please the local fans. She contin- ued her dancing despite a shower of sarcastic remarks, the perform- ance almost leading to a free fight at the end. Valeska Gert is better known as * picture actress. FIRST NIGHTERS GET BUT 1 TICKET FREE London Legit Managers Agree on New Rule for Premiere Courtesies Slump Still On London, Nov. 28 The present slump in theatre at- tendance has been materially en- hanced this week by two foggy days. A Fyffe May Be Here in March London, Nov. 28. Will Fyffe, Scotch comic, has completed arrangements for his first American booking and will open in New York March 8. It is understood Fyffe is going over for Keith-Albee vaudeville. Other foreign newt will be found on page 1S3. PICCADILLY HOTEL and THE KIT-CAT CLUB LONDON Featuring the World's Greatest Artistes A. J. CLARKE Sole American Representative ASTOR HOTEL, New York City London, Nov. 28. Managements of the 40, about, legitimate theatres of this city have agreed that no premiere courtesies shall exceed one ticket each to those on the first night lists. Though it was presumed that the critics on the local dallies might ob- ject to their lonely attendance en- forcement, none did. The ruling also applies to the American newspaper correspondent regularly assigned to London and on the lists. Theatres here as a rule have smaller capacities than found in New York, but the rule in both cities of **a pair for the opening" has endured for ages. It's one of the old customs changed in con- tradiction to the belief the Eng- never switch. Variety's representatives in Lon- don and Paris receive the courtesy of first night tickets. 'RiceymaiTs Steps' Called As Dismal as Book London, Nov. 28. Michael Morton's adaptation of "Riceyman's Steps," from the Arnold Bennett novel, opened at the Ambassador's. The show impressed as gloomily as did the book, but it may be a Theatre Guild possibility for New York. Revival of "Trelawney of the Wells" at the Globe was nicely greeted. It marks the fifth time this piece has been brought back and the reception was strong enough to auger a limited run. NEW CABARET REVUE Paris, Nov. 28. An excellent optimistic revue "Et Puis Apres," by Reno Dorin, con- stitutes the new bill at the fash- ionable cabaret Oeil do Paris, in the Rue de l'Etoile (adjoining the Empire). It is above the ordinary in wit and should attract at this little re- sort whero Dorin himself, Pierre Pradler (in his imitations), Mile. France Martis, Betove, Yvonne Curti, Goupll, Paul Ville, Dumont and Romeo Carles form the cast. FELIX HUGUENET DIES Paris,. Nov. 28. Felix Hugucnet, French comedian, died in Antibes, France, Nov. 19 at the age of 68. He had gone to the south of France In search of health. Representative in PARIS: ED. G. KENDREW 66 bis, Rue Saint-Oidicr 4t WILL MAHONEY ALBEE, Brooklyn, NEXT WEEK The Grand Rapids "Herald." last week, said: "Will Mahoney, than whom there is no greater, ran away with the show. He not only ran away with it, but tied it up in knots. There's only one Will, and what Charlie Chaplin ia to the movies, he is to vaudeville. He has arrived at the top rung of the comedy world. He Is the greatest clown of the da/." RALPH G. FARNUM (Edw. 8. Keuer Office) This Issue This issue of Variety went on the presses Sunday, Nov. 28. Usual presa time for Variety ia Tuesday night. Earlier time required for this apecial edition through bind- ing. HARLEM VOGUE IN PARIS CLUBS Paris, Nov. 28. Colored entertainers remain the vogue this season aa last, with the prosperous members getting to the ownership of the resorts they serve. Madge Conn is inaugurating the Harlem up Montmartre here, with Al Johns at the piano. Louis Mitch- ell, who had his own jazz in other establishments, Is jiow directing the Music Box, a night club in the Rue Pigalle. Josephine Baker Is in control of the Imperial, where she is found nightly after her show at the Folies Bergere. Little John Hal has opened Hal's Nest, and is making a suc- cess of it. There are others study- ing the situation. It Is anticipated, however, busi- ness will not be as prosperous in the all-night cabarets this winter as they were last. The drop in the dollar exchange lsstrangely enough, having a bad effect on entertain- ing, particularly among the French revellers. Trade was much more flourish- ing when the dollar was at 40 frs. Si INDEX Foreign 4-5-183 Picture* 6-12 Picture Reviews 12-30D Picture Presentations. 13 Film House Reviews.. 13 Vaudeville „ 16-20 New Acta 14-15 Burlesque 181 Burlesque Routes 181 Bills 184*185 Times Square 22 News of the Dailies... 181 Editorial. 23 Literati 12-20 Women'i Page 21 Legitimate 24-29 Legitimate Reviews... 29 Music 30 30C Night Clubs 30B-30C Outdoors 182 Sports 181 Obituary 182 Correspondence 186-189 L e tt e r L l itium 187 Ineide Vaudeville 18 Inside Pictures 28-176 Art Theatres 28 Ineide Legit 26 Cabaret Bills 30B Radio SOA LONDON AS IT LOOKS By HANNEN SWAFFER London, Nov. 19. The Prince of Wales went to see "Blackbirds" last Monday for the fifth time. Fortunately, this news was not printed in many newspapers, but it win circulate slowly round the British Empire that the Heir to the Throne has a liking for colored entertainments of a kind that would not be tolerated in South Africa or Australia. The Prince Ae a Playgoer The Prince of Wales' taste In drama drives many furiously to think. He seldom attends any theatre unless syncopated music is being played. On Armistice Night, last week, I went to the Albert Hall where "A World Requim," a beautiful piece of music, was being played in memory of the dead. The King's box was empty; so was the Prince of Wales's. The Prince was that night at "Chariot's Revue," with the Duke and Duchess of York, while the Queen of Norway was at the Palladium watching a cheap revue called "Life." ■ • The King Dislikee Good Mueic ..The Royal Family had entirely ignored this great musical achieve- ment. But then they all dislike music intensely, that is, all of them ex- cept the two Schleswlg-Holstein princesses. The King never goes to the opera unless circumstances compel him. His father, King Edward, loved music. King George dislikes it. "Car- men" is his limit of musical culture. As for Shakespeare, King George recently said, "I dislike it." His idea of a play is "The Ringer." The King likes a strong drama. The Queen likes something to make her laugh. As for their children, they all. want jazz. The British drama is in a bad way, and I charge this very largely to the way in which every serious artistic effort is ignored by the British Royal Family. These facts are generally suppressed in England, where it Is thought more polite to pretend that Royalty is beyond criticism. But what are you to think of the future of a nation's culture if the King himself prefer Harrison Ainsworth's novels to anything that pos- genius. Poor Old Shakespeare I criticised last week very severely the Shakespearian matinee held at Drury Lane to build a new theatre at Stratford-on-Avon. Much to my surprise, one of the chief organizers called me up two days later and thanked me, almost with tears in his eyes. *1 wish more people had spoken the truth about It," he said. "Tha way our fund is being Ignored Is disgraceful. Wealthy actors who hava made a vast income have not sent us one farthing for our fund. Mil- lionaire theatre owners have refused to help. "Sir Barry Jackson sent $2,500 and Sir Oswald Stoll gave us $2,600, but, generally speaking, the stage has not only Ignored us but been rude." Now they are going squealing to America for money. "I mention this, because every now and then the people of England try to pretend they love Shakespeare. This is utterly untrue. They are just like the Americans. They not only Ignore Shakespeare but o'f them positively hate his plays. Thirteen in the Stalls Business has been very bad in the London theatres, so much so that at a matinee last week only 12 people were sitting in the stalls at a "Co-Optimist" performance. When somebody else came in, Austin Mel- ford, one of the perriots, shouted, "Don't sit down you will make 13." Yet, immediately opposite, at -the Haymarket, "Yellow Sands" haa played all through to crowded houses, although the entire company of 11 receive, altogether, less than $1,250 a week and Charles Latrobe, the stage director, says the play is acted better than it would be by stars. Irene Franklin Shows Her "England" Irene Franklin, who is delighting the audiences of London, told me the other night that, a few days ago, she took some American friends down to Hampton Court, to show them something of England. "I told them to shut their eyes while I led them into the Long Alley,** she said. "Then I told them to open their eyes, asking them, "Have you ever seen anything like that In America?" Much to my disgust, when they looked there were four men on the lawn dancing the Charles-* ton." The Comic Goes into Management Billy Merson seems to have justified his courage. He put his own money into "Riquette," when James White thought it was worse than "Yvonne." Some people said that he was mad, but Merson offered to bet 2,500 dollars that the play would run for 10 months. • They produced it the other night and, although stories had come from Brighton, where it was first seen, that "Riquette" was a washout, Billy Merson, on the first night at the Shaftesbury, got a great reception and they had to make speeches. Merson started life as an acrobat in a circus. He has discarded the) eccentric make-up which he wore for years, and some people now consider him to ritzy. Comedians get like that, when they make money. In Merson's case, I hope the glooms are wrong. Will Americans Keep Shakespeare? I understand that Archibald Flower, chief of the Shakespeare trustee of Stratford-on-Avon, shortly arrives on your side, to persuade you to help rebuild the Stratford-on-Avon Theatre. It is rather a farce—all this cadging of money for a theatre in which to act Shakespeare. Last Monday's command performance proved that we are singularly lacking in Shakespearean actors. Some of the stars who tried to play Shakespeare were dreadful. It should not be allowed. Basil Gill and Godfrey Tearle, who appeared in a scene from "Julius Caesar," stood high above the others I saw. The poor King and Queen, who dislike Shakespeare, had to sit and listen to it for two hours and a* half and smile their royallest. I know the King would rather have been at "The Ringer," and I (Continued on page 183) •i SAILINGS Dec. 1 (New York to London) Gilbert Miller (Mauretania). Dec. 4 (New York to Paris) Ar- thur Hammerstein and Mrs. Ham- merstein (Dorothy Dalton) (Olym- pic). Nov. 27 (London to New York), Al Payne, wife and daughter (Minnekahda). Nov. 25 (San Francisco to Syd- ney) Judith Anderson, J. Francis Hanpy Revue, Moore and Shy, 3 Longfields (Ventura). Nov. 24 (New York to London), A. J. Clarke (Berengaria). Nov. 24 (London to Now York). Sol Lesser and family (Olympic> Eat. WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY WM. MORRIS W M MORRIS. JM. 1660 Broadway, New York THE TILLER SCHOOLS OF DANCING Leicester House, 10-11 Great Newport St., LONDON, W. C. 2 T4»l4»*raphic Adriiwa: TIPTOES WEKTRANO LONDON Director, Mrs. John Tiller