Variety (Dec 1929)

"VARIETY'S" LONDON OFFICE 8 St. Martin's Place, Trafalgar Square FOREIGN SHOW NEWS CABLE ADDRESS: VARIETY, LONDON Temple Bar 5041-5042 Peeved Actors Sock in German'Glory; House Pays Doctor Bills-Biz Great Berlin, Disc. 10. /"What Price GWory" Is; called •Rivals" here,- and apparently Is living up to Its cognomen. •.Locally, iCortner and Albeta, the leads, have had se'^ieral rumpasses -on the stage, Kortner leaving the cast after the flrSt four weeks. At the Neues theatre, Frankfurt, Xingen and Basril, as "Flagg'' and "QIrt," also seem to have been tak- ing the show literally. One night liingen hit Basil such a crack that tht l&tter countered by striking Ijihgen acrosff the face with a whip, •riiis was returned with interest In the form of a large box lying handy oiTf-stage.' . • ■ CurtafA'>fell a trifle previously, a cast m^nilier coming before the cur- tain to ask If a doctor were in the ■ house,-' ■"• • :■ ' Businesai excellent, and manage- ment has agreed to pay aU. hospital bills, '■■ 'GRAND HOTEL^ VIENNA HIT Mo(nar*s New Comedy, "One, two, ■ three," Another Success— . Vienna, Dec, 10. "Grand Hotel," by Paul Frank is Vienna's biggest success at the The- atre Comn^ofedla. Al H. Woods has libught the American production : rights. ' . V . Ferend Molnarls new comedy, called "One, Two, Three," is also a success, with Max Pallenberg, lead- ing German comedian, featured. Gil- bert Miller has taken the American rights. . Among the new attractions here Is Sllvara's German adaptation of ."The iBachelor Father," doing ca- IQuclty at the iUtademle. The charr atbter of Tony has been changed to a yienese girl. Alma Seldler is In role. NO MORE LEGIT BIZ, SAYS AL H. IN PARIS Paris, Dec. .10. A. H. Woods sailed Dec. 6 on the "Bremen" and will remain in New Tork oi^ly a fortnight, returning to Paris iii time for the Christmas pre- miere of "The Shanghai Gesture" at the' Apollo, piece is produced by Jane Mamac, who is also starring In It. . Woods Is accompanied by Irvin MarkSj Paris representative, of Woods, the Selwyns, Belasco and the Shuberts, Marks is making-his first return to New York in nine years. ;.: • Woods coinplains there is no more ' leglt business, and he's becoming Ihterested in pictures. Woods' real -purpose in an ex- tehdied Paris stay was the acquisi- tion of a new device, a "take-your- o^n-movies" machine working at a . quarter like the similar automaton, except that the photo Is animated. PariB> N, Y« Round Trip Paris, Dec. 10. Edna Thomas, singer of spirituals, sails for New York on the Levi- athan next Monday, but will be back here in February, and goes there- . after to tour South Africa. T.Elder Heam Hotel Elysee General Manager for Paramount Building Times Square N. Y. C. Gyp and Take Paris, Dec. 10. Almost everybody and every- thing's on the gyp and take. WTiether with a picture com- pany or a non-theatrical com- mercial house, anybody who has authority to spend a nickel does so with an eye to a kick-back. It is notorious that one re- vue star jrets a kiQk-back on . everything from costumes to scenery, arid even unto a, "com- mission" from some of tiie tal- ent approved for the show. BUSHEIX, ENGLISH, MUST GO BACK HOME Hollywood, Dec. 10. Anthony Bushell, English actor and husband of Zelma O'Neal, must return to England immediately. Im- raigratiOri officials have decided the time of his permit to labor as an alien , in the studios has expired. Bushell expects - to get i quota number and' be back in two months. Unless his wife goes , into pictures she will accompany him abroad. Minevitch Quits "Deck" Paris, Dec. 10. , Borrah Minevitch and his har- monica band, are. withdrawing from "Halleluiah" at the Mogador, forc- ing the rechrlstehed "Hit the Deck" to end its run Jan, 2. MInevitch's butflt was the high spot of the show and sustained an indifferent production. . Minevitch goes to Milan for a fortnight after which he will play six weeks through the resorts, on the Riviera, Volterra HI With Flu; Pro<fuction in Abeyance Paris, Dec. 10. Leon Volterra, veteran producer, is seriously ill here, having con- tracted influenza crossing, the chan- nel on return from London. He went to the British capital to witness, a performance of "The Stu- dent Prince" as a preliminary to do-. Ing the piece here. Now that ven- ture is in abeyance, owing to the Impresario's Illness. Even Albert Willemetz, the librettist, is unable to confer with Volterra about the adaptation. Yeahr Cairo, Dec. 10. Champolllon, Jenny Rose and Rene Dory, dancers, are due In He- liopolis Dec. 14 for an engagement at the Palace, dancing to music sup plied by the Curtiss jazz band. ''Dreyfus Case" Staged Berlin, Dec, 10. "The Dreyfus Case" was staged a few nlg:hts ago at the Volkesbuehne. It is by Rene Kestner, pseudonym for Wilhelm Herzog, and Hans Ren- flsch, and is an interesting treat- ment of a historical subject, suc- cessful as a propaganda play. it has certain defects of crudity in its writing and is sexless in theme, both of which probably cancel Its chances in New York, HALLE&'S PLANS Berlin, Dec, 10. Hermann Haller, local manager, has rented the I^arl Schulze theatre, Hamburg, to Hans Edmund, who win produce Walter V. Goetze's op- eretta, "Henrlette Sonritag." ' Haller Is just recovering from a long illness, arid his local house, Ad- mirals Palast, Is still untenanted. 'He=- pians -a-^neW' -revue -foraround Jan, 1. Berlin is at preserit revue- less. BUTT MAE£S SUEE London, Dec, 10, Although Frederick Lonsdale has agreed to write the next Drury Lane piece. Sir Alfred Butt is tak- ing no chanceis. He has asked Edgar Wallace to try his hand at a play. WILLMAHONEY in Earl CarroU's "Sketch Book," 44th Street Theatri, New York City. The "New Yorker" said of . him; 'Will Mahoney alone is Worth the price of admission for Earl Carroll's "Sketch Book," how playing at the 44th Street Theatre." Direction RALPH G. FARNUM 1560 BROADWAY BACKSTAGE AND DOPE MORBID PARIS MOTIF Paris, Dec, 10. "Music HalV new at the iRenais- sance, is a bust even If it is the work of Marcel Mere, president of the Authors' Society. It is a strange medley of things, among them be- ing a poor imitation of "Burlesque," done In a tragic style. Mere, by the way, once thought of adapting "Burlesque."" This is a cheap melodrama, done in ten nicely mounted tableaux re- flecting back stage locale.. House has a revolving stage,, but the ac- tion oif the piece needs quickeinlng beyond thei aid of such a device. Plot: A frivolous wife, upon winning a " (Continued on page 69) Sunny Jaiiiiann^s Act . Provokes Law Threat IjondQn> Dec 10. .. Sunny Jarmatm, whose engage- ment to marry iiii millionaire officer, in the Guards created a stir, opened yesterday at the. Coliseum and was a rave. Girl is assisted by Gilbert and French and Eight Grafton Glrla. and offers > . series of excerpts from "Hold Everything," Clayton and Waller at first threatened to sue out a writ res.traaining her from using niaterial from the show to which they hold English rights and she walked out of the theatre during orchestra rehearsals. Coliseum management phoned her later that the matter had been ad- justed and sp. far no Injunction has. been served. Will Poluski Dies win Lloyd, Marie Dec, 5, The late In health London, Dec. 10. Poluski, • husband of Rosie sister of Alice arid the late Lloyd, died in Johannesburg, , . He was 42; Lloyds went to South Africa October In the hope Poluski's would be benefited. "Tunnel" Quits ' London, Dec. 10. "The Tunnel' Trench," war play produced at the Duchess : theatre, closed after a run .of ia , fortnight and is succeeded 1^ a revival of "The . Typhoon," starring Nellson Terry. Mme. Glyn's Musical London, Dec. 10. Elinor Glyn has written a musical comedy book and if will be prer sented shortly ^vith Carl Brisson starred. "'Brisson has been in pictures for .J'M??* ^and_ tM3^.ye nture m arks his return to the stage. Tourist Worm Turns Paris, Dec. 10. ! Tourist worm has turned, . | and the French hotel interests , ai'e beginning to feel the back- l biting^ Glowing reports from . Anglo-Ainei-icans of the Teu- tonic .cities . such aj Berlin,- Hamburg, Vienna iand Buda- pest, hag long since caused Paris visitors to check In and out pretty fast.. Result Is that the; French hotel association, Jn recent conclave, is taking steps to re- peal the 175c luxury ta:£ sur- ; charged on ail hotel bills. 222 AUEN ACTORS ENTERED U S. LAST YEAR "AMOaiSTS" UNLIKELY London, Dec. 10. "The Amorists," produced at the Royalty late last week, after being done at the "Q" theatre under the title of "The Sybarites," turned out to be a weak, talky .comedy with scant action. It is well played but success re- garded as unlikely. \ Washington, Dec. 10. Actors totaling 222 in number en^ tered the United States to make their permanciit abode here dur- ing the last fiscal year. These were divided by r«^ce, according to the Cohiriiissioner' of Immigration's an- nual re i)ort, as follows: 1 African (black), 1 Czech, 1 Bulgarian, 3 Cu- ban, 2 Dutch, 34 English, 3 Finnish, 0 French, 27 German, 9 Hebrew, 14 Irish, 4 Italian, 71 Mexican, 2 Polish, r !E*ortugUes.e,. 6 Russian, 18 Scotch, 4 Spanish, 11 Spanish-Amei'ican and 2 Welsh. This total .of 222 compares with 196 the previous year. Musicians this, year entering; the country ran to 575, as against 627 year before. In both yearsv-greater majority came from Englan|d, In both phases, actors and mu-^ slclans, figures are on those coming in for permanent residence, This year those actors in on tem- porary stays that departed totaled 348. Last year those going out totaled 280. These statistics further disclose that this year three actors who had acquired American citizenship- left the country permanently. Two were English, otiier a . West Indian. In this same connection 75 native-borii American actors, 73 white, and 2 Chinese, left tfie country to reside permanently abroad. Once U. S. Actor, Achew Is Accused of Murder American vaudevlllians thought they recognized in James . Achew, mentioned as an American actor facing a murder charge in Eng-^ land, as a former specialty iplayer in the States. They said he started with a club"' juggling act unfler his own nanle and later worked under* the team name of Starr arid. Leslie. He was known as an American, but the peoV pie he wbriced with believed he was part oriental. This was between 1896 and 1900* He had' been in England many years ia.nd when last heard from had separated ■ from his wife, who ran a tea shop on Oxford street, London. He was a film salesman at that time, • Cables related that Achew was charged with the murder of Sybil Deacosta. The woman was attacked In a rooming house and killed and Achew was found in the basement with his head in a gas Btovd oven. He had slashed his wrists. > ENGLISH STORM HURTS THEATRE Moissi's "Journey's End'' Vienna, Dec. 10.. Public and newspapers have noth- ing but praise for the production of "Journey's End," British war play, done here at the Volks theatre with Alexander Molssi starred,. A new comedy,, . "Sachertorte" ("Vienna Pastry"), is a success at tlie new Scliauspielhaus. Piece sho.ws pre-war characters in a ro- mantic story, having to do with the courting of a riiake-bclleve chorus girl and a. real prince. MISS ABNOLD'S PLAY Paris, Dec, 10. Roberta Arnold Is Sailing on the Leviathan tomorrow (W^ednesday), under engagement to appear in "Man," a new play written by her hMh^dijQhjL^illajid, .n^m.: ly.wood for Fox. Piece is scheduled for Bro.'idway shortly. DOEA MAUGHAN IN PARIS Paris?, Dec. 10. Exploited elaborately as "the highest paid cabaret artist," Dora Maughan opened last night at the swank Chez Victor night spot. Engtigcment is for a fortnight. ; • . London, Dec. 10. The .worst hurricane and storm in memory went through its .fifth day yesterday (Mort.). Storm brought continuous rain and floods and it put the finishing touch to the. al- ready severe pre-holiday dullness at the theatre, both In London and in the provinces. Travel to and. from the Continent both i>y air and by - boat, is en- tirely suspended, and telephone lines are down everywhere. . . iTive theatres closed Saturday night and. tliree of them will: rer- main dark for the present Any-^ thing resembling a legit production can obtain tenancy of a West End theatre on percentage without any kind of guarantee, and this Bitua- tlon will prevail until Christmas week. So severe Is. the storm that a number of acts due. from the'.Con- tinent for English halls this week wereunablie to move ttcross the Channel and there vy&B a •yirild scramble Monday to get substitutes/ Washington, Dec. 10. The Weather Bureau has fur- nished ••A'"ariety" with the foIloW- ing outlook on the weiather for the week beginning tomorrp'w: . Cloudy, with occasioijial light rain or snow Wednesday, i Thursday, Friday and Saturday! snow or rain; Sunday (16) Is uncer- tain. Much colder toward end of week and over the week-end. TERPJS OUT state O. H. Ballet Master May fi* . Succeeded by Mary WIgman. Berlin, Beb. 10^ Max Terpls. for seven years .ballet master of the State Opera House, 1b leaving that position at the end of the season. Mary. Wlgman, jGrerma;ny*« repre - sentative modern danber, la hame4 as a possible successor. This would probably mean a general 9hake-up among the dancers due to the dif- ference in style bi^tw'een I'erpiis and Miss Wlgirian.: Latter has been, engaged for a short tour of America this fall. Europe Makes American All-Girl Bands Welcome Pari8>.Dec. 10, There are twp Amerlcian allrgirl bands working on the Continent and doing so well they propose to re- turn to this field after golngf home for a visit. Helen Johns, whose all-girl organization has played the American circuits, is now In LeIpsig with dates well ahead. Babe Egan's "Red Heads," who have been on the Continent for five months, are now In Brussels and open at the Excelsior, Milan, Dec. 30.. They sail for New York Jan, Of but - already have , contracte for Europe, starting in September. INDEX Foreign .......2-5 Pictures. . .^ .. ... i........ 6-45 Picture Reviews ....... 35-39 ■ Film House Reviews.... 54 Vaudeville .....,....... . 46-50' Vaude Reviews ........ 52-63 New Acts .........55 Ellis 56-57 Times Square .......... 68-59 Editorial ................ , 62 Women's Page ......... 60-61 Legitimate 64-69 Music .................. 70-74 Obituary ................ 78 Correspondence ........ 76 Inside—Pictures 36 Inside—Vaude 62 _ In side—Legit . . .> ..... _ 6 G 'Talking Shorts .,35"' Literati 65 Leglt Reviews 68 Foreign Film News.,,.. 2-4 Burlesque ...... 51 Radio 72 News of Dailies ........ 60 Outdoors 75 Letter List 79 Spprt'^ , , 61 B-an>l-0'Routos 67