The New York Clipper (December 1919)

14 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER December 17, 1919 LON^N FOREIGN NEWS Paris Much Aroused Over Proposed New io°/o Tax No Profit Left in Bonesa, They Say, if Latest Plan to Raise Money Goes Into Effect, as Charge* Already Total Almost Fifty Per Cent Paris, France, Dec. 13.—The man- agers of Paris theatres, including legit- imate, variety, and motion picture nooses, as well as music bulla have organized and are conducting a cam- paign to offset the newly proposed leg- islation by means of which an added tax will be placed upon theatres and all public amusements. This measure has been under discussion for some time, and, since the end of the war, has been brought up several times. The attitude of the managers in the tight is that, although while the war was on they were willing to pay ex- cessive taxation, now that the conflict is ended, they feel that, with produc- tion costs rising constantly, due to in- creased prices of material auu higher wages to actors, stage hands and mu- sicians, the present admission prices would make an additional tax prohib- itive. The taxation upon the theatre as it now stands is as follows. A ten per cent war tax, colHected despite the fact that the war is over; twelve per cent royalties tax for authors and compos- ers, the poor tax, also ten per cent, which makes the present total 32 per cent of their gross receipts. Add to this about 40 per cent of their receipts for expenses, and we have a total of 72 per cent, for overhead alone. Now, if this new proposed tax goes through, it will add another ten per cent, which makes the entire total 82 per cent. Such a policy, as can be easily seen, is prohibitive and would have the much. undesired effect of forcing producing managers out of business entirely. BUSINESS DROPPING OFF London, Dec. 11.—High theatre rentals are on the decline as a result of the marked decrease in business at London theatres. It is the opinion in the theatrical circles that rentals will fall to normal by March. GUTTRV TO OPEN THEATRE Pabis, France, Dec 12.—M. Sacha Qnltry, whose Little Theatre was fin- ished just at the time the war broke -•at, but which was never opened, is to be opened now that the war is over. Guitry says that he will produce other writer's plays there and continue his various theatrical ventures as well. COMING OVER FOR WOODS London, En?., Dec. 12.—G. Carroll Clucas, who has been with the Billy Heeves act for a long time, and who recently played here with him over the Mos^. Stoll, and V. T. C. time, has re- turned to America to fullfill contracts with A. H. Woods, BROAD HURST IS BUST London, Eng, Dec. 12.—George H. Broadhurst, the America theatrical manager and author is very busy, keeping on the go all the time. He has visited his old home in Wafcall, acquired the producing rights to half a docen plays, has written several spe- cial Sunday features and has managed *» keep several hundred actor pals of Us from palming- themselves off on aim for wonderful parts in his forth- coming productions. TRUSSELL RESIGNS London, Eng., Dec. 12.—Fred Trus- sell. who, for twenty years, has been manager of the Moss Empires Ltd., Hippodrome here, has retired, due to ill health. He is being succeeded by Frank Boor, who has been with De- CourvQIe's enterprises for a long time. BUT WINTER GARDEN FREEHOLD London, Eng., Dec. 12.—Grossmlth and. Laurfl&rd have purchased the freehold of the Winter Garden Theatre and will continue "Kissing Time," now in lfs 200th performance there inde- finitely. «EVTVE "RAINBOW" FAIRY PLAT London, Eng, Dec. 12.—"Where The Halnbow Ends." a fairly tale play, which has been seen in London for the past eight seasons, will be revived this l«ar again at the Victoria Palace, be- ginning December 30th, for a series of Matinees. This is the second time the play has been at the Victoria and the ninth time in London. CUTTING "JOY BELLS" LONDON, Eng., Dec. 12.—The second edition of "Joy Belte," at the Hippo- drome, which has scored such a big hit, is being rat because of Ins super length. Among the cuts already made are "Splash." a burlesque on the bath room scene in Cyril Maude's new play and the duet "Yon Said Ton Wor- shipped Me." George Bobey, Shirley Kellogg, Fred AUandale Netta West- cott and Phil. Lester are affected by these cuts. . WANT "VTVTENNE SEKjEL London, Dec 12.—Grossmith and Laurtlard, who have acquires the Eng- H*h producing rights to "The little Whopper." have announced that they will try to secure the service of Vi- Tienn c Se lget who plays the lead in the America Show, to create the same role here. Also, they have the Leo Ditstreichstein play "The Great Lover," which they win produce when they get a suitable theatre. This latter has not yet been cast. VINCENT POTTER PROMOTED London. Eng, Dec. 12.—Vincent Potter, who -has been manager of the Belfast Empire for some time, has been promoted by Barney Armstrong, who is ma ki ng him general manager of his circuit ACTORS STRIKE IN MILAN Milan. Italy. Dec. 11 .—Milan has an actors strike and, as a result all the theatres are closed, tight There is only one second class opera open in the en- tire city. GABY DESLYS SERIOUSLY ILL Pab«s, Dec. 12.—Gaby Deslys is in a serious condition, having Just under- gone the ninth operation on her thrat It is feared that another may be neces- sary. Her dancing partner, Pilcer, claims that the operations have not been successful, because Gaby insisted that the surgeon work from the inside of her throat so as not no cut aad scar her neck. If another operation is necessary, the surgeon will insist on working from the outside, regardless of scars. COMEDT CO. FOLLOWS TEMPEST Cape Town, U. S. A, Dec 6.—The short farewell of the well known Eng- lish actress, Marie Tempest and her touring company, has been brought to a successful close, inasfar as the South African Theatres were concerned. A new touring company called "The New Comedy Company." is now playing here presenting several American plays, in- cluding "General Post," "Fair and Warmer," and "Twins Beds," in ad- dition to other plays. The company In- cludes Dorothy Rundell, Florence Ro- berts, Naoimi Rutherford, William Mollieon, Cecil Kalleway, and Cyril Brooking. After its run here the com- pany is booked all through The Union of South Africa, and several large cities in the Orient AMERICAN ACTRESS SUED London. Eng., Dec. 12.—Irene Magley. the American dancer who was a mem- ber of "The Kiss Call" company, but was forced to withdraw due to an in- Jury to her right leg, which made her lame for some time, was sued recently by a firm of money lenders for a loan due them. The.case was adjourned be- cause the papers were incorrect inas- much as she was married in Minne- apolis oh September 3, 1911, to Guy Magley, and her attorneys claimed that she.was not a "Miss." Hence, the in- correctness. ACTRESS IS DIVORCED London, Eng., Dec 12.—Gene Moss, wife of a feather ma tress manufactur- er, and a well known local actress, has failed in her attempts to save her good name and,-prevent the granting of a di- vorce to her husband. Reginald Moss signed up with the Army and went to Mesopotamia, in 1914. When he re- turned he sued Mrs. Moss on the grounds of misconduct with an antique dealer. She denied the charges, but Moss persisted and got his divorce. LA SCALA BEING REMODELLED Milan, Italy, Dec 1L—La Scala, Italy's famous opera house and con- sidered the best of it's kind in the world, will be closed for two seasons while the stage of the house is being torn down and remodelled according to modern ideas. Also, the horse shoe which has for yeans been the sole pos- sesion of the nobility, is about to change, for the members of the plain people havie demanded the right to oc- cupy the boxes TOSCANINI ENTERS POLITICS Rome, Italy, Dec 12.—Arturo Tos- canini, Italy's great conductor, who has lately been receiving offers from all parts of the world, has decided to abandon art temporarily and has en- tered himself as an aspirant for politi- cal honors by running for Parliament BENELLI RUNNING FOR OFFICE Rove, Italy, Dec. 11.—Sem Benelly, the best known of the younger Italian play rights, not content with having written several famous international dramas, including "The Jest" has de- cided to become a political Ight and • has, accordingly, become' a candidate for Parliament ? EXCHANGE ACTORS London, Eng., Dec 14.—J. T: Grien is sponsor for a scheme whereby a company of first class English players win tour Belgium and Holland, in ex- change for a company of Dutch play- ers who will tour England The first English play to be seen in Holland will be "Mld-Channe", by Sir Arthur Wing Pinero, which W. Bridges Adams will produce and which will he acted by The Rosa Lynd company. The Dutch players will appear at one of the Grossmith-Laurilard houses in "Ham- let" as their first offering. TULLY IS IN PARIS Pakis, France, Dec 12—Mr. and Mrs. Richard Walton Tully, Fannie Ward and her husband Jack Dean, are among the prominent theatrical people who are at present in town. The Tul- lys came here after the successful pro- duction in London of "The Bird of Paradise". . SHUBERTS SIGN A DIVA Berlin, Dec 12.—Gustaf Amberg, scout for the Sbuberts, has signed! Claire Dux, leading soprano of Ber- lin's .once Royal Opera, for twenty per- formances in America. Dux has been appearing under her old contract with the Berlin Opera,, despite the fact that it is under new management On getting, her contract with the Shuberts from Amberg, she devided to' quit' the Berlin opera and served- notice on the new democratic- management that her contract with them was null.and void. The reason'she gave for this was that her contract was made with the Boyal Intendant and Manager General of the Royal Opera Howe and it was no longer valid because the revolution plain State Opera. SACKS LUCES NEW YORK London, Dec 13.—J. L. Sacks, the theatrical manager, who has Just re- turned from a visit to New York and Chicago, is boosting New York. In comparing conditions here with those in New York, Sacks said in part: - "I shall stage my plays in America first because conditions there are more workable from the managerial point of view. Whereas 12 shillings 6 pence ($312) normally is the highest price- for a seat here, none can he booked in New York under 14 shillings, and I have often been glad to pay 30 to 40* shillings (*10) for a seat "London does not compare with New- York as a centre of the show business. Here we have twenty legitimate thea- tres, mostly old fashioned;.there they have about sixty, all bang-up-to-date, and soareely one playing to less than flo.OOO a week." PASSION PLAY POSTPONED OBEBAiiuEBGAC, Dec 12. The vil- lagers who have been presenting the Passion Play, portraying the Cruel- fiction, have postponed the play from 1920 until 1921. as conditions in Ba- varia are too severe to give them time to.do anything but attend to their farm- work.