The New York Clipper (January 1920)

14 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER January 7, 1920 FOREIGN NEWS PARIS OPERA SUDDENLY HALTED : BY CH ORUS-DAN CER STRIKE Chamber of Deputies Cuts Allowance to Academy and Employees Demands Cannot Be Granted. Had Asked for Increase of Salary. Government Action Costs House Money. Paris, France, Jan. 3.—The threatened strike of the chorus and dancers of the National Academy of Music, otherwise known as "The Opera," came about rather unexpectedly at 8:15 on the evening of January 1, when it Was announced to the audience that, because of their action, the performance could not be given and that, pending the settlement of the matter, the house would be closed, as the musicians and stage hands had walked out in sym- pathy with the chorus. The strike is the result of the cutting of the allowance to the Opera by the Chamber of Deputies, which thought it would be doing- a popular service by trim- ming die budget. presented by M. Klotz, Minister of Finance. In the cutting, they reduced the opera allowance, instead of increasing it, as had been asked by the management, to meet the demands of the strikers, considered by them justifiable. The precipitation of the strike forced the return by the management of $6,931 to patrons. The demands of the strikers were as follows: An increase of wages from.$83.65 to $119.50 per month, an increase "of $25.85, or 150 francs, which had'' been promised on the first of the year. The. date came, and no raise." 1 ''The', manager explained that he did not have the mtraey because the Government would not give it to him. Then the chorus and musicians, aided by the scene shifters, walked out. . The strike brings to an end a season the. outlook for which was very bright. In fact, the opera had been having finan- cial, success, un^il the cutting of the al- lowance, which placed it in financial dif- ficulties. Among the plays scheduled for the season were "Goyescas," by Grarados, and "Guercoeur," by Alberic Magnard, both of whom were killed . in the war. Several revivals, including "The Damna- tion of Faust,'* "Trojans," "The Triumph of Love" and "Indes Galantes," also. It is thought that the government will increase the allowance to the opera, to end the strike. SPANISH PLAYWRIGHT DIES Madrid, Spain, Jan. 4.—Don Benito Perez Galdos, greatest and most popular of modern Spanish playwrights and authors, and loved throughout book-read- ing and play-going Spain as "the second Cervantes," died last night after a pro- longed illness Of over seven years, during which time he became blind. Galdos was born in the Canary Islands in 1846 and came to Madrid when a young man to study law. He turned to journal- if-m, however, and soon became known as the foremost writer of fiction in Spain. "Electra," a play of convent life, embroiled him with the clerical faction, and, In order to show that he was not making; any money out of the church,' he renounced his royalties for the play to the poor of Madrid. GROSSMITH BACK IN SHOW London, England, Jan. 3.—-George Gros- smith, of Grossmifch and Laurilard, who returned recently from a trip to America, where he Arranged for the production of "Tilly of Bloomsbury," and for the pro- duction in this country of "The Little Whopper," with Vivienne Segal in the leading role, has returned to his part in "Kissing Time." While he was away, Fred Leslie, Jr.. son of the original F. L., played his part. Grossmith - announced that Nellie Hodson and Frank Hector would go to America to. play in "Tilly." THEATRE RETURNS INCREASE Paris, France, Jan. 2.—The' oft re- peated cry that the theatre is being taxed to death in France has been raised again upon receipt of word that.the Government is planning a new theatre tax. The man- agers claim that, while the Government can increase the taxes, they cannot increase the prices of admission. This is the third time this year that the cry of **we are being taxed to ruin" has been raised, yet theatri- cal receipts, which were 59,000,000fr. - ($11,800,000) in 1917, as compared with 7ti,000,O00fr. ($15,200,000) in the year be- fore the war, were 77,000,0001 $15,400,- 000) last year and 100,000,0001 ($20,- 000,000) for the first nine months of this year, with every prospect of reaching 140,- 000,0001 ($28,000,000) for the year. The war taxes already enforced on the theatre yielded, says the Petit PariMen, 10.000,0001 ($2,000,000) in 1917; 12,000,- 0001 ($2,400,000) in 1918 and 20,000,0001 ($4,000,000) in 1919, while a similar tax in the United States yielded 100,000,0001 ($20,000,000) in 1918, and in England 75,- 000,0001 ($15,000,000) in the same year, witt an expected yield for 1919 of 192,- OOO.OOOf. ($22,400,000). This year the amusement tax is so col- lected that the French Treasury cannot ob- tain more than one franc on any ticket. A theatre ticket at eight francs pays the same tax as a 5001 seat at a boxing match. The new tax will alter this; as it will be col- lected on the gross receipts.' ARCHBISHOP BANS DANCES Paris. France, Jan. 2.—-His Eminence Cardinal Amette, ArchBishop of Paris, has placed a ban upon the fox trot and tango, forbidding them to be danced by any Catholic, according to the official organ of the Catholic church:" JOINS "MAGGIE" CAST' London. England, Jan. 3.—Yvonne Reynolds, coming direct!y> r *fronv"- ; The Casino de Paris, has been-added to the cast of "Maggie." Special numbers.'have been written for her by Adrian-Ross-and Herman DarewskL PARIS OPERA WANTS COIN Pabis, -Jpn. L—An appeal has been made to increase the State subscription of the opera to.2,000,000 francs. The pre- vious annual allowance, of 800,000, which the organization has received for the past, fifty years is said to be inadequate for the. maintenance of the organization. VIOLET LORRAINE HAS NEW SHOW London, England. Jan. 3.—Violet' Lo- raine, late of the "Alhambra Revue,** 7 is being featured in a new musical show;' pro- duced by Sir Alfred Butt, at "the'Palace Theatre. ISADORA DUNCAN SELLS ESTATE Pabis,. France. Jan.- 3.—Isadora Dun- can, ;ihe.interpretive.dancer, has.disposed of ber Paris property, to the Ministry of Fine Arts, for a consideration of $200,000. - ... TOSCANINI ARRESTED ' -" TimiNj-Italy,- DeCi-'SL-^ArtlrarTos- ranirti.--musical director,' was*'arrested'to-' ' day.''for having assfltilte* a musician. Dur- ing a length^ trial■'he atlmHted attacking a violinist during 'rehearsal' --The judges, however, acquitted Mm; V-- LONDON STRIKE AVERTED London, England, Jan. 4.—The threat- ened strike of stage hands has been averted by a compromise between unions and man- agers. The stage hands had ' formulated demands asking for more pay and a new contract, which had been refused Oscar Asche, who backed the stage hands, said that be would -try. and arrange a com- promise. Accordingly, the managers were induced to make certain concessions-'and the stage hands held a mass meeting and decided to accept them. Under the compromise plan, the pres- ent contract and concessions stand until October, when the two bodies, Managers' and Stage Hands' Unions, will meet to settle the matter definitely. Forty-two theatres were threatened by the strike. It is said that the actors had notified the stage hands they would not go out in sym- pathy. ALHAMBRA HAS MANY CHANGES London, England, Jan. 3.—The Alham- bra Theatre, one of the most beautiful and yet unprofitable of local houses, is undergoing many changes this season. It opened with a dramatic production, bnt not showing the expected results, was opened, as a musical comedy house. Now it is to be a film theatre for one month, after which it will house a Dutch pro- duction by Bernard Hishin, called "Me- dora." When the run of "Medora" is finished, the house wil hold a new revue, with George Robey in the leading role. This will in all probability be the last legiti- mate production at the house, as it is thought likely that Sir Oswold Stoll will run it as a picture palace after that. "DIPPY" DTERS RETURNING London, Eng., Jan. 5 (Special).—Dippy Diers, the American clown, and Flo Ben- nett, who is in his act, set sail from here tomorrow for New. York, after a seven months' engagement here. When they ar- rive in New York they will start work im- mediately and will continue till the end of October, when they return here to fulfill contracts over the Moss time. Joe Michaels will handle the act when it arrives in New York. AMERICAN ACT GOING HOME London, England, Jan. 3.—The Ameri- can vaudeville team, Farr and Farland, who have played in England for several years in addition to touring Africa, Aus- tralia, India and the colonies for English variety interests, sails for New York, aboard the Mauretania, which leaves here on the 6th. The tour over here has been successful, artistically and financially. MEXICAN NATL THEATRE READY Mexico City, Mexico, Jan. 3. — The huge National Theatre which has been in course of construction for the., last seventeen years, will, in all probabllty, be opened on or about September 16th, that being the tentative date, as it is a national' holiday. The house represents an invest- ment of about $15,000,000. "TOSCA" TO OPEN IN MARCH London, England, Jan. 3.—-Ethel Ir- ving's production of "Tosca" in play form is scheduled for a production at Brighton early in March. If conditions at the time will allow, she will bring the play directly into" London, .following its provincial pro-. duction. ... USE TYPEWRITER IN ORCHESTRA • London,. Dec. 16V—In - a new production by the Russian ballet, a typewriter-has been -installed as the newest instrument - in-the orchestra. - . •-" .'■'» ■"■■ ■ ■- SALLY FIELDS OPENS TOUR; " London, Dec 31.—Sally Fields,' Ameri- ' can Variety actress, began'an extended tour of the L. T. V. time last week, opening in Glasgow. TITLED ACTORS MAKING GOOD London, England, Jan. 1.—The number of successful screen artists who are people of title or high social standing is increas- ing daily, inasmuch as they have become film struck and bang around the studioa constantly, seeking opportunities. Among the successful are Unity Moore, leading lady of "Queen's' Evidence," a cousin of Lord Haig, Lady Stapleton, wife of Sir Miles Stapleton, the Hon. - Mrs. Dennis-Wyndham—daughter, of'Lord Inch- cape and the "Poppy. Wyndham" of the bills—her husband, .. the--Hon.- Dennis Wyndham, Sir Simeon Stuart, Miss G wen Williams,-' Mrs. - MaiUand Mabgin Crichton, . Mrs. 'Arthur.. Hamilton and Countess Flora Marie Tolstoi. .'. HICKS JOINS BUTT INTERESTS London, England, Jan. 3.—Seymour Hicks, actor-manager-director, has been added to the directorate of Sir Alfred Butt and win have charge of the stage, and pro- ductions at the Gaiety and Adelphi The- atres. In addition to this, he will pro- duce- several plays of his own and will also act in a few during the coming sea- son. He will play the name part In "De- bareau" and will revive several old ceme- dies, besides putting on some new ones. Among • the revivals will be "School for Scandal.". "REDEMPTION" FAILS IN LONDON London, England, Jan. 3.—Count Leo •Tolstoi's drama, "The Living Corpse," which was produced in America under the title of "Redemption," with John Bar- rymore in the stellar role and which was produced here as "Reparation" has been withdrawn because it failed to get money. Gilbert Miller replaced it with "Julias Ceasar." SHOW FILMS OF "WALES" TRIP London, England, Jan. 3.—Films show- in c the complete tour nf the Prince of Wales through Canada and the United States, taken by the C P. R., -were shown last week at the Royal-Albert Hall and the proceeds of the showing divided be- tween the Middlesex; Great Northern and St. Bartholomew's Hospitals. The film is S.000 feet long. . CARPENTER GETTING $5,000 London,. England, Jan. 3.—Georges Carpentier, the French boxing idol, is ap- pearing at the Paris Alhsmbra, under the direction of Charles Gulliver. He is getting $5,000 a week for his appearance and has also signed for a motion picture product which win net him a large sum of money. j ' MADISON PRODUCTION POSTPONED London, England, Jan. 3.—The new production in which Nat Madison, the young American actor, was to have been featured, has been postponed,'.temporarily, and Madison has signed a contract call- ing for his appearance in one of the lead- ing roles in "His Little Widows" until the new show opens. '.' .-'.,.• FRED HEARNE ROBBED - London, ' England,... • Jan. 3.—Fred Hearne, an actor in the cast of "The Kiss Call," and - understudy for G. P. Huntley, the lead; discovered after returning home from' the matinee last week that'his apart- ment had been entered by burglars, who • got away with valuables- ' and • property amounting to more than $2,500. "BRAN PIE" CAST CHANGES London, England, Jan.. 3'.—Several changes have been made in ".'.'Bran. Pie," the revue now at the Prince of-Wales The- atre. Lee' White has joined the cast, and is now doing a trio with "The Two Bobs." A new 'burlesque has been added', and sev- eral new song" numbers'~ppt u in.; * Miss White'Js one ofthe oig'hits of the show, for she made a huge hit by her work, being very clever.