Variety (April 1932)

iWAUiErct'S" PABIS OTFICE, Tarla Bidr., 15 BoDlerard d«8 ItallenR FARFI^M C!UA^^ WIBT^A/C ' jg^Ag^w: VABlNE Wfl, PARIS, Central 01-67 ; Loarr», 62.15 ■^WalHlPI^ 9nVTT I^BITT^ •TABIETT'SV LONDOK OFFICE. 8 S». Mnrtln'n PI., TrnfalKar Sq. Cablo Addresv: VARIBTY, LONDON, Temple Dar 5041-SM2 53 IGladys Cooper London Comedy Hit, Other Wiest End Newcomers Mild liondoh, April .4. •Doctor Pygmalion' at the Play- fcbuse Is a -witty comedy o£ matfi- ^nlal adventures starring Gladys ijoopcr. Tiells the story p£ an ailing ^Ife -whose beauty Is restored by Me medico rriaJtlng love to her. • ■ jlies, cooper and Itoriald Squire ftoth received plaudit^ on bponihg S^ht a;nd the show scpred nicely, ^cellent notices In the. dallies fcjesage a healthy career. •Precious Bane' at, Saint Martin's ii*n adaptation from. Mary Webb's iovel. It -was originally tried out 4t the Embassy and accorded gen. iraliy favorable notices. , Piece Is too somber, however, for. popular yrest End a,ppeal. *. . • A new type of Cinderella stpry Is. •[ Lived With Tou,? written by Ivor Kfovello for himself/ produced nt the Prlnc© of Wales, March 23. jjooks like a hit.'. • ■ Story, which has a deft and Iii- ieresting slant, tells hoyr a lower- middle class girl meets a,pennlliess Russian prince at Hampton Court, sear Ldpdon playground, -where the Bobleman fiaints .fropi hunger. . She' takes him home, .where, In- stead of doing the Prince Charm* Ing, he Upsets everything, teaching the mother.: to drink Vodka, the father to cheat and Heep la mistress, the sister to have an affair with fcer employer. ■ The Continental point of view, puB contrasted with the simpler t^Dgllsh lower class life, Is set forth through the medium of comedy-dlalojg. Criterion, 'Musical Chairs,' opened April 1. It was originally tried .first at. the Arts theatre. It proved" a gloomy although well-wx'Itten play, •xcellehtly acted" but doubtful com- inerclally. •Marriage by Purchase' closed at fKe dfUTick April 2 after nine days, isaklng the tenth play withdrawn after less than 18 performances. - Dutch Tax Total Off . '. Amsterdam, March 25. A.musement tax revenues of .Ams- terdam are on down grade. Follow- ing figures of this year's business tad in parentheses previous year's teturns: Legit: $100,000 ($108,000); concerts, $40,000 ($4€,000); cinema, ♦JZdiOOO ($353,660); sports and cir- cuses. $161,000 ($140,000). TThe higher fligiirea of last item, Irhlle all the others were lower, are <^'u8ed by Sarrasanl Circus; at- tendence of football matches (all tilg Internatiohal football matches playe4 there In stadlon built for Olympic games held there four years ago) about on same level but rise flue to that circus only. The Hague, March 25. —>During summer the town of Gron- Ingeii had all the cinema's closed as t'result of a controversy between proprletbria and city autheritles over imusement tax. • .'It'looks as If same trouble Is com- ing over Nyniegeii now, a. good- sized' town in" south 'of Holland. Towri' council there-proposes raise ^usement tax on binemas from 20 to 2B%. • , Owners wrote letter to city au- ■Ihorlties that If this new tax Is Imposed houses will go dark. TyitoriaVas Tab , liOndoh, April 4. 'Oscar Denes and Barbara ioiu go Into the Palladium on April 18 In ttcerpts from 'Vlktorla and: Her Hussar/ musical which had a nice .►un at the Drury Lane.. •Engagement is for two weeks at *,Balary of $1,350. Pavilion Try-Out Idea _ . London, April 4. pavIHon's litest l^f a program >ttade up of newsreels plus several ^udevine acts mostly unknown. Auditions for acts are now In prog- pess by. Archie X>ebear. who will be " charge. ' Idea is the outcome of WIndrhiU weatre's Revuedeville success, - McLeod Now O.K. London, April 4. Tex McLeod, recently frowned «IK»n by the Home omce, is return- He. .opens the Palladium show *»ay 2 with . the Mayfalr Hotel J^Daret show to follow. Eng. Hotel Rates Down To Encourage Toursism London, March 26. American vlsltoris tii! London this -yc&r arc. likely to find the hotels cheaper than usual, but. If any- thing, more enjoyable. AH the British catering factions are busy devising, schemes whereby hotels both. in London, and the English coastal resorts will be as snappy as possible this year. ; The. argument Is that the ■ fall of the piourid abroad will bring more visitors to England "tlian usual, land the sudden rlsing^pros- perity of the riitlon will be in-, creased If the visitor Is widely pre- paried for, In consequence hotel rates generally will be down. . The leading hotels for American, visitors in London, the Carltdh, Berkeley,. May . Fair, Dorchester, Grosvcnor House, Sayoy, Ritz; Park Lane and . Piccadilly cover prac- tically every taste from abroad. . LONDON SHOW WORLD London, March 25. ErCorts are being made to save the Embassy, originally London's try-out theatre. Recently it was announced to go over to the talkers this summer, but latest: developments suggest this Is riot ceirtaln.- . R. Jackson, the film exhibitor, o'f- fered $300 a week at par for the rental of the theatre as a film house, but a legitimate \ syndicate has now put up $200 and public subscriptions, which are to be sta.rted shortly, will possibly ad- vance the rental. — Gaumont Palace Opening Arthur Jarratti booker for Gaii- moht . British, Is supeirvising the opening of the Gaumont Palace, Hammersmith, next week. This London suburban hpiise seats more than 4,000, with an admission charge ranging from 20 cents to 75. Two features and 30 minutes va- riety, backed by a band combina- tion of 40 musicians, make up the program. ; The proscenium opening of this de-lUxe house is the greatest In England. Old Star .Dies Poor Nellie Richards, known to many film people during the last few years, died in poverty March 20. Once a star in Alhambra bills, headllner at leading theatres, arid toast of the clubs 20 .years back, she eked out a precarious livirig for years posing for advertisemerits and doing bits in local films. Howard and Wyndhani's, theatri- cal proprietors, announce an oper- ating profit of $150,000 at par for last year against $225,000 the year before. The net profit fell to $80,000. The company.acquired the Opera House, Manchester, in 1931. Booking Peace The booking schism between Gau- mont British and United Artists has been partially healed. Gaumont has taken 'Anowsmith' for the whole of the circuit thus reviving their trading relations with U. A.; with more to follow. ' With M-G-M getting regular re- leases through G. B.; the only big American firm to miss the major combine here Is Paramount, which only plays an occasional film through G. B. per Pa'ys 1$%- Provincial Cinematograph The- atres, controlled by Gaumont Brit- ish sliows a trading profit for last year of nearly $2,500,000 dollars, only a slight decrease on the year before. A-15% dividend on ordinary stock has again been declared. Efforts arc being made to turn Daly's, traditional home of English musical comedy, into a talker the- atre. ' Wise ones are saying the satura- tion p<)int In West End film seating capacity has already been passed. Framing Cook Revue London, April 4. John Murray Anderson left for iParls Friday (1) to look over some material for the Prince Edward Revue that Joe Cook is going into. He'll return in a few days to negotiate for some London name.s, with Dorothy Dickson arid Violet Lorraine pending. In Bel^imn, Too Brussels, March 25. The Belgian Minister of Industry has been requested by unemployed musicians, supported by the Brus- sels Artist-Musicians' Union, to take steps to prevent foreign mu- sicians obtaining engagements In this country. It is unlikely that any measures wilt be taken. Frendi Theatres iyi Go Dark One m . Paris, Aprir 4. Politics has licked French show folks, with the heavy taxes still uii- relleved and the talked pic tlieatre strike of legit and picture houses off. A.G a gestiure all the houses will go .dark tomorrow (5) for the one day. V After legit and picture folks here got together on a proposed shut- down of ail theatres. Premier Tar- dlieu called them together and prom- ised them a 5% ciit In Pairls legit taxes arid a 3%/cut in legit taxes on the road. Also he promised, a special appropriation for picture producers .and got the showmen to accept the terms. Parliament, however, refused to okay the ministerial offer and sub- stituted a 1)111 cutting Paris legit taxes only 2^At % and road legit taxes 40%. Relief for . music halls and pictures was turned down flat^ Government's red tape methods preclude any further relief before Fall since the Parliament won't consider anything now due to the forthcoming elections and the sum- mer recess. . What makes the riiatter worse for showmen is that the public opinion throughout has remained Indifferent. Duo to all theatres preparing for the one-day strike no openings are on the" schedule for either legit or fllni houses, all of theni resorting to holdovers for the time being. Chariot's London Piece .. Londori, April 4. Andre Chariot is preparing a new cortjedy 'Faces' for the Comedy Theatre. Scheduled to open April 19, See Italian Theatre FuDy Governed By State; Cite 40% Admission Cut Tryout Bill and Line Shows London Profit London, March 24. 'Revucdeviile' at- the. Windmilli consisting , of a dozen unkno^yn acts, krid backed by a permanent troupe of chorines, has clicked arid is making a profit of $750 a. week, with; a seating capacity of 318. .Several West iSnd houses are now Considering trying, the experiment arid there may be room for one. more Such house. The pregerice of a saloon where people can drink through boriug nuniberis.. gives Revuedeville an edge over the filrii theatres, where bars are not allowed. Playing coritinubus, the stunt serves as an admirable resting place for an odd hour, $460,000 nCGADIUY OFFER; COST |1,350,000 London,'April '4. Directors of the Picadllly theatre niet Friday (1) to discuss the offer of at private syndicate wishing to purchase the house. Figure quoted is about $460,000, with $76,000 to be paid Immediately and th^ balance within two years. Theatre originally cost $1,350,000 four years ago. Thought the sale under the prtJ- jected terms is not likely, although the directors haven't come to a de- cision. Another oifer being weighed Is by ain Independent group of pic- ture house owners who would like to rent the house for five years at $38,000 yearly, with this offer the more likely one to go through. LONDON STMPH'S TROUBLES London, March 26. London Symphony Orchestra, noted combination liere, is in a bad way. Its last eight prbvlnclal con- certs lost around $3,500. .Felix Welngartner led the orches- tra March 14 to enthusiastic ap- plause and scant box-office support. BUTCH CO. BANKEUPT Amsterdam, April 4.. Royal Stage Company, Ltd., has gone bankrupt, as was expected; Result is that 50 more actors are unemployed. Australia By Eric Gorrick Sydney, March 12. Stuart F. Doyle, head of Greater Union Theatres, declares the organ- ization under his control' Is' no longer under the dictates of the bankers, and the new brgariliatlon is liquidating all. the debts Incurred by the old Union Theatres' group.. Since Jan. 1, when G. U. T. started In on its new policy with M-G-M, United Artists, Universal and Brltisli International, the entire circuit has been successful, he says. Distributors are getting more but of their pictures than before by. reason of playing all pictures on a percentage basis. . . Doyle admitted that early last yoar his chain lost $100,000 in one riiohth. "Ehis year the new coriipany. made $50,000 In a few weeks., Doyle denies any report that outside inter- ests have been sought to buy into the new company. The State, Sydney, ace house of the chain, Is in the permanent con- trol of the riew company and: cannot pa.«;5 to other hands because all the ordinary stock is in the control of G. U. T. Doyle stfesfjcd the fact that he has abandoned the idea .of running dual feature weekly change' grind policy, which has been in vogue in Australia for years, and Is special-^ Izirig with, holdovers in the key Cities, running. attractlonK two, three or four ■weohs, according to buslnos.s. Doyle denied slatement.g that the old U.. T. brgnnizaiion owed large Slims of money to Paramount for film hire. The only debt outstand- ing, ho aald, was for one Week'.s^ film hire amoundng to iiu22, which would be li'iuldftted when' Para- mount got together with Doyle cm tho film jsitnatlcm. Doyle. olf?o .said thftt the o;'t U. T. paid Paramou^nt in r.i.«h $400,000. G. U. T. .still re- tain their intere^t.s in the Carroll outfit, .whlf-li gives them consldii;r- able .say in the management oC the Queensland '^nterprieee. ' • Finally, Doyle said, 'G. U. T. is paying out weekly around $15,000 and Is settling on a strictly, weekly basis, desires no credit as it has a $250,000 cash trading appropriation, has no debts, and is trading at a profit.' — Thrills Australian atidlences are turning to thrillers, with locals asking for raw meat for their oritcrtalnment. 'Dracula' started the vogue by turning in capacity In .Sydney for Greater Union. . Police had to be called opening day to quell near riot. Picture figured on doing about $14,- 000 on the flnst week. . Princo Edward doing nice busi- ness with 'Alexander Hamilton' SvIH pull picture of£ this week and re- place with 'Dr. .Tekyli and. Mr. Hj-dc' 'Frankenstein' Is due this morith, and expected to pull big. . . Management of the Hpyt chain expects the brganization will declare a 1932 dividend. Trade generally, since the inception of the Xew.Yoar, has been bright, c.'<pccially in the weekly change ace honse.s. Hoyts also figure ori buying up more nabc houses, thus enabling them to op- erate probably the biggest chain of riabo .theatres In Australia. Hoyts was the only outdt to ,show a profit in .1931. Charles iluhro, managing; direc- tor, is at present in Xew.York con- ferring with .the Fox people on :the Au.stralian situation. Munro will no doubt prove to the Fox and Chase concerns that Au<:tralia ha.s now passed over ihc worst of the depression era and will soon enter upon a! come-back. Besides Fox; Hoyts arc running Paramount, IIKO and AVrirrier pro'luotions, and lj.'i,''k- Ing e.if)! picture with a .strong .stage ontcrtainnient. ?s'o .squawks froni the manage- ments concprrilhg husin^.'-s being pulled this wcf'k. All around busi- ness Is genf-rally •Ijri;,^!!; and looks like continuing until aftf:r the KaH- tcr celebrations.' Rome, March 20. A revolution is taking place In the theatre Iri Italy. Not only in the drama but also in opera, comedy, vaudeville and practically every section of the show buSIneSSi The, revolution is taking place; slowly, arid nobody Is announcing it as such, but it is riotiD the less; pror cecding. Wliat is cbmlrig is a State theatre, with' State. players and State management. The country Is already half way to this ideal and various signs show the progress of the movement. Nor can It be said to be altogether a bad thing,' for the old private en- terprise theatre.ls just about, bank- rupt ii> this, country. There are many signs of the new trend. Among the! latest is the 40%. reduction in prices of theatre .seats granted by or Imposed on the Roman theatrical managements in favor of atU mem- bers of. the pasclst: organizitiori known as the "Dopoiayorb" Move- ment. This means literally After Work Movement, and may be. trans- lated Workmen's Spare Time Movef- ment. The meriibers of the Fascist Workmen's Spare Time Movement run Into the hundreds of thousands, so the. patronage of this huge class: riiay prove extremely useful to the failing. theatres In spite of the big cut of 40%. Result of this new rule amounts to a democratization of the theatre such as has never yet been attempt- ed here, and probably In very few other countries. It meqjis a . new class of theatre a.udience altogether, and It should be remenibered that the 40% reduction applies to all types of seats, and 'will be extended to other cities shortly. Certainly this theatrical business In Italy Is in a bad way.. One thing is certain, the. Worker's Spare Timis Movement has begun to create a new theatrical public. Part of the organization of the Spare Timers Includes amateur theatres as well as cheap cinema houses for mem« bers of the association .only.. The railroadmen In Rome and the post and telegraph workei-s have, both splendid theatres of their own fitted with all modern devices and Im- provements. They do plays and have developed the beginnings of a new theatrical cuU. Now the com- mercial theatre of the country is to be. offered to therii at the 40% re- duction. Gov't's Theatriicai Bureau Another step towards an eventual State theatre organization is the creation of the "Corpbrazione dello Spettacolo," or Guild, of the show business, a government Institution recently created for organizing the entertalnriient Industry. This body deals tvlth Subsidies to opera houses and theatres, regulates the hiring and firing of actors and musicians, and acts like a governnjent theatri- cal bureau. Private agents- still exist, and there is nothing In the law. hindering private theatrical enterprise, but the tendency is all running towards state organization of the entire show business. It does not seem exaggerated to say that in five or .six years the show busi- ness may be practically a govern- ment department in Italy. Grand opera is being demiocratlzed, too, .The seml-stato Institution called the "Lyric Chariot of Thes- pls" has announced Its program for 1932. This reveals that the travel- ing opera company, which goes by this rianie, is to bring opera to the poorer classes. The company has excellent equipment, and this, year two movable stages are to be car- ried by motor truck. Good singers and a first class orchestra are at- tached to the company, . It's another .stop in the domo- oratizatlbn of the arts which is the present policy of the Italian gbv- crnment. . Summer Economy On London, April 4. Plaza is dispensing with Its hotiso orchestra and presentations after April 14. Ambro.se and his Moyfair Hotel orchestra will be u.sgd instead.. lieplaoement l.s for the summer months, during which time it is es- timated the house-will save -.nearly $.1,000 weekly, . v Thcalrc will limi up a new orchf s- tra In tlie fall and will revert to it.i &l.:ngan presentations.