Variety (Sep 1932)

feft "VABIETY'8" LONDON OFFICE. B St..Martin'* PI., Trwbl**r Sq. FARFItfaM SHO^V NF^^S Cable Address: VARIETY, LONDON, Temple Bar B041-504t ■ Wf_f^PI^ • ^■■^ ▼ ▼ ' w w w tTABlBU'S" PAWB BBPBBSBNTATIVE. 05 Rae Nolle. Cable Address: VAB1NKWS, PAB1S, Marcadot l"*"* Soviet at Olympiad Displays Folksong Lyrics on Dances with Irrigation as Theme By Eugene Lyons Moscow, Aug. 22. Soviet capital also had Its Olym pics, only Instead of being dedicated to sports they were given over to 'the arts—song, dance, theatre, etc. -A national Olympiad of amateur artists,' with 3,000 non-professionals from every corner of the land tak lng part, has Just concluded its eight-day course. • Everywhere in the Soviet Union there are theatrical circles, choirs, • dance groups, artistic clubs. The Olympiad brought representatives of such groups together in Moscow for the first time to do* their stuff, It was a grand show—short on talent, but long on enthusiasm. Show was carried on in 25 differ- ent languages. A feature was to watch how primitive races were adapting their ancient arts to suit Soviet sur- roundings. Songs, centuries old were chanted In the old manner, but in words that celebrated trac- tors,' collective farms', the flveryear plan and other staples of the pres- ent Russian scene. Chinese acro- bats out of VladiVostok put on sym- bolic performances about the revo- lution, although the manner of their work dates back to Confucius. Uzbek dances known to Tamerlane and Ghengis Khan were to be seen in tha park here, with irrigation and Industrialization as their themes .' Purpose of the Olympiad was.to encourage these amateur groups and to teach them the importance of the political Side of their wdrk. Prizes and banners and speeches distributed in abundance. Every- body won. South Africa By H. HANSON '?'■,. Capetown, Aug. 7. ^ . Cold winter snap over here, with .occasional sunshine, and business still low. . Unemployed musicians here get- ting . publicity, through campaign advocating orchestras under, the control of municipalities for public performances. Out-of-work musi- cians complain that members who 'played In cinema orchestras at night held paying day Jobs. The South African Trades and Labor Council has protested to the government over African Consoli- dated Theatres ordering the bronze work for a new. cinema in Cape- town from a Cferman firm, costing £6,600. African Consolidated The- atres' answer to the protest is that tenders were called for and with ohly one reply, and that from a firm with a German name. MILLER PIECE A HIT 'Behold' Grosses $9,000 and Attracts A Library Buy • London, Sept. 5. •Behold We Live,' Gilbert Miller's first production of the season here, seems to have caught oh despite the heat. Last week's receipts about $9,000. Library deal has been made. 'FIRE BIRD'ONE LONDON HIT IN FIVE STARTS London, Aug. 27. Only possible West End success in a week which contained five plays, four of them hopeless, is 'Firebird,' an, Austrian adaptation from a play by LajosZilahy, at the Playhouse.. Gladys Cooper presumably picked the play as it gave her plenty of histrionic opportunities, of which she took here usual advantage. Piece was generally well acted and ap- peared, brilliant alongside Its rivals.' On the previous night 'Paris in London', was produced at the Com- edy. A cheap revue, with the Kom- arova Ballet and A. W. Bascomb Its main draw, it promises little. . Mex. Natl RR Halves Theatrical Co. Rates , Mexico City, Sept. 1. Show biz has obtained breaks that they have sought for a long time. National Railways of Mexico has granted show troups 50% discount in fares. / Local electric light and power company has sliced 40% off its serv- ice rates to theatres of the Federal district JANNINGS' LONDON PLAY Hotfe Piece Replaced By 'Sunset' After Run In Vienna London, Sept. 5. The arrangement that Emll Jan- nings would appear in London in a Mon ckton Hoffe play, has gone awry, and the German star will be seen in London next January in a piece called 'Before Sunset' He Is at present producing the play in Vienna and at the conclu- sion ot its run there - it will be brought to England. Montmartre 'Hostess' Ex Convict's Disguise Paris, Aug. 27. Pepee La Mexicaine, well known to many American patrons of Montmartre dancing halls as a hostess, turned out to be a 'he' iail bird when arrested for lifting a wallet Tves Doleans Is the real name of the man, who is 28. He resorted to feminine disguise to escape the result of numerous convictions. His feminine Impersonation had fooled everybody for a long time. Diamonds Can B'way If Paying London Commish London, Sept. 6. The American agent for the Dia- mond Brothers, who are extensively advertised to open at the Palla- dium here next Monday (12), spoke to George Black, managing direc- tor, of the' house, on the telephone from New York, asking- for a re- lease in order , to make a Broadway show. After much palaver, Black ac- quiesced on condition the Diamonds pay their London agent's commis- sion and return to play the Palla- dium after their New . York show, closes. The Diamonds are set for the Schwab & Mandel show, 'Humpty Dumpty.' Their Broadway agent Is Charlie Morrison. Opens, in Dublin Syracuse, N. Y., Sept. 5. Wally Crlsham, dancer, sails for the other side late this month to open at the Royal theatre, Dublin, Oct 10. He then goes to Londoa and Berlin. Freda Godfrey, popular actress during the late Leonard Rayrie's regime in South Africa, has re- turned for a visit. Johannesburg wants a Repertory theatre and appeals for funds are being made. Mexico Sees Spurt Mexico City, Sept. 1. For the first time in many moons every legit theatre is occupied. Pop prices are prevailing, tops ranging from 30 to 15 cents. Patronage is good, managers report. Improvement of biz in local show field is further demonstrated by fact the owners of the Teatro. Principal changed their mind about tearing down the venerable edifice, one of the oldest of Its kind in the New World. House has been remodelled and is now housing a musical com- edy company. Paris-Readies '5 Star' Paris, Aug. 27. Rehearsals for 'Five Star Final' will soon begin at the Ambassa- deurs. Louis Allen, who put the play on at the Scenic theatre, London, Is here advising Camllle F. Wyn, pro- ducing locally. London Show World London, Aug. 27. Revue House Picketed Sandwlchboard men parading Leicester Square with placards: 'Keep away from the Prince of Wales theatre, where they employ underpaid and sweated musicians.' Where non-union men play for the non-stop revue, since overtime wages demanded by the union are called prohibitive. Count Tourists The total number of foreign tour- ists arriving in England in July was 41)609, of which 16,982 were Ameri- cans. Gamby in London Two newcomers were welcomed to the Palladium week of Aug. 22. Marie Gambarelll, billed 'from the Roxy, New York, who gave two numbers, one a wraithlike toe dance and the other a hectic interpreta- tion of 'The Rhapsody in Blue* to an enthusiastic audience. Samson Breitbart, strong man, received an appreciative, if not sen- sational welcome. 'Cavalcade' Successor 'Cavalcade' ends its run at Drury Lane Sept. 10 and will be succeeded by the Viennese opera, 'Venus in Silk,' staged by Hassard Short. Looks like the hand of Louis Dreyfus, who was recently elected to the directorate. Walk-Out With Mayor Mexico.City, Sept. 1. Civic wrangle which l'esulted in resignation of Vicente Estrada Cajigal, holder of an office that corresponds to mayor, has inspired recently organized Theatrical and Cinema Council to cruit as a mani- festation of loyalty to the cx-mayor. Council, which Included Virginia Fabregas, veteran actress, known as Mexico's Sarah Bernhardt, was composed of, leading players, play- wrights and Journalists. Dare Sisters' Return Phyllis and Zena Dare, most popular of pre-war picture postcard beauties, will return, to the stage after years of retirement, in. a hew comedy to be presented in the fall. Anaemic Play 'Tomorrow Will Be Friday' had its premiere at the Haymarket 23d Marie. Tempest is featured, but even this will not save it. Some clever dialog, a modicum of sentiment, ex cellent acting, adequate production —^all'the accoutrements and capari- soning—but it was still anaemic. Melville Gideon did 15 minutes Of planolog as a curtain raiser; the show itself did hot begin till nearly 9 and was over well before 11, yet the night seemed long. Geraldine and Joe Score Geraldlne and- Joe opened at the Holborn for General Theatres and were a clean-up, with act forced Into encore in front of the 'tabs.' Kids look set' for a long stay over here. Another Breitbart Arthur Georges, who handled Breitbart in. America a few years ago, is handling Samson Breitbart; another strong man act This Breitbart Is a near relative of the other, and is using the name by arrangement Production for Barstows Dick and Edith Barstow are here for a brief stay and open at the Palladium Aug. 29 for two weeks, doubling at the Savoy hotel. They w^ere offered more work be- fore they came, but their visit is short, as they are momentarily ex pecting a cable, to open with a show in New York. London! Likes New ^Gertie^is Garter/ Pop Scale Saves Cliffs Revue MACPONALD COMPROMISE 'Merry Widow' Paris Appearance May End Theatre Suit Paris, Sept 5. Likelihood is that the Galte Lyrlque will amicably settle its dis- agreements with' JeannettS Mac- Donald and withdraw the 'law suits it has filed against the American actress, Bob Ritchie, her manager, and Paramount Negotiations are now on to reach a mutually convenient date at Which Miss MacDonald can make her con- tracted appearance in the 'Merry Widow' revival. Management fig- ures now that even a belated ap- pearance is likely to do them more good than a law suit. LONDON'S COLD SNAP JUMPS SHOW BIZ London, Sept. 5. Week-end business in the West End jumped . 30%. Increase is attributed to the pres- ent cold snap, with the outlook good following the recent terrific heat here. By Edward J. Kurylo Tin Hare Profits The Scottish Greyhound Racing Co. has already paid 66. per cent dividends thus far for the current year. Last year they paid 100 per cent 'Miracle' on Tour In addition to sending 'Cavalcade on tour, Parnell & Zeitlin will take 'The Miracle' to the provinces. It will open in Manchester Sept. 19, playing there three weeks, and for similar periods in Glasgow, Edin burgh and Liverpool, Those Film Luncheons . The best aiid most regularly fed people are the film critics. Almbst daily one or another of the picture companies stages a handout. At this writing (Aug. 24) there arc two free meals—lunch at the Savoy and dinner at the Dorchester. Warsaw, Aug. 20. Opera has had a very hard time In Poland this season. In Warsaw It is no more a municipal institu- tion, but governed by a limited company. In Poznan opera played only for about two months, and in Lwow and Krakow, only a few spo- radic performances. An Operatic company is being formed in Zakopane, in the Tatra mountains. A Society of National Opera to play in larger town in Po- land has! been organized under the direction of Prof. Ramult. The municipal dramatic theatres are now private institutions, under the direction of Mr. Krzywoszeweki, editor of 'The World.' The National theatre (in spite of its name) produced foreign plays, like Mussolini's '100 Days,' Mar- chand's 'Balthazar/ Schiller's 'Don Carlos,' and the English play, Shel- don's'History of Hearts.' Yewrelnow's. hew play; 'Love Un- der the Microscope,' had its pre- miere In Warsaw, and as had G. B. Shaw's 'The Apple-Cart.' The Theatre Letnl played Ver- neuil's 'Bank Nemo,' Walter Ellis' 'Nearly a Wedding Night,' Kledr- zynski's 'Life Is Complicated,' and Wincenty Rapacki's 'A Happy Part- ner.' The municipality had to pay Mr. Wyrzykowski for not using his play 'Lucifer,' ^contrary to an agree- ment. ' . Teatr Polski produced Bruckner's 'Elizabeth, Queen,' Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet,' Katayew's 'De- fraudants,' and two Polish plays, one of Czyzowski's 'Virtuti Milltarl,' and the other Grzymala-Sledlecki's 'Their Daughter-ln-Law.' Teatr Maly produced Fodor's 'Doctor Julia Szabo,' and some plays of Polish authors. Teatr na Chlodnej was a losing proposition from the start and only produced a play of Mlddleton and Olivier's 'The Fiancee from the Roof,' when the theatre caught fire. The owner, says that actors started that fire, but couldn't prove .it. Bad business in Polski caused the stage hands' union to strike. The show was called off, and at Maly office clerks shifted the scenery. The 'Ateneum' produced 'I Am 26 Years Old,' 'School of Hyprocrisy,' Buchner and Tolstoy's 'Dan ton's Death,* Porche's 'Tzar Lenin,' Za- polska's 'Miss Maliczewska,' and Janusz Korczak's 'Senat of Mad- men.' Morskie Oko went into bank- ruptcy, but. is doing well now. A sign of the times—one of the best tenors In Poland sings at a revue theatre. Morskie Oko played 'Hello Amer- ica' with Margaret Donaldson (American) and Anton Nelle of Warsaw, who spent some time in U. S. A. Oko now is turning to na- tive ideas, such as 'Happy Journey.' Loda Halama, leading Polish revue dancer, was injured in an auto crash. Qui Pro Quo was renamed for a short time 'Melodrama' and pro- duced 'The Dreyfuss Affair,' but soon came back to its old name. Dymitry Smirnow, opera singer, is performing there. Ananas produced a revue, 'Flower from Hawaii.' ■.' , New rovue theatre, Banda, under London, Sept. 5. 'Getting Gertie's Garter,' m Wood's old farce has Anally showed, up here, though in a revised Brit, ish version. It's re'tltled 'Night of the Garter* and is at the Strand Received, if possible, more laughs than the original New York pro- duction and got splendid box -office and critical reception. '< '. •Rhyme and Rhythm' at the'Win-, ter Garden Is an unpretentious re- vue starring ' Laddie Cliff and Phyllss Monkman.. Contains much old material and little that is fresh. Value of the show itself is practic- ally nil, but Cliff's popular price policy, with a $2 top may get a play from the influx of tourists and that way hold on for a couple of weeks. a clever manager, Jarossy (Hun- garian), has offered a series of new and fresh ideas. Dygas, a singer from Warsaw opera, was singing there at one time recently. Dancers of Polish nationality have . lately come Into notoriety. One kirl ". dancer killed her lover in.' Nice, France; another girl was killed by her lover in Lodz; then recently a dapcer was sentenced to life im- prisonment as a . spy, -and a man who killed the dancer Wlelgosowna got eight years' sentence. Though this country is mad on girl group dancing, it is far. from having Tiller girls. The Labor Ministry is again re- minding the theatres not to employ too many foreigners, but the public wants them. Polzawld, revue artists' organiza- tion, is trying to stop performers from working later* than 2 a. m. Lwow had a sensation when Szyller, one of the so-called advance producers, was accused of circulat- ing, communist propaganda. . Szyller was. a producer. at. the Municipal theatre and had to resign- on ac- count of producing Tretlakbw's play, 'Rpar China.' Poznan has produced .'Honorary Affair,' a comedy of Dunin-Markle- wiqz, husband of Countess Markie- wicz, the Irish patriot . Krakow celebrating anniversary" of Goethe staged 'Efmont.' ■ Elmer Rice'* 'Street Scene' also was pro- duced there. \ - Victor Bregy, tenor, from Warsaw opera, was engaged for' Opera Com- Ique in Paris. Dodo, revue artist got six months in jail for reckless driving. Roland, another artist, had been killed in his car. Wanda Werminska, ■ a soprano from Warsaw opera, who is called the Polish Jerltza, is engaged for a season to Vienna opera. Jan Klepuro, who sang In the Chicago opera, has. a' song-bird brother, who appears under the name of Ladis. ZASP is going to have a theatre of its own of more than 1,700 seats, with a hotel for the artists. Szyfman, Tuwlm and Jarossy have agreed to conduct Polski, Maly and Banda together. Nowaczynski has written a play, 'An American Comedy.' Argentina gave a recital, very well liked. Joseph Rolidzynski has been ap- pointed director in the. Central Film Office in the Ministry of Interior. Though business is very bad in Warsaw, 16 theatres are running, not counting cinemas. Miss Bolska and Mr. Zdanowicz, revue artists, left Poland for U.S.A. •Chopin's prize, which is given every five years in Poland, was won by a Russian, Uninsky, and the sec- ond prize went to Imre Ungar, a young, blind Jewish pianist from Hungary. Unemployed artists are having a hard time in Poland. Late opera singer, a tenor from Odessa, is sing- ing in the streets, and one can hear a very good orchestra under the baton of former member of the Philharmonic organization. In Adrla, the popular dancing place, a young barrister has become a 'gigolo.' More and more the women are coming Into prominence in War- szawa's artistic field: Miss Solska runs Zoliborz theatre, Miss Wy- socka will be the manageress of Municipal theatre in Lodz; another woman conducts Jaskolka theatre. And of the five biggest dancing schools in the city, three are run by women. Municipality has informed moving - pictures managers that it will re- duce taxes if the film renting scale is reduced. In Polish Silesia a boy- cott, against German and American r .renting offices was effective. Latest talk is that taxes for films will be fixed by the municipality and a rep- resentative of the Society of Kino .owners. Cinema houses adopted a resolu- tion not to play revues. 'Wild Fields' touted as Hie best Polish film turned out a weak sister.