Variety (April 1933)

40 LONDON OFFICII 8 0t. Mnrtln'8 Place, i;nfalcar Sqaara FOREIGN SHOW NEWS Cable Addr«^;''TABimV, lANDMlK . T«leplione: T«mple Bwe 5Mt«sA4B English Equity Agitates NiiW Deal On Standard Contract Conditions London, Apfll 3. Actor's Guild met here today (3) and decided to frame a new stand- ard contract. Idea is to make thiners easier for actors on several important counts. Many members of the Actors' Guild are also mem- bers of Actors' Equity in the U. S. Resolution was adopted to ap- prove formation of a committee to agree on the new standard contract. This, it was stipulated, must include payment to actors per performance rather than pei- week, as well as payment of some sort for rehearsal periods. Another proposed clause would force the management to supply alT clothes used by actors. Several of those present at the meeting voiced their opposition to continuance of closed shop, but nothing was done on this matter, ^ith present conditions continuing. Generally felt, and pointed out, that there's been too much rehears- ing in recent years with no pay and that actors get the worst out of cancelled productions or shows which suddenly curtail activities. Ten Aostralia Weeks Connors & Paul Idea LONDON SHOW WORLD CERMAN STARS FLOCK TO STACES OF VIENNA Vienna, March 22. After an almost two years' (675 peirjrmances) run of the 'Welsse ROBl,' Ernst Marlschka, In the Stadttbeater, has 8ta.rted a new big musical revue, 'Gluck muss nutn baben.' Once more the Earner's atmosphere, so successful In the 'Welsse Rosl' run. Tarn has been doctored by Marlschka and Herman Felner, but it's very modem and snappy, with a good musical score by Anton Profes, and put over In big style. Opening of the show was a big event, with Cochran (London), Shu- bert (N. Y.) and Dreyfus (Paris) in the audience. ' Mistmguette at Ronacher's Another one of the big Uem^ In present Vienna show biz Is Mis- ttnguette, who is at Ronacher's -with a cast of 80. Mlstinguette's name etill means a lot with the Vienna fans. . One of the big successes of the season is Fritz Krelsler's musical comedy, 'Sissy,' starring Paula Wessely and playing to capacity for more than thr^e months so far. For the rest'of the season, big things are still ahead, by way* of the annual visits of some of the leading German stars. Max Pallen berg is due in April, and so are Werner Kraus, Maria Bard and Lulse Rainer. Gitta Alpar (unless she books for London to step into poor Anni Ahler's shoes and keep 'His Majesty's' show going, which, by the way, she was originally scheduled for, with poor Anni eventually substituting for her). Gitta Alpar might also pay her first professional visit to Vienna end of this season, a 'debut' eagerly ex- pected in Vienna. $150,000,000 Gross London, March 24. Addressing a meeting of the Royal Empire Society (London) March 20, Simon Rowson cited film statistics. He said 960,000,000. people paid $150,000,000 for admission to pic- tures in Britain last year. Of this amount $24,000,000 was entertain- ment tax. At the time the quota bill went Into effect the English picture houses showed 95% to 97% of Amer- ican films. At the present moment this figure has been reduced to 82%. Rowson failed to mention that the drop in percentage of American- shown pictures may have been oc- casioned by the quota bill which make It compulsory to show native product. Sydney, March 16. Mike Connors and Queienle Paul will leave f }r America this week In search of talent for their vaude- revue chain in Sydney and Mel- bourne. Acts will te offered a ten weeks' contract with the option of a longer stay If successful. Connors and Paul control the only vaude-revue attrac- tions playing here at present. For many years they were associated with the Fullers, but branched out on their own. It Is believed by many that vaude could stage a comeback provided suitable acts could be gotten. Un- fortunately economic conditions have all been against a revival try. Pavilion Bill London Pa^-lUon newcomers, week of March 20, total four. Outatand- ers are Ralph Holbein, German com- edy cartoonist. Holbein draws at lightning speed, figures becoming animated as completed. Good com- edy. Horton Spurr, American comedy dancer, has several laughs, new here. Dancing is his mainstay. Charles Austin and Fred Malcolm get laughs here and there, but is let down due to weak finish. Nancle Lovat and Michael Cole, musical comedy names, are too quiet for this house. Bill Just fair, with nothing outstanding. At the close of 'While Parents Sleep,' at the Garrlck (at present London's longest run) Leon M. Lion will stage an army play dealing with India by two army oflScers, entitled Beggars in Hell.' MUSICAL 'APPLEJACK' IN LONDON HAILED AS HIT London, April 3. 'He wanted Adventure,' at the Savllle Is a musical version of 'Cap- tain Applejack.' Bobby Howes Is featured In the cast and the show looks like a huge sufecess. Critics were Indifferent to the piece, but the audience reception was splendid and the call for tickets looks good. There was a musical version of •Captain . Applejack* produced in New York under the title of 'Cap- tain Jinks' about seven years ago. It played at the Martin Beck The- atre with Joe E. Brown and Louise Brown and was fairly successful. Going Places (Continued from page 11) g^st to her audience that she is In- deed grateful for the opportunity to sing to them, and yet at the same time do not let them lose sight <-f the fact that after all she is a prima donna. So Miss Moore Is singing to the Capitol audiences this week utterly gracious In the low sweep oC her bows, the frequency of her warm, friendly smile, but maintain- ing an air of indubitable classiness withal. Her costume, for Instance, Is re- fined and sweet, but sweet in a most dignified way. Its delicate grey chiffon is politely accented with salmon pink turban, gloves and handkerchief. Miss Moore's make- up too is restrained; though she does use green eye shadow, she blends it smoothly. 'Music' Cast for London? Oscar Hammersteln II and Louis Dreyfus off to Berlin. Object Is for Hammersteln to look over 'Bal um Savoy,' ('Ball at Savoy'), currently at the Schausplelhaus, Berlin, and dtie at the Drury Lane In the fall. Hammersteln Is to do the English adaptation, and also decide If It Is suitable for America. 'Music In the Air,' which Is the next for His Majesty's theatre, la having casting troubles. It is now likely most of the American cast will be brought chrer to play in the English production. One thing Is certain, that the part of 'Frieda Hatzfeld' will be played by Peggy Wood. DUTCH ANTI-AIIEN MOVE The Hague, March 26. Agitation of home against foreign talent in concer halls, cafes and on the stage, kept up. The Home Of- fice has now installed a royal com- mission to investigate the matter. Chairman is the manager of the Hotel Wittebrug at The Hague, Commission has as task to report on measures so that the. act against dlleh labor In Holland, passed by Parliament In 1980, should be amended to restrict influx of foreign artists. Bookers Dreams Booking offices, according to the New Roxy stage show 'At the Book Ing Office,' are quiet, decorous rooms where bookers fall asleep at their desks and dream dreams of vaude vllle and radio acts going consclen tlously through their routines. The doors of their offices are at tended by a line-up of page girls in salmon velvet leotards with sll ver cloth down the front, a lively troupe which used to be known as the Roxyettes, but now have changed their billing to the Stream line Rockets. They double, in the bookers' dreams, to the little imps who Inhabit Ink wells, fanciful sprites who pour out of their red and blue containers dressed appropri< ateiy in red and blue satin leotards with matching stockings and ink bpttl^ stopper hats, who clamber over the side of the desk and down to the floor, the red girls quite as hearty as the bluett and of equal number. Pookers, it appears further, keep books on their desks supported by bookend gold and black statuettes who In their dreams turn out to be tango dancers, Myrlo and Sarlnc, for example. The figurine on their desk blotters is just as apt to be Sunny O'Dea as not, and if It is Miss O'Dea, they're lucky, for in her silver bell-hop costume, whlskod into smartness with full puffed sleeves and violet velvet shirt, gloves and cap, she'd brighten any body's slumber. Frances Langford in white and crystal, sings into a microphone hidden behind a pen. that's how the size of bookers' desk compare to the stature of their acts I—when they're dreaming. Betty Haddon, only 13 years old, has had two songs published. She is the daughter of Archibald Had- don, a former dramatic critic, and for years publicity man for Sir Oswald Stoll at the Coliseum. Casting London 'Music' Oscar Hammersteln here casting Music In the Air.' Those likely to be signed are Ivor Novello, Lea Seldl and Dorothy Hyson. Under- stood Hammersteln, Jerome Kern, Louis Dreyfus, Jack Buchanan and Howard & Wyndham financially In- terested In venture. Show Is Intended for His Majesty's to follow 'The Dubarry/ which was scheduled to close In May. But the suddei^ death of Anny Ahlers has altered arrangement, and stop-gap may have to be found for theatre before 'Music' Is ready. Slates Get Writ Slate Brothers have issued a writ against E. Remnant, who Is behlhd the John Southern syndicate op- erating the London Pavilion, claim- ing two weeks' salary and 4amaees. Act was- booked at the Pavilion for a fortnight, with a fortnight option, and was cancelled after the first day, with the management al- leging their material was too blue. Writ was served on March 17, with defense due In 11 days. Nothing but 'Buts' Herbert Wilcox, of British & Do- minion Films, cabled to the Bos- well Sisters to play in the next Jack Buchanan picture, 'Stand Up and Sing,' due early in May. The girls cabled back they, would do so at $3,500 a week, plus five return fares, and they cannot stay for moreHhan seven weeks. But they were not free till the fall. Playhouse Change 'Flies In the Sun' closes at the Playhouse March 25. Lawrence Oli- vier, playing opposite Gladys Coo- per, In 'The Rats of Norway,' which follows, with Raymond Massey pro- ducing. Unions Vs^, Theatres (Continued from page 7) one-month truce between the two rates for negotiations on new scales. Reject Union Proposal Offer was rejected by John Kala- fat, representing small exhlbs, who want a 36% reduction or one man Instead of two In each booth for $83 weekly, In addition to elimination of stage hands who average $83.60 now. • Although unions squawk that theatres dnn't want to reopen until Lenten season is over, Kalafat an- swered nabes would take off the shutters this week If operators would offer 'reasonable relief. Battle between labor and down*- town circuits Is more confusing and bitter, due to two sides taking different interpretations of proposed settlements. In their most recent offer. Using Mayor Ray Miller as an Intermediary, unions issued the fol- lowing terse ultimatum: 'We will accept 75% of the wages to which we are legally entitled and negotiate privately with reps of each group of theatres the matter of the remaining 25%.' Reply of theatre managers, signed by Col E. A. Schiller and H. M. Addison^- of Loew's, J. J. Franklin, of BKO, and Nat Wolf, of Warner's, Is complicated. Unofficially, It Is understood the musicians' refusal to consider the demanded wage reduction is the chief fly In the ointment for the- atremen. Until the musicians' local Is willing to talk turkey. Pal- ace and State managers won't promise to restore vaude, and It Is this factor that Is holding up all definite agreements. Civic Shows Unable to get any of the parties to declare a truce. Mayor Ray T. Miller Is now Intending to form an arbitration board to break the dead- lock which Is keeping about 2,000 theatre men Idle, lowering the pub- lic's morale through loss Jtt enter- tainment and costing the entire city a reputed $1,000,000 a day. Mayor also Is pushing a bill through local legislature to permit municipal Alms to be shown in Pub- lic Auditorium. Since all big-time pictures are sewed up by major cir- cuits, It is problematical if any suit- able product can be secured. How- ever, Robert McLaughlin, manager of the city's auditorium and former manager of Ohio, Is going ahead with plans to book in vaude and leglt attractions if available. Only houses open now in the whole town are the Main, with a negro burly policy; the Play House, a little theatre; the Gayety's stock burlesk, which Is reported to have been partly taken over by the Mln- skys, and Hanna. At latter house William Etzel is fronting for a group of local promoters who booked In 'Malay Nights,' Indle pic, and half-a-dozen vaude acts from Chicago for current week. Little drama theatres also flour- ishing as result of shut-down, while town's cafes and night clubs showed a spurt in biz. Managers of pic houses in nearby towns report that their biz has trebled, due to some movie fans being willing to drive 30 miles to see a picture. Dark Holy Week The Whitehall management emu- lating: Gaiety and closing 'Road House' for Holy Week, Walter Hackett showing confidence in a prolonged run, by re-dressing the show for Easter. BEINHAEDT TOiniIN& Stockholm, March 15. Max Reinhardt is contemplating a Scandinavian tour In April with the Deutches Theatre Company. Negotiations are under way to present von Hoffmansthal's 'The Great World Theatre' at the Na- tional theatres in the three Nordic capitals, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo. L'il Arthur Goes French Paris, March 24. TIte plans for a series of shorts featuring Jack Johnson in sporting activities have failed. The ex-champ, who wishes to re- main permanently in Paris, has opened a gymnasium and will teach boxing to the French. Maugham's Berlin Success Berlin, March 24. Somerset Maugham's play 'For Services Rendered' has scored a considerable success in the 'Komo die,' one of the Kurfurstendamm houses formerly operated by Max Reinhardt. Indpis' 17>/2% Cut Indianapolis, April 3. Operators took a 17%% wage re- duction, and the stage hands of from 10-16% after theatre owners and international officials from New York arbitrated here last week. Mayor Reginald H. Sullivan de- serves a lot of credit in bringing out good results of the conferences. When the theatres announced they were going to close, the mayor called union leaders together, and they agreed to a truce for one week opening the channel for the conferences. Under the compromise, contracts with the stage hands will expire August 24, with the new wage schedule going into effect at once. William C. Elliott, president of the International Stage Hands' and Operators' Union, and E. J. Tinney, both of New York, were the union conferees. Wisconsin's Closings Milwaukee, April 3. Labor and economic conditions were given as the reason for clos- ing theatres in four Wisconsin cities by Saxe Enterprises and the Warners. Racine, Applcton, Keno- sha and Sheboygan are the places affected, although It Is said that more closings may be in order in Other communities. Closings will not affect Mil- waukee houses. Local loop oper- ators are' now getting about $50 a week Instead of $77.20 for a six hour day, seven days a week as before. Tabs in Emergency San Francisco, April 3. Dan Markowltz planning musical tab shows for his Embassy, 86 cent first run house he's operating with- out benefit of unions. Policy sup- posed to start April 15 with Paul Armstrong, staging, latter coming into the picture when a Markowltz deal with Dick Wilbur fell through. Non-union house has been getting a dally dosage of stench bombs. Business Is bad. Syracuse C. C. Steps Out Syracuse, April 3. Four major circuits operating Syracuse's six darkened first run theatrels, and the affiliated theatrical crafts were left today to effect their own adjustment of the wage re- fund dispute that closed the houses March 17. The Chamber of Com- merce civic committee which had given a hearing to both sides stepped out of the picture with a statement that an Impasse had been reached and that the controversy had progressed beyond the point where mediation was the solution. The chamber statement, five pages In length, urged that 'public opinion demand the reopening of the theatres,' but made no sugges- tion as to the form in which it should be exerted. The statement asserted: (1), the Syracuse local of the International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees rejected the good of- flces of the civic committee, and stated it would deal only with the theatres; (2), arbitration was re- jected by the Moving Picture Op- erators Union when tlie theatres specified that the question of the number of employees in the booth must be considered as well as 26 J& wage refund;' (3), acceptance of the 25% proposal by the two unions 'would still give them (the union members) a yearly Income ereater than In any of these groups' (1. e., unions connected with the building trades and wage earners in indus- trial plants); (4), 'there appears to be only one of three solutions, as the matter now stands, the union to take the 26% reduction, or th* theatres to remain closed, or to operate non-union. The former would not bring the wages of the unions out of line under present conditions. The second is against the interests of the public—the patrons of the theatres, and the latter Is not desired.' With reference to its comment upon wage levels in Syracuse, the mediators' statement maintains, 'the committee does not record itself in favor of seducing wages or Incomes on general principles, as it rec- ognizes that this merely weakens the purchasing power and retards business; nevertheless. In this emergency when wage scales are being greatly lowered and the pa- trons of the theatre being largely from the classes where greatly re- duced wages are in effect, it would appear that such a reduction is not discriminatory.' In answer to the civic committee's charges, mem- bers of Moving Picture Operators' Union 376, of which L. R. Boyd is president, issued a statement in which they accused the theatre managers of breaking a legal con- tract and censured the committee for attempting to try the union case In the public press and for making incorrect statements. K. C. Still Open Kansas City, April 3. Situation remains unsettled, al- though the theatres are still open pending conferences between the managers and the ur.ions. All houses had posted notices of closing on April 1, and it was understood that they would lock their doors unless the amusement crafts grant- ed concessions of at least 25% re- duction In wages until Sept. 1. The papers played Wief story up and even editorialized suKgcstlng a settlemen'. rather than the darken- ing of the hou.<!es. The threatened closing of all the- atres in Springfield, Mo., has been av^)ided. Ensley Barbour, repre- senting the managers, states that the operators accepted a wage cut of $2 60 a week, and the stage em- ployees a 10% reduction. Also that one man will be. removed from the booth In each house.