Variety (October 1908)

10 VARIETY LONDON NOTES VARIETY'S LONDON OFFICE. 411 tTEAVD. W. 0. (Mall for Amerlcaun and Kuropeans In Euro|* If nd<lr< ksimI care VARIETY, ns nUtve, will to promptly forwarded.) London, Sept. 23. W. C. Field, is out on the Moss-Stoll tour, topping bills all over. Willy Gardener ii back in London, just returned from South Africa. Queenie Leighton of Drury Lane fame it at the Holborn. This girl certainly can get her songs over. After their very successful appearance in the provinces Callahan and St. George are back in London. Little Tich jnjoved over from the Ox- ford to the Tivoli this week. This house* Is Just like home to Tich. He is the big noise there. Ross and Lewis are at the Empire, Shepherd's Bush, this week. They have bookings which will keep them busy for some seasons to come. American acts galore on the Coliseum bill this week. Mitchell and Cain, Belle- daire Brothers, Will Van Allin and Willie Gardener are the guilty parties. It is reported that James Moran, who was to appear in America for Percy Will- iams, is confined to a local hospital suf- fering a nervous breakdown. Horace Goldin announces that he is writing a book to be called "Magic" He also states that the book will not expose any magical illusions, and will be advice to other magicians. Cissie Loftus is being billed for her appearance at the Colisuem in October. The Alhambra management tried to stop Miss Loftus from playing the Coliseum next month by injuuetion. It was re- fused. An elaborate new ballet is in prepara- tion for the Empire. It will be shown within a fortnight. It is to be called "Paris" and Mile' Kyaksht will have the principal part. Five scenes are neces- sary to its exposition. Carney and Armstrong, who recently deputised for the Brothers Horne at the Camberwell Palace, are being touted as comers. The comedian has an irresistibly funny method, but some of the patter used could be brought more nearly up to date. Alfred Butt, of the Palace, said last night that no arrangements had been made for playing Maud Allan in the States. Miss Allan is still packing them in and it looks as though she would do so until and perhaps long after Christ- mas. Jos. Hart's "Futurity Winner" is in Nottingham after time played around Lon- don. James F. Morton, who is handling Mr. Hart's interests here, has announced that he will bring over two American acts this season: "The Yankee Doodle Boys" and "The Police Inspector.' Last week (Sept. 14) R. G. Knowles topped the bill at the Holborn Empire, where he is the big favorite. He had the right spot and his "Widow" song caught 'em strong. Bitter and Foster were on in the early part of the show. They got away splendidly from the start and Max Bitter's dancing scored. Phydra, the Greek dancer, was held over a second week. The Six Brothers Luck close the show with a new pantomime. The slap-stick heads the act, as of yore, but the Lucks get the laughs. The Great Lafayette gave a special matinee at the Hippodrome, Brighton, last Saturday, "September i9. The per- formance was arranged entirely by the conjurer and the receipts were $600. Harry Lauder in all probability will receive a great send-off on Saturday, Octo- ber 3, when he sails for America. There will be a band of pipers at Euston when the train leaves London and also a band on the wharf at Liverpool, beside a bunch of film people on hand. Jules Charmettes is in England billed as "the man from France." He sings a few English songs in French. They say he is clever. ,»» A LONDON VILLAIN. London, Sept. 23. Thomas Barrassford has a house out- side of his vaudeville circuit which should not be overlooked. This is the Brit- tania, and it is located at Shoreditch. The house plays drama and gives two shows a night, making it very strenuous for the villain when there is much dirty work to be done. And last week was a busy week for that particular worthy. The play was "The Mysteries of London." The villain was, of course, the whole show—and wasn't he the bad boy? The hissing was so strong that one would think he was in a roundhouse instead of a theatre. The prices ranged from two cents up to eighteen cents, the boxes being one shilling. It seems the villain has invented a sure kill in the shape of a horse shoe nail with a poisoned end. To show his accomplice the powers of his invention he goes out in the park and casually picks out a healthy looking tramp sleeping on a bench and drives the nail into the tramp's head. Of course, more work for the undertaker. But that is only practicing, for he kills 'em right and left before the curtain falls. He is only stopped when he tries the double cross on the hero, and then it looked as though the audience saved this boy's life, for when the knife was raised to be plunged into his back the crowd yelled "Watch out, he's got it on you," and so he put the steel away for another try when the audience wasn't looking, but it was not to be. The bad man's "pal" dis- poses of him. And the curtain fell while the crowd cheered. After that the stage was washed of the gore and made ready for the second performance that night of "The Mysteries of London." PARIS NOTES By E. G. KENDSEW. Paris, Sept. 23. Victor de Cottons and H. B. Marinelli, the new managers of the Olympia, have got together a variety program in every sense of the word, and by the good busi- ness being done just now it seems to si.it the public taste. Things did not go as smoothly as might be hoped on the open- ing night, but all is now in good working .order. The results seem to be exceptional for September in Paris. The Agoust Fam- ily* juggling, go well; Miss Barley's Dogs, novel; Green and Wood, good tumbling, resembling Rice and Pro vest; Guyer and Crispi cause laughter, and the Deonzos, jumping, much appreciated. In the review Rita Harry, Ned Nye and Lulu and Ida Valli give excellent samples of the terp- sichorean art. Mr. Hanlon presents his trick of bringing an automobile (from vuica flowers are distribut'vl) out over tbe„ orchestra, suspended in the air. The show commences with a short ballet in two tableaux by John Tiller, in which Ned Nye appears as a Duke, ably supported by some Tiller dancers. Also in the program the Mysterious Grotte of Hagedorn, Roger de Beaumercy, clever imitator, and animated picture post cards. In the second act of the revue the old hydraulic cage which rises from the center of the stage, installed years ago by J. Oiler for a lions' perfor- mance, is used to good account for a bow- er of pretty women, and does credit to James Price* the new metteur en scene of the Olympia. Mile. Therese Cernay, having recovered from her recent illness, has resumed her role in the "Planteur du Connecticut" at the Folies Marigny. The posters advertis- ing this new French operette are printed in the form of the stars and strips, the title "Connecticut" standing out well on Old Glory. The Folies Bergere is now announce! in English on its new posters as the ''Best Music Hall in Paris" (a claim likewise made by the managers of the Olympia). Messrs. Bonnel & Dumien have a good pro- gram at present, comprising the Hopkin Sisters, W. Galwin, the Boilers, cyclists; the Athletes, the Harmony Four (20-min- ute turn), MacBanns, the club swingers; and Mayol, the French favorite of the moment; also, the ballet "Sports," similar to one given some years ago at this hall. The Apollo is making a specialty of the Spanish troupe Gitanela, an excellent num- ber. The remainder of bill amply filled by Mathews, jumper; Ellen Wett, announced as "the American divette"; Suzanne de Binville, with her eight thoroughbred horses; the three La Mazes, Mile. Muguct, the Glinserett, etc. Bar a ss ford has previously been running his Paris Alhambra on the system of a complete change every month. He opened again on Sept. 1, but now intends making some alterations in his program on the 1st and 16th. The show commencing the 16th is one of the best yet at this hall. Honores and Leprince, comic acrobats; Resuas, wire; Silvo, musical; Botello and Virginia, on the trapeze, with sensational feat by the latter, who slides down from the third gallery to the stage suspend- ed by her hair; Chung Ling Soo, magi- cian; Arthur Slater, whistler; Henry Helme, sentimental singer, will be in New- York later; Conway and Leland, amusing American monopedes; Mabel Mavis, musi- cal; Four Geraldos, clever juggling. The Parisiana has a revue in rehearsal, due at the end of the month. Paul Ruez is managing this hall and at present is giving variety in full. There are in all twenty numbers, and two by the orchestra under Gustave Goublier. The more im- portant are Esther Lekain, who sings pret- ty ditties, although not exactly new; Darius M. the nimble comic; Inaudi, the marvellous calculator; Camille Ober, who sings in four octaves; Dutard, popular favorite; Karl Ditan, Mary Perret, and Mars Pearl. Hie program terminates with a somewhat stupid operette "Chonchette," by de Caillavet and Robert de Flers (the latter » *p* -in-law of Sardou), well-known, playwrights here, but who certainly have not added to the laurels by their present ef- fort. And they have an excellent company at their disposal, comprising Max Deurly, who is always first-class, Alice Bonheur, Brunw, Honore, and many others. The Casino de Paris was successfully opened on Sept. 17 with an operette, "L'Amour Brule," by Daniel Riche. At the Apollo Messrs. Debasta & Rozenberg have engaged Paulette Darty. The death of Pablo Sarasate, the well- known violinist, is reported from Biar- ritz, on 21st. The deceased, who has been ill for several months, was born in 1844, and commenced his studies at the Paris Conservatory of Music at the age of 11. He made several tours through the United States and was one of the most famous violin players of his time. ' With the return of good weather the Marigny is again going strong, but will shortly close until middle of May next. The Kratons, "invisible hoop manipula- tors," are well applauded, and the turn is a most interesting one. Blasco, the lightning artist; the Uessems, versatile equilibrists; the Roberty Troupe, dancers, and the Floods, are among the acts who have been most successful at this hall. BENTHAM BOOKING FOR SOHLKE. The vaudeville productions of the new Gus Sohlke Producing Company will be placed by M. S. Bentham, the agent. The first, "Western Life," will be shown at the Maryland, Baltimore, Oct. 26 for the first time. Another in preparation, with Clara Belle Jerome at the head, hav- ing twelve girls in the piece, will be pre- sented immediately after that date. FILLIS RECOVERING SLOWLY. Frank Fillis, the South African (iron-, man, is reported by artists returning from that country to be recovering slowly from his recent financial embarrassment. Fillis is now out in the provinces travelling as manager of a small outfit, run on the "commonwealth" plan, all performers shar- ing in the profits. At times the little organization has been hard "up against it," but later re- ports indicated it was in rather more prosperous condition. Out of his slim profits in the venture Plllis is slowly set- tling his debts.