Variety (February 1911)

VARIETY London, Jan, 25. Frank Damar, stage manager at the Palace, London, broke his collar-bone last week In the stage elevator at the theatre. Josef a and Itosa, the twins who made Ike Rose famous, were exhib- ited for the press and the doctors of London Friday last week at the Tro- cadero restaurant, lne baby was also seen. It was a big success. The pa- pers will do the trick for England if Manager Rose decides to show them. Charlie O'Connor, formerly of the Palace, is doing the press work, and has put over some good stuff in the dailies. Victoria Monks will next year run a pantomime to travel around the larger towns in the provinces. It will prob- ably be the highest priced travelling panto ever put over. "A Night in a Harem/' a continental scena with dancing, will play the Ox- ford next June. The act Is booked for the States, to play for Morris in Oc- tober. Elsie Terry, who has an act witn songs, sung while on horseback, will shortly appear in England, with Amer- ican time to follow, according to Bert Howell. Peggy Monks, a sister of Victoria Monks, will open as a single at the Canterbury, Feb. 13. Dave Samuels is booked for Austra- lia to play the Harry Richards time in June of this year. Ernie Warner, formerly with Somers & Warner, is with the Will Collins agency. George Ricketts and Joe Peterman will produce a new spectacular comedy sketch at the Oxford, Feb. 13. lien Nathan, lately returned from America, is with the Somers & Warner agency. G. P Huntley, assisted by Harry Oratten, will appear in London at the Tivoli Jan. 30. Booking by the Globe Agency. The Palladium, with its two head- line names costing over $r>,000 per week, is doing big business in the evenings, the matinees falling below the mark. Next Lewis Waller will play the Forum scene from "Julius Caesar" and Edith Walker, the prima <lonna, will remain on the bill for an- other week. The re|>ort that the Pavillion, Lon- don, will pass its dividend this year lias caused considerable talk among people Interested in the financial end of music hall affaire. There seems to be a lot of suggestions as to how to make the place pay, but the fact that a sketch that was half top of the bill at the Holborn Empire is now the Pav's chief attraction ought to explain something. Hal Forde, a comedian somewhat of the Lashwood type, will sail for Amer- ica in a week and will probably try out his act there. This week at the Empire is a patri- otic scena in which a boy scout song is the feature. Paul Rubens wrote the song, at the request of Baden- Powell, the head of the boy scout movement in England. Harry Thurston appeared in court to fight the Era, a theatrical journal, for insinuating he should be called the "Blue boy of the family" instead of the "Bad boy of the family," as he is billed. The Era won. The judge said he could not see that criticism could be drawn to so fine a point, and also if the critic spoke his own mind with- out any prejudice, the critic was per- fectly within the law. Victoria Monks was called by the plaintiff to testify what the word "Blue" meant. Vic said that in her opinion "blue" meant vulgar, but other expert opinions stated that "blue material" was the kind with the double meaning, and the latter correct idea was evidently ac- cepted by the jury. This settles a very important point over here on just how far a critic may go within the libel laws. Thurston has appealed the case. John E. Fowle, Marlnelli's account- ant in London for the past six years, was arrested last week for drawing on the funds of the London office to the extent of $500. Fowle was sentenced to five months in prison. It seems that Fowle owed the firm a great deal more than appeared in the charge. Carl Hertz appeared at the Holborn this week with a new illusion. What looks like a tent is placed on the stage, the top of the tent being a circle of cloth about three feet in diameter. After the tent is shown empty, the sides fall off, and woman wearing the top of the tent for a Merry Widow hat steps out. Ada Reeves and her company will appear in Johannesburg in a legiti- mate thea'.re around Feb. 1. The Hymans have put or. a very strong bill at the Empire for this time, the bill being headed by Marie Lloyd and K. G. K<nowles. This is the first real vaudeville opposition for South Africa In some years. PARIS NOTES BY EDWARD O. KENDREW Paris, Jan. 23. M. Combes and his right-hand man, G. Pasquier, have a great program this week at the Etoile Palace, where straight vaudeville is always found. This popular hall is considered as a "try-out" establishment, but the star number at present is by no means fresh. This consists of Colette Willy, assisted by Christine Kerf and Georges Wague, in a pantomime, "The Flesh," presented at the Apollo about five years ago. It is somewhat risque, on a par with the "Salome" danced by Sahary Djeli, and not too well acted at that. Colette Willy is an authoress of talent, and in her latest successful novel, "La Vagabonde," she portrays professional life with much realism. It is a pity she has not the same abil- ity on the stage, and if all her acts are similar to "La Chair" she will do well to cling to her pen. Among other numbers Is Lucy Dereymond in old French songs, and I venture to say she is quite as good, and perhaps more appreciated than Yvette Guilbert In a somewhat similar repertoire at the Al- hambra. The Sisters Geretti are the brightest female double trapeze act in Paris for a long while. They should do splendidly on "small time" in America. There are many excellent turns, but the Chlesi troupe of acro- bats, which closes the show, is com- monplace. The Sisters Surger, Eng- lish danseuses, although like dozens of others of their kind, go very well indeed at the Etoile Palace. Many of the new acts Pasquier brings into Paris are suitable for "small time" any- where. It is whispered that a new music hall, to hold about 3,000, is to be constructed in the near future within a hundred yards of the Etoile Palace. It will be an English company (to permit the issue of $5 shares, not per- mitted by French law—minimum 100 frs.), but the capital will be found In Paris. A new hall Is also to be con- structed near the Alhambra, [Place The regulars at the Empire will take part in the new production. Cissie Loftus will start an engage- ment of six weeks at the Coliseum in March. Miss Loftus will then play two weeks in the Provinces, coining back for four weeks more at the Coliseum in June with a now uti. The Umpire management, announce that in about three weeks there will he produced at that house a new Itevue. The Coliseum for the big German production "Sumerln" may raise prices up to the scale as they did for Sarah Bernhardt hist fall. The management may retain the scale permanently. Genee will follow the production into the Coliseum. The dancer is very |M>p- ular in London. Sarah Bernhardt will return to the Coliseum in September. Gretn Halm, a legitimate actress, will tour tho halls in a sketch written by H. M. Vernon called "The Old, Old Story." Mr. Vernon, in conjunction with Joe Coyne, is writing a sketch called "The Coming Man." de la Republique. It will be called the Prado, and managed by M. Ber- nard, who now runs a small cafe con- cert known as the Casino de Mont- martre. An establishment is being built at Orleans to bear the name of the Apollo, under the direction of A. Crochard. Leopold Wenzel, who was negoti- ating to go to America, after he ter- minated at the Olympia, has been en- gaged by George Edwards as con- ductor for the new musical comedy by Leslie Stuart to the Gaiety, Lon- don. Wenzel was formerly conductor, for many years, at the London Em- pire. The ballroom of the Moulin Rouge has reopened, the difficulties with the musicians, who struck .because their envelopes were not forthcoming, hav- ing been settled. The Moulin Rouge Theatre remains open, although a li- quidator has been appointed under the French law. Business has been indif- ferent at this hall for some time. The skating rink in the Rue Amsterdam is still open under similar conditions. It is common for a liquidator and at- torney to suddenly become theatrical manager in this. day. Some prove more apt than the seasoned director. The Casino de Paris, to the surprise of many, remains open. It is true that last week the artists did not get their envelopes, but this was due to the res- ident manager's appeal for funds after the banks had closed, and the pay- ments were made on Monday. The program is excellent, yet business is poor, the actual receipts being under |150. The Casino de Paris is one of the best halls In Paris for vaudeville, and yet the most unfortunate, being only equalled by the famous Moulin Rouge and the uniquely built Apollo. Now that the latter theatre plays oper- ette, the reversible flooring, which alone cost a small fortune, U never used. The Brupsels police are getting to work, and will have the approval of all clean-minded people. Dubec, a comic singer in a small cafe chantant. was signalled to th e authorities last week for obscene songs and indecent gestures, and has been condemned to five months' imprisonment and $100 fine. What is considered naughty Ifi London passes unperceived in Paris and Brussels, so what must Dubec's ditties have been? The large estab- lishments here arc now fairly straight, but some of the minor establishments have scenes In revues and subjects for songs that are decidedly porna- graphic. Yet the aiithnrofie.s watch the morals of the people. Senator Berangrr recently signalled Itegina Badet's act at th c Theatre Apollo. She dances almost, nude in a Spanish scene. The police however ;issert. that, there are no complaints and that it. is more artistic than improper, so noth- ing has heon done.