Variety (April 1912)

VARIETY 1» LONDON VARIETY'S LONDON OFFICE 5 GBKKN ST., LEICESTER SQUABS. (CABLE "JIMBUCK, LONDON.") W. BUCHANAN TAYLOR. Representative. (BAYARD) Mail for Americans and European! fta Europe, if addressed care VARIETY, as above, will be promptly forwarded. London, April 10. Lewis Hooper is here representing Jesse Lasky, and endeavoring to place some of the novelty sketches already presented by that producer in America. Harry Masters has definitely firmed up with Jack Somers. Masters leaves the position of booking-manager to Gibbons with a fine record to his credit. Further news is to hand of "Kino- plastlkon," the Viennese illusion and the American rights of which are said to be held by Lee Shubert. A sec- ond illusion of a somewhat similar kind is shortly to be put upon the market. It Is claimed for it that it has many advantages over "Kinoplas- tlkon," in that it can be played in any theatre without special building of the stage and is effective from all parts of the house. Fifteen thousand dollars was forfeited by two London managers on an option obtained on "Kinoplastikon." Jimmy Learmouth has made a big success In Joe Peterman's latest "rough-house" comedy sketch "The Statlonmaster." With a couple more years' experience he will be in the front rank of low comedians. a ♦•Get-Rich-Quick Walllngford" and Officer 666" are two American plays scheduled for production soon in Lon- don. They are held by Arthur Collins, of Drury Lane, but they will be pro- duced in some other theatre than "the Lane." Fre/1 Terry has returned to the cast of "Sweet Nell of Old Drury" at the New theatre. He has been off some three months suffering from a very severe illness. "Improper Peter" is the new Monk- ton Hoffe play announced for produc- tion at the Garrlck theatre April 19. It is Arthur Bourchier's promotion. Sir John Hare has gone to Canada with his wife and daughter. He is to act as judge, at the invitation of the Duke of Connaught, in the forthcom- ing competition among amateur Dra matic Societies. Knglish touring managers are can- celling spring and autumn tours. They fear to take the risk of further indus- trial strikes. Among managers gen- erally it is believed that the railway men will come out sometime during the year. Martin Harvey's production of "Oed- ipus Rex" in the provinces is playing to enormous business everywhere. He is giving two days a week to the Greek tragedy and on the other four days presenting "The Breed of the Treshams," "The Only Way," and "Pelleas and Mellsande." Yet another Italian baritone in vaudeville. This time it is Senor V. Cardonna, said to be a favorite of Leoncavalo. Apart from singing the prologue from "Pagliacci" rather well he is nothing to write home about. When attempting to sing in English, he becomes a comedian, unconsciously. He is at the London Hippodrome. The Tivoli music-hall syndicate is the defendant in an action instigated by Granville Barker for having pre- sented a new stage play, not author- ized by the Lord Chamberlain. The case will come up April 16. It is Gran- ville Barker's contention that all stage performances not separately licensed by the Lord Chamberlain are illegal. Little Tich and Johnson Clark (the ventriloquist) are mentioned as re- sponsible for the two instances of al- leged contravention, and they are, needless to say, enjoying the free ad- vertisement hugely. Among the Stoll ventures of the near future are: a new work by Oscar Strauss, called "The Dancing Vien- nese"; Adeline Genee and Sarah Bern- hardt. The Strauss operetta will be done in the native tongue, and played by Viennese. Another waltz comedy is promised us. Preserve us! Something of a boom in Australian acts is promised. There are at pres- ent in London Captain Jack Kelly, "Salt-Bush Bill," and Fred Lindsay. "Salt-Bush Bill" recently appeared be- fore the King and Queen and is now engaged to appear at the London Hip- podrome. Lindsay recently played the Palace, and the Victoria Palace and is now in the Suburban Halls. Cap- tain Kelly is after their blood. He has issued a challenge that has special reference to "Salt-Bush Bill." Charles T. Aldrich has decided to put on "Secret Service Sam" here. It will be a condensed edition running for one hour and will be played in the music-halls. E. S Willarri is to return to the stage for one afternoon in the near future. Having been barred by the censor. Israel Zangwill's play "The Next Re- ligion," will be put on at the London Pavilion at private matinees April 18- 19. The matinees will be given in the form of an "At Home," admission by invitation of the New Playgoers So- ciety. PARIS BY EDWARD G. KENDREW It is said that Henry W. Savage and Arthur Collins will join up In a pro- duction of "Kverywoman " Paris, April 9. A crowd of visitors in Paris for the Easter holidays, as usual. The pic- turesque Normandy route, via New- haven and Dieppe, seemed to be the most popular, the trains being daily doubled for the occasion. Good Fri- day, of the thirty large legitimate theatres fifteen were closed, but all the vaudeville houses remained open. Good programs at the majority of the resorts, the revues at the Olympia and Folies Bergere attracting many people. Manager Samuel has almost decided to revive either "Orphee" or "Belle Helene" at the Theatre des Varletes to terminate the present season. This will succeed the revival of "Le Roi," which cannot hold this stage till June, judging from box office receipts this month. The presence of the heir to the throne of Great Britain at the fash- ionable roller skating rink in the Rue Saint Didier was a big event. Manager Porel at the Theatre du Vaudeville, Paris, is not having much luck at present, and his latest pro- duction, given April 4, was some- what coldly received, though the farce "On nait esclave," by Schlum- berger and Tristan Bernard, caused much laughter. The authors try to prove that we are slaves to our ser- vants; that they tyrannize modern so- ciety, which cannot get free of this slavery. The main piece, "Mioche," by Pierre Berton, is too tragic for the Vaudeville. Mile. Polaire filled the role of the "Mioche" or girl actress, and was well applauded. The new Spring Revue at the Paris Folies Bergere, produced April 2, is an excellent show that will specially appeal to English and American visi- tors. It is more varied than its pre- decessor, with less of those old, over- used topical allusions which aro served up in every revue throughout the country. The scenery is pretty, the costumes not lacking in beauty, and the artists engaged are accus- tomed to this kind of spectacle. Marise Fairy sings nicely, Mile. Yane does her best as a danseuse and suc- ceeds as an ingenue. Anie Perry, Millet, Geno Perret and Darbelle look and play prettily, but no one shows any particular ginger. Morton is amusing but he is not versatile. Barry Lupino, a splendid eccentric dancer, but indifferently introduced. Broueit, Lerner and Tramel work hard. It is therefore not the troupe that war- rants the success of this production, it is the diversity of styles which enables the audience to sit it through without weariness. The most suc- cessful act is that of the monkeys "Max" and "Moritz." "Le Prince Bonheur," a three-act operetta, book by Raphael Adam, music by II. Derouville, has been pro- duced at the Theatre Moliere, Brus- sels (Belgium). It met with a fair reception. The Alhambra is giving. since April 6. "Amour Tziuam ," a muBicnl comedy. At the Monnaie (the Opera House of the Belgian cap- ital) a lyrical drama "Oudelette," by R. Ledent, music by Charles Radoux. will shortly be given. The Pare it presenting "Roi s'Amuse," with Dort- val, of the Paris Odeon. FOREIGNER'S WIFE DIES. Spokane, April 17. The wife of Chrettenini (Chrette- nini and Louisette) died here Satur- day, after an illness of two weeks. They were foreigners, playing on the Orpheum Circuit. Mrs. Chrettenini was accompanying her husband on the tour, Miss Louisette being his playing partner. GRKTE GETS $1,250. Another of Lee Shubert's (person- ally selected) foreign importations opened at the Winter Garden Mon- day night, in the person of Grete Wle- senthal, a little German girl, In "classical" dances. She failed to arouse any undue excitement on the part of the audience, but is said to hold an ironclad contract calling for a salary of f 1,250 weekly. There was one other European turn on the program, its first American ap- pearance—two eccentric dancers, Moon and Morris, who held the stage for just three minutes and departed with barely any applause. American managers who saw the pair abroad say that given a suitable opportunity they do a very acceptable act, worthy of American bookings. Their con- tract calls for $250. DIVORCEE TURNS PROFESSIONAL. Boston, April 17. Mrs. Irma Blanch Wright Helms, wife of Dr. Henry Francis Helms, dentist to the King of Italy, and from whom her husband recently se- cured a divorce, made her first ap- pearance as a professional singer at the National Monday afternoon. Her singing was a revelation. She has a beautiful soprano voice that shows splendid training. It is said Mrs. Helms will play all the time that the United Booking Of- fice can give her. With the publicity received during the sensational di- vorce, she might be an attraction. The local papers advertised the fact that she was to wear the jewels pre- sented to her by the King of Italy and she made good. DOLORES VAIjLKCITA. The pictures on the front page this week are Dolores Vallecita and four of her leopards. Mile. Dolores is unique among handlers of wild ani- mals, and has established herself in the vaudeville theatres as an attrac- tion of no light calibre. Tie- nicks she puts her beasts through are un- usual, and many of them unparalleled. Tf is a different sort of animal act, and an interesting <>\>> , with a suf- ficient imi r• i' '••r of thrills in ihe per- formanee to :■. ul zest to the exhi- bition.