Variety (December 1912)

VARIETY ENGLISH RAGTIME REVUE P RONOU NCED BIG HIT "Hello Ragtime" at the London Hippodrome Produced Monday. Result of Ragtime Craze Abroad. Staged AndjWith^Music by Americans. Ethel Levey, Lew Hearn and Willie Solar Individual Hits (Special Cable to Variety.) London, Dec. 26. "Hello Ragtime," which opened at the Hippodrome on Monday, is a great big hit. Ethel Levey, Lew Hearn and Willie Solar are the best of the cast, in the order named. Miss Levey is a revelation in an in- terpolated playlet, assisted by O. P. Hcggie. It is the most expensive production yet seen at the Hippodrome. It is stated a sum of $4,000 a week represents the salary list of the prin- cipals. The other principals are Do- rothy Minto, Shirley Kellogg, Bonita, Irene Richards, Madge Melbourne, Cyril Clensy and Checkers von Hamp- ton. Bransby Williams did not open. He attended a number of rehearsals but conditions arose which resulted in Wil- liams walking out of the Hippodrome. Louis Hirsch's numbers include the new "Wedding Glide," "How Do You Do, Ms Ragtime?" "The Bacchanel Rag," "Military Mary Ann," "Row, Row, Row," and a ragtime waltz in which he blends "Gypsy Love," "The Dollar Princess," and "The Count of Luxembourg." "Hello Ragtime" is the nearest ap- proach to an all American-English produced show that has been 6een over here for some time. Albert De Courville, booking man- ager for the Hippodrome (lately in America), is said to have contributed considerably toward the new revue, both in material and suggestions. Jack Mason was especially imported from New York to stage the produc- tion; Mr. Hirsch also came over. The piece has been awaited with much interest as about the first big effort resulting from the present rag fad on this side. COLETTE WILLY TO MARRY. (Special Cable to Variety.) Paris, Dec. 26. It is rumored Colette Willy, the mu- sic hall artiste (but who has shown more talent in story writing), is to marry Henri de Jouvenel, editor in chief of the Parisian daily "Le Matin." Mile. Willy made a sensation some time ago in a pantomime at the Paris Apollo, and later at the Etoile Palace, entitled "The Flesh," in which she ap- peared in a risky role. REVUE LIKE TITLE. (Special Cable to Variety.) Paris, Dec. 26. The usual Revue mounted annually by Mmc. Varlct at the Ciaite-Rochech- ouart, was presented Dec. 19. The au- thors are L. Rover and Bataille Henri (who may have a revue at the Renais- sance theatre this season). Mile. Dol- cey holds the role of commere, Per- ricr that of compere. Mile. Derny, Milton, Vaquier, Delamane and Man- suelle are listed. The title of the production is "Madame est Serbie," but of course the title of a Parisian revue of this kind does not cut any ice. The name in the present case is a very poor pun, and could just as well be the first proverb that entered the authors' heads. As a matter of fact they are not likely to have brain fever from this latest effort. FERVAIj OPERA JAN. 3. (Special Cable to Variety.) Paris, Dec. 26. The Ferval opera has been again postponed until Jan. 3, owing to the illness of Muratore. MAGUIRE RESIGNS. S. A. Maguire, manager of the Na- tional Printing Co., has resigned. CURIOS PLAY GOOD DRAMA. (Special Cable to Variety.) Gemier produced Dec. 19 a four-a;t piece entitled "L'Homme qui Assass- ina," from a book by Claude Farrere. The stage version is by P. Fromdaie, and met with a nice reception. It is a good drama. Madeline Lely supports Gemier in this curious play. WOOD'S HURRY TRIP. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, Dec. 26. A. H. Woods arrived on the Maure- tania. He is here to look over several musical comedies and will make a hasty trip to the continent, expecting to re- turn to America in a fortnight. HIP/S OFFER TO BARRIE. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, Dec. 26. The Hippodrome has commissioned J. M. Barrie to write a playlet for pro- duction at that house, agreeing to pay $750 a week royalty to the author. Barrie's "Rosalind" has been booked at the Coliseum in January, starring Irene VanBrugh in it. FORRES ROBERTSON'S FAREWELL. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, Dec. 26. Forbes Robertson begins his fare- well season at the Drury Lane Easter Monday. TOM LEAMORE TRIES OUT. For the first time in year's Hammer- stein's allowed a "try out" in its regular program, when Tom Leamore, an English "single" gave a performance Tuesday afternoon, being assigned the position uf opening after intermission. Mr. Leamore came over here on speculation. He was very nervous and did not do full justice to himself, but the consensus of opinion was that his style is not adaptable to big time vaudeville over here just now. \ ENGLISH OLD TIMERS. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, Dec. 26. A pianist named I'andley in the or- chestra of the Metropolitan Music Hall, London, has been there 50 years. He is going to have a jubilee benefit. A testimonial matinee is to be given to Charles Coborn, who celebrates his sixtieth birthday. He has been 40 years on the variety stage and is known as the original singer of "The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo." STOLL STOPPING SWEARS. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, Dec. 26. Mr. Stoll has opened a crusade against the use of strong words on the stage. He is starting with the least harm- less, "Damn!" In future this will be tabooed at the Coliseum and probably in all his other houses. BOUND FOR S. A. (Special Cable to Varieiit.) Paris, Dec. 26. The Russian ballet now appearing in Germany, has been engaged to tour South America. Isadora Duncan is also going to South America in May, after a tour of the United States. ORPHEUM "SPLITTING WEEK." San Francisco, Dec. 26. The Orpl.eum Circuit is "splitting a week" between Sacramento and Stockton. Acts play Sacramento (Clunie theatre) for the first half. THREE RASCALS OPEN BIG. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, Dec. 26. The Three Rascals (Americans) opened big at Birmingham Monday. DEP'T STORE PICTURES. New Orleans, Dec. 26. Several large department stores in the south are contemplating putting in mo- tion pictures. They figure that a space allotted for this purpose would yield handsome returns. Thidtown. D«>c. 26. Mr. Tllford. Dear Sir: We wish to compliment you on your ox- recent Blnglng voice. Singing voices being extremely rare amongst ventriloquists. Your Appreciatively, Mr. & Mrs. Audience. RONNACHER'S IN TROUBLE. (Special Cable to Variety.) Berlin, Dec. 26. Rumors are circulating that Ron- acher's, Vienna, will have to close for lack of funds. Report has it that artists' salaries have not been paid regularly of late. CLOSED FOR REPAIRS. (Special Cable to Variety.) Berlin, Dec. 26. Theatre Gross, Berlin, has closed for a rearrangement of seats. It may re- open shortly with a new operette. ORDINANCE FOR CHILDREN. (Special Cable to Variety.) Berlin, Dec. 26. A city ordinance has been passed prohibiting the admission of children to moving picture shows and all persons under sixteen from attending film en- tertainments excepting special juvenile programs. PSYCHOLOGICAL-SOCIAL STUDY. (Special Cable to Variety.) Paris, Dec. 26. Brieux had a new piece, "La Femme Seule," produced at the Gymnase Dec. 22. It is a psychological-social study in the usual style of "Doctor" Brieux. Signoret played well, Prevost fairly, al- though suffering from an attack of the grippe. The main interest was concentrated in the appearance of Jeanne Provost (late of the Comedie Francaise), who was recently married to an American. This lady placed herself before the public eye by being specially compli- mented by the German Emperor when appearing in Berlin last year. PRODUCED TOO SOON. (Special Cable to Variety.) Paris, Dec. 26. The new work by Camille Erlanger, "La Sorciere," Victorien Sardou's play musicised, was produced at the Opera Comique, Dec. 18, and was only fairly successful. This opera should have been given a week earlier. It was not quite ready for public offering even then. SAILINGS. The Paul Tausig Steamship Agency at 104 East 14th street, has reported the following sailings during the past week: Dec. 17, Rem Brandt (Maure- tania); Dec. 18, Sumiko, B. S. Takaori (Finland); Dec. 24, Elliott Savonas (8), Smythe and Hartman (Lusitania). MINSTRELS NEED IMPROVING. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, Dec. 26 The special Minstrel Show, orga- nized for the holidays for presentation at the Palladium, had a fine opening, but there is considerable room for im- provement in the offering. "THE DIVINE" SECRETLY WEI"-. It now transpires that one year a^'o. while playing in the west, Ethel Mic- Donough (the original drummer with the Boston Fadettes, and later "Tii.' Divine Myrma") was married to C. IV Stockhouse, of New York. The news has been carefully guarded from even the couple's most intimate acquaintances.