Variety (August 1915)

CABLES ENGLAND TO MAKE PICTURES TO SWELL RECRUITING ARMY British War Office Sanctions Film Manufacture Whereby Both Fighting Forces and Public Will Benefit. To Serve Triple Purpose. Officials to Prevent Monopoly. London, Aug. 11. The British War Office lias adopted a scheme in connection with pictures tlie Germans put in vogue just a year ago, at the outbreak of hostilities. In about a month's time England proposes to send film operators to France and other parts of military im- portance to photograph for posterity and otherwise important scenes in con- nection with the war. While these pictures will be retained for historical record and instruction, others will be censored and exhibited in halls through- out the Kingdom to aid in encourag- ing recruiting. No single firm is to be accorded a monopoly, and permission to take these pictures is to be granted to a number of the leading film producers of Great Britain. FILM PRICE TOO HIGH. London, Aug. 11. Polaire asked $10,000 to appear before the camera in her sketch, "The Amorous Manikin." The Hepworth Co., which had the film rights, thought the amount too high, and is negotiating for Dorothy Arthur to take the role. Miss Arthur has the American rights to the piece. NORWORTH, COLISEUM HIT. London, Aug. 11. At the Coliseum Monday, Jack Nor- worth, in "A Syncopated Romance," successfully opened his London en- gagement, despite the closing^ r 1HsiTion on the Progr^m i >^ w f lich hc was placed. ^jltf^was changed, however, a iJjfefirst performance. rorworth has been appearing in tr.e provinces and suburbs for the past two months. His is a musical sketch, and with him in it is Gertrude Lang, who played in the same revue Nor- worth did at the Duke of York's. The singing and talking skit has nothing startling nor sensational, built only to serve the Norworth pur- pose as an entertainer, which it docs most admirably. FALLS FOR MUSICAL COMEDY. London. Aug. 11. After 20 years on the stage as a legitimate dramatic actor. Edmund Gwenn has been engaged by Robert Courtneidgc for musical comedy. SHOWING GERMAN WAR FILM. London, Aug. 11. A report says the Danish Biograph and Union Co., of Berlin, are com- bining in a $2,000,000 corporation, to take all pictures at Copenhagen which vould permit the showing of German v ar films in enemy countries. There is a suspicion the Imperial Government is standing sponsor for the move. It has a great quantity of film taken on the fields of battles, and might be desirous of seeing that the most favorable of it be exhibited where it would do Germany the most good or work the most harm otherwise. BERLIN'S BUSINESS BIGGEST. Berlin, July 25. A statement issued here comparing the business of the theatres with those of Paris during the season just closed shows to the distinct advantage for Germany. In Paris all of the theaters are re- ported to have played to 800,000 francs during the winter. In Berlin one house alone, the Berliner theater, played to 130.000 marks, or 150,000 francs. TRYING OUT SMOKING. London. Aug. 11. When the Comedy theatre presents the Albert de Courville revue, smok- ing will be permitted. It will be the entering wedge for smoking in the- atres here. VAN HOVEN IN WEST END. London, Aug. 11. Van Hoven, the American "Mad Magician," had his West End of Lon- don debut Monday when opening at the Pavilion. The audience at first could not "get" the "nut." but soon l)eganto^^haBHfi'r; iuH. 'and he' fin- Hnii?o: a tumultous hit. JOHNSON'S REVUE OPENING. London, Aug. 11. Jack Johnson, the colored ex-world's champ, will open with his revue Aug. 16. Johnson will take a role in the piece, also box. His wife will dance. CAINE PLAY OFF. London, Aug. 11. Through existing conditions the Hall Caine play, "The Woman Thou Gavest Me," has been called off for the present. It was to have opened the season at His Majesty's theatre. Picture Scene Gets Over. London. Aug. 11. fhe moving picture scene, secured ny A. Chariot from Ziegfeld's "Fol- lies" in New York, was first shown over here at the Alhambra last Satur- day, and voted a success. Anna Wheaton Returning Home. London. Aug. 11. Anna Wheaton, who came over here to join the revue at the Hippodrome, leaves the production Friday, sailing for New York the next day. If you don't advertise In VARIETY, don't •dvortiM. PROSPECTIVE PLAGIARISM. London, Aug. 11. At the present moment there is every likelihood of a sensational law-suit in the fall. Nothing can be done until then that the alleged offense will not have been committed until that time. This refers to a charge of prospective plagiarism that in America would be regarded in the vernacular as "rough stuff." A few days ago a young Frenchman, the son of a famous author, was ush- ered into the office of a prominent Lon- don theatrical manager, where he out- lined briefly an idea for a revue. The manager listened and asked the youth to call again next morning. The young man did so and found there the man- ager's official librettist, lyricist and pro- ducer. All unsuspecting, he went fur- ther into detail, and was told on leav- ing the matter would be given consid- eration. A night or two later he was seated in the dressing room of a French actress pppearing in London in a sketch, when there was ushered into the room a con- tinental agent who claimed to come as the representative of the aforemen- tioned manager, and he inquired if the actress' leading man was available for a revue, to be produced by the said manager in the fall. The agent was not aware of the identity of the young Frenchman when he put his question to the actress. The youth said he could not understand how the manager was already endeavoring to cast his contem- plated production as he had not yet se- cured a book. The agent laughed and remarked jokingly an innocent young Frenchman had called and outlined a revue to the manager and his hench- men, and that by this means there had been secured six of the unsuspecting Frenchman's best scenes. The agent seemed to think that was a mighty clever pie.ee of diplotijacy .anrj, the youth said nothing. No charge or allegation of any kind can be made until the manager's revue is produced. At least this is the opin- ion handed down by the young man's lawyer. HOUDINI BAFFLED. As an escape expert, Houdini stands pre-eminent, but he was baffled Tues- day by a contract for next week at Henderson's. The Palace, New York, held over Houdini for the second week, com- mencing Monday. The following day the management notified Houndini it wanted him for the third week, and then Houdini vainly tried to escape from the Henderson agreement, of- fering the house a bonus if it would release him. Cabling for Florence Smithson. London, Aug. 11. An offer of $500 weekly has been made Florence Smithson by cable from New York on behalf of the Shu- berts, to appear under their manage- ment. Miss Smithson replied she would consider it after the panto season is through over here. She's a well-known musical -comedy woman on this side, SAILINGS. Reported through Paul Tausig & Sons, 104 E. 14th street, New York. Aug. 14, Pierce and Roslyn (St. Paul). Aug. 14, Corrandini (Duca de A'Osta). Aug. 21, Wilfred Robert (New York). Aug. 31 (for Australia), Hazel Moran (Ventura). London, Aug. 11. Aug. 14, Carl Anderson, Harry Cohen, Anna Wheaton (Philadelphia). COAST CONDITIONS. San Francisco, Aug. 11. Although the regular theatrical sea- son opening is only a few weeks off the vaudeville situation here seems too badly complicated to predict correctly just what the Coast will have to offer the vaudevillian in the way of book- ings. But it seems safe to assume that there will be about or perhaps a little more small time available and not so much big time as heretofore. It is also doubtful it the small time will be as profitable for the ordinary act as it has been in the past, while the "good act" or act with a draft will in all probability get its customary salary, providing it's wanted. At present the Western States Vaudeville Association is offering from six to eight weeks with hopes of offering from 10 to 12 weeks if present negotiations with John Con- sidine for the control of the S.-C. northern houses is closed. If it does go through it looks as though the local Empress will have to get its bills from some other source. Bert Levey is offering acts eight weeks and will undoubtedly hav more time when the weather cools off so some of the interior houses cin re- sume vaudeville. Vantages' is ottering \vu'\w?. weeks from here, but it is said the salaries are much lower than offered by his Chicago agent. The Orpheum and S.-C. circuits are doing the bulk of their booking in the cast. There is no Australian booking from here, which means acts coming out to the Coast on speculation will learn about the only engagement avail- able is the small time. It will be a survival of the fittest with salaries at rock bottom, for in most instances the turns getting good money from the small time circuits are brought out here and not picked up on the Coast. SAMMY SMITH PITCHING. Sammy Smith, one of Joe Morris" best little song pluggers, tendered his resignation this week to accept a berth with the Harrisburg baseball team of the International League. Smith will pitch against Providence this week. Sammy formerly held a berth in one cf the major leagues but his wintv fcudness for theatricals resulted in an unconditional release. He has been pitching ball for several theatrical teams, particularly the Sheedy nine, and recently pitched two no-hit games in one day at Schenectady, which brought him an attractive contract from the Pennsylvania aggregation.