Variety (September 1915)

CABLES London, Sept. 8. Despite more theatres were open at the end of the London season this year than last and the optimistic articles in the press by the various critics, there is undoubtedly an alarming depression in the theatrical world of London. Hall Caine's drama "The Woman Thou Gavest Me," ear-marked for production early in the autumn by Sir Herbert Tree at His Majesty's, has been indefi- nctely postponed, and although since the wonderfully successful charity mat- inee of "Peter Ibbetson" there have been persistent rumors this piece would be put on for a run at His Majesty's, nothing has been settled. It is more probable Constance Collier will take the entire production of "Peter Ibbet- son" to America and that His Majesty's will remain closed indefinitely. There will be no autumn production at Drury Lane, the theatre remaining closed un- til the Christmas pantomime, "Puss in Boots," is produced. With regard to the autumn produc- tions, America is exporting to England not only arms, ammunition and food si pplies, but there will be several car- goes of plays and players. These in- clude Doris Keane and company in, "Romance," "Kick In," "A Full House," "The Only Girl," "The Dummy," etc., and there will be ample room here for all the good attractions and artists that America can send. This is not neces- sarily undue affection of the British for the American cousins, but because the London market will be very shy of home-made productions and artists. The English author is either not writing anything, or, if he is, is not marketing his wares.' Then again, many stars have dates in America, not liking present prospects here. Among them are Cyril Maude, Forbes Robertson, Louis Waller and Madge Titheradge in "Gamblers All," Arthur Bourchier, the Irish Players, Frederick Ross in "Quinneys," H. B. Irving in "The Angel in the House," Mrs. Pat- rick Campbell, Marie Tempest, Lyn Harding. Phyllis Nielson-Terry, Allan Aynesworth (in a new play by Horace Anneslcy Yachell), and so on. Not only stars, but the rank and file will be conspicuously scarce, as nearly 2,000 young men, out of a possible 5,000, have enlisted. At the present moment anything re- sembling an American juvenile man can command his own salary. Managers here will not employ a youth of nativc- hirth for fear he will be the recipient of uncomplimentary criticism for not bc- iig at the front. ment created by the manufacture of implements of war and its kindred oc- cupations. The working man who, be- fore the outbreak, was earning say $7.50 a week, is now in receipt of an in- come of from $25 to $30, and is living accordingly. What is to become of him at the conclusion of peace? He has tasted luxury and will be loath to return to mere existence. Six months after the war he will be in financial straits and there will be enough of them to formulate an internal political revolution. And how have the music hall or vau- deville managers fared in these troub- lous times? They started in by plac- ing the artists on a percentage basis or else issuing "war period" contracts that called for a material reduction in sal- aries. Since then these salaries have never been restored for any new book- ings, except in isolated instances. They determined that the day of the indi- vidual headline star was a thing of the past and that the tops of big bills must take out their own companies in the provinces and play on shares. They couldn't afford to pay such salaries and take such risks. However, in London, and in other big cities, they would pay straight salaries and take all the risk. As announced in Varihty,, all of Os- wald Stoll's houses have paid dividends ranging from 5 per cent, to 25 per cent. Alfred Butt has just added $50,000 to the reserve fund of the Palace Cor- poration and paid his shareholders a dividend of 10 per cent. The Syndi- cate halls (including Oxford and Pavil- ion), were supposed to be doing very poorly and offered exceedingly small . salaries. They wept every time an artist asked anywhere near his regular wage. It was rumored they were al- most bankrupt and that was the rea- scn for trying to sell the site of the old Tivoli. It now transpires that they are seriously considering rebuilding the Tivoli, the Euston is to have its seat- ing capacity doubled, its Watford Pal- ace is absorbing an adjoining skating rink to enlarge its auditorium, etc. In short, there is not a London music hall syndicate that has failed to declare a dividend during the first year of the war, after paying huge salaries to its managing directors, board chairmen ,and others. Yes, the music hall man- agers must cut salaries—they can't af- ford them any longer. Poor fellows! PRACTICAL REHEARSING. London, Sept. 15. The regular company playing "Quin- neys" at the Haymarket had a night off Monday, when the special company organized to tour America gave the show. It includes Frederick Ross, who will play Henry Ainley's role; Arthur Grenville, Cecil Fletcher, Margaret Watson, Margaret Rush and Cathleen Nesbitt The American troupe will play two weeks in the provinces before sailing. SEE LONDON'S "CHAfLIN NUMBER." London, Sept. 15. Lupino Lane has introduced a Charlie Chaplin number in "Watch Your Step" at the Empire, with ^) members of the chorus similarly made up. It scored strongly. After one year of warfare, the Lon- don theatres have weathered fairly well the storm of stress and strife and the long list of managerial bankrupts has not yet materialized. This may be due to the tremendous volume of employ- er). HIP'S SOUVENIR SHOW. London. Sept. 15. Push and Go" at the Hippodrome is going strong and last Friday cele- brated its 200th performance with sou- venirs. FRED RUSSELL, V. A. F. CHAIRMAN. London, Sept. 15. Fred Russell has been elected chair- man of the Variety Artists' Federation. The office was made vacant through the recent death of W. H. Clemart. w * "PETE* IS CLOSING. London, Sept. 15. Derwent Hall Caine scored a per- sonal success in the recent revised ver- sion of "The Manxman," produced at the Aldwych under the title of "Pete." It closes Saturday and will be suc- ceeded by "The Christian," also in re- vised form. COLISEUM'S STRONG BILL. London, Sept. 15. Lena Ashwell is appearing this week at the Coliseum in a revival of J. M. Barrie's "The Twelve Pound Look," supported by Edmund Sass. The en- tire bill is a strong one, and includes Lydia Kyasht. PRETTY WOMEN, ANYWAY. London, Sept. 15. "Jolies Femmes," a French revue, was produced at the Garrick, Sept. 9, with Mme. Rasimi of Paris. The cast contains many pretty wom- en in charming dresses, but the scenes are uneven. It may prove a success. TWO REVIVALS. London, Sept. 15. "When London Sleeps" was revived at the Princess Sept. 9. It is a sensa- tional melodrama. Fred Terry and Julia Neilson revived "The Scarlet Pimpernel" at the Strand Sept. 11. ALHAMBRA ZEP.-BOMBARDED. All sorts of ingenious devices were attempted by the London correspond- ents of the American dailies to squeeze in the exact location of the big Zeppe- lin bomb-dropping raid that occurred in the British metropolis Wednesday night of last week, but without avail. General details, with the known fact the bombs fell in the vicinity of Trafal- gar Square, and that "several persons were killed and others injured," was permitted to pass the censors. Private advices from France and Berlin, however, via circuitous routes, are to the effect the damage was much heavier than anything the meagre dis- patches from England indicated. Andreas Dippel, the operatic impre- sario, is reported to have received word from Berlin one of the shells fell upon the Alhambra theatre during the performance, killing some 300 people and injuring over that number more. Another report has it the theatre re- ferred to located in Trafalgar Square is the Coliseum, a stone's throw dis- tant from the Alhambra. Both are just off the Square, and there is a possibil- ity both suffered from the air raid. There are a number of other play- houses in the immediate vicinity. LILY ELSIE THE STAR. London, Sept. 15. His Majesty's theatre opens its sea- son Oct. 23 with "Mavourneen" by Louis N. Parker, starring Lily Elsie. Sir Herbert Tree will not be in the cast. "ALL SCOTCH" WITHDRAWN. London, Sept. 15. Harry Grattan's revue, "All Scotch," will be withdrawn from the Apollo Saturday. The theatre remains dark for a week, when "The Only Girl" will be presented there with a strong cast. YOUNG McLELLAN AT FRONT. London, Sept. 15. C. M. S. McLellan's son, born in America, and who attended Oxford, after war was declared became a Brit- ish subject, received a commission and is now in the trenches. All Vaudeville at Palladium. London, Sept. 15. The Palladium last week reverted to an all-vaudeville program, there being no revue on the bill. Ambassador's 100th Performance. London, Sept. 15. "More," the revue at the Ambassa- dors, celebrated its hundredth perform- ' ance Monday night, when souvenirs were distributed. Laurette Taylor Out of "Peg." * London, Sept. 15. Laurette Taylor is again out of the cast of "Peg" at the Globe, but busi- ness continues good. VAN HOVEN "The Dippy Mad Magician," who has scored one of the biggest hits of any American playing in England. "P. & P.V 600TH. London, Sept. 15. "Potash & Pcrlmutter" celebrated its 600th performance at the Queen's, Saturday night. If you don't advertise In VARI don't advertise.