Variety (October 1915)

CABLES McCORMACK CANCELS TORONTO BECAUSE OF WAR AGITATION Irish Tenor's Refusal to Sing "Tipperary" in Kansas City Cause of Calling Off Canadian Date—Was Willing to Sing British Anthem But Wouldn't Enter Controversy. Toronto, Sept. 29. The scheduled concert to be given at Massey Hall, Oct. 14, by John Mc- Cormack has been cancelled through a rather unique circumstance, the tenor advising the management he did not care to appear. It ap- pears the tenor's engagement for Massey Hall was first announced through the Toronto press last week. Several inquiries were directed to the house management of McCormack's reported expressions of enmity toward Great Britain, said to have emanated from Kansas City. The report claimed that McCormack refused to sing the march song of the British troops ("Tip- perary") when the audience requested it, and that he later asserted Ireland would be better off under German rule than under the present conditions. The management notified McCor- mack of the local condition and sug- gested he open his concert with "God Save the King." This would make him doubly welcome; but the Irish tenor answered that while he did not object to singing the English national an- them, being a British subject, he de- cided to cancel the date rather than enter into a controversy. At a meeting of a local organization of entertainers it was decided to in- vestigate the Kansas City episode. GABY'S RECORD RUN. London, Sept. 29. Gaby Deslys finished her tour at Newcastle last Saturday. Her takings for seven weeks amounted to over $64,- 000, and she has been rebooked by the Moss Circuit for the season of 1916- 17. She has gone to Paris for new wardrobe and sails for New York Oct. 23. 33 PER CENT. FILM DUTY. London, Sept. 29. A clause in the new budget intro- duced in the House of Commons calls for a tax of 33 per cent, on all im- ported pictures and has caused a quick dearth of material on the open market. EMNEY STARTED SOMETHING. London, Sept. 29. The Variety Controlling tour (Al- fred Butt and Walter DeFrece, man- aging directors) and the Moss Circuit are in a clash over the services of Fred Emney, principal comedian with "Shell Out," at the Comedy theatre. Emney has a week booked with the Variety Controlling people, but doesn't wish to interrupt his engagement with de Courville, who is allied with the Moss circuit through his management of the Hippodrome. Alfred Butt is asking $5,000 for the cancellation of the Emney one week's contract and in reprisal, the Moss people are injnnct- ing the Wilkie Bard revue from ap- pearing on the Variety Controlling tour at Liverpool, with the threat that the Butt-DeFrece combine will re- strain Vesta Tilley from appearing on the Moss Circuit No settlement is in sight and it looks as if the matter will be carried to the courts. DAY GETS "SHELL OUT." London, Sept. 29. The country rights to Albert de Courville's successful revue at the Comedy, "Shell Out," have been se- cured by Harry Day. Paul Murray and the Vaudeville Booking Office both believed they had the provincial rights and advertised the fact. "ONLY GIRL" GETS OVER. London, Sept. 29. "The Only Girl" was produced at the Apollo last Saturday night and scored an immediate success. The house is sold out at every performance, which is most unusual at this period. Fay Compton, Kenneth Douglas and Mabel Russell registered individual successes. A waltz song in the show is likely to become the hit of the sea- son. BERNHARDT FEATURE HERE. London, Sept. 29. The Sarah Bernhardt feature, "Jeanne Dore," completed last week, was promptly shipped from Paris to Lon- don, and the negative left Saturday for America, consigned to the Universal headquarters in New York. VAN HOVEN VAN HOVEN used to dream his name would be on top and the above shows his dream came true, at the EUSTON MUSIC HALL, LONDON. His dream of one week at $500 also came true. His one ambition now is to come home to America with his name in lights at the PAL- ACE, Let's hope it comes true. LONDON'S CURRENT SHOWS. London, Sept 29. Following is a list of the attractions at the legitimate theatres this week: Aldwych, "Pete;" Ambassadors, "More;" Comedy, "Shell Out;" Daly's, "Betty;" Duke of York's, "Hindle Wakes;" Gaiety, "To-Night'a the Night;" Garrick, "Y'a D' Jolies Femmes;" Globe, "Peg o' My Heart;" Haymarket, "Quinneys;" Queen's, "Potash & Perlmutter;" Royalty, "The Man Who Stayed at Home;" Savoy, "The Angel in the House;" St. James, "The Big Drum;" Strand, "The Scarlet Pimpernel;" Vaudeville, "Kick In;" Wyndham's, "The Ware Case." PALACE SHOW ON TOUR. London, Sept. 29. The magnificent production of two seasons ago at the Palace started on a provincial tour at Bradford Monday under the management of Julian Wylie, in association with Gus Sohlke, who staged the original presentation. Fred Duprez is playing the role orig- inated by Arthur Playfair at the Palace. "ON TRIAL" CLOSING. London, Sept. 29. "On Trial" closed at the Lyric Satur- day. Despite newspaper announce- ments, "Under Cover" will not be pre- sented at that house. NORWORTH PUZZLED. London, Sept. 29. Jack Norworth has moved his family from Hampstead to a cottage at Dart- mouth, and is now motoring back and forth daily while rehearsing for the new play at the Garrick. Referring to his forthcoming engage- ment with the Polaire show, Mr. Nor- worth remarked: "Why do they pick on me to support those French dames? I don't speak it and my name isn't Pilccr." TWO CAINE PLAYS. London, Sept. 29. The Lyric will open shortly with Derwent Hall Caine (son of the au- thor) in "The Christian." The same management will present Caine's "The Prodigal Son" at the Aldwych. DE COURVILLE SAILING. London, Sept. 29. Albert de Courville, of the Hippo- drome, and also of "Shell Out" at the Comedy, sails Saturday for New York, for a tour of inspection, in search of novelties. "SO LONG" A SUCCESS. London, Sept. 29. Paul Murray successfully produced a new revue, entitled "So Long," at the Hippodrome, Derby, last Monday, with a strong cast, including Mr. and Mrs. Paul Barnes, Clay Smith. CRITERION REOPENING. London, Sept. 29. The Criterion reopens tomorrow (Thursday) evening with a new three- act comedy, "The Stormy Petrol," by Strange Hall. It will have a strong company, headed by Margaret Halstan and Jerrold Robertshaw. TAX FOR FOREIGNERS. The Treasury Department at Wash- ington made a ruling last Friday that will directly affect foreign actors ap- pearing in America. The department has decided all aliens residing in the United States, even temporarily, must pay one per cent tax on their net in- comes. Those proving intention to be- come permanent residents will be al- lowed the usual exemptions. The ruling was made to tax operatic and theatrical artists who come to America for a brief period and have in the past claimed exemptions as aliens. All foreigners are taxed in England at a higher rate than natives. BOURCHIER LEAVES GARRICK. London, Sept. 29. Arthur Bourchier has severed his long connection with the management of the Garrick. During his reign there he pro- duced a number of plays. IRVING'S NEW PLAY. London, Sept. 29. H. B. Irving closed his run at thi Savoy, Sept. 24, and will reopen at that house Oct. 14 with a new play by Horace Annesley Vachell. HAWTREY'S PRESS WORK. London, Sept. 29. Charles Hawtrey announces his in- tention to abandon the legitimate stage permanently in favor of vaudeville. Just a little press work for his appear- ance at the Victoria Palace this week. HARE FOR VAUDEVILLE. London, Sept. 29. Sir John Hare now admits his ap- pearance on the variety stage is im- minent. The fact was exclusively pub- lished in Variety some months ago. "STOP THIEF" OCT. 15. London, Sept. 29. "Stop Thief" opens at the New the- atre, under Percy Hutchinson's man- agement, about Oct. 15. "NATION" A BIG HIT. London, Sept. 29. "The Birth of a Nation" opened at the Scala Monday and created a sensa- tion. It is undoubtedly a big success. Gabrielle Ray Returning. London, Sept. 29. Gabrielle Ray is about to return to the stage, appearing shortly at Daly's. Edwardes Recovering. London, Sept. 29. George Edwardes' health is improv- ing. His business is still in the hands of his daughter and Robert Evett. "The Dummy" Making Money. London, Sept. 29. Lauri De Frece is making a personal success in "The Dummy," produced at the Prince of Wales', last week. The piece is a probable money-maker. Strengthening Show. London, Sept. 29. The Ambassador's show has been strengthened by the addition to the cast of Margery Sargent.