Variety (June 1916)

CABLES REVUES STILL THE BIG THING IN LONDON THEATRICALS London Shortly to be Surfeited with them. Lyceum, Drury Lane and London Opera House Next Big Legit Theatres to Fall in Revue Line. All West End Halls Ex- ' cepting Coliseum Playing Revues. London, M%jr 31. London will-.be surftttdd.with revues shortly. In addition to the regular music hall productions, of that calibre, the Drury Lane, London* opera house and the Lyceum, three of'the largest houses in the city, are preparing revues. Other than the regular legitimate theatres, practically every theatre !n England is now given over to that style of entertainment in a greater or lesser degree. The aforementioned trio of large sized legitimate theatres are not the only legit houses in London at present playing the revue entertain- ment, such houses as the Comedy, the Vaudeville, etc., offering revues, also. The London public did not take kind- ly to revues when first introduced here about four or five years ago. The first music hall to offer one was the Hip- podrome, and failure was predicted. When it proved sensationally success- ful, others followed. Now the Palace, Empire, Alhambra and all the West End halls with the exception of the Coliseum are devoted to it (barring the opening acts, necessary to retain the music hall licenses). The provincial halls have also adopted a similar revue policy whenever able to book one. The Moss Empires people have taken a three years' lease on the Drury Lane, it is said. The deal was closed in the early part of May. The revue sched- uled for June 12 will be about a week later. 'DADDY LONG LEGS/' HIT. London, May 31. The American piece, "Daddy Long Legs" was presented at the Duke of York's Monday, and accepted as a suc- cess. DAYLIGHT SAVING HELP. London, May 31. The Daylight Saving regulation now in force here causes little inconven- ience to theatrical managers, it result- ing in improved evening receipts. PHYLLIS DARE WELL. London, May 31. Phyllis Dare, who has been indis- posed, returned to "Tina" at the Adel- phi May 29, when the 200th perform- ance was celebrated. CHANGE IN "DISRAELI." London, May 31. Gabrielle Dorziat, leading lady with "Disraeli" at the Royalty, has returned to Paris and her part has been taken by Muriel Pope. "BRIC-A-BRAC" SCORED. London, May 31. The second edition of "Bric-a-Brac" at the Palace was given May 26. Gertie Millar scored heavily with a "Peter from Petrograd" number, end- ing with a Cossack dance. George Tulley, in Arthur Playfair's role, was a hit. The show is now the wittiest and brightest revue in the English me- tropolis. JOINING THE ENGLISH ARMY. Captain Joseph G. Woodward, and his cousin, Fred, join the British army June 12. TWO-ACT PLAYLET. London, May 31. Arthur Bourchier gave a condensed two-act version of "The Liar" at the Coliseum Monday, and it was liked. GERTIE MILLAR COMING OVER. London, May 31. When Alfred Butt's production of "Bric-a-Brac" (now at the Palace) is taken to New York in September, Ger- tie Millar will go with it in her original role. "CAROLINE" CLOSING. r London, May 31. "Caroline," at the New theatre, closes immediately and a new play will be produced there Junt 13. PALLADIUM'S STRONG SHOW. London, May 31. The Palladium has a strong program this week, including Grossmith & Laurillard's "The Only Girl," Clarice Mayne and Daisy James. 400th for "ToNight's the Night- London, May 31. "To-Nighfs the Night" at the Gaiety celebrates its 400th performance to- night, and is still running along to profitable receipts. FRANK VAN HOVEN Trying to figure out whether to v invest his savings in British war bonds or purchase a motor cycle. Gasoline is 40 cents a gallon in London. IN LONDON. London, May 20. Since Easter there has been some- ihing of a slump in the theatrical s/orld, and many productions have been withdrawn, but only to be re- placed by fresh attractions, practically ill theatres remaining open. The business compares favorably with con- ditions before the* war, which is to be attributed to the khaki element, home from the front and relieved from training camps for the week-end. Theatres with real attractions con- tinue to do big business, but those providing poor plays have gone to the wall. There has been a run on plays-writ- ten by Horace A. Vachell, with the inevitable result this prolific author has over-written himself, not having time to give of his best. In spite if recent comparative failures, this un- doubtedly clever writer will supply new plays for more than one theatre in the near future. Martin Harvey is giving a four weeks' season of Shakespeare at His Majesty's theatre and devoting all the proceeds to the Red Cross Fund, bear- ing any loss himself. Shirley Kellogg has been purchas- ing race horses, and won her first race at Windsor last week with "Joyland." Albert De Courville's big Drury Lane revue is announced as written by De Courville, Wal Pink and B. Mac- donell Hastings. The music for the Drury Lane revue will be principally by Herman DarewskT, assisted by Manuel Klein. Madge Lessing, whose pro-German tendencies have been extensively com- mented on, will take Shirley Kellogg's part in "Joyland" shortly. George Graves will again be at the Empire in the autumn and George Robey at the Hippodrome, while Billy Merson will be at the London opera house. BRIDGEPORT IS PROSPEROUS. Bridgeport, Conn., May 31. Reports of good times in Bridgeport, where the making of munitions ; s going along at top speed, seems to have reached the show people. Applications for billboard space lo- cally discloses that seven large cir- cuses and as many carnivals are booked here for this summer. Among the cir- cuses will be the Sells-Floto, which has never previously shown so far east. Rats Talking to Coast Managers. San Francisco, May 31. Considerable talk is being indulged in at present between the local repre- sentatives of the White Rats and the Sam Harris-Irving Ackerman combina- tion of Coast managers. These latter arc represented by the Western States Vaudeville Association, their booking agency in this city. No inkling is allowed to escape as to the subject of the talks. RATS' BOSTON SCAMPER. Boston, May 31. The first grand scamper of the White Rats Actors' Union of Boston turned out to be a rousing success, with the attendance well over 2,000. It started at eight o'clock on the night of May 25 and ended at four A. M., with the crowd still going strong. Harry Mountford was given an en- thusiastic reception at midnight, deliv- ering a perfunctory address of welcome and reserving his big organization ad- dress for the following night. Vaudeville, specialty dancing, a cos- tume contest, a Chaplin contest and a roof garden cabaret proved to be the features of the night. Mayor Curtis of Revere addressed the assemblage, the affair being held in the Crescent Gardens in his city. Mayor Curley was represented, and State Treasurer Burrell won the prize for being the handsomest man on the floor. Deputy Organizer Geoffrey L. Wba- len was chairman of the general com- mittee; Thomas Kennette, chairman of the reception committee. ODETTE MYRTIL COMING BACK. The French young woman, Odette Myrtil, who left New York and Zieg- feld's Roof show for London without any especial notice to anyone, is re- turning to the Flo Ziegfeld manage- ment The girl has agreed, upon Ziegfeld withdrawing his damage suit for breach of contract against her, to re- appear with the Ziegfeld "Midnight Frolic," commencing Aug. 28. Zieg- feld had sued her for $5,000. Charles Bornhaupt is Odette's American representative. SHANLEY TO MARRY. Los Angeles, May 31. Frank P. Shanley, the owner of the Continental Hotels in San Francisco and this city, is to be married in June. Mr. Shanley's bride-to-be is Vilma Steck, prima donna with Kolb and Dill at one time and more recently with Dillon and King in musical comedy. AL JOLSON GOING HOME. June 12 is the closing date scheduled for "Robinson Crusoe, Jr.," the current Winter Garden show. Immediately upon its ending Al Jolson, its star, ac- companied by Mrs. Jolson, will leave for San Francisco, their home. June 20 the Jolsons will leave Cali- fornia for a journey to Honolulu. Operating on Eddie Darling. Yesterday (Thursday) an operation was to have been performed upon Eddie Darling, the Keith booker, to remove a growth the doctors believe has been the indirect cause of Mr. Darling's stomach trouble. The latter ailment brought about his physical condition that compels a long rest. Gaby and 'Arry at London Coliseum. London, May 31. Gaby Dcslys and Harry Pilcer will appear shortly at the Coliseum in a singing and dancing act.