Variety (July 1916)

CABLES Paris, June 20. The Alhambra will probably remain open until middle of July and will then close for six weeks. In former years the house has closed in June for the summer vacation. The weather this month has been far from seasonable and just now is more like April. This has had an excellent effect on the the- atrical receipts. The Olympia and Folies Bergere have both registered $900 daily (the former with two shows), during the past week, which is a decided diminution, but ahead of the same period in former years. E. R. Walladson is in Paris looking over the shows. The revue at the Marigny is proving a success, and manager Rigaux can be congratulated on a good bill. There are some noticeable features, with a couple of topical sketches which have been introduced. The final set a metallic ballet, is a feature. The scene repre- sents a cavern, which with the light- ing effect is realistic. The various metals are represented by a bevy of six girls, one playing the peroxide which accompanies each. Rust plays court to Iron and finally subdues it; Verdigris attacks Copper. This ballet is an original conception and splendidly mounted. Mile. Casslve, Gaby Benda, Pretty Myrtill Clara Tambour, Paul Ardot and Girier form a good cast. It is the best revue in Paris at present. The Ambassadeurs, an al fresco es- tablishment on the Champs Elysees, is feeling the effect of the inclemer.i weather. The troupe is good, includ- ing Mile Spinelly an J Raimu in t. e revue and a sketch, but a permit from King Pluvius is needed to create an audience. A revue now occupies the stage of the Theatre Antoine, in which Marguerite Deval, Yvonne Frintemps and Gilbe t appear. As usual now a sketch is in troduced into the show. "Potash and Perlmutter" has been withdrawn at the Bouffes. Max Daer- ly has revived "Baby Mine" to finish the propitious season. Reine Baltha and Dorville form the stars in the new revue "Vas-y-Pepere" at the Scala. The Theatre Imperial remains open with an attractive program of short plays, on the lines of the Grand Guignol. At the Eldorado and the Ba-Ta-Clan (concert halls) the managements have reverted to old operettas for a few weeks. A new play "la Charette Anglaise" has been procruced at the Gymnase. A short run is predicted. It is a war comedy, of the entente cordiale cate- gory, depicting the love affairs of a French girl and an English Tommy. "The Belle of New York" still holds the stage of the Varietes, with Jane Marnac in the title role. The current legitimate attractions are, "Belle of New York" (Varietes); "La Flambee" (Porte St. Martin); "Hotel du Libre Echange" (Renais- sance); "Le Veilleur de Nuit" (Palaw Royal); "Le Chemineau" (Ambigu); "Baby Mine" (Bouffes); "La Charett* Anglaise" (Gymnase); "Cloches de Corneville" (Eldorado); "Fille de Mme Angot" (Ba-Ta-Clan); "Le Secret de Samson" etc. (Imperial); "Le Chateau de la Mort Lente" etc. (.Grand Guignol); Repertoire at Comedie Francaise and Operat-Comique. Revue at Theatre Antoine, Scala, Mayol, Folies-Bergere, Marigny, Cigale, Ambassadeurs. Pictures at Theatre du Vaudeville; Folies Dramatiques, Gaumont Palace (Hippodrome) Cirque d'Hiver. HIPS NEW PRODUCTION. London, July 5. Albert de Courville is figuring on a new production at the London Hippo- drome. The present piece" has been running since Boxing Day and has been tremendously successful, but the advent and drawing powers of "Rafczle Dazzle" at the Drury Lane (also a de Courville production) have made it necessary for the mounting of another Hip revue. William J. Wilson, the American stage director, who has produced the last quartet of de Courville successes, is to remain over, to do the new Hip piece, although he had expected to sail for the States early this week. LONDON NOTES. London, June 20. It is computed 240 revues are touring the United Kingdom. Fred Williams, uncle to Fred Emney, and at one time a well-known comedian, passed away at the Variety Artists Benevolent Institution, June 13, after a long illness. He invested all his savings in a land speculation and lost them. Hence his ending his days in the Brindsworth Home. Fortescue Harrison, formerly Oswald Stoll'S manager for Bristol, has been appointed manager of the London opera house, vice John Christie, who has tak- en up other important duties for Stoli. Fred Kitchen, Joe Elvin, Eugene Stratton and Harry Tate have resigned their official positions in the Variety Ar- tists Benevolent Institution and have called an extraordinary general meet- ing of the charity supporters to explain their action. These men were indefat- igable workers for the good cause. BRIGHT AND CLEVER REVUE. London, July 5. Andre Chariot produced Harry Grat- tan's latest revenue entitled "Some" as a sequel to "Samples" at the Vaude- ville June 29. It is bright and clever and Grattan is seen at his best as an author. James W. Tate's music is also ex- cellent Lee White, Clay Smith and Peter Bernard scored. KEANE REPLACES HITCHCOCK. London, July 5. Robert Emmett Keane replaces Ray- mond Hitchcock Aug. 12 at the Prince of Wales in "Mr. Manhattan," at which time Hitchcock sails for America. Keane's wife, Muriel Window, has been secured by Alfred Butt and opens as a single act at the Victoria Palace July 17. LITTLE TICH ENGAGED. London, July 5. Albert DeCourville has engaged Little Tich for the Drury Lane revue, "Joyland," which appears to be "slump- ing." It is expected Tich will revive interest. "MACBETH" FILM TAKEN OFF. London, July 5. "Macbeth" in film form, which opened at His Majesty's recently, will be withdrawn July 6 and the house closed till the regular fall season. BUTT FOR PARLIAMENT. London, July 5. Alfred Butt has been accepted as a Parliamentary candidate for Walworth. Jimmy Glover proposes contesting the Strand division. "BLUFF" POOR London, July 5. "Bluff" was produced at the Garrick June 28 and is the work of a new author, Lucas Landor. It deals with Bohemian life in Lon- don at the present time, but proved poor melodrama. BOXER AT COMEDY. London, July 5. At the Comedy, Charles B. Cochran has engaged Jimmy Wilde, champion boxer, for three nights. George Greg- ory replaces Will Evans in the same show. Business is good. VAN HOVEN. Th«- guy who made Gus Sun famous. Now doing the same for England. 300TH FOR "ROMANCE." London, July 5. June 30 "Romance" celebrated its 300th performance at the Lyric before an enthusiastic audience. A speech was demanded of Doris Keane. Business is very good there. LIGHTS TOUR. The Long Island tour of the Lights commences this Saturday night at Far Rockaway. The journey until July 17 wrll be consecutively by days (or nights) at Bay Shore, Freeport, Hemp- stead, Patchogue, Glen Cove, Montauk theatre, Brooklyn (July IS); Astor the- atre (Sunday night, July 16). July 17, for one day only, the Lights will give a burlesque performance at Hurtig & Seamon's on 125th street. Among the members of the club travelling as the troupe, about 50 in all, will be Frank Tinney, James J. Corbett, Morton and Glass, Louis Mann, Smith and Austin, Eddie Foy and Foys, Roscoe Arbuckle, McKay and Ardine, Rube Goldberg, Bert Levy, Duffy and Lorenz, Julian Eltinge, Cart- mell and Harris, the Leightons, Con- nolly and Wenrich, Walter Van Brunt, Harry Ellis, Earl Benham, Whiting and Burt, Will Rogers. A street parade starting at 7 in the evening will be held in each town. The members will also parade from town to town in cars, about 30 in all. During the street parade the women will ride in the machines with the men walking. A Hawaiian first part and a clubcdQm scene (set taken from Friars Frolic and not to be used at the Astor the- atre performance) will be staged by Mr. Tinney, Jack Pierre and N. E. Manwaring. Mr. Pierre will ha*re charge in front of the houses and Mn Manwaring will stage manage. All of the players will not be able to remain the full route with the com- pany A general meeting of the member- ship of the "Lights" is scheduled next Sunday, to be held at the club house, the executives of the organization Hav- ing determined to float a bond issue among the members in order to raise $25,000 and pay off the total indebted- ness of the club house. The Nassau County Trust Co. will handle the business end of the issue. Four thousand dollars has been sub- scribed to start the movement. At the Lights clambake July 4, 250 people sat down to the meal, while be- tween 800 and 900 visited the club- house during the day. WILLARD'S OFFER. An offer has been received by Wil- lard, "The Man Who Grows," from Continental European variety mana- gers to make a reappearance over there immediately. Through Willard's peculiar manner of "growing" and his military bearing, the foreigners seem to think Willard in the present war times when the men at home are only there because of inability to be at the front or on sick leave, will be an ex- traordinary attraction. The proposal has been declined by Willard, who has just finished a vaude- ville travel of 74 weeks. He is on the point of closing negotiations on this side for a full tour next season. London Houses Closed for Summer London, July 5. The Shaftsbury and Adelphi ha been closed for the summer and will not reopen till the autumn. V r>