Variety (January 1917)

C All I ana a IN PARIS )hv> »-?•>»•»-> >»- t >•»>>•»*■ By EL a KENDREW. Paris, Dec. 24. The fear of a further closing of thea- tres is worrying the managers and ac- tors. Meetings have been held at which the question has been fully dis- cussed, and a petition sent to the au- thorities pointing out the hardships such action would have on those de- pendent on the amusement world for their living. It is now a foregone con- clusion that there will be no additional closed days beyond the 24 hours each week, and that all theatres will be able to play six days weekly. The thorny problem of matinees is left in abeyance. The death is announced of Henri Micheau, former director of the old Theatre des Nouveauties, which was pulled down before the war and is now the site of an elegant picture palace. Edmond Pezon, a lion tamer, died in Paris. He was the owner of a famous menagerie in France, but has been In difficulties since the floods in 1910, when many of his animals, then camped on the banks of the Marne, were drowned. The war handicappepd his tours and caused him to disband the menagerie. The combined bands of the Canadian troops in France played in Paris last week, with much success. Several changes at the legitimate houses in the latter part of December,' for the most part revivals. Business remains good and much better financial results than in 1915 are reported for the outgoing year. Vaudeville pro- erams are good, specially at the Al- hambra, in spite of the difficulty in ob- taining acts. Olympia, Empire, Mayol, Casino de Paris, Medrano, Nouveau Cirque, Bobino, Petit Casino, Kursaal, Chateau d*eau, Gaumont Palace and the Alhambra are the Paris variety • resorts playing vaudeville acts. Small time acts can easily find work for three or four months, if not too exacting; big acts can do about one month. Pictures continue _ to be the attrac- tion, notwithstanding excellent shows in the theatres*. This is easily realized bv the theatres Tuesday evenings, when the cinemas are closed all day under the coal economy organization orders. On the other hand, the picture houses £;t in a few more on^ne days when e vaudeville theatres have to shut. The closing of the legitimate house on Fridays does not appear to effect the other establishments to any appreciable extent. Another change at the little theatre in the Rue Caumartin, which is now a cabaret once- more and named Cadet- Rousselle, the title of an old and fa- mous French song founded on a regi- ment in 1792. The Paris subways have curtailed the night service and the last trains will now run at 11.15 p. m. This will make theatre audiences hustle, as the per- formances terminate at present a little after U o'clock. "The Blue Bird" is being revived at the Theatre Rejane with the original company (according to the adverts). Maurice Maeterlinck, the Belgian au- thor, is at present lecturing in Spain. In Paris Theatres: "Rip Van Winkle" (Arts); "Je ne trompe pas mon Mari" (Athenee); "Les Maris de Ginette" (Apollo); "Jcan'de la Fontaine" (Bouf- fes): "Miette" fG»i*/0\ "H.VV ro* *** criieris poTiciers" (Chatelet); "Blue Bird" (Rejane); Rivoli (Sarah Bern- hardt); "Guerre et 1'Amour" (Renais- sance); "L'Etranger" and repertoire (Opera); "Lei Quatres JournJes" (Opera Comique); "Nos bons Villa- geois" (Odeon);*"Moune" (Varietes); "L'Amazone" (Porte St Martin); "L'Otage" (Antoine); "La Rotuaotte" (Ambigu); "Laboratoire des Hallucina- tions," etc. (Grand Guignol); "Grand Mogol" (Trianon); "La Classe 36" (Dejazet); "Plus haut que 1'Amour" (Albert I); "Primrose" and repertoire (Comedie Franchise); "Dame de chez Maxim" (Scala); "Afgar" (Michel) "Madame et son Pflleul" (Palais Royal); Revues at Little Palace, Capu- cines, Cigale, Folies Bergere, Ba-Ta- Clan, Eldorado. Arsen Blondin, the'famous French tight rope walker, who crossed Niagara many years stfco, appeared Sunday af- ternoon for the first time in Paris for 25 years, at a charity fair held in Luna Park. Rouzier Darcieres, secretary of the Paris Olympia while under Marinelli's management, died at Gap, France, from heart trouble last week. Francesco Pablo Tosti, composer, died in Rome, Italy, Dec 2. Lucisn Guitry will play at the Thea- tre de la Gaite\ under temporary di- rection of Dulay, in a new 3-act piece, "Miette," by D. Nicademi, December 13. "Je ne trompe pas mon mari," by Feydeau (being the story of a woman w.io did), will be revived next week at the Athenee. A new vaudeville artists' syndicate is to be formed in France, the former Artistes Lyrique Union not filling the • bill since the death of the old organ- isers. The society, it is argued, should be non-political and embrace all classes of music hall people, but no one else. The weekly receipts remain about the same at the majority of vaudeville and picture theatres, in spite of the one day closure. The Wednesday holiday for music halls is considered by the staffs as a God-send, and there are % many people who hope it may be a per- manent institution. As usual the main complaint comes from the "menagerie," as old actors called the band. ENGLAND OBLIGES RUSSIA. London, Tan. 3. The film feature, "Ivan the Terrible," has been withdrawn from the English market in deference to the Russian Em- bassy, it being regarded as an inap- propriate moment for such a showing. The film was censored and later passed, but was subsequently shown in its original form, consequently the pro- hibition. BIGGEST OUTSIDE LONDON. London, Jan. 3. "The Big Show," deCourville and Pink's revue, music by Melville Gideon, produced by Jack Haskell, opened Dec. 26 at the Empire, Liverpool. It is the biggest show ever produced outside of London, breaking all rec- ords, and is there for a six weeks' run. AFTER "CHU CHIN CHOW." London, Jan. 3. The Shuberts, with or without their knowledge, are running counter to Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr., here. Both are in active negotiation, through their rep- ■r?e <'atntiv.es, whh O-Kar As cite, *t>r the American rights to "Chu Chin Chow," an Oriental musical comedy now run- ning at His Majesty's. It was written by Mr. A?pbc, music by Frederic Nor* LAUDER'S SON KILLED. London, Jan. 3. Harry Lauder's only son (John), age 29, a captajn in the English army, was tolled af the iront, and as a conse- quence the Shaftesbury, where the Scotch comedian is playing., closed from Jan. 1 to Jan. 4. The bereaved father has received messages of sym- pathy from Queen Alexandra and many notable people. The new Lauder revue, "fliree Cheers," ti a pronounced success. The scene in which Lauder and Ethel Levey, appear together is a perfect gem, due to their contrasted personalities. The dance by Ivy Shilling, Australian, and Fred Leslie", American, is the talk of London. OXFORD'S REVUE. ' London, Jan. 3.' Ernest Rolls will present a revue, en- titled "London Life," at the Oxford, {an. IS. The score is by his brother, fax Darewski. TOM.CLAXTON DEAD. London, Jan. 3. ' Tox Claxton, the variety agent, was buried Dec 28. NEW SOrfGS IN LONDON. London* Jan. 3. Wilkie Bard and Vesta Tilley intro- duced new songs at the Coliseum this week. "UNDER COVER" LEADS. London, Ian. 3. When Grosimith & Lauriflard, in conjunction with MathesOn Lang, pro- duce "Under Cover" at the Strand, Jan, 17,' Jessie Winter will be the leading lady with Lang in the leading part. Berlin Correspondent at Hit Majesty's. London, Jan. 3. Frederic W. Wile, the American jour- nalist, for many years special corre- spondent at Berlin for the London "Daily Mail," will speak at His Majes- ty's theatre Sunday afternoon, Jan. 7, with H. B. Irving in the chair. Revival of "The Private Secretary." London, Jan. 3. Andre Chariot and Norman McKin- nel's presentation of the wordless play, "A Pierrot's Christmas," at the Apollo, although enthusiastically received, was withdrawn Dec. 30. "The Private Secretary" is to be re- vived there Jan. 6. Both on the Same Program. London, Jan. 3. Jack Norworth and Hetty King are playing on the same bill this week— the Victoria Palace. FRANK VAN HOVEN Wat asked, the other day, if he knew that an attempt to steal liis act was tried in Australia. Van laughed, laughed, laughed and said: "V -\, a- J -M*. j-:-\: Ucz\ *n-ii -Vaif liuven, through his advertising, was so well known that the newspapers, etc., criticized the steal?" And. laughing still harder, he added: "And did you near Van Hoven has contracts for Australia, English contracts at real money, too?" And. laughing still more, he continued: "And did you also hear the copy of my get was •topped?" REHEARSING IN KHAKI. London, Jan. 3. • "Babes in the Wood" at the Strand is successful. m Johnnie £>choneld> Jr., obtained spe- cial permission from the War Office to play the dame in the show, rehearsing daily in khaki. y SAILINGS. San Francisco, Jan. 3.' Arrived here Dec. 26 on the "Ven- tura" from Australia, Artois Bros., Prince and Deerie, the Parshleys, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Miller, Musical Irving, Cardo and Noll, Mennetti and Sadelfl, Wirth Family, Mr. and Mrs. Lew Dun- bar, May Baker, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Jones. Two Tomboys Back Home. London, Jan. 3. The Two Tomboys, after a long ab- sence in America, opene<L-at the Al- hambra, Bradford, Monday. • ! Flyweight Boxer Marries Artiste. London, Jan. 3. Tom Noble, the flyweight boxer (weighing under 100 lbs.), was married Dec. 19 to Doris Arnold, of Dot and Doris. Ldngrigg In Artillery. .London, Tan. 3. "Sidney Longrigg, formerly with Edelsten & Burns, has been trans- ferred from the Royal Horse Artillery to the Anti-Aircraft, now on Ihe west- ern front FREEMAN'S LES DARCY. Freeman Bernstein beat the pro- moters and managers around New York to the Les Darcy thing. Free- man has the much exploited Australian boxer under contract for the next 15 weeks -for a one-night-stand tour* to open in Hartford next Tuesday night. Freeman has guaranteed the fighter' $2,500 a week and expenses for himself and two companions during the con- tract. The show with which the fighter will appear will .be a sort of an athletic carnival and will include the Three Romans, Keeley Brothers, Three Arm- strongs, Bennett Sisters, Cicero, and m team of wrestlers. The attraction wilt be preceded by two advance men, who will handle the press and arrange for their star to edit sporting pages, and also frame for the meeting of all com- er s in towns where it will be permitted. So far the route includes Hartford, Bridgeport* Philadelphia, Reading, Baltimore. Wilkes-Barre, Johnstown and Pittsburgh. Freeman expects that the venture will be able to attract no less than $10,- 000 a week to the box offices and that h's bit will be something like $2,500, in which a couple of silent partners will share. HALE AND PATERSON. The pictures on the front cover of this week's issue are those of Signe Paterson and Frank Hale of Hale and Paterson, who will appear at Keith's .Riverside next week, when Miss Pater- son will show how the society folks are doing the Hawaiian dance in even- ing dress, of which novel stage idea she is the originator. Hale and Paterson are playing Amer- ican vaudeville until spring, when they will go tc Europe. They have a special orchestra con- sisting of six men called the*Versatile Sextet. Miss Paterson will introduce something entirelv new in the way of a dance number shortly. Hale and Paterson nave been danc- ing for society during the holidays. Tanguay at Riverside jaii. 2d. Chicago, Jan. 3. After playing this middle western bi? time for a few weeks, Eva Tanguay will go to New York, opening at Keith's Riverside Jan. 29,