Variety (June 1918)

CABLES Paris, May 20. Tin- annual meeting of the Society d«-s atithMirs et compositeurs Drama- ti«11jcs (known as the big society, cov- ering the hgitimate people) was heid May IS. The officers elected for the year comprised Pierre Wolff, presi- dent; Andre Kivoire, Gabriel Tarieux and Alfr<<! Buntau as vice-presidents; Robert Charnay, treasurer, with Leon Xanrof, assistant; Hughes Delormc and Gucraud, secretaries; July Mary, lihrarian. At the regular meeting of the Association des Artistes (the legitimate actors' union), Pedro Gail- hard, formerly the director of the Paris Opera, was elected president. Kugcnio, at the Casino de Paris as ballet master, has resigned his posi- tion. I.eon Volterra has not yet an- nounced his successor. VAitiKTr is on sale at all the principal kiosqucs, main boulevards, Paris. Back numbers can be obtained at the Lihrarie Etrangerc, 37 Hue Saint- Augustin (near Place de 1'Opera). The address of Vakiktv's office in Paris is still 66 bis, Rue Saint-Didier. Madge Adae, formerly a chorus girl with Weber and Fields, died in Paris, from tuberculosis, May 11. The body has been cremated. Duhcm, well known in France many years ago as a cafe chantant performer and author, died rcTently in Paris at the age of 76 years. The demise of Lucicn Maire, musical conductor, 39, is announced from Mcnton, France; also M. de Vildreux, author, aged 58, who passed away in Paris after a long illness. The one act play, "Les Gosses des les mines," has been withdrawn from the Theatre des Arts, Paris, after one month. It cannot be recorded as a big success. This is the sketch by the draughtsman Polubot, which Cochran has secured for London, with rights for America. Although originally run- ning only 25 minutes, it appears the act will play for 45 minutes in English, and be known as "Kiddies in the Kuins." AUTHOR—LIEUTENANT. London, June 5. Grossnuth & Laurillard's next pro- duction will be a dramatization of 'The Man with the Club Foot," by Valentine Williams, formerly Neuter's Berlin correspondent, who recently won'the Military Cross as Lieutenant of the Irish Guards. It will probably be produced at the Oxford, after the run of "The Better •Ob-" Arthur Uourchicr has been engaged to play Clubfoot, the Kaiser's master spy. Alice Crawford, the author's wife, will be the only woman in the cast. BUTT OFFERED OVER A MILLION. Confirm, June 5. Sir Charles Wyndham has been offered $1,250,000 for the surrender of the leases of his three Condon theatres --the Criterion, Wyndham's and the New. The offer, made by Alfred Putt, was declined. WAR DRAMA WELL RECEIVED. London, June 5. Krnest Rolls presented at the Court, Liverpool, a powerful spy drama, "The Hidden Hand," by Laurence Cowen, which eyj.f)\<-s t Ji»- workings of the Cerman jm<-- in I inland in vivid word pictures and presents to the audi- ence the horrors perpetrated by the Huns in Belgium and France. It is splendid propaganda, en- courages the sale ot war bonds and i> a deterrent to strikes. It was enthusiastically received, and will be produced in the West End shortly. The play should be presented in all allied and neutral countries. COLLINS' 21st ANNIVERSARY. London, June 5. At Drury Lane the Beecham Opera Co. opened a summer season with "Othello." Arthur Collins, managing director, has just celebrated the 21st anniver- sary of his management there—the longest in the history of the theatre. J. L. Sacks produces at that house in August Isidor Witmark's ''Shang- hai," George R. Sims' and Henry Hamilton's drama having been post- poned. -TAILS Ur WINS FAVOR. London, Tune 5. Andre Chariot's "Tails Up," pro- duced at the Comedy June 1, written by Hastings Turner, music by Phillip Braham, is a bright, witty revue in 16 scenes, a lovely chorus. Arthur Play- fair, Jack Buchanan, Clifford Cobbe, Teddie Gerard, Phyllis Monkman, Phyllis Mitmus all scored. THE MAN FROM TORONTO" HIT. London, June 5. Douglas Murray's "The Man from Toronto," produced at the Royalty May 30, is a delightful light comedy well played, especially by Iris Hoey, George Tully and Eric Lewis. HAS NEW FARCE. London, June 5. Charles B. Cochrane has secured a new farce by Fred Thompson and Phillips Oppenheim, fnr immediate production at the St. Martin's theatre. Alfred Lester has been engaged to play the leading role. ANOTHER PLAY DROPS OUT. London, June 5. Marie Lohr has withdrawn "Press the Mutton" after 11 performances, making 14 plays ending their runs dur- ing May. She has in rehearsal a play by K. C. Carton and Justin McCarthy. Vocal Recital by Felice Lyne. London, June 5. Felice Lyne nave a vocal recital at Aeolian Hall May 30. She has prog- ressed as a singer since she was pre- sented by Oscar Hammerstein at the London Opera House. Her concerts are almost as numerous now as before the* war. Lieut. Miller Hayes a Prisoner. London, June 5. Lieut. Miller Hayes, clever author and entertainer, is a prisoner in Germany. Change of Bill at Pavilion. London, June 5. There is an entire change of pro- gram at the Pavilion, including a Len Morton playlet, 'The Profiteers," adapted from the French by Walter Hackctt; Crock, Clara Evelyn and Ivy St. Helier, Irene Magley. Featuring Dion Boucicault. London, June 5. The Coliseum features include Dion P.uucicault and Co. in "Wurzcl Flum- mery," Jack Pleasants, Maidie Scott, hrncst Hastings. PRINCESS PATRICIA'S MATINEE. London, June 5. Princess Patricia is organizing a matinee at the Apollo for June 28 for the benefit of the Canadian prisoners in Germany. PLAY BY FRENCH PREMIER. London, June 5. It is rumored "Le Voile de Bonheur," by Clcmcnccau, the French premier, is to be produced shortly in the West End PRODUCING "CHINESE PUZZLE/ 9 London, June 5. ' A new drama entitled "A Chinese Puzzle," by Leon M. Lion, is to be pro- duced at the New theatre. The American rights to it have been secured by the Shuberts. BEUNDA WITHDRAWN. London, June 5. Dion Boucicault withdraws "Belinda" from the New theatre June 8, when he relinquishes his lease of the house. Bridges Adams presents there June 12 "The Loving Heart," with a com- pany including Rosina Philippi, Muriel Pratt, Basil Gill, Alfred Brydone. LADY RICHARDSON'S PANTO. London, June 5. Lady Constance Stewart Richardson presented at the Court June 3 a panto- mime danscente by A. Weigall, music by Manuel Gomez, assisted by Alex Goudin and Leighton Lucas, preceded by a lecture by Lady Constance on physical culture as an aid to character building. Charles Mott Dead. London, June 5. Charles Mott, operatic vocalist, died of wounds in France. JOHN GIURAN The Dancer June 3 ntid June 10 At the TUVKHSIim, courtesy of MR. ED- WARD DA HUNG. This week assisting MISS imSSIK CIAYTON. Next week in "THE CHINESE CIHCUS." Management, WILL S. HENNLSSY and GLADYS BROWN. IN LONDON. London, May 20. The Navy has been neglected by play- wrights since the war, but quite a bunch of naval plays are now prominent. These include "The Lack of the Navy," by Mrs. Clifford Mills, authoress of that delightful patriotic play, "Where the Rainbow Ends," which did so much to popularize our pdtron saint, St. George of England, with the rising gen- eration. Others are "The Sure Shield" adapted from "La Vielle d'Armes") by Walter Hackett for Charles B. Cochran; "The Blue Peter," by Captain Arthur Eliot and Herman Darewski, not to mention several touring production. Thomas Burke, a former collier, dis- covered to possess a marvellous tenor voice and recently achieved great op- eratic triumphs in Italy, has returned home. He recently gave a concert in his native village, Leigh, for the War Prisoners Fund and realized over £2,500. David Miller, the hitherto unknown comedian, who has made a pronounced success in "Fair and Warmer" at the Prince of Wales, is a Scot, from Glas- gow, and had some experience with the Edwardes management, but eventually joined Andre Chariot as producer. Dur- ing the rehearsal of "Fair and Warmer" Guy Braydon, who came from America to produce the play, heard him read the part of Billy Bartlett, and insisted on his playing the role. •THE HATCHET CUTS DEEP. "The Hatchet" is the title of a daily newspaper published on the high seas and printed on board the U.S. George Washington, a transport carrying American soldiers. According to its editorial policy its aim is to "reflect your experience on the way across," and the men are asked to contribute, and they do. It is a bright little sheet, brimful of real amusing stuff. There is nothing slow about "The Hatchet." On a certain Sunday not many weeks ago, at 5:30 p. m., a radio message was received from Secretary Daniels. Exactly one hour and one minute after, it had been set up in type and many thousands of copies printed, and the familiar call of "Extra" was heard along all the decks. On this particular voyage the soldiers were provided with entertain- ments which would have done credit to the largest vaudeville houses in the country. "Very Good, Eddie" Ends Camp Tour. "Very Good, Eddie," the Lcffler and Bratton offering, will close its tour of the army cantonments tomorrow (Saturday) night at Camp Upton. While the company broke all records for an opening night at Camp Merritt, the season on the whole did not prove all that had been expected. This was due in a measure to the fact that the constant withdrawal of troops from the camps to be sent abroad and the three weeks' quarantine given the new arrivals left but a small number to draw from. Another factor that militated against the probability of great success was the opening last Monday of the Buffalo theatre at Camp Upton. This theatre is devoted to colored com- panies, having been opened by the "Darktown Follies" company. The prices—15 and 25 cents—drew most of the few soldiers that were in camp. Violet Essex Married. London, June 5. Violet Essex, who is appearing in the comic opera "Violette" at the Lyric, has married Tucker, the singing violinist. Marlborough Showing Pictures. London, June 5. The Marlborough theatre has been converted into a cinema.