Variety (June 1922)

Friday, June % 1922 CABLES CUT RATES IN LONDON MAY BE TRIED NEXT SEASON New York's Cut-Rate King, Joe Leblang, Will Look Over English Prospects—Cut Rates Proposed by Others for Different American Cities Joseph Leblang, who conceived and developed the Public Service Ticket Offices , wherein cut-rate tickets for Broadway attractions are dispensed, is planning to estab- lish a similar agency in London next season. Matty Zimmerman, general manager of the bargain agency, is leaving for Europe dur- ing the month and will survey the English metropolis with (be estab- lishment of a cut-rate headquar- quarters in mind. In the fall Leblang will go abroad. at which time a decision will be made whether to attempt there the American system of reduced tickets for certain attractions. Mr. Lcblai g when asked if he was interested in the Chicago cut-rate office, stated he had no connec- tion or interest in it, and said he would not engage in cut rating in any other American city except New York. It is reported cut rates may be attempted in Philadelphia. Boston. Chicago and St. Louis next season. At this time the cut-rate king stated be was not f;urc of the ground in London, explaining that the managers there would necessarily have to consent to the establishment of such an office. English theatre- goers, who purchase the cheaper seats, which form the bulk of the cut-rate sales here, have been trained by English managers to stand in line. The appearance of a queue in front of London theatres is the usual thing. Whether the managers will be willing to elim- inate the custom of box office lines, though patrons would be able to se- cure moderate priced tickets at 4he proposed cut rate office, it is a mat- ter to be settled. ^The power of the cut rates has been demonstrated this season as never before. At one time over 60 per cent, of the entire Broadway list was offered there. Most of the lo- cations were balcony and gallery seats, but for attractions nearing the end of their runs, lower floor seats are to be had at reduced prices. It is conceded that a num- ber of shows wVre able to continue in New York only through aid from the bargain office. This aid was particularly important, In light of the unprecedented number of fail- ures on Broadway and the number of mediocre offerings. IN LONDON London, May 21. The Knickerbocker Club which has taken the place of the old Vaudeville opened May 21. W. D. Waxman, one of the lead- ing Hebrew actors in England, who is generally billed as the Anglo- American tragedian, will shortly produce a drama by Benedict James entitled, "The Rabbi and the Priest." This play was originally produced as "The Little Brother" at the Ambassador in 1918,. with Fisher White as the rabbi. In the new production he will play the priest and Waxman the rabbi. Fol- lowing this tour Waxman will pro- duce Gutzkows "Uriel Acosta" In the West End. This has also been done in London, by Jacob P. Adler at the Pavilion, Mile End E. This theatre, with one of the finest stages in London, Is now devoted to pictures. William Morris wrote Sir J. M. Barrie offering to produce "Shall We Join the Ladies" If Barrie would finish writing it and make It into a full play. Barries reply was to the effect that he was not thinking of doing any such thing. This is the one-act murder mystery play which has been done once or twice at benefits and special per- formances. On the last occasion the author hinted that he was going to finish it. Sir Robert Home,- Chancellor of the Exchequer, received a deputa- tion of managers and others inter- ested in the financial side of the theatrical profession. May 11. The deputation arrived armed with a Plan and schedule for the mitiga- tion and rearrangement of the tax. *n reply the chancellor said the tax would not be taken off, at any rate. ior the present year; it would mean too large u los3 of revenue. The "'noma industry was not repre- sented but are seeking leave to send a deputation of their own. l'ortunello and Cirillino. the Ital- ian clowns and tumblers who were n5 e xr lhe bl « hits of "The League Si Nolions " at tno Ncw Oxford, ^onaon, in their anxiety to get to Arnonca have signed two con- tacts. One with Morris (Jreen for 5J5 years for the "Greenwich Village Follies." This contract was Particularly lucid; it consisted of rl,!£ J*** 8 fu » of details and In- tn * , a for ' f ^t»re clause of $10,000 n order that it could be thoroughly understood by the act. who know riili >u r nD Bntfteh. Having car- i 25 matter of business through 22E? fu,,y ni ° nct th <' n »U5ri*d it- iL c ?"* ron tract for the IT. S. with St*!? , Mundor * for the Keith time nVrn. 1 " ( *'l tf ' 1 h(ro v ' r '*° yot b»Ck nn'l " r ra>,o. (i t0 ;il!mv th<4 ac| |0 work m^ America. Now. having acquired fCnn ° corU '-aets. Fortunello and whii ♦ ° arc> at ll »•*■ tl> ■«*»* Ion, « (Kj: * h **bCr to pt^ to Amor- ■W to'open-'; Uml K th0y l] ° B °' Tno report o\f the select commit- 1 teo that has been inquiring into the matter of performing animals in general has not yet been made to the House of Commons, but ac- cording to official correspondents the recommendations will be: the compulsory registration of all ani- mal trainers, the conferment of power on proper authorities for the inspection of animals undergoing training, imposition of heavy penal- ties where cruelty is proved, total prohibition of the performance of certain tricks, establishment of a commission of control. The police have hurled another bomb at Brighter London, and this time the hopes of the dancing fra- ternity aro badly injured. The Cri- terion Roof Garden was the first resort to be hit, a notification reach- ing the management at the last minute that dancing after 12 o'clock would be illegal. This place is one of unblemished respectability, and if it is closed at that hour, few other places will have a chance. The cabarets which are springing into existence as "after the show" places of entertainment are likely to be hit hard, and exhibition dancers, whose name is legion, will be hurt. This action on the part of the police is said to be the result of a badly worded clause in the license. It Is. of course, the result of the recent wholesale prosecution of the cheap and so-called "smart" night clubs. Many of these have gone under within the past fortnight, and the whole issue is marked for anni- hilation. ''MUSIC BOX" SET Berlin-Harris Show at London Palace with English Company London, May SI. "The Music Box" show is signed for the Palace, London, in the early fall. Confirmed this week, although unofficial statement had previously been made, deal was completed. The burlesque, "Why Bother About Words," introduoed by Masie Gay in the new edition of "From A to Z" at the Prince of Wales was taken out without notice. , This is the adaptation of the "Music Box" scene "Words Mean Nothing" from the "Music Bjox" show in New York, lifted by Miss Gay who was over here during the winter as a member of "Pins and Needles." When word reached New York the adaptation had been put on without authorization, the Sam H. Harris office asked its attorneys to notify its London correspondents that the material was protected and reek to end its public use. Irving Berlin was then in London and looked after it. The run of the revival of Sir J. M. Barrie's "Quality Street." at the Haymarket, finishes .lune 3. after well over 300 performances. It is more than likely the next produc- tion will be A. A. Milne's "The Dover Road/' with Henry Ainley in the leading part. The production of this piece has been contemplated for over a year, but the success of "Quality Street'' has hitherto inter- fered with the original plans. One day last week AI Woods left the Savoy hotel, saying it was too noisy—too many Americans about. The Council of the Incorporated Stage Society announces the forth- coming production of "At the Gates of the Kingdom" for two private performances at the Court May 21-22. The play is the work of Knut Hamsun and was for long in the reportory of the Moscow Art the- atre. The English translation is by Theodore Komi.sar.ievsky. who will produce for the Incorporated So- ciety. Caleb Porter i^ fl West End char- acter actor and has be n associated with Fred Terry In many of the hit- ter's biggest puccesscs; He Is also a Clever utist iii color 6r block nnd White and a writer, lie now h is :m eye on the top <-f gome vaudeville bill, and has added the joyousn of confirmed optimism to his other accomplishments. Ho intends staff- ing a somewhat imu>ual act. and in (Continued on page 22 ) AMERICANS ABROAD Paris, May 20. Alexander Powell is now in Arme- nia gathering material for a book. Laird W. Archer, of Kansas City, has reached Tlflis. Rose Wilder Lane, of San Francisco, is visiting Mount Ararat for literary work on Armenia, illustrated by Mrs. J. J. Marquis. Elsa Hardcastle, of Cleve- land, is in the Caucasus, for Near East Relief publications. Among visitors in Paris last week were George McManus, car- toonist; Frank Crownlnshield, edi- tor of Vanity Fair; Thomas Hogg, former manager of the Denver Post: Abram Sopkin, violinist; Enid Watkins, prize winner at the Fon- taineblcau American Conservatory of Music last summer, due for a concert here June 1; Ruth Draper, for performances at the Maison de l'Oeuvre; Walter Damrosch; Geo. Elmer Browne, painter. Mrs. Edna F. Cunningham, pian- ist, is touring Germany. Loretta P. Higgins, soprano, has been singing in opera at Zurich. Harold Bauer, pianist, who has not played in Paris for 10 years, appeared there in a recital last week. Walter Rummel is in Lon- don for a month's concert season. Joseph Hollman has again taken up his residence In Paris. CHANGES AT DRITRY LANE London, May 31. "Decameron Nights," at the New Drury Lane, does not end this week, as reported, but there will be changes in the cast. Willette Kershaw retires from the organization. Her place will be taken by Margaret Bannerman. AMERICAN ACT A HIT London, May 31. White, Black and Useless, the American turn which opened a fort- night ago in Blackpool, has scored strongly. Last week it played New- castle and this week Is in Glasgow. J. J. Shubert Still on Continent London, May 31. J. J. Shubert Is still on the Conti- nent, presumably. At least, he has not returned to London and as far as known no hotel reservations have been made for him In the British capital. Engaged for "Kitten." London, May 31. Arthur Hammersteln has engaged George Hassel by cable to appear in "The Blue Kitten" in the States. Alan Brooks Booked by Stoll London, May 31. Alan Brooks, who opened here for Stoll "to show" has now been booked for the whole tour. PARIS Paris.'May 20. The American conservatory of music at Fontainbleau will open again this summer. The first con- tingent of students is due at the end of June, the first list already containing SO names. I'.iron Henri de .".othsehiM. who now controls the Theatre Antolne. has acquired the French rights of 'The I*, it." which i< heing trans- lated for him l»y Pierre Resploux It is reported Gilbert Miller will ( ome tv) Paris rj "ii if tor Ins return t.» tiiirope to produce 'The dat" it the Theatre Antolne, where "The Sigh on the Doott" is also to he Riven next season by the same translator. IN BERLIN By C. HOOPER TRASS Berlin, May 13. At the Theatre am Nollendorf Platz, April 15, "People in Love" ("Vcrllebt Leute"). by Herman Hal- ler and Rldeamus, music by Eduard Kuenneke, the authors of "Wenn Liebe Erwacht" and "Vetter aus Dingsda." The period of the action is 1818 in Charlottenbuerg, giving opportunity for Biedermeier cos- tumes. The leading figures are two young unmarried couples, Steffi, daughter of Regierungsrat von Ah if eld, and Leopold von Moe- bius, a young government clerk; Countess Ilsa and Heinz Von Neu- hoff, a young officer. General von Suwatscheff, Neuhoff's uncle, a suitor to llsa's hand, also plays a role. The plot of the operetta is so In- finitesimal as to defy analysis. The two couples are so evidently suited to each other from the very begln- ing and there arc no obstacles to keep them apart. Neuhoff is a little nervy in his manner of introduction, but one can see that Usa takes to him from the very start. A musical comedy libretto is sel- dom anything to rave over when the music is subtracted, butMt has never been our privilege to see one in which so little happened in so lengthy a time. The lyrics are quite another matter and maintain a high stand- ard of snap and punch. Kuenneke's score is his best since the "Vetter," Generally charming and happily or- chestrated, it hits three high spots— two duets for Steffi and Leopold, In the first and last acts, and a trio for Ilsa, Heinz and the General, in the second. The two best performances are the Leopold of Kugen Hex, combining comedy, personality and nice sing- ing, and Steffi of Ilsa Marwenga, who has been engaged by George McLellan for America. The remain- ing cast, which did competently, in- cluded Curt Lillen, Charlotte Boer- ner and Hellmut Neugebauer. In for a fair run. The first performance at the American theater. "The Easiest Way," bv Eugene Walter, took place April 29 at the Deutsches theatre, Berlin. The cast was composed of English -speaking professionals throughout: Stella Arbenlna, born of American parents In Russia, has a great reputation there and is now well known in Berlin for her work at the Kampaerspiele. She was the Laura; Arnold Korff, the Brockton, also American by birth, Is a distin- guished member of the Burg theater of Vienna; Charles Meredith, the Madison, needs no introduction to American film fans. The house was satisfactorily filled. The notices in the German papers were universally favorable to the acting if a little condescending toward the play; In short, the company may consider itself definitely established. As next production it has in view "Up in Mabel's Room," the rights of which they received, along with all the other Woods' shows, from A. H. himself during his stay in the Ger- man capital lately. They also have added Frank Conroy, late of "Daddy's Gone a-Huntlng," to their roster, but still have room for well-known American players who are vacation- ing it through Europe. To give more specific examples of the newspaper comment: Tho Ber- linger "Tageblatt," after speaking of Laura as the most real character of the piece, said that It was splendidly played, and named the complete cast—quite a tribute in Germany, the land of the repertoire company. The "Deutsche Allgomeino Zcltung" and "8 Uhr Abend Blatl' spoke much In tho same tone, while the "Boersen Courier" especially feat- ured the playing of young Melba Melslng and Claire Keats as Elfle and Annie. T-ho only really unfa- vorable notice was from Monty Jacobs of the "Vosslche Zeltung," who often admits his knowledge of English, but who, leaving the thea- tre after the second act, left It with the impression that he had attended a British drama. Would It be very rude to suggest that perhaps said Jacobs is a little overoptlmlstlc about his much-boasted bilingual- ness? At the Berliner theatre, under the summer direction of Walter Brom- me, "Madam Flirt," an operetta by Okonkowski and Steinberg, music by Bromme himself. The libretto concerns itself with the wife of a Brazilian diamond king who has married the old fossil for his money. As chauffeur she has an jprvi»rnitn count whom «he trontM like a dog until she finds out his real station in life, when she finds that she has loved him madly all along, and forthwith divorces her h us b an d. In the last net, to secure a pass for Germany, she plays the part of a toUgh English chorus girl. A generally feeble and humorless effort. Rromme'il music is some- what letter, but overpretentious and reminiscent, The production is very lavish r>r these parts; in New YnrU ir would look like thirty cents. There is one Of those naked ballets that make one think oneself In I butcher shop funstocklnged legs are about as i timulating as a side of beef) and, by gosh, the chorus changes its costumes ulmost three times! Hildo Woerner plays the leading role as usual; as usual. Ferry Sikla as. tho diamond king does his best with a badly written part. Carl Bachmann, from Vienna, almost makes you think that he has material to work with, and that Is some achievement. If the backers got their money back, they should be well satisfied. April 15, at the KomUche Oper, under the direction of James Klein. "The Master of Montmartrc." The music is by Offenbach, but whether he would admit it or not is another question. The librettists, who «hall be nameless, have knocked together somo scenes which purport to be episodes from the life of the above composer, and set thereto, at every inopportune moment, melodies from his best works: "Tales of Hoff- mann." "Orpheus." "Paris Life." "Engagement by the Lantern." It was rather a dirty business, and tho w. k. composer did the w. k. turn in his grave. But the cast was excellent, in- cluding as it did Waldemar Staoge- mann of the Dresden Opera, Margit Suchy, Herbert Kieper and Hans Werder, and the scenery and stag- ing are above the average; so ttie evening is really far better than many now on view here. The man- agement has given out that the rights have been sold for America, and, although this seems unlikely, yet certainly there have been cases where less was received for money Invested. "The Two Nightingales," April 9, at the Walhalla theatre, under tho direction of Willy Bredschnelder. Tho libretto, by Leo Walter Stein, is well above the run: In a small country town at the beginning of the nineteenth century a traveling opera company appears, and the temperamental prima donna wins the heart of a newly-engaged youth of tho village. Tragedy is Immi- nent, but all is finally smooth again; he remains at home with his first love. The music Ib not without moments of much-charm, delicacy and humor, and the cast Is quite up to its opportunities. Especially to be mentioned are Cordy Milo- witsch and Alfred Laeutner. A suc- cess, by all tho omens. At tho Central theatre also a new operetta, the fifth within a week. This time it is called "The Girlies From Davos" (Die Maedels von Da- vos), and boasts a book by Buehlet and Halton, and music by Knopf It seems, to say the least, doubtful whether this piece will be sold to the U. 8., as the villains of the drama are two Americans, appar- ently the librettists' idea of typical Americans. It seems that a young Swiss inventor has perfected a bob- sled which will coast not only down hills but down mountains. By this ho saves from bankruptcy the fac- tory where he is employed. Help shall come from America, but when the American patent buyers arrive they appear to be the type who would rather steal the secret than pay for it. It looks bad. but for- tunately in the end American mate- rialism Is defeated and idealistic Europe Is left triumphant. Both wit and music are of the standard rubber stamp variety, nnd from tho general mediocrity of the perform- ance only the gaiety and the legs of Lilll Flohr remain. ( Jcssner gave last week. May 7, tho best performance of his whole season at the State Schauspielhaus. "Napoleon," by Grabbe. This drama, a German classic written in tho year 1840. seems on reading hardly worthy of revival, but Jessner made through his revolutionary staging a quite overwhelming evening out of it. The effect of tho scenery by Cesar Klein should not be forgotten, nor the acting of Dagny Servaes, Lothar Moot hoi, Fritz Hirsch. Ernst Gronau. Rudolf Forster and Leopold von Ledebur. A substantial success. Eugen Kloepfer has been at It Tgaln; In one week he created the leading role in two plays and di- rected one of them at the same time. The first ' as Hermann Babr's The Master" (known In New York through Daly's production), April 7 at the Kammersplcle; this ho also directed and with care that nobody else In the cast should obscure his performance in the title role. The plav has aged little and made a good success. April 12 at the Leas- ing he was the Professor In a re- vival o' Hauptmann'i early comedy "College Crampton"; It Is now quite evident this is not one of the better works of this dramatist; a case of int.-iiectual cold feet changed a tragi-comedy into a sentimental farce. Only a fair success. As to Kloepfer's acting—well, there aro those that like that sort of thing. T1m« French Invasion still con- Unties: April 1 at the Theatre am Kucfuerstendamm, "Der Frechs- •i • h..." by Verneo.il; April u, at (Continued on page 22» HH