Variety (September 1922)

IKTY REVIEWS OF RECORDING DISKS {Variety department of critical review* of the current phonograph record*) POPULAR WITH HIS UMPAH UMPAH ON THE UMPAH ISLE—Collins and Harlan (Vocal). HURRY ALONG LIZA WITH ME— Al Bernard and Ernest Hare (Vocal)—Edison No. 51021. Collins and Harlan deliver the •TJmpah" song In keeping with the rollickmg air Harry Von Til Ear has Invested in the lyric about Pat Ma- lone and his trombone, who ruined the natives of the island with his fascinating "umpah umpah" even to the extent that after being there a week they called him the Sheik, interpolated among the three verses and <hot uk«s is some tromboning and vocal crossfire that make this one of the best "canned" vaudeville recordings reviewed in a long while. ''Liza" (Al Bernard) is a colored boy's proposal ditty done by the romposer and Ernest Hare, the for- mer singing falsetto for the ''wench" part in the double version idea. Ber- nard is one of the several disk makers who is getting his both ways, author's royalties in addition to the revenue for doing record work. further enhanced by a violin obll- gato and piano accompaniment "deftly handled bv Kuth Stickney and Thomas Crisclle. Clay Smith's •'Sorter Miss You," now several years since It was first issued, sounds as good as ever, and the Arthur Perm ballad. "Smllin' Through," has a wist fulness about it that becomes more marked with repetition. (Cort). "Scandals'* (Globe), "Shore Leave" (Lyceum), "Music Box Re- rue" (Music Box), Ziegfeld "Follies" (Amsterdam), "The Old Soak" (Plymoutb), "Partners Again" (Sel- wyn), "Spice" (Winter Garden). The cut rate list with the week's additions reached a total of 12, top- ping the number of buys by one. The shows listed are: "The Dover Road" (Bijou), "I Will If You Will" (Comedy), "The Gingham Girl" (Carroll). "The Torch Bearers" (48th St.), "He Who Gets Slapped" (Garrick), "Fools Errant" (Elliott), "The Bat" (Morosco), "Manhattan" (Playhouse), "Abie's Irish Rose" (Republic), "The Goldfish" (Shu- bert), "Sue, Dear" (Times Square), "Spice" (Winter Ga.den). Friday, September 1, 1082 Arthur Rlchman's comedy, "The Awful Truth" In London. IN LONDON THE BUREAU—Russell Hunting (Monolog). CASEY TAKING THE CENSUS— Same—Pathe No. 20786. "The Bureau," an alleged humor- ous selection done by Russell Hunt- ing, "the original Michael Casey," is unfunny, containing many weak comedy points and few mirth pro- vokers. The monologist's deep bass voice and clear enunciation are his sole assets here, and it is suggested he make full use of them by having somebody write his stuff for him— really funny lines. The other side is a better laugh- getter. Casey is taking the census and holding a conversation with an imaginary vis-a-vis, piping falsetto for the female straight who feeds him for the laughs on the order of a vaudeville two-act. That side holds quite a few laughs. SORTER MISS YOU—Henry Moeller (Vocal). SMILIN' THROUGH —Same—Gen nett No. 10062. Two standard selections from the famous Wit mark "Black and White"' edition are mated on this Gennett disk. Henry Mocller's tenor being THE COULIN—Gerald Griffin (Vo- THE RISING OF THE MOON— Same—Okeh No. 4635. Gerald Grifhn's forte has been Irish songs on the Okeh disks, for which he records exclusively, al- though one ventures he would be as effective with appropriate light bal- lads and standards. His ingratiating tenor could be employed effectively to build up a ballad following. The couplet in hand are both or- thodox Irish songs, "At the Risin* of the Moon" < Dermot MacMurrough) in the nature of a battle hymn, with the recurrent phrase, "Hurrah, my boys for freedom at the risin' of the .moon." (Continued from page 2) the part of one of her dancing partners, Laurent Novikoff. The proceedings began with a religious service, after which champagne and cakes were served with further quaint ritual, Novikoff and his wife kissing each guest in turn. Pavlova then danced the first few steps on the new floor and wished every- one present good luck. yet awhile. Next week she returns to outer London in Ibsen's "Hedda Gabler." Supporting her will be Frank Randall, William Armstrong and Barbara Gott. "Zoxo," at the Little, has caught on to the extent of that diminutive houses being unable to meet the demand for seats. The farce has therefore been transferred to the Strand, where it will have a better chance. RED MOON WALTZ—Ernest L. Stevens Trio. IF I HAD MY WAY, PRETTY BABY (Medley Fox Trot)— Same—Edison No. 51026. For a three-piece combination (sax, banjo and piano), the Stevens Trio puts considerable "kick" into its stuff, even though John Sorin occasionally interpolates a Chinese block effect to add further novelty, as with the latter recordLng. "Red Moon" is a smooth waltz (Henri de Martini), decorously done with fit- ting quietude. Stevens' piano tick- ling stands out forte in the main, although the vibrating banjo fijrures prominently in a "rolling" twang- twang, the sax later chiming in for some wicked split reed stuff. HYMN TO THE SUN (Fox Trot)— Casino Dance Orchestra. SWANEE RIVER MOON (Waltz)— Same—Pathe No. 20603. "Hymn to the Sun" is another fox trot adaptation of a Rimsky- Korsakow tune, the same composer whose "Song of India" was ragged for dance purposes. Onivas (other- wise D. Savino—last name reversed (Continued on page 37) BROADWAY STORY (Continued from page 13) Monday night. "Whispering Wires" at the 49th Street also looks set, it getting $9,500 or better last week in a house that is limited in capacity. ".Shore Leave" at the Lyceum has actually been petting top money among the new dramatic arrivals, with over $11,500 grossed last week. It is not so well spoken Of however. "Daffy-Dill" the first of the big musical shows to come in went to nearly $18,300 in five days at the Apollo for its first week and was a turnaway early this week. There are eight more important musical attractions due in within the next month. "Sally, Irene and Mary" eomes to the Casino next Monday with excellent road reports; "Green- wich Village Follies'" takes poses- sion of the Shubert Sept. 11; "The l assing Show of 1922" at the Win- ter Garden during the same week; "The Yankee Princess'' an imported operetta is du< in late In the month; "Orange Blossoms" at the Fulton, Sept. 26; the new "Music Box Revue" is s« t for premiere, Oct. 2, and "The Hunch and Judy" should arrive shortly afterwards, as will the Shuberts' "T^ie Lady of the Rose" which will follow the San Carlos grand opera company at the Century next month. "The Bat" will end its great run of 106 weeks at the Morosco Satur- day. The Btay of two weeks more than two years earned the right to till "third year" for the remarkably profitable mystery play. There are no other closings listed though enr of this week's new shows may be taken off Saturday. Last we« k tlu r< w« re two sudden with- drawals "Lights Out" leaving the Vanderbilt dark, and "The Woman vviir Laughed" leaving the Long- ;.<i». ti.< bra< . < : ii. i>■ ran but two Hi « ks. "Manhattan," n drama, opening at the Playhouse two weeks ago, will move to the Nora Bayes, Monday changing its title to "East Side, West Side." The Playhouse will t» main dark a week, then opens with the lust W. A Brady production. I reams for Bale," an Open Davis play Whatever foreign pieces l-.i..ily mvnreit for this qide will be held off for later presentation. Th« Incoming list f*^. n<xt Week ■el up to Wednesday, was "Hunky Dory, an Imported Scotch comedy al the Kiau. -The Bndlcsi Chain," Brlangcr's Brut new production of the season, at the Cohan; "The Plot Thickens," s foreign adaptation, to t>t l,.e c,t .1 bj I'; ! J at the Booth; "Sally, Irene * and Mary," a Shubert musical show at the Casino, and "Wild Oats Lane," George Broadhurst's second pro- d action, which relights the Broad- hurst. The Park, under the direc- tion of the Minsky brothers, will also light up late next week, de- signed for a stock burlesque policy. Better weather last week brought a recovery frcm the low takings of the previous hot weather and Sat- urday's rain filled many of Broad- way's show shops. Ziegfeld's "Fol- lies" drew the biggest week's busi- ness since opening, with more than $37,000, while "Kiki" proved Its leadership of the dramas by getting close to $15,000, Or virtual capa- city. Next week a number of attrac- tions will wind up and take to the road, Among them are "Spice," at the Winter Garden; "The Goldfish," at the Shubert, and "The Dover Road,'' at the Bijou. Row Over "Scandals" Buy A group Of the brokers who entered into an agreement with George Whir.* prior to the opening of "Scandals" at the r;iohe. whereby they were to take snts for 12 weeks with the stipulation that the box Office price would be maintained at $3.85, are in aims over the tilting of the scale to $4.40, beginning next week. Despite th< original agree- ment for the 12 weeks 1 buy was cut to eight weeks, the brokers maintain White failed to keep faith by raising the price. * The White show was the only one of those bowing in thli week that < xtracted a buy from the brokers. The management of "The Gingham Girl" and the Carrol] theatre tried for an eight-week buy, but had not connected Wednesday. There is a possibility another one of two at- tractions will be added to the list by next w< ( k. A number of ih« week's openings w. re on sale In th< cut rates with balcony *»ats offered for the open- ing nights of some. Of the season's new attractions there are already five on (he cut r..tr J|st, three that, came in this week "The Gingham Girl." "The Ton h I i art is" and "I Will if You Will." The one added st.ir»er to t he list of last week's buys by the advance price brokers wai the Hopkins pro- ductlon. "Th< old Soak," the ag< ncies taking 200 n night for this attraction with a 25 p< r cent, return privilege This brought the total list of buys' to 11: "Paffy Dill" f Apollo). **KhVT M'.i-T- (-•<>) 'K.mpy" ,t), -«' pi ' • V Robert Courtneldge's production of the new musical play "Gabrielle," one of the features promised for the present autumn season, has been postponed until spring, 1923. An adaptation of the Baroness Orczy's novel "Leatherfacc" will be produced at Portsmouth, Sept. 25, and will afterwards be seen in the West End. An American actress, Louisa Fredericks, will be in the leading part. The play will be pro- duced by Franklyn Dyall. Among the cast of Somerset Maughan's new play "East of Suez." which Basil Dean produces at His Majesty at the end of August, are Meggie Albanesl. Ada King, Ursula Millard, Basil Rathhone, Malcolm Keen, Henry Kendall and Charles V. France. Advertising in the sky Is spread- ing. Started to boost a daily news- paper, It has spread to the theatre and all London is watching the an- nouncement of "Listening In" at the Apollo as airmen write it in the sky. The production has suffered a postponement of two days. Mrs. Leslie Faber was granted a divorce against her husband, Leslie Emerson Faber, July 29, on the the grounds of desertion and miscon- duct. No defense. Leslie Faber is Sybil Thorndyke's leading man at the New. Plaintiff was Winifred Arthur Jones, daughter of Henry Arthur Jones, the playwright. The Repertory Players begin their new season Sept. 10 with a new comedy. They will do three pro- ductions. At the moment they are anxious to obtain non-playing mem- bers and also to read new plays. William J. Rea will have the lead- ing part In the Anglo-Chinese play "Fan-Tan" in London, prior to a provincial tour, thereby reversing the general order. Harris Deans is writing a new version of "Alice in Wonderland," which Nigel Playfalr will produce at Christmas. After an absence of two years, spent mostly in Berlin and Vienna, Arthur M. Fournler sailed for home on the "Mauretanla" Aug. 6. While in New York he will negotiate the production of a newly written mu- sical piece and will then probably return to London to arrange for the produotlon here. # The entire company and produc- tion of the Hippodrome revue. "Round In 60," will be transferred to Olympla, Liverpool, for a six weeks Christmas season. Harry Weldon will replace George Robey as the principal comedian. C. B. Cochran has had a good deal of unpleasantness with the members of his "Phi-Phi" company. First Evelyn Laye was jealous of "June," who is the daughter of the old Shakespearian actor Tripp Edgar, and wished to resign. On Cochran accepting her resignation, she reconsidered and is with the show. Then Alfred Lester saw him- self being left by the vaudeville "star," Jay Laurier and also started In to make the producer's life hard. He offered to work for six weeks for nothing, so It Is said by people on the Inside, providing Laurier went out, but the management refused to accept the gift. Laurier remained In and made a very big hit on the revue's production at Portsmouth. Lester was "taken 111" and retired, Stanley Luplno taking over his part. The Alhambra bill for the current week is stronger than usual. Ster- ling Saxophone Four, Neil Kenyon, Morris Harvey, a revue comedian; Chick Farn (late of Farr and Far- land; Tucker, singing violinist; Edna Maude; D'Arty and Partner, Italian knockabout comedians; Carl Formes, and Dancing Demons. As is the case at the other Stoll halls this week, the Leglen tennis one- reel film is being extensively "starred." Godfrey Tearle Is the latest can- didate for actor-manager honors. Later in the autumn he will produce a play founded on -Helen Mather's novel, "Coming Thru' the Rye." A theatre for the production has not yet been fixed, but it is more than likely to be the Adelphl, where he is at present playing in the melodrama "The Way of an Eagle." Ernest G. Rolls's appeal against the sentence of three months' im- prisonment as a "rogue and vaga- bond" was dismissed, but the Bench reduced the sentence to o,ne of six weeks in the second division. The evidence on which he was convicted was that he was seen by three young women at a window of his'flat in Maida Vale dressed in a blue dressing gown and behaving im- properly. Rolls is a brother of tho Darewskls and the'husband of Jenny Benson. Hill and O'Connell, formerly of Hill, Cherry and Hill, sail for home on the Carolina, Aug. 17. Their stay here has been anbrief and un- fortunate one. They played one week only and that at Sheffield, where their act failed to catch on. Ralph Lohse and Nan Sterling are making a hit on the Moss time. Opening last week at the Empire, Swansea, they were moved after their first show from closing the bill to the "star'' position. They are booked here, with one or two vacancies to allow of the big WeRt End houses coming in, until Feb- ruary. Dudley Hardy, Britain's most fa- mous poster artist, died Aug. 17, aged 55. He was famous for his girls and did much to popularize the George Edwardes productions at th~ Gaiety and Daly's. An well as a new Maeterlinck play which Is as yet untitled, Sir John Martin Harvey has a new English version of Hugo von Hofmann- sthall's "Jedermann." This has been adapted for English production by Dr. Wheeler and the Hon. Sybil Amherst. The play is of a religious nature. He begins his autumn pro- vincial tour Aug. 14 and will play his usual repertoire of tried suc- cesses. The Baroness Orczy's new play deals with the Spanish Armada. It is intended for the West End after a provincial trial trip. The 'com- pany includes Edward O Neil, Will- iam Farren, Marjorie Day, and Louise Fredericks, an American player. It will be remembered that the authoress's last production, a melodrama of the Napoleonic period, was a dire frost when produced at the Aldwych last year. After having been seen by over 700,000 in the course of Its 12 months' run, the last weeks of "Sally" at the Winter Garden are announced. Marie Lohr will try out "The Return" at the Royal, Birmingham, prior to bringing it to the Queens.' In the cast will be Marie Lohr, Lottie Venne. George Tully, Dion Boudcadlt, Alfred Bishop and Jack Hobbs. Defection like fever may be in- fectious and we may soon see sev- eral theatres trying to woo fortune back by putting on blp; sensational pictures. This follows the announce• ment of Marcus Locw's season at the Palace which has been doing quite well since it ceased showing eellulolded drama. The next house to go in for pictures is the Aldwych, where William Fpx picture "Nero" will be screened from August 20 provided the Lord Chamberlain licenses the feature. Other theatres may follow but up to now no one has announced his Intention or giv- ing the Scala another chance. "If Four Walls Told" finishes at the Savoy, Aug. 18, and will be fei- lowed by the American conudy- melodrama "Lawful Larceny." The arrangements for the American play arc a record in hustle—at any rat<» for London. The theatre was leased Aug. 9, and the printing dispatched from New York on the same day; Aug. 10 saw the scenery on its way. the company sailed An;,', 15 and should arrive in England Aug. 21, The production la fixed for Aug. 23. The original production of "If Four Walls Told* will K o on a short suburban tour after it closes at the Savoy. Although only put up for a short run, the success of 'Mane Clegg" at the New has been so encouraging that Sybil Thomdyke will continue the run until October, Rehearsals for Bataille'e "La Scandale," which succeeds it. have fiot commenced and the cast is not yet complete, but l.esiio Faber Will be the leading man. Before sailing for home Al Her- man was offered 150 pounds for a week at the Rivoli, Whitechapel, by Walter Wanger. Herman's reply was that he would not stop over for all the money in England—and nothing will ever persuade him to come back. Wanger continues to stir up things here in music hall circles with the offers he is making to acts to play his picture house in London and his other Cinema in Brighton. He says the English audi- ences are resenting the holding back of the big American pictures for a year or more before showing them here. He claims they are as well posted as the Americans on current releases through reading of them in the daily newspapers and maga- zines, and that his only alternative to satisfy his patrons is to give them the best that vaudeville has to offer In lieu of the pictures so held back. This week Wanger is presenting one of Lew Herman's girl acts, for which he is paying 160 pounds. Gros8mith & Malone have decided to produce Somerset Maughan's Chinese play, "East of Suez," at Hia Majesty's Sept. 2. Sir Alfred Butt and Edward Lau- rillards production "The Smith Family" will open at the Hippo- drome, Liverpool, Aug. 28, and in London at the Empire, Sept. 6. Tho principals are:—Harry Tate, Robert Nainby, Billy Caryll (a comedian new to London but who, it is said by those who have watched his provincial work, will soon take a leading place in the West End), « Charles Brooks, Basil Foster, Ella Retford, Connie Ediss, Mabel Green, Phyllis Bedells. Cora Griffin. The production will be staged by Gus Sohlke. The book is by Clifford Grey, Stanley Logan, and Philip Page, with music by Nat D. Ayer. J. E. Vedrenne will produce "Se- crets," by Rudolf Besier and May Edginton-at the Comedy, Sept. 7. Fay Compton and Leon Quatermaine will play the leading parts. "Quarantine" from the Comedy goes on tour. openinK in the suburbs Sept. 4, with the original company including Edna Best. The repertory Idea is gathering ground. From Bath, where Lena Ashwell has been playing, comes the story of how . the Repertory movement there was turned from failure to success. Bath, like Chelt- enham, is a home of aristocratic poverty, and its residence hated the usual run of touring shows, it cried out for highbrow plays and players. At last it got what it wanted, but having got it was quite satisfied to let it rest at that. Then Charles MacAvoy and others lashed Bath in the press and the crowd was shamed into coming up with their money. But even now there is trouble to get it to patronize any part of tnc house but the pit. Mrs Patrick Campbell is evidently not going to introduce her negroid production "YooAoo" to Londoner* Negotiations tor the production of Peter Gawthorne's musical piny, "The Island King," at either the Empire or the Queens having broken down, tli. producers art searching for anothei theatre w. ii. Berry will ijiako his West End rcappear- an« e in this production. St. John Irvine, the author of "Jane Clt»gg" and many < thcr play a has retired to Switzerland, there to write a ne U play for Davis Be la sco Phyllis N% ilson T» rry, who is at the moment Ihentreless, Is snId to he rontemi latlnfc the production ol Alban Limpus has secured a new play by Edward Percy, the author of "If Four Walls Told." This he will produce in a few weeks 'time. This play, which is as yet without a title, deals with London social life. > ■ Herbert Jay will produce a new play by Roland Pertwee, "I Serve," In the province. Anp. 21. It ma'y come to London later. H. F. Malthy, whose "The Rot- terfc" failed badly in both New York and Chicago, due, so he says, to bad prodii'tmn, has written a new com- edy. "Mr. Budd of Kennlngton, ». B., which Herbert Jay and Frank Curaon .will produce at Brighton, Auk l.V The company is headed hy Tubby Bdlln. If successful in the country if will be seen in the West End lat< r in the autumn. Hairy Purns will present Law- ful Laic, ny ■ at the Savoy. Maurice Moscovltch commence* his Reason at the Apollo early next month with "The Torch," a drama by John KnUoll. The „iay VV in be produced by Theod* i Commisarjcv- ;;;'■ ] y •'"" |or©rti » /. r i Theatre. '