Variety (November 1922)

if.'' '■ <£= VAfelETY'S LONDON OFFICE PARI F S « St Martin'^t Place, Trafalgar Square 'r ^ \^. ^ : ^ ^^ " '^ *^ *^ .. 2096 Regent Friday. November 3. 1920 GOULD DIVORCE FIGHT RENEWED IN NEW YORK REINHAROrS THEATRE Actress-Wife's Appeal From French Decree Up in High- est Court Leases Josephstat Theatre, Vienna —Julius Singer's House Albany, N. Y. Nov. 1. The Cnurt of Appeals of Now York ' State Is studying the appeal of Kdith K-Uy Could from the afllmia- tion of an order of Justice Mullan at the New York trial term, dis- mlssinir the complaint of her action for a divorce against Frank Jay Gould, noted millionaire. They were married in Scotland, Oct. 29, 1910, and lived in New York city until Gould went to I'aris. where he has since lived. Mrs. Gould later took up her residence in England, tsince she has been suing Gould for a divorce, Edith Kelly Gould has returned to the stage, and for a time was the leading woman In the English musical comedy, "Pins and Needles." The action for a divorce was brought In this state in 1920 and Gould answered, setting up a de- fense that he had obtained a divorce from his wife in ParLs, in which he had named Mario Casa^<8us as the co-respondent. Mrs. Gould made default in this action and the de- cree waL affirmed by the Court of Appeal of France. Before this ac- tion was brought by Gould. Mrs. Gould had Instituted a div<^ce ac- tion In Paris and was awarded ali- mony of 3,000 francs a month pend- ing the trial. She did not prosecute the action further and the alimony stopped by action of the French court. In the action In this state, Mrs. Gould named Leonlo Rouques and Florence Lacaze of Paris as the co- respondents. Samuel Seabury, for- mer judge of 4he Court of Appeals and who was Democratic candidate for governor In 1916, appearing for Gould, contended that the French divorce was In accord with the laws of New York State and must be recognized under the comity of na- tions, and that the Nev» York action could not be maintained as she was no longer his wife. Former Supreme Court Judge Almet F. Jenks, repre- eenting Mrs. Gould, held that Gould was but temporarily residing In Paris and was In fact a resident bf this stfte, and the French court did not have jurisdiction to grant a valid divorce. » Vienna, Nov. 1. Max Relnhardt Is to remain In Europe despite all the rumors to the effi'Ct ho Is contemi»l;iting a trip to the I'nitt^d States to produce there for some other manaj^oment. Several weeks ago he signed a lease here for the Josephstat the- atre and will open that house under his direction next September. The present lessee, Jai;no, relin- quishes his tenancy in June, the house remaining dark until Sep- tember, whtn Uoinliardt takes pos- .se-ssion. Meantime Julius Singer, producer and owner of the Singers Midgets, who owns the theatre, will m.ake e,\tensivc alterations and re- decorate. . :'': V . NEXT WAR STAGED IN PARIS' NEW PLAY WOODS VS. BASIL DEAN ON "EAST OF SUEZ" N. Y. Producer Answers Lon- don Statements — Woods J^ssumes Dean Was Sober Paris Play Pictures China and Germany Allied—Arouses Lively Comment PARIS VAUDEVILLE SHOWS Paris, get. 25. The new program last Friday at the Alhambra comprises Harry Pilccr, with his new partner, Win- nie Richmond, and the Red Devils Jazz band, Krcton's wonder dogs, Eltzoflf Russian troupe, Georgel, French vocalist; Gaston Palmer, conjurer; Irene Lafayette, Mutt and Jeff, colored comic a?robats; Man- uel Vega, Yamamoto and Koyoshi, Manuel Vega. Diva Aida, Two Ray- thers, Selmar, Mazolas Duo, Valen- tine Calzelll. This house is booked by Chas. Gulliver and the Variety Theatres Controlling Co. in London. The bill at the Olympla Includes Crete Wiesenthai, the dancer; Georglus, a local vocalist; Claudlne Boria, Rrownjng troupe, Carta. Jaw balancer;' D'Anouge, jumper; Yvonne Regis, Itoyal Boys, Darly- Dupree and Fred Orllnsky, Nieve Alonso dogs. Lea Australia, trapeze; Line Danges. There are also vaudeville shows at the Nouveau Cirque, Cirque dc Paris and Cirque Medrano. Paris, Nov. 1. Gustave Tery's three-act piece, "Fruits Defendus," was produced at the Odeon Oct. 27, and aroused lively comment. It deals in part with the imaginary next war 20 years hence. The struggle is pic- tured as being fought with chem- icals, anfl has Germany alll.ed with China and Russia, and Invading France. America sides with France after the war opens. Warfare, however, is only one phase of the play which really con- cerns itself with social problems. Tho title signifies "Forbidden Fruit," a. reference to Illegitimate children. The central character is a marquis who gains fame as an author. He rf'cognizes the neces- sity of repopulating the country, and advocate? protection of dis- honored women and recognition of fatherless child/en. His dayghter befriends a maid servant wlfb has been seduced by a colotilal soldier. The daughter herself becomes the misLress of a young doctor ordered to the war zone. She expects a baby when the doctor Is reported killed. In this crisis the Marquis turns back on tho principles he has advocated, and the daughter pre- pares to face her trial alone when the doctor returns. The young peo- ple are married and live happily. Tery is editor and owner of a Paris newspaper called L'Oeuvre. His pl.iy ha. a quasi-political com- plexion. It is well acted. New York, Oct 27. Editor Variety:-r- Tlie current Issue of Variety con- tains, under a London dateline, some reported comment of Mr. Basil Dean on my production of "East of Suez" at the Eltlnge the- atrtv According to the published statement, Mr. Dean says (1) that the whole thing was altered by the American producer; (2) that there was no spectacle at all; (3) that the last act was entirely changed; (4) that the leading lady was given Joe Halbart and Joe Erber and Joe Erber and Joe Halbart and Frank Van Hoven and Joe Halbart „ „ „„. i„,„^« „„i /c^ *v.,* *»,... a>i<l Me an«l Joe Erber and Me and a song and dance, and (5) that the < j^^ ^rber and Joe Halbart and Joe Halbart and Frank Van Hoven and Mister Frank \'an Hoven and Joe Halbart and Joe Erber with no NOVELTY AT COMEDIE; 'DE COLOMBRE'jIN VERSE Romance of Columbus' Lieu^ tenant in Verse Scores— Author a Poet play is a failure. Asstiming that Mr. Dean was sober on the several occasions when he saw my production, when he jnade the alleged remarks an(Pwhen he read the London reviews of his own production, I beg leave to re- fute his false and unsportsmanlike statements. The ridiculous asser- tion that "East of Suez" Is a failure needs hardly any comment; the fact is that with only 890 seats in the Eltinge theatre we are doing al- most as much gross business as the London company in the huge His Majesty's theatre. If he said that the heroine was given a song and dance, he simply lied, as anyone can see for hims If who cares to witness the play. As for his other assertions, he may be interested to know that all changes made in the play were made With tho sanction and underr standing of Mr. Maugham, and not by the American producer, who, un- like Mr. Dean, has not yet confused the business of producing with tho pride of Imaginary authorship. It was agreed between Mr. Maugham and myself that it was a'lvisable to present the play In New York as a drama and not a« a spectacle; Mr. Dean took the other tack;, and he Is hereby referred to the London reviews to see what' succes^ he made of it. In our own v'ernacular, they Just "kidded" him. The chahges in the last act were made also with Mr. Maugham's consent; the sanction of Mr. Dean Is there- fore unnecessary. AVho and what is Mr. Dean?" As Shaw once said of a far more ! eminent person, "How did he be- come celebrated?" A. If. Woods. mister and Frank Van Hoven and two ' other people with no names called McfBride and Tracey and Me and Frank Van Jloven and you too and me and Frank Van Hoven. Joe Erber and Joe Erber and myaelf and me and Frank Van Hoven an* if you think I'm going to keep this up all nlte you'll have to get Wllkie Bard to help me. And me and Joe Erber and me and Joe Halbart and me and myself afid me and FRANK VAN HOVEN "DU BARRY" FILtt BANNED BY FRENCH Called "Passion" Over Here— Historical Personages in Unfavorable Light Meantime Harding, who is Henry VllI in "Knightltood," nas received MARX' GRANDSON, AUTHOR Paris, Nov. 1. Claude Rogers Marx, grandson of Karl Marx, t^he socialist, is author of the thr^e-act comedy, "La Penn- slonalre," produced at the Theatre rtes Arts Oct. 25. It was fairly well received In spite of Its Indifferent acting and antiquated argument. The story ha to do wllh a pam- pered girl, who Insists upon marry- ing a budding author, although he is lukewarm toward the proposition and at first spurns the girl's ad- vances. He marries afterward for mercenary reasons, but the mar- riage remaln.s unconsummated and tho wife remains on the status of a boarder in the home. Hence the title, "La I'ennslornaire." She bears much humiliation with fortituue, nr d at length wins the aftection of her husband. MORE DOMESTIC FARCES Marital Tangles in Piece at Paris Potiniere~"Blanchfleur" Added Lucien Glcize's Paris, Nov. 1. three-act farce, Paris, Nov. 1. The French censor has prohibited the exhibition of the German plc~ ture "La Du Barry," which con- cerns the mistress of King Louis XV., Mme. Du Barry. This is the Ufa picture presented In America under the title of "Passion." The objection Is based on the con- tention that foreign producers mis- Interpret the characters of histori- cal personages and place them In the most unfavorable light. This objection was made by a certain section of the Paris public, which made demonstrations at the showing of GrifRlli's 'pioluie, "Or- phans of the Storm." . » MORE RUSSIANS IN PARIS Paris, Nov. 1. The Russian troupe from Moscow called Balagantchik, with a mixed program resembling that of Balleff's Bat Theatre Company of Moscow, Is "Amour Veut Rire," was produced j appearing at the Comedie dea at the Potlniere Oct. 27 and was ^ Champs Elysccs under the direction nicely received. The plot concerns ^ of Jacques Hebcrtot, from Oct. 20 an interfering friend who advises , to Nov. 9. a sentimental man to relinquish his j The stars include Miles. Agramova betrothed because the man's brother and Garchlna, of St. Petersburg Paris, Nov. 1. At the Comedie Francaise, Oct. 2t was produced the three-act play ^ verse, "Le Chevalier de Colombre," by Francois Porchet, dealing wit'n the romantic and domestic adven. tures of Columbus' lieutenant, Don Vincent de Garrovillaa. It far«4 nicely at the hands of the critlci, and has the prospect ot a popular success. After Garrovillas* return from tHe discovery of America, his sister^ husband, who has been mani log the lieutenant's property, arranget for Garrovillas' marriage to the youthful Beatrice to defeat the pur- pose of the restless seaman to stil the estates and help finance another voyage with Columbus. The scheme is to keep the adventurer at home by family ties. The mlddle-ag^d Garrovillas lovei Beatrice. He becomes Jealous upon learning that the girl still loves » formei* sweetheart, Don Pords, a young nriilltary officer. Garrovillaa learns the truth when he sudden^ declares Poros Is dead, and Beatrice swoons at the news. Garrovillaa and Poros meet while Poros Is on a recruiting mission, and the wrath« ful husband seeks to kill his rival, but upon realizing that the officer i» also a patriot feels that he himself cannot make B^trice happy, and disappears, after leaving instruct tlona which will pave the way for the marriage of the lovers. ThA he goes on a distant voyage with Columbus. The text is rich In poetic beauty and has many delightful passagei^ but Porchet is a poet rather than A dramatist. The piece is splendldlf mounted and the acting Is f!:>wlci;a« /Mme. Simone assisted with the production, which has 15 speakinjc parts. LeBargy Is the producer and. also plays Garrovillas superbly, Mme. Ventura Is creditable as Bee« trice. Fresnay in the part of Poroi Is splendid. loves her desperately. ' Opera. The troupe Is supposed to After her marriage the girl and eome from the fair at Moscow. The her husband are estranged, and she | main Items arc Sentimental Duet In becomes the mistress of the Inter? ' 1840, The Czar's SWeetheart. Eng- ferlng friend. All efforts to patch ll.sh Week at Moscow, Le Dernier up the shattered romance are de- Adieu, Russian Coachman, Gopak, feated by plotters, who compromise ; The Volga, Little Russia, Tzigane all hands in various spicy situations, , Chorus, Russian Peasants and Songs by which the husband and wife are \ of Soldiers, permanently separated. ' The piece HARDING AFTER "HAIRY APE" London, Nov. L Lynn Harding is nftt^r the fJnj^li^h rights to Arthur Hopkins' "Hairy Ape" and it is said Mr. Harding very much wants to play the lead of that American jiiece , wh rrt. an offer to return to New York for a series of historical film produc- tions, conter^plated by Cosmopoli- tan, which made "Knighthood." THE TILLER SCHOOLS" OF DANCING; 143 Charing Cross Roa ^ LONDON Director, JOHN TILLER RHINESTONES THE LITTLEJOHNS 226 West 46th St, New York rboDc tlBYANT 4SS3 RADIO'S TAX DOOM Paris, Nov. 1. In order to provide extra revenue the French government Is consider- ing a propo.sitlon to tax broad-cast- ing radio stations 100,000 francs per 500 watts. This wou^l end radio broadcaj;tlng. If the bill of the Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs goes throuirh the Eiffel Tower will be called on for.a tax of about 1,500,000 francs a year for distributing concert program.s as at present, without any means of collecting a fee from those receiving them. Mcrcover, the l-'renfh Trea.s- ury is credited with the wl.sh of tax- ing tho.se who possess receiving in- struments. Is full of diverting dialog. On the same program is Jacques Thery's amusing one-act comedy, "Blanchfleur," which depicts a bud- ding author seeking to produce a tragedy of that title, mistaking a SUGARY DRAMATIZATION . ■•■■ '^ •' ' •■ London, Nov. 1. 'Coming Through the Rye," adapted from Helen Mather's novel and put on by Godfrey T'^arle. disreputable resort for a literary i ^'^^'"^^ •'^*^ "^"''""'"^■'^'**^ ^^^"'^''^y- club. "Knighthood," Then "Orphans" London, Nov. 1. "When K n i g h t h o o d Was in Flovv'cr," the Cosmopolitan (.\merl- can) special film production that opened Oct. 2 at the Scala, clo.-ed > PRAISE "CAT AND CANARY" London, Nov, 1. The reviewers con»iented favor- ab'v upon the London production of "The Cat and the Canary," pro- duced Oct. 31 at the .Shaftesbury. Mention was m.'ule in reviews of the excellent acting. The present company is Inferior to the New York cast and the piece hero is taken in too slow a tempo. It is reported here as a sugary dramatization of a mushy best seller. AMERICANS IN EUROPE Paris, Oct. 22. -' Emanuel Relcher, connected wItK the New York Theatre Guild, is in Berlin, particularly studying the or- ganization of tho People's Theatre ther*». Tn en interview he stated there is the "theatre* in New York, but not the "peq^le." James K. Hackett has been in Paris on a visit, crossing the chan- nel from London to see the ne^, season's productions. He has been Invited to again appear at the Ode(^ as Hamlet and also Shylock In "The Merchant of Venice," b.ut ha/i not yet accepted. . < Hnn-y Pllcer Is dancing at ffe| Acacias cabaret, I'aris, with the R^ Devils jazz band, which accom^ panied him at the Alhambra. Hangr Cahlll, of war-davs fame as a eU? of the Argonne Players, Is worklnii an engagement at the So-Different cabaret, Paris, assisted In songs and dances by Fay Harcourt. DEATHS ABROAD ^Tarie Monlbay.on, formerly a po])- ular I'rtiich operetta artiste, wife of Georges Orsier, ex-man.nirer of the Amblgu theatre, Paris, <iitd Oct. 18, in that city, aged 02 years. TO REPLACE "L'AVOCAT" Paris, Nov. 1.' "Femmes" ("Women"), by Leopold Marchand, is already being rehearsM at the Theatre du Vaudeville, which would indicate a long run of Eiu- gene Drleux's "L'Avocat" Is not 8ini«- tlclpated by the Sylvestre manage* ment. ' • WAL PINK DEES Londcn, Nov. 1., Wal Pink died Oct. 27 of pne»» monia, contrnrte.! v.liile attendlnf the opening perfurinanjo of Albert de Courville'.-i new rovuo, "Rings of Smclce," at Shetlh-ld. Ho had au- thored the piece, "SMITH FAMILY" COMING OFF "Battling Butler" Deferred London. Nov^ 1 j announced The Amer»cari tour proposed for •Rattling P.utler.' and whi;-h Jack ' j ■ . luicharnn had arranged, will bo de- [ ft-rred until after th" piopo ])1 ly.s the Oxford, here, opening Dec. 11. i Lon<lon. Nov. 1. "The Smith Family" at the Km plre will be withdrawn Nov. 11. At I varoz. Trealla conipMiiy; cn-tobef this time its successor has not been Carrived In New VciiO lOniil Cldi SAILINGS Rrporfod throuRh Paul Tausig & I Son, 104 Ka.-t Four'.eentli street; I November 9 (from N'W V^rrW* I Bill and Blmidy (,\!oin;t (Mny): Ck- I lohor 2S (arrived in Xtw York), AI* f II Git- tier. "-'-- ♦r FOSTEiiS A®EnCY, Lia7 "Mid-Channel" Old-Fashiorcd there Oct. 27, 1 London, Nov. 1. It has brtn succccdt-d by the!* Tho revival "of "Mld-Channrl" at Griffith picture, "Orphans of the • the Royalty :Monday merely 8h')W<«l GKOKCIL rosi Storm." the piece now looks old-fashioned. •^'■^'^ilCMteflLlflMIIV I rc. KTC. HARRY FOSTER Now in HEi^^ VQRIt rOMMlMC ATE TIIKOlGtl nil,Ll.%.'U .MUU^JS ACULNt V. INC. ^ !«fO RiiOAUW.ii: FtTNAM IU)|I.I>I?.a hhW VOKK CITI