Variety (November 1922)

,;7yj(^^' '\w. .1LJR cs'wv^'viisr'^^^JiM*?* .7i»v?.fa^ ** Friday, l^ovember 17, 1922 ••\/. 'n^ VARIETY ■•"T'>» I' AUSTRALIA By ERIC H. GORRICK J v; .^; -». fldyney. Oct. 18. The theatrical Mnsation at Her Majesty'• 1« "Cairo," with Oscar Asche featured. Oscar Asche makes the nresentation In conjunction with WUlIainson-Tait. Williamson-Talt deserves credit for the risk they took after their exjoerience with "Chu Chin Chow" a year or two \go Percy Fletcher composed the musical score with Ascho supplying the mime. The show is in three acts 'and 11 scenes. Asche was All Shar, a wrestler. Next to him the acting honors belong to 4€a»on Wood as Wei San Wei. Bdith Drayson and Gladys added charm. The cast is perfect. The scenery Is bewitching. The end of the .second act is a ■ inaaterplece of stagecraft. One is At a loss to And sufficient adjectives in praise of the production. Asche has given to the Australian public - a taste of the real E^ast. Andrew MacCunn is musical director. Will- iamson-Tait should have in thix production the biggest money - malcer .of their career. . ^ ^ . "Ambrose Applejohn's Advonture" ' Is nearin;;: an ehfl of successful run lit Criterion. Oood publicity to carry Bhow a few more weeks to allow for rehearsals of "The Silver Fox." "The Peep Show," last week at Royal, is a hit. TOWN HALI^—Madame De Al- vares. OPERA HOUSE—Maurry Stern- dale, George Dean, Three Jacksons. Molinaris. 11 Wonders, Walter George Co. Wellington O. O. H.—"The Bat." HIS MAJESTY' S—Everett's Monkeys, Harry Thurston. KING'S—"The Love Flower." old - fashioned harlequinade com- plete. The show is really for the kiddies out holiday making. Ix>uis Bennison' Is to produce "Benevenuto" for Wllllamson-Talt. Mr. Bennison tours New Zealand next month in "The^Great Lover." Ada Reeve is still smashing rec- ords in Melbourne with "Spangles." Show comes into Fuller's, Sydney, nrrt month. "The '- laughty Princess" opens at the Royal Oct. £1. Show flopped in Melbourne. Philip Tead returns to America thU week. Mr. Tead did "The First Vear" and "Parlor, Bed- room and Bath" for Williamson- Talt. PALACE—Dark. ^ TOWN HALL—'"l*he Sin Woman." Picture. In for run. Rouben Mamoulian, the Russian who is producing "The Beating on the Door" at the St. James, has very much the same idea of matters theatrical in Soviet Russia as BaliefC declared in a message to "Variety" over a year ago. He does not think the theatre is sufTcrlng under Bolsh control and the number of free seats put at the disposal of the working classes enables thorn to enjoy en- tertainments from which they would probably be excluded. Although there is no annual censorship as such, the plays are selected by So- viet sub-committees. Actors do not give their services free, but are cer- tainly not so well ofC flnancially as they are paid largely In food and other necessaries of life. In his opin- ion, history wilt probably prove that the Russian stage has thrived under the Soviet government as did that of France under Revolutionary control. production of "If Winter Comes." This win be about next July, as It Is thought that his present play. "The Dippers," at the Criterion will run till then. With Owen Nares In the leading part, "If Winter Comes" is doing enormous business in the provinces and it is thought it 1m good for a run of at least three yt'ars. . , It is reported the Tivoli. Sydney, is to be reconstructed. Musgrove's Theatres, Ltd., controls the house at present. Bob White this week. returns to America TIVOLI—Business capacity. Wee Oeorgie Wood ending season of over 100 performances. The Delevantes,. aerial, fair. Lune and Shaw just get by with talk. Hunter and Bub. pantomlmlsts, flne. Sam Stern, songs and talks, needs new mate- rial. AVllllam Burr and Daphne Hope, one of finest acts hero In years. Maggie Foster, vlolln'st, clever. Fred Keeley and Ivy AUlous scored with songs and dances. Con Colleno, wire, excellent. Bill Kelly is still in Sydney. He may sign a lengthy contract with Hugh J. Ward when Ward returns. Mr. Kelly scored a "ery big personal success in "The Sign on the Door." * FULLER'S—Business good. Mil- ton Bro.s., skaters, opened; ordinary. Shipp and Kenny, songs and talk, small time. Davey and Ritchie, talking Juggler, hit Honolulu Duo, fair. Dorothy Lena, character songs, jDlosed first part to hit. Girl is fairly ■"clever but overbloomed. Jim Gerald Co. takes up entire second half. C2ood tab show.. "Orphans of tjtic Storm" opens for a run at the Strand Oct. 21. , Under the direction of Henry Os- car and Edward Stirling an English company will give a three weeks' season of Shakespeare at the The- atre des Champa Elysee, opening Nov. 27. The pieces chosen are "The Merchant of Venice," "Romeo and Juliet," and "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Lawrence Grossmlth is to pro- duce "The Silver Fox" next month for Williamson-Talt. Meetings of creditors and con- tributors under the compulsory winding up order recently made against H. S. L., Ltd., were held at the Board of Trade Office. Nov. 6. The Official Receiver explained that the com.pany was formed last De- cember with a capital of £5.250. The only production was a musical play "Jenny" at the Empire, which failed after a short run. Failure was attributed to the slump and to the book of the play being unsatis- factory. Liabilities were £10.085 and the assets were absorbed by the claims of the debenture holders. The liquidation was left with the Official Receiver. Dorothy Dix obtained from Jus- tice Astbury in the Chancery Divi- sion a legal decision assuring her that her name would be in the larg- est type on the day-bills announc- ing "The Broken Wing." This was In aji action she brought to restrain J. Gordon Boctock from billing any- one in the cast of her play at the Duke of York's in type larger than that in which her own name ap- peared, and also to prevent the ex- hibition of an electric sign adver- tising "Thurston Hall In "The Broken Wing'" outside the theatre. On behalf of Gordon Bostock. it was stated he was not breaking his con- tract with the actress and that the electric sign was provided by the owner of the theatre and was there- fore outside the contract. The judge made an interim order in respect of the sisc of type on the bitls and restrained Bostock from allowing any electric sign to which plaintiff objected and over which he had control to be exhibited. Good press work. 1917, toavlnc mi mUf U $2,404.- 011.03, court documents show Alf llayman Inherited under his will $120,000, but. in accounting proceed- ings of the Al Hayman estate, ap- proved by the Surrogate Court <n March 28 last, Alf Hayman received 1120.030 as a legatee under the will, and also as creditor $90,653.34. Hugh J. Ward Is to produce "The Wheel." "Six Cylinder Love," "Tan- gerine" and "The O'Brien Girl" for Hugh J. Ward Theatres. Ltd. Ward has engaged a number of English and American artists. ' STRAND—"A Yankee at the Court •f King Arthur." GRAND—Business away off but picking up. Slavln and Tonvpson, aongs and talk, small time. Jones and Raines, songs and piano, clever. Clemo and Brady, everything; got little applause. Billy Elliott, good. The Bert Le Blanc revue takes up second half. Usual tab show. Le Blanc, Jake Mack and Nell Flem- tnlng scored. Every effort is being made by theatrical employes to close all the- atres on Sunday. Christmas Day and Good Friday. The Anglican Synod la assisting the movement. American artists playing Aus- tralia forward to Nellie Revell their kindest regards and their earnest hopes for her speedy recovery. They threaten to send her an old-man kangaroo to make some good home- brew with real "kick" in it. Following Ihclr present Prince of Wales' season, the "Co-Optimlsts" will go on a world tour. Laddie CllfF is now preparing a No. 2 company, which will start a provincial tour at Christmas. Charlie Withers, with his new version of "For Pity's Sake," known as "Withers Opry," was brought In to strengthen the current bill at the Coliseum, where the players from the Comedie Francaise are in their third week. Withers scored heavily all along the line. Other acts In an excellent program are Vivian Foster ("The Vicar of Mirth"), The Four Julians, The Four Laflttes. Clarkson Rose, a new comedian with original Ideas who should go far;* Victoria Aranda, a prima donna of distinc- tion, and Fred Bresla. The repre- sentatives of the Comedie Francaise are appearing in "Grlngtoire." AHH MVSDOCK'S BEQUEST (Continued from page 13^ hops and a big •N- HIPPODROME^-Bu8Ine«a terri- ble. Seats 3.000. Show like the business. Deedeea, songs and talk; Ordinary. Kale and Koyne, jugglers, broke. Walsh and Verne. Ulk and dancing. Dancers, but poor singers. Zeno and Don, dog act, clever. Ruth Bucknall, songs, fair. James Teddy, jtunper^ stalls too much. "The Ar- rivals of 1922," Ub show. Far be- bind the timea. GLOBE—"Over the HiU," 7th Week. CRYSTAL PALACE — "Four Norsemen," 5th week. LONDON V^ ■ Melbou rna .HER MAJESTY'S—"The Merry Widow." ^ ^ ROYAL—"Mary." KING'S—"Sentimental Bloke." PALACE—"Spangles." v TIVOLI—Fred Barnes, (Jener Gerard. Elliott and Godley. Horace Jones, Verna Bain, Abbott and Sydney, the WInskills. BIJOU—Toms and Roma. Eddy Martyn, Jim Croighton. Murphy. Macfc and Co., Tom Lawrence, Nat PWllips Co. • OLYMPIA-Wirth's Circus. LYCKlTM^"The Storm." ^ STRAND — "Orphans of the ,Storm." Adelaide ROYAL—"My Lady's Dress." MAJESTIC—bdiva's Seal.s. Allan Shrimpton, Charles mwerence, Ed- gar I?eny( n, Lola Stantone, Barpn, and Croydon and Mack. KINO S—"Under Two Flags." YORK—"Orph is of the ntorm." Brisbane HOYAI.r-"Potash and Perlm^t- ter" (revival). CREMORNE-Ethel Hook. T,ouis Seymour, (iilham and Milli.ird. M«X)r and Morris. City Four. Dot Sum- -ner.q. He- St. Clair, Milton Owen, Edna Drtvi.s, Vera Bpn.son. May Geary, Xcll Graham and James Taylor. EMPIKE—Opera Sinprers. Potter and Hartwfll. Fam ..nd Kli-o (Joldie. — The Jtrn-lrrr^. Mason and Strong. Newman and Wynne, Padrrcn and Stanley. ST1:aN1) ~ "Orphans of the Storm." (Continued from page 3) edy and comedy, the whole memorial being surmounted by a cross. Robert Hale Is about to go into West End actor-management. His first production will probably be a play with the title "Blflfy." May Palfrey, whe had an unpleas- ant experience with the Actors' As- sociation at the St. James during her recent season there, has again fallen foul of the organization. She began her recent "The Night of the Party" tour at Blackpool, and hav- ing refused to have members of the A. A. in her company the association acting with the National Associa- tion of Theatrical Employes sought to Interfere with the show. As a counter-stroke the management posted announcements explaining the matter. Business is as usuaL Following the production of "The Secret Agent," Joseph Conrad, its author, will dramatize one of his most recent novels, "The Arrow of Gold." "Victory" was done by some- one else and the novelist has never seen the play, but he has seen the film version, which he describes as awful. ' -i Donald Calthrop's tenancy of the Apollo ends Nov. 11, Shortly after- wards Maiurice Moscovltch will pro- duce a plify by an American author. A. Schomer. This Is entitled "Devil Dick " and is described as a comedy written round a serious subject, whether criminals are born or are victims of environment. The recent offers of £1.000 a week to various Hrltlsh comedians by em- inent but unnamed American the- atrical magnates are bearing fruit. The first crop comes from the Lyric, where James White Is running the George Edwardes* production "Whirled Into Happiness." with Billy Morson. Their newspaper ads run "Come and see the £1,000 a week comedian." Phyllis Dare has retired from "Tho I-Ady of the Rose" at Daly's after playing the principal part for something like 10 months. The rea- son of her retirement was a sudden breakdown. The part was immedi- ately taken up by Eileen Evelyn, a member of the chorus who had never played a part before. The part Is now being played by Blanche Tomlin, one of the late George Ed- wardes discoveries who has not been seen in the West End^or some time. ■ . _. . * A new syndicate has Just been formed under the title of Albert de CourviUe's Enterprises, Ltd. This syndicate is responsible for "Smoke Rings," now playing at the Holbom, Empire, and has in hand a big spec- tacular show, not revue, for West End production at Christmas. A well known legitimate actor will be the star. Sir Charles Hawtrey will produce "The Laughing Lady" for Marie Lohr at the Globe, Nov. 17. Jamee White has acquired the rights of the new Leo Fall opera "Pompadour.v it may be the suc- cessor to the "Lady of the Rb«e" at IHkly's when one is wanted, which is unlikely to be for some time yet. A new musical play by Max Pcm- berton, music by Max Darewski, Is scheduled for production in the West End. when a suitable theatre is obtainable. Its title is "The Girl in the Cage," and the producer will probably be Seymou^ HIcka. NEW -ZEALAND Auckland HIS MAJESTY'S—Allan Shakeaxiearean Co. WJlkie Bart Cowley, ^nown profession- ally as Arthur Wollesley, will enter the ranks of West End managers shortly with a new farce by Ian Hay. His leading lady will be Nan Marriott-Watson, part authoress of "Lass o' Laughter," in which she scored a big success at the Queens when Sir Alfred Butt brought it there from the provinces. The piece will have a provincial try-out. open- ing at Portsmouth. Nov. 27. Earl Cowley Is one of the very few so- ciety people who have adopted the stage genuinely as a profession and not as a pastime. He has been through every branch of It Teddy Arundell. who played the part of Bo.stal in "The Lady of the Rose" at Daly's, died suddenly from heart failure, Nov. 5. He had played as usual the night before and seemed In his usual health. A man of great stature and physical strength, Arundell was one of the most popular members of the the- atrical profession and had been a regular member of the Daly's com- pany for some years. The son (»f a Devonshire farmer he ran away early in life and joined a travclinrr circus. From the circus by fas.v staKcs hf worked up to grand npfi;i ;it Covcrit Garden and elHCVvliere He was niso one of the best known "HobinFon CriKsoe ' will bo the T.y- pt»um pantomime in.^tr.ui ..f "i):iU Whittiligton" as expected. Tlie title doesn't matter inu( h. simply neodinjj .,_,., ^, , , a change of rhnraeter names ;ind lo- Hr.tish film actors and appeared in cations, as modern pantomime is as many picture: — mostly ^.Stoll pr()- mtieh like rovue as revue is like a linked-up "non-stop" vaudeville en- tertainment. However, the Melvllles do stick fairly close to tradition an«l the Lyceum panto is always the big populiir show in London with tho du'Jtions. At the time of his dentli he was filaying an ex-pugilist in a new film "(ireen Sea Island." Cyril Maude will play Mark Sabre In Charles Dillingham's American documents and ^ontest them upon various grounds, but was talked out of the plan by her attorney, Wil- liam Travers Jerome, who frankly told her she had no grounds to base a successful contest and that it would be only a waste of time and money. In his will, Mr. Haymai^ set aside $5,000 for the purchase of a burial plot near New York and the erection of a monument. It gave $10,000 to Mrs. Teresa Coleman of C16 Fifth avenue, mother of Ann Murdock; $10,000 to Corinne B. Bauman, his niece, of S64C Kingsbury boulevard, St. Louis; $S,000 to Albert Lyons, his secretary, and $1,000 apiece to two veteran attendants in the Froh- man ofllces, John Ryland and Peter Mason. The will also directed that his executors cancel nil notes and 'due bills representing personal loans shown In memoranda among his pri- vate papers and to discharge all such debtors of obligation to the estate. What then remained of the property was to be held by the ex- ecutors, in trust, as a life estate for Ann Murdock, and at her death from the principal of the fund $1(^- 000 be given to the Actors' Fund of America, and the remainder equally between the Mount Sinai Hospital. Monteflore Home, .Catholic Institution for the Blind and St. Joseph's Home for the Aged. By a codicil, however, he re- voked the provision for the free- ing of his creditors from all obliga- tions, and changed the disposition of his residuary estate, directing that Ann Murdock receive a life In- terest in the property with the right to dispose of the principal. In the will. William R. Rose and Benjamin G. Paskus were appointed the executors. The codicil, however, revoked the appointments and named the Bankers' Trust Company, together with Miss Murdock as the executors. Ann Murdock, who. for personal reasons, declined to qualify as co- executrix of the estate. Is Irene Coleman in private life. She is a daughter of John J. Coleman, a the- atrical manager, nr.d Teresa Deagle Coleman, an actre.'-s. She was born in New York In 1890. Before going on the stage, she studied art and received honorable mention In Phil- adelphia for two paintings In oil and water. She first appeared as an actress in "The Lion and the Mouse" in 1906. Tho late Charles Frohmari, after watching her In "A Pair of Sixes." at the Longacre theatre. '-•,ave her a promment part In "'J'he lie^iuliful Adventure." witii Cluirlc^ Cherry, nt the Lyceum. Afterward slit! appeared in an "all star" revival firranKed by (^'harles Frohman and David Belasco at*the Empire, New Vork. Her last appearance was in the "Three Little Bears." Through the death of his brother. Al Hayman, who died February 10. ARIEST R£7£Ai;3 MARRIAGE (Continued from page 13) poratlon as promoter and director. Miae Gombell's standing in this city was such they were enabled to sell large blocks of stock. Eggena over- stepped himself with a yarn that he waa about to buy the Empire the- atre (whore Rumsey's company was then playing), and eventually Miss Gombeli and Eggena left Syracuse, to next be heard from at Albany, where the actress was playing leads In another stock. Next, Syracuse friends were ad- vised Miss Gombeli had accepted a stock contract for Atlanta. Several months elapsed. Then came the re- port she had been married a second time, deserted by her new husband and, without funds, was under med- ical treatment in Atlanta. Friends and newspapers here kept the wires hot Saturday, Sunday alSd Monday seeking some conflrmc^tion of the stories. Misa Gombeli waa finally located In New York. Over the long distance phone she admit- ted having secretly married Eggena In Atlanta last July. For personal and professional reasons she kept the wedding from the public eye, she aaid. As for the reporta circulated. Miss 'Gombeli claimed Jealous parties at Atlanta were responsible. She ex- plained she had resigned her At- lanta'berth because of the manage- ment's dissatisfaction when she underwent an operation and when she found jealousy invading her company because she was to be starred. She claimed that she and hir new husband were "perfectly happy" and in New York. A few hours later Eggena was under arrest, charged with passins a worthless check and beattnif a hotel bill while in Albany. Ar- raigned yesterday, he was held In default of $5,000 bail for a hearing on Nov. 21. Rumsey. Miss Gombell's first hus- band, waa also quietly married after his divorce, the news not leaking out until months lat^r. His present wife is Florence Eldrldge. UTTLE THEATRES -,» .'-» Ruth Breni^r. who has been stag- ing a aeries of Little Theatre pro- ductions in the Sequoia Club, San Francisco, gave a program of three, playlets last week. On the bill were Included Dunsany's "Glittering Gate." Galsworthy's "The^Sun," and Bernard Shaw's "Annajanska,, the Bolshevik Empress." The produce tlon won high pralae from the cHtlca. ':'■'. , V ^ The Lenoi Hill Players have leased the Lenox theatre at 52 East 71th street. New York, and opened their aecond aeason with three new' playlets, "The Pardon," from the French of Jules LeMaltre; "The Green Scarf," by Kenneth Sawyer Goodman, and "The Other Voice." by 8. K. Fairbanks. The season will continue for six months, bill changed fortnightly. In the first program are Jay Fassett, Beverly West, Wells Spaulding, Nora Sterl- ing, Donald Cameron, Rldgebon Wills and Constance McKay. The Theatre Guild is now rehears- ing "The Lucky One," with Violet Homing. Dennis King, Percy War- sham. Ronr,ney Bent, Harry Ashford and Helen Wostley, who desert "R. U. R." when it moves to the Frazee, New York, to Garrlck Nov. 20. The Mask and Dagger Dramatic Society of the Oregon Agricultural College will tour Important Oregon cities during the Christmas holidays, presenting "Adam and Eva." Frederick K. Cowley has been appointed art director of the. Buf- falo (Xrw York) Play ers. Inc. At a meeting this week It was derideit that six plays should be pr< duce<f this season at the Allendale- thea- tre with the casts chosen comp<'ti- tlvely from those interested. Tho project Is to be city wide, self-!»us- taining and free from dQlP endow- ments and subsldiea.