Variety (May 1923)

38 VARIETY I Wednesday, May 30. 1923 i J. J. MURDOCK, General Manager „ F. F. PROCTOR, Vice-President E. F. ALBEE, President B. F. KEITH'S VAUDEVILLE EXCHANGE (AGENCY) *v ** N (Palace Theatre Building; New York) Founder* B. F. KEITH, EDWARD F. ALBEE, A. PAUL KEITH, F. F. PROCTOK • mm I Artists can book direct addressing W. DAYTON WEGEFARTH AMALGAMATED VAUDEVILLE AGENCY 1441 Broadway, New York . BOOKING DEPARTMENT Palace Theatre Building NEW YORK N EXECUTIVE OFFICES Btate-Lake Building CHICAGO ■ Rhone PENNSYLVANIA 3580 BOOKING 12 WEEKS New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore and intermediate towns i THE STANDARD INDEPENDENT VAUDEVILLE AGENCY FALLY MARKUS 1547 Broadway NEW YORK Bryant 6060 6061 GAIETY THEATRE B-DG. ACKERMAN & HARRIS EXECUTIVE OFFICES: THIRD FLOOR, PHELAN BLDG. MARKET, GRANT and O'FARRELL STREETS SAN FRANCISCO ELLA HERBERT WESTON, Booking Manager SEVEN TO TEN WEEK CONTRACTS NOW BEINO ISSUED. Marcus Loews Booking Agency General Executive Offices L0EW BUILDING ANNEX 160 WEST 46™ST- NEW YORK JHLUBIN GENERAL M.AJTAQER SEE US WHEN IN CALIFORNIA" MEIKLEJ0HN and DUNN Amusement Manager*. Theatrical Agents, •Personal Representative*. Vaudeville. Road Sliotr*. . C °S **1CELCS—Mlajastic Thsstrs Bid, . at*, flow. 62816. Pies 5514. SAN FRANCISCO—Pantiw Thsstra Bld|.. 5M floor. Oouflat B0J3. BERT LEVEY CIRCUITS VAUDEVILLE THEATRES ALCAZAR THEATRE BUILDING, SAN FRANCISCO PAUL GOUDRON. CAPITOL BUILDING, CHICAGO Detroit office, 206 Breitmeyer Bldg. CHICAGO OFFICE l6o2CapitolBldg SIDNEY MWEISM AN IN CM A ROC FOREIGN REVIEWS (Continued from page 17) ia the only chil<|» of an intimate friend, but is poor and honest. He looks on Mme. Lavargne as an aunt; he Is ever affectionate, always re- spectful, to a degree that the am- orous middle-aged widow dare not confess her infatuation. She not only looks old. with her gray hair and careworn features, but her face bears a disfiguring scar. A Russian physician has found the means of restoring youth by an operation so dangerous It might easily lead to fatal results. Mme. Lavergne confides herself to the surgeon, who, not having a French diploma, is constrained, to practice under the guise of a local doctor named Ferdich. Both are unscru- pulous rase ils nnd attempted the operation on another woman, who died. They placed the body on the railroad track to lead the police to believe the victim was killed by an accident. The deceased is found in such a condition that identifica- tion is impossible. As the doctors had purposely left near by a hand- bag containing papers belonging to Mme. Lavergne she is legally re- corded as the victim of the acci- dent The operation in her case suc- ceeds. After throe months' con- valescence she leaves the clandes- tine clinic with a mask of youth, having been transformed to all ap- pearance into a beautiful young woman. When the bandages arc re- moved there is not the slightest tra^e of a scar and her fioe resem- bles a girl of 20. Even her hair has changed color and she is now a pretty blonde, so that her former ac- quaintances fail to recognize her. She dare not reveal her true iden- tity. Madame Lavergne contrives to meet Andre again and ascertains he Is mourning her demise; that he secretly loved her all the time, but would not reveal it because he was poor. He has not the slightest sus- picion she Is the aged woman he fondly loved and declines to enter- tain the possibility of her resurrec- tion. His soul is buried with the late Madame Lavergne. Therefore, the miraculous opera- tion has been in vain, and the poor creature is condemned to live as a young woman with a fresh face but a withered heart. She has not legal standing: except as the companion of the doctor who operated. In despair she decides to have a good time and throws herself into the arms of Andre, becoming his mistress, despite the young man's declaration he will never love an- other woman as sincerely as he loved the late Madame Lavergne. This quasi -study of human natur< (it might almost be written crazy scenario* has good points, but on tne whole is too .improbable to con- vince tin- average playgoer. The cast include- Valentine de Hally as th% rejuvenated widow, ably portraying Joy aid anguish when viewing herself in the mirror. Alcover is only fair in the rule of the Russian surgeon who goes one better than monkey glands graft- ing ' he) Masque de feunesse" is the first work of Fournler and Tur- pln, so many defects may be ex- cused. By" thinking out another original story and keeping within the limits of possibility they are capable of writing a play that will have a long run. Kendrew. DULLIN'S ATELIER Paris, May 15. Charles TJullin has grouped around him at the Theatre Montmartre-an enthusiastic company of players which has assumed the name of the Atelier (signifying workshop or, more literarily speaking, the studio), and new shows by new authors are being constantly staged for regular evening performances. Thus we now have at the Theatre de 1'Atelier a mixed program with three items of merit. For the opening number the troupe offers a sarcastic trifle at its own expense, wherein we are assured of the misery of the present- day actor. Art does not nourish its man. and the comedians are de- spondent. One finds a cent in the auditorium and there is joy at the idea of money being realized in the theatre until an army of tax col- lectors claim their share, which leaves nothing for the company. However, a member secures an en- gagement at a music hall imitating t popular red-nose comb'" and he generously shares his salary* with the Atelier artistes, enabling them to c»et a meal. This skit is followed by a Iwo-.lCt comedy, "La Promenade du prison- nior." by Jean Rlanchon. concerning a timid bookseller deceived by his wife This gives rise to the title, the poor fellow being the prisoner of his own misfortune. He tries to shut his eyes to the true conditions he cause he still loves his fickle spouse, but his life Is wretched, for even the servant looks on him with contempt. He finds a spell of relief by the ar- rival of a married friend from the country. The provincial lady smiles on the city gentleman until she learns of his domestic troubles, when she likewise scorns his proffered friendship. The author of this psychological study Is only out of his teens, being one of the youngest of the budding Paris playwrights. He has much to learn, yet can give pointers to many elders. Dull in terminates his program with a one-act historical piece, "Celul qui vivait sa mort," by Marcel Achard, being an imaginary episode in the life of Charles VI, the mad king of France. Queen Isabeau did the reigning, and to enable her to retain her influence she kept her royal husband in a perpetual fear of death. Seeking to be rid of a poetical favorite of the king she staked her own honor or the life ol the poet over a game of cards (play- ing cards were very fashionable, if not introduced during the reign of Charles vi>. Unscrupulous as Isabeau was, she cheated during Um» game, whereby the poet lost and was const rained to take poison. The queen, who hail promised to give herself to the poet, declared the drug woukl.be painless in its action. It had a contrary effect, and Isabeau was careful the weak-minded mon- arch siu.uld watch the last moments of his favorite, thus giving him a great dread of the passage from this existence to the Unknown, Dull in Impersonates the mad king, with his wife, Madame Dullin. in the part of Isabeau. The other roles are we!' sustained. The Atelier has gained a reputa- tion during the present season which foreshadows a successful future, and warrants the enterprite of the troupe in holding out: for better days in unofficial dramatic art. which un- fortunately is not encouraged by the* state, due, probably, to the claims for subvention from the Comedie Francaise (albeit failing to bring out young authors), opera, etc.. eat- ing up the funds at the disposal of the Ministry of Fine Arts. Such conditions are a denial of arguments advanced by those seeking the crea- tion of state-assisted'playhouses ia England and America. Kendrew. INCORPORATIOSS NEW YORK CHARTERS Racbar Theatre A Realty Corp, Manhattan, $60,000; C. Monash. J. A. Hopkins, A. L. Robertson. (At- torney M. Goodman. 1564 Broad- way.) * I'll 8ay She Is, Manhattan, mu- sical comedies, $10,000; R. Chaplin, F. C. Thomas, J. S. Frasin. (At- torney, F. Schmidt. 200 Broadway.) Ted Lewis Productions, Manhat- tan, theatricals, $5,000; A. Lewis. A. Gans, J. Kendler. (Attorneys, Kendler & Goldstein. 1540 Broad- way.) Morris <t Bernard, Manhattan, vaudeville, $10,p00; S. Morris. B F. ?, nd . ihm Bernar <L (Attorney, H. Bodell, 305 Broadway.) DELAWARE CHARTERS Shirley Productions Corp., $1,000,- 000; pictures, Wm. J. Shirley, Fred, enck C. Daub, Willard Franklin, New York. (Colonial .Charter Co.) Cumberland Productions, pictures, $100,000; Rhenir S. Mason, Robert S. Mason, Eddyvllle, Ky.; George B. West. New York. (Corporation Guarantee and Trust Co.) JUDGMENTS Gloria Foy; L. Braun; $1,18307. Joseph Kunzman; Clark Music Co.; possession of chattels or $J166.63. Jesse B. Levy; E. A. Levy; $2,800. Joseph Shalleek and William J. Fallon; Kniekerbocker-42d St. Co Inc.; $1,006.59. Horwitx. Arthur J., and Arthur J. Horwit7-I.ee Klaus. Inc.; (',. Trough- ton; $1,321.71. Playgoers Film Co.. Inc.; Citv of N'ew York; $596.43. •John e. n. Meader; Ifoody't in- vestors Service; $60.70. Photocraft Productions, Inc.; Farmers State Rank; $644.20. Monroe Rosenfel d; 4 and 6 Wc*l n.vi m., Corp.: $nnn.7fr.— Korea Pictures. Inc.; Et . Kilm Mfg. Co., Inc.: $662.19. Rose Sieoel: Blaney Produ< Co.. Inc.; $39:10. Triumph Pictures Corp.; 0 II Pedrick, Jr.: $:;.LM. r ..".s. Satisfied Judgments Loew*s Theatrical Enterpria Inc.; C. Wray; $500; May 16. 1923. Arthur Hammerstein; A. Pesce; $224.40; April 2. 1916. . —i