Variety (July 1923)

Thursday, July 1». 1»23 VAUDEVILLE ; f ENGLISH POETESS' MEGAPHONE SmUCK AUDIENCE AS FUNNt m^j.u Edith Sitwell Devised Method to Delete Individuality in Delivery—Sir George Dance Now—^Tapped by King's Sword—^Other English News London. July 7. Edith Sitwell, one of our poetic Bohemians of the "high br6w" or- der, has Bomething of a liking for bearing her own poems. To achieve (his end she rents "West End con- 6^ h»Ils and there spouts to her idmiring friends, disciples, an^d all who may be lured In. At her recent seance she achieved .1^ fame which won her more space 111 the press tli n she has probably ever had before. Through the mouth of a huge crrotesque fuce i ainted on ; the front cloth protruded the mouth P- of a megaphone and through this ^ boomed the voice of the poetess. ' loud and rolluly monoton >us. ^• Prior to the noise her representa- t;> tive had informed the audience this '• was done because the poetess held diat the individuality of the poet- [^ speaker destroyed |Lnd distratntJ the attention of the audience from y the poems. £' The many press notices failed to jf set Anyth'.n.q; but humor in the In- novation. Kimberly,nnd Page, t\ ho became popular with British vaudeville audiences last year, reopened July t at Birmingham. Their dates in August have had to be put back owing to their having pi'evlously made arrangenr:ents for a Continen- tal trip. i .,» '; '. , - "^ George Dance's name appears In the birthdajr list of honors. He re- ceives a knighthood. Sir George, as he will omclally be called after he has received the accolade, in other [ words, been lapi>ed on the aboulder with a sword by the King, began his theatrical career as a struggling ^ playwright. H« started writing popular musical comedies and suc- cess In that direction came quickly. R« next went in for management and amassed a fortune. He was the |: mysterious philanthropist whose t. £20,000 saved the "Old Vic." from % ruin. This has probably a good deal to do with the recently conferred honor. SOVIET FILM DEAL Famous Players Man Going to Mos- cow for Interview London. July IS. The Famous Players' representa- tive, Craham, and Ike Blumenthal are going to Moscow in August to make some kind of a picture deal with the Soviet government. JUSTINE JOHNSTONE IN 'TONI» London, July 18, Justine Johnstone will play the leading role In the James White production of "Toni," the new C4eprge Edwardes show. * It will be Mis3 Johnston'es flrst stage appearance In several seasons. WnniMAN'S SUCCESSOR CHOSEN IN COMPEnnON Band Picked by Committee- Opening in "Briohter London/'July 30 Ijondon« Juljr II. An orchestra known a« London's Band haa been chosea by an ap- pointed committee to suoceed the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, In "Brighter London." JmIj tO. at tbo Hippodrome. Whiteman will tako a week off in Paris and then return to Ne# Tork, after ending his ctB> rent Hip engagement Whiteman concluded his engafo- ment at the Orafton Galleries Sat- urdky, but will give a farewell con- cert there tonight. The competition came about as the focus of agitation by English musicians against Importation of jazz players. The natives assert their own 1s superior to th« foreign- ers on the sax and clarinet. All English bandte were eligible to the contest. It's a publicity stunt in a way, put over by that shrewd showman, Charles B. Cochran. ENGLISH VAUDEVniE CIRCDITS BOOKING FROM WEEK TO WEEK Demoralizing BiuineM Conditions—Heavy Weekly I^OMet—DepreMing Receipts—^Routes Being Held Back—One Circuit Lost About $43,000 BAYES BILLED SECOND Also Playing Three Timea Daily at Palladium. London, J.uly IS. Nora Bayea is at'the Palladium this week, playing three times daily and with her name in one^half the else type given to the Morgan Dancers on the same bill. Mary Garden Resting Pa As, July IS. Mary Garden has «one to Switz- erland for a rest prior to taking up her work with the Chicago Opera Co. TKEVOR IN "GRACE OF GOD" London, July 18. . Norman Trevor will return to New York early next month to ap- pear In the Selwyns' production of "The Grace of God.' The Selwyns have secured the American rights to "At Mrs. Beam's." fc The British Ij- -V- *uw oriiian cotnpany recently ^ touring the West Indies, is back in t London after a six months' tour, i during which they played thirteen ^ weeks, the rest of the time being \ spent traveling. Business was ex- 0 ceedingly good and the whole com- ; pany were loyally fete<\ except the . stage management, who spent all ; the time, when not at sea. In the theatre. ^ The Coliseum program Is as usual prolific in dancers with two new items. Felyne Verblst Belgian bal- lerina, already has been seen here, but Kai Ruiners and Emy Agron are a pair'i^f sensational dancers new to London. Especially sensational and "classical" is their "Faun and Nymph" Item. The Italian Marion- ettes are In their section week and the present program' includes the Fratellinl Brothers, Nellie and Sara Kouns, Cornalla and Eddie, the American Quartet. Melford Trio and Talbot OFarrell, now in his third week. Across the way the Alhambra Is fighting the heat wave with a good •'popular" vaudeville bill and is keeping the business up, the third house always being good. Rover tickets are popular and Judging 'rom the cosmopolitan audience the house ia rapidly regaining the repu- tation for l)eing a good "club" which It used to have. The present bill Is almost exclusively composed of Alhan^bra favorites and includes Maidie Scott with her "Eve Through the Ag:es" scene which she did here a few weeks ago; D.ii.sy Wood, Dorothy Ward. DoUie and Billy, .and Bert Kriul. .iijrtia latter arti:it ia the only iM.Mson presenting new ma- terial. CORA lAPARCERIE FUTANCED Paris, July 18. The Cora Lapdrcerie theatre, for- merly Ijlogador, has been success- fully promoted by Mile. Parser La Parcerle with a capital of 1,250.000 francs. It win reopen in October. OUT OF BERIMS 26 THEATRES 18 HAVE MUSICAL COMEDIES *'You'd Be Surprised" or ''Scandals'' London, July 18. Tom Hearn and Jean Bedinl have arranged to start a touring show July 30. It will travel the provinces. They have requested permission of Sir Oswald StoU to name the show "You'd Be Surprised." Failing, they have decided to call it "Scandala" , t More RuMlans in Pari* ' Paris, July 18. Maria Kousnezoff and the Russian troupe from the Moscow Fair Thea- tre opened at the Theatre Femina. Their performance, similar to that which they recently presented in Amerloa, was fairly well received. ABRAM8 IN LONDON London, July 18. Hiram Abrams arrived last week on the Leviathan to arrange a ren- tal schedule for "Robin Hood." London House for "Covered Wagon" London, July 18. Famous Players is looking for a London house for "Covered Wagon" film. Emil Shauer ia in tewn, ac- * com pan led by Harold Pitman, to negotiate. Several Operettas Amongst Them—Five With Plots Set in Same Period—Nothing Novel or New in Bunch '*" .v^'-'i." ^*-■''/";,..■ By C. HOOPER TBA8K 4. U: Berlin. July 4. ''Dio Baehantin" {**Thm Beohanto") Out of the U tbeatres now opon in Berlin 18 are playing musioal comedy. It ia natural moat of tho stuff now to be seen la of very in- ferior quality. The Oroaaea Schau- spielhaus waa empty and had to bo filled. . Thereforo (at leaat ao it would a0lm) any old thinir waa put together and called "Die Bachantin." Even two compoaers admit the re- sponsibility, but where ono leaves off and the other begina nobody knows. Only one thing they have In com- mon: absolute lack of originality. Ono of them would aeem to bo a band director who \tk.^* warmed- over themea aAd makea them into a strident march. And then comes the second compoaar, who aeema to be following, at a vary lonff distance, to bo auro, your Irving Berlin. Their names are Cuypera and Corii- Uus. The story ia laid la Venlo«k and the first scene la In the famous St. Marcus Square. The main Idea is that of a young mam who seeks re- venge on tho woman who haa be- trayed hla brother. It turna out ahe waa not guilty in the matter, and everything ends happily. This is unquestionably the moat witless book of the present IS. The music, under the direction of (Continued on page 35) WOMAN HAS LONDON MONOPOLY OF HRST RUN FHJK THEATRES Mrs. Davis Purchases Tivoli, London, for 400,000 Pounds—Male Trio of Americans After House Could Not Mutually Agree MAURICE AHD HUGHES OFFEK Paria, July 18. Aa attractive offer haa been made Maurice and Leonora Hughes by Paul Salvin, tho American res- taurateurr* who desires the dancers aa tho special feature In the Palais Royal* New York. In the fall. The contract la hanging fire principally bocauae Maurice doea not desire to dance twice nightly aa called for in the Broadway cabaret offer. Maurice has gone to a aanitarlum at £>avola in the Swiaa Alps and will remain until October. He con- tracted pulmonary trouble while at Deauvitlo last summer and hurried to tho mountain retreat It la un- derstood he recovered but on the advice physicians will make a sea- sonal '4oJurn at Davoia. Maurice and Leonora Hughes, re- united, are returning to this coun- try and are to reopen the season at tho Palais Royal, New York, about Sept. 15. Sam Salvin, who la at present In London, closed the deal with the dancers. The dancers will make their re- appearance in conjunction with the Paul Whiteman orchestra. COirSTAHCE COLLIES BETTER Ix>ndon, July 18. Seemingly recovered from her at- tack of Illness, Constance Collier has returned to Londoh from Switz- erland. . y. London. July 18. The demoralising buainaaa condl- tiona in the vaudeville houaea have compelled the circuits to withhold routes for next aeaaon. They are booking from w^k to week. One vaudeville circuit laat week loat 9,000 pounda (about 841,000). Another loat 8,400 pounda. The wretched buslneaa brought one house at a matinee 88 ahlllinga, gross. The average week's takings at the same house do not exceed 300 pounds. ACTS Ot^ENINQ Bostook's and Kerr and Wealen De- but Abroad London. July 18. Kerr and Weston 4id Tory nicely opening Monday at Birmingham, It is reported. Another report aaya Boatock'a Riding Schali in tho aama elty started to a huge laughing suceeaa. — * — , LLOTB REPBE8ERTATIVS London, July 18. Arthur Raglairtl ham loft Aaao- clated Exhlbitora to booomo the per- sonal representatlra oC HaroM Lloyd. Roy Crawford, traaaiirar of A. &« la hero and ia ifoing f Paris i^ext week. Ho will return t* U%w York In Auguat 'SAMSOV AHD DSLILAH' 8H0WH London. July IS. The trade ahowinff by th* fltpQ fllm concern of the German-Biaaa "Samaon and Delilah" flloa Ml » farorable fmpreaaion. Tho picture may bo put on at tho SoaU. New Shew at Caa^no Parla, July fS. A new revue Is to ba mountod by Loon Volterra at the Caalno do Parla In Auguat. It Is only intended to run for a couple of months aa an entirely fresh ahow will bo prepared for October. ■'ij PictMroa Remain Hiohoal Taxed Parla. July 18. NotWlthatandlng tho French Par. liament haa voted a alight reduc- tion in tho entertainment tax cov- ering picture theatrea, tho moviea are atlU taxed higher than legitl- mate houses. r Tom Douglas Opposite Fay Compton ^ London, July is, Tho title role In "The Little Min- istfr,** it ia reported, may be given to Tom Douglaa, the American juvenil*, now over her^s. - ^ It would place him opposite Fay Compton in the pleco. « '.'»» "TANCRED" maiKELY Loiid.Mi. July IS, Tile adaptation of 'Tanorod" "Om iJisraeli's novel. prcM'Mitfnl Mondriy at the KinR-sway. in an in- consequential conrbination of melo- drama and comic opera. Us rhancos are very unliltoly. London, July 18. The Tlvoli lias licon purclia.sed by Mrs. Davis for JOO.OOO pounds. TIk^ house cost 1I>0,000 and the land 170,000 p(>unas.—ft-^in srat LM04 and it is claimed .Mlanflincr room will incronse that < ipaoity to 2.400. al- fJiouRh the Infter .stat«»ment ia not authentic. Tl»o Tivoli may rooppn upxt mntUii i>r iatrr. Previous to tiic wale a rental fig- ure wa.M T>lacotl upon the Tivoll by James White, who represented all of the interests at that lime, of $4,000 a week and 50 per cent, of any net profits. • Walter Wanger, Frank J. Qodsol and Ben Blumenthal had been nego- tiating to lease the theatre. It .•seemed as though th- y would con- .summate the deal, but according to re)K>rt neitlier.of the Americans rouUl agree with the other two over any Important detail. This purchase of the TIvolI by Mrs. Davis Kives her a virtuiol mon- oi>oly on (yi of London's first run I»icture hou.scfj. Leaders of her film circuit aro the Pavilion Marl.le Arch, .Shaftesbury Avenue Pavilion and another new liouse of huge ca- r)acity tifider construction at Shep- hcnl'a liiish. • Even "Le Trouvere" Revived Parla. July 18. "Le Trouverc" has not Jieen heard within the walls of the Paris Opera for about 18 years, but last week Ilouche could not resist the tempta- tion of giving this popular work of Verdi, first played January 17, 1835, at the Apollo Theatre. Rome,' and afterwards presented in Paris, at the Theatre Italien, December 28, 1864. The book was taken from a novel by the .Spanish writer Antonio CSar- cla Gutiorrer . QaKo Rochechou Reopenlnfl ParU, July 18. The Oaito Bochechou art, a popu- lar muaio hall, recently burned, la being reconstructed. It will reopen in September with a revuo having Nina Myral, Madame Alexlane and Robert Burnler. Edith Kelly Gould as Aet Paris, July 18. Edith Kelly Gould, former wife of Frank Oould, has been booked to appear at the Alhambra (vaude- ville), Sept. 21. ^pecht'B Qand Doubting London, July H. Paul .Spe( ht'.s Ik-nd opened Mon- day at the Alhambra, doubling wjlh tlie Lyon's Coriur House, where the ottfanization Ii.i.m been playing foi fccveral weeks. Specht ha.s bf»n held over n-xt week at the Alb.nnbra with an In- crease of £50 in salary. Thf» hold- over was Arratig«»fl for this after- "Kiki" Opening July 30 at Pfayhouaa London, July 18. The English vtraion of "Klkl," wlth Ciladys Cooper, will open at the Playhouse, London, July 80. Qanne, French Composer, Diea London, July 18. Louia Ganne, a popular French compo.ser. died July 14, age 61. I Til* bf%i olitilnthlr In.tnjctiori at M HEDMBUIIil STUDIOS or SVAl DAMaNC 1841 Broadway l« NoiiTrn\r><T cos. Mts «r ■■ • ;. ■ti