Variety (December 1923)

ADDRESS, VARIETY, LONDOf r?Si^ TiP»i»lc«r Sqifelw ^ ' 2096-3199 Regent '■ hursday, December 6, PRESIDENT RECOMMENDS THE REPEAL OF ADMISSION TAX Message to Congress Will Have Decided Effect on Action of Congress and Committees—dClaim Is President Favors Reduction Washington, Dec. 6, Prosldent Coolldge w(ll recom- mend to Congress the lifting of the tax admissions in his first message to that body, which It Is expected he will deliver tomorrow (Thurs- day). He sets forth his reason for being opposed to taxing pictures la because they are e4pcatlonaI. Although the rresidint has been delayed in delivering his message, it has been in the hands of the press for nearly a week, with the result every member of Congress now knows its contents. Certain groups close to Coolldge <4alm the President strongly favors reductions in taxes, but Is equally •trong against a soldier bonus. He is also reported as favoring a readjustment of railroad rates and a consolidation of the railroads wherever it is possible. The announcement that the Presi- dent favors the removing of the tax admissions should have a decided ef- fect on the ultimate success of the measure. It will now become an administra- tion matter and theM:halrmAn of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen- ator Reed Bmoot of Utah, and the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Green of Iowa, who, from their statements, have only been luke- warm for the measure at the best, will upon the recommendation of the President most probalrty now give it their firm support. The compromise forced by the Republican progressh'e group, head- ed by Congressman Nelson of Wis- consin in tieing up the House was for changes that would knock out the gag rule and the presefit method of a chairman killing a bill by simply pocketing it. This was thf • progressives' chief, demand, and in the compromise with the party leaders it must have been' one point conceded, and if so the ttiing to b^ nio.st feared, that of kill- ing the repeal of the tax on admis- sion before a chance to vote on it came about, has been removed. "BISING OiaTEEATION" LIKED London, Dec. S. "The Rising Generation" which opened at the Shaftsbury Monday proved to be an amusing comedy, strongly cast and most favorably received. iNTHUSIASTIC BUNCH AT CHARIOT PREMIERE Jack Buchanan Called It Dress Rehearsal—Arch Selwyn Liked Revue London, Dec 6 Practically the entire bunch of West ^nd theatres journeyed to the Goldera Greeh Hippodrome Monday night to see the premiere of Char- lot's revue which will fail for New York after playing this week. The program is being changed nightly to determine which of the numbers are most suitable. Previous to the curtain rising Jack Buchanan appeared before the audience to plead for the acceptance of the presentations as a dress re- hearsal, for there was only one day of actual rehearsing, besides which the scenery had been in the theatre but two hours. It is impractical to pass judg- ment upon the Monday showing, due to a friendly audience of wild en- thusiasm concerning each and ever>' morsel. Arch Selwyn states he is confident it Is a big attraction, while also as- serting that seven changes already have been determined upon with others to follow. LIGHT NEW FARCE BIrabeau Story on Shoemaker's Adventures. PANTO KIXED IN London, Dec. 5. The p.intomlme which opens at the Palladium Dec. 17 will give mat- inee performances only with the regularly twice nightly vaudeville policy remaining unchanged. LEON GAUMONT DECORATED Paris, Dec. 6. The Government has decorated Leon G.aumont as an offlcor of the I^egion of Honor in recognition of his nervices rendered for the^ French clnem.itograph industry. OPENED WELL IN PARIS Paris, Dec. 5. Opening successfully at the Al- hambra lant Friday were the Tlircc HwiftH, C>'<:'ling Brunettes, Kranci.>< Renault, and Grock. the clown. Paris, Dec. B. Th^ management of tke Follies Drajnolique Battirday presented a thre<D-act farce entitled "Un Homme BUT la Pallle" ("A Man Without Mean«") to a fairly favorable re- ception. Nlchola« Nancey and Hen- ry d« Gorsse are credited with hav- ing made the adaptation from a srtory by Andre BIrabeau. A somewhat exaggerated situa- tion is presented by the script in that a married shoemaker, desir- ing to spend a week with a demi- mondaine, pretends to be incarcer- ated within (. country prison, ac- cused of illicit* speculation. When later actually imprisoned, the shoe- maker's wife securee his release, with the blame ahiftlng to the brother-in-law. Robert Hastl impersonates the ^^^^^ ^ shoemaker, and Palau is caet bjb the' parted brother-in-law. Dave Chasen wrote to mo and said, "Van. have a great idea. Bin your.<ielf "The International Comedian.' You were over there more than five minutes." I wrote Dave the idea was great, but if I used that billing there would be a hundred mlMlon others billed just like me. Dorny and Kirkham, write quick! Important! Dec. 9lh. Sioux City; Dec. 16th. Kans.is City. Horace Bentley says his blotters are better than HIggins and Blossomo l>lotterH. Frankio Van was over in Europe a long time Hoyen. FRANK VAN HOVEN Direction EDWARD S. KELLER British Fibn Players Protest Our Pictures London, Dec. 5. As another outcry agalnEt American films on the Eng- lish market British picture players held a mass meeting in Hyde Park Sunday afternoon, at which they urged fair play for the native movie industry. The statement was made that at least 90 per cent of the films shown in England are of Amer- ican production. A resolution was unanimously acclaimed to ask the Government for the- passing of legislation which guarantee that at least 25 per cent of the films shown here must be of British manufacture. AGENT TRIES SHOOTING Tysoe Smith, - of Manchester, FIrwuiejally Worried His Majesty's Not on Market London, Dec. B. Grossmith A "Malone have Issuea a denial concerning the report that Basil Dean has been negotiating for His Majesty's theatre. They assert that the house is not for sale nor on the market. Nigel Barrie Shortly Returning London, Dec. 6. Nigel Barrie will return to Ameri- ca early in the new year. He is at present playintf Claudo Duval in the highwayman film of that name which George A. Cooper la direct- ing for Gaumont. BOOKED WHILE ABROAD London, Dec. 5. ' Bedini and Arthur arc s.iiling to- day on the "Majestic' 'to open at Keith's Riverside, New York, Dec. 31 Pearl White Mutt Come Back Loiulun, Dec. 5. Pearl White, who is making a film in Paris, In which production "Tlho hao a 50 per cent interest, sailH for New Yorli J.an. 1. She is not particularly happy .-it the pro8pe<t as she has t-iken a great fancy to Paris and Europe gener.ally. Two American Turns Open London, Dec. 6. Karl Jorn and Bennett and Richards were splendidly accepted «Son their opening at the Palladium. Lond<>n, Nov. 26. J. Tysoe Smith, a well-known Manchester vaudeville agervt, ahot himself In the Golden Gallery of St. Paul'e Cathedral, Nov. 22. The streets were full of lunch hour crowds. Smith had entered the cathedral and bought a ticket for the Whis- pering Gallery and then bought one for the Golden Gallery. There was nothing in his manner to excite suspicion and he remained alone after some other visitors_hadi de- HOLLAENDER OUT Karl Roeen and Aetora Running . Theatr* ' k Bertln, Nov. 26. Felix Hoilaender haa at last defi- nitely given up hia director^ip of Reinhardt's Dcutsches theatre and Kammersplele and for the lime be- in'g the organization Is in the hands of Karl Rosen, -the business director, and the arti'stlc end ia to be handled by a board of actors and stage tli- rectors made up of Dr. Fritz Wend- hausen, Erich Papst, Paul Qunther and Max GuUstorf. In this n>t is not one flrst-rate director or actor, and the future of the theatre looks pretty dark under the«e conditions. It Is, however, continually rumored and in some papers stated as defi- nitely completed that this organiza- tion will amalgamate with the Schausple'Ier tl.eatre now playing 1" the Fricdrlch Wilhelmstadtlscbes theatre, which Includes the brilliant Elisabeth Bergncr and the two well- known actors Hclnrich George and Alexander Or.anuch, and whoec stage director is the tant»o.-.B Karl- heln Martin. It aeeuis doubtful whether Rein- hard t would allow any combination to be made which might Inake H difUcult for him to take over the theatres again when everything has quieted down in Benin and there is money to be made again in the- atricals. LASHWOOD STOPPED SHOW-LOST HICKS English Still Remain True to Old Favorites—Gallery Flrst- Nighters Gather Suddenly there was the report of a ebot and an attendant running to the spot found the man stretched on. the tiling with a revolver by his side. The public were immediately clenrod out of the sacred building and doctors were summoned. It took the police nearly an hour to get him down the steps when It was discovered ho was still alive. He was immediately rushed to hospital but is not expected to recover. Smith is 60 years of nge and In good health but worried financially owing to the cinema having dam- aged his vaudeville business. St. Paul's has been the scene of several suicides and attempted sui- cides. A youth poisoned himself a few woelxs ago. on nnotlicr occasion a man shot himself throuKh the head during Sunday morning serv Co-Director for Palais Royal Paris. Dec. B. Victor Boucher, the comedian will be appointed co-director Willi 'ce «"<» 0"<'e » f"-'" hurled himself Gustavo Quinson of the Koyal theatre next season. Palais Astalres Prolonging Stay I/ondon, Dec. 5. Fred and Adele Astalrc will le- main with "Stop Flirting" for nine weeks In the Provinces, after which time they will sail for the states. Haskell Staging Cabaret Revue I.ondi)n, Dec. B. Jack Haskell is staging a new cabaret revue at the Grafton Gal- leries with the premier sot for Der. 18. Selwyn and Navarr« in Ptr'tt. Paris, Dec. B. Archie Selwyn and Ramon Ka- varro are now bare. from the Whispering Gallery. WEUES VOLKSTHEATRE CLOSED Berlin, Nov. 26. The Neue« Volksthc.'ilre in the Kopenlckcr Str.'ts.>!e, formerly man- .aged in conjunction with the Voiks- Ijuhnc In Bulow Pl.itz. has now been dicflnitcly closed, as the parent or- ganization has not the money to continue supporting It. Tills is no great lose, as the pro- diKtlons there were never very artistic and the theatre in Itself is cold and repelling. For the time being Manager Hunt will take it over and will try pro- ducing operetta there, his first production being "The Coachihon of Frederick the Great." London, Nov. 28. At the Alhambra one night. Sey- mour Hicks got a nasty jar to his vanity. Immediately preceding him was George Lashwood, a popular Beau Brummel turn of the old days who still holds the public. After singing a number of songs and re- ceiving many calls, Lashwood met with Insistent appeals to sing "My Latchkey," one of his standards. After repeated attempts to leave the stage, he finally expressed his Inability to comply with the request as time was short and other turns had to follow. The curtain went up on the set for Seymour Hicks' playlet, but he was unable to proceed. Persistent cries of "Latchkey" still came from all over the house. Hicks came for- ward and said he regretted be had not got the latchkey, b\it the audi- ence would not be appeased; the curtain descended and Lashwood ■ang the song in demand. When the curtain rose agaJn, however, no Seymour Hicks, and another short turn follow hy the bioscope concluded the entertain- ment. IN LONDON At a recent meeting of the Gal- lery First Nighters, Lane Crauford delivered an address upon the sub- ject of mummer-baltlng from the top shelf. Crauford is a young man who haa been helped to his anec- dotnge by the fact that his mother, Mrs. Sara Lane, for half a centary ruled the roost at the Britannia the- atre, Hoxton, one of London's old and noted melodrama houses. In a rather lively debate which followed, Hannen Swaffer of jour- nalistic fame, let loose upon the managerial tactics which gave pref- erence in casting to- players with historic histrionic names. Influence made .i leading lady before talent, hence the Incompetent supply in the West Knd, ho said. Names, men- tioned w^ere Viola Tree, daughter of the late Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, and Prudence Vanbrugh, daughter of Arthur Bourchler and Violet Vanbrugh. Like every hustling American who romes to England, Dave Bennett likes London. "It's the greatest holi- day I ever enjoyed," says Dave. Here I am sent over to do the num- bers for the Chorlot revue that is going to New York, and all the re- hearsing I can get in is from 10:30 a. m. to 1 p. m. After that hour the girls leave to pl.ay matinees at other theatres, some of the principals are appearing in vaudeville, and I won't see Jack Buchanan at all until the day before the show opens at Gold- er's Green for a week prior to its American presentation. I guess it's (Continued on page 47) T1THERAD€E'S OWN 'REYU&-Al)THORED R Opening Xmas Eve—Novelio't Music—Piece Not Yet Written London, Dee. S. °~; °A Don Titfaeradge revue, writtetti a«d pro4uce<) by Tilheradge, will bfl prdduced Xmas eve, he says, at th« Vaudeville, although Titheradga ad- mits not having as yet Written tha piece. -Nevertheless He asserta It will be ready on time. Music for the revue will be com- posed by Ivor Novello. Stanley Luplno and Blnnie Hala so far have been eng.-iged to appear In the Titheradge show. STRIKE AT FALiCE, PBANCE Paris, Dec. 5. A St like on the part of some of the stagehands delayed the Palaca perforniance ^urttil Oscar .Dufrenn* replaced the' Insurgents , froan tha Mayol Concert staff. . The controversy was settled when the managetnent promised to con- sider the non-strikers' claims aN though, at the same time, refuslnif to take back the men who had walked out. ' CLIFTON OBTAraS LICENSE London, Dec. 5. "•' Following slight alterations tli# Lord Chamberlain has Issued » license for the showing of Herbert Clifton's "Gay Y'oung Bride." The original controversy waa brought about by the objection ot^s m.nle character impersonating » young woman In the production. DE COURVILLE-KELLOGO SHOW London, Dec. 5. Albert de Courville will present Shirley Kellogg in "The Rainbow" around Christmns, at the New- castle. It will mark a revised version of the show given earlier this year at the Empire. SAILINGS Dec. 12 (from New York to Lon- don), Mr. and Mrs. l«on Klmberly, Klml>erly and Page; Manny lind Clayton (Geo. Washington). Dec. 15 (London to New Tork)' Wilton Sisters (Leviathan. , Dec. 8 (New York to London), Mrs. Sime Silverman (Aquitania). Dec. 6 (Iiondon to New York)^ Bedini and Arthur (Majestic^. Dec. 5 (London to New York) James K. Hackett, Madeleine Mar' shall (Majestic). Dec. 1 (New York to London), Marie Nordstrom (Leviathan). CANCEL HAZEL DAWN (Continued from page 1) the Alhambra, New York, last week would not be considered for further bookings due to the objectlonal sub^ Ject matter and theme. Miss Dawn made her vaudevIIHt debut last week at the Alhambra. The act la the ^former vehicle ct- Sarah Padden, "Just a Little Pink."! It was re-wrHten for Ml«a Dawn by Billy Grady who produced the neif version. The playlet while dealing witU the lo#e affair of a philandering malo and his mistress was not con^ sidered objection.il when reviewed! by the press at the Harlem house< Miss Dawn in the principal role re- minded of Jean Eagles in "Rain" la her delivery and conception. Follow- ing the Alhambra engagement iiiem Dawn was notified Monday that fur.' ther bookings In that vehicle would not be forthcoming from the XeitK office. E. F. Albee is eaid to taaTtt Issued the order. Nazimova was recently cancelled by the Keith people after ccxntng east via the Orpheum Circuit and playing Keith's Palace, New Tortt, In an act considered too suggesUva for vaudeville. Nazimova has sinca returned to vaudeville in another sketch written around a "Mother Love" theme. Miss Dawn may be seen In an- other sketch now being readied. /I THE TILLER SCHOOLS OF DANCING 143 Charing Crota Read LONDON Director. JOHN TILLER n'li. KERSHAW GUARANTY TRUST CO. (31 Fiftb ATtnae Mew T«l