Variety (May 1924)

Wednesday, May 7, 1924 VARIETY VAUDEVILLIAN IMPRISONED FOR SLANDERING KING OF SAXONY Hans Reimann Does Three Days in Breslau—Issued Joke Book and Told Stories Making H. R. M. the Butt—King Known as "Good Scout" Berlin, April 28. Hans Reimann, the vaudeville comedian, was Imprisoned for three days In Breslau on the charge of having slandered the former King of Saxony. Reimann has been using ■ the king as the butt of many of his "wise cracks." and the king, who now lives In retirement i; ■ a private person, finally got sore. Hans Is.sued a joke book In which the kii.g was the leading figure in all the stiirios. The king will probably not press the action further, as he Is known by all the boys as a good sport, but Reimann will have the good sense to let up on him from now on. Reimann at first thought the whole affair was a joke, as lie w:is arrested April 1. The reality only percolated In as the evening •shades • began to fall. MOSS' EMPIRES WILL TAKE ON VAUDEVILLE English Circuit Convinced Touring Revues Are Not Proper Thing for Box Offices London, May 8. Convinced that the touring revue la not the thing for the box office In the former variety halls of the Moss" Empires, R. H. GiUespie, managing director of the circuit, has decided upon a return to vaude- ville. With this stand accepted, Mo«s' la preparing for an elaborate return to the variety policy, Without exact date of reopening mentioned. TIPSY COBBLER LIKED Musical Farce Get* Over in Paris Paris, May 8. The character of the tipsy cob- bler, created by G. de La Fouchar- dlere, U the subject of a musical farce by Fouchardlere and Hughes Delorme, entitled "Les Millions du Boulf ("The Cobbler's Millions"— Boulf being slang for shoemaker), presented at the Folles Dramatique and favorably received. The score of the piece Is credited to Edouard Mat he. Tiie story tells of a shoemaker •who suddenly. becomes Interested In horses in the guise of a book- maker, with his daughter's arlsto- cr.atlc protector supplying the es- sential tips on the animals. The cobbler makes a fortune visiting th^ gambling casinos accompanied by his family. Tramel takes the oharacter of the frank-spoken leather manipu- lator, with Yvonne Xma in support. CRITICS PROTEST Indignant at Unprepared Produc- tion of Greek Tragedy Excerpt raris. May 6. Inaugurating an announced art season in connection with the Olympic (Sanies. Flrmln Gemler producrd M.irc Ilciir.v's "I'^.schylus" (of the (ireck tr,i,'jf(ly, "Agamem- non") al the Theatre Champs Elysees The critics were ont.spoken In their i>rotost aK^'in.st the organizers presenting .Mich an un;iii'i>arcd and Indifforent prrf()rni.in<-L» as given F'riday when the piece oiicncd. It was poorly Rreeted. The rc\ ieuer.s wore p.utlMilarly Indignant lifiuuse of llio ini-dlocro prcKcntailiPti in \ low i>t Iho Olympic 1)artic'tpii:i|s from ford to cnuntrics )plug i)ri:irnt in tlie city. actre:-3 desires fclitics Lonildii. .Miy C Olp.a Ni iliirs.iU' w.-mts to Ueromc a nicnil.or i',f I'ai liainont. If she i.« sncpe.-^.oful the will be thi- Re(.'(pnd Rctre.sH to sit In the IIou.sc of Coni- "ii'iis. MaMe Uus.'^cll is the other. MARIE CORELLI London, April 24. Marie Corelli, the novelist, died quietly In her sleep at her Stratford-on-Avon home early on the morning of Easter Mon- day, aged sixty /ears. She had been ailing for some weeks, but was apparently recovering when she developed heart trouble. Few women had a greater vogue than she, few women a stormier lifc. She professed an intense hatred for i)ress men and press photograi)hers, yet fewer people have had more publicity. She Imagined all press men and critics were in league against her, and for many years no i ovel she wrote was Issued to the press for review. She took upon her- self the character of public censor. In Maud Allan's un- fortunate libel action against Pemberton Gllling, It came out that a letter from her calling attention to the "Salome" dance waS used to start the mysterious campaign against the thousands of men and women whose names were said to be printed in the mythical "German Black Book." To a great extent the dead novelist was a mystery. Even her birth was a matter of argu- ment. She described herself as of mingled Italian and Scottish parentage, but insisted that the name she used was her own and not a nom du plume. Whatever her parentage, she was adopted as a child by Charles Mackay, the author of "Cheer, Moys, Cheer," and edu- cated at his expense. Originally Intended for a musical career, she became a novelist by chance when. In her spare time she wrote "The Romance of Two Worlds," a story sup- posedly founded on her own experiences. Following this she wrote many novels, among them "The Mighty Atom," "Thelma," "The Treasure of Heaven" and "The Sorrows of Satan." This latter was an. enormous success dramatltzed, and every small- time company had its version. The best known and probably the only authorized adaptation was that played for years by C. W. Somerset Settling down at Stratford- on-Avon, she created herself a sort of custodian of William Shakespeare's memory, and carried on a bitter war against thj municipal authorities who refused to conduct the memo- rial celebrations to her liking. The late Andrew Carnegie fell under her especial ban when he had the audacity to offer a public library to the town she had adopted. Her war against Stratford's author- ities came to a pitch In 1903, when she brought a libel ac- tion against a town councillor who had accused her of trying to buy a piece of land for a free library of her own erec- tion. It was proved at the trial that she had acquired the land in question for the extension of a technical institute she had already equipped with a col- lection of her own novels. She was awarded one farthing damages. WODEHOUSE AND "PRETTY" Author in London— Mme. Simona Also i'.iris. May (i. I'. (;. Woilrliiiusi^ li.is arrived here, but will sliortly leave for Lomlon, where he >\lll .'lysl.st In Kadyln;; th e I: I iTlish production oT ".Sltlins I'letly" Another irrival is thai of .Mi da me ."^inione wllli her husli.ind .M. I'or- rlu't, tlie poet. It is unileistood the niadame intends to return to New Vork in October. RALPH WHITEHEAD ' At present playing vaudeville and cabaret In London, pending prepa- ration for a starring tour in a new mu?ical comedy under prominent management. f»artlcular3 anon. SO THIS IS PARIS The Mirage in the Mind of a Tourist f SAM MAYO'S VERBAL AGREEMENT NO GOOD English Contract Must Be in Writing and Officially Stamped SHIRLEY KELLOCG SUING HUSBAND FOR DIVORCE Has Filed Action Against Pro- ducer — Husband's Name with Edith Kelly's (Gould) London, May 6. An action for divorce has been .started by Shirley Kellogg against Albert de Courvllle. No one is particularly surjirised at the move on the part of Miss Kellogg, aa de Courvllle's name for several months has been associated with Edith Kelly (Gould). The two women had an argument (Continued on page 32) BERLIN HOUSE CHANGES Comedia Valette Concerned—Hans Felix Managing London, April 25. It must be thoroughly understood that in this country a promise, even if made In the presence of witnesses, does not constitute an agreement. Agreements are legal forms prop- erly drawn up and nothing else Is recognized In law. Even If the agreement Is signed, witnesses, and In every other way correct, it is not legal unless it is stamped by the Inland Revenue authorities (Somerset House), a matter of a few pence, but probably meaning many pounds should the holder be- come Involved in legal trouble. At Marylebona County Court, April 16, Victor Fairley, an actor, brought an action against Sam Mayo, the comedian, for breach of contract. Fairley alleged there was a verbal contract for him to suc- ceed another actor in the heavy part in "A Week in a Night." Fair- ley's lawye?" said Mayo met his client in the oflflce of an agent, Jen- nie Robbins. He said: "Jennie, make out Victor's contract and I'll meet him here tomorrow at 11:30 and sign." On the following day defendant did not keep the appointment. Later Fairley saw defendant, who said he was terribly worried, as he did not know how to get rid of the artist who was playing. Other ap- pointments were made but not kept by defendant. Then, plaintiff received a letter from defendant apologizing, but (Continued on page 40) Berlin, April 26. The "Comedia Valettl," the thea- tre founded and run this season by the actress Rosa Valettl, la about to pass into other hands. It la pret. ty certain the manager, Eugen Rob- ert, will take It over In the fall. Mrs. Valettl is at present In Vienna at the bedside of her sick husband. A court action, which she took In an attempt to keep the house, has been decided against her. The director and actor, Hans Felix, formerly of the Volksbuehne, will take possession of the Zentra; theatre In the Alten Jacob Stradse Sept. 1. The theatre will be con- nected with the Volksbuehne and subscription seata will be given to workers at cheap prices. Felix has been for sometime an officer of the Buehnengenoseen- schaft, the German actor'a union, but will resign In consideration of his new position. SEEKS MABBIAOE DISSOLIJTION London, May •. Ronald Lancelot Squire Is seeking a dissolution of his marriage with Muriel Martin-Harvey, daughter of Sir John Martin-Harvey. Garry Marsh Is named aa co-respondent. The marriage took place In August, 1924. Miss Harvey made her first ap- pearance in "The Bear Leadera" at the Comedy In 1921, and has since played a number of parts here and in America. Last year she left to tour Australia with "If Winter Comes," In which play the co-re- •spondent appears as the hero, Mark •Sabre. DOLLYS AS PICTUEE MAKEKS Paris, May 6. Jennie Dolly Is fast recovering from the effects of her operation for apiiondlcltis and will rejoin the Palace Revue Saturday. During her hosiiltal confinement. Sister Rosle continued In the show alone. The bisters have been signed to make a picture in this country by I.,eon Abrams with work on the nim production scheduled to take plire during June and July. Abrams sailed for New York last .Saturday. DEATHS ABROAD I'arl.i, April 25. Joseph Mancini, stage manager of the munlclpaj theatre of Dijon, L'lance, was killed at Tarascon. while trying to alli;lit from a train before It stopped. He was 60 years of age. Henry Wykea, Paris music pub- lisher, aged 62 yoara. Paris, April 28. There is the Paris the Parisian (by birth or adoption) sees. There in also the Paris the tourist sees. They may be the same place but they are not to be described In the same way. To begin with the Folies Bergere. That to the Parisian mind Is a the- atre. To the newly arrived tourist, however. It is Mecca. After an ab- sence from France of 10 years a visit to that house Is what a hot bath is to a man who has just come back to civilization after a spell in the wilds. The show may be cheap and (Continued on page 32) BERLIN CHORISTERS ARE OUT ON STRKE Demanded Pensions and $60 Monthly—German Plays for Provincetown POLLACK'S ARRANGEMENTS Will Produce Own Play»—"Fool" for London in Sept. ► London, May C. Channing Pollock and party can- celled their reservations on the "Berengaria," which sailed og Sat- urday. They will leave here on the Majestic which le.aves tomorrow (Wednesday). According to Pollock he will pro- duce his own plays in America hereafter and C. B. Cochrane and Frank Curzon would present "The Fool" here In September,-starring Godfrey Tearle. Curzon will produce Pollock's plays In London for the next five years guaranteeing production on this side three months after the New York opening with not less than one production yearly. SHOW IN TROUBLE "3 Graces,'' in and Out of Billing at Empire London, May C. The billing In front of the Empire advertising, the "Three Graces," waa blotted out Monday morning, but restored an hour later. It la understood the show la In financial difUcuItles. The show produced by J. L. Sacha win close Saturday. PANTOMIME IN JUNE London, May (. A curious innovation is to be made at Leeds in June. A pantomime is to be staged at the Theatre Royal, though hitherto this particularly British form of en- tertainment has always been allied to Chrlstmas-tlme actlvltiea. The subject will be the perennial one of "Aladdin." LYDIA JOHNSON INJUBED Rome, May 8. Lydla Johnson, a Parisian vaude- ville actress, was the victim in a serious automobile accident at Cor- tone, near Florence. Her compan- ion, SI . Rucclnelll, an Italian arch- itect, was killed. ARTHUR COLLINS' DRAMA London, May 6. Arthur Collins has not kept away from production long. In conjunc- tion with Roland Daniel ho Is pro- ducing a new romantic melodrama entitled "The Princess's Own," at Brighton. Berlin, April 26. The chorus singers In the State opera house have struck. The man- agement gave out an ultimatum an- nouncing that the singera must re- turn to work and, aa that waa not compljed with, they were notified that they were fired. A new chorua was engaged. It haa already sung In the opera, "Ma- dame Butterfly." The strike waa not entirely a question of wages. The alngera claimed all other persons engaged in the opera have righta to an old age pension and the pension tor widows. The management aaid It was considering that very question, but made no definite promlsea. The singers at the Deutaches opera house had their aalartea ad- vanced to 260 marks (|80) a month and the state opera slngera claimed- they ahould receive at leaat aa much. The minimum salary for an actor is 170 marks ($40) and many flrat rate actors receive It. After the strike started, the opera house gave only operaa requiring no chorus, such aa "Tiefland" and "Tristran und Isolde." But thia makeshift policy Is about done with, as the number of these works la limited. The training of a new chorus Is not so easy and quick aa the management would have the strikers believe. There Is still a very good chanc* that an agreement may be reached. Die Schlede, one of the most In- fluential of German playbroking firms, has just disposed of two playa to Kenneth Macgowan and Robert Edmund Jones of the I'rovlnce- town Players, New York. The dr.a- mas are "Jenselts" ("Prom the Oth- er World") by Walter Hasenclever, a popular German dramatist whose work has not yet appeared in this country, and "Protagonist," by George Kaiser, author of "From Morn to Midnight." Bitter Against Toller The opening performance of "Der deutsclto HInkemann," by Ernst Toller, In Berlin, promises to be a (Continued on page 42) JURY'S FLYING TRIP London, May 6. With the object of consulting Marcus Loew In relation to the lo- cal distribution situation, brought about by the recent Metro-Goldwyn merger. Sir William Jury will leave for New York Saturday on the Berengaria. He has booked return passage for May 17. WEMBLEY GIRLS FOR REVUK London, May 6. Seeing six girls at the British Em- pire Expo, at Wembley he thought suitable for a Selwyn revue In New York next October, Arch Selwyn en- gaged the young women. TWO FILMS OPEN London, May 9. "The Great White Way," and Unt- versal'e "Lady of Quality," two American pictures, made their bow here last week, at the Oxford and RIalto respectively. Both were well received. MAY DAY'S LITTLE EFFECT I'arls, May 6. De.^iilte the stagehands holding their holiday May 1, but Ave the- atres were closed that day whll« the back-stage workers were vaca- tioning.