Variety (June 1924)

ilM4 V A R I B T r GDDJ) WARMLY ARGUES OVER ADMITANCE OF WOMEN t—r ^ I < Interest in New Organization Brought Out When Motion Presented—^Many Women Present at <'i^ Bijou Theatre's Open Meeting Last Week Th« Jewish Theatrical Guild, ta tU third open meeting at the Bijou theatre. New York, last Wednesday Bl^t, saw an overflowing orchestra attendance. It was the third meet- jnf of similar nature by the Guild, «aoh In the BlJou, donated by the Shuberts. President William Morris, who presided, commented upon the at- tendance, and the number of women present. ■ ' . With Mr. Morris upon the -tage {iiflrere several who spoke during the •yenlng. It was made plain to the membJ-rs in the audience that their privilege to express opinions pr Ideas was unrestrained and un- ircsiricted. * The statement was made by Dr. "Rugo RiesRnfeld that the Guild's treasury held a balance of $8,000. '^It was reiterated by Mr. Morris the Guild does not seek subscriptions or contributions; that :t wants only members. The dues to tiie Guild are flO yearly, with a life member- '•hip $250. The life membership is ' ▼clvntory an<T not solicited There was no sohcitntion of any character at the meeting ether than a request by Mr. Relkin to bring in new m«?m- bers. Mr. .Kelkin presented the memherflhir application of Jacob P. Adier, one cf the personatfes on the •tage. Loney Haskell made an Impas- sioned address and swept the audt- •nce along with him. Mr. Haskell •aid the only error the Guild had committed wom- In waiting 20 years too long to form. The audience would not permit the meeting to {>roceed until Mr. Haskell again addressed It, when - IM said that there was a motion be- fora the meeting, made at the pre- Tlous one. It was on the question, •aid Mr. Haskell, whether the Jew- ish Theatrical Guild should admit Wt>men to full and active member- •hip,' on a parity with the men. - Mr. Morris read the motion, which had been worded for the constitu- tion when the Guild oontemplated men only as its members. The mo- tion read that any person associated with the show business of good character and Jewish blood should >• eligible. :.^,. It opened up a discussion that (Continued on Page 10) ENGLAND'S CHANCELLOR KNOWS GOOD OLD JOKE Then du Maurier Told One on Prime Minister — Not So Good London, May 2&. At a recent dinner, Phillip Snow- den, M. P., the Chancellor of the Exchequer, told a story to the ef- fect that, talking of his wife, he told a friend on the day they were (Continued on page S7) AMERICANS IN EUBOFE Paris, May*2<. In Paris last week: Cgden Reld (New York Herald Tribune); Dud- ley Field Malone; Mme. Luella Mellna (coloratura soprano); Avery Hopwood; John Parker, New York artist; Howard Mullins. dramatic critic; William McLeod Raine, novelist; K. H. Sothern, Julia Mar- 1 we; Dorothy Earlc; Dr. Frits Holm (New York author); Col. A. G. Mills (vlce-presider.t Olsrmplc gair.~s cimmAslon); J. Mills Han- ( .1 (author): Miss Cecil V. Dor- rlan. A. A.'s Trouble Over Sweepstakas London, May 26. The Actors Association is contin- ually adding to Its experience of trouble. It is now in conflict with the police who raided the Liverpool Branch ofllce. The A. A., in Its desire to raise funds, had organized a sweepstake on the Derby and members have ap- parently been too eager In hawking the tickets about. «KREUTZER_SONATA" Frknch Version Liked With Pcir and Arquillier* t Paris, May 28. Tha French version of Leo Tolstoy "La Sonata a Kreutzer," by Famand Noziere and Alfred Sa- Tolr, presented 14 years ago, was given last week at the Matson de ^Oeuvre with success. Susy Prim impersonates the un- telthful wife, Laura, exciting the Jealously of her husband, admir- ably Interpreted by Arqullliere, but the part of the muslcicn-lover, Troukatchevski, was less convinc- ing as treated by Lugne Poe. FRENCH FUH FOOTAGE Paris, May 28. There were 14,700 meters of films presented at the Paris trade shows during the week of May 24, of which 6.000 meters were of French origin, compared with 15,760 meters the previous week, of which only 400 meters were of native manufac- ture. NEW CASINO REVUE Paris, May 27. A second version of "On Dit Ca" I is due shortly at the Caaino, with a change of cast. Woodward's seals will miRi-atc to the Alhambra to fulfill an OKI engagement. Another Rhow Is also being mounted at the Folles Bergere. ' AUSTRIAN TENOR COMINO Vienna, May 26. . Alfred Piccavor is (Inislied with the local oiiera and is leaving for London, prior to going to New York, early in November, wfiere it Is probable he will Join the Metro- politan troupe. , Bloom's 'Al Smhli' Song For hdependents Washington, June t. Congressman Sol Blu,.in of New York has written a song^ Last week the Congressman lntro<^uced a bill. In Vartety, which, U adopted, would change the street map of Washington. Thia week he •ays "Take the 'C out of Cal leaves AL" The song tells the ■tory: "AL MEANS SMITH" East Side, West Side, aU around the town You can hear his praise sung, a man of real renown The type of man like Lincoln was Courageous, simple, true F'or Al Is a pal of the people And what they desire he'll do Now, he's not highfaluttn' He's plain and likes square shoot In' No matter where, the South. North, Blast or West Facts prove the need of changing^ We need some rearranging So here's a little change I would suggest. (Chorus) Take the "C" out of Cal and that leaves Al And Al means Smith We know where he stands— Respect he commands He's the man we're with He's always been fair 'cause Al's on the square His carer Is a fact, not a myth So, take the "C" out of Cal and that leaves Al And Al means Smith. Following the many hear- inpr.t before the House Patents Committee, of which Mr, Bloom is a member, during which an onslauRht was made by I'.e radio brcadcaaters to get the use of copyright- : nusic free, Mr. RIoom said that here was a song by an 'unknoi.n' author that they, the broadcasters, could use without pa; nent. I'ti * 1 _i i' TWO DIVORCER Orinkwatar Namad •• C«-r — poti- d«n t -S qwlr— S «p«rat«d Ix>nd«B. Juna t. Benno MoUwlwltach, pianist, has been granted a decre* of divorce from his wlfa. Datay Kennedy, the ▼lollnlsta. Molselwltach named John Drlakwater, the draaiatlat, oo- respondent. MoiselwlUch taatlfled he was obliged to go abroad for a concert tour and learned, on his return, of the facta. Ha stated his wife only vlalted her boma a tew houra a day to see their children. The plain- tiff was awarded tha deerea, with costs and the custody of hU chil- dren. Ronald Squire was awarded a de- cree of divorce from hla wife, Mar- garet Muriel Martin Harvey (daugh- ter of Sir John Martin Harvey) naming Garry Marsh, an actor. Squire testified his wife left him two years ago and went to Australia with the co-respondent. The father was awarded the custody of the two children. TALLING LEAVES" TRYOUT BEFORE START Film Comedy Rewritten Into Play—Fred Barnes Hit by Car London, May 28. Sutton Vane's new play, "Falling Leaves," will have a four weeks' provincial trip before coming to London. It open* at Folkeatona, June 1, with Liverpool, Brighton and Cardiff to follow. The cast in- cludes Diana Hamilton, William Stacks, Norman Page and the author. "Airs Button," a Hepworth film comedy, has been converted Into a stage play and will be produced In the autumn by Tubby fiklUa. Fred Barnes mat with a aerloua accident, knocked down bjr a ear. He sustained a broken arm, had several teeth knocked out and has other injuries to his body. Alexander Loftus will produce "Bringing Up Father" in She West End In tha autumn. Herbert Jay will be associated. The death occurred May 1 of Ike Scott, tha senior partner In the vaudeville act of Ike and Will Scott. In the old days the act was a well- known dancing one and tha part- ners always Invented their own steps. LEON ROOEE m CABARET Parla. May M. Leon Rogee, musical Imitator, re- cently at the Alhambra, Is ap>pear- ing at the Cafa da Parla for tha supper. His contract calling for his services as long aa he remain* free of music hall engagements. The act is booked at this cabarat by E. Rottomburg, London agent, who has taken up his residence here. He has brought Chris Rich- ards to the Ambaasadeurs, and the Two Fishers are debuting at the new Empire (Paris) under the aus pices. MORE GRANS GUIONOL London, Juna I. "This marriage^' at tha Comedy, like many matrimonial alllancaa haa not been a succeaa. When tha piece comes off shortly, Jose Levy wUl re-establish Grand Gulgrnol there. It is two years since ha last gave this form of entertainment of hor- rors and aplce at the Little theatre. "THE SNARE" ADAPTED London, Juna t. The next at tha Oarrlck Is an adaptation of Rafael Sabatlnl's novel, "The Snare," dialog by Leon M? Lion and the author. The play takes place In Portug..l In 1810. One of the characters Is the Duke of Wellington to be Im- personated by J. Fisher White. "Le Pauvra Homme" Indifferent Paris, June S. "Le Pauvre Homme," three-act comedy by Andre Lang, was most indifferently received at the The- atre des Arts. The piece mainly pertains to a character study, but sums up as lacking suitable action. The cast Includes Raoul Marco, Rene Montis. Gaston Mauge, Edou- ard Cassin, Henrietta Marlon, Ce- cile Barre and Germalne Yalta*. DELAYS ARE DANGEROUS IN LONDON X/ondon, May 18. , Whr >■ tha theatra—especially la London—alwaya behind tha timaaT "Maasa-Menacfa" waa wrMtan by Ernst ToMer In hla Bavarian prison in 1918. It has had to wait five years before being presented In London. Since it ts not one of those masterpieces that live for aM time, H has been losing force steadHy aa the circumstances in which it was written first began to aKer. Consequently, though the Stage Society has Joined forces with Sybil Thorndlka to make Its production at ttia New Theatre a note- worthy event, the general Impression is like that of reading old nawspapara. Tha stag* direction of Lewis Caacon (S/bU's husband) Is extraordinarily rasourcaful In supplying action where no action la Indicated in tha text, and Aubrey Hammond's futurist stage designs are ainiater enough In all conscience, apart from the comic atock exchange. The play Is'lnfamally depreaslng; out of touch with 1884. This is only one oaaa among many. Perhaps no great harm la done by ttie listlassnesa .of London managers who will not produce a Viennese play until It has been first seen In Berlin, Pragua, Buchareat, Parla. Montreal and New York, because, as a rule, musical comady ta aa good one year aa the year before. But "Katlnka" bad to wait so long before it cama to town thait not>ody could miss Ita old-fashioned make. Ona of tha Worat Cases One of the worst cases o( delay had Monckton Hoffe for victim. His "Faithful Heart" was written at a tlma whan demobiliaation problems filled the newspapers and oooupiad • large part of tha thought of the owtn-In-the-street Manager after manager refused a play that dealt with the situation in a masterful fashion, although a much Inferior play on a slRtllar subject—Maltby's "A Tamporarr Gentleman"—was a roiurtng success. At last, Hoffe induced Leon M. Lion to stage hla play. There were still more delays. When at last it was produced, the critics praised It with the unanimity of a Hallelujah chorus. But the public waa not Interaatad In a question that had long been sidetracked. Then, again, there was the .case of BasM MaoDonald Haatlnga* "A Certain Llvellneas," a satire on the aotlrltlea of tha Dafensa of the Realm Act. C. B. Cochran read It and oould not ooncaal hla delight Tifbe passed, however, before he waa ready to place it on the stage. When the St. Martin's was vacant tha old man with scythe and hour glass had marked up the score of 1818. "D. O. B. A." now troubled nobody. • «:''■''".',? AU Hastings' shafu of wit fell; tha piece waa a fiasco. '* Qilbert Miliar'a Silk Hat A theatrical manager of real ablHty has a chanca to male* a for- tune merely by installing up-to-daAe nietlioda In London. But not another man of tha type of Oilbaft MiUor. He began well—when he waa an unassuming youngster in a atra^ hat ^ow that ha has a ailk hat, ha leaves mss. unread and takaa trlpa to N««r York to buy his plays In the highest markat Why did WllMam Archer aend "The Oraan Ooddaaa"—«tm a acr«*t success at the St James—to tha SelwynsT * VOLTERRA MUST ?kl PASCAL FOR corrrRACT Court Decides—Second Edi- tion of Revue Does Not Constitute New Show Parla, May M. Tha Court of Appeala haa con- firmed a Judgment of tho Tribune condemning Leon Voltarra, aa di- rector of the Casino de Parla and tha Brussels Alhambra, for can- celling a contract entered Into with Fred Pascal to play varloua parts In a Charlea revue sent to Brus- sels in IMO, entitled "Laiasaa-l«s Tomber." Tha contract, signed In Paris, stipulated the performer must retain (Continued on Page 10) RUSSIAN BALLET LIKED Needs Batter Beta — Danoing Imprasaaa ParU, May 1«. ▲ company of Russian dancers. Ilka that of Serge De Olaghllew's, and called "Les BalleU Russes," offered a limited .number of per- formancc.<« under control of W. de Basil, at tha Atelier (Theatre Mont- martre) recently. This troupe made good as danoera with Elyse Oluck and M. D. Oretchlklne, the principals. With better sets there Is no raa- son why the company shtuld not get round the world with the aame laurels as Dlaghlle v. EAHNV BAND TO &&IL JUNE 16 Roger Wolfe (Kahn) and hla band, under the direction of Arthur Langa, will sail for Europe June IS on the "Leviathan" accompanied by Otto Kahn and his family who leave for their annual summer pilgrimage abroad. Under the patronage of the finan- cier, the iMind expects to give con- certa on tha boat, at DeauvlUe, Monte Carlo and many other famotM summer resorts throughout Europe. HOFWOOD'S FLAT FLOPS London, June S. "Bachelor Husbands" last night at the ICoyalty Hopped badl](^ The piece Is Avery Hopwood's (Amer- ican) "Why Men Leave Home." CONCERT STARS SAniNa Paris, June t. Duncan Robertson, baritone, and Suzanne Gobel. pianist, both con- cert artists, are leaving here for the United States. :.»,■ $40,000,000 WEMHJEY OFFER BY AMERICAN "L BHtton" Hits London with scheme—Got Statement- Kipling WHhdraws Literary Work Londota. Iter tf. - , U Britton, tha American, haa ar- rived hera, and immediately got busy on a acheme ha had (or tho buying of Wembley and turning it Into a "Joy VUIaga" for -Jadad Lon- donera. He talked of tha t40,000,00« ha waa prepared to give, but tho (Continued on Page 10) HOPWOOD'S PROJECTS ——_ > Has Thraa Praduotiona Slated for ,,|N*wYorl( * - w't^ ■-■■ ■ Paris, May U. Avery Hopwood, according to present arrangements, will have three productions created In New York next season. He is now touching up hla latest comedies while aojournlng here. Hia first will be "The Star in tha Qutter," probably to be mounted by tha Frohman company in Sep- tember; David Belasco will staga tha second and the third Is to fea- ture Irene Bordonl. Hopwood like- wise sUted Irene Bordonl might visit London with "Little Miss Bluebeard." When buttonholed on tha aub- Ject of his marriage to Rose Ro- landa he admitted no date has been fixed. ENGLAND'S POF.^PILII STAB London, June S. Gladys Jennings, probably tha moat popular dramatic film star here, has Joined the cast of the new comedy "The Other Mr. Gibb," which Bannister Howard will pro- duce for a short run la the provinces prior to bringing it to the West End. Robert Hale and Kate Cutler ara the "stars" of the production. BETROTHAL ANNOUNCED Parla May 26. Raoul Praxy, author-actor, and Mile. Georgette Brazlllon, daughter of the president of the Ehchibltorar Syndicate, are engaged to ba mar- ried. —. FARAUOinrrs bbooue Paris, June 8. Paramount has taken over tha management of the Broglla, largaat film theatre in Strasbourg. ,. 1- . ..,«vf