Variety (July 1924)

Wednesday. July 9. 1924 VARIETY SEYMOUR HICKS'"JEWISH" TIRADE NOT FOUNDED ON FAa IN LONDON Only Jewish English Producer Explains Why—Not One Jewish London Theatre Manager—Hicks' Misleading Statement Made in Australia Last ?reek the "Times Square Dally' published a story reachlnR it frwn Australia of the statement made In an address by Seymour Hirkfl In Sydney, upon his arrival there from Enprland. Hicks, an Enelish actor and of Irish extrac- tion, told the Austr.'ill.ins London theatricals .ire controlled by Jews, to the detriment of theatricals. Hicks Is In Australia to fulfill a the.itrlcal enBagement under the Fuller-Ward manaKement and starting with "The Ifan in Dress Clothes." Variety last week reprinted a por- tion (>f the story in the "Times Square Daily." Before leaving Saturday on the "Olympic" for his return to Eng- land, .lullan Wylie, the producer of the current success at the London Hippodrome, said he wanted to re- fute Hicks' remarks. Mr. Wylie says there is not a JewiHh theatre manager in London at the present time, and but one Jewish producer—himself. Another Jew is J. L. Sachs, who is looked upon, however, in London as an Intermittent theatrical speculator rather than as an established show producer. London theatres just now are di- rected and managed as follows: (Continued on page 34) N. Y. WANTS ENGLISH CHORUS GffiLS-miM Clarence Oerwent Spread New News on Other Side— "Better Trained" London, June 30. New York musical producers are bewailing the scarcity of English chorus girls, according to Clarence Derwent. English (visiting over here), and a story in the "Dally Ifall." Mr. Derwent, had something of an Interview in the "Mail," with the news story reading that Americans prefer the English girls to their own, that the British choristers not only •re better trained than the native product on your side but sing better. Another remark was: "Some of the biggest shows In Kew York are Importing English Slrls for the chorus and the popu- larity of English plays In America U " high." PARIS LIBEL, $3 TOP, ACCORDING TO COURT Singer Georgius Also Recov- ered $1.50 Against "Bon Soir"—Echo of Alien Act Disturbance Paris, June 30. An echo of the ostracism of for- eign acts some time ago, when members of the independent union of vaudeville performers, headed by the singer Georgius, Invaded cer- tain music hallH in Paris and nolsely demanded tne withdrawal of all German-Austrian acts, was heard in the local law courts when the case of Georgius versus "Bon- Solr" (evening paper) was heard. Following the disturbance made by Georgius and his companions at the Olympia. M. Henri Jeanson se- verely criticized the action of the perturbators In "Bon-Soir" and designated them under rather dis- respectful appellations. The president of the independent union, M. Georgius, ..ued the Jour- nal, alleging the report as libelous, particularly the passages referring to the smutty ditties frequently sung by the |:iaintirF. There was a brilliant passage of o.atory between counsel. Judgment wa i deferred a couple of days, when the court issued its decision, preaching meekness and forgiveness. Instea(! of the 6,000 francs dam- ages cl&.imed by Georgius, he was given ICO francs, the publisher of "Bon-Solr" being flnetf 25 francs ($1.50) and Jeanson, author of the artcile 50 francs ($3). The come- dian Dufleuve. who was also sued by Georgius for having written an uncomplimentary letter about the disturbers to the Olympia man- ager and which was made public by M. Paul FYanck, was acquitted. REVISE "OUR NELL" AHarationa Help — Preparing New Show*—Notes London, June 30. "Our Nell,' at the Gaiety, was tnreatened with not being as suc- ••Mful aa other Robert Kvett pro- motions there, and has been ac- •opdlngly revised. The book has received alterations •"<* the music and lyrics constder- «>lT Improved. It has Improved the Play considerably. fci i*** *^® Aghra Khan as one of nw backers, a new Impresario, Guy «unay. Is producing a farce comedy «..» .V?''*'*"- ■*^"o'" a provincial try- •ut this show, "The Magic Crystal," J"H be seen In London, providing* step"'""^ *' reception justlfles the ^.5l* '^*" Includes Charles Wln- Wrmere and Emmie King. tvl°* Coyne is taking a holiday on hi JTm"""""'- (Jurins which time "» will get Inside the leading part » new muHical play by Harry M. (t-ontmued on page 38) Mccormick denies Huebsnd of Ganna Walaka Says Rumors Are False u Paris, July 8. -^Harold M.Cormick, of Chicago, tnd ''"^ departure for Carlsbad JZ^l ^"'""t' the truth of rumors "at hi.s wife. Ganna W.Uska. had J^" ""'^'1 '<> '>rinK an .action for dl- 'OfJ-e ,-.R unst him. terTr ^'•^"'"'"'''k '« flnanclally in- Th.**. '" '*"* management of the ^nea re ^ch Champs Ely sees here *"" '•''^'■led to remain here. CANADIAN ARCHITECT WINS ED LOWRY . Where He Will Be Next Season Aug. 4—Hamilton and Jeffer- son, New York Aug. 11—Kranklln and Coliseum, Aug. 18—Broadway, New York Aug. 25—Atlantic City (Globe) Sept. 1—Atlan^tc City (Young Pier) Sept. 8—Waterbury and Hart- ford Sept. 15—Hippodrome, New York Sept. 22—Royal, New York Sept. 29—Allentown dnd Easton, C)ct. 5—Washington, D. C. Oct. IS—Baltimore, Md. Oct. 20—Alhambra, New York Oct. 27—Bridgeport and New Haven Nov. 3—Palace. New York Nov. 10—Riverside, New York Nov. 17—58th St., and Pateraon Nov. 24—125th St. and 23d St., Dec. 1—Orpheum, New York Dec. 8—Bushwlck. Brooklyn Dec. 15—Pittsburgh. Pa. Dec. 21—Chicago (Palace) Dec. 28—Indianapolis Jan. 4—Cincinnati Jan. 11—Columbus, O. Jan. 18—Detroit Jan. 25—Toledo and Dayton Feb. 1—Cleveland (Palace) Feb. 9—Erie, Pa. Feb. 16—Harrlsburg and York. Feb. 23—Lancaster and Reading. Mar. 2—Utica and Watertown, Mar. 8—Syracuse, N. Y. Mar. 15—Rochester, N. Y. Mar. 23—Buffalo, N. Y. Mar. 30—Toronto, Can. Apr. 5—Montreal (Princess) Apr. 13—Providence, R. I. Apr. 20—Boston Apr. 27—Lowell, Mass. May 4—Portland, Me. May 11—Orpheum. Brooklyn May 18—Bushwick, Brooklyn May 25—Palace, New York June 1—Philadelphia June 8—Riverside, New York Direction RALPH G. FARNUM (EDW. 8. KELLER OFFICE) Designs National Theatre for Eng- land—Ask for Site in Whitehall London, June SO. The prize of $1,250 offered b^ the British Drama League for the best design for a national theatre has been won by a Canadian architect named Somervllle. A deputation Is to wait on the Prime Minister with the plans and to ask for a site In Whitehall, where this building may be erected to the perpetual glory of the nation. This may be asking too much, even from a labor govern- ment. Somervllle's design shows two theatres placed side by elde under one roof, the smaller allowing for an audience of 900 and the larger for an audience of 1,800. Both have facilities for a movable apron stag:e and the seats are all on one floor, there beln« no balconies. There Is a common vestibule to both the- atres; the scenery In both cases Is stored In the be^ement with hy- draulic elevators for conveyance to the stage. The design Is classic, severely simple. The accommodation Is ex- tensive. Including excellent dressing rooms, bathrooms, library and work- shop for scene painting and car- pentry. GERMAN AFTER FARRAR For Berlin Revue—Lee Sslzak En- gaged. Berlin, July 6. James Klein, manager of the Komlsche Opera, Is negotiating for Geraldlne Farrar In his revue, sched- uled for production next fall. Leo Selsak has been signed for the piece. MBS. M'OniRE OFERA STUDIES Paris, July t. Mrs. Anthony M'CGulre is over here studying for grand opera. "God's Chillun"* Closing Tonight "All God's Chillun Got Wings" will close at the Provlncetown Play- house tonight (Saturday). It will reopen the latter part of August at the Greenwich Village theatre. Ameriesn Dancers Msrry Berlin, July 8. Henri, American dancer, and Anita Uerjoer, dautcer, were married here. Requirements for Ejiglish Actors As Applied to Sydney EUlison London, July 1. Sydney Ellison, a one-time producer, who was responHihle for much of "Klorodora," and <oine<lian. liH.f fallen on ovil times. Following a long illness, he, like many other once popular people, is vainly looking Cor work. Recently ElUaon advertised he would do anything for a salary of $15 a week, but got no replies. A promise to give him a "walk on" In "London Life" at the Drury L.me was followed by the oniy too usual communli ation utlier ar- rangements had been made. With schools, academies, and the like, there Is little hope for the old player In these days of reformation and improvemvnt. A motor car, a bag of golf clubs, and the entree to West End drawing rooms are the things, not experience and ability. CONVENTION CRACKS The McAdoo-Smith Democratic Comedy Co. expects to have a run of another week at least at the Garden. The attendance over the holiday week-end fell off a little, but the management undertook to spend two days rewriting the show and it is possible that a new bill will be pre.sented on the Garden stage tod.-iy. It is said that Wrigley, the owner of Catalina Island, and likewise the Spearmint kid, has threatened to ruin Will Rogers" t'areer unless he support-s McAdoo In his candidacy asplriitlons. Wrigley says he will cut off Rogers' suphly of chewing gum. Tom Taggart of Indiana seems to have been engaged as the new stage manager of the Garden show. His move Saturday for a con- ference that was unaimously adopted is the llrst thing th.it the delegates have ftund that they could agree on. It looks like Taggart is now In the light of the national leader of the party. A wise-cracking young woman of evident Jewish extraction m.tn- aged to kid the life out of a gang of Kluxers In the "bull pen' at the Garden Saturday afternoon. Naming the delegates' enclosure the "bull pen" Is appropriate In itself, but this girl somehow or another got an alternate's badge and that admitted her. she was walking around looking the boys over and approached a bunch of men from a Southern delegation known as a Klan State. They asked her who her candidate was and she snapped back "Al Smith" Then the conversation took a turn to lodges and the Klan, with one of the delegates stating that January 1 next the bars were to t>e let down and Jews would be permitted to Join the Klan. That started the girl's black eyes snapping and she came back at the Klan gang with: "Well, you'll get darn little business from the Jews when you do. They're too wise for you. They know a lot of places where they can get a nicht shirt for 50 cents without paying you the graft prices you're asking for them." The Seventh Regiment Band of the State National Guard la fur- nishing the music at the Garden and as the convention developed Into a week longer run than It was expected to have, the leader developed his sense of humor. Eddie Foy's old song, "I'm Tired" and "Oh, Didn't He Ramble" and a few of the oi'nr old time melodies that fitted occasions as they developed were sliiiped over the plate by the musicians. Mike Commerford of Pennsylvania is a delegate. Oscar Price Is working hard for the McAdoo side of the fence. Charlie Pettljohn is just as active a worker for the Ralston forces and the fact that the Senator from Indiana was withdrawn Is not stopping C. P., for he figures that the other States will draft the Hoosler to end the dead- lock. . . Will H. Hays' secretary, Julia Kelly, has been In almost dally attendance at the Garden watching the wheels of the Democratic convention go 'round and 'round without getting anywhere. VERY TAME DEFENSE BY FRENCH TO I M. ANDERSON'S COMMENT Variety's Paris Correspondent Assumes New York Producer Did Know What He Was Talking About, Despite Frejus' Weak Denial i.ONDON LIFE" DEAN'S FOURTH FAILURE IN ROW Director May Lose Drury Lane —Salaries Cut and Notice Up London, July 8. The beginning of the Basil Dean directorship at the Drury Lane did not bring good weather to the the- atr«, "London Life," the Bennett- Knoblock play with which he began operations, closed Saturday, after 38 performances. Seven weeks of strenuous rehear- sals were given to this drama, and after two weeks' playing the artiste were asked to take reduced salaries. This is the fourth bad failure Dean has had in succession. His lack of success is gradually reducing his hold on London theatres, and, should he lose the Drury Lane, there will only be the St. Martins left to Ijlm. MARIE TEMPEST'S VOICE Hesrd Again in London After 25 Years London, July 8. "Midsummer Madness." tht; third fant.i.stic mii.Hit-al Mhow with n. c.u.Htr of four people, wa.s well liked upon Its opening at the Lyric, H.immcr- .smlth, July 3. (.'onslderjiblo inlercst w.is at- t.iohcd to Marie TcmppHt's roturn to Hinslng after a fiunrti-r of !i century. Conservatoire Professor Resigns IViriH, JutK- 30. JacguCH iKti.irdon. woll-knowt'i (eacvhor .it the S»;ite ConsoivHtoire of Miisii- II I !)i:itn.i. li.is Irimled in his rfsi'j^ 111 lliiiimr ^ ly Isiianlon Is at varl- snco wUli the .i(fmiliisti:ition. Paris, June 30. The miinae'-ment or the Polles Ilergere takes objection to the re- marks of John Murray Anderson and lamrly refutes his criticism of French shows and show girls. An interview with Frejus, de- scribed as art director, has been re- leased in the local press In which that authority states Anderson "doesn't know what he in talking about." However, It can be assumed that he does, for the cap appears to have fltted the Folies Uergere pro- ducers and brought forth a lame retort and a confession of paying a big price "for only 24 girls" (the English contingent of J. Tiller, no doubt, and controlled by the Hiit- ish authorities) with no reference to the salary p.aid the French con- tingent. "In the first place," M. Frejus is reported to have said to the inter- viewer, "chorus girls do not exist here. We have dancers and 'fig- urantes' (supers), but the combina- tion of the two which forms the American chorus girl cannot be de- veloped here. "The French temperament will not support the discipline on the stage and so we generally turn to England for the 'girl.' In fact, the best American chorus girls are those who come from London schools nnd have had experience in P.iriM (Hie). "If our shows are bad why do Amcrlr.-in man.Tfy?rs, far from buy- ing American rights, come to stoal whole scones, rostuniin< and text? They are doing it .it many Paris theiitres and four different m;in- ■igors in New Vork h.ive been ktiovvh to show the same hVench .scene. "Anicrlcjin theatres are hoRinning to rely to a very I.irge degree on Kie.is tliey get from Paris, Max Welily, of the Folios Bererero, has Kimo to New York to mount a re- vue with French costumes and French scenic effects."