Variety (February 1925)

Wednesdaf, Fcbniary VARIETY'S LONDON OFFICE C H P I? I H N CABLE ADDRESS, VARIETY, LONDOH^""^ 18, 1926 2096-3199 Resent ^ Kf Ek K* g \M l^^^ M«rtm'« Place, Trafalfmr Square '^^m [TWO SHOWS SEEK LARGER HOUSES ^Sometime*' and "Bam- iKnila*' Searching—^For- mer Show Forced on Road London, ^eb. 17. Tb» Tlnney-show la leaving the . TAUdevilla In a few weeks, aa the ^kouae la not big enough for a profit- able run and the management is un- able to aecure a larger alte. Hence the ahow will play the big towns for a couple of months and then return when conditions are more favorable. "IVita Morgana" follows Tinney into the Vaudeville. "Bamboula" Is alao trying to se- cure a big house. A tentative dea) for the Winter Garden necessitated Including Leslie Henson in the cast. .The management was agreeable to ^'thia until Henson demanded that all Tiither parts be cut. The Winter Garden people are ' «ow seeking "Kid Boots." GERMAN Wm. VOTE AGAINST MUTl AGENCY Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Julius Tannen. Met Harry Weldon. Tell them what I did to Collin Bell, but don't tell what Collin B^l did to me. Will meet you. Harry, In Liver- pool at Mother Egerton's. Bon voy- age, old pal. Don't tell them what Collin BeU did to me. FRANKIE VAN HOVEN Direction EOW. 8. KELLER CHAMPS ELYSEES WILL BECOME MUSH) HAIi (Proposal of Artistsi' Lodge to Eliminate Agents Believed Impractical ,:;V ,;,. Berlin. Feb. 7- ,,i', The Vart«t* Directors Verband ^'>otM against the proposal of J eatabllahlng a mutual employment agenry when meeting with the In- ternational Artists' Lodge which la In favor of the movement. Such '«lUi agency would do away with all i Individual agenta. J. Among the reasons advanced was %'OUit if all Germcui agencies were r •Uminated managers of the first ., «Uuw houses would be obliged to j_,a«»I direct with foreign agents. f''Bam9Vw, in cftae the International V i^tiata' Lodge would promote an ^'V«ncy the managera would gladly «onaider aame. Due to this the artlata have not, entirely dropped the aubject and even the Agents Verband haa taken np the matter t although considering it useless H ^ i the managera continue to hold out '> The Idea aa a whole wo&ld have ' tL chance if the law were not againat It. Aa it stands agenta must not vf !»▼• any intereat In theatrea and '>;'fPMaaceri . must not have an in- ;^'fterast in agencies, otherwise they would lose their license on either one or the other. The ministry of labor intends to 4o away with all employment >^ agenciea in 1930 and turn this over ;^^ the different tradea or unlona. ''Ve prevent thia In the line of ' Yariete It ia the intention of the 'M>Mtt8 to combine and become strong enough to atand off the ob- ^Jtetlve of dropping the agencies. Changes From Legit Policy Next April—Will Be Paris' •:y Largest "Hall" Paris, Feb. 17. Elarly In April the Theatre des Champs Elysees, now controlled by Rolf de Mori, will change its legit- imate policy to variety, and will be the largest music hall In Paris. Andre L. Davcn la listed as man- ager. VEST! FILING NAPOLEON'SUFE To Include Six *'Speclab" —German Firm An- nounces '25 Program XtOBdon. Veb. IT. Veatl, the first ot the German flrma to open enicea In Wardour street, is the tnltlal concern to an- nounce a big prosram for 1926. Their Pathe-Vestl branch have three super-films down, one each week, from works by Victor Hugo. Julea Verne and Anatole France, as well as nine aTerage feature pro- ductions. For the same firm Abel Gance, producer of "J 'Accuse," haa de- parted for Corsica to make the opening scenes In the "Life of Na- poleon," which, when completed, will form six subject-pictures, each covering a period ot the Emperor's life. LocheUcotr, formerly art director of the Imperial Opera Houc? at Petrograd, will be reaponalble for the aettlnga in the aeries. GERMAN FILM TRUST London, Feb. 17. A ayndicate, backed by the ftngo Stinnea firm in Berlin, has been formed for the grouping of big Ger- man film organizations into a trust. The preliminary company has been formed with a capital of 9760,- 000, with Bdouard Stinnes, chair- man, and Vladimir Veiigroes, Vesti Film Co., on the board of directors. Command Performance London, Feb. IT. . The Royal Command perfornutnc^ -nit' Thursday evening for the ,*fcenefit of the V. A. F. benevolent ' ^d netted 114,000. This command performance waa 'I^Ten at the Alhambra and was the llrst royal recognition of the Eng- Uall muaic hall aince 1912. ''Sumurum" Old Faahioned London, Feb. 17. .^ "Sumurum," which has been re- ▼iTSd at the Coliseum, seems old fashioned and lacking in thrills. It haa been 14 yeara since Its '-vvoductlon here. .trjyi . -ttf'^ v Gulliver'a "Lumber Love** London, Feb. IT. ....OulliTer will ahortly present ^^^SLunber Love" at His Majesty's. ACTOR AS RADIO ADVISOR Qeorge Qrosamjth Official Selector for Broadcasting Firm Loi)don, Feb. 17. With the theatre-radio situation atin at the boiling point a new angle haa been preaented by George Groaamith, the comedian. Joining the British Broadcasting Company in the capacity ot official advisor for all programs. The anti-radio faction among the managera la likely to protest at the broadcaatera delving into the the- atre for advice, but it remains to be seen what they can do about it. TATE'S BEW SKETCH London, Feb. T. - Harry Tate produced a new sketch, "tn the Office,- at the Hol- bom recently which was well re- ceived. Readying Summer Edition London, Feb. IT. The Midnight FoUies. at the Hotel Metropole, has closed (or three weeks In lieu of rehearaals for the new summer edition. The floor show Is expected to r«- sume in its new guise March S. Dean's "Little Minister^ Troupe London, Feb. 17. Basil Dean waa on board the Aqultanla when it sailed from thia side Feb. 11 accompanied by a num- ber of English artists who are bound for New York and Dean's revival of "The Little Minister." Fox'a Leaae Expiring London, Feb. IT. "Gerald Cranston'a Lady" wlU cloae at the Empire Feb. 28, which alao marks the culmination of the Fox tenancy in that bouse. THE TILLER DANCING SCHOOLS Oeaa for a Limited Nnoibcr of PupUa OF AMERICA, Inc. 226 West 72d Street NEW YORK Phonat feiidie«M aeis-a ' If ART BBAD Secretary Humiliation Worth $7,500 Buffalo. Feb. IT. Frank Ebsary. a ScottsTlUek N. T.. manufacturer, was awarded a verdict ot t7,S00 in Federal Court here againat the Raymond & Whitcomb tourist agency. Ebsary sued for humiliation while on a Mediteranean tour whan the agency denied him a trip to Jerusalem and the Holy Land, aa had been promiaed In the crlginal agreement. The caae ia regarded aa a unique one in -local court an- nala» and motlona to aet aside the award aa exceaatve were denied. PICCADILLY'S NEW SHOW HAS BIG OPENING PLAYWRIGHT GETSKAISER'S PALACE Gabriel d'Annunzio Re- warded by Italian Goyernment '' LONDON CAPITOL HAS BRILLIANT PREMIERE First Performance Feb. 11— Small Stage Forces Limita- tions—Seats Around 2,200 London. Feb. 17. The new Capitol, cinema palace, opened here Feb. 11 to a brilliant audience with "The Miracle of the Wolves" aa Ita initial, program leader. Thia la the houae for which A. H. Wooda negotiated with aub- seuuent happeninga eventually turning the leaae into the handa of Joseph and Albert Clavering. Conforming with a ruling of the London County Council that new theatrea shall be erected upon island sitea, the Capitol has been constructed on one of the most valuable "Islands" In the West End at Haymarket, Jermyn and Market streets. • Limited ground space has of necessity forced restricted stage space, albeit the houae aeata In the neighborhood of t,2M, to the ex- tent it haa been found impoaatble to Include a fireproof curtain. Ttala means that nothing which is in any sense InflammaMe can be need on the stage. Something believed to be anlQue ia the poat ot Stag* Controller, who directs all operations by means of a control board connected to the house eiectrlciana, projection operatora and orcheatra tHiUe ro- malning in auch poaltlon aa to ao- tually view all parte of the house and the execution of fats Instrue tlohs. The film feature, at the ojtenlag, was regarded «a aa artlatio speo- tacle, but is unlikely to attain a popular appeaL Especially Invited Audience Tenders Ovation—Amer- icans Score /. ■. ' London. Feb. 17. The new cabaret show, at the Piccadilly opened Sunday night be- fore an especially Invited audience and was sensationally received. The show held Fred Sylvester, who, with his company, was excellent. O'Hanlon and Zambunl were great in their dance stuff, while the Dn- For Brothera alao amaahed over to big aucceaa. WKh Alleen Stanley, however. It la atill doubtful whether ahe la Juat very good or the biggest to ever hit England. The chorua of the ahow entera through a toybox with makeupa and coatuming to conform to the period, while their enaemtde work is a revelation in evolutions and costuming. The Piccadilly Hotel has declared a bonus dividend of 1,000 per cent DEATHS ABROAD Comedie Francaise Record - Paris, Feb. IT. The House of HoUere broko Us own record In January by taking 67S,93< franos during the montli, the highest for any month at this the- atre. Henry Becqus's "Corbeaux," which has not been seen for many years, waa revived here last week., Two Companies Had '^olTes" Film Sights London. Feb. 17. Through some error, the British righta to "Miracle of the Wolves" wei^ sold to both Allied Artists and Qrangera', Ltd.. with Allies finaUy securing the rights. The Granger concern Is now re- suming activities on a big acale with capital from Vienna reported In- terested. no HOHETMOOH London, Feb. 7. Rosaline Courtneidge, daughter Of Robert Courtneidge, well-known manager and producer, and leading lady In "The Sport of Kings," waa married to Peter Haddon of "Char- lofa Revue," Fel^ !•• No honey- moon, though, the pair having to appear at night. Paris, Feb. 7. Jaoquea Bibout, 27, critic and edi- tor of "Telegram du Nord," of Lille, France, was killed in an automobile accident Fernsnd ji* Rodays, former direc- tor of the Figaro (Paris), died at Dinard, France, aged 80 years. Louie Havet, French author and noted Latlnlst, died ia Paris Jan. 87, aged 7t. after a long illness. MmSb Louise Cremieux Crup0l> French authoress and playwright. Qaston Andrieu, French music publisher, died suddenly. Andre Tudeeq, Journalist-noyeUst died at Saigon, aged 4t. Anteine de Bengy-PMyvallee, French poet, aged 70. Marge Dunean, dancer, died In a Parki hospital from conaomptlon. Mercedes Peres de Vergas, Span- ish comedian, died at Madrid, after a lone lUnese. VIotor d*Auriae, Frenoh author. COUJECI TWId Jay Ck>mey and Owen Mnrphy bare been given aummary Judgment in the City Court for |2,0SS against William Caryl and the Top-Hole Corp.. producers of the musical. "Top Hole," for services rendered in authoring the slew's music and lyrics. The writers sued for two per cent of 1100,000, alleged grossed from Oet II, 1924. to Dec. t7, 1014. In another suit In the Third DIs- trict Municipal Court the song- writers also took the management to task for the same cause and won a verdict for $020.04 last December. 0T?8T OPERA BEVITED Paris. Feb. 7. The poetical, drkma, "Miarka," by Jean Richepin, which baa been given aa a moving picture, was revived aa a lyrical work, music by Alexandre Georgea, at the Opera recently. "Miarka" waa created at the Opera-Comlque in 1900 when It con- tained five tableaux. It ia now in two acts-with a abort prologue. Yvonne Gall holda the name part and Henri Busser conducta the or- chestra. Rome, Feb. S. The Villa Falconierl. a fine man- alon in the auburbs of Rome and owned by the Emperor of Oermanjt, which reverted to Italy as part o( the war reparations, haa l>een pre- aented by the Italian government to Gabriel d'Annunzio, poet and play- wright for aervicea rendered la saving Flume for hia country. The palace waa formerly a home for German wi^tera and art lata atudying in Rome whoae work had bean approved by WiJliam H. Another palace, cloae by la that belonging to the Archduke Frans Ferdinand whoae aaaaaalnatlon at SerajoTo precipitated the outbreak of tbs great war la Augoat 1914. REVIVING inSMO" London. T^h. IT. Jack May Is reviving the old Cos- mopolitan Club (Th» "Cosmo"). W The new club bouse wtU be lo^ oated on Wardour street, near Pic- cadilly, and wiU be open ifom 11 «. m. to S a. m.. The members' fees will be ISO per annum (or gentle- men, $16 tor ladles, and a profes- sional rate ot |0 per annum for- membera of the theatrical aad Jourw t nalistic fraternity. | MUSIC FIRM BANKmrpf -3 London, Feb. 6. The Darewakl Mualo Publlahing Co.. la in the throea ot bankruptcy and a statement hka been iaaued bjr the Official Receiver. It ahows un- aecured creditors to the amount of 1297,655; capital inS.OOO; do- ilciency to meet liabilities $199,890; total defleiency $496,800. With the exception of |S00 paid to another director for a year, Herman Darevr- akl appears to be the only man who drew directors feea alhce the com- pany was formed ssveral years ago. The concern showed a loss of $189,9Bi for the ySor \t9Sl, Includ- ing a sum of $08,(00, overdrawn by . Darewakl n^A treated aa a bad debt The official receiver saya it is extremely doubtful whether any aurplua will be available for the un- aecured creditora. INDEX Of Pases in Thia Issue Miseellaneoua 1 Legislativs .............. 2 ■ orsigii .*.a...r«^**..... 3 Vaudevills .f»«....^,.../, 4*7 Burlesque .....Mr.>>..'... IS Editorial .;...^^.:,« 16 LeaMimate . 10-22 Loiitlmate Reviews 22 Bports , 40 Pleturss 24-34 Pieturs RsvievM S4-B1 Prsse w tstiowis 83 Film House Reviews SS-BO Muaie .36-S7 Ra4ls ,.^»f...... as \^m9^^^m. •••s«a*^se*«o«eeo 9/ Band Reviews .<......,. 97 Btooka 21 Little Theatres /, 1» Foreign Review* ., 21 New* of Daili**. ...p' 14 Lottor Lirt .-• ^t 4# Opera mnd Ceneert \SS Outdoor* tt>40 Inside Stuff—Legit IS-M • " —Vaudevills.. 1» - - —PieturMi.... ao Vaudevill* Show Review* • wirous *•#••••■• vs.«.«»•*•• SV Burlesque Routs* 18-M New Aot Review* t Bill* Next W**k 10-11 Obituary ..•••....••»•*•. 40 CorMspondene* .........4i-4B Letter List ^ 4i rams ■iiB» TIM BMt OMMmMS I SpMlal RoatlfMs ONblted ID„inMI 1*U B'wmr (Vat. en (0tb St.) M. I. PIMM WrtU bt Aft