Variety (August 1925)

Wednesday, August 8, 1928 FOREIGN VARIETY CDNARD'S "BERENGARU" DECUNES TO ALLOT CONCERT SHARE FOR ACTORS inia Judge" Walter C. Kelly Forces Issue—Re- fuses to Appear in Ship's Entertainment—Offi- cers Say Orders from Headquarters Prevent Division of Contributions—^All Other Lines Re- ported Acting Similarly—$1,500,000 Annually 4: ■ ; the Cunarder, "Bcrengarla," York bound, last Wednesday t. Walter C. Kelly. "The Vlr- la Judge," flatly refused to ap- unless the ships' officers agreed at least 10 per cent, of the xlbuted anKoiintfl by passengers * devoted to the treasuries of Ivors' beneflclary organisations in ew York City. This the officers j>f the boat declined to agree to. Other professionals appearing In the concert that evening were Mary Hay and Jimmy Carson, neither beOeved to have had knowledge of Ju^e Kelly's attitude. The concert was In charge of S. Jay Kaufman, president of the Greenroom Club, an actors' social membership body. Kaufman was ^ware of the Kelly stand. "Berengarla" officers are reported having stated to Judge Kelly they :irould gladly assign a portion of ith^ collection to the actors' funds, but standing orders were to turn In all the moneys donated to the head- Quarters of the line. $1,500,000 in Donations It has been estimated that the first-class boats on the Seven Seas, all holding concerts per trip at >rt)lch professional aboard are re- QOMted to appear, gather In about 11,^00,000 annually In contributions m passengers for the seamen's OS of Great Britain and Amer- It never has been disclosed if seamen's unions receive the en- amount or if the steamship (bpanles deduct any portion for UeoUng it. The seamen's union of New York, ich looks after Indigent sailors, «aid to be one of the wealthiest rity organizations in the world, lately applied to the Supreme rt for permission to invest its rplus of $2,500,000. The Actors' Fund of New York, Which looks after indigent and de- teased actors, has had a deflclency In its budget annually for the past II years and has no working sur- plus. Dan Frohman's Pisa Dan Frohman, president of the Actors' Fund, repeatedly has pleaded lor the traveling American profes- Monal to demand that 10 per cent. (Continued on page 8) TWO REVIVALS IN LONDON BREAK EVEN "On 'Change," 40 Years Old, and "Lavender Ladles"— Courtneidge Back ■ Ji!:^.** L<ondon, Aug. 4. "On 'Change," the. 40-year-old farce now modernized, opened at the Savoy with a performance noteworthy for splendid acting. The piece does not carry convic- tion and is unlikely of attaining much success. Presentation is by Robert Court- neidge, following a lengthy provin- cial tryout. It serves to bring the Lancashire manager back to the West End stage. Cast includes BL H. Clark, Henry Kendall, Richard Bird, Peter Haddon. Phyllis Black, Bthel Arden, Lottie Venne and Rosaline Courtneidge, youngest daughter of the actor-manager. The second revival is at the Com- edy where Archibald Nettlefold presented Daisy Fisher's "Laven- der LAdles," well acted, enthusi- astically received and promising to have a run. Louis* Hampton and Mary Jer- rold ar« in the leads, supported by Agaeu Imlay, Margaret Bmden, A. W. Holman, James Raglan, Herbert Marshall. Ellssa Landl, Lydia Sher- wood and Jean Cadell. Effeminizing Charge London. July 16. There is a riimor here that Pavlova and Karsavina are about to lodge an attack on Anton Dolln, young Irish clas- sical dancer \ lO recently left DlaghlleCrs Ballet and is now appearing at His Majesty's in "The Punchbowl." The charge against Dolln is that he dances on his toes, which the feme;' ballet dan- cers claim Is the exclusive pe- rogatlve of the feminine sex. They say ballet dancing is de- generating f routh the inva- sion of the Russian steppers wl\o, they allege, are eftemln- izing the art. A. A. LONDON, HAD CHANCE, BUT MISSED IT Did Nothing About Violet Den- zeli's Anonymous "Backing" —Small Manager Out ENGLISH AQOR WITH PIECE OFPROHT MAURKE AND PEGGY MAY RETURN AS TEAM Noticed Dancing Together in Paris Night Places of Late MISS DONNELLY CUTS |TRIP TO SAVE ROYALTY Advised of "Cut" for "Student ■A- Prince" by Shuberts Without Knowledge or Consent Irene Vanbrugh Retiring After 37 Years on Stage London, Aug. 4. Irene Vanbrugh la closing her theatrical career by retirement after having been on the stage for S7 years. ALL COLORED REVUE Paris, Aug. 4. The Champs ESlyseea musto ball Is closing the best part of August fQr structural changes. When Rolf de Mare reopens again In September he will present a revue with an American colored troupe. Tv London, Aug. 4. Dorothy Donnelly is sailing back Is New York this week, it is re- :, ported here, through having been k^Mvised by her American represen- Rrtatlve that the Shuberts have cut ~*own her r6yalty percentage on "The Student Prince." Miss Donnelly adapted "The Prince" libretto for the Shuberts and , had been receiving her royalty with ;■ regularity, following her trip abroad *ith no inkling of trouble over It at home until Informed. Miss Don- nelly had not been asked to make a concession in percentage over the aummer and from accounts here on the grosses during the hot weather over your way of the "Prince" ■hows, with the Shuberts probably putting the actors' salaries In the not weather, there was no good rea- son to "cut" royalty without notice. FRODUCIHO ALLIAHGE London, Aug. 4. C. B. Cochran, Charles QuIUver and Abrahams, the latter controlling numerous West End theatres, are forming an alliance for the purpose of producing their productions at houses controlled by themselves. Paris, Aug. 4. Noticing Maurtca and Peggy, the latter American, frequently dancing together in the Parisian night re- sorts, has led to a report they will return to New York as a dancing team. Maurice came over her* with Barbara Bennett As far as known Miss Bennett remains his profes- sional dancing partner. Peggy was formerly of Cortes and Peggy, last with the Janis show. "Pussies," on Broadway. She Is reported to have arrived on this side without Cortes, the couple having separated before Peggy left New York. Maurice has had many partoars with his former one, before Miss Bennett, Leonore Hughes. Miss Hughes left Maurio« In New York on an hour's notice, to wed a South American, reported as wealthy. She is now reported from that country to have left him. There is no intimation here that Miss Hughes will rejoin Maurice in dance exhibitions. KIMBERLT AND PAGE SCORE London, Aug. 4. Kimberly and Page were enthusi- astically received upon opening yes- terday (Monday) at the FInsbury. BANK HOLIDAT FOR BUSINESS London. Aug. 4. August Bank Holiday yesterday (Aug. S) a national and annual celebration, broke all previous at- tendance records at Wembley. "NO. 17" AND LEON LION London, Aug. 4. "We Moderns" at the New will be succeeded Aug. II by "Number IT." starring Leon Lion. Underground Avenue Beneath Paris Music Hall Paris. Aug. 4. P. Foucret. director of the Mou lln Rouge, is constructing an under- ground avenue beneath the famous vaudeville theatre, thus making use of a S.OOO-square yard space. The subterranean passage will begin at the main entrance of the music hall. Boulevard de Clichy, with the exit on the Passage Veron the west side of the building. There are to be two rows of small stores in this avenue which will probably bear the name of the theatre. The music hall will close for about three weeks in September, when changes are to be made on the stage. "Fats Morgana" in French Paris, Aug. 4. OrevlUe Collins is arranging to present a French version of "Fata Morgana" at the Theatre Antoine next season. The prIncliMils will be Pierre Blanchar an A Jeanne Prevost London. July 2(. Violet Densell, dancer, who con- ceived the idea of producing a revue over here called "London Laughs." pcu-allellng America's "butter and egg man" term by coining "soap and scent" and "tobacco and tea" for the two financial backers of her proposed show, which never ma- terialized. The Actors Association investigated and the finale came at a drmatic meeting in that organisa- tions offices when all negotiations between Donald Calthrop, QrevHle Collins. Nelson Keys and Miss Den- sell were dropped. The A. A., first got wind of the affair after rehearsals, which had been on some weeks with no money or manageress In sight. It was suddenly terminated then and the Association expressed a desire to meet Miss Dontell. Previously the dancer had visited agents with the story of her proposed revue to be called "London Laughs." She added actual backing was to come from the anonymous "soap and scent," "tobacco and tea" duo, and the agents fell. So did Keys, engaged to "star" and use the revue as a vehicle for his return to the West End after some years of absence. Further cast engagements listed "a famous American comedian," Prank Tully, Moyna Nugent a big chorus and the offering of leading feminine roles to Phyllis Dare and Annie Croft. Trying to Locate Money The second day after rehearsals stopped found Calthrop rushing around London trying to find the money necessary to provoke a snicker in "London Laughs" but on the third day Caltrop's prominence was set aside by the appearance of Manageress Densell who had been found by an evening paper which declared the A. A., had called upon It to aid in the search. - Miss Denxell's statements directly contradicted previous stories. "Soap and scent" and "tobacco and tea" had changed to "a wealthy French- man" who had dodged advancing the 125,000 required for the production. She further considered she owed her company nothing inasmuch as the personnel held no formal con- tracts. Keys was called from Eastbourne and told of the situation. After re- hearsing three weeks and providing several sketches this was his first inkling of the storm and he motored to attend the Important meeting of the ^company held on the stage of the vaudeville. A. A.'s Position There is nothing definite as to whether 'the Association penalized Miss Denzell for her non-payment of the company although a short while ago the A. A., drove a small manager named Arnold off the road because he was not paying his chorus the'minimum salary. And this despite the girls stuck to him declaring Arnold was paying them the salaries he had agreed upon. Shubertt Also Paying Terence Byron $750 Weekly London, Aug. 4. The Shuberts have signed Ter> ence Byron for their American pro« ductlon of "The Right Age T* Marry" at $760 weekly and a per- centage of the profits. The show had an auspicious opea« ' ing here at the Playhouse but waa cut down by torrid weather follow- ing which it took to the road. HOSTILE RECEPnON CIVEN "HONG KONG" But Withdrew Before Opening, Accepting Guarantee—^At Queen's, London London. Aug. 4. The Queen's Theatro reopened last night (Monday) with "The Man from Hong Kong." It was accorded a hostile reception and rates aa an indifferent doi>e melodrama, poorly acted. The opening* was postponed from July SO owing to a dispute between ^r Alfred Butt and Percy Hutchi- son regarding the merit of the pleoa, ending in Sir Alfred withdrawing from the sharing contract and ao- cepting a guaranteed rental from Hutchison, producer of the play.' Mrs. Clifford Mills is the authar. with the cast including, besidaa Hutchison, Margaret Soudamor«^ Mary Merrall. Madeline Seymour, Ronald Sinclair. Laurence Iralan^ Frank Lacy. Lord Lyveden. Eleanor Street, Patrick Curwen and others. De Marcos Dissolve London, Aug. 4. Tha DeMaroos, dancers, dlsaolvad partnership Saturday. The split 1« understood to have come about through the woman of the team de- manding an equal division of tha salary. DEAN'S "ENEMY" BY 5OLLOCX London, Aug. 4. Channing Pollock's latest drama, "The Enemy." will be produced over here by Basil Dean. THE TILLER DANCING SCHOOLS '»5«» for a umH*« OF AMERICA, Ihc. Number of Puplla I ^'^irX'Tr-r 226 We.t 72d Street ^^n.s^^, NEW YORK riioaei Kndleot* Stl5-« MART RBAD gt c rstacy Woods' *« O'clock Man" Paris. Aug. 4. Al Woods has secured the Palais Royal faroe "Le Monsieur de Cinq Heures" and is arranging to produce it In English next season with OIy#ne Stratford. Yvonne George is Iteturning Paris. Aug.4. Yvonne George, vaudeville song- strass. has been booked for a revue in New York, commencing next October, by the Shuberts. Lopokova Marrying Prof. Keynes London, Aug. 4. MUa. Lopokova is engaged to marry Professor John Maynard Keynes, economio and flnanolal aa- Ithorltr. * - Admission Tax Coming Off? Swampscott. Mass.. Aug. 4. Martin B. Madden. Illinois Re- publican and Chairman of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, in a conference at White Court with President Cool- idge, announced his intention of leading a fight in the next session of Congress for the abolition of all "nuisance" taxes, including those on amuseinents. The announcement is in accord with the general supposition that due to the tremendous treasury surplus the theatres will be relieved of the tax burden. FETROVA MEETING CENSORS London, Aug. 4. Olga Petrova has arrived hero and is endeavoring to get her play, "Hurricane," pas.sed by the censors for British presentation. INA CLAIRE LOOKINa 'BOnn) London, Aug. 4. Ina Claire was on the "Aqultanla,* which docked on this side today. Miss Claire sUtes she Is her* to read the last act of a Frederick Lonsdale play and to "Just look around." She ebcpects to remain hertf about a month. INDEX Miscellaneous ■ 1 Foreign 2-t Vsudeville 4-8 Vaudeville Reviews 18 Bills Next Week 14-15 Burlesque 9 Sports 10 Times Square 11 News from the Dsilies... 18 Legitimate 17-20 Legitimate Reviews....... 20 Stocks 19 Pictures 21-32 Editorisis 16 Picture Reviews 30-32 Film House Reviews 28-32 Presentstions 28 Radio 33 Music 33-3S Cabaret 35 Outdoors < 35-38 Inside Stuff—Legit 16 « " —Vaudeville.. 6 " " —Musio 33 " —Outside..... 37 Obituary 38 Correspondence 39 Letter List 45