Variety (December 1925)

VARIETY Wednesday, December 30, 1925. NEWSPAPERS m THEIR VALUES; CODD WILL RUNS INTO MILUONS Following on the sale of the good will of the Chkago "Dully News" for $11,000,000, a record price, to a Kyndkiite of Chicago flnanciers and pulillclsts, an offer is under con.siil(>i-utlon by the truatetis of the eaiato of the late Frank A. Munsey from Paul Block, tendering $10,000,- 000 for the good will of the New York "Run." In neither Instance Is their real estate involved, and the mechanical plants are almost negli- gible financial assets. Both-cascs followed the deaths of noted publishers, and both are BUb- Btantial proof that a newspaper is not HUbjoct In value to the continued lite of an Individual, even if that indlvldu.Tl Is the heart and soul of Its Inception and its operation until his pas.«ing. It la estimated by experts today that the New York "Journal" Is «,tirth more than $ :0.000,000; the De- troit "I'Vee Press" was recently ap- praised at $12,000,000 by experts; the value of the New York "Times". Chiago "Tribune," Los Anrjeles '•Times," Kansas City "Star," Den- ver "Post," are almost incalculable. Ihe "Saturday Evening Post." •'L'ulios' Home Journal" and "Coun- try Centlcman," o^ned by the Cyrus K. Curtis interests In Philadelphia, are worth probably $100,000^000, aO in reputation, past performances ard public frood will. The lowest cs'ln-ate heard of the cnrrnt worth of any of the "Times" d'-i'l-s I'at*^ is $"5.o?0,00''. with the probahl?l!los that either can not be purchased at any figure. STIU FIGURING ON ENGUSH FILK PROBLEM C. E. A. Active — Financier Compares Industry with British Banks Will Perform in Ancient Outdoor Theatre Rome, Dec. 18. Excavations undertaken at Per- enlo, three miles from Vitorbo, re- vealed an open air theatre burled tor centurlca It appears to have been con- Bti'ucted during the period of Em- peror Otto, and has a seating capac- ity of at least 2,000. • i'rof. Farne'.i. head of the National 11 suum here, has been entrusted with the restorat on of this anti-.iue tl.eatre. still in a good state of pres- ervation, and a society will be formed for prc^^mtlns performances at Perento In the summer time. $50,000 a Throw London, Dec. 18. Of all the flnancicru now orierating in the West End. William daunt is the most likely to come out on top. He hat the Yorkshireman's in- stinct for business, as many a tale of his coups discloses. The latest concerns how he completed his famous deal for three theatres. He agreed to pay $760,000. What he threw on the table, however, waa a check for $700,000. "I know you like cash," he grunted, and they did. Ycuth of 21 Years Sponsoring Revival London, Dec. 18. A youth of 21 is behind the re- vival of "The Ulsing Generation" at \. yndhams, Dec. 21. He has taken over a:i r.'Rhts and responstbilitieH. Jo'.m Tolloy is the nan^.c of the new tl.e.itrxal niaj^nato. and he reekons on a six weeks' seayon, having ob- t;:lned his knowledge of the tlicalre ti;rouKh bong a member of an ama- teur theatrical society at Cam- bi:it;e. • If Tet'.ey'a revival Is sucee.ssful be (tsures on producing a musical Remedy. Llary Eaton Critical Chicago. Dee. 28. Mary Eaton ("Kid Boots") Is Critleally 111 with double pneumonia. IIOVING LUMINOUS FOUNTAIN Paris. Dec. 18. One of the most luminous foun- ta.'ns which proved so attractive at niKht during the recent Decorative Arts Exposition here will be erected «n Davis Island. Tampa Bay, Flor- ida. A French engineer, Guyot. has al- ready left for the United States to superintend the work. SAmiJGS Jan. 9 (New York to I.K)ndon, Mr. and Mrs. John Wenger and wife (Lcv.'uthan). Dec. 23 (London to New York), Ceorge MeLellan. Willlum Gaunt (Homeric). Dec. 27 (New York to Pari.s), John \Vi:i.-ird (Paris). London, Dee. 18. A new move haa been made by the London County Council, the licensing authority for the metro- politan area, in the present fight over the so-called quota system. The Theatres and Music Halls Com- mittee has presented to the Council recommendations. One is the suggestion that the licenses for klnemas should be con- fined to British subjects so as to eliminate the alien element This, however, could be easily overridden by the transfer of the property by its alien owner to a BrKish mana-er. Another thought is that the pro- grams should contain a proportion of Critish-made pictures, and It is suggested that a deputation from the L. C. C. should wait upon t'te Home Secretary in regard to this matter. Other proposals are to the effect that the kinema licensing authori- ties should be given additional pow- ers, meaning an absolute discretion as to the granting of licenses, wider control over all kinds of kinemato- Traph performances and the author- ity to see thnt the standard of films shown to children is Improved. The report states the fl!ma now shown throughout Great Britain in the cheaper houses are made In for- eign countries and portray moral standards and Ideas widely dHTcrent from those of Britain. It Is pointed out that the effect on adult audi- ences Is difflcult to ascertain, but on children it is one that lessons national influences and character- nstlcs. The Cinematograph Exhibitors' As.sociatlon, having been beaten on th«< "quota" question through a ref- erendum of mombeftj. is still out to try and burk up the Hritish Indus- try. — Several new de'.e;^ate3 have been added to the body, bringing the r.lm question before the govern- ment. Among these are T. P. O'Con- ner, M. P.. t'.ie chief of the Brltis*! Board of Film Censors, and an un- named member of the Society of Authors. The Main Trouble The great trmihle about British dims is lack of capital and really competent producers. Capital is almost Impossible to get In appre- ciable bulk, yet at public dinnerK and hinehcons "guests of honor" are apt to speak of the subject of capltalinatlon as a mere trifle. Sir John Ferguson, president of the Institute of Bankers, speaking at a recent exhibitors' dinner at which he was a guest, compared the Mfali!5ties of the kincnia Industry with those of banking. He sa'd the klnemas In Great Britain were an- nually visited by 1.059.000.000 peo- ple. The capital employed in the British film Industry was approx- imately $ 50.000,000. The combined caplUl of 45 great banks In Great Britain and Ireland was $555,000,000. These banks had 12.000 branches employing 60.000 people. The kln- ema Indn'ry had 4.000 theatres employing 50.000 people. Bankers had closely followed the "wonderful" growth of the kinema and would he quite willing to promote the suc- cess of any legitimate enterprise. In other words the banks of Great Britain will bank "cert.s" of film enteriirlse bearing the blessing of the government. LONDON CRITICS' TLAGIARISM" IN NOnCE Owen Davis' *9:45' Starts Commotion—Trix Sisters* '^Tricks" Looks Good LONDON London. Dec. 18. One of the very lew rcuiaiiiing old-time music haiis still In exist- ence (London has only one other, the .\ieiroi>olitan) has been reconstruct- ed at a cost of $125.00a. This is the iSouth London, a house practically unknown today on the western sidi' of the river, but regulariy doing big business with old-fashioned vaude- ville programs. It was opened in 1870. . . Kenneth Barnes, brother of Irene and Violet Vanbrugii. was marriou iJec. 12 to Dapune oraham, a uau^u- ler of iSir iticuard and Lady on^nia Graham. Ihe bridegroom is the bead of the i^oyal Acauemy oX Dra- matic Art, founded by the late bir t^erbert Tree. On the same day Henry St. John Cooper, writer of boys' liciion and brother of Gladys Cooper, was mar- ried to Annie McGIashan, the edi- tress of a group of glrto' paper.-). The Cossacks, who .originally ap- peared at Olympia Jtlst af;er this year's military tournament, are now at the Holland Park Skating Rink which is making It^ debut as a show place. A dubious at.trt la p.ob- ably due to poor advertising and the newness of the location. :ui Fay Harcourt Going South Parl.M, Dec. IS. Fay Harcourt, English dancer, who has been here for some time. Is going to Nice and Monte Carlo for three months. A Message from Shore or Ship will g:uarantee a Room at THE PICCADILLY WHERE ALL THE GHOW FOLK STOP Cable Address: PIQUDILLO, LONDON London, Dec. 28. Holiday activity in the West End was marked by the premiere of four new attractions and as many revival.s, the latter playing mati- ness only. From an American viewpoint per- haps the plagiarism controversy which has arisen over Owen Davis' "9:45" at the Comedy and the ex- tremely optimistic start of the Trix Sisters Revue at the Apollo are most important The Davis play has l>een attack- ed by Basil MacDonald Hastings, critic on the "Daily Express." who accuses the American author of having lifted the plot of his farce, "Hanky I'anky John," produced here Jan. 31, 1321. The Davis :)iece was Hrst given stage presen- tation in New York during August, 1919. and haa been rewritten for London by Sewell Collins, who is the producer. Collins ha.s formally complained to the editor of Hastings' paper against the critic using his co'.umns to air hi.s personal grievances in- stead of conHning himself to crlt- Ici.slng the plaj'. Charlotte Parry, who . played "The Comstock Mystery" in vaude- ville both here and in America, maintains that the basic idea oi "9:4.")" is Identical with that of her protean playlet and proposes to in- stitute legal proceedings against both Davis and Hastings, charging plagiarism. In any case "9:45'' seems a doubt- entrant on England's main theatrical thoroughfare. It received but a mixed reception and indica- tions for a successful run are very dubious at this writing. Trix Sisters' Score The Trix Sisters, personally, scored an actual triumph In their own show at the Apollo. As a whole 'Tricks." the title of the re- vue. Is shy of dancing personalities, but Is studded with excellent skits. A first night audience heartily ac- claimed it and despite Isolated re- views which were skeptical, the press may be said to have gen- erally turned in a favorable ver- dict. It has a corking chance for a run. "Blue Kitten" Likely Another musical to break In on the West End turmoil was J. L. Sachs' "The Blue Kitten" at the 1 works In Gaiety. The show ran three and | Albert 1. .1 half hours as it opened, but Kob- ert Burnside, the producer, has taken up the axe In Its behalf, the first act, particularly, needing speed. In a cast marked by competent prlnclp.als Roy Royston garnered special honors although the spe- cialty dancing of the Irwin Sisters (American) was a prominent Item while the acrob.atlc stepping of liilly lir.'idford made a sensational iniprcBsion. The "Kitten" is undoubtedly a Iklely contender among the local mu.sle.als with the list of players In- eluding Ethel Levey, Cecily Eldon, Dorothy Brown, Estelle Brodle, W. II. Berry, Bobble Ilowe:^ Charles ^t'lne, .Aire Fraser, .nnd Hoy Hnys- 'on. Sybil Tbiiruilike's conception of "Ili-niy, the 10U;btb," Is gorgeous,-ai With the exception of a general uproar around Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square, the ann::al Ox.ord- Cambrldge Kugby football match pasmd off without any great dam- age to theatre or musical hall. Last year the Co-Optimists came In for rather a roush time, but on this oc- salon the storm center sterns to have been the Hippodrome, where 'Mercenary Mary" had to be con- siderably curtailed. The Winter Garden and the Prince of Wales also suffered, but there was little tearing down of draperies or smn.shlng up of auditorium furni- ture. The big event from the student point of view was an Impromptu dance outside Drury Lane.. Marie Tempest is out of the cast of "Hay Fever" at the Criterion and will not return until Boxing Day. In her absence the part of the trage- dienne, Juditli Bliss, is being played by Dorothy Hamilton, who. if with- out the piquant finish of Marie Tem- pest, gives a good performance. The fact that the star is out of the cast has led to a good deal of money hein? demanded back by disappoint- ed playgoers. Several of the provincial panto- mimes, notably the big Scottish shows, have already opened. The Theatre Royal, Birmingham, will adhere to Its old policy of opening its doors at midnight on the day preceding production and allowing the audience to take up their places and sleep in them. Refreshments are served by the management, and .attendants come around and collect the ticket money from the occu- pants of the Eeats before the open- ing of the show. LONDON WANTS MARIE SAXON Englbh Producers Highly Praise American Artiste London, Dec. 28. Rngllsh producers lately returned to London from New Vork are high- ly praising Marie Saxon, with "Merry Merry" at the Venderbllt, New York. They offer to play Miss Saxon with or without the show she is with on Broadway. The only English na- tive ^uslcal comedy girl mentioned to compare with her Is June, at prcservt the leader ,f all musical comedy women of England. Archie deBear, Ernest Edelsten and Paul Murray are among the English producers who saw "Merry Merry" in New York. Each has made a bid for her services on this side, -Mr. Murray has since returned to New York with his revue. "By the Way." Through Miss Saxon being the bride of Sid Silverman (Variety). Variety's London office has cabled three d'.fterent times, by request, to New York asking If Miss Saxon's engagements will qermlt her to come over. Each time a negative reply has been received. Miss Saxon is under contract to Lyle Andrews for this season with "Merry Merry" at the Vanderbllt. Phyllis Monkman's Won't London, Dec. 2r. Phyllis Monkman has rejcc'.. . an offer to again become a member of "The Co-Optimists." The overture was made due to the approaching re- tirement of Anita Elson. The hitch In proceedings is a straight salary proffer. Miss Monkman specifying she will only resume with the com- pany under the former sharing terms whi^h, at timrs, yielded as hirh as n BOO weekly. An engagement by this unit is that of Gllly Flower, a 17-year old dancer, who last appeared in the "Punchbowl Revue." .•;■■ ~ There is a possibility that Lily Elsie, the original Merry WiJow here, may return to the stage to play in a new piece by Fredsrick Lonsdale. Godfrey Tcarle will be the leading man in the same produc- tion. "The Man in Dres.s Clothes" has done much better than was expected at such a big house as the Lyceum, and will te tnuis'erred to the Queens for Christmas. Much of the 8u;-cess has been due to the return of Ella- line Terrls. The suburban houses are stronr In pantomimes, the majority of which will take the road after the Chrl-tmas run. "Aladdin" will be at the Borough. Stratford, E.; "Mother Goose" at the Roval Artillery. Wool- wich, a theatre which, while be'onT- Inrr to the gi^rrlson. Is on°n to the nubile; "Bo Poen" at Wlmb'e-ion: •1,'nle .Tai-U Horner" at the Wool- wich Emnlre. and "Dlrik Whlttlng- ton" at the Grand, Fulham. DUKPS DISAPPOINTMENT Will Try Again With "Load of Mis> chief" Next Year London. Dee. 18. Back from America, Ashley Duk« haa expressed his disapiMjhitment at the handling of "The Man With a Load of Mischief," which he de- clares was miscast, with the "ex- ception of Robert Loraine and one or two small parts. The Amcrl an rights having reverted to hirn and he intends to produce the play in New York again In about a year's time with the Haymraket cast. This may account for a persistent rumor to the effect that Fay Comp- ton's recent visit to America was really to discuss her appearance there. British Troupe's Paris Return Paris, Dec. 18. The English Pliers, headed by Edward Sterling and Ben Greet, re- turn here for another series of English at the Theatre the Empire. It's reception was splendid due to the oombinatlon of an imposing production fronted by brilliant acting. The popular priced pantomime. "Cinderella." is a worthy example of this type of entertainment and at the box olTlce scale set for it should do well at the Palladium, where It Is housed. -Vhls one con- sumed a full four hours on Itt. Initial performance. Revivals of past favorites for the holidays are ifcheduled as "A Mes- •-a'jre from Mars," at the Playhouse; '•Wliet-e the R.aiiibow Ends." at the Ilolborn lOinplre; "Broadway Jones." at the (■^ti'^en'a, and "Baby Mine," at the Ap-illo. These are the •hows re:itri<-tinK themselves to aft- erno'on perfurmatieea. Damagre Suit O.ver Interpolated Dance Styles Paris. Dee. 18. O'.ga Soutzo, of the Opera ba:iet hero, is being sued for 25.000 francs damages by Mme. ChaEles, profes- sor, for not having "Interpreted" a dance as Indicated. The younff danseuse Is accused of having intro- duced steps instead of foKowIng her •copy." The case turns on the registering or copyrighting of tcrpslchorean acts, with the obligation of an artist to dance only the steps Indicated by a producer. The Judgment will be watched with Interest. Est. YMf 189* WILLIAM MORRIS AQENCT Ine. WM MORRIS WM MORRIS. JB. 1680 Broadway, New York The fiilERloiooLs' OF DANCING . 143 Charing Cruss Road LONDON Director, JOHN TILLER