Variety (December 1925)

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Wednesday, December 30, 1925 VARIETY \ INTERNATIONAL SHOW BUSINESS International show business, as Men from Tlmos s lunrc. New York. may be a touRher sympoalum for a •Ingle nrtiole than the mere headlnB ■UKgest«. That a brief may be drawn of fair accuracy, takinfr In the world with Its different show branches, with the American lines •( amusement for pui'le only, may %• evident from the following. All purely native amusements will be •ntirely disregarded. Moving Pictures Moving; pictures are the moat unl- ▼enutlly accepted entertainment In the world. Whereas radio has been rejected In certain countries, the movies continue wherever starting. Present dominance by Amerlcai) pictures and American-made plc^ tures goes without stressing a cori^ ceded fact. As America sets the lead In the actual picture right now. •o does this country set the pace In picture entertainment. Preaentationa, a the surrounding bill to a feature film Is known over here, has .spread. Its circling brings •ut that all over Is the similar plaint —the picture by Itseif is Insulflclent England, Germany and but recently France have added the presentation. Variety last week reported Gau- mont's, Paris, an amilated theatre With an American picture producer- distributor, had presented a moving picture aided by added stage enter- tainment. To what extent the presentation Will extend over the universe must depend upon the manner In which theatres have been built. That America Is seeing a theatre build- ing era Is not alone brought about through theatres of greatest capac- ity, which are to form their own chain of the future. It was the error of picture house building every- where in the past, and perhaps some other countries at present, to forego • stage. In favor of more seating room. This has left a vast number of picture houses In this country with- out stage room. As picture houses these are nearly useless now and Will be more useless shortly. A native desire for films of their •wn people and customs, rapidly spreading and speedily developing "Whenever foreign films have been Imported for any length of time, was editorially dwelt upon In Variety •ome weeks back. Several countries are considering Ways and means to promote their own picture making industries and, •Imultan«ousiy. to keep out the im- ported film. When the foreign film Is spoken of abroad, the Ameri- can-made picture Is usually in- tended. £:ngllsh picture makers are still •eeklng a solution. A popular vote lately In England gave American pictures six places out of a po.ssible ten. There has been continuous talk over there of a government affll- latlon or subsidy, but It stands at naught. The failure of the Capitol. London, as a straight picture the- atre has tended more to the Ameri- can presentation Idea, an idea and plan that probably London will see fully worked out when Famous Players opens its new theatre In that city or Metro-Goldwyn com- pletes the rebuilt Emj)Ire. Germany seems to be the most ardent and. Intelligent jtruggler to turn out the home product. It has an advantage in that the Germans prefer a different type of dramatic picture to the American. In the drama, like its music Germany JeHther ran supply America nor ac- cept from it—in quantity. Berlin recently looked upon an American presentation. prepared and produced by an American Im- porter for that purpose In a picture house. Germany follows Berlin, more so than do he provinces fol- low the capitals of other count-les. In South Africa pictures dominate the country, almost to the exclusion of every other entertainment. This is partially accounted for through it being such a long trek to S. A., with its sparse native stage talent The same statement takes in South America, other than that In the far south of this continent, singing has been and maybe always will be the most cordkally preferred enter- tainment. Australia, using American-made pictures in the large majority, comes nffirer to ths American scheme than its long distance neigh- bors through American "special" films over there attaining quite long runs. France, of the foreigners, dl.splays the greater ningo of Imported pic- tures. That France strongly resents "the American invasion" may or may not be the exact ciniae, though propaganda likely Is in it some- where. Drama ^ There has been an equal exchange in plays if not in players between England and America of late, as witness the vogue of Arlen aiiJ Cow- ard, in porson and scripts, over here. Any alarm felt in England over the Shuberts in. London may be stilled. The best advices are that the Sliu- berts will never control over there. While American dramatic pro- ducers will chance the Austrian, Hungarian or infrequently the Ger- man play, those countries, and in- cluding France, appear to have lit- tle use for the American product. Their choice of Broadway hits ar- rives far apart and when happen- ing, the Berlin producers refuse to deposit advance royalty. The risque is also to be mentioned, although the Continent no longer has much on New York in that direction. One reason for the Continental lack of Interest in American plays is that the Continent is restricted in part from Importing througti the almost constant strife and bicker- ing between the actors and man- agements. Italy is noted within the year for Its Pirandello's Art Theatre. Of the American importers from abroad, Morris Oest stands fore- most, from his "Miracle" down to his present collection of Russians updcr the title of the Moscow Art Musical Students' or something like that, now at the Jolson's.' New York. In between were the "Chauve- Souris" that Balleff alone made stand up, the Moscow Art Theatre that went somewhat beyond and at least sold Russian pieces over the footlights. Previously Gest. a the- atrical adventurer and a gambling daredevil, brought over the mas- sive "Chu Chin Chow" with others almost as big following. Musicals American musicals, small and cheap, are admired Just now by the foreigners. England will take them raw or the foreign tongued coun- tries will adapt them. Little shows with pit orchestras are preferred abroad. While Ber- lin walked out on that type, Aus- tralia fell for them quite hard, larger musical shows from Amer- ica have established themselves In London as hits, while London has sent a 50-50 collection of musicals over here. There are now two Eng- lish musical shows with English companies on Broadway. Radio Radio weaves up and down as It does in and out when circulating. Some countries have not as yet given it a full trial, although South GARRICK THEATRE WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM APRIL 6, 1926 ONE OF THE PREMIERE HOUSES IN LONDON HOLDING CAPACITY £300 Apply to A. E. ABRAHAMS 25 Shaftesbury Avenue, London W. 1 THE TILLER DANCING SCHOOLS Op«n for a t.lmltpd Number of I'uplls Priratr l.rN^nn* rianH^D nt A ChUdrea m bpocialty OF AMERICA. Inc. 226 West 72d Street NEW YORK PhlMMI EndlooU 8tI8-« MART RBAD •ecrstsr? A reprint of "TOMMY'S TATTLE" of Oct. 15. 1924. written by the late Toniiny Gray, who died Nov. 30, 1924. For several years Mr. Gray, a nattiral wit, contributed to V'ariety and his metn«iry is ever green. TOMMY'S TATTLES By THOMAS J. GRAY The old-fashioned manager will blame his bad business on presi- dential year, while the new fashioned fault finder will say "radio." When they hear the army may be railed out to suppress Broad- way plays, the Y. M. C. A. will probably start to dust off the hot chocolate cups. People who claim the cross-word puxcle as a new invention evi- dently forget railroad time tables. When the band craze soes up In smoke Congress will have to pass a law against loose saxophone players. One can't help laughing when they re.ad of actors and actresses who si^-n "Five Vear" theatrical contracts. It would bo Just as easy to make them for ten or twenty yoars. When any one advertises an "nnbl.T.scd review" of something, you know that means a favorable one. "Pad" reviews are always con- 8ider€>d "biased." Actors In revues have to be pretty good nowadays to compete with the costumes and scenery, if they want to get their names In the newspapers. Flappers in those bathing beauty contests will probably catch cold wearing regular street clothes. MIKE SCOTT WITH HIS ANNUAL GOOD WISHES It don't seem 23 years since Mlks ciuiie to America, but when I think of Die flrst Virli ly it is a lonx time When 1 look around me and 8e« a lot of the old time managers, agents, performers, also publlo friends I met over 21 years a>;o we ail can look back at ihe good old days. It cheers Mike up to see you all around to say. Hello Mike! You shall be proud to knuw this Christmas is the flrst time in IT years Mike will have peace ot mind. Not since I saw my mother, also my children. Wh.at I have to say about you, my friends, in Va- riety, for making Mike happy, I will say in a humble prayer that I can't put in writinsj. Well, I won't say any more now as I don't want to be thinking of the past now.' My heart is with you ail, also with Variety, on Us 20tli Anniversary. From the lonely champion, MIKE SCOTT, (Foitr favorite for 23 years). Will ths magazine craze for actors' life stories lead to thess nouncements — —T •Lifs snd Letters" of Corse Payton, 10c, 20c, »0c "Touching Scenes," by Johnny Stanley, $2. "Actors Doing My Stuff," by James J. Morton. Frs*. Probably soon see advertisements In the magaslnes reading "Leani Radio Announcing by MalL Oreat chance for young men who wish to be heard and not seen." As "Peter Pan" baa been set. we all can sit back and wait tor aa- other World War or something else ImportanL Vaudsville actor reports managers ars so nlos on Monday morn- ings that two almost kissed bim. Influx of Europesn acU U bringing back to th* top floor drasslac rooms dialects missing since about 191i. The revue season Is on In New York and tho t>atU« la Uvsljr. It should be a great season for the silk industry. Africa pronounced It a dire flop without requesting a continuance, while Australia has been luke- warm toward It. Undoubtedly strong In tho U. S. and England, radio will have to hustle much faster than it has been doing to hold its listeners-ln for anything but a special evenL Popular Music Antagonism to American Jazz or- chestras has made Itself 'Isible al- most over entire Europe, with the exception of Italy. T'.iat country frankly admits it wants ood dance music with tho subjoined statement that since American bands only can supply it. it wants American bands. Other foreign musicians seem be- wildered by tho salary paid jazz or- chestras They learn such "jazz" as they play from vl.slting Ameri- cans, then maybe teach themselves, meanwhile making every effort to keep the orchestral money at home. Foreign unions carry much weight politically and so far have been successful in their antagonism to American musicians. There has been plenty of talk of reprisals and the State Department at Washing- ton has taken cognizance of the for- eign musician situation, letting It go at that. Combination Vaudovillo Combination vaudeville is grow- ing. From America to abroad every- thing is becoming mixed where be- fore it was straight vaudeville, U Germany Is not included. England Is a saddening spectacle for vfludevlll<». now contra«»ed with the variety honeycombed England of years ago. Paris likes its vaude- ville but wants a girly revue with It, Australia likes its variety shows but its pictures as well (with the rise of the Fullers. John and Sir Ben in that country likened to that of the Loew Circuit over here). South Africa Is another variety Koer but perforeed taking what it can get since the > frlcan Truul has tho country sewn up on any thea- trical branch. II. B. Marinclli's death was a blow (Continued on page 14) TSIMMING THE MME. Chicago, Dec. 28. Someone entered Mme. Lenore's shop and helped themselves to a Christnia"! present In the absence of the employes and owners. The modiste's register was relieved of $500 In casta and a quantity of chocks. K-A ON THE PAN Gert Swasey Endeavoring To Secure Accounting Haverhill, Mass., Dec. 2S. Mrs. Helen Swasey Wilson, known years ago as P. T. Bar- num's Oert Swaaey, bareback rider, has brought suit against the United States Fidelity and Guaranty Com- pany to recover a bond for $16,000. posted by the company for Charles F. Goodwin, trustee of the estate ot her father, the late Moses Swaaey of this city. Mr. Swasey formerly was an ex- ecutive of ths Boston and Main* railroad and one of the largest real estate owners In this city. When ho died he left his estate in trust for his wife and daughter and Goodwin, a lociCl attorney, was trustee. For tho last II years Mrs. Wit- son has been Janitress of tho Bos- ton and Maine station here. Shs has instituted the suit, chargln# maladministration of the sstats by Goodwin, who Is now dead. Anatol Friedland at the opening of his new Club Anatol on West C4th street, Tuesday night, took oo- casion to put the Keith-Albee peo- ple on the pan. It arose from Odette Myrtll. slated for the Hip- podrome next week, having been barred from opening at the new cabaret after Friedland had adver- tised the French comedienne. Tho cabaret owner-entertainer, an erstwhile vaudeville attraction, went on that one reads about cer- tain people appearing "by courtesy of Dillingham" or "courtesy of Ziegfeld" or other managements, but one never sees "courtesy of Keith-Albee," particularly as ap- plied to supper clubs because of the big time's desire to restrict their people from appearing clsevyhere. Several vaudeville people present at the night club could not oblige with specialties the opening night, although one did, regardless of the K-A edict A Forceful 5-Year-Old Jack Don.ahue ("Sunny") has a daughter of Ave, who la careless with language when opiiosed. Mrs. Donahue reproved her daughter the other day, and the little girl Informed the family she was going out in the world to make a living for herself, leaving the house. Shortly away from the house in tho suburb where tho Dona- hues live the child met a friend of the family, who said: "Hello, honey, where are you going?" "I don't know," answered the girl, sullenly. "How's your mother and father, 'learleT' asked the woman friend. "How the hell do I know; I ain't living with them any more," tlie kidlet replied. Denver *To«t'»" Editorial Denounces Censorship Denver, Dec. 28. Denouncing the proposed creation of a federal board to censor motion pictures as an expensive scheme "to give a few deserving political war- horses luxurious Jobs," and pointing out the danger of such a board's In- coming a powerful weapon in tho hands of politicians. The Denver Post today opened a campaign for the defeat of H. R. 4091 by Congress- man Swoope, of Pennsylvanl.'L The public is capable of doing its own censoring through the box of- fice. The Post declares In a two- column editorial bearing the heading "Kill This Federal Censurtihip Mea- sure Now,*' and over the signaturo of A. De Bernardl, Jr., dramatic edi- tor, advocates not only the defeat of the proposed censorship measure, but a complete ropeal of the theatre admission tax, which, it is pointed out, is costing theatreiioers of tho country 26 million dollars a year. Rector's Opens in Fla. George Rector has a new cafe in Miami, Just opened, the Knicker- bocker. Paul Speeht has opened a band there but will remain at tho Moulin Uouge mainly. Bill Oooley Is at Homo Los Angeles. Dec. 28. niU Dooley, former vaudevillo actor, now a Christie comedian, after three weeks In the Osteopathic Hospital following an operation was taken to his home In Hollywood last week. Dooley expects to return to work Hh^"y after the New Year. Tabs in Picturss Akron, O., Dec. 28. Announcement Is maile that the Grand opera house, recently re- opened after dark several yearn, will play musical tabs and p!< turr-s. gSTUMESi 'PRODUCTIONS^ PICTURES GOWNS 'INDIVIDUALS' ISCHNCIDER—I ,—ANDBRSON/ l2?9 W30 StNtW Y<JRK|