Variety (February 1926)

1 . '!W Wednesday, February S, 199B FOREIGN VARIETY ) J. SHUBERTS NEW RULING AGITATING THEATRICAL LONDON First Night List Cut from 146 to 24 Seats—Advanced Admission to Gallery—Nothing English in Lon- don's "Student Prince" but Male Chorus London, Feb. S. See JakeT Tou can't even ap- proach him. and the Inauguration ,f the Shubert management in l^ondon takes place tomorrow. .ake'a In hiding. "The Student Prlnje" is due at Hla Majesty's, the Irst night press list has been cut Irim 146 to 24 seats for this house: regular galleryltes can't get lear the thfeatre. unusual occuiences iave become almost ordinary and. In fact. Wednesday eve looks like Itiite a night In the West End. ;'3 impossible to get an explan- ation from J. J. Shubert as he Fe- tuses to be interviewed by anyone and has Isolated himself. ;t began early with the announce- ment that the gallery and pit would It bookable in advance but at raised prices. The boosting of pit geats from thi'ee to seven shillings created feeling while the gallery regulars were tendered a "sold out" reply upon asking for tickets five minutes after the sale opened a week ago. This was last Wednes- day (Jan. 27) to be exact. The balcony tribunal and Its component parts felt so deeply over the matter that they sent an official com- mittee of representatives to wait on J. J. and secure a reason for the discrimination. But J. J. again sent out a refusal and pa.ssed up the eommittee despite advice. English Chorus ' In the case of the press list the jitoeagre allotment of 24 stubs came ■^f^a surprise. Previously, wheh iT'he Co-Optlmlsts" produced their last show at this theatre, the dallies received a quota of 146. Hesides this the posters for the 'Trlnce." either on omnibuses or off, herald the Information that there Is an tll-Gngllsh male chorus, thus stressing the only English angle of the show. Meanwhile, stories are going Kround that the costumes have been made In Paris, were fitted In-the theatre by a French dressmaker whose conversation demanded an Interpreter, after which came the arrival of the Germ.an prima donna. Use Marvenga. George Graves' ■t>atement when he threw up his part said that. "It's too Boche for me," has added to the general talk roing around. There Is little doubt that J. J. Is plenty worried about the show or the gallery would not have been ■old out before the regulars could buy. Willie Edelsten Is acting as Shubert's aide de camp during these hectic times while Oscar Kigman, who was cabled for. arrived yester- day (Monday) and went straight from the boat to a dress rehearsal. Outside of this stories axe current, •nayhaps emanating from enemies, that a decrease In regular house •taff salaries has already been threatened by the Shuberts. The entire pit of His Majesty's has been given away for the premiere of "The Student Prince" r.nther than 'I'k an antagonistic audience. CLIFF-MONKMAN RlZZrS NEW CLUB Ambastador's Seats 350—Corte« and Peggy Dancing. , London. Feb. 2. The new Ambassador's Club, •pened by Rlzzl. had 350 (capacity) « attendance at Its premiere last *eek with Cortez anU Peggy the •nly attraction. The following night business counted 451 patrons with tables placed on the floor to the extent the dance team could not perform. Patterned after Giro's except that ^ la much richer and more modern. "IzzI is acknowledged to have one "f the most beautiful "rooms" In town. Laddie and Phyllis Marrying in London Feb. IS London. Feb. J. Laddie Cliff and Phyllis Monk- man are to be married Feb. 16. Both are former members of the "Co-Optlmlsts," with ClifT but re-: cently. recovered from an Illness. Miss Monkman refused to rejoin that .organization unless at her pre- vious sal*ary and percentage terms. Whlteman Doubling; $5,000 Paid by Him House London. Feb. 2. When Paul Whlteman and his pichestra opens here at the Kit I.at Club, about the first week In March. he will also double at the Tlvoli (pictures), receiving $5,000 weekly from that theatre. William Morris and Harry Foster have additionally booked Ted Lewis and Frances White at the Kit Kat. Miss White makes her debut Feb. 8. while Lewis will personally ap- pear In the midst of a girl revue, without his band, following tlie Whlteman engagement. The club management baa cur- rently persuaded Hal Sherman tc resume working In white face. Th« dancer appeared two nights under "cork." Biased Broadcaster London, Feb. i. A complaint Is to come before the West End Managers' Association re- garding James Agate's broadcasting criticisms when he Is reported to have said that the only show in town worth while seeing was "All the King's Horses." Agate Is dramatic critic on the Sunday "Times." This show was written by Opcn- shaw. part author of Agate's own play. "Blessed Are the Uich." HUGH WARD ON WAY HOME London. Feb. 2. Hugh Ward will be on the "Mauretania" when It sails from here tomorrow (Feb. 3) and will go direct to Australia from New York. It Is his Intention to be present for the opening of the new Iheatre In Sydney. Ward has booked "No. No, Nan- ette" and ".Mercenary Mary" for Australia while he has also signed Jack Morrison, from the Metropole "Follies." '^ ''on't i<lf*rtli» la VarlflT <Ion"t »<1vertl» BANNED PLAY ON SUNDAYS London. Feb. 2. The cenf»or having turned his thumbs down on "Cradle Snatch- ers" for West End presentation, Ernie Edelsten has cabled the au- thors for permission to produce the play on Sunday nights. Sabbath performances do not come under censorship jurLsdlctlon over here. A LOT OF PILCEES Paris, Feb. 1, Harry Pllccr. accompanied by his sister. Elsie, his brother. Dudley Douglas, and Tom Waltham's band, opened .satisfactorily at the Empire (vaudeville). JENNY GOLDEB MARRYING Paris, Feb. 2. Jenny Golder and HertVl Varna, manager of the Empire (vaudeville) have announced their engagement. The wedding Is to take place in June. "WTLDFLOWER" $7 TOP Lonilon, I'eb. 2. When "Wildflower" ojiens at the Shaftsbury It will have a top scale of aroimd J7, or 29 .shillinu's. THE TILLER DANCING SCHOOLS THELMA EDWARDS Parody Club, Broadway, New York; Hooked originally for four weeks, retainedTfor six, and atlll held over for Van and Schenck angagement. There's a reason! Thelma ICOwards. a statuesque and versatile mistress of terpslchore, ex- ecutes, with ch.arm. grace and agil- ity, waltz. Hawaiian and acrobatic numbers, and is possaeaed of a melodious singing volca. Direction SAM K. COLLINS. NEW MUSICAL COMEDY BEST CHANCE IN LONDON "Turned Up," Adapted— "House of Glass" Uninter- esting to English Lon4«B. Feb. S. Four West Knd opanlngs last week of which only ona seems des- tined to enjoy a ran. and that a musical. Julian Wylle and C B. Cochran's "Turned U[)" Is tba optiinlsUc en- trant at the New Oxterd. This musical comedy, adaptad from the Mark Melford fare* of the same n.nme and following "AITa Button" into this house, waa wall recelYed by the premier audience, albeit the press notices were dIvMad. The second half of tlie ahow doea not equal its preceding esunterpart but It looks capable of enjoying a moderate/ run. Luplao Lane and Anita El son are featured with others in the east Including Jaek Melford. Henry Wenman. Charld* Stone. Ouitla McDermott. hfaaer l«ovat and Ruth Maitland. Two dubious pro a pecta are ••Scotch Mist" and "BUnd AUey." The former Is Sir Patrick Basting's second play, and aa anquallfled failure at Saint Marttn'a. while the latter in so much bosb concerning a world without divorce by Dorothy Prandon, authoreaa o( *nTtae Out- sider." Very doubtful la Mas Marcln's "House of Glass" at the Prince of Wales. The subject of tfae play Is uninteresting here bealdaa which the two leading characteiv are Inade- quately cast. •^P*" for a Mmlted "Uiiibcr of fupila Prtvatr I.MMDS < tnmnrn of 6 vbiltlrpn • Mpeclaltf * <• • . » OF AMERICA, Inc. 226 West 72d Street NEW YORK rhonr: EodJcott 821S-' MART RKAD Secretary "Blind Alley" cloaea •* the Play- house this Saturday. INDEX Miscellaneous 1 Foreign .«•■.... f-S Vaudeville 4-10 Vaudeville Review* ...1«-17-50 Bills Next Weak 18-10 Burlesque 11 Sports 15 Times Square............ IS Women's Page 12 News from the Oaillao... 14 Legitimate 21-28 Legitimate Review* 27-28 Pictures 29-43 Editorials 20 Picture Reviews 87-42-43 Film House Reviewa 86 Lltera'.i 84 Music 44-47 Cabnrct 47 Ballroom Reviews '44 Disk Reviews 45 Outdoors 48-49 Inside Stuff—Vaudeville.. 10 " " —Legit 20-26 " " —Music 44 " " —Pictures ... 38 Obituary 49 Correspondence 51 Letter List 68 4 SUCCESSFUL PARIS PREMIERES; EACH 0? DIFFERENT CLASS LONDON GROSSES London, Feb. 8. The last week of 'The Co-Optl- mlsta," at His Majesty's, saw ll^.ers roll into the box ofTlce with $".6^5 of that sum contributed the final nighL "All the King's Horses," In Its flrst week at the Globe, did JU.OOO with the aid of a library deal, while on Saturday night "The House of Glass" enjoyed a financial attend- ance that reached $1,165. Last night (Monday) "Scotch Mist" did $850 at St. Martin's, a house that can do $1,125 a per- formance. The weather was sultry accompanied by a heavy rain which made business around town the worst In some time. "3 RASCALS" SPLIT Veteran Chicago Cafe Trio Finally Breaks Up; Abroad for Vearg London, Feb. 1. The final disintegration of the act originally known as the Three Ras- cals has come to pnss. It started off as a trio consisting of Charles O'Donnell, Eddie Fields and Monte Wolf, three "Rathskeller" lads from around Chicago, who have been here so many years they are probably u..- known to most of the present-day American show folk. Years and years ago Wolf retired from the act. which was carried on as a duo. and some half dozen or more years later O'Donnell and Fields quarrelled, but decided to play out their contracts and as far aa Is known, up to the present mo- ment, haven't spoken to each other off-stage. Eddie Fields la now working with a band, billing himself as "Eddie Flelda late of the Two Rascals, with hls,3and of Rascals." Rebuilt Vaudeville Shows No Betterment in Design London, Feb. 2. The rebuilding of the Vaudeville theatre. In the heart of the Strand, by the millionaire restaurateurs. Messrs. Gattl. afforded an admirable opportunity for Imitating American methods for the construction of an up-to-date theatre. The oppor- tunity was Ignored. The Vaudeville Is nearlng com- pletion and shows all the old Ideas and Inconveniences of previous day construction. For Instance, if King George attends a performance, he will have to walk up three flights of stairs and then pass In front of the circle In order to reach the royal box. The orchestra pit Is too small for modern revue and all the old- fashioned boxes have been put back as they were before. 10,000 Saw "Peter Pan" On 4 Screens at Once Sydney. Dee. 30. The flrst screening of "Peter Pan" at the huge Stadium, this city, through courtesy of Paramount Sun Newspapers and other bodies, was witnessed by 10.000 children. The picture was screened on four screens at one time and admi-tslon was free. Frank Clark's Spats I^ondon, K»,-b. 2. Frank Clark, formerly represent- ing Waterson. Herlln & Snyder and who Is vacationing here prior to undertaking the publishing business on his own. admits having been nttcd for spats and a monocle. He claims It's only a joke but he does intend to wear this outfit, which makes the Joke thing go both ways. Krank waa due on the Cintlnent .it this time but he's baek here, ivUhout an cxplaj bankeeTbacker I.oiKiiin, I''eb. 2. A member of Hoare, the bankers, who backe<l "The Moon find Six- pence" is also llnaneliilly behln<l '9;45.'' Paris. Feb. 2. Four favorable openings. A French version of .. ..neVlch ivalmann's popular operetta, "L Cayadero" (Hindoo dancer) serN as Che initial play at the Mog.u theatre for Kmile and Vin Isola, formerly the managers ot Un Opera Comlque. The Mig.^dor de- liuts with the piece aa a lyrical liouse. This operetta has already toured Central Europe and the French rights seem U be held at .\l..n- charniani, of Lyons. The script was done by Pierre Veber while tlie !yric3 are credited to Berial and Maubon. Its reception was heai ty with Leonard. Uoumanlan siuRer, remarkable in the role of an Indian prince and Mme. Marie Kousnez.iff also acclaimed. Others In the cast are Robert"^ Hastl. Urban and Mme. Itlstorl. A local adaption of K.almann's latest is due here shortly under the title of "Princess du Cirque" ("The Circus Princess"). Another premiere took place at the Atelier In the Theatre Monimarire. where Charles Dullln presented "Irma," a three-act comedy by Roger Ferdinand, likewl.se ai);iroved. "Irma" Is a spinster at 46 who innocently accepts the fUitatl ns of her 20-year-old Godson and believes in his sincerity only to discover It Is strategy with him. whereupon she sadly resumes her existence of solitude. Marcelle Dullln plays the title role and Louis Alllbert con- vinces aa the youth. "Romantic Middle Class" At the Studio des Champs Ely- .seea a small theatre in the same building as the Champa Elysees music hall. Jacques Blanchons "Le Bourgeois Romanesque" ("The Ro- mantic Middle dlass") was nicely received. . This three-acter haa to do with a retired tradesman who. living to the provinces, regrets his un- romantlc life, brought about through his quixotic nephew's advlbe. He Clnally realizes everybody ex- periences a romance at some time and that even business struggles contain many. Mile. Germalne Michel. Florencle and Garcia play this work of Banchon. who Is but 24. "Pair of Fathers" The Follies Dramatlque Is hous- ing another amusing military farce In "Une I'alre de Peres" (" A Pair of Fathers") by Leon Xanrof. Alfred Vercourt and Jean Beaver. Morton and Mme. Musldora, who hold the leads, were excellent In this work. It tells of Tricot, a former soldier, mistaken aa a lieutenant and an actress' father. The girl schemes to wed a major but the real father •spoils the intrlqua "Jig Dancers" Not so recent an opening waa "Danseuses de Gigue" ("Jig Dancers") at the Malson de rOeuvre. directed by Lugrte Poe and that, in conjunction with the Atelier at the Theatre Montmartre. directed by Char)es Dullin. forms the nearest approach Paris has to the Theatre f;ulld In New York. This Is melodramatic In seven tableaux relating of two students. one of whom passes his examina- tions as the other fails. The latter Is successful In life. A quarrel ultim.ately ensues whereby these two boys fight a duel and both are killed. The title Is implied by the Belgian .author. Stouman^e. who compares the characters to marionette flpmes. The play waa originally titled •'Facsimile." Goetz Settles f.iri.s. F-b. 2. Kay Ooetz h.'is satlsf.Tctorlly set- lled his contraet controversy wiili T?rtove by paying 3',000 francs fur the rancrllaflon of It "Is Zat So?" at Apollo ly^ridon. Feb. 8. "Is Zat So?" now In rehearsal la headed for the Apollo. IgSTU NESI ron MODUCTIOHS^ PICTURES GOWNS iNDm^lALS I SCHNEIDER —' ^—ANDERSON, 1229 W 3© ST NEW YORK '