Variety (May 1926)

AUSTRALIA Sydney, April 22. Business Is still remarkable at most of the theatres here. With the colder months rapidly approach- ing the various box-offices should register greater grosses. The event* of the week was the Sydney premiere of Anna Pavlova at Her Majesty's. The great ar- tiste scored an overwhelming tri- umph. Laurent NivIkofT is the principal male dancer. He, too, is a wonder. "White Cargo" is still running at the Royal. Show tiow lii nimh week. "Uncle Tom's Cabin" playing with success at G. O. H. Show is along musical lines. Under William Rus- sell management. Renee Kelly has made quite a hit with "Polly With a Past" at the Criterion. "No, No, Nanette" is now well in- - tcr st-r+*e- &4~tk»-&t-. - Jamcsr-Stw!- ness very big. Fuller-Ward man- agement. Lee White and Clay Smith began a season in revue at the Palace last , week. They have a following here. "Keep Smiling" Is the title of a good night's entertainment of the frothy type. Artists include Rid Beck. Billee Lockwood, Edwards and Hughes, Stattler Sisters, , Fred Moore, Saronova, and a peppy bal- let. Scenery not wonderful, but dressing, wow. • girl presenting a wire and trapeze act over Tivoll time. Recent differ- ences led to a break, with Beno again taking up booking with his single act. The story has it that Beno took the girl from the ballet, of a revue company playlpg the Fuller circuit and taught her the various tricks in the routine. She was fear- less and readily risked her limbs- learning the tricks. RUSSIAN DANCERS SUED BY MANAGER FOR $3,000 Liquidated Damages Demand- ed for Breach of Contract —Team Left for America A statement has been given out by the Tivoli management that the Four Australian Woodchoppers at present p'-ay.'r.g tfc* •IrcuiS- would tour South Africa and America. The act if handled properly in the States should prove a decided novelty. The men are corking performers with the axe and certainly make the.wood fly. They would need to be handled by some astute agent who would give the act a proper setting and groom the men Into a 'good stage appearance. At the present time they are rather amateurish in stage presence due to lack of experience before the footlights. Ada Reeve has arrived here in the best of health. She may short- ly make an appearance at the Tivoli Big business at the Tivoli. Rigo- letto Bros, and the Swanson Sisters opened Monday and made good right from the Jump. Clever act. Mills and Innes presented comedy act to just fair results. Act not classy enough for this house. Golda, wire, acceptable. Three Melfords gave but fair exhibition of dancing. Bob Albright. Btill stopping show assisted by. Efina^. Klnp. anil Jean.. Fischer*. - Six Patricolas, dandy acrobatics Good bill. Big business at Fuller's this week. Jim Gerald still big noise with re- vues. Wendllng and Molloy pre- sented pop musica! act. Veterans of "Variety fill first part. "The Iron Horse" still at Prince Edward. Finest movie blouse in city, run along American lines. "The Phantom of_the Opera" big "Hfaw af'Ofysfal Falaee''undeF"'t/nrdn" Theatres management. MNEMONICIAN FAINTS Paris, May 8. A. Rolan, described as a mnemo technle act, "or the man who memorizes two newspapers each day" was listed to open at the Em plre last Friday, but when the first question was put by a member of the audience, Rolan. swooned and had to be carried away. The curtain, was dropped and after a brief explanation of sudden Illness the next act continued the program. Rolan's name is still on the Em plre bill but he is not appearing. MANILA- Paris, May 15. Oscar Dufrenne has brought an action for $3,600 liquidated dam- ages against the Russian dancers, Smymova and Trlpolltoft, as a re- sult of their dropping out of the revue at the Concert Mayol April 14, and Wying for New York, pl*\adJnj» illness after dancing in the Mayol show for a couple of months at 200 francs a day (under 97 at the present rate of exchange). The Russians were already on the high sea, on board the steamer "France" when Oscar discovered they had suddenly recovered suffi- ciently to travel. The Mayol man- ager recruited bailiffs In view of Impounding their baggage, but everything had been taken. So a LONDON I wonder If Teddle Gerard will be married at Westminister Abbey. I she la to marry Tom Douglas she may as well do the thing properly. How "News" Goes Round George* Robey, who is one of the few comedians I know who can walk m around finding humor in real life, told me, on the third day of the strike, uses a small Italian restaurant, had been told by an Italian waiter that courts and a warrant for seizure of Smyrnova and TrlpolltofTs trunks was sent to the captain of the French ship by wireless. The defendants protested they were no longer under the jurlsdic tlon of the French court and that their baggage could not be held for the payment of the 9,000 francs to the captain of the steamer "France" as ordered In the warrant tele graphed after ship was on the high The plaintiff contends the ship to bo French territory. LONDON Melbourne Gilbert-Sullivan Opera Co. began at His Majesty's last week. Opened to capacity. Cast includes Charles Whalen, Leo Darton, Sydney Gran- ville, James Hay, Lance Fairfax, Strella Wilson, Pattl Russell and special chorus. Production under supervision Minnie Everett. "Mercenary Mary" at Princess for Fuller-Ward. "Lilac Time" finishing run of 15 weeks. Guy Bates Post will open In "The Bad Man." "Nervous Wreck" at Palace. "The Admirable Crichton" will be the next production by the Dion Bouclcault Players at King's. "Spor( of Kings'' at Athenaeum. Bijou has following acts: Hunt- ings, Greco an* Keats, Roamona Bros.. Four Kellys, Irvlng's Mid- gets, Connolly's Jesters. Tivoli: Fantasi, Billy Judge, Ben Nee One, Valentine and Bell, Dollie and Billle, Fulvio, Van Dock, and Australian Woodchoppers. (Continued from page 2) lery, pays double and thrice the price of seats In the orchestra circle, and takes all the smoke of the rabble down below. Like caste in the east, smoke unfortunately as- cends: and everyone smokes (save ladies of good repute, who never do If they are natives), Just as every- juu? fails lnla. caalpa., J3sltarv ju?jel1h are 50 cents, orchestra seats from 10 to 25 cents. The American com- munity in Manila Is about 5,000, English, about 600; Spanish, about 2.000, and there may be 1.000 to 1,600 other foreigners of various nationalities. The Spanish, some of them, are frugal enough to go down below; others, outside the soldiers and sailors, go Into the galleries. They are only about J> per cent of the city's population, but they are the cren.m of the theatre trade and their money represents the real profits on a picture run. London, May 15. Wembley Is to come under the V hammer May 27. The palaces of engineering, industry and arts, anc the Btaudlm wITT be" fold. "The "sfffil will definitely deride the future of the place, as to whether it will be utilized for trade, housing or amuse ment. Nellie Stewart, old time favorite, will present a special performance of "Sweet Nell of Old Drury" at Opera house this week for Charity. Miss Stewart made her greatest success here in "Sweet Nell." Leon Gordon, star of "White - Cargo-,-'' taken »«ddonly il-M£st-we««Ji f-tt,^ barc -ftnrr-Jimgtgt with severe attack of dengue fever, at present rather bad here. Roy Rene, one of the cleverest Jewish comedians in this country, had to quit cast of "Give and Take" here last week through nervous troubles. Harry Green, star, has —laita*; tho s h e w -w^ owri -ftfo^-Gwo. will be seen later in "Partners Again" for the same firm. Vaudeville Vaudeville of domestic manufac- ture continues to develop. Good talent at the Rlvoll and the Savoy (this latter house* the second-run house of the Lyric company), putting on two-a-day between pic- tures, three-a-day on Sundays, Saturdays and fiesta days and bank holidays. I think I have said it be- fore, but shall repeat; great talent for a genuine South Sea Island mu- sical comedy can be picked up in Manila. Imagine putting on ^such a show in New York with true Malay dancers, with the unadorned youthful beauty of the tropics, the subtle charm and sinuous grace of — - — pHrO^O-oeat*.- - Some one is overlooking a bet when he doesn't Investigate this field. (Continued from page S) two young women who were reading an evening paper. "Oh, look," said one. "Tom Douglas is going to marry Teddle Gerard!* I record that as a most profound comment on Civilization 1m 192(5. The 8tsge—end Reality A few hours later, I was standing outside my fiat in Trafalgar square, when I met Inspector Nicholls, a detective attached for years to Bow Street Police Station. "Where are you now?" said my friend. "At Deptford." replied Nicholls. "You should go and see Edgar Wallace's play then," I r plied. The third act is laid at Deptford Police Station, and, as there Is an Inspector In It, you might almost be the character himself." "What are you doing at Deptford?" asked my friend, an inquiring crime reffoTter. Nicholls' reply was typical of the hour. * "I only went there today." he said. *I am looking after the docks while the strike Is on." When you regard the theatre in terms like this, what happens on Its stages rather bores you. Lorna Pounds. In "Palladium Pleasures," haa been getting a lot of publicity following her marriage to a sailor, with tho result her flat was broken into during her honey- moon trip and a number of wed- ding; presents and Jewelry stolen. Man ago- Jack • Haymar>--of tho- Victoria Palace has secured Elsie J an is to play an exclusive engage- ment at the Victoria Palace, begin- ning Juno 7 for three weeks. The Gerald Lawrence season at the Princess opens May 17 with a revival of "Secret Service," under the direction of Martin Sabine in association with Ida Molesworth and Templar Powell. The modern cast includes Fay Davis, Madge Compton, Robin Irvine, James Carew, Gerald Lawrence. week days. Following on the raid In Febru- ary of the Fifty-Fifty Club, a the- atrical headquarters controlled by Ivor Novello, the club has been struck off the register and will have to suspend activities for six months. No disorder or impropri- ety was alleged, but the complaint was the sale of liquor without a li- cense and drinking after permitted hours. .There was also Imposed a fine of $200 on the club and on each of the four principals and the King and Queen had run away to America. "Don't be silly," said Morgan. "I saw it In the bulletin," replied tho waiter. Thereupon the waiter produced one of the many typewritten nows- sheets, which had been reproduced on a multlgraph machine, and pointed out a line which read "The Majestic left Southampton last night for New York." It is in this way that strange stories get around. Fortunately, however, the cessation of newspapers has prevented tho appearance In the picture papers photographs of actors Joining up for police duty and silly actresses singing such songs as "We don't want to lose you; but we think you ought to go." When you Vop the newspapers, you stop all this silly self-advertising, automatically. So Ml as Klss-Me-Qulck is not singing a patriotic song, this time; nor Is anybody writing it. or "given the proceeds tp charity" in order to get his name In the newspapers. Indeed, we were all allowed to go on doing our duty without the press agents butting In. I Lose a Bet to Violet I paid Violet Loralne a cheque for $25 the other day. "Is it true you are going back to the stage?" I said, having heard an echo of something she remarked at the first night of the new Cochran revue. "~* "No, I am singing on the wireless tonight for charity." she said. Thai is what they heard. That reminds me that I have not seen you elnoo my last wedding anniversary." On the day of her wedding, I bet her $25 that she would bo back on the stage within five years. Hex last wedding anniversary was her fifth. Violet Loralne is one of the few actresses in England worth what- ever salary they ask. She was so wonderful on the wireless, they tell me. that she song "Let the Great Big World Keep Turning" and "Maggie, Yea Ma," that even those in the studio were compelled to tears. She is a great artiste, and a great lady, who carries around with her every- where evidence of her blg-heartedness. You can bring over all these 5phieiryj-a^ Bel yaias a nd- *K- tkooe? ba4- Vlotet cou-M -act- the as a U att tho stage. Bunk on tho Wireless They do talk nonsense on the wireless. The other day James Agate was reported as saying something about how it was the rich who ruined the theatre. He must have forgotten that his own play, "Blessed Are the Rich," was only made possibly because it was backed by a rich man in Manchester. Then, a week later, St. John Ervine remarked that "Women should not be allowed into the theatre until they were 40." A few nights later, I saw him with his wife at a first night "You oughtn't to be allowed In this theatre." I said to Mrs. Ervine. "If you are under 40, your husband oughtn't to have brought you. If you are over 40, you cannot admit it." London's New Backer Henri Taunay, who lost $50,000 over "Rlkl-Tikl," Intends to have an- other go. You would have thought that one failure like that would have been enough, even for a young Dutchman with 1,260,000 dollars. But, no! He is going Into management! I wonder why backers back shows. Is there any glory in being as- sociated with a^ musical comedy? Does it make your heart throb with Frank Goulette, principal owner of the Lyric music house, the Lyric film exchange, the Lyric string of ■ th f a lflPfetfp- is btt i - l r-ra r M a nHa - Iwa In "Wildflower" in Adelaide this week Marie Burke Is featured. This show had a remarkable success here two years ago and has been playing practically ever since. Dame Clara Butt Is making her farewell Australian appearance this week In Adelaide. She Is assisted by her husband, Kennedy Rumford. The Don Cossacks Male Choir had a good reception at their Australian opening In Adelaide last week. The Russians will move to Melbourne shortly. They are under the man- agement of Dan Carroll. Ben Beno, Amerienn aeriallst, re brief business trip but Broadway will reclaim him soon. For a volunteer soldier of the old "Em- pire Days," Frank has done more than passing well. He has gath- ered kale enough to do what he likes when he likes, so good old U. S. A., dry as It Is supposed to be, wet as It really seems to be, will see him in future more than Manila. E. C. McCullough, another New Yorker now, made his first million in Manila. Since getting in touch with Broadway he has put more millions with It by Judicious back- ing of pictures. Through pictures and other business route?. New York Palm Beach Club (late Karsino) at Hampton Court, under the direc- tion of the Prince's Restaurant, is running woek-end cabaret. The opening program is practically all American, and consists of Frank Masters, Jack Smith, Dodge Sisters and Terpsichore. This entire cab- aret !s also working at Prtaee't-'Oftfp^fderw^ tBe" tfnvettlfig- music-«na"t"rtw punklsu Jokeaf- Yqu Hjiv# Rut tht Mon#y Up They do not use your picture in the paper, at least In England, and lights do not electrify your name. You merely blush unseen—and sign oheques. "Woad" Makes Its Heroes Squirm Beverley Nichols, the dramatic critic, has really upset certain the- atrical celebrities by his articles called "Woad," printed In the "Sketch." His adulation of them has made them look ridiculous. He said some- thing about how he would like to put a halo over Eddie Marsh, the first- nighter! He talked about the bathing pool belonging to the Earl of Lathom In his house at Mount-street! His description of the cushions in Ivor Novello's flat was enough to make any ordinary person scream with Jaujjhter. A new Theatre Guild is In course of formation In London, on the lines of that existing in New York. The prime mover in the scheme Is Rob- ert Atkins, formerly producer at the Old Vic, whose aim is to form a society with headquarters at a the- at re. (pff^foahly thft Qnrr1&k4, yvhlqr- will produce plays for a run of two weeks each. As reported the Performing Right Society has been Joined by nearly all the outstanding musical publishing companies. Tho recent recruits Include Boosey & Co., Ltd.; Elkln & Co., Ltd.; Enoch & Sons. Ltd.; B. Feldman & Co.; Francis. Day & Hunter, Ltd.; J. Curwen & Sons, Ltd.; Keith Prowse & Co.. Ltd.; Lawrence Wright Music Co.; J. W. Larway; Joseph William, Ltd. The indefatigable Peggy O Nell has cultivated a new habit. One could hardly find a charKy concert organized in London without her name appearing as one of the con- tributors. But now she has gone and ManlTa are more closely linked I ono better. She has become a char What on earth Induced the editor of tho "Sketch" to print this non- sense, no one can understand. The effect on the public mind cannot be calculated. • * There is, at the present moment in London, a little gang of back- scratchers, who write about each other and ecstaclse in fatuous ways that make you sick. Some of the people written about this time have got so cross with noor Beverley that they are now afraid h e w ill not write about them at all. Beverley Nichols, not long ago, was the president of the Oxford Union. Lord Birkenhead and Lord Asqulth once occupied the same position; so, I believe, did Lord Curzon. One became Lord Chancellor, another be- came Prime Minister, the third became Viceroy of India. They didn't write nonsense of this kind. fort, which • took place at the Al- hambra, resulted in a net profit of over $3,000. London Is to lose an old landmark In the shape of Oddenlno's In Re- gent street. One of the most famous of Bohemian restaurants, It has for 26 years held high position in popu- lar favor. Cavallere Auguste Od- denlno, the owner, will transfer his activities to Gattl's In the Strand. "Mrs. Warren's Profession." Bern- ««ntly teamed up with an Australian than any other two American cities, ity concert organizer. Her last ef ard Shaw's play banned from the London stage for 20 years, has proved so successful at tho Ald- wych It haa been decided to ex- tend Its run indefinitely. It was originally put on for a season of four weeks. Charlton Andrew* tho playwright whoso most recent effort, "Dumb Bunny." has been accepted by Anno Nichols for production, has com- pleted a novel to boar the title of 'The Lady of Gesture." It will be published by McCauley'o