Variety (Feb 1927)

Wednesday, February 2. 1927 FOREIGN VARIETY DU MAURIER'S COMEBACK WITH JfTEREERENCE'HAY BE SMASH Pl«iiiiere NiftUy Handled widi Burriat ^^le !>•• tected—"Give and Take" Unlikely—"12 MUet Out" RuiiMid by Lut Act i;"^:!""'- > London, Feb. 1. Openingrs of the past week were somewhat submerged by the elabor- lif# e<»ni«l>itok of BIr GsntM Du- MauHer as an actor-manager with ••Interference" at the Saint James, Jan. 29. It is a strong melodrama, splenAidiy ieted by Di^Maurler, Her- bsrt Marshall «nd Hilda Moore, and gives every indication of bsooming a sensational success. Frank Cunon, In aiisociation with Gilbert Miller, is behind the venture, but the coup was the manner In which the premiere was handled. First night lists wsro cartfully scrutinized in an attempt to repro- duce a pre-war glamor. No notice of production appeared in either the Sunday or Daily *«Bxprees" with the rSAilon given out that at Sir Gerald's personal request no tickets would be sent out. This possibly was for thor personal barring el HMwen 8waffer. The last critic ostracized by Du- Maurier was James Agate, the man- agement stating that in the latter's case it was because of the review- er's attitude toward "Peter Pan/' in Which DuMaurier^s daughtar Md other amatoiira appeared. The newspaper situation sur- rounding "Interference" has been complicated since the opening by DnMaurier's angry retort to a statement of Viscount Castlerosse In the Sunday "Express" ttiat Du- Jdaurier made $110,000 out of "The ^Ast of Mrs. Chesmay." "Nothing could be more vulgar, if It were true," says DuMaurier in an interview. "Statements of this •ort make ti»ublo with the laeome tax. authoritiea aikl ptip^elipi of charities." Besides this, fuel is aMed to the flames of the row with the press by inclusion in the play of a line saying that one of the characters hae not fallen so low as to be a ^umalist. Two American shows were also among last week's entries, neither appearing as though they'll get any- where. Aaron Hoffman's **Oive and Take" was given a nice reception at the Globe but is an unlikely prospect while "Twelve Miles Out," at the Strand, looked "in" at tho eeoond act finale but lost its chaiieoe IMil tho third act unwound. Sutro's "Desperate XjOTm" was strenuously ' ooed at its Comikb^ premiere by the gallery and Is erally regarded as a failure. ^ Two more premiteres last night, one at Portsmouth and the other at the little "Q." Godfrey Tearle's latest undertaking, "Dawn," en- joyed a sucoepsful getawiar at Portsmouth. This is a domestic drama, and drew a cordial welcome •I At the "Q" was "Sovereignty," Ihe usual triangle problei|n«ifeiUJirith the unwanted husband tahlllg poison to leave his wife free. ONE NEW PUY IN PARIS SCOR^ ANOTHER FAILS Historical Drama Poorly Re- c(nv!In1; Piece from Hunsarian la. .laikect' ■. Parl% Fobw I. Two new protttetiOBa Mturn a 10- 50 result An art grovp^ venture at the Odeon promises nothing, while an adaptation from the Hun- garian at the Renaissance had an auspicious start : ' : ' Roland The coterie oallod Alia et FfO* tection staged a poetical legend "Roland" at the Odeon Jan. 25. It is the work of M. Lacasse, its three acts dealtanff with tha story of Charlemagne's famous general Ro- land and his death in War with the Saracens. Balpetre played Charle- magiii giiiioiliiiillyt > whlla Paul Oettly was satisfactory as Roland, the acting contributing considerably to the favorable outcome of the enttviNMli' ••lllte AWa Nous, ^^1^ Another effort by the youthful Jacques Deval, "Viens Avec Nous, Petit," which originally was called "Lia .Leooa des Choses/' was pra* sented Jan. 27 at the Renalsaaaoa under direction of Jean Cerf. This is a French adaptation of Ernest Vajdao^ Hungarian original "Fata Morgana." For present pur- poses the locale has been changed to Brittany instead of Hungary. The caat laotadsa Mat MnM and Blanche Montel, supported by Cande. The Renaissance is under the management of Afrigan for the pressBt siifltgiiniit xna. MaMam acting is a feature of the perform- ance. She has been compared W^h Emily Stevens in a like role. ProUbition's Best Aid kPreMBt Bid Booze WILL MAHONEY ORMEUM, LOS ANOatii^ THia WKCK The LOa AMOSm HBOORD" said: "Will Mahoney, a comedian ex- traoidlnary, headlining for two weeks continues to knock them off their seats with his patter, his songs and his dancing. He has been a riot at every show he has played. He Is a cure for t>lues and a treat for jtm ayea. Daat mtai litai. Jttfa great** Direction . RALPH a FARNUM (Edw. a. Kallap OfiRce) Prohibition's host observ- ance aid at present is the illicit boose manufacturer. It is the common belief by the inner circle of liquor handlers that if prohibition is ever pro- nounced a success in this country, that condition will havo been reached through the quality of the stuft now called and sold as liquor. Dealers reiterate their pre- vious statement that New York never has been flooded with the spurious and dan- gerous boose as at present. Extreme caution is sug- gested in liquor purchases. At the allghtast doubt an analy- sia ihoiald ht procured. SEVEN NEW LONiXM THEATRES PROPOSED PARIS CARARETS MAY CLOSE; STARVING NOW ____ *■ No Americans in Paris—Lux- ury Tax N. G. for Natives— Traile 'Way Off KIT ai LONDON MAY REMAIN CLOSED Factions Widiin It* Board Montlis Cloting; $6,000 FiM ^fench Bosiiiess Poor; Paris. Feb. 1. Theatrical business throughout t*rance is very poor al ptfsent* and It. Is feared that tha ^Is will extend. ' Many houses are currently play- ing at a loss, despite the generous distribution of half-price tickets, or as you call it. "two-for-ones." Presentatmi ii Hail; CMnt A rtf at YMNice London, Web. 1. What originally was a picture house presentation went into the Victoria Paiada yaaterday and tfb- tained a neat sendoff. The act is "On the Levee," realis- tic song scena first produced by Ptraiiefi Mangan at the Plaza (pic- tures). Leo Deslys and Keno Clark, two American boys who have been yodelling In London and Paris cabarets, w«fa altfa on thia hill and did nicely. Herschei Meniere, making his lo- cal return appearance at t|ia Hoi- born Empire , H a w tehdered li ttg Htitm did iracaptlon. London. Feb. 1. There are threats to build seven new theatres hero. If this program takes plaoa It will mark the death knell of the old flretraps with which London has been afflicted for the past generation. Ona story going tha rounds Is that Charles Gulliver will build four houses in the Aldwych district. It is also reported that Sir Alfred Butt Is Intarsatad in aaothar atrue- ture to be further west, and I^auril- lard has a site nazt to the Regent Palace hotel. One thaatrob pvapoasd ta ha aazt door to the Coliseum, was the rea- son for an amusing fight between the Claverings, who have obtained tiM alta^ and tha Mhort laliMli, who were after it. Plans for this undertaking were being forwarded to the Shuberts by tha nest mall whan. It waa discov- ered that loufcady ImMI %m> Hiain t0..lt./.„: AbralwM Takag Owr 11 GnDirar Hmises London, Feb. 1. As forecast in Variety over a year ago, A. ES. Abrahama will taka over 11 houses of the QuUlrer circuit next September. He will install a new policy of pictures and vaude- ville. Charles OulHver statea the report is absurd, but Abrahams will prob- ably announce the transaction this Parts. Jan. t9. Montmartre cafe proprietors are worried. Business is "way off" and many have decided to close until spring whan the foreign Invasion annually starts. This condition is partly due to the 25 per cent luxury (cafe men formerly Included It In the price of champagne) now added to the checks as separate items. Prices in general have not changed to malce both *ends meet In addition to the luzuiry tax Is a turnover tax of 13 per cent., a 6 per cent municipal tax and a royalty for the authora and com- posers society of anothair • per cent. Between the taxes and the ab- sence of Americans, there la no doubt the cabarets are suffering. AENCH ' MERCraARY MAEY" Paris, Feb. 1. i*li[ercenary Mary" Is down for production at Theatre des Bouffes Parisiens for the not distant future, the feature role being played by one t»f the beHt known of French players. ■' It is expected the adaptation will Ijc made by Yves Miranrlp. French revue wit. Kdmun d Roze is to di- i«ot the piece. KAY LAURELL DEAD London, Feb. 1. Kay Laurcll, former Ziegfeld "Follies" beauty, died hero yester- day of pneumonia at the age of 37. She had been in retirement from the stage for about five years. A cable from America was to the effort that the former actress' mother was also dying in Erie, Pa., from where Miss Laurell originally hailed. Miss Laurell wa.s one of the Zie^ feld beauties at the same period that the late Olive Thomas was with the show. She was married in London in 1916 to Winfield R. Sheohan, vice-prosident of the Wil- liam Fox Film Corp. They were later divorced. THE TILLER DANCING SCHOOLS OF AMERICA, Inc. 2M Wml 72d StrMt NEW YORK 4£ '.^;***'vit*>^v, MARY READ Paris Cabarets Broke; Mijr Drop Musidaiis Paris, Feb. 1. A number of the cabarets up Montmartre way are considering the move of dispensing with their orchestras, at least for the present. At any rate the proprietors have put the question of a cut in pay up to the bandsman, mentioning the alternative of dropping them. A grave crisis confronts the amusement men. With the tourist trada at winter ebb, business Is at a standstill, while taxes are mounting and the cabaret operator Is caught coming and going. They are putting a wry face Ml tha stu- ation Just now when tha maalolans' salary queatioa la up. Cochran'g 4 Shows London, Feb. 1. C. B. Cochran is again branching 6ut, m w ill ai f i iBiir gnu w a r uu- nlng hero by spring; M£S. HYLTOH OH RADIO Mrs. Jack Hylton, wife of the English orchestra leader. Is Tlsiting in New Tork. Bha to ta kroadeast during the week. Mrs. Hyiton professionsiiy is £n- xUs Parkesu ■ , •'' ' .. • * ■ ' , ,, PARIS MUSIC STRIKE AVERTED AFTER ROW Paris, Feb. 1. The French musicians* syndioate threatened a strike at the Palace Friday unless the conductor at that house became a member of the union body. Tbe leader In queation gave way after the matter came to a crisis and agreed to take mem- bership in the organization. On this basis the strike was called off. However, the Music Hall Man- agers' Federation had become em- broiled by this time and its presi- dent presented a demand that the syndicate agree not to raise the issue again under threat of strike. Failing such guarantees the music tiall men declared they would form a group of musicians independent of the syndicate and opposing the existing union. There the situation stands with the syndicate register- ing embarrassment. TIRSr YEAR" LOSER London, Feb. 1. Despite those who see It becom- ing wildly eulogiHtlc, "The First Year" is losing l>etween l&OO and ll.m weekly. Ernest Trues, playing tha Frank Craven role. Is considering a part in the Frederick Lonsdale play at the Fortune theatre. This house was bought by Tom Walls for $430,000. He will redecorate it for a September opening. Flu Attacks Troupe London, Feb. 1. Willy Pantzer'H troupe is out of the bill at the Coliseum, the entire personnel being afflicted with in- fluensa. MARCHAL H£AD£D FOR U. S. Paris, Fe b. 1. Arieiie Marchai is returning to America under engagement to Famous Players. Psrsde' Continues in Psris Paris. Feb. 1. "The Big Parade," Which sUrted ur1»*r fiuo auspi« <s, in still running at the Madeleine Cinema to large returns. London, Feb. 1. Revocation of the Kit Cat Club's license last week brings about a possibility of tha ^b never re- opening. Besides the license being revoked for three months aa a result of liauor having been served after hours to non-members, a $6,000 flne has been imposed, but the real con- troversy lies within tha board" of directors. Sir Walter Gibbons, owner of the property and heading one faction among the directors, will apply thIa week for a restaurant licenaa. Wimw* ever, the Gibbons clique has con- stantly been at loggerheads with Stanley Jones and there to a llkell* hood that the Jones group may permanently withdraw. Acts booked by Jones into tha Kit Cat wUl be farmed out A vogue of high salaried American entertainers for English and Conti* nental cabarets found Ito orlgte at the Kit Cat Club, London. It has been mostly booked with attractions from the William Morris agency, in New York. Term engagements were con- tracted for by the Kit Cat, usually on an optional contract of four weeks or sow Aeita angagad for that club wei:e expected to double at some other club or theatre, this be- ing understood when engagement was entered luto. Ed Uwry, LsidtB HH London, Feb. L Ed Lowry is a tremendous hit at the IMccadiUy (hotel) cabaret and will probably remain In London for some time. He haa ahready had aa offer for a show. Owing to the Kit Cat closure^ Lowry is doubling at the Empress Rooms with equal success. Glenn Ellyn ta also strongly scoring hera. London Offer for Kearna London, Fab. 1. J. L. Sachs ta negottoting to se- cure Alan Kearns for "The Qiri From Cook's," INDEX Foreign • t-t Pictures 4^20 Picture Reviews 18-19 Picture I'ro.sontations... .21-23 Film House Reviews..... 29 Vaudeville .,..^...14^21 Now ActK....... 21 Burlesque 24 Burlesque Routes........ 62 Hills 20-31 Times Square 25 Editorials 28 Women's Page....•...«•• 87 Literati 15 Legit Reviews 46-47-48 Music 49-54 Night Clubs 63-54 Outdoors 55 P«)rts ..................a 26 Obituary 55 Correspondence 56-6'J Letter I^lst 62 Inside Vaudeville 26 Inside Pictures 15-16 Inside Legit , 88 Cabaret Bills 53 Iladlo 50 Legit 29-48 Art Theatres 44 ^STUNES< PRODUCTIONS' PI CTURE S GOWNS INlNViDUALS ^aaa wse sr. new vqptoc <