Variety (Mar 1927)

Wednesday, March % 1927 FOREIGN VARIETY RIVIERA PASSED UP BY TOURISTS FOR EGYPT AS WINTER RESORT French Coast Having Tough Time of It—Report 47,- 000 Visitor*. Landing Every Fortnight at Cairo— Shepard*. Using Dance B'd and Act. for 1st Time N«nr la lu history has the French Riviera had such an off season when It was expected there Would be a bonanza Tear. Mer- chants and hotel people are smile- less, and they all freely predicted some months back that after the current season they would be able to retire. As It looks now, a great many may be forced to retire. The winter of 1924-6 was highly successful with prices reasonable at the hotels and shops. The casinos flourished as the Americana and English spenders were making the annual heglra and leaving plenty or .chips at the green tables. With this as a matter of history, plans Were laid by that master tactician, the late Eugene Cornuche. to make the 1925-4 season one that would easily outstrip anything the Azure Coast has known. The Lenglen-Wills tennis matches were promoted, and the Riviera last year enjoyed throngs as It never bad before. Once the English- speaking, money-lending crowd were down, then the plunder com- tcenced. Prices went sky high, rooms and meals were scaled at un- heard-of figures, shops set prices at anything the owners thought they could extort from visitors who paid, and paid, and paid. And thus the season ended. Andre's Regime Cornuche died and was succeeded by Andre, whose previous experi- ence was limited to running the gambling angle of the Casinos of DeauvlUe. Cannes, Ostende, and the most exclusive gambling clubs, the Cerele Haussman and the Sporting Club de France In Paris. M. Andre, however, had the Idea that there must be ne rubber band tied to the i bank roil and proceeded to I improvements In Cannes that It never enjoyed, nor It appears Be put la a stage on the In addition to the hydraulic <r which raises to the height of the tables. He arranged (or the erection of other hotels to accommodate those who found it Impossible to Had quarters la Cannes. As a coup d'etat for the season of 1926-T a prize fight with a world's title Involved was consid- ered. This was planned because Lenglen had turned professional and Helen Wills was not consider- ing coming over. And also because it was felt that Florida was proving too strong a competition. When the great catastrophe struck the west coast of Florida and it appeared that American winter resort was a thing of -the past, great paeons of Joy were sung, but the Idea of the FILM REORGANIZATION British National Holds Meeting— Nullifies J. D. Williams' Holdings London, March 1. British National Pictures, Ltd, reorganised at a meeting February 28. whereby a new company of prac- tically the same name purchases the assets of the old carries on the business more extenslvs scale. Additional studios and Increased production are scheduled. This reorganization renders the stock held by J. v. Williams prac- tically valueless wherein he was to receive one-third of the profits of the company and also obviates any possibilities of his bringing suit. It Is understood that 1500,000 In new money has been put into the company and that the concern will proceed on big throughout. Beethoven Centennial Vienna. Feb. 1». A musical festival to commemo- rate the centennial of Beethoven will be held here March 14-11 la the Muslkverein salon. Various musical programs will be offered visitors, closing with "Fl- dello" at the opera March 81. A musical congress of profession- als will be held in this festival. The powers that be In France, however, forgot one thing, and that was Americans once bitten are twice shy. And that goes for the English cousins as well. Egypt the New Spot This year Egypt la getting the trade. And this In spite of the fact that Egypt Is by no means a cheap place to visit. In that country the local currency Is the Egyptian pound, quoted on the exchange at a stiff figure. Whether It Is due to the publicity produced by the ex- all pedltlons and the exotic and plcturesqueness of the country, the fact tourists are pouring quarters of the globe. It 1* reported that 47.000 tourists are landing every fortnight and that the Mediterranean and round-the- world cruise agencies are swamped with applications for berths. The better hotels are HHed to overflow- ing and are departing from tradi- tion In an effort to entertain the clients. Ths most famous hotel "East of the Sues." Shepard's Hotel at Cairo, has a new and good Amer- ican dance orchestra and has dance L0WHY'S 7 SHOWS DAILY London, March 1. Ed Lowry Is doubling Into tb Coliseum this week from the ney while also playing two rets. This gives him seven shows dally. Lowry has been engaged by Lew Leslie for a new revue which will open in May. Leslie has also cabled Win Fyffe not to accept any American engage- ments beyond his original tour as he wants the this WILL MAHONEY "SIMET- said: "When Win Ma honey dances to his tall across the width of the stage, the audience shrieks with laughter as he lands upon the stage. Everything he does Is a howl and the entire house from the orchestra's front to the gallery are with htm. This Ma- honey boy has developed Into a great performer. A comedy act second to none In aU of the ehoi business—anywhere. Wotta boy I Direction RALPH G. FARNUM Edw. S. Keller Office PARIS Paris, Feb. It. A French version of "Rata" will bs tried at the Madeleine theatre early in March with Jane Marnae In the lead. The house wlU be under the piece. Alfred Savolr's new comedy for the Potlnlere this season Is to be entitled the telephone number of a lng lady. Burton George here to produoe a new picture, "The Cross." with Olga Day, Jean Aj in the leads. UNDECIDED LENGLEN Paris, March 1. During her homeward voyage, Sayag negotiated for len to appear la the revue at the rant In June. It la understood that Mile Jen Is undecided as to her decision in the matter, turns as attractions. This for the first time la Its history. The Riviera hotels like the Ne- gresco. Ruhl and Majestic at Nice, the Hotel de Parts, the Carlton and Metropole of Monte Carlo. Inst! tutlons which usually use two and three acts per week, are limiting themselves to but one act. which gets bookings of one day only for galas. The Casino of Cannes Is try- ing to put back aU of Its booked acts to the vine. To show lust bow bad things are down south, a room and bath can be secured at the Carlton at Cannes for 60 francs per day. This Is actlx $2 40 per day. Last year the same room cost 400 francs, or tit. As far as the gambling Is con- cerned, there Is practically none to speak of. There la played, merely chemln-de-fer. which la baccara for lower stakes. The Greek Syndicate Is not la evidence, and the heaviest loser so far Is wen-known American dancer. The Riviera season is a flop, but what is worrying the Casino man agement Is what win happen next season at Deau villa, for It has be- come a maxim around here, fares Cannes, so goes DeauvUle.' THE TILLER DANCING SCHOOLS JV»es> OF AMERICA, In* 226 Wert 72d Stra* YORK MART READ Chasseur ds Ches lng Aimed by Nl. Roger Lion, shot at Marseilles "Ls s.~ Is be Lorraine Sisters have opened In the revue at the Casino de Paris and are also dancing at the quet Darlo and Irene open at the Ass Carlo. Plateau (former director of the Cigale) and Valles have bought the initial lsase of the Seal* theatre here for 1.600.000 franca, and In- tend to convert this popular hot back to a cafe concert, as It was 10 pairs. Mary FarreU. who has been work, lng In a night club here, has to Cologne, where she will n until March, Berlin. The French picture press associa- tion has addressed an ultimatum to the syndicate of the French cine- matograph Industry threatening not to report trad* shows If seats are not furnished to the Journalists. It Is contended that the best seats at trade shows are occupied by those having no connection with the picture Industry, while the reviewers (Invited to Harry Pllcer at . position of master of the Clarldge Hotel's This fashionable resort Is after of Itoformer glory. Special and specialty dancers win gaged. Low Scale for Butfs New 2,700 Seater London. Feb. St. Next to the Lyceum, which holds 5,006 and Drury Lane, which can accommodate 2,tOO, Sir Alfred Butt's new theatre, to be erected on the site of the old Meux Brewery at Tottenham Court Road and Oxford street, diagonally across from the former site of the Oxford theatre. wtU be the largest playhouse In London. It will seat close to 2.700. The Casino Is to be Its name and the stall seats win be scaled from $1.71 downwards, a tow J. A. m. Malone wm be a met bar at the Board. MOSS EMP.'S FINANCIAL OVERFLOW TO EPHRAIM In On Musical Shows Due Soon—$500,000 Surplus From 1926 As a consequence of surplus prof- its amounting to 1500.000 for 1926. Moss Empires Is Investing In the new Lee Ephraim corporation, with Jack Buchanan also Interested. The first productions scheduled by this outfit are "The Desert Song" at the Drury Lane, "Peggy Ann" for the Prince of Wales, and after "Kit- ty's Kisses" succeeds "Sunny" at the Hippodrome the new firm will undertake a series of productions at that house. Directors of Moss Empires voted a bonus of S per cent, to sharehold- ers in addition to a It per cent, dividend. MAUGHAM SHOW LONDON'S RAVE' Overshadows 3 Other Abrahams New 17 Gives Him 35 Theatres in Eng. London, Feb. JO. The story that London theatres of Variety Ltd. (Gulliver Circuit) were disposing of a number of suburban halls to A. B. Abrahams, la officially confirmed. The deal embraces the purchase of 17 of these theatres, and title passes Sept- ». The names of the theatres are Camberwell Palace, Clapham Grand, Croydon Empire, Collins, Ilford Hippodrome, Islington Empire, Hammersmith Palace, KUburn Em- pire. Lewlsham Hippodrome. Roth- erhlthe Hippodrome. Willesden Hippodrome, Camberwell Empire. Croydon Hippodrome, Putney Hip- podrome, Woolwich Hippodrome, Shoredltch Olympla, Poplar Hlppo- Thls will place Abrahams In con- trol of M theatres la 'Music Master' Acclaimed London, March t 'Ths Music Master" (Fox) made a cry party out of Its trade showing at the Palace last Friday (Feb. If). Wild acclaim greeted the finish of the film, previous to which every one had beea weeping copiously. SO COPYRIGHT ON "BOTTOM" Paris, Feb. It. Francis Salabert, music publisher, having revendlcated the name of Black Bottom to a score, and sued others for having made use of the title, was non-suited when the case came before the-Paris courts. Experts named to consider the situation have ruled that fox trot. lnattona cannot be property. to the public and -wl as Individual PARIS BOOKING A flock of people are going abroad for Edmund Sayag to open at his Amabassadeurs, Paris, In May. These Include Cyril and Virginia D-Ath, Cal and Ethel Norrls, The Admiral* Christine Marson (Mrs. Irving Aaronson) and Aaronaon and his Commanders, playing a repeat. SUIT 0VEB SCENE Paris, March 1. Frants Toussaint has sued for 60,000 francs damages due, he al- leges, by the Casino de Paris for having appropriated the title of his book "Le Jardla des Caresses" In the revue. The Casino contends J. Le Seyeux, one of the authors, ob- tained Toussalnt's authority for a scans to be so designated and por- traying a chapter from the novel. LESLIE SACHS AFT EE HOUSES London, March 1. Lew Leslie Is planning a super revue and offered Charles Gulliver 15.000 a week as rental for the Pal- ladium. The offer was refused. J. L Sachs Is also after a theatre tor his forthcoming production of "The Girl From Cook's." Isabel Jay Dead London, ..i.irch 1. Isabel Jay, wlfs of Fran* Cui-xon, died at Monto Carlo February 2t. London, March L Somerset Mau ham's "The Letter" la the West End's latest rave" show. This one came Into the Play- house last week and Is rated far above any of the other three pre- mieres. Walker Hackett'a "The Wicked Earl," starring Cyril Maude, plue a brilliant cast of British players, re- sembles "Captain Applejack,- but the staging by Ben Rimo lacks the requisite speed. Maude la far too old to play aa assignment of a swashbuckling character and there Isn't a man la ths cast who has correctly assimi- lated a cowboy's manner of speech. Marion Lorne runs truest to form la her conception of a western girl while Stella Arbenlna la also excel- lent as a Mexican vamp. That the premiere was not ail It should have been ls attested through the first act being rewritten after the opening at His Majesty's. Eden Phlllpotta new comedy at the Court. "The Blue Comet," was generously approved and has aa original Idea capable of unlimited development. Another nice reception was ac- corded "The Greater Love" at Prince's. This Is a heavy nihilist melodrama ] ' Sardou Unas. Tbs only fly la the ointment seems to bs that the cordial greet- ing was due to SybU Thorndlke, la th« lead, aa any permanent success for ths piece la unlikely. Janney'g Tough Time Casting "Vagabond King" Russell Janney's attempt to an all-British "Vagabond King" company has decided him that, generally speaking, the choristers who havi principals. Janney la on the verge of collapse after one week of all day auditions. Lions In Operetta Paris. March L Six Hons, controlled by the tamer Darius, are featured la the new musical comedy "L'Amour, Meedamee" by Taata, Valalrs and Pascal, presented at INDEX Foreign M >-> Pictures 4-17 Picture Reviews It-IT Picture Presentations .... It Film House Rsvlews .... St Vaudeville Il-tt New Acts 11 Burlesque , ST Burlesque Routes 54 Bills SO-tl Times Square SI Editorials St Women's Page 14 Literati 14 Legitimate Reviews.. .41-42-41 Music 44-4T Night Clubs 4I-4T Outdoors 4t Sports SI Obituary 49 Correspondence 50-54 Letter List 14 Inside Vaudeville tt Inside Pictures tt Inside Legit. SI Cabaret Bills 46 Had to 44 Legit .11-41 if Art Theatres 40 fffiSTUMESl 'productions' pictures 'individuals' F229 W38! ' vqokI