Variety (Aug 1927)

VARIETY FOREIGN Wednesday, August 17, 1987 SHOW BUSINESS IN SCOTLAND O. M. (Variety'* CorrMpoiMlcnl at By SAMUEL N*w Orlaan*, New Leafing Edinbursh. Au«r. S. neftttM ta Scotland are playing to tte ;|M«|.buslneu they have «z- pertoiiced !■ years. Satorday la the biB lillM all ot the houses sell oat early. Caught one of the rather popu- lar Archie Pitt revues at the Em- pire, Glasgow, called "False Alarms." All of these Pitt revues —Md ttMW* Me several—have mass appeal pureTy, framed with a maxi- mum of flash and minimum ex- penditure. "False Alarms" looks and plays like ft burlesque show of the better tn*) Mve that In this Instance tlun were but 10 girls. Several •oaiedjr bits were odd, with the one outstanding moment a different kind ot Apache, contributed by Xenla and Aston. The Scotchmen became excited over It. Searee Kllta Kilta In .Scotland are as scarce as cowboys In the west. Some few are worn but they are a fast fad- ing institution. None of the at- tsadaats mtvmA V»» ahow bouses wear theu. Theatres are not permitted to operate on Sundays in Scotland. Ifoat ot the theatrical copy Is crowded out by church advertising bi the Sunday papers. The two standout song hits ot ■eotland are "In a Little Spanish and "Ain't She SweetT" the latter a musical smash all over the liritish I»lea. Mac|dona Players are ooncludine a four-week session at the Koyal Lyceum. Eilinburgh. with "Man and Supcrm:in." I'reaentlnif Shaw's plays, exclusively. "Annie 100%," which was at the Alhambra, Glasgow, last week. Is currently here at King's theatre. Betty Balfour, in "Up with the Lark," follows. Pictures Some pictures being exhibited in Scotland include "Pal's First," "Senor Daredevil," "Redheads Pre- ferred," "Wolves of the Air," "Lady of the Harem," ('Pirates of the Sky," "When We Are Married," '"fhe Revenge," "Love Makes "Em Wild," "Untamed lady," "Dame Chance,'" "Fresh Paint," "Girl From Montmarte" and "Red Dice." They stick to American pictures almost exclusively. Proportion- ately, Qlasgow is the best Aim town In Great Britain. It is the second largest town of the Empire. Here In Scotland the better class tea rooms occupy the same niche as our American night clubs. After eight 'very little real tea Is con- sumed, the natives leaning to and over their own pet brand of Scotch. Good Scotch sells in Scotland for ii.ii a quart. The writer was almost mobbed In one of the tea rooms when through force of habit he said to the waiter, "Is this stuff okay?" BERLIN %7 C. HOOPER TRASK Berlin, Aug. 5. American system of touring road %>fttpanles is becoming mure gene- ral -In Burope. Liast season the Reinhardt management got excel- lent returns from Its traveling troupes In Germany and Switzer- land. Ooldonl's classical comedy, Bervaat of Two ICaaten," was KlTcn 41 times ta M cities; demptlon" and "Bveryman." 44 Umes In SI cities; "The Cmftin," It times In 21 cities, and "Kafous- ell," SB times In 20 cities. "The Miracle" also was j?Iven 26 times in Dortmund, Budapest, Prague and Vienna. Among the actors were such leading players as Lady Diana Manners, Rosamond Plnchot, Alexander MMssI, Helens Thlmlir. Maria O r s k a, Ernst Deutsch and Herman Thimlg. PARS (Continued from itace 1> school to train French (iria on the lines of the J. W. Jackson and John Tiller organizationa. It is hoped thereby to make the PariataB mude- ville stage IndependeBt •( the Brit- ish artlclei NEWPORT (Continued from page I) force to view the latest efforts of ally ot San Francisco) M. Kamlnsky, picture distributor hfiH', has assiiiiicd the management ot llie Tlwatrc do la I'otiiilere. The fashionable l.ttlu lioime will reopen in September, resuming the run of "Ketty Boxer" with Mary Malbos and Yvonne QulUet, during rehear- sals of a musical comedy by Paul Briquet and Paul Ctordeauz. A French edition ot 'Olanclng Mothers," by A. Del Medico and Claude Farrere, will be produced at the P'emina during August, the cast Including Suzanne Desprey, Ger- maine Webb, Nadine Picard and Jean Worms. It Is probable Valmy Baysse. vice- president ot the Societe <daa Gens de Lettrea, will be appointed Kehe- ral secretary ot the Cnnedle Fran- caise, to replaoe the lata Louis i'ayen. Christians and Vvmr, dancers, have returned here after touring in Australia and South Africa. M. Fournler, director ot the Lutetla cinema and heading the corporation owning the Empire here, has taken over the Bobino music hall, which will be inaugu- rated after needed alterations as a modem vaudeville theatre. Pat and Teddy Kendall are listed for DeauvlUe during August. Tom- my Manahan Is also booked for the Casino there the end of the month. Suit ot a lone internal controversy. The privately owned theatres, ot which the above named are perhaps the most Important representatives, are in a minority of one to fwur in the Euehnenverein, the majority being lielii by the municpally and state-owned theatres. The private houses feel that their Interests are not being sufflciently taken care of. It had been ex- pected that some sort of a com- promise would be reached, but the meethw of the Buehnenvereln at Malns^ld not Improvo matters. The chances ot a setyement be- fore September now seem remote. Moreover, If It comes to a real break, iiiiluontial private theatres In other cities, such as Hamburg, Municli and Dres^den, may follow tlie Iteinliardt lead. This would mean the forming of another organ- ization in opposition to the Bueh- nenvereln. Jhe situation is complicated by the fact that the German authors and ttie Owrmsn playhrokBrs hsvci Favored "Big Parade" The Ufa haid cold feet about showing "The Big Parade" In Ger- many and gave a special perform- ance for the press at the Gloria Palast The reception was favor- able, although aome of the critics brought up the point that the film waa supposed to have been antl- btfbre It was cut tor Oer- ■^fh» majority admitted, however, that the picture is essen- tially paclflatlc In tendency. Slips were given out asking the audience to give their opinion as to whether the fllm should be shown In Germany. The result was ( to 1 In the film's favor. Tba BerllB nanaser, Victor Bamowsky, who now controls the XbenifgraetMr theatre and the Xamoedlenbaus, Is building two theatres next season. These are to be In the Nurnbergerstrasse, In the west end of Berlin, wlilch Is now becoming the fashionable amuse- ment district. The theatres are to be ready in the tall of 1928, when B*RM>wAr^ lease oa the KoenlK- Craatser and the Komoedtenhaus Is opt. Gloria Palast, Berlin's moat ele- gant flrst-run picture house, Is to remain a member of the I'fa ch.ain. It had been variously announced that it was to become a stage fur lesltlmate productions, a restaurant anl a women's model shop. All ■8 negotiations tailed. Tlctor Bamowsky announces he itaking over the Berliner theatre ' September, October and No- bber. This win add another baOM to the Relnhardt-Barnowsky- Robert chain. In November the Serlln comedian. Max Adalbert, ■will appear in revival of "Mcln lieopold" under a management allll- tated with the above named com- Mne. Legit Houses Disagree Reinhardt, Bamowsky •»* Ro- bert, who control the aeren most Important legitimate theatres In Berlin, have handed In their resig- nations from the Buehnenvereln (Ommui Maaacera* Ami>alatloii>, tiytiaM eOMt^Wt 1. It lath* N- NIklto Ballett, director ot the Chauve-Sourls, and who has been taking a cure In Vichy, has reached Paris and started rehearsala with hia company tor the show to be presented by Morris Oest In the United States. The company of 40 sails for New York Sept. U. The performance this year will be most ly in English. A new revue Is due at the Moulin Rouge In November. The princi- pals will be •Johnnx Hudgins, the Misses Dolly and Billy (booked through Arnaud and Lartlgue) Jane Aubert, Mauricet (local chan- sonnlcr), Divlna and Chartsi^ and a troupe of Albertlna Raseh girls. Georges Carpentler, boxer, now starred as a comedian in the Palace revue, is listed for musical comedy at the local. lUchodlsi* theatre la November. signed an agreement whereby they may only allow their plays to be presented by members ot the Bueh- nenvereln. This would mean that the private theatres could only produce either classics or foreign plays, which they would have to buy directly from tho various foreign countries. It is a question whether the play- brokers' association would not un- der those conditions decide to can- cel its agreement with the Bueh- nenvereln. The result ot such a move is not to be accurately fore- cast, but It would mean the return of somewhat chaotic conditions, for a time at least. Gustav Rickelt Resigns Gu."tav Kickelt, on his 65th birth- day, has retired from tho presi- dency of the Buehnengenossenschatt (German Actora' Association), which office he held tor SO years. Rickelt has had to undergo severe cilticlsm of late years, but there is no question of the service he has rendered the German actor. He practically ortranized the union and in its early days fought courage- ously for its interests. At that period It wa.s no easy job, an'd he made himself numer- ous enemios In the managerial ranks. Today he Is considered a little old-fashioned but generally revered as a figure, Msnagare and Copyright At the general meeting of the Buehnenvereln (German Managi'rs' Association) at Mainz a resolution was passed advising against the ex- tension of the copyright from 30 to 50 years after an .author's dc.atli. Au- thors' Loagiie, I'laybrokers' Assticia- tlon and ntmterous otiier institutions liave turned in resolutions for the extension to DO years, the Managers' Assooiritlon being the llrst organ- i'/,atIon to register themselves as against this move. Tlieir decision is generally condemneU as sliort sighted and seinsh. Luna Park's Hsndicsp liuna Park, Berlin's outdoor amusement park, has been having a very bad season owing to the rain and cold. Up to now receipts have been extraordinarily small and should the summer continue as It ha* it U «vea doubtful whether the Cllve Mascelyn, magician, is booked to open at the limpire Sept, :;3, and will be followed by Mcrvo and Knox on Oct, 21. Jack Hylton and band will be heard here begin- ning Dee, SO. IleanwhUa Powell's elephants are due back. C. B. Dillingham Is reported to have acted like a gentleman when asked to waive his first claim to services of Maurice Chevalier In the United States, thus enabling the French comedian to open for Kelth-Albee vaude In New York. Maurice la due for the new Casino de Paris revue for Leon Volt«rra this autumn. The American book ing was concluded through Amaud and Lartigue white addle Darting was here. park will be able to reopen next season. Like all outdoor parks. It Is auf- tering from a lack of new Ideas and attractions. The only real novelty Is a South Sea Island village put together by Hagenbock. It Is mod- erately interesting. In conti-^ast to this the ocean bath ing pool, opened this year at the park, has done splendidly. It Is large well equipped pool with eight artificial waves. The water is kept continually fresh and disinfected with a pine needle solution. The admission charge to sit at tables and watch the bathing Is only to pfennigs (12H cents) and a bath including cabin only 1 mark (2B cents) for three hours. In the morning business Is light and the halli is patronizeil by the demi- monde of tho Kurfuerutendamm ncighbortiood. Afternoons and even- ings it is so Jammed one can hard- ly get In the water. Bernhard Rose Dies Bernhard Hose, for 20 years di- rector of tlie theatre in tho north of Berlin which boi'o his n;ime, died last week at Bad Oonhaiisen. Rose presented a popular tj pc of enter- tainment known here as the "Volks- stueck." Although he made no enormous fortune his receipts were continuously satisfactory and his theatre was well attended. Two of his sons and his daughter played leading roles in his pruduc- (Contianed ea page M) the lady who divorced Lydig Hoyt and has been exploited aa a beauty. She la certainly better looking than her thrice-wed slater, Mrs. Law- rence Marah. who is at Newport this summer, though the mother, Mrs. Julian W. Bobbins, who has rented a fine estate, la perhaps the handsomest ot the trio. New Torlr is to see Mr. Hull later in the sea- son under the Arthur Hopkins banner, in a piece called "Marsh- land," by the Inevitable Maurine Watklns. Miss Lord la to be starred this year by Ctoorge C. Tyler In 'When Ships Ctemo In.". The Counteos Millleent Although Colonel H. H. .Rogers owns two splendid estates at South- ampton, one for himself and one for his guests, he and his daughter, Mary Mtlllcent, heiress to t40,000,- 000, are very well known at New- port, where they have paid frequent visits, and the announcement that the temperamental beauty who di- vorced Count Ludwig Salra will marry Arturo Ramos In October la creatfhg discussion. If Millleent, as she Is always called, had not been born to wealth and position, she could have made a name for lierself In the movies. She Is just the type, tall, slender and sinuous, for vam roles. In 1924, against the wishes of her parents, she married Count Salm. Ludwig waa In reduced circum- stances, and had acted In the movies In Germany. In New York he had cultivated the society 'of Rudolph Valentino, in hope ot employment. Befor* winning Miss Rogers he had paid court tb other heiresses. I.ast April the Countess secured a divorce and the custody of her small son. It was reported the Count received tS00,00O. , At one time the Cotmteas was much Interested In Richard Barthel- mess, and created a sensation at Tuxedo Park when she danced with him at the ezoluaire Autumn Bail. Later, In Paris, she met Arturo Ramo3, handsome Argentinian, who, oddly enough, happens to be In very comfortable circumstances, al- though, ot eonrae, IfUllceat's 140,- 000,000 must seem miraculous. Of Arturo It has also been said he would screen well. . Count Ottr Sahn, brother of Count liudwig. has adopted a more discreet course. He slso arrived In New York, and also won an heir- ess. But, shunning undue publlqity, he has pursued the even tenor of his way, and makes I^s home with his wealthy mother-in-law, Mrs. Charles H. Coster, In East S7th street. The sister of Countess Otto, Helen Coster, divorced Sumner Oerard. and married Arthur C. Train, the novelist, some of whose stories have been adapted to the screen. An aunt of Countess Otto, Mrs. Charles F. P. Richardson, is one of the odd characters ot Newport. Very wealthy, she dresses In the style of the elghteen-nlnetles. With aigrettes and feathers in her pomp- adour, she takes her husband to the movies twice a week, the two tickets costing exactly 70 cents. A year ago Baron Nicholas Er- langer, first cousin of Otto and Lud- wig Salm, was placed in an Insane asylum In Vienna, after it had been proved his reasOQ had given way from excessive use ot drugs. After the divorce of her parents, she re- mained with her mother In England and made her stage debut there Ik 1919 as "Peter I'an." Later her father tried to star her In New York In "Madeleine of tlie Movies," but, even though he him- self Jumped In and co-starred with her, the venture was a failure. Geo, M. chose as his second wife Agnes Nolan, by whom he has had other children. Ethel Levey chose as her second husband Claude Gra- hame-White, an Englishman, with whom a few years ago she tried to run a night club in London. Society is Interested In Qrahame- Wliite because he had previously been divorced by Dorothy Taylor, rich and fashionable New Yorker. Later Dorothy married Count Den- tice di Frasso, and is conspicuous In the American colonies in Paris and The Lido. The count had previously been divorced by Ctoorglne 'Wilder who Is now known as Mrs. Georgine Frasso. She Is a daughter of the New York lady who is known as Mrs. Wilde, that being the name ot her first husband. Her second hus> band was Henry Slegel, whom she divorced, he later being divorced from a third wife. Mr. Siegel, who once controlled the great New Toik department store, Slegel, (^per's, had a sen- sational bankruptcy, and later opened a small haberdashery In Newark. . " The sister ot Urs. OeorgiAo Frasso Is Mrs. Frank Adair, who last -winter had her ballet per- formed at the Metropolitan Opera House, being prominent In musical circles. Tracing Back Society and the stage are so closely allied nowadays that the smart set at Newport duly com- ments upon the news that Georgette Cohan Is suing for a divorce from her second husband, William II. RowsOb perfume manufacturer and importer. He is an Bngltshman who has lived In New York for the last 25 ye.ars, and bar, grown-up daugh- ters by a former marriage. Georgette'B first husband, the late J. 'William Souther, was also in- terested in matters concerned with feminine specialties, Including a beauty clay. Cieorgotte eloped with Souther from Palm Beach In 1921. He died In 1925, and tho next year she married Rowse In St. Malachy's Church, New York. In a manner suggesting "Abie's Irish Rcae^" Qeotgette is the off- spring of a Catholic father, the famous Oeorge H. Cohan, and a Jewish mother, Ethel Levey (origin- Societys Nit< Clubs There is no more of the grandiose publicity formerly accorded the Embassy Club at Newport, but the organization Is stfll getting by, even with Mrs, Richard T. Wilson hold- ing forth at Sarato^'a. after a brief sojourn In Rhode Island. The open- ing night, two summers ago, with Mrs. Wilson and her entourage omnipresent, was made much of by her friends, the society reporters^ ;^ and even last aummer the social columns devoted space to the club. Tho Newport branch was opened after a New York Embassy Club had been sponsored by Mrs. 'Wilson - at 696 Fifth avenue, the fdhner home of Mrs. Benjamin Brewster. In town difl'erences of opinion arose between Mrs. Wilson and-hcr adherents, and another taction headed by Conde Nast and Frank Crownlnshleld. Tho original or- ganization ended In disaster in June, 1926, when a city marshal took chargis dnd an auctioneer's sale was announced. However, Mrai Wilson finally adjusted matters. Then it was proposed' that an- other Embassy Club, with the Nast- Crownlnshleld faction in power, would be organized. But anotlier group stepped Into the breach, and, following a recent informal open- ing, at 161 East 67th street, plan a formal opening In the fall. John W. Rumsey Is the manager, having previously been manager of the old Sixty Club, which met. at the Bits but was extremely Bohemian. The new B7th street club claims a member.shlp list ot 900. Dues are J100 a year. The executive com- mittee includes George Arliask Anthony J. Drexel BIddle, James A. Blalr, Jr., Howard Chandler Christy, Irvin Cobb, Bertratn de N. Cruger, Marcus Daly, Douglas Fairbanks, Cosmo Hamilton, Jobn Harrlman, J. Hartley Manners, Henry May, Kenneth Murchison, Esmond O'lJrien, Honore I'aiiiier, Sidn-y Dillon Ripley, James H. Snowdeii, William Rhinelander Stewart, Jr, X«wls Rutherfurd Stuyvesant, Newell Tilton, Charles Hanson Towns and Etram Zimbalist. Wealthy Huntrassss Mrs. Ernest Thompson Seton, ti'aveller and authoress, has been visiting at Newport, as tho guest of General and Mrs. J. Fred I'icrson at their estate on Bcllevue avenue, and there has been much entertaining In her honor. Her husband, cele- brated as a naturalist, and author of many books, had his name changed from Ernest Seton Thomp- son. Mrs. Seton was Grace Gallatin, oC a New Y'ork family prominent since Colonial times. A year ago she went on a hunting expedition to the wilds ot the South Amei lean Jungles with a party headed by tha i rich and fashionable Mrs. Marshall Field, ot Chicago and New Tork.