Variety (Oct 1927)

Wednesday. October 5. 1927 FOREIGN VARIETY SIR OSWALD PANNING US APOLLO, PARIS, GOES SMALL TIME; GAUMONT PALACE FOR 3 SHOWS Film Palace Adopts American Style of Show, With Jazzists as Presentation Number—Apollo Cuts Scale to 10 Francs for Best Seats Paris, Oct. 4. The American picture house style •f show is gaining In Paris, while big time vaudeville Is following Its descending course Into popular prices and bills to match. The Apollo goes into the small lime policy this week, setting a modest charge of 10 francs for fau- teuils (commodious best seats) and 4 francs for promenade. Quite as radical Is the switch of the picture show at the Gaumont Palace, heretofore twice dally with reserved seats. This house goes to the three-a-day performance on Sundays and holidays during Oc- tober, continuing the twice daily on week days. Further to indicate the adoption of American standards in this type of show, one of the best known Eu- ropean jazz organizations is set to take feature position in the stage show during December. Lambert's Scheme Blows London, Oct. 4. Following Variety's expose of Captain Lambert's fake studio scheme, this undertaking was slammed by the national press and blew up. OPENING KIT CAT BILL London, Oct. 4. Opening bill for the new Kit Cat restaurant includes Aileen Stanley, Ben Blue, Joe Termini and David Burbany, who also acts as master of ceremonies. An Hawiian band and Teddy Brown's Instrumental unit supply the myers t% Leslie ADroacJ London, Oct. 4. George Myers is due back here Oct. 21 to establish a music pub- lishing business with Edgar Leslie. 'Tis Far Greater to Give Especially when you are able and hundreds of your pro- fession are ill, sore and tried by disease and with but one haven to which they may turn in their hour of need. THE AMERICAN THEATRICAL HOSPITAL CHICAGO JUDGE JOSEPH SABATH, President DR. MAX THOREK, Surgeon-in-Chief at the ERLANGER THEATRE, Chicago SUNDAY AFTERNOON, OCTOBER 9 LEON ERROL, Master of Ceremonies GEO. W. LEDERER, Stage Manager Every Star in Chicago on the Program! Your Contribution (No Matter How Small) May Save a LIFE. Some Day Fate May Place YOUR Very Life in Jeopardy—Thank God, This Time It Isn't YOU! Send Money to AARON J. JONES, Treasurer 25 West Madison St. CHICAGO, ILL. THE TILLER DANCING SCHOOLS Nou> Cla—M Nom OF AMERICA, In*. 226 West 72d Street NEW TRADE. NOT FANS, ENGLKH BILL PREVENTING FOR EXCLUSION MGRS. CUTTING IN ON COMMISH English Showman on Radio Says "U. S. Screen Ex- presses Small Soul of Hollywood, Not Ameri- can Spirit"—Predicts Fall Like Rome's — Cursed with "Creeping Paralysis of MONOPOLY A MENACE Sir Oswald Stoll, In America on business In connection with his British theatre holdings, took American pictures and American movie magnates to task in an ex- coriating broadcast speech via WEAF Sunday night. The British showman likened the rise and fall of the Romans to the American mo- tion picture and "predicted" some- thing akin to the fall of the Roman Empire for the American picture industry. Sir Oswald opined that "British pictures and many foreign pictures today are far In advance of any early American pictures." Contend- ing that foreign productions are more novel than the American. Sir Oswald wants to know "why should more novel pictures be denied to the American public?" The eminent English showman declares: "If a British motion pic- ture Is brought to America to be sold—a picture full of quaint scenes, the like of which do not exist and never did exist In America—a plc- ' (Continued on page 10) Humor Vulgar, but Liked London, Oct 4. Despite tta obviousness and oftlmes vulgar humor "Compromis- ing Daphne" was well received at Prince's. It records Itself as an uproarious conventional fares about a girl forcing parental consent to mar- riage by declaring; her compromised her. Johnny Nitt Forgot to Marry French Girl London, Oct. 4. Johnny Nitt. from "Blackbirds,' had an appointment Oct. 1 to marry a French girl at the West End registry office. The ceremony never took place. The bride and net present but Johnny pear. Hearn's Colored Buy London, Oct. 4. Tom Elder Hearn, who bought 'Whitebirds," has now purchased "Blackbirds." A condition of the sale is that the latter show must not appear within on* mil* of the West End. Hearn Is going to America short- ly to recruit a new colored aggrega- tion. "Abie" m Vienna MARY READ Oct. 4. "Abie's Irish Rose" lilt here with the dtnarily greeted. Max Relnbardt Is doing this pres- entation, which marks "Abie's'' Continental opening. Th* Utle used here is "Three Rowland Hlbbert, M, Oi*e Rowland Hlbbert, manager for First National In Manchester, died Hiiddenly Friday (Sept. 10). at the age of 3ft. as the result of war serv- ice. He leaves two children. Hlbbert was th* son of Henry Ilihbert. pioneer film distributor over her*. Proponents and Opponents Among Show People— Would Stop Circuits Collecting Agents' sions and Retaining Percentage 'Variety' Out Thursday Owing to Wednesday, Oct. 12, being a holiday, "Variety" will not be on the newsstands next week until Thursday. This applies to tireater New York only. SCANDAL AND MYSTERY Indifferent Reception to New Paris Melodrama Paris. Oct. 4. "Lea Teux Clalrs do 1'Enfant," four-act play by Paul Gavault. was presented with Indifferent returns at the Theatre Antolne last week. It is rather a cheap melodramatic story dealing with the lonely wife of a selfish and austere magistrate. She secretly carries on an affair with a young attorney, who tires of tho intrigue and breuks It off. When he is found murdered sus- picion turns to the woman. The magistrate accuses his wife, who admits the liaison but denies the crime. In the end the mystery Is solved by the couple's child who discovers the slayer in a Jealous governess. Hence 'the title, "The Child's Keen Eyes." In the cast are Pierre Gretlllat, Berthler, Jean Calland, Mmes. Ger- malne Dermoz, Andree Pascal, Mar- guerite Guereau and Mireille. Berthler amusingly impersonates an inert police official. Barrie Oliver Quits 'Deck' London. Oct. 4. Barrie Oliver quit rehearsals of Clayton and Waller's "Hit the Deck." Oliver claims he was de- prived of the leading role for which he had originally contracted, and that he was sidetracked because of his American accent. Legal proceedings are threatened by Oliver alleging breach of con- tract. Don Prince Publicist Arthur Prince's son. Dun Prince, Is in charge of the publicity de- partment at the Pantages Circuit s New York office. Young Don Is the personal ap- pointment of Rodney Pantages. Alexander's son, who is In general charge in New York. When Prince, perc, the noted English ventriloquist, played the Pantages time and in San Fran- cisco, the boys, Rodney and l>on. became chummy. Artliur Prince will return over hero later in the season for another tour. Nichols Staging "Stag" London, Oct. 4. Beverley Nichols sails from here today (Tuesday) on the "Majestic" to stage his play, "The Stag," for Crosby Gaige. The play Is due In New York some time in January. While in America. Nichols will make a lecture tour arranged for him by Lee Keedlck. Impossible Farce London, Oct. 4. London, Oct. 4. A theatrical agency bill aimed t* destroy theatrical managements which own or participate in agency commissions is to be presented when Parliament reassembles. The bill Is tendered by Frank Rose, So- cialist member, who Is a play- wright, and will be. supported by Mabel Russell Conservative: Sir Alfred Butt, Conservative: James Sexton. Labor member and also a playwright, |»li'S the backing of the Stage Guild and others. It Is proposed to restrict commis- sions to 10 per cent, hold the term of the commission's life to 10 weeks and prohibit anyone connected with tho employer being Interested in an agency. Harry Day, Parliamentary So- cialist member, as well as a man- ager and agent. Is leading the oppo- sition to the bill, while Ernest Edelsten, financially Interested In the Wylie and Tate productions. Is circularizing the agents to convene and consider methods to "combat this attack on our liberties," claim- ing it "strikes at the very root of the agency business." If passed, the bill will debar cir- cuits from collecting commissions and retaining a percentage for col- lecting, as Kelth-Albee does, and which system is also practiced here. The Stoll Circuit is the only or- ganization of Its kind to consis- tently refuse to collect for agents and long ago refused an offer from the combined agents to taks 25 per cent of commissions. Dora Maugham Lands London, Oct. 4. Dora Maugham opened at Giro's (cabaret) last week for one week with an option. Management exer- cised it after opening performance. INDEX 30-36 Foreign 2-3 Picture* 4-34 Picture Reviews 22 Picture Presentations, Film House Reviews . Vaudeville New Acts Rtirlesque tl Hills 38-39 Times Square 43 Editorial 44 Literati 2« Women's Page 40-44 Legitimate 46-63 Legit Reviews 44 Music 51-54 Outdoors 67 Sports 43 Obituary 67 Correspondence 59-63 Letter List (2 Inside Vaudeville 2t Inside Pictures 12 Inside Legit 44 News of Dailies 68 Night Clubs 68 Splendid acting Is wasted on a probable failure as regards "Their Wife" at the Llttl« last night. It's an Impossible faro* about a woman preparing to marry her lourth husband. Her first three turn up after she •» bell" ted !b»m all dead ffiSTUMESl srAD I 'PRODUCTIONS' PICTURES GOWNS 'INDIVIDUALS' IZ29W30STNEW VQftK 1