Variety (Nov 1927)

mm. wm FOREIGN VARIBTT LONDON BAN ON m OF KINGS" MAY CHANGE CENSOR SYSTEM Piblical Film to Be Shown in Leased House Alone mad Censor Propiotes New Rule Af lupsl Prppa- fndk Pkhnret, StiWfd^ Fretenl Law' X^QiidMi* Not. 1. DtlOlM MMtaal ptoturo •TCln* m Kinffs.** haTiiiff been banned by the British oenaor and special per miMion having been obtained to ez« hlblt it from the I^ondon County Council, a move ia on to revise the present consorinff rules to cover such cases. The censor has a fixed rule which forbids the naterlallsMioa ot the Clurlst oa stMTt or mtmii, mi4 tht bta -on "Kinc of Klnnf was Mto ■Mitle on this tradition, partioiihurly ftoii tho resular cinema houses to which tho mass of the pubUo soes for its screen entertainment The English representation of Uie prodiicer got around the prohibition by getting special permission for tbo picture from the London County Council and from similar local authorities, on condition that they lease the house for the presentation and guarantoo that no other film subject or stage presentation be placed on the same program. ' Defeated, the censor Is now con ■Idering by way of reprisal, a re ▼ision of the rules calling for a new form or certiflcate covering "propa gaada" picturoa and othen not •iftrod by tho oxtotlng rulMk:/ Tearie as Producer Iiondon, Oct. SS. One of England's Cavorlto actors, Godfrey Tearle, baa gone iii«o part- nership with Percy Burton, who Will bo r Omembo f od In Mow Torfc tfn general maniiger and personal representative for Forbes-RoMnaon and the late Herbert Tree. Tholr first reoture wltt ba *ne ▲oquittal.** the American play by Rita Weiman. by arrangement with George M. Cohan, and a long tour tea boon bookad commencing In January. Prior to coming under the man- agement of Percy Berton In January Oodfrey Tearle will be starred in rrhe Way of tho World," a rarliral. pit Wyndham'a. ^ Oreraees to ''Sinarty^ LiOndon, Nov. 1. Jllon Kearns sailed on the Ibiuretania Sunday on hla way g'Tsrioai to join the Astalre piece. "Smarty." playing in the States and due for New York presentation late in November. Ho had to arrange for his re- lease from "Up With the L^rk." current at tho Adellhla, in order to aecopt the distant Charles Heslop replaood htm te of tho musical piOoo^ A MODERN "FAUSr FriMo'* Hot FiflU San Vtancisco, Nov. 1. The heaviest political battle in flio turbulent history of this town is now being waged for tho mayoralty. Mud slinging is being Indulged In by both sides and tho spattering la plenty. OoMen Stato Clrottlt ropottod a poll of their patrons as showing a two for one preference for the re- oleotion of James Rolph, Jr., incum- mayor. Arthur Loew Honored Paris. Nov. 1. Tha Tunislaa Gk>vomor, ropro- aenting the French authorities of the colony, conferred upon Arthur lioew the decoration of the Com- ■Minder of Nlehan Iftikhar. an Im- portanf colonial order. This honor was confeired on the American showman in recognition af hla servioea and tho services of Metro-Goldwyn In furthering child welfare in the province of Tunisia. •*0avil In PaHs** Moderalt^ t uo u m In Paris Paris, Nov. 1. Leon Volterra presented with a good moaaura of auooeaa a now opMttn, *l4a IMabla a Parlgi'' with book by Francis ^o Crolasot and the lau Robert da flaii^ aoero bjr Mafosi Lattaa at tha^Varignr. The tentastic plot has points of resemblance to **Faust,** in that an Impecunious aristocrat who falls in love with the humble niece of a railroad crossing keeper, makes a bargain with Satan to supply him with funds and go with him on a gay adventure to Paris. Here he ia confronted by his humblo sweet- heart, who has coma to the capital in semrch of a youthful lover. Spurred by jealousy the high-born lover marries the girl, Satan, a kUidly creature aftervaU* becoming reconciled dttrlnff 4 fhnor 4fam balL The piece Is gorgeously mounted, the dances having been staged by the Dolly Sisters. Glrard plays the aristocrat with skill, while Dranem Imporaonatea tho graoloua Satan. Jeanne Cheirel is the sympathetic aunt and Edmee Favart |a happily cast as the heroine. ENGLISH FILM Aa BAN AGGRAVATES IDLENESS Local Rult Againtt Movie Show Specfalties Laid to Managers' Scheming WILL MAHONEY OM a REVUE MOVES London, Nov. 1. "Shake Tour Feet** has been moved to tho Palladium, aocom- panlod hf aasMthlng of a Surrr. In I fiouth Aimricftfl Toiir if. new homo the revue is strength-I -t^n^ncan Auur For DuFrenne Troupe Paris. Nov. 1. lfai|ager Derosa of the Buenos Liondon, Oct. IL Countless small acts and some of the big ones have been fllling va- cant datoa by playing ploturo houaoa. But-now looal authorltlea in many distrlots are ttopplns the movla iMuaia iMlim aeta aioopt as prologa to Alma. Local aothorltlea control theatre licenses* and their powers are very wide. They can put almost any Mr. A* F. Mu proo said la the Do- I condition they choose into licenses, troit "Ttaisa": **wm Mohoney, that and Just now aomo of them haire biff, bang, gattUng gun eccentric chosen to Insert a new clause for- dancln^^c omedian, j a bayfc ^. Do- bidding acts except aa **iUustration" SaS^.t ^.fi ^» ^« ft*™ shown, hit ^ S^^ST 1. S^'^^S togical reason la glyon. nor wtet appears to wilst. In some dlstrlcu probable, that Mahoney Is the the ban is avowedly because of ab grea tast alnglng and dancing come- sence of dressing accommodation, dkui that haa mm hmm. pMdnood.** | but theatro ownora are wondoring why this goee for turns and not for artists putting on prologs. The Variety Artistes Federation iuM taken tho matter up In many districts, and in some cases Induced the local authorities to relent to the extent of allowing acts to ap- pear at houaoa where there ia no dressing room provision so long as •ir Alfred Butys^ S ponsorship | they change before going to the Makaa UaitrtaWni LNcalif I theatre and make no oostume changes thm^ London. Nov. 1. I Bristol has foowased attention on For the Arst time sincere negotla- this trouble this week, as the llcens- tiona ara oa for a Lo n da n vteH of ing authorities hare Just issued the Ziegfeld's "Follies.** The project Is new picture hoVM IliilMNi Willi the sponsored by Sir Alfred Butt, who I added condition no a^kpf lMii^ is carrying on the negotiations. jao aeparate turns. It t» easy la aea haw such a I i^or Novella's appearance at the venture could be made proflUble. Regent Street Plaaa, too, has been It would require a house of large stopped, but on a different point: capacity such as the Drury Lane, | uiat his sketch was a stage play. for which the Plaaa la not Mco na od. scales prevalent here^ the perform- | There ia a strong need for a unl- ance would have to be given twice versal license, administered by one dally to bring groa s sa aboro $10,- I central body, tut the V. A. F. doee DIRECTION RALPH a FARNUM 1660 BROADWAY GALLERY BOOS NOEL COWARD New Play Moderate Hit ^''Kingdom'* Staged ''FOLLIES''FOR UNOON tho addiUon Donti ened by Maughaa. Due to this actress's eontrayorsy with sir Oswald Stoll, tho ment attracted attenUon. | Ayrea Opera Hous e haa completed Upoa her ontranoa In tha ftnt I mt arrangenant fa hrlai performance at tho Palladium. Miss P'renne and his Paris trim I la Maughan was greeted with exag- South America in April, gerated applause and was warmly 'he engagement la isr aeclalflMd through tha parfonnaaaa. months and calls tor Ika produc- Tha plaaa la g«Mpg Mg at PWrilar I ^^^^ of four French rovues tn ^ Mfmt^mmm | g^^^ AyrsSb DuFrouna will ao- oompany th'« arganlaatloB, whleh will have le featured members Xvoi not seem to ba aatiya enough to atcompH<fh anything In this direc- tion. The theatre proprietors* clash too much for them to act. Vaude- villa houses agiuto ta gat acta pta* vented In movie houses, and pic- ture theatre men threaten boycotts if a &im goes into a vaudeville houoa onaa la ft ',%rtM6ai> Bet^v6aa them the artist flig- tllitf %at Idla Janette Gilmore Free London, Not. L Janette Gilmore, II - year - old American dancer, states Uiat her engagement to Welghtman-Smlth Is definitely off, adding she haa not seen her former fiance In a month. Miss Gilmore's mother, Mrs. Jane Malonejr. ^eama to London for tho express purpose of talking over the enfragrcm<*nt with her daughter. Her counsel was that the young man should bo left free to oomplote his course In Cambridge-Oxford be ,16 Dead in Theatre Firo Paris. Nov. 1. Twenty persons were killed dnr- Int a panic cauaod "by flia in a pla- ture theatre in TaaHBifiliib ffpl- land. Into laal waek> THE HAIKE IN N0R1H AUCA Bf lLS. CARTER Uk Alglera, Oonatantlaa^and Tunis tho movlsa aia popular, but the pa- fore they should think of marriage. I tron does not know the movie palace The young people met on the At- (as it exists in Amsrtea. Tha French Untlo llpor. Smith being a mambor 1 oolonlal. tha Arah and Ika AMsan of an Oxford track team returning | must Tlew hla otdema fcadnttlan after aompeting In the Statea^ I under crude conditions. The theatrea devoted to tho elne« ma are for tho greater part remin- iscent of our own a torarooni shows of days gone by. As a rule the the- atres are of small capacity, and ao Maldnf London Con^ London, Nov. 1. Half a mlllioo dollars Is being spent In converUng the Crystal attempt la made to pramat a oantln- Paiaea and Ita aurronndlnga Into a performanoo. There are mlnUture Coney Island to ba laady ^7"^ performancee daily-a snat hv Eaatar time for tho spring opaa- I ^•^ »>«tween a and 4 aad oae night n» Two hundred aorea of ground apart from the ground devoted to track for coursing dogs will bs used in the development. t aiMI Considering the else of the thea- tre, the numt>er of mea la the or- chestra pit is unusual, from it to II man baing fouad In aaah i f ghis tra. The progrwn starts with aa ambitious overture^ after which there Is an intermlsaloa. Th subjeet on the screen la a THE TILLER DANCING SCHOOLS Mabert Decorsted Paris, Cot. M Francis Salabort. the music pub- | weekly, which, eonsidertng the dia- lisher here, has received from the tance from many of tha Important French government the red ribbon I ooensa. la very up to dat^ A of tho Legion of Honor. Sahbbart P©an travelog follows, aad then an has done much for Frcnrh operetta other Interminelon. Tha third part muRic during the pf\-Ht 1' v^m, \ of the program Introduoea the feat ura pletnn^ whleh, aaoardlav ta length. Is broken up by t«a or intermlssiona Hmf Cleaaet OF AMERICA, Im. US Waal 71d Street NEW YORK IIART READ PveftidMt *^o Big Parade." giera, would hardly bo in tho Statsa It to pieces in order to fit the regular program. American Alms are la tha majority, with the running soeond. All tha Amorloan comedians Chaplte, Kiaton aad Coogan—are popular. Beats for the cinema performances ara all ta s sn r ed. 'Tha has afllos^ however, is run In the Continental manner, with the patron having to go through several hands before he obtains a coupon. Tho chairs, non- upholstered. are evidently of French construction, and offer very little comfort. One manager in Algiers haa solved tho balcony question by building his theatre on a hillside, with the street entrance leadlnK dlreet to tha balcony. A ramp oar- riea thaaa wha ptaAw tka lower Vaudeville Fading There are variety houece, but they m to be suffering from the same disease that Is afflicting similar In- stitutions In other parts of the gk>be. Tlio variety preeenUtlons carry ona back to Mia oarty days of Oua Sun. and soma of the artlstf have the appearance of collecting the salaries of the early Bun days. Aftar aa ovoKura tho regular Intor- ralSHlon Is followed by mIx women singles, all voca11.<vtfl, and there Is another intermission. The second part'Is mado of tho same six sln- gleai the onif Innovation being that they offer different sonf^. The third part starto with about two of the more popular aingloa. but thia time they get down to work and offer some hot oooch and shlmmv move- (Continued on page tT> I <ondon^i Noy. L Koal Ooward batnt baaad by tha gallary at tha apanlae hte Mir play and gatttee baok alayarlr at hla hocklora was aa Incident aC tha new attractions of tho week. "Homo Chat** Coward's now piece, was produced late last week at the Duke of York's, where it was nicely received by a friendly audi- ence downstulre. while the gallery l>ecame disorderly. Tho mob on tha shelf boood tho author when ho ap* paarad to maka a speech altot the Anal anrtain, bet ha tamod tha le* bloa with hla rihafta at wtt. The play will enjoy a limited run here, owing to the great popularity of the author, but It has little valua for AflMrloa. Kingdom of Qod **Tha Kingdom of Qod." play af Spanloh oonvent life by Martlnsa Sierra* was stagad at the Strand Friday evening with indifferent ra* suits. The piece has been produced with tho baoklng of a wealthy bual« nosa maa who for purpose of tha enterprlsa oaUa hliaasif "AaaMT HaU.- XJUmn eoalla waa fairly goad aa a nun. a part that has been offered to Ruth Draper, for a Now Tafk production. *Tha Rod UtohraOn.** opening ad tho UtUe theatre last night la a whimsical comedy of great ohann and will enjoy a limited rua. M wanld ha' a aultahla plaaa for Win* throp Ames in New Tork or for the Theatre Guild, but A. H. Wl wouldn't bo intorestod In It. bFibQMliLMi The London, Nov. t. oshlbltora apparently aCtiM bill. Intimation la made (hat tho < man will pnt^p strong oppaoltlae to the inclusion of tho ward iMe* troUad" into the text Tha matter is to be fought aet neat week when a trade eommit- tee goes Into conference with Sir Philip CunUffo Listsr, president aC tho Board af Tirada. This nakoa tha llaanp eomplatai Britliib producers are determined that foreign manufactyrers shall bo roqnlM to put thair prad u a t through British oontrolled oom- panlee if they are to avoid the quota restrictions, 'while tho eahlbitokn eeek to kaap tha ahanasla aC pllaa as apan fa INDEX Foreign t-l PIcturee 4-Si picture Reriews II Ploturo Preeentotiona.... IT Film Honaa Earlawa M-lf VaudarlUa M-IT New Acto •••••• f 4 9 »• *• IT Burleequa • 4t Bills ...11-11 Times Bquaro. j> 41 Eidltorlal .•.•».•.■.••..... 4§ LitatatI « " .Women's 1*aga ......... .<0-<i Ltegitimate .....••> ^^t-M Legit Ueviews H Music fi-SY Otttdoora .•«.•••;•.• N Sporta 44 Obituary 58 Correspondence 19-4'i letter List 42 Inside Vaudeville 14 InHlde i'lctures 4S News of Dailies 44 Inside Legit 1^ _ JHNKIDBB**'