Variety (Jun 1928)

VARIETY'S LONDON OFFICE 8 St. Martin's Place, Trafalgar Square F O R EI G N CABLE ADDRESS, VARIETY, LONDON 7870-20%-3199 Regent Wednesday, Tune 6, 1928 London as It Looks By Hannen Swaffer Liondo'n, May 25. We" hav6 hai3 another of tho:^e theatrical bankruptcies in London— you icriow, a manager keeps on iintil .he has to confess. It is Philip liidg'eway this time, a.man so used to circulating everything about him- self in the newspapers that the first Intimation the. press got was a proclamation all abolit his "broken heart." The strange thing about publicity Is that the more managers go in for it, iapparently, the riiore of ten. they gb bankrupt. The conservative ones go" on from year to year, more or less, with a policy and an idea. Those who bang the drUm all .the time go bankrupt—and then start all over again. Publicity-Hounds: Surely , publicity hounds will discover, one day, that screaming in the newspapers does hot pay. Surely actresses will understand that having their picture in a newspaper does not lead to fortune. No, nobody will evier find it out. . They will go on banging drums until they bust them.selves and then they will borrow some more money to :buy new drums, After all, Charles Hawtrey was knighted after he had been bankrupt three times. o . . - The.Apoi^uia Philip Hidgeway, . in his apologia, moans with his heart between his eyes, all about, he ."discovered" Bobby Howes, Valerie Taylor, Beatrix Thompson, Jean Forbes-Robertson and Charles Laughton. He did noth- ing 6f the kind. So fax a.s Laughton <and yalerle Taylor are concerned, he gave them a few odd pouftds a week to appear at: Barnes in Tchekov, which a few silly ..young men* calling , themselves, highbrow critics, pawed their lily- vv^hite hands over So' much that Philip Ridgeway, thinking himself a highbrow, sprouted side whiskers'. . Pity the Poor Creditors Ridgeway, I am. sorry to: say, knows scarcely anything about the theatre aiid failed because of .that. I cannot feel sorry for him so. much as I feel sorry for his creditors. One of-them wrote, me; a few Weeks ago, and complained he had had no accounts f.or ''The Blue Train," in which Lliiy . Elsie returned to please Philip Ridgeway, who put on a show which, I was told at the start, could not pay, even if it succeeded. "Lllliom," which Ridgeway produced with . Ivor Novello, was the most ludicrous bunk that even I hjave seen for years. It was dreadful. "Tess of: the D'tlrbervllles" was. produced by Ridgeway^ of course, because Hardy would not alioW St. John Ervine to alter it for Sybil Thorndike. Ridgeway piit it on as It was, and it was a diid. How dare a manager claim thait he "discovered" artists like Charles Laughton. They do not discover them. They give the poor devils a job at low. rfites when they ai-e unknown and then, much to their sut*- prise, some of: themi make reputations. ^ I wonder if the^ first 'concert party mkn who gave Leslie Henson $10 a week claims to have discovered him. I started life in journalishi at( $1.20 a week. -Does the editor of that paper claim to have "discovered me?" Yes! lii is such bunk. Why I Like Ridgeway "Well, 1 am sorry for Ridgeway in the sepse that I like him. He was always so nervous when I walked In the room. . I like 'em like that. "YoU' know, I like you, Mr-. Swaffer^ although I fear you," he said to me, a yeiar ago.- "You iieedn't be afraid of me," I said. "You ought to he afraid of yourself/' ' , Nbw; apparently, h^ is; • Besides, • Ridgeway i.g. a kindly man. If he "comes back" I shall do my best to help him. I must buy him a. neW drum—a toy one. Tbis in Paris By David Sturgis Paris, . May 19. The Anglo-Saxon has three hor rible ■ censors. The New York and London theatrical manager, the po litlcal toad and the hypocritical minority. And the worst of these Is. the managrer. H6 is fifty per cent heneath the new, surging intelligence oit the masses. He Is Imipractical because he has no vision; Incpmpcteiiit because he is cowardly. He rejects pilay af- ter play that, through cinema guid- ance, it Is conclusive the public needs, wants, would, patronize. He has buried the stage with old ma- terialism. The people are always ready for the new spirit We must have a renaissance—ra new theatre, a new manager. tVe must take caro; of the inside In life and art. That will balance the sensuous' cinema and mechanical entertalnnient. Compe- tition will become co-operation. The playwright and player have been rebellious for a decade, A bas, in Frenchjr fashion, with the : mana- gerial grave-digger! He is not strong enough to roll the stone aside.. He cannot seie the universal drama when It rises from the toihij; A Cheer Soinetimes theatrical maniagera are poets of the drama!. Rare ex- ceptions in Saxon atmosphere. Such a one Was Herbert "Tree. Such is Davia. Bela^co. The latter belongs with Antoiiie. !Be has done wonders with atrocious plays In a horrible age. He never had the rich, Rus- sian soil to sow his seeds of Ijeauty and genius. NOr a tithe of the French Intelligence to appreciate his solitary subtlety. If he produces the present, crude drssunatlc product, it must be compassion In disguise. The Play Agent I heard a new simile yesterday. "As useless as a play agent." I have tried three in. London and New York. They have rendered the serv-. ice of the. mule, the most capable of all animals. For which they have bound me and brayed at my knots with squealing crescendo. . No'one Paid to Go! The. other man I .am sorry for this week Is poor Ernest. Truex. His show comes , off tomorrow night, after 10 days! . This, included: one dreadful matinee, which was abandoned, last Saturday for the reason, they assure me, that not one person paid to go! Now, Ernest Truex, if he is to stay in England, must take courage and put on a better show, or he must leave oft trying to be a star all on his owri. . He is very popular, personally. But—can he di'aw? Sometimes I think the days of stars are over. Sometimes I dream nightmares, in which the world is full of stars. A Director. Gaston Baty,. the coming French- man of the new theatre, performs wizardry- -with little 'money. He has vision, poetic: Imagination, scientific balance. What a director should be—and seldom is. Another Bunk Farce Anyway, I really believe that the days of stage farce Are finished. We had another bunk one this week called "Sliln Deep," in which Athene Seyler rubbed her belly with a rubber rolling pin to get thinner, or fatter,; or something, or whatever It is women have to do this year,'so as to be all alike. • This idea of beauty culture would. have done very well for a revue sketch lasing two minutes. They made it last for three acts. Now, why on earth should people pay nearly $3, or whatever It is since you won Ihe war, to see something that Is. not one thousandth part as lunny as Charlie Cahpllii's fllm,"The Circus," which you can see for half tlie money, Chaplin has killed them off—fai-ce com®dian», I mean. In Memoi^ of'Ala^^^ . — I am sorry about Alan Dale, who, by a strange .colncidcuee, died in a ti'aih just within sight of his native Birmingham, to which he had returned.for a holiday. His real name, as you knOw, was Alfred Coheft, end he chose the name Alan Dale beciuso, in the far-off centuries, it was that of a Warwick- shire worthy,, now lost. In tradition. We used to like reading about Alan Dale over here. You. know—he Was one of those Pilgrim Fa.ther fellows. The last time I saw him .was about a-^;year ago at a. first , night at the St. Martin's, when I sympathized with him; "I used .to be known as the Alan Dale of England," I said, "but now you are merely the Hannen Swaffer of America.!' We didn't speaik—after that. England's Reply to Equity The Actors' Equity bar on English .actors is, of course, re-acting over here. Sir G.erald du Maurier is protesting to the H.ome Secretary, who : will be asked to make retaliatory measures. Among the American stars now a.ppearing m London productions arc the following: Edith Day and Paul Robeson in "Sho^w Boat." Dorothy Dickson and Hartley Power in "The ]Man'Who Chanpori His Name." . . =T=-''Ernest-=^ruex-in-^Gall=Me=GeoEg.Q84'.^^^^ Tallulah Bankheald In "Mud and Treacle." Joseph Coyne in "Baby Cyclone." Emma Halg and Louise Brown in "The Girl Frioiui.' James KIrkwood and Claudettc Colbert in "Tho i!:u '. J4ick Smith in "Will o' the Wlilspera." IVfarion Lome in"Other Men's Wives." Peggy O'Neill In "The Flying. Squad." Whole company in "The Trial of Mai-y Diigan." Francis Says So lYancis' de Croisseti' well- known dramatist, phrases ' in "Conioedla," the French theatrical dally. He screaxns, with Gallic ur- banity, at the foreign invasion of Pa,ris. "Americans! They are be- coming too much in vogue!" Dear, dear, EYancis The French stage is analysis; the American stage, action. . f • True drama is analysis, in action. Therefore both theatres are lop- sided a:nd crutch-ridden. 'Music • Ja2z is dying in Paris. The poor- est ihihg in the Folies Bergere Is one slice of the African razor. Ta- maro.and Robertfs, Yank eccentric dancers, jazz it in. They ai;e clever to the edge but miss by a shave. Some of the music Is lovely. None by Americians. Irving Berlin is missing.- Hiusidans have taken his place. So many things are. bfting^ found out this. year. The chtdpness of Amisrican ballads, the crudeness of American jazz. George Gershwin Is waJcing up over here. He realizes superficial sound Is transient noise. He is min- gling with standard composers; try- ing to supplement his natural talent with ageless spirit. Beautiful, basic melody is delighting the patrons of the FoUes Bergere. BUDAPEST Rita Jolivet Married I lost Maria Ley last week. Now Rita, in elegance the Comtesse de CIppico, has shed me for a High- lander. I'ajn so annoyed I won't mention his name. Bagpipers, in heather kilts, furnished part of the wedding music—^with apologies to Sam Johnson. The brjde and groom went to Spain on a motor trip. '""^-Wliat'--a5"I^car6=^^Where^thTey^^^ I am not along, Rita gave up dra- Budapest, May 19. After a long run in Vienna "Abie's-Irish Rosia" has started on an equally promising career in Budapest. The.play opened at the Fovarosi Operette theatre two nights ago and was a distinct hit. Performance Was brilliant, featur- ing many popular names, such as Rott, best known cabaret actor who for many years has specialized in parts of a similar type, ais Coheii; Rose . Forral as Mrs. - Cohen,,- and Kabos, wlip made a particularly profound charaOter study of Solo- mon Levy. Hegedus was" remark- ably good as Father Whalen; and Louisa Szekely very pleasing as Rose. The first night audience Was de- lighted wi.th the humor, the sltiia- ti-qhs and. the : types, very well known and much appreciated here, of the play about which one had heard so much. "The Hungarian version, done by Eugehe Heltal, president of the Hungarian Society of Dramatists, Was little short of perfection. Even the press, which, It was feared, would take a high brow attitude toward this play of less pretensions than successes, was favorable, especially: in view of .the really rcmark.ablc acting. A long run Is preciicted. LONDON NOTES Iiondon, May 25. The next Edgiar Wallace play, "The Flying Squad," will be put' Into, the Lyceum June 4. "Lumber, Love" will bo transferred to thei. PrinceSSj where "Bits and Pieces," revue; has just clcsed. The other Wallace play, due shortly, is "The Squeaker," which will go into the Apollo. Hei-mlbne Baddeley; ono of the ycuingest and most promising of West End actresses, married thei Honorable: David Tennant, step> son Of Viscount Grey and nephew of Margot Asquith, who hag been an announcer for the: British Broadcasting Company since 1926. The bride was formerly one of "The Co-Optimists." She made her name In character roles in drama and lat- terly in- Cochran's revues. American Failures Other American .plays lately per fornied in Budapest, have been less fortunate. There seems to be a de cided vogue for American plays in Hungary, but "Abie's Irish Rose" is thfe first , to justify it. "The Road to -Rome" at the Vlgszinhaz was the outstanding failure of 'the sea-, son, and "The Hairy . Ape," though appreciated by the select, fared lit- tle better. This was performed at the TJj Szlnhaz, theatre now in its first season, which made a big hit With "The Dybbuk" earlier in the year. Successes Other successful plays of this season wiere Molnar's .latest, Olympia"; next "Zenebpna," musi- cal farce, French in style but Hun- garian by origin. At the National, revival, of Barrle's "Quality Street" and "The Chalk Circle,•^ by Kla bund; attracted. "Mercenary Mary" was extremely popular, but "Rose- Marie" did not come up to expecta tions. : A numbeir of original Hungarian plays, "Siberia," . by Zllahi; "The Post Mistress," by Lengyel; "The Ghurch Mouse," by Fodor; "Troika," by. Fazekas, did not go beyond an average run, chiefly on account of the general slump which makes it self much felt in every kind of show. Now at the close of the seiason two theatres willprobably see their way "to playing through the sunimer; one with Yvaln's latest operetta "Yes," and the other with "Abie." Jane Winton's Visit ■ - MoVie - fans - were. .much.- thrilled lately by the visit of Jane Winton, featured by Paramount in Lajos Biro's "Yellow Lily." Miss Winton came to see for herself what the country, of which she had been acting a da-ughter, mfght look like off the screen. She promised to return on her way back from Italy before going to California after her holiday in Europe. Americans Abroad . Paris, May 22. In" Paris: G. Schneelight .(con- ductor of Los Angeles Symphony orchestra),' Hans Kindler, Cantor Rosenblatt, Lew Herman, Joan Cai-- ter Warden, Clifford Grey (song writer); T. D, Kemp, Cyrena Van Gordon (Chicago Opera), Mr. and Mrs. Abe JLastfogel, Edna Wallace Hopper, Hallle Stilos. matic criticism for the Paris "Her- ald" to. break my heart. For years she played Gallic arid society; roles for Charles Frohman in New York. Lately she has been passing her vacations in. Scotland;; Some day she will wish she had gone to the south of Prance. • Dora buby's Stretcher After a. honeymoon spent at Mus- soorie/ India, Devi Sharmishtabl, formerly Dora Dub:/ of Seattle, and her husband, the ex-Maharajah of Indore, have arrived at Karachi. Devi is looking very frail. They leave on the llrier "City of Baroda" for Paris, where the lady will un- dergo a treatment. Worth has de- signed the hospitftl nightgown. , The Casino de Paris, where Shar- mishtabi danced, before she went shiner-hunting, will entertain the Maharajah =-while-^De vi-absorbs-the. ether. Philip; Ridgeway is relinquishingr his grip on the pilay producing world and is going in for film .production^ To get in the atmosphere he IsTto Jl commence his. new career as a mlmr .actor. ... , . . ■ ' ■ ■ A. ■ • The latest actor to turn manager is Harry Welchman, Who is going Into parnership with Major Steel to produce musicals. The estate of the late Thomas F,, Dawe,- who Was martagin.g director for the Tivoli, is published as $9,296,. with'net personalty.:nil. The next production at the Com-, edy theatre which- will follow. ."The iSilent House" June 6, will be "If We But Knew," a new play by An- drew Soutar, popular novelist. ■When a successor is needed for ''Blue Eyes" at the newly bUilt Pic- cadilly theatre, it will probably be "The. Swordsman," a. musical ver- sion of "The Three Musketeers," in which Carl Brissop has :,bcen tour?- Ing the provinces. Owien Nares will withdraw "Two White Arms" from the. Ambassa*. dors, to make way, for the pro- duction of "The Man They Buried", by Karen Bramson. After touring the provinces, Nares will revive his farce next, spring. Basil Dean plans to stage Shakes- peare next year In the West End and has arranged for Edna Best and' Frank Lawton (star of "Young Woodley") to appear as Romeo and Juliet. AMBASSADEURS Paris, May 25. Edmond Sayag is presenting what has turned but to be .the record monster program in Europe for a theatre-restaurant. Entitled the "Ambassadeurs Show." written-by Cole Porter, and staged by Bob Con- nolly, there could not be a greater success. for. this. ?lass of entertain- ment. Fred Waring's. Pennsylvanlans as the big attraction accompanying the revue and likewise give a hand to the variety side when appearing as a special nuniber on the. stage. The boys also cause diners to quit theiir tables during a part of the intermis- sions to dance on their own account, although there are two other orches- tras, on tap for the public dancing. Starting at 8.30 is a skit on the touring car filled with tourists rid- ing, up the Chanips Elysees. Elea- nor Shaler is the uniformed ciceron and Jack Pearson the chief tourist, surrounded by sightseers, all Amer- ican girls from Broadway. Same lassies as Highland soldiers in the Stuart'tartan al bit later, with Bus- ter West impersonating the Prince of Wales and Evelyn Hoey ias solo vocalist. Morton Downy sings with sym- patheti.c effect. Frances Gershwin is heard in a "number by her brother ;! Mary Leigh and . Basil Howes (only British oh the bill) make good in the ."Old-l^ashloned Girl" numberi and the acrobatic ciahcirig of Myrlo, Desha and Barte Is one of the big things. The Three Eddies, eolored, renew their favor- able acquaintance with the fash- ionable Parisian audience. Much is due to Joan C Wardell, Kathryn Ray, Muriel Ha;rrlson and Nesbit - brothers as the other prin- cipals. . As for the chorus, the girls are all peaches of the finest blossom. Grace Fleming, Bobby Campbell,. Clare Carroll, Gloria Glennon, Pea- hut Banks, Betty Vane,. Topsy Humphreys, Joey Benton, Helen Mann, Cleo . Cullep, Betty Holmes, Christine Morey, Nicky Pettell, Gene West, Polly Williams, Wilma Roe- loff and Edith Martin are the troupe, Sunday night the press was in- vited to sample the show, and Bob Connolly was smothered with kisses from the girls when he was brought oh the stage after the linalc. As an entertainment for a theatre- T6Btaxirant^it^SGrcms^pei'feeti(>iiT--- IANrin AMIiDirAN N17WC CTADR? Proprietors, R. C. Willis & Co., . Telephone Ilcceiit 67-12. Alwny.s the AllULU'AlTiCmVrmi ilCWu iJiUllJu ^1."^^ Up-to-the-Mlnuto Stock of American publloatlor.i. Duro.nu. de ■ , ■ . ^ Ch.anpo, .EnplKsh, American and Contlncntnl Newsde.ilors, Si>pcl(i| niatrlbutora tor "Variety" and the World's Stape and Screen. Publications, All the world's publications dpllvcrcd or .maljpd to any address. 1 Green Street, liOlce.ster .Square, LoWloh W. C. 2. Subscriptions recolv'od for .t11 homo and foreiRn newspapers, periodicals and mnRazlnes. I^lbralrJe Crtn. Inentale, 37 WHton Road (Vlctbrla Station). I.onrton, S. W. 1, Telephone Victoria 6C00, ' ■Willis' Ncwsagonoy, liHb Bromptoii Road, S. W. 1. Telephone Sloane 2794.