Variety (Jun 1928)

Wednesday, June 6, 1928 FOREIGN VARIETY XHAUVE-SOURIS' DISBANDS IN N.Y. Balieff Adyises Company —Uncertain of Future On the eve of sailing for Europe and unexpectedly to •»the majority of . the troupe, Nlklta BaliolT an- nounced to the "Chauve-SoUrls'' cast the grbup as such ceases its existence until further nptice. . He said that h6 has no contract for any country and does not know when he will have one. BaliefC hinted that he was rather at sea himself and could not see his way clear in continuing the "Chauve- Souris," in spite of its recently cole- .brated io-year record. Maybe It will be drama, maybe It will be French vaudeville for the run in Patls next year, said Btllieff. Mean* ■while he needs no one. About 10 members remained in New, York to try' to gain a foot- hold in. the American theatrical world. Delkarkhanova, an actress wh,o was M'lth Bailieft through all of the 20 years, is among them^ JeverV jeeva, dancer of "Chauve-Sourls,*' miay go to Hollywood,, where she is said to have received an ofEer of a movie job. Russian actors in New Tpfk feel rather ugly about this whole aifair. The feeling Is that the shrewd .Balieff always leaves his actors be- hind till he gets another engage- ment for the troupe, preferring not to pay the cast in the interim, knowing as he does that they won't get other Jobs anyhow and will come to him again when, he will need them; It is reported that the recent American and Canadian tour 'brought to BaliefC personally about $65,000.... The French government. has re- cently presented Balieff with an or- der of Legion of Honor, this In connection with the 20th anni- versary of "Chauve-Souris," and to reward the Russian for using so much French in his productions. Lover's Trick Caused France Suicide, Is Theory Paris, May 25. . The suicide . of Claude France, screen "actress, on Jan., 2, seems to have "beeri' clea,ted Up by the expla- nation of Rachel Devirys, another screen actress. . According to a story told the Paris police, the. girl committed suicide because she be- lieved Paul Brunet, a picture pro- ducer, had tired of her. Miss Devirys sttited she went with Brunet to a cabaret pre- sumely to discuss a picture in which she was to have a part. In- stead, iBrunet began making love to h.er for the purpose Of making Claude France, who was present, jealous. Despondent over her sup- posed loss of the producer's affec- tions, the actress Is. supposed to have committed suicide. Kidding Martin Herman Paris, June 5. Martin Herman boiled, frowned, amlled, ~^fihaily brake Tntb la real laugh when confronted by Variety representative with a cabled ad from "Herald," In which Malcolni Summer, attorney, advertised that Martin could return home and all would be forgiven, Herman got even by sending a kidding ad to the New York "Tribune" about ,Sum- mer, ■ Shaw's War Play London, May 20. Bernarcl Shaw has written a play on the Great War, which is said to b- his masterpiece, In which he handle.H the subject from an unex- pected nngle. He is understood to have said he will novor permit the play to be produced and it Is not known if he Intends ovbn to publish it. LESLIE HOWARD HOME Leslie-Howard has recovered from his recent operation for appendicitis *ind has been removed from hospital to his home for convalescence. The legit actor was' stricken when about to sail 'for England two Weeks ago. He will make the trip later. No Standout Among 3 New Paris Plays Paris, June 5, •No standout among the week's tliree new stage productions. Farce at the Maison d6 I'Oeuvre was well enough done and liked; bizarre af- fair at the Odeon was a ragged production and deserved its fate, and propaganda comedy aimed at French handling of mentally uriflt won but indifferent reception. , '^Sentimental" Fair Roger Ferdinand "La Foire aux Sentiments" at the Maison de I'Oeu- yr© was perhaps the best of the trio. rRecelved more favorably. It concerns a cynical widower at a seashore boarding house who spreads suspicion among couples there by his trivial remarks, watch- es trouble grow and then restores confidence Just on ' the verge of marital upheavals. , Henry Darbrey plays the chief character. "King of Malousie'^ "Le Rol de Malousle," at the Odeon, is a fantastic, satlrlcai farce by Jean Jacques Bernard, poorly produced and received with ' indif- ference. The story has to do with ar lot'of people on a i-emote Island called Malousle, who have only fe- male children and forbid outsiders to land among them. Marcel Mauloy lis amusing as the king, while Germaine Laughler makes a charrtiing queen. Incidental music is by Marcel Achard. ' . Among the Nuts . Just so so as to production and public reaction was ''M. Legrain chez les Fous" .(Mr, Legrain Among the Lunatics"), a play at the Renaissance directed in satir* at the French custom of permitting in- carceration in an asylum upon the certificate of a physician. Piece was written by Pierre Deltour, himself Confined in an institution by al- leged fraudulent means. A Jealous woman through her In- fluence with a magistrate causes a youth to be arrested and confined to an. asylum, where the physicians are crazier than .the patients^ At length his friends organize and ef- fect his rescue. Deltour plays the hero. Others In the cast are Fernand Bastlde Hablb Benglia, Henri Cremieux and Miles. Crermalh^ Rouer and Dagmar Ger^r. "The Squeaker" Clicks London, June 5. " "'"The Squeaker" opened May 29 at the Apollo and seems grooved for extended run. Despite heat wave, li- braries made deal opening lilght. Play is a melodrama by Edgar Wal- lace and admirably acted by a large company. . "Whispering Gallery," another melodrama of the mystery type opened the following night;, at the Garrick and proved worthy of the quick fiop it will probably prove. "Co-Optimists" Blooey London, June 6. The proposed revival of "The Co- Optimists" with practically the en- tire original cast Is off. Slated for an early opening at the Shaftes-. bury theatre the venture developed grief in a squabble over terms with Clifford Whitley and Archie DeBar, copyright owners of /title. Smith Still Clicking Loi^don, June 5. ■Prior t opening an extensive Eu- ropean tour Jack Smith opened yes- terday at the Holborn and demon- strated he is still great. box . office in this realm. Adele Astaire Beport London, June 5. Reported Adele Astaire will wed the son of William. Gaunt upon her arrival here, "Funny Face," with the Astaires, and Leslie Henaon as the main comic, will open at the Piccadilly In October, FLORENTINE CHOIR IS STRANDED IN N. Y. Sandro Benelli, Conductor, Mortgages Italian Home to Provide for 35 Singers The. Florentine, Choir, group of 35 singers from Italy, famed In Europe, are reported stranded In New York by Sa-ndro BenellU conductor. Benelli, It Is reported via Inter- preter, has been oibllged to mortgage the family caatlea in Italy to feed the 35 songsters ha has with him; i'he conductor does not dare to let the choir disband,, slricir^^me of the. members want.to remain DvAmerIca, Benelli put up. a cash bond ibieevery member of tbo choir on entram^ to America, aiid failure p> retVi^rh sohie of the members could restilt in the personal bankruptcy ot the fa- mous Italian lealder. When engaged in .Italy Benelli made the error of farming himself out on Italian money. Reaching here, with the isalary exchanged into American cash. It nieant very little for 36 songbirds. The choir htui played 'some of the larger picture and vaude houses at $3,500 a week, the singers'getting a net which was hardly sufficient to live upon. The group hw been Vitaphohed, showing at the Warner here with the opening of "Glorious Betsy/* Benelli has retained Hymen Ro - barto, ettomey, to seek an Injunc- tion, against the Victor Recording Co, to stop the sale of records made by the norentlne Choir. Benelli says his manager promised hini 5 cents for every record sold, and that he has not received any money yet. It is reported Co;unt Renato Zep- ponl may advance the singers $25,- 000 to live on in order to keep the choir together until September when , they are to be routed through South^ America. Army and Navy Blamed For London's Bad Biz London, June 6. With no chump money around to foster musicals many London houses are lehterlng the warm season with unsuitable attractions. The de^ pressloh is blamed In part upon the Royal Naval, Military,and Air tour-; nament at Olympia which is playing to absolute capa^ty of approximate- ly 10,000 seata twice dally. Paul Murray -has compiled statistics showing that similar conditions have existed around tburnainent time for the past five yeara. Gershwin Concert Paris, May 28. A Gershwiii concert^.-,.8lmIlar to one given in New York by Walter Damrosch, is proposed for the Paris opera as a Franco-American good will celebration. . Dlmltrt Tiomklni Russian pianist and husband of Al- bertlna Rasch, New York dance di- rector, is promoting the aifalr. The Wladimar Golschmann Orchestra, recently from Spain, Is. scheduled'to Interpret the Gershwin music WALLACE'S MUSICAL ===.^=..l==..-,_^...-^ . :J..„^fj ^ „ Edgar Wallace is writing another musical for Julian Wylie to be pro- duced six weeks hciice for a pro- vincial tour of 10 weeks. Bobby Howes will be principal comedian; Howes is under contract to Wylio and unable to accept an offer for America from Dillingham. SAILINGS July 6 (San Francisco, to Shang- hai) Frank . Chamberlln (President Rooseveltyr" ' ^ ^ : June 13 (New York to .London) Sam Eckmann (Mauretanla). June 13 (Lioiidon to New York) Gertrude liawrence, Alex Aarons, George. Grershwln, . De^ey Bloom (Majestic). . . June 9 (New Yotk to Paris) Mr. and Mrs. Harry Relchenbaoh, Ruth Elder (He de France).. June 8 (New York to Paris) Mr. and Mrs. Harry Kline (He de France). June 9 (London to New York) Alice Morley (Lapland).. June 8 (New York to Paris) Doro- thy Rose (DeGrasse). June 2 (New York to Hambxirg) U. S. (Sloe KJd) Thompson, Eolith Wilson, Greenlee and Drayton, Sam Wooding and band (New York). June 2 (New York to London) Frank Van^Hovien (ifiajestlc). ^"Ji3n$^2^^(NW^5fK to" M^ Hassey Pasha. (Morocco). May 31 (Vancouver to Melbourne) Jjcona Martin, Elizabeth Mears, Miss E, • Wade, Leonard Doyle, R, Van Sickle, WIrley Birch (company to play America^ play successes i6T Carroll & Whlts^ Australia) (N'i^H^ara)^ Light London Business; Nothing to Attract London, Juno B, Of the veteran crop of West End shows, the only one doing big busi- ness Is "Clowns in Clover." Among the more recent batch, "Cochran's Revue," ''Show Boat," "Blue Eyes" . and V'Lady Mary," which fell off for a fortnight, but recovered, are showing: anything with "So This Is Love," getting by to a small prbflt.. AH these; are. musicals. Of the straight shows not affected by the slump Just "Mary Dugan," "Young Woodley," '*rhe Squealer" ■ and "Alibi" are holding up. "Skin Depp," weak comedy. Is staying on the right side because of a small oper- ating cost. A prominent producer says the slump In business is not surprising as there Is nothing now in London theatres to atlfract American: and Continental tourists. . ^Girl Friend" Dive$ London, June 5. Business took a dive at the Palace for, "The Girl Friend." Endeavors are being made to recruit a revival, of "No, No, Nanette," providing Binnie Hale may be secured for her original role. Project would also have Joe Coyne In the part he created here, but this.would necessitate closing of "The Baby Cjyclone" at the LyriC, which might leave that house on Clayton and Waller's, hands with no suitable attraction ready. "Cy- clone" Is to go on tourr without Coyne. Clayton and Waller have another dark house since "Running Wild'' blew iip, leaving the Carlton vacant. Theatre, win be without tenant until C-W can get the American T)rin- cipaled "Good News" .ready the middle of August. Gershwin-Lawrence Play London, June 5. Gertrude I»awrence, Alex Aarons, George Gershwiri'""and Misig Law- rence's personal. representative, Dewey Bloom, .will be on the "Ma- jestic'-when It leaves this side June 13..' - Gershwin will write the music for Miss Lawrence's next American show which Aarons & Freedley will do- at the Alvin, New Y6i-k, In Sep- tember. Authors for the book have not yet been chosen. Miss Lawrence makes her fare- well radio Jiroadcasts here June 6 and 9, and goes on the N. B. C. Eveready Hour upon her arrival In New York, ' Paris Ducats Cheaper Paris, June 6,. A meeting of .aU theatre owners has been called for the purpose of discussing a general reduction In theatre admissions. It Is expected that 50 francs for the big revues Will hereafter be top, with the houses along the line cutting, pro- portionately. PARIS THEATBE CONGRESS • Paris, June 5. . An. Int_ern gross meets here June 18'-23 under the auspices of the French Minister of Public Instruction. Legitimate and cinema theatre musicians will be represented. - . NEW REVUE LOOKS LIKELY London, June 5. "Many Happy Returns,", new Archie Debear revue, opened last night (Monday), at Duke of York's and looks good. Show heeds Htrerigthening In the first section. ■■ ■■ ■• ■ Buys "Trp Toes" for Paris John S. Vajda has purchased the foreign rights to "Tip. Tpes" from Aarons & Freedlej^. George V. Banyal is to prod e the American musical in Paris shortly after his airival in France in June, Alice Morley Sailing London, June B. Alice Morley anq husband-»Bail on the "Lapland" thl^ Saturday (Juno 9) for New York, but ifcturn here In September to'take up vaMdevIHe contracts. Propaganda Given For Refusal of Russian Passports Berlin, May 24. The American consul in Berlin refiised to vise the passplorts of the Soviet Russian' theatrical company called "Siniaya Blouza" ("The Blue Blouse"), on the grounds that the productions of the- troupe are per- meated with ; revolutionary prop- aganda, . "The Blue Blouse" group is com- posed/of young actoris and special- izes in brief 'sketches; dancing and acrobatic nunTibers, etc. It's a kind , of Balieff's "Chauye-Sourls a la So- viet." The fame wlvich is quickly won in SoYlet Russia led to a Tather successful engagement in Germany, after .which the company has Jreturhed to Moscow, there to get ready for a trip to America. About a month ago B. Yuzhanin, manager of the, cbnipany, came to Berlin to secure United ; States visas for his charges. After many atteniptg he received a final no and left for Moscow. [ "Siniaya Blouza," or "The Blue; Blouse," B, Yuzhanin, manager. Is, not to be confused with""Sirilaya Ptltza," or "The Blue Bird," J. YuzhnI, manager. ; Similarity of the companies' and managers' names often causes em- baiTassrhent to the members ot both troupes. ' < "•rke Blue Bird," also sha,ped after Belieff's inanner,- Is a cohser^ vatlye organization. It visited this country s, few seasons ago, at- tracted by Balleft's : success here, but It did not gather any shekels to speak of; It tours the sundry: countries of Western Europe now, being virtually a company of Rus-- ^sian refugees who fled from the So"' Viet Republic. Noel Coward's Revue London, June 6. Noel Coward sailed for New York Saturday on the "Mauretahla" to appear In his own revue, "This Year pf Grace." Charles Cochran sails today 'on the "Leviathan" to Join Selwyn and Coward in handling the production. London Agents Combine London, June 6. The agencies of Henry Sherek and Reeves and Lamport have been amalgamated and will. function jointly from June 19 on. Sherek will continue to .handle the acts personally and to be associated with Jenie Jacobs (New York) ^In legit placlngs. The amalgamation will extend Its operations to the production of plays. INDEX '.t»t • t • t ' Foreign ., Flctiifcs '••••*••••«•«•■«.• Picture Reviews......... Film Houste Reviews..,. 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