Variety (Sep 1928)

VARIETY'S LONDON OFFICE 8 St. Martin's Place, Trafalgar Square FOREIGN CABLE ADDRESS: VARIETY, LONDON 6276-6277 Regent Wednesday, September 5, 1928 SUSPICION IN NEGRO CABARET MAN'S DEATH Palmer Jones Collapses on St. —Acute Indigestion Given as Cause of Death Paris, Sept. .4. Svispioions and ^ probable investi- gations surroiincl tlii? sudden death last "Wednesday of Palmer Jones, colored entertainer. Acute indigestion is the ascribed <;ause, but rumors persist. Florence Jones, the wife, runs a cafe for white folks in Montmartrc. Nathaniel Palmer Jone-s, colored entertainer and owner of Florence's cabaret, died in a Paris hospital following a sudde^i seizure of acute indigestion. Jone$, who was. 40, was stricken on the street and was hurried to the hospital. His wife, Florence, caused the. body to be cremated In obedience to the expressed wishes pf the dead rrian. Arnold-Sayag Break Paris, Sept. 4. Billy. Arnold, popular band leader, is reported breaking with H^dmund Saya^r, Pa;ris'. erratic . impresario, after an a.ssbciation of several years. Arnold, playing at the Ca.sino in Deauville, figures he was treated unfairly by Sayag \yhen the latter tried to displace him In order to make a booking for the American, Ted Lewis. Sayag negotiated.with M. Andrea, one of the pi'incipal owners of the Deauville Casino. The latter, how- ever, Informed Arnold and Sayag's plans fell through. HUNGAEY'S FILMS GROW Paris, Sept. 4.. Te Republic of Hungary is bcr coming a big consumer of motion pictures. Figures :compiied within last year chow there are 580 theatres and a dally average attendance of 170,000 persons. Check up on taxes indtcates, all theatres run at a profit. Two Acts for Australia San Francisco, Sept. 4. Deno and Rochelle, and Swor and Swor have been'bpoked for Austra- lia. Former act isails tomorrow (Wednesday)-and the latter act the next day, L. A. Mantell,. representing Union Theatres, Ltd,, made the bookings. Honoring Champagne Paris, Aug; 27, Popping of corks, from cham- pagne bottl.es, followed the memorial coreniony in the vil- lage church of Hautvillers,. near Epernay, in honor.of Dom Perpignon. He wa.s the Benedictine monk uho invented champagne tbwai^ds the end of the 17th century in that part of France. Chinese Melo Promising London, Sept. 4. "The Moving Finger" Which opened last week at the Garrick looks like a, moderate success. It is a Chinese melodrama resembijng in some respects "Mr. Wu." Piece is well constructed, and uni - formiy good acting contributes vastly to its prospects for patron- age. Author is cloaked by anony- mity, but understanding is that Sir Patrick Hastings, noted barri.ster, created .script. 3,000,000-Franc Fire Paris,. Sept. 4. Word has ju.st reached here of the destruction by fire of the Pa- lais de Glace, Antwerp, Belgium, involving a loss of 3,000,000 francs, including value of destroyed build- ing adjacent. '. Place was used for skating in winter and tennis in summer, Blaze blammed on lightning. DEL EIO'S DENIAL Paris, Sept. A. Dolores Del Rio arrived in Paris a few days ago in company of Ed- win Carewe, the director.,Star took occasion to make denial of rumors that she sought to divorce her HuSt band and would' marry Carewe. Australia By Eric H. Gorrick Sydney, Aug, 4. Excellent business is. being done by the W. T. Melba opera company at Her Majesty's. Despite the inr come it looks as though the proposition will be a losing one be- cause of the enormous overhead and transportation costs. It is stated by Williamson-Tait that the firm may not stage another opera season here unless higher rates are charged. Present 3ea,son is probably the greatest musical treat this city has had. Every opera produced has (Continued on page 24) 4 *ftv)»»; GEORGIE WOOD I can recommend to American vaudeville these novelty acts J Ar- thur Conquest presents "Daphne"—r- man or monkey? the sensation of Great Britain, PYance, Germany, Holland and Italy; Baby Love, 36 inches of versatility In the dances of seven nations, looks like six Is just turned ten years of age;. Hengler Bros, hand-to-hand bal- ancers; Levole and Moran, unusual two-man dancing act, and for talk- ing shorts, if I were not fully booked, obviously, myself. Address 17 Tring iavenue, Ealing, London, W. 6. Novello Razzed on First Palladium Bill London, Sept, 4. Palladium returned to Its former vaudeville policy yesterday (Mon- day). Opening bill Included Seven Hindustans, Dick Henderson, Diga- tanos, Orth and Codee, Ivor No- vello and Phyllis Monkman, Mile. Tamara, Runaway ' Four, Oracle Fields, Billy Bennett and Jackson's 16 Dancing Girls. A talking short film was omitted because of the length'of the show. Ivor Novello was credited as the draw but his sketch elicited the raspberry. Main fault was that No-, vellip insisted, as' a star of the le- gitimate. In playing the act upstage Instead of down to the lights. Runaway Four and Orth and Codee were hits of the bill. Busi- ness capacity. INDEX Foreign 2-59 Pictures 4-31 Picture Reviews 14-28-31 Film Hpuise Reviews.... 39 Vaudeville ,. . 34-37 Vaude Reviews .41 New Acts. 40 Bills ....1............... 43-44 Times Square .'. 44-45 Editorial ... r.,.,. .. . .-i -48 Women's Page.......... 46-47 tegitimate .............. 49-55 Music 56-57 Outdoors ; . B8 Obituary ............... 58. Correspondence 60-63 Letter List....,. : . 63 Inside—Pictures 13 Inside—"\'aude 34 Inside—Legit ............ 51 Talking Shorts... 14 Literati 23 News of Dailies ..... 44 Legit Reviews 53-54 Sports ;... . 44-45 Foreign Film News 6 Burlesque .............. 38 The Tiller Dancing Schools of America, Inc. 64- W E ST--74th= ST.}-N EW^^^ >iiaR K MART KB;AD, President Phonp Endlcott 8216-6 New OlasM* Now Formiflf Bordoni Recui>erates Paris, Sept. 4. Irene Bordoni has left Paris, go- ing to the Lido, Venice, to recuper- ate following her operation for ap- pendicitis. Ray Goetz accompanied her. Just before his departure Goetz was made defendant in a claim .by Howell & Baud involving dispute over performer's commissions be- ing held up, and after payment of certain alleged loans made to Goetz bn a proposition to exploit "Raquel Meller" dolls last year. AN IBSEK FOLLOWS EAQUEL Paris, Sept. 4. Raquel Meller withdrew frpm the Palace revue and was replaced In the cast by Lfllebil Ibsen, a grand- daughter of the famous Norwegian dramatist. Raquel opens at the Scala, Berlin, shortly. GEEEN VENTUEE IN RED London, Sept. 4. The Harry Green Co. returned to London this week. It is undor.stood their. South African engngements went into the red ^100,000. ■ EAQUEL At SCALA ^ _ _ P.erlir, Aug. 24. " R aqu o rMc-TI e r""ri7i s"T^ ef to appear here during .September at the Scala, the big v.'u/devillo house. DAVID STURGIS the universm theatre The Hollj^ood, 7 Rue Daunou, Paris Tclophor.e Louvre 03-81 Downey's "(kHnmand" London, Sept, 4. Morton Downey, returning here after four months on the Continent, opiened last night (Monday) at the Cafe de Paris. He did 18 songs and had to re- peat one at the "command" of the Prince of Wales, who strolled Into the cafo unobtrusively. This in Paris By 1>avid Sturgis Paris, ~Aug7 20. " Paris is waiting to welcome Gene Tunney. He Is to. study philosophy in England. Later he will enter business In the U. S; A. That's wisdom. Plato prepares for Filene of Boston. Modern colleges mdke 'wonderful ribbon clerks, hereby agree to save Tunney from the professors and business men That pair of horrors have ruined more huskies than alcohol. When see my college and commercial friends they look like my grand- fathers. I will teach Tunney for nothing, and there is nothing I do not know. He will respect.his mage I have slaughtered more bullheads than he ever walloped in training camps, I will start him with magic, as- trology, alchemy, tarot and kabala, He will realize how great It is to be champion of the World, Great EritaIn--^own& . one^quarter^-^cl-:jthe inese and that's Ita punishment. That hunk of hokum Is called the dragon by the Chinese, illusions by the Indians, and the serpent by the Jews. The Course will be conducted In Paris. One does not live in London <Continued on page 69) Americans Abroad Pari.s, Aug. 27. In Paris: Paul C. Coitcoran, pub- lisher; David Warefield, H. D. Wil- son, H. Regensberg, Elsie Janis, Ed. Davidow, H. E. Tillotson. Aastralian 0. H. With Stock Issue; Sir Ben's Idea Sydney, Auff. 4. Sir Ben Fuller would tecome Australia's Otto Kahn aiid build a theatre solely devoted to opera, But Sir Ben wiants the assistance of • Dame Nellie Melba, together with Sir George Tallls and E. J. Tai.t, heads of Willianison-Tait. He is ^ure the public will buy shares in such a company. Bennett's "Faust" Ixtndon,' Sept. 4. "The Return Journey," original drama by Ai-nold Bennett, as re- vealed at the St. James late last week, turns out to be a modern satire on the "Faust!* rejuvenation themCi Bennett apjprbaches the isituation of Faust and Marguerite in the mod- ern scientific manner, with a rejuv- enation accomplished by something akin to the monkey gland operation Instead of a compact with the Dark Angel. . A splendid first act sparkles with modern epigrams, but thereafter piece lags. Looks like a limited.run, Dumaurier's personal popularity contributing to this result;. Popular appeat doubtful. Lewis Liked in Paris Paris, Sept. 4. Ted Lewis opened Aug. 28 a.£ the Ambassad6urs, making a good Im- pression In his turn with . Eleanor Brooks and Arline Langail, who also scored. Show at that house has under- gone many changes. Now there also are the 12 Rasch girls newly ar-. rived from Ostend. Chamberlain and HInes, Apache dancers, did nicely on opening. David and Helen Murray like- wise-returned late last week, while the Runaway Four terminated itis engagenient, going to the Coliseum, London. Noble Sissle and his band moved out Aug. 28, their engage- ment having run Its course. Yank Bids for Resort London, Sept. 4. Thames Riviera at Hampton Court, the big resort just outside London, Is under negotiations for purchase by an American caterer. All that stands In the way- of fi deal is a difference in bid and asked price. The Yankee bidder offers $100,000, while the receiver, in charge since the enterprise went into bankruptcy, is holding out for $125,000. MaO-AMERICAN NEWS STORE rroprlf'tflr<(. R. Willi* * Co., Telepbone Retrent 6742, Aliraye the moat '^.t'- 'thf 'ilinute Stock of Amorlcan Publicatlone, Bureau de chiinio, r.nf;))iilt, Amcrlran »nd Continental Newsdealere, Special blatrlbutora for "Variety" and the World's Stage and St.r'.'A }'bl>i'cation«. All tlie world'a publications dellverpa or mailed to any addreso. 1 Green Street, Leicester Square, l. u il' n v/. c. S. AabRcrlptlona received for all home and foreign nevrfpapota, periodically and magrAzlnea. Ltbralrle ''i>n?i <«>n~ale. t7 WUton Koad (Victoria Htatlon), London, a W. 1. Telephone Victoria 6C00. Wilila' Newusency, ofb Mt iapt«B Read, & W. 1, Teleptione Sloaoe nti. SAILINGS Sept. 22 (London to Sydney), John Tait, Andrew MacCunn (Carinthia). Sept. 8 (London to Sydney), Fred LindMy "(Duchess-of- Athol); - . Sept. 8 (New York to Paris): Earl Carroll, Bernard Lohmuller (He de France). Sept. 9. (New York to Ireland) Mr. and Mrs. Tom Henry (Celtic). .Sept. 6 (San Francisco to Aus- tralia) Swor and Swor (Sierra). . Sept. B (San Francisco to Aus- tralia) Dciio and Rochelle (Maun- ganui). Sept. B (London to New York), Gilbert Miller (Majestic). Sept. 4 (London to New York), Nathan Burkan, David Warfleld, George Arliss (Leviathan), Sept. 4 (London to Now York) Sophie Tucker (Leviathan). Aug. 29 (Paris to New York) Lee Shubert (He de France). Aug. 31 (New York to Paris) Constance Talmadge, Nat Roth- stein (Paris). Aug. 31 (New York to Paris); A^rc^^elwyn, Jr. (Olympic). Sept. 29 (New ""fo^k' "to'^Eohdon^^^^ Joseph Seider (He de France). aEST HAS MOISSI Berlin, Aug. 24. While in Salzburg Morris Gest signed Alexander Moissi for "an American appearance this winter. Moissi is to play for about 20 weeks with his own company. Gest also has an option on a three year appearance of the Ger- man actor. Sydney House First Under Hammer of Tivoli String Sydney, Aug. 4. Auctioneers, given instructions from the trustee of the late HariT Rickards' estate, will auction th©" Tivoli theatre here this month. Un- der the will, ■'■ the ownership of Tivoli theatres had to remain in; the family until the death of th<i widow, or either of his two daugh- ters. All have now passed on, and the Sydney Is the first to go . under the hammjer. . About 1913 Tivoli Theatres, Lt^i, was leased to. a company, under the managenient of Hugh D. Mc- intosh, at a weekly rental of about $1,120. Eight years later the the-' atres were leased to Williamson-1 Tait at a rental of $3,145 a week,/ showing a profit to shareholders In? Harry Rickards* Tivoli Theatres ot $1,920 weekly. Beneficiaries of" Rickards only got the original $1,- 120 per week. Present lease, held by . W-T, doesn't expire until 1942. Star Fortunate Angel London, Sept, 4. ■ If the London report is true, Ger- trude Lawrence should be a happy "angei," for the piece she is sup- posed to back has possibilities ot success. The new Chariot roviie, opening, at the Vaudeville theatre late last week, was very well received by an audience obvipusly"friendly to the piece and all concerned In it. The crowd applauded everything with more enthusiasm than deserved. Production's weakness is that It has no outstanding personalities/ Nearest to Individual triumph were the performances of Barrie Olive* and Rehla. Peggy, Northesk Sail Paris, Sept 4. Peggy Joyce and Lord Northesk i' departed for New York Sept. 1 \ aboard the Aquitania. P'eggy eac- ' pressed twitterings about' herself i; and His Lordship being on the same t ship. ' It is understood Ellis Island hals been tipped off it'is a publicity bidv Ada Weeks Hurt Paris, Sept. 4. , Ada May Weeks, American musi- cal comedy actress. Injured Sunday (Sept. 2) In taxicab accident. Rest- ing in American Hospital. . Condi- tion not . serious. Bruises and strained ai-m. "Good News" London Set London, Sept. 4. "Good Nei^ps" running along briskly at Carlton, all options held by Clayton and Waller on the mem- bers of cast have been exercisedv DANCE TEAM SCORES London, Sept. 4. O'Hanlon and Zambuni, supported by Gaucho Band and carrying their own leader, opened Monday night at the Holborn Empire (vaudeville) after _an absence pf^ three years. They scored splendidly. ■ 'This house grossed $12,500 for th« last week of Sophie Tucker's en^ gagerhent, a record. . NEW YORK BOUND London, Sept. 4. . R. H. Gillespie, managing director of Moss Empire Theatres, sails shortly to look over the New York Situation, He will be particularly interested in musical productions. Rose to Screen "Levirisky" London, Sept. 4. Julian Rose has signed contracts calling for his presence in a film version of "Lcvinsky's Wedding," work to begin immediately. Gest Home Bound Morris Gest sailed for New York Aug. 29. HENRY CARSON AGCY. Internntional Variety, Plctjre Plwyera and Theatrical RcpreaentAtlves 78, Avenue des Champs Elysees PARIS Cables: Booking, Pari.<) Phone: Elysce 09-10 Good Acts Always Needed