Variety (Sep 1928)

Wednesday, September 19, 1928 FOREIGN VARIETY MANY BEST BOOK SELLERS Prince George Eases in Without Leave as Hollywood's Ij03 Angeles, Sept. 18. Lily Damita gave Diilte Valum- fcrosa of Sardinia the run-around for Prince George of England, It Is said, which led the: Duke to leave Hollywood for New York, The Duke was registered incognito at the : Roosevelt hotel in Hollywood under the name of Louis V, DuMorris, of Paris. It Is said that hie reached Hollywood shortly after Miss Da- mita. When word came to Hollywood that Prince George was on the Pacific coast it is said Miss Damita imme- diately went, to Del Monte to meet the Prince whom she Is declared to have said she knew in Paris and London when she met him socially- with !his brother, the Prino.e of . M^'ales. When Miss Damita told the. Duke she was going up north to see the Prince the latter, it is said, made his plans to leave for the east. Miss Damita spent several days around Del Monte while Prince George was there. Then, the Prince went to Santa Barbara with his ship and suddenly decided to come to Hollywood, despite the alleged in- structions from his father. King George, to keep away from the pic- ture colony.. The Prince came here with other members of his, staff supposedly as H guest- of Mary Pickford and Dougles Fairbanks, and, it Is said, that his, real reason for being in Hollywood was to see Miss Damita. A rodeo was given in his honor by Douglas Fairbanks, also a dinner Then the party, a number of pic- ture celebrities, including Miss Da mita, visited Roscoe Arbucklo's t>lantatIon Cafe. The following day the Prince vis Ited vai-lous studios with members of his party, jVIiss Damita and other picture personalities. His final day, ishortly after the lunch hour, he left Miss Damita for a short time and went to the Fox studio with June Collyer, who introduced him around The Duke, though he makes his home in Paris, is said to be an Italian nobleman. Put on Watch. Captain Coolrldge, commander of the "Durban," to which Prince George of England is assigned, is eaid to have strict orders from lEngland not only to put in the ship at Los Angeles but to see that the Prince did not get to Holly^jv^ood When the Prince under the guise bf going to Monte Cito came to Hollywood he did not slip anyUionj Jover on his skipper. While the Prince was being en tertained at the Fairbanks' home 'Captain Coolridge and. 15 offlcers of the ship were quartered at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, but did not know the Prince was the community. Next mom 15. the papers of the Prince's presence but could not get, in touch with ■him. That afternoon the captain and offlcer.s were guests at the Chaplin studios and in the evening were entertained at the Fairbanks studio. During that time the Prince .. was lieing entertained at the. Fb lot. After leaving tlie I'airbanks studio the. captain returned to. Santa Barbara and when he boarded th ship, the Prince had beaten him to it. He was already in bed. The next day a reception was given'' by. residents, of Santa Par bara and during it Capt. Coolridg- Is said to have given the Prince glary stare. It was reported at fir.st the Prince had beon ronfined to quarters, but instead when the .=!hip loft Santa Barbara he was delegated'to stand night watch, going out on the foggy ■ ■ Pacific. Curious Robbery London, Sept. 18. , John Parker's home was ran- sacked and nothing , removed excepting his sixth edition manuscript of "Who's Who," of which Parker bias been the continuous author. The only explanation heai'd of the curious theft is that some woman wished to conceal her right age., ive New Plays Mark New Season in Paris Paris, Sept. 18. Now plays just presented includie: "Terminus," psychological drama based on a man's brooding over a Chinese soothsayer's prediction of his death. Poor cast added to weakness. 'Madame Sleeping" got over moderately well with audience sur- prised, by new stage turntable used for the nine scene changes. Renee Lugder outstanding as bolshevlst. "Parceque que je T'aine" looks fairly good. Four - act ronriance with good cast, "Week End" is a translation of Hay Fever." "Napoleon IV," dealing with the Prince Imperial of Napoleon III, well received; Henri Rollan plays the prince. London Grosses Better; Musicals Capacity London, Sept, 18. Theatre business was on the mend here last week with musicals going to capacity, notably "Show Boat," Cochran's Revue, "Good News," Hippodrome Revue, "So This Is Love" at Winter Garden, Among non-musicals "Cardboard Lover" was a standout. Surprise to West End managers was the business done by "Simba" the wild animal picture put in as a stop-gap booking, at the Palace and grossing $3,000 per perform- ance. Palladium (Vaude), grossed $25,- 000. mm LISTING Sales Statistics Gathered from Authentic Sources— Show People's Interest in Books Surprises Publish- ers and Distributors CHORUS GIRL READERS Remaining Abroad Paris, Sept, 18. Eide Norena, leading soprano Chi cago Opera for last two seasons, will not return to the United States this year. She will winter with the Paris Opera. in Not a Pipe At the TAtz Carlton, New York, it was admitted that Duke Val- Ipmbrpsa Is .rogi!5tered there under the name' of '^LT ~VT DuMofns. TAT- thouffh he chocked in late last week the Duke has not been seen around the hotel for several days and is believed to be visiting friends out of town. The Alamanach de Gotha lists the family .liame' of Vallombrosa but no history of the family is given. "Titled Nobility of Europe," lists a Duke Luigl Marica Vallambrosa as the scion of an old feudal fam- ily of Sardinia, an Italian poses- sion. While the talc listens like a pipe publicity plug for Lily Damita, lately arriving over here, it's not The Associated Press sent .out story on the matter, concerning Prince Georgc^nly, A Los Angeles reporter lollin around one of the coa.st studios ran into the story when hearing a girl rushingJ^nto the studio, exclaim: """"Tlifi l'rince poV'Rcf^T"""" """""^ He lolled out quietly and his paper got the yarn. Variety, in inaugurating a guide to the best sellers in books, fiction and hon-fiction, surprised the large book jobbers and merchants with the idea that shov/. people read. After it was tirought to their at- tention, for one thing, that long train jumps between week and split- vveek stands makes this as much of a necessity as an aesthetic accom- plishment, it dawned on several that maybe they shouldn't have mentioned it. And wheii it was added that more copies of Ludwig's biographies, notably "The Son of Man" (the Life bf Christ), of recent months, hot to mention "Trader Horn," were en- countered in chorus girls' dressing rooms and apartments than any place else the Variety reporter knew of—the book people were still of the opinion that if the strange . genus thespis does and must read, do they not concern themselves with the "Show Girl" type of Broadway-fla- vored fiction or the breezy "Geor- gia May" or "Bad Girl" novels. Again it had to be explained that show people's tastes are about as average as anybody else's. Even if such were not the case, an idea of what is selling with the American public would probably influence the show people along similar lines. The Ad Idea W;ith this point won by opein con cession, the book merchandlzers, in true commercial spirit, wanted to know why Variety was so frankly altruistic about this public service. After convinced that it was nothing but a service pure if simple, with no strings attached, their trades men instincts still refused to rest without the opinion that such ser- vice would be bound to bring adver- tising revenue to Variety from the puljlishers. That show people, as a class, con sideripg their numbers, do read more than any other group. In di- rect percentage ratio to its size, soon convinced the book Jobbers, and the data was-readily forthcom- ing, although it seemed unanimous ly surprising that this thought never occurred to them until brought to attention by Variety's reporter. As an initial tabulation, • perhaps some explanatory data Is necessary for the first time, with the mere (Continued on page 27) Gordon Bostock's Circus At EarFs Court, London London, Sept. 18. Gordon Bostock has leased Earl's Court Exhibition Hall and will open a circus in London Dec. 1, with an all-winter run planned prior to a Continental tour. Barnum and Bailey's Circus toured England 25 years ago. Since then England has seen nothing on the same scale, A syndicate of business men is backing Bostock. Giant as Champ . Paris. Sept. 18. Genaro", six feet ten Inches high a physiclal giant from Italy, is be- ing hailed here as a possible world's champion boxer. Genaro despite hla size Is very fast with a terrific wallop. He is deficient lii boxing technique at present but Is being tutored. Elsie Janls in Revue London, Sept. 18 Els;l© Janls has joined the new edilibn of Jack Hulbert'e "Clowns in. Clover" revue. She Is redelving $1,500 plus a per- centage. Fred Lamport 111 London. Sept. 18 Fred Lamport, of Reeves and tsfm^^ifbH;'T3obking""af^ ously ill. He Is resting In a sani tarium. Proprietors, n. C. Willis & Co., Tfilcphohe nejTont S742. Always the moat Up-tb-thc-Mlnute Stock of American Publications, Bureau do Change, EnRll.<'h, AmoriRan and Continental Newsdealers. Special ANaO-AMERICAN NEWS STORE Distributors for "Variety." and the World's Stage and Scre-n Pul.llcailons, All the world's publications delivered or m.-illod to any addre.os. 1 Green Rtrnct. I,f;lro3t(!r S-iuare. London W. C. 2. Sub.icrlptlons received '°'',f'''»« forol^n new.Mpapfrs, pf>riodlraN and muKazinM. Mbralrle Contlnentale, 37 Wilton Road (Victoria Station), London. 3. W, 1. Telephone Victoria SCOO, Willia' Newaagcncy, llOb 13ronipton Road, .S. W, 1, Telephone SloMi* a7»l. rr. Yeah! Boston, Sept. 18, A college giii wont to the Music Room of : the lioston Public Library to got hold of a copy of Variety, which her English professor tbld her to look ovei*. The woman in charge said that some one else was read- ing it then, but went.on to say: "You know there are so many refined people coming in to inquire for Variety that we have decided to bind the cop- ies and keep them . on file here." Chevalier's Farewell Paris, Sept. 18. Edmund Sayag opened the Apollo Sept. 14 with Ted Lewis the head- liner. Surrounding acts . French. Lewis scored tremendously. Maurice Chevalier has been booked into the Apollo for Sept 21 at a record salary for French vaudeville. He sails for America in October to become a Jlollywood star. Cochran's New Plays London, Sept. 18. Charles B.. Cochran has closed with Sean O'Casey for the latter's new play, "The Silver Ta.ssle." It is possible the play will have its world premiere in New York. Cochran also has the American rights to "Many Waters" by Monck- ton Hoffes, one of the best plays of last season. "NICE GIRL'S" LONG TRIP London, Sept. 18. .Negotiations are well advanced to send the entire company of "That's a Nice Girl," Including Jack Buchanan, to Australia, following the run at the Hippodrome.. Show is presently among the big gro.ssera in London. NEW CASINO REVUE SOON Paris, Sept. 18. Jean Lesayeux is producing a new revue at thp Casino. Opening set for mid-October. Lo.sayeux Will visit New York when th e s how is set. . Jane Marnac, . Saint Granier and Mltty and Tillio. will be featured in the new revue. Beatrice Lillie "Dies" As Palladium's Top ■ London, Sept. 17. The newly reopened Palladium continues to be unfortunate In the ohbioe of Its headliners, Beatrice ;i.iilie, following Ivor Novello's poor vaudeville act, employed a sketch by Noel Goward used some seasons, ago in a West End revue by Masle Gay. It elicited derisive laughter and escaped the bird by the nar-. rowest of margins. Gaston Palmier, following the Lillie turn, did well on top of hav-. ing to quiet the restive mood of au- dience. Morton Downey, doubling from Cafe de Paris, had to encore after lights went down. Ferry Corwey, playing a few Eng- lish yaude dates prior to opening in the States for Publix, proved vastly amusing. . ' Greenlee and Drayton, colored tvVo-act, assisted by two girls, failed to slioW for the second performance yestei'day when biffed by manage- ment cutting ruhning time of act after first performance. They were doubling froni Chez Taglloni. Val Parnelj, booking manager for General Theatres Corp., controlling the Palladium and other former Gulliver. houses, sails in the near future to seek talent in Kew Yoirk. A number, of London bookers and agents will , go across shortly, in- cluding Ernest Eldelsten and Harry- Foster. '. ''Napoleon" Play Brings Objections to Lines Paris, Sept. 18. Several French journals have protested against "Napoleon rV," historical dramas presented last week at Port Salnte Martin theatre. It is also reported the British Em- bassy protested to the French gov- ernment. Play implies that late Queen Vic- toria tacitly arranged French prtnce's death in Africa. Rostand, author, states change dialog lines when officially requested, but contends that aa France has no censors, play cannot be ordered closed. Maurice he will Club Merger London, Sept. 18. An amalgamation of a number oT theatrical social groups Is being di.scussed, Ertglneers Club with a consider- able theatrical member.ship and the Green lloom Club are principals in the proposed merging of clubs and memberships. BALIEFF AT APOLLO Paris, Sfpt. 18.. ' Edmund . Sayag has boolced 13a- lleff and his Chauvc Souris troupe for r month at the Apollo, starting Nov. 15, Ht-rt'tofore. the Chauvc Sourls liave been an independent vaudeville show In themselves. FRAZEE HOME BOUND' Paris, Sci.t. 18. Harry Frazoo's health has im- proved Huflifiontly for him t) rail Sept, 19 on the "Ilie de France," His. son arrived recently to bring Harry home. '"^"^ NeH'CbllThs'CTomlng^^^^^^^ London, Sopt. 18, Neil Collin.H, juveniles with Clayton and Waller's "Good News," Ir-avos Sept. 17 and will sail for Now York to join one of the Amr-rif^an fom- panfe.s of the s.'irne .show. Art Fowlor rfplacea him in Lon- don. INDEX Foreign ................ 2-3 Pictures ................ 4-29 Picture Reviews......... 12 Film Hou.se Reviews 37 .Vaudeyille .._...,.. ... . . .. .. .30-3.0. Vaude Reviews 39 New Acts; 38 Bills ............. 40-41 Times Square........... 42-43 Editorial ;. .46 Women'.s Page.......... 44-40 Legitimate .. .4.. ...... 47-54 Music ,.. 55.-57 Outdoors 58 Obituary ., ,, ,. : 58 Correspondence ,..,,.... 59-0.3 Letter List. C3 Inside—l^ictures 4fi Inside—Vaude 46 Talking Shorts.......... 12 Literati ''7 Ncu's of Uailio.s 42-13 Legit ]tovl(;WH 52 Foreign Film News..... 0 lJurlcsque 44-45 Sports - 42-43 Inside Legit 46 The Tiller Dancing Schools of America, Inc. 54 WEST 74th ST., NEW YORK .MAHT READ. 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