Variety (Nov 1928)

2 VARIETY'S LONDON OFFICE 8 St. Martin's Place, Trafalgar Square Fn D I? I P N CABLE ADDRESS: VARIETY, LONDON \^ IV Hi I \J 1^ 6276-6277 Regent Wednesday, November 21, 1923 Grade Fields, English, in "Topsy" Role Of Duncans' Show in London, Fun Riot . J^onilon, K0V...2O. "Tcrf^y and Eva" Olomd foi- sev- eiul days .duo. to illness of Ro.sctUi r)uni-;;n, rcopu-nod at' Gaiety Satiir- day, with i;iracie. Fields. I^ascashir!.' dialect comedienne,, in the ' Topsy ■rale;:'" . .r\liniicking Rosetta -Duncan part of the time and lapsing every bit in- to her own thick Lancashire brogue, Miss Fields created natural bur- lesque that brought the house down time after time. Substitution crevited groat deal of ir.terost through pi-.ess comment and' show is going clean... Tivian Duncan broke. down on Mi:^s Fields' shoulder' when, com- pelled to acknowledge deafening ap- plause with speech. Xhe Duncans were scheduled to appear at May fair Hotel Monday, night before Queen oif Spain and King of Greiece but had to. cancel because of Rosetta's illnes!5. John- son and Murphy from "Good News" substituted. Ervine Picking Plays For London Producers Gracie Fiields , is "called the fore- most comedy woman or music hall comedienne of Great Britain. All ■ •atrtempt&-ta induce- her lo appear_in_ m\isical cOmedy or vaudeville over here have failed. The last offei- Miss Jf^elds rejected was $1,500 weekly in New York. Resent Move to Stop Smokmg in Paris Houses Paris, Nov. 20. The gendarmes have posted no- tice that, they are about to put into operation an anti-smoking rule for all theatres. It has precipitaited ^ loud squawks from Frenchmen and theatre managers. A canvass of their patronage by several managers has brought forth many indignant declarations that Frenchmen will remoiih away rather thaii submit to the loss of their personal libisrty, to puff the weed;.. 4th Lead in "News*' London, .No, 20. Ralph R:eader; will be number four in tlie juvenile' lead role of Clayton and 'W'aller's "Good News." Ho opens tonight. Reader recently staged the dances for . "■Virginia," the firm's ne\y musical hit. "Good News" goes on tour In fe'w' wet'ks. Ambrose Thovne replaces . Arthur West; latter returning to States.' ■ , ■ ■ . ' ' Several other cast changes emi- nent, as Americans not hot.fOr Eng- lish provinces.' ' ' . Ixindon, Nov. 10. : Writing back to his home-town l)aper, The Observer, St. John Ervine, eminent critic, constitutes • hirii- self the unomcial scout' for London managers. Not only does he tip the current fare in New York which might go here but in sonie instances nominates the management who should sponsor the pieces here. Commenting on "The New Moon," he says, "Ought to be a great suc- cess either at Drury Lane or at Hi.s Majesty's." Then, of ",Billie," he add.-?, "If I were a member of Clay- ton and ^Valler I should get busy about it." . • ; Of "Night Hostess," "It deals with life in a, 'little casino' off Broadway, where 'night hostesses' are em- ployed to (Jecoy 'suckers' to the poker-room. There is a deal of drinking in It, ais, indeed, there is in almost all the Broadway plays, but the play i,s astonishingly vivid. i-Wpuld_In\MJStj^ in i^s London production if I had" aiiy!,"", ' ' : The Observer publishes only Surir day. As a high-:brOw sheet it has some competition. As a Journal of. opinion its Integrity Js unassail- able. Tallulah Marrying! London, Nov. 20. Tallulah Bankhead may be a bride ahortly. Her engagement has been announced to Count Anthony De Bosdari, ah Italian In biislness here, and: cousin of Count Sandro de Bosdari, recently. Italian ambas< sador to Gerniaiiy. Tallulah states she will not leave the stage becauae of the marriage. 2 Decrees Same Day London, Nov. 20^ Mrs. Herbert MarshaU'a divorce action against her actor-husband was made final same day husband of Edna Best obtained a decree. Marshall and Miss Best are bOth in New York. London Chatter London as It Looks By Hanneh Swaffer GEORGIE WOOD Is thinking of Clara. Howard, Elea- nor Burke and Jim DUrkln, the'nice lady that takes you to the Walter Reed Hospital concert in Washing- ton, D. C.; Carl Reitter'of Seattle; Ben J. Piazza when he presented nioccasins; Ben Roberts in the "candy" gag; Olsen and Johnson, Sophie Tucker (Ah! ), Clarence.Wil- liams Of Minneapolis, Bart Grady and his Boston crew, Carlton Miles (HoW's Hazel? Where. are you now ?) TALKING FitMS O.K. SUNDAY IN London, Nov. 20.. Temporary I>ennissl6n has been granted, the Mayfair Hotel to ex- hibit talking: . pictures on Sunday night. ■ Meanwhile tbe Committee of Theatres and Music Halls of the London City Council will debate whether talkers should come under the head Of legitimate driamas, which are forbidden on the Sab- bath. New Acts and Bills In London This Week German Takes Wallace's Mellers London, Nov. 20. ' Edgar Wallace's two melodramas, "The S(iuenkPr" and "The Flying Sqiiad," have been purchased for Ocrmaiiy by Haller, the revue pro- ducer of Berlin. The seU'ction?! were made by Hal- ler after a recent trip looking over the London field. Fournier's Plaza, in March Paris, Nov. 20,. : The new l\T.-ii 1 Fournicr vaivde"the^- alre, will -open March 15. Title iliaiipod to .Plaza, from Eden, "Viuullilm policy . With "Shohera- •liadc" premiere film. "Lucky Girl," B. A. Meycr't, mur sical adaptation of "Mr.. Abdullah," comes to the Shaftesbury theatre Nov. 14, with Greta Eayne, Anita Elson, Clifford Mollison, Gene Ger- rard starred. "The Squeaker" moves to the Comedy with Dorothy Dix added. • Georges Carpentier, French boxer, mad© his first appearance on the English stage in a singing, dancing and boxing Interlude at Birmingham Nov. 5. Robey's Reyue at Carlton .. j-ondon, Nov. 20. ' "Cood News" Will leave the Carle- ton Dec. 15. O(:>orgc Robey's i-evue, "In Other Words," opens Dec. 17 for 12 weeks. Nice Resort Delayed Paris,' Noy. 12. It is now the inauguration of the •new Moditorranean (^'aslno at Nice will not take place llrst week in .lanuary, as sfhedulod, and mniy bo put ■ off till Fchruivry, owing to tho con.struction of the cement ediilco. Robert- Sidle and Annette Mills are listed for the opening, as also Ciinn. and Ilona-Karlowna. Other Tri'=t7j-^5n ;^he =-hook.<^-are- -KetMiard=-fc rjieh and Prlncesa While Door. The Tiller Dancing Schools of America, Inc. 54 WEST 74th ST., NEW YORK MART READ, President Phono Endlcott 8216-« N«>w Clftisefl Now Fonnlnr Underterred by criticisms on his first, "To What Red Hell,"; Percy Robinson, new Irish dramatist, is at work on another, "All the Tomor- rows." Ben Blue returns to England, liaviRg signed TO~ opein -etta- ot De^ cember for an eight weeks' tour of the Stoll circuit. Eddie Grossbart (American), for- merly Palais Royal (New York) and Ord Hamilton (English) have Joined In a planormonolog act. Thev a.re doubling at the Piccadilly and "Non- kiss Club (new), opening this Thursday night. "Pop^' Abrahmson, formerly at the Lido (closed by the authorities), is the g. m. Pi'oduction manager of one of the biggest producing companies hei-c has been causing a lot of" g-rief and as much inquiry l]|o.w he's, holding on to his job wheh his actual pic- tul'c experience is probably less than a year's duration. He has been concerned with production policy and polity and has caused the oom- p.any heavy los.'^os since its incep- tion. Though ambitious and havint? plenty Of monody hohind-lt (public's) opinion has been unable to extricate him from his position. Report, howr -i»'ci%=^haa Jt=.tka.t;:=lMf^a^SfjbL£dulM..li^ go the first of 1 he. year, to the re- lief of both TOnglish and Americans einployod. Ijohdon and ]>robably-in all 'ICng land has two femmo conductors. Roth coineidcntally are working for Lyons, owners of pop-priced eat- ing houses empltiyiiig orchestras. The one "i-aught" is Vera Clarke, 20, condtictlng a l.T-pioce male or- (fontimicd on page C3) London, Nov. 20. Dora Maughan found the Kit Kat Club tough when opening last night in place of the Duncan Sisters, out through the Illness of Roaetta. After a bit the chilly mob started to thaw out and Dora finally man- aged to create signs Of enthuisiasm. Dick and Edith Barstow, returned from Holland, scored strpngly last night at Alhambra. Cantor and Zarrow, debuting «it same bouse, did well. Opening in yaudeville after seven years ViOlet Loraine was warmly received but her sketch - is small timey. Palladlum-blU this week includes Jackie Coogah; Trix Sisters, Cecil Cunningham, Roth and Shay, Odali Careno and Vojtek Trubka. Latter is big wild animal act with lionsj, tigers, bears, panthers and dogs, all in one cage with their master; A sensation. Jackie Coogan was taken to-heart by- the-ljondon populace and scored easily. But the applause hit of bill went to Odali.Careno,. dramatic fjoprano, who halted the wOrks twice.. "WHITE EAGLE" TEY , London, Noy. 20. Russell Janney has started cast- ing, for "White Eagle," New York City flop, which he will try out On London. Winnie Neville and Derek Olil- hsim are the leads. • DU MATJRIER'S NEXT London, Nov. 20, Gfrald DuMaurier closes "The Re- turn Journey" Nov. 24. Dec. 4 in association with Gil- bert Miller he will produce "The Play's The Thing" with T'r.i^ula Jeans as leading lady. London, Nov, .9. ■ The old Ejnpive died the night that "Lady, Be Good" closed, witii the Astaires on the stage and thie Prince of .Wales in. a box. Wben the new one opened . last night, the Astaires, strangely enough, •were appearing for the first time in London in "Funny Face," their new show, but, of course, at another theatrei • : : All sorts of crocodile tears wei'e shedv on the closing night~ some drunken young men tried to revive the so-called glories Of Victorian days' by throwing flower pots from, the stage to' the/au No Need For Apologies Last night, when Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Opened the new building as a picture palace, they seemed almost apologetic, now and then, in speak- ing to me, wondering whether, they had "let the Empire traditions down»» They need not be ashamed. The old Empire was a barn given up ^ drink, during most of its time, and usually a failure after the Bishop of London, supported by my press campaign, shut down the iJisgraeeful promenade which, was an . insult to every actor and actress; .The new theatre, which cost ?3,500,000 is the most beautiful place of entertainment which I can remember having entered. It is a triumph of American enterprise and although I am told its architect, Thomas . Lamb, Is English-born, it Introduces from your side features that should be copied by every theatre manager In the country. I mention free pro- gram and cloakrooms as. a mere detaiil.' The Nevy Empire Style . When you enter, you go Into a most dignlfled-hall, very high and beautifully proportioned!, blend of, brown and gold, tasteful, restful, full of warmth. As for the magnificent auclitorlum, it holds 3,500 people, three times the nuniber of the old Empire, which wasted more ground, than any theatre I e'ver knew. 2 Originals for "Broadv^/ay" Thomas E. Jackson ..and Paul Porcnisl, who played the' dete.c'tivo and nite elub -Owner roles In .Jed Harris' original production of "Broadway" have signed for talk; ers with Universal Pictures through Leo Morrison. They will play their original roles In the film version of "Broadway." The Rush For Theatres Meanwhile, bad as are most of the London theatres, there is now a rush that amounts almost to a record. Basil Dean cannot produce "Beau Geste" because he has no place toi stage it. Ernest l"r.uex has a new play, "Out Goes She," but nowhere to iact-it.;. ■ : ■■ ■ . : ■■ ' '■ ■ J. L, Sacks, who ha;s had a company rehearsing for the revival of "The Lilac Domino" for twe mohths,; Is getting detsperate ahd telling hi.? com- pany, every niorning that he will have a theatre before long. Heaven knows'what will happen to that outfit. . ■ The Duncans narrowly, averted another disaster the other day. They forgot to pay something or other, and someone else nearly got their theatre. Al Woods has taken the Fortune for "Jealousy," In which Crane Wilbur and Mary Newco'mb are to star. Meanwhile, there is nothing else. doing except that Edgar W.illace tells me he is writing a new play for Paul Robeson and another one for Marie Tempest, and that, anyway, he made $12,500 at the three New- market race meetings. So that's, that. SAILINGS Nov. 22 (New York to London): Joe Thomas 'Saxotet (American Shi.i)l)er)j, '•.':■,. ; ■ . Nov. 30 (London to. South Africa), Ruth Howell (Saxon). Nov. 24 (London to New York): Arthur West CAciuKunia). Nov. 14 (Havre to New ,York): Mrs. Iilark Leupeher and children (Dfc Gra.s.sf)- AMERICANS BOOKED Vyorld's .Worst Program .... 1 only wish the opening progi-am had been worthy of tli.e beauty in Whiciv^lt was staged. There is a fine orchestra, but It started off witb dear old "C^vaMIera Rusticana" and then followed a long, tiresoirie series of speeches recorded on. the talker and made by a lot of so-called film stars, the Lord Mayor" of London and myself. Why I was Isolated from the. rest, of humanity aiid dumped in with a lot of film guys, Heavens knows. < ,What I remember previously Was ha'ving been made to' stand oh a platform, in the Park Lane hotel, . surrounded by a barrage of glaring lamps, seeing nothing, hearing nothing, and merely having a sensation of burning until somebody held up a handkerchief to signify my time was up. T'he result, when sho'wn on the screen, was pitiful. , A Challenge to Bobers "You can jeer, boo'or throw anything you like," I started off by saying In my speech. I was surprised that no one .booed a muscle. I suppose they were.all too bored. Ailhough , Cicely Courtneidge had made me up, I looked like a ghost; I,stammered, and made what I think Is the most terrible speech I have ever heard. Even Herbert Hoover, who came; in the news reel, was better. And yO*u know air about his personality minus. . ' . . ; "You put yourself right across," said young Van Damn, the manager. ■'It was you." . Well, if It was, I resign. I merely mention this as. a wai-ning to all other so-called celebrities. Don't go on the talkers. Talker Talks From Hollywood • . There were three kinds of talkers, those taken at the Hyde Park, hotel, which were dreaful; those made at Elstree, rather better, although ^ nearly all the so-called stars imitated the talker made by George Bernard Shaw, the greatest film talking actor in the world; and those recorded at Hollywood, -w^here the Metro-Goldwyn stars were shown sending their greeting to the Empire audience. How Briiishers Came Back You can tell Ernest Torrence, frorri me—that he was splendid. He looked sd human and, when he tjalked of the Old days In the Empire, I almost believed that what he said was true.- As for George K. Arthur, whom Torrence introduced, he also was very good. Both these men were unsuccessful actors on our side; so it is ex- traordinary that their first reappearance In London as speaking actors was made by the new invention. Yes, the program was not worthy of the Empire. Still, everybody who was there was singing the praises of this magnificent theatre, which has the cheapesr pricesTln- London, the largest space and .the most beauty. ' London,. Nov. 2 American acts booked tliro Daniel " .Mayer • off ico ^ are . Bal Taylor and Pcrriau; Jei-ry Bliino'lV; Ilausa Brothers, CtOne \Vhite, .'!< and'Kcys, 5 Musical Spill'^.'s. Williams, Cecilia Weston. Tli- ■ are booked solely with tin- (;•:. Theatre Corporation for ;in avc of eight weeks aronr.d (');']■ m 0T~ " ugh zar, ni'd, int'S' illie .1 t.s . ;-.il