Variety (May 1929)

Wednesday, May 1, 1929 FOREIGN SHOW NEWS VARIETY London Managers Abo Squawldng; Few West End Shows Hold Their Own , XK>ndon, April 30. As thoy pour their afternoon tea, London's theatrical managers con- tinue to complain for' the benefit of the press about the condition of the leglt {heatre. iSome blame talking fllms.'Others have more Involved ex- planations, but «J1 concur in the assertion that times are Inausplcl- «us for the old fashioned drama. Liboklng over the London list dls- eloses that "Mister Cinders" Is run- Tilng close to capacity at the Adel- 5ttl; "Plunder," after a very healthy Rrt, Is closing: at the Aldwych; •■"I^ope," American melodrama of the liebpoia and Loeb case, Is a quick flfop at the Ambassador, and "Little Accident," with Lynn Overman, Is atrugelins valiantly to stick at the Apollo, heavy advertising falling thus far to pull Important trade. At the Court "Garey Divorce Case" has nosedived. "Her Shop," with the favorite , Marie Tempest, shortly winds Up an indifferent en- gagement at the Criterion, and Drury Lane, despite extravagant statements of trade, is only about 96 per cent capacity with "New Moon." After Suocessors Ticket iibrarles* deal on "These Pew Ashes" had little slgniflcance. Four weeks at the Duke of York's Is estimated, sufficient for this one. House is already negotiating for suceesiaor. "Aren't We All," revival at the Fortune, Is limping along to half houses. "Love Lies," at the Gaiety, is one of the stronger at tractions In town, while "Lady With A Lamp" Is Just sneaking by to fluctuating grosses at the Garrlck. Floppo was the verdict on "The Stag" at the Globe and "The Ivory ..Poor" at the Haymarket. Latter Is : to be succeeded Immediately by a ..revival of "Mary Rose.", As a busi : ness inducer the Hippodrome has cut its scale In an effort to entice 'em in to see "Five CClock Girr iiBot running over half capacity. One of the few shows building Is ^Porgy" with orchestra seats par tlcularly In demand. Volunteer pro phets stlU Insist the Theatre Guild troupe can't stick for long. "Coch- ran's Revue" iB selling out nightly at the Pavilion through library deals, but the agencies have a few left over each night, unlike former seasons. "Merry Merry" moved to the Ly ceum and offered at popular prices Is completely revitalized. Previously starving at the Carlton, one ticket agency -sold more seats In one night at the Lyceum scale than It had peddled in a week at the Carlton Lyceum has a large capacity. Picking Up and Sticking "Berkeley Square" folds this week at the Lyric with 'Taris Bound" ^coming In. "Baa Baa Blacksheep' •'has started to around half houses at the New. "Virginia" has taken a slight spurt, reacting favorably to an advertising campaign on "last wopks." Gladys Cooper, in "The Sacred Flame," Jit the Playhouse, Is doing her usual strong first two months. Present offering seems likely to stick longer than usual. Prince of .Wales Is losing "By Candlelight," which ran nearly a year and is con . tinulng at the Criterion. An In- crease has been registered at the Queen's with "The Man at Six" now about a bit over half capacity. "Fame," the Gerald DuMaurler show at St. Jamies, leaves shortly with, the house to be wired for 'tilki/rs. "77 Park Lane" la doing nicely at St. Martin's while "Journey's End" continues as the dramatic leader, Btlll capacity. But even here the de- mand has eased from the former pace when tickets had to be obtain- ed four weeks In advance. Doing fairly but never strong, •Her Past," with Delysla, is at tempting to prolong its Iiondon en gagement by moving from the Shaftesbury to the Prince of Wales ''Funny Face," after a season's run ' la still potent enough to hold three quarter capacity, which represents a big profit to Butt office. Unnns Holding Hyhon Ont of N. Y. Showing Little or no chance of Jack Hyl-' ton's English band appeatlng in New York this sprlnerdue to unlosi difficulties on the foreign Invasion. Negotiations were on to spot Hyl- ton in the picture houses or vaudO; on his way to Australia. Hylton will now go dlrect to the Antipodes with a chance of making; his New York debut in September on the return route if matters are smoothed over. Hylton has repeat- edly been reported coming over for the past two years with nothing happening. Paris, .April. 30. Weather continues -changeable; Much rain and nights generally cool. Washington, April 80. The Weather Bureau, has fur- nished Variety with the following outlook for the week beginning tO' morrow. Showers Wednesday from Ohio eastward and showers again about Saturday or Sunday (6). It wll be cooler west of the moun- tains Wednesday and x)ver eastern sections Thursday (2), followed by slowly rising temperature until Sat' urday (4). "MARINERS" BRILLIANT London, April . 30 "Mariners," by. Clemence Dane, authoress of "Bill of Divorcement," opened last night at Wyridham's. It is brilliantly acted by Sybil Thom- dtke and Lewis Casson, described by press as fine thinking, but a little anemic as drama. Popular appeal seems unlikely. "Shoeblack" la another sombre en- trant with slight possibilities. It was first done at the Arts Theatre. Lease on Comedy is for month, probably plenty. Mary. Newcombe In lead. "Captain Banner" also an Arts Theatre production, opened at the LltUe. Despite Godfrey 'Tearle, It seems too inaignlflcant to get any- where. Historical affair. Weather GIDEON'S R EVUE DOUBTFUL "Cooee" Along Chariot Lines—Wil- liamaon Financing at Vaude London, April SO. MelvlUe Gideon's revue, "Charl- varla," renamed "Cooee," opened April 26 at the Vaudeville. Show luis been token over by Julian Wy- lle and financed by Williamson, with Gideon retiring from cost It has doubtful prospects. Show Is along lines of the Andre Chariot offerings of a few years ago, principals Including Dorothy Dick- son, Stanley Holloway, Claude Hul- bert, Joan Clarkson, Charles Col llns and Billy Bennett DeHaven and Nice, not pro grammed for some reason, were the evening's standout WILL MAHONEY The Brooklyn "CItlzeii" said: "Will Mahoney brings the vaude- ville season to its summit He re- stores the palmy days of the vari- eties I with his' furious 'singing, dancing, patter, falling and mtmlcty He has made buffoonery a fine art" ' Direction RALPH a FARNUM IBM Broadway iFrench Theatres Win Shut Down as Tax Protest Farts, April SO French Theatrical Managers, meeting in their 11th annual con- Iventlon at Nice, voted unanimously to close their theatres temporarily for a few days as a protest against the government's continued failure to relieve the theatres of excessive taxation Imposed during the war land never repealed. Date of the move to Impress the government Is to be selects contin- gent upon the next step, If any, on I the government's part June 16, the beginning of the slow period. Is the tentative date when the French exhibitors wlU moke their gesture of protest Wlaal action of the Nice conven- tion was the acceptance of a stand- ard booking contract and a demand tor « definite settlement of the quota tangle. {English Legit Mgrs. Worried by Talkers Onmansky's Unit Hit Goes Into Palladnmi London, April SO Palladium bill opening last night Included Fred Ellzalde and band from Savoy Hotel with Jean Barry and Dave Fltzgibbon in support, Act 30cked 'em and Is being held over. Charlie Wilson, "the loose nut," is getting the feel over here and doing much better. He will be at Palla- dium next week also used to bolster the comedy wUh G. T. C.'s Ouman- sky's unit which comes from Hoi bom Empire, where It opened yes terday. ' Unit Is the best effort in quantity direction thus far achieved by Gen eral 'rhea:tres Corporation. Cast In eludes Bernloff and Eulalle, Beatta Bradna, Jeannle Hartley, Leslie Sa- rony, and 40 girls. Oumansky has been commissioned to produce sev eral more uiilts of. same calibre. Jap Stock in Europe Berlin, April 30. Matsutake, leading Japanese film producing company, Is dlscohtlhu.- Ing t>roductlon In Japan and moving to Berlin. Plans mention building a studio and Importing, a stock com pany of Japanese actors. They may also operate out of Paris. Opera on Bike Track Paris, April 30. Two weeks' season, of Italian opera will be held under the aus pices of M. Delval at the Velodrome Hiver, bicycle track. Arena will be rearranged to resemble an open-air theatre. May 27 Is the opening date. London, AprU SO. , Leglt managers wlU meet Hay 13 to discuss contemplated Invasion of I their balUwIck by the talking films. Bertie Meyer has a plan to organ- I ize leglt stars and managers together somewhat along the lines I of th« United Artists flijn combine. NEW BERUn FIATS Benin, April 30, "Paul Among the Jews," by Franz Werfel, latest attraction at Deutsch es theatre. Is an old-fashioned re liglous play. It adds nothing to the author's reputation and is a com- mercial flop despite an Impresslvis cost' . At the Lesslng theatre "Other Man's Wife," by Walter Hackett has scored an Instantaneous suc- cess. One of the best comedy de- tective plays Berlin Has luu^ ABirAus-LABTiouE sPLTc I Swaff Fooled 'Eoi, Bttt Why? Paris, xAprll 30. Lartigue, agents, Amaud and „—, _„ have dissolved their partnership for the second time. Break is entirely amicable, with each proceeding independently. Lartigue remains the William Morris representative in Paris QUICK FLOP Paris, April 30. "Sans Facon" ("Without Cere mony") closed at the Daunou, a quick flop. Show lasted but seven perform- ances. COMEOIE PBOSVCES QUITS Paris, April 80. Pierre Aldebert has resigned as producer of the Comedle Francalse. He will probably return to the Odeon. London, April SO. Dramatle critics are wrought up over the ethics of their craft and whether or not one of their mem- bers may review talking films with- out losing caste as a drama critic. Hannen Swdffer has occasioned as usual, most'of the flare-up. He has been reviewing talkers. At the Horry Warner luncheon yesterday he sat on the dais while the other scribes were breaking bread down the table. They had agreed among them- selves to get up In a body and walk out If Swaffer stood up to speak. Swoffer fooled 'em by remaining mute. 'Shadow" Jamt London, April 30 "Shadow of the East," which opened April 26 at the Strand, Is a conventional eastern melodrama along the lines of "Mr. Wu." Long winded and uninteresting despite an artistic production, it has little chance. AT THE HOUUN BOUOE Paris, April 30. Acts opening at the Moulin Rouge May 3 for the usual fortnight's en- gagement are: Talabas Duo, Janett Flynn, Lew Garde and Baird and Thompson. . ■— ^Lidr Changes-Hands' London, AprU SO. . Golderscreen Lido, which opened last.October as London's flrst at- mospheric cinema, hcts been bought by David Abrahams. Latter had planned to build in the same neigh borhood. Lido now becomes a unit In the Regal circuit SWMKT SEOFEHINO ' London, April SO Silver Slipper Cafe, closed by the police during the operation of Mrs. Merrick, has been acquired by a new syndicate. It win open as a swank r^tau- I rant In June with floor entertain- ment Beaumont Alexander Is man- I aging. BAHKEEAb AS "aAIOKE" Paris, AprO SO. Gordon Craig Is negotiating for Tallulah Bankhead to star In his production of Oscar Wilde's "Sa- lome." Piece Is t« be done at the Vleux \ Colombler. PARIS PUY ON MALE "CAPTIVE Paris, April 30. "Sans Facon" ("Without Cere- mony"), by Jane Alley, with lyriea by Leopiold Marchaud, and music b7 Georges Auriac, proved a poor operetta and an Indifferent story. It'« .all about a king ^hb organizes a poetry competition with Oxe win* ner to marry his daughter. Cast Includes Danielle Bregys, Margue- rite Deval, Paul VlUe, Louvlgny, Max Derleux. "Lea Egares" ("The Misguided Folks"), by Marguerite buterme, was well received at the Theatr* Cauniartln. it is a delicate theme, that of a young male pervert sup- sported by an older man. ToUns woman doctor attempts to cure per- vert with rivalry ensuing between her and the older man. Touth com- mits suicide. Critics commented upon womoa author handling such a thema. Pierre Magnler, Andre Fouche, Henri Cremieux and Marie Valsaa makl constitute the cast "Une Femme Sous la Plule" ("A Woman in the Rain") Is unlikely to land. Drama, by Jean Oultton, deals with woman who has an af- fair with a doctor and otter much debating with herself decides to re- turn unsullied to her husbond. Cast Includes Ferbard O'ravey, Julleh Corette, Paulu, Robert Clertoorit, Pierre de Gulngord,'Mme. Splenelly and Madellene Gultty. . ' "Marigny's Revue," at the Ma- rlgny theatre, opened April 27 and looks like a hit' 'It is e«trem6Iy witty. By the new writing team of Rip and Jean L4 Sayeaux Cast Includes Rlgadln, Alerme, DorvlHek Robert Burnler, Tvette Oullbert, Nlma Myral and Sim Viva. "Tiptoes," Frisnoh version of the Gershwin mustisal, preisented April 27 at the FoUlbs Wagram by a. new manager, Kdmond Rose, was well ' received. Cast Includes Adrien Lamy, Carlel, Paaonl, Noreem Les- ley, Loulou Hegoburn, Lily Zevocco; "L*Attaches" ("The . Lady Diplo- mat"), by Tvea Mlirande and GL Quinson, opened AprI) 27 at the Pa- lais Royal; It Is a gay force about three girls appointed to the Foreigia Office^ Heroine tails In love with a secretary who' la In- dlsgraca for having written a novel kidding the French diplomatic service. Sb«i assists In hls.defenise, gets Jilm.ad-. vanced and marries hlin.. 'Le OaU9» Hablb. Benglta (colored), Marguer- ite Templey, Blanche Montel, Jeann* Fusler-GU and Edith Mora are in the cast Zeveeea's Operation Paris, April 30. Lily Zevecca did not open with 'Tip Toes" at the Wagram lost week duo to a sudden operation for ap pendldtls. Mme. Clnqmars replaced. Enroute for Atmosphere London, April 30, Lawrence Eyre Is enroute to Budapest to pick up atmosphere for his new play about that city. ' Show la to be produced In New Tork. American Sax Rejected London,. April 30. Labor ministry rejected petition of Moyfair Hotel through • Clifford Whitley to Import a saxophone play- er from America. Regarded as retallotlon for Amer- ican Federation of Musicians bar- ring Jack Hylton. Colored Singer Weds London, April 30. Walter Richardson, colored sing- er with "Virginia." musical, was married herb April 25 to Viola Tay- lor of Chicago. SAILINGS May 9 (New York to London), Joe Toplltsky (Aqultania). May 3 (New Tork to Paris), Wal- ter Douglas (lie de France). May 2 (London to New Tork): Belle Colton, Bert Feldman, A. E. Abrahams (Majestic). April 30 (Paris to New Tork), Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Warner, Mr. and Mrs. George E. Qulgley (He de France). April 29 (London to New Tork): Renle Rlano (Berlin). April 28 (Paris to.New Tork), Al Shayne (Albert Ballln). April g7 (London to New Tork) : Lonnle Nace (Carmanlo). April 27 (London to New Tork): Peggy Joyce (Aquitanlia). April 26 (New Tork to London), Mr. and Mrs. William Seeman (Ber- April 24 (London to New Tork): Simon Rowson, George Banfleld, W. J. GeU (Homeric). INDEX Foreign 3-07 Pictures 4-8C Picture Reviews Film House Reviews..,, 47 Vaudeville 38-46 Voude Reviews '48 New Acts 40 Bills 50-61 Times Square ' ' 82-63 Editorial ., B6 Women's Page 64 Legitimate 68-62 Music 63-66 Obituary 66 Correspondence 68-71 Letter List 71 Inside—^Pictures 66 Talking Shorts. 17 Literati ...... 5«. Leglt Reviews...' 62 Foreign Film News 2- 6 Burlesque 46 Sports i........ 46 Inside—^Leglt 69 Inside—Vaude < News of Dallies......... . 46 Outdoors 66 The TiDer Dancing Schools of America, Inc. W WEST 74th ST., NEW YORK HART RBAD, Preildegt Phon* Bndicett tlll-< I New CUmm New Fonatat