Variety (Dec 1929)

f "VARIETY'S" LONDON OFFICE 8 St. MjRrtin*« Place, Trafalgar Square FOREIGN SHOW NEWS CABLE ADDRESS: VARIETY. LONDON Temple Bar 5041-5042 New Anti-American Uproar in France at Added Stage Drive Paris, i>ec. 24. BrprythlnBT In Paris la aadlngr MW tuel to th« aiitl-American spirit that was manifest in the riots over the U. S. talker, 'TFox Movietone Follies/' at the Moulin Rpupe re- cently and acousations are. 'beingr renewed that the capital is being ^ericanlzed. Late, last week three new Amer- ican play$ in Friench versions open- ed here, "Shanghai Gesture,*? "Good Kews" and "New Moon," nil the juone night* .These ai^ besides the current troupe of American players under Carol M. Saxe at the E^emlna theatre. While the last named is ho Bensatioii it is attractlngr French fooiety w^o consider It rather fash- ionable to speak and understand Unglish. • < . Authors Resent VoiDUe This society " pose is likewise at- tracting attention aiid not a little bitter complaint from natives in artistic. circles. However, Henri Bernstein hasi put forth pro-Amer- ican arguments, fchief among them being that "therp are hp frontiers to art" Charles Mere, president of the Dramatists, also seems to be friendly to ihe vigitprfli for he has become an honorary patron of the Saxe repertory enterpivise. Despite the attitude of these two leading literary personages, there is; iduch resentnient among the lesser authors, who protest they have no fttages for the - native- works. They (Continued on page 44) Jane Aubeft Gets $1,000 MontUy Temp. I»arls, Dec. 24. After a series of Hectic litigations and further threats. of lawsuits from both principals, the Versa:illes courts- have awarded 25,000. francs (|1,<|00>. temporary monthly alimony to, Jane Aubert, native muslchall and picture star, against Col. Nelson Morris, her husband and scion of the original packer, who was bought put by Armour & Co. in Chicago. ; MJas Aubert's . allegations of her husband's -unnatural jealousy cul ininated in the actre$3 talking the initiative in a suit for divorce, set- ting forth many serious causes for their marital unhapplness. ■, ' Col. Morris first sought to enjoin his wife's public pergonal appear ances at the local Gaumont-Pal ace during the engagement of a French film (silent),. "Possession," in which Miss Aubert was the sec ond femme. lead to Francesca Ber tlni.' Smacking at first of a press stunt, the suit evolved into a legit imate legal proeeedlng by the Chi muitl-millionaire, who latterly has been a French resident, to Iceep his wife off the,stage. Miss Aubert, said to have consid erable means in her' own right, is intent on continuing her profes- sional activities. Her suburban estate, Le Vesinet, accounts for the divorce action be ing tried in Versailles. Not Spending Paris, Dec. 24. If nioney Is plentltudlnous over here, and it's supposed to they're hot spending it. They're nursing all resouroesi despite the Paris bourse's re- cently fsivorable financial, re- port that it cost them less than . % % for the entire fiscal year. This is an extraordinarily healthy financial statement. NON-CONSECUTIVE TIME IN ENGLAND CAUSES J0 London, Dec. 24; Tvonne and pianist, noyelty mu- sical'and aerial turn seen by Ernest Edelsten in the States in October, 1928, .was signed by him to open in England for eight weeks starting in June, 1929, with a further two- yeay option. Start , was postponed to July 29 and two days before the .act was set to sail from New York a further postponement was made by cable for. opening Sept.- 30. Reason for second delay, it was explained, was trouble over a labor permit. Act finally opened on' the last. date, named, but played only f out weeks. Thereafter, Yvonne declareia, Ed- elsten kept, promising the balance of the time without specifylng^ dates. Now the act has started suit against the agent for the four, weeks, also making claim for compensation for ten weeks of Radlo-Kelth time can- celed to make the trip. At this stage Edelsen offered to settle the. clalhi for $600, and; the, Variety Artists' Federation advised the. performer to accept, stressing a doubt the' actress would gain anything by a suit V. A. F. also tendered" her the' agent's check. Yvonne, however, expresses her de- termination to go to court. Incident shows the poor judgment of American turns accepting time In Europe without written specifi- cation that dale's will be consecu- tive. Edelsten is chairman of the English Agents' Association. Marx Contemplates Revival of VaudevOle AD Over WILL MAHONEY In Earl Carroll's "Sketch Book,"' 44th St Theatre, N. Y. C. The New York "Graphic" said: "Most of the comedy - y^aa furnished by that mad dancing bufCoon, Will Mahoriey. I never tire of seeing this chap trj'ing to crack hls'neck." Direotion .. RALPH G. FARNAM 1560 Broadway ANN SUTER RAISES TO APPEAR IN HER OLD ACT ItlELO' AND BERNSTEIN IN U. S. FOR BRADY Paris, Dec. 24. William A. Brady is taking Henri Bernstein, French playwright, for an American lecture tour next spring, along with Bernstein's original French company of "Melp." It will be Bernstein's" first 'Visit to the States," although he lias been gen- erously translated; " ' A. H. Woods couldn't get together with the French" author for the Eng- lish rights to "Melo," giving up in exasperation. Woods stated he had had deals with tough playwrights, but none came tougher than Bern- stein. While agreeing, to a ?6,000 advance for the American rights to "Mielo," Bernstein held out for the first $30,000 of the picture rights, so,; that for example, if Woods sold "Melo" for the flickers tor $50,000 it would have left the i^roducer on the; short end. In* aiddition, before Woods could read an- English trans- lation of the play, or could obtain a copy of the manuscript, Bernstein had insisted oh' getting his $6,000 first. "Melo-' has been here over a year at the Gymnase, and is the biggest smash locally along- with Marcel Pasnol's; "Topaz" <a;t the Varietes. ENGLISH JUVE'S VACATION London, Dec. 24. Although the management called it larjTngltis, Ami Suter said, she was out of the bill at the Holbom at the se.cond show yesterday (Tues-i-' day) because she was dissatisfied and walked. Miss Suter states she has not been happy with General Theatres slhpe her return from the Continent, prior to which the management asked her to do a new act. This she did, se- curing new numbers, wardrobe and pianist Change did not impress General. Theatres.j from - accounts, and it advised Miss , Suter . to go back to the old turn. She refused and is how attempting to cancel her General contracts, which extend to the end of February, , . On the same Holbom bill Rigoletto Brothers scored splendidly. " At the finish the audience yelled fOr the Swanson Sisters; Henry Rigoletto was applauded when announcing'the sisters will Tejoln the act In Ma3' Rigolettos now have a girt dancer and two stooges,, with mote comedy Gene .Gerrard Just Looking 'Round —Turns Down First Offer London's Xmas Circus Withpiit Animals Mild •London, Dee. 24. Bertram Mills' annual six-week Cliristmas circus season opene<J at the Olympia last Friday, but this year la.cking the Sensations usually pt-ovided by wild animal acts. Elimination of jungle beasts prob- ably due to pressure from the So- ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals which has planted sand- wi.chmen all over Condon asking the public not to patronize, shows that exploit trained wild animals. Only animals In the show are horses and three baby elephants. Among the acts appearing tdr the first time In. London are the Hanne- ford Family, riding act; Long Tack Sam'S; Chinese revue, a combination of five Continental aerial troupes, Remo's Lilliputs, Adele Nelson's Baby Elephants and Vasconcelo, Portugese high school rider with a -slngle--horse7-^he=mount-comparing- favorably wlth anything of the kind any\vher6. ■ "Poodles" Hanneford was slightly Injured by a horse's kick and had to withdraw early in the first per- lormance, which hurt the show. Clowns' comedy is interfered with >)y a ■ noisy roller coaster nearby. rirs.-t house was about; half ca- pacity. Advertising last week in ""Va- .riety" that he didn't want to be an- noyed by stage or screen offers while in New York, Gene Gerrard, England's leading light comedian, received a proposal almost Imme- diately after landing Friday. It was to play opposite Gertrude J-.aW- rence in tlie new Erlanger-Leslie "International Revue." He rejected It. This Is Gerrard's first American entrance. His time over here is limited, although long enough to perhaps permit Gerrai'd to accept the invitation of Mam-Ice Chevalier to see Holb'TN'ood with him. Though just a young fellow, Ger- rard has been Stage prominent in London for a considerable time. One purpose of his pleasure trip is to select if found a current New York production suitable ' for the Drury Lane, London. In that Ger- rard is acting as the representatiA-e Of Sir Alfred Butt. It. bespeaks more than the usual confidence by a 'manager in. an actor'i^ judgment at picking. "Bitter Sweet" Buy London, Dec, 24. The original library deal for "Bitter Sweet" here expires Jah. 4, Before leaving for New York C. B. Cochran renewed it on aii arrange- ment runrlihg to March. .. Piece is playing to capacity at every performance despite "pre- Christmas setbacks elsewhere in the London show lineup. 18 London Revivals London, Dec. 24. There were no less than 12 re- vh'als-current early this week. • Warmed over pieces are offered under the guise of Christmas galas, but In reality are stop-gaps while the managers mark time over the first of the year. Seasick Plea Wins in Raquel Mellei^s ^uit Paris, Dec. 24. Judgment was given in favor of Raquel Meller in a 2,Q00,000 breach of contract suit brought here by Argentine manager named Cairo. He alleged he had booked the Spanish actress for IBuenos Aires and she failed to fill the, contract oh the plea that an ocean voyage made her seasick. At the same time, it was alleged, she accepted profitable engagements In Paris. The court ruled that Cairo had received ample notification when Meller told him her departure: was. postponed inc^efinitely. jtnd failed to take necessary steps to enforce his contract. Chariot Back^n Reme End with New Theatre London, Dec. 24, ■ Bertie Meyer is opening his 'hew Cambridge, theatre in the Seven Dials district just off the West Eiid early in May. ' : Opening attracfion will be '?The Chariot Revue of 1030" and the Idea is "to establish the ; house as the home of smart m\islc-and-specialty type of revue piroductlon. House seats.1,200. The venture marks the return of Andre Chariot to. the •t3rpe of stag- ihgl - He ' Is now running the cabaret show a^ the Hotel Splendlde and at the Grosvenor House. Paris, Dec. 24. Further details of the plan by which Jules Marx proposes to re- vive Europe's Interest In vaudeville, reveal that his campaign embraces all Europe in its scope, one angle being the planning of, a big house in Paris to play a standard typ«> of ispeclalty entertainment. Idea is to build a circuit that will" offer six months of Continental tlnio all in a dozen European theatres, time to be played with all engagie; ments for a fortnight, ■Marx already controls the Plaza and Scala in Berlin and another house in Hamburg. HO will open the . hew Drei Linden theatre in Leipzig tomorrow (Christmas day) and has in'prospect the acquisition' of two more theatres for September' opening. Unlfornj policy, will be a bill of 10 acts changed once In two weeks, which' scheme will be introduced' at the Drei Linden opening. Septem- ber additions win be the Apollo, Mannheim, now independent vaude- ville, and the Municipal tiieatre . In Dortmund, which he takes ; ovOr from the city government. AH these houses, have between' 1,800 and 2,000 capacity and will play a uniform . policy' of 10 actai, ehanged fortnightly. . M4rx makes a point of the faci that his schenie" would create the first Continental circuit offering real variety, .ftnd- would eliminate haphazard booi^ihg, MarX was fornnerly a bia.nker. .His attention was turned to show busl- nesst as recently' as . i.922'. . He ta. said to be a natural organizer cap- able of handling, big operations. Tony Prinsep's Brother / To Marry Anita Elson London, Dec 24. The engagement is announced of Anita : Elson to Nicholas .I>rinsep, the, wedding to be held Jan. 8; Bridegroom is a brother of Anthony Prinsep, prominent painter who married Marie Lohr and took, a lease on the Globe theatre, Lon don, for several years to. star her. The couple separated and Prinsep starred Margaret .' Bannerman,. former wife of Pat Somerset, Whom ■Prinsep married after Miss Lohr divorced him'. Lone t<egit House on. Champ-Elysees May Go Paris, Dec. 24. There's a chance that Paris will lose its sole legit house on the" Champs Eiysees this spring. Barique de Paris has an option on the The- atre Femina and may exercise it as a new site for a branch ofllc^. Beau- coUp French-American transients and business around this sector; which Is adjacent to the several ul- tra expensive hotels. Studio and the Comedie des Champs Elysees, like the Marigny, are all in the C-E sector, but off the main boulevard. Paris^Empire 11-a-Week Paris. Dec. 24. Empire, only big time variety house in the French capital, Is breaking away from its tradition of once a night and few matinees. New schedule calls for II shows a week, an afternoon performance being added on Monday to the usual week-end shows and a Thursday maL Berlin Likes 'Cradle Song* Berlin, iDec. 24. "The Cradle Song," by Fedor, author also of "Pooi; as a Church Mouse," was fav6rd.bfy received at the- Lustsjpielhaus he^'e, although it is CoiisliSered inferior to his earlier woij-ki ^tbry 'has to do with a bachelor', celebrating New Year's alone in liis hbrjie and finding "a'ba.by abandoned^ on j.hl's doorstep.. *He. eng.agea, an, attractive nurise.to care for tiie waif, attd then falls lA love with her. Girl su.^escts he is, the baby's, father until Its real parents, a .baker and a laundress, appear, and calm her doubts, .yiien a .wedding eventuates. Piece has Kaete Haack and Paul Heldemann as leads. Its defect Is a tendency to overpace. Strunii^'g Jewish Troupe Failure in Australia Sydney, Dec. 24. Jacob. Strunln's Jewish opera company from New York met With poor returns In Sydney. Company came here with the idea of getting the support of Jewish-^communItle3_,_in=^lh.e.,Jiarge. towns, but the venture met With little response. The Jewish com- munities liave been appealed too to help the players put. 2 NEW LONDON PLAYS; 1M)TH JUST MISS^ m -London, Dec. 24. "Madame Plays Nap." Just , pro- duced- -At. the New theatre, - Id coniedy of the Napoleonic regime,! artifi.clal and entirely unsulted to. Sybil Thorndike, who plays the lea<I with exaggerated filppipihcy, appar- ently .being-all fit sea in a part'so violently contrasted with her usual tragic oharacters. PiecjB>iloubtful.. "The Last . Bhemy," by Franlc Harvey, -who until lately was piay- ing in "Jew Suss,'- was revealed At^ the Fortune theatre as a .ourloua psychic piece.. Bontewhat similar ".Outward Bound." It Just ml^sea, probably the fault of certain scenes supposed to take place In Hea,ven, a locale that .neVer seems to" reg- ister. ■ , Sunny Jarmann Retire* LOiidOh, Dec. 24. Stinny Jarmanii's elaborate act disbanded after a fortnight at the coliseum" although they Were of- fered the Stoll tour and a return at the Cpliseunrt. Girl, who has Just married a mil- lionaire, said she only wanted to realize an old ambition 'to headline in va;udevlll4, and now that she had done that she will retire fi^om show b^slriess•f6r good. .• Woods Buys "3 Men" Paris, Dec. 24. "Three Men With Dress Suits," a comedy by Hans Adler, has been 60ld for America via Al Woods.