Variety (May 1930)

"VARIETY'S'; LONDON OFFICE 8 St. Martin's Place, Trafalgar Square FOREIGN SHOW NEWS CABLE ADDRESS: VARIETY, LONDON , Temple Bar 5041-5042 47 20 Out of 36 West End Legits in London Can't Find Attractions; The Worst Situation in 50 Years SUNDAY'S PROBLEM PLAY Liondon, May 20. Never in the history of London ehow business have there been so many West End theatres ready to close for lack of stage shows. Shows bowing out shortly are •The Insult," at Apollo"; "Song of Sixpence," at Daly's; "Suspense," Duke of York's; "Almost a Honey- moon," Garrick; "BJ-1," Globe; "His Excellency, the Governor," Kingsway; "Debonair," Lyric; "Magda," New Theatre; "Heads Up," Palace; "Rio Rita," Prince Ed- ■w-ard; "Journey's End," Prince of W^les; "AWarm Corner," Princess; "Apple Cart," Queen's; "Our Os- triches," .Rpyalty; ■ "Honors Easy," St. Martin's; "Middle Watch," Shaftsbury; "Down Our Street," Vaudeville, and "The Calendar," at the Lyceum. West End. has, 36 legit theatres and 20 will be without an attrac- tiori, inciudirig the Pic'cadilly, which transfers "jSere Cohies the Bride" to the Lyceum and goes into an all talker policy May 26. Show-people of 50 years'" experi ence cannot recall a. condition so ominous. Two theatres are going under the hammef shortly—Fortune and the Dutchess.' Legit decline has been in progress for some time, but -hrithin the last two weeks the falling off in attend ance ' has extended to 'the picture houses In the West End. Takings here are 25% below the level main- tained at this time last year. Bookings for London hotels are far below the volume expected. The London head of a big chain of pro vincial hostelries says • the hotels outside London are starving. Since the Labor'gbverpnient has been in ofBce—-about a year—unem- ployment has nearly doubled- ' Nervousness Tl>€ current condition makes showmen nervous because It Is deemed to be' the ;prelude to con- ditions even more serious. The Dutchess opened only a few months ago, arid has never housed a win- ner. It cost $350,000 to open and now it is on the market at $250,000; Tom Walls took over the Fortune theatre in August, 1927, since which time it has lost $150,000. Within the next fortnight theatres may be had on rental at about the cost of the lights and salaries of the staff. ■ Conditions in the provinces. are «ven worse than" in London. One show whicri never before lost money , has had two losing weeks in sue session. Several managers have cancelled their tours. Reason for the condition seems to be a combination of commercial de- pression, ■ Increased unemployment. Increased taxation and the troubles in India. Plays Her Own Hamlet Belgrade, May 20. Emma Gramatlca, leading trage- dienne of Southern Europe, is mak- ing a tour of this territory with an interesting repertoire, in which is featured her own translation of "Hamlet" with the actress playing the Dane. Other plays are Hoffmanstahl's "Electra," Barrie's "The Old Lady Shows Her Medals'* and Ibsen's "The Doll's House." Troupe of selected players is billed for Belgrade tonight, coming from Zagreb. More Pop. Prices London, May 20, "U'hen "Here Comes the Bride" transfers from the Piccadilly to the Lyceum, May 26, it will be op- erated it popular prices. The scheme was first Intro- duced by Clayton & Waller with "Silver Wlng.s" at the Dominion and followed by the Murray-Hul- bert firm with "The House That Jack Built" at the Winter Garden. Called For Special Show London, May 20, Leslie Hutchinson, pianist, iva.i roquested to appear at a special concert in Brus.sels arranged by Major Watson for the American Embas.«?y. He received 100 guineas and ^11 expen.ses. GERMAN BAIIET AT WORK IN ARGENTINE In London—" Ruth" Dwells On Crippled Child At Birth Buenos Aires, May 20. The Star Ballet from Germany, held up' at Montevideo for two months while the Argentine govern- ment conducted' an investigation into charges of White Slavery laid against people in the management, has- been permitted to enter the country. The German legation intervened. Unit IsJiow fulfilling contracts. Out of Command Bill London, May 20. George Black's first royal com mand ipiei;formari(ie is giving him plenty' of gri6f. S'lrst the Glaze- roffs walked out due to a disagree- ment. Now the Stone and Vernon act will ■ be out likewise due to Laszlb Baltazar, part of the Stone Vernon quartet walking out and leaving the sLct flat 't'wo hours be- fore it was due to open at the Pal- ladium. . . -. The Glazeroffs,'. "- Russian tirbup scheduled for the .command per- forijliance, lias b^en deleted fi'om the program. Understanding inside Is that the walkout- was due to the insistence of George Black that Glazerof, who conducts the orchestra during the troup's performance, should vacate their, chair for the occasion. Zukor-Otterson Confab (Continued from page 7) log will hereafter be framed In Hollywood with the Robert Kane organization in Pai'Is suppl^enting this production source. The prospect of German-Ameri- can accord has its effect upon the whole. European situation. At the moment everything appertaining to a formal patent settlement Is In abeyance pending Zukor's meeting with Otterson In New York and the Western Electric official's arrival In Berlin. The whole affair is now up to Otterson. Zukor's Cheerful View ZukcSr has held conversations with the Siemens and Halske Interests, who also represent the Tobis- Klangfilm group and the Algemein- ische Elektrische' Gessellschaft. No formal deal was reached in these meetings, but Zukor's attitude over the new state of affairs reflects his cheerful view of the future. The Paramount chief says silents are worthless for the foreign mar- ket and dubbed films are now taboo. Americans must produce pictures in the actual languages of the peoples to whom they are to be sold. Joe Seidelman of Paramount's foreign department has just arrived with 18 Paramount productions especially designed for foreign mar- kets with dialog interpolations done In foreign studios. Zukor arrived In Paris from Ber- lin Sunday (18) and took part in conferences with Paramount distri- bution men day an& night, outlining foreign policies. He was scheduled to leave the French capital this morning for London, catching the Europa at Southampton. Following the Zukor-Otterson conferences In New York, the elec- trics of both Germany and the States will appoint committees to complete international patent ar- rangements permitting unimpeded entrance of American product into Germany. Condon, May 20. Adolph Zukor arrived in London today (Tufcf-.) and was fentcrtalned at the first oflicial luncheon given to a visiting film executive by the Exhibitors' Association. The Exhibitors' A.'^sociatlon acted as host jointly with the London and Ilonic Counties branch, with Wil- liam .Stpphenson, president of the main organization, as toastma.sier, and iiNom 300 mornhf-rn a.s gu'.'f-.t.s. London, May 20. The Venturers' Society gave a Sundny (18) performance of a new "problem play" entitled "Ruth." . Piece is a morbid study of a father and mother with a crippled son. The father had wanted to let the child die when born, but the mother fought the idea. Rest of the play is laid in the future. Second act Is 24 years after. The boy has grown to manhood and wants to marry, but the girl rejects him because of 'his deformity. Thereupon he proposes to another girl of unsavory repute, mUch to his parents' disgust. Play ends with the boy bringing his unde- sirable fiancee into the home for the family dinner. Big Losses on 'Rita' and 'Heads-Up'; 'Heads' Closed Saturday-No Notice French Jazzist Pans Rivals in His Own Paper Paris, May 20. New bill at the Empire Is 100% stag, ten acts, all made up of men and headed by Gregor and his Gregorlans, an elaborate is-piece French jazz aggregation. Feature Is lavishly billed and ballyhooed as native French, al- though . Gregor is really an Arme- nian and his "French" band per- sonnel Includes such names as Weln- traub, Schmidt, Fischbach, Herchoff and Samuel. Gregor's jazzipation is okay, but mild compared to the American type of syncopation. Nevertheless It stands out In Paris. Gregor him- self resembles Rube Wolf. He pub- lishes a French periodical called "Jazz," wherein he pans other bandsmen, notably Jack Hylton, who Is said to have copped some of Gregor's crack instrumentalists. All this lends Interest to th© fact that the two bandsmen are each other's Paris opposition this week with Hylton's Thursday to Saturday night concerts attracting huge at- tendance. Business Is oft at the Empire, no women on the bill having something to do with that ^probably. Rest of the program riins' heavily to acro- bats and magicians with Rich Hayes, juggler, the comedy hit. AM. OPERATIC TROUPE GETTING DATES ABROAD MUSIC ROYALH UP AT HAGUE COURT The Hague, May 20. Collecting International royalties seems likely to go to the Interna- tional Arbitration Court here, fol- lowing changes in the method of collecting. Hollania has two bureaus for col- lecting payments under the Berne convention on music rights belong- ing to composers or their heirs. One Is a Dutch agency called the Buma and the other Is a French agency called the Sacem. A bill has been Introduced in Par- liament giving a monopoly on col- lections to the Buma. The French government has sent a protest to Holland claiming such a collection monopoly works to the damage of French nationals. If the Dutch proposal Is enacted Into law, the French. government will carry the issue to the interna- tional court. 3 Co-Stars London, May 20. "The Beaux Strategem" Is set to follow "Our Ostriches" at the Roy- alty June 9. Edith Evans, Godfrey Tearle and Miles Malleson are co-starred. The new Walter Hackett play, "The Way to Treat a Woman," opens in the West End Juno 11. Marion Lome and Aubrey .Smith are co-starred. "Karussel," Yes and No Amsterdam, May 20. Newspaper reviewers are divided in opinion over the "Karu.'-scl" ca- baret troupo which openfirt hore la.st niKht. OrR.'inlzation Is from Ru.s.sia and Is starting a Continental tour her'.- somfjwhat In the "Chauvo-Sourl.s" mann'/r. Belgrade, May 20. The first Aniorlcan theatrical troupe coming directly into this territory is the American-Jewish Opera Co. from Chiongo. During a European tour it has closed con- tracts for the Yugo:-ylav theatre at Osijek, calling for. a series of light musical pieces. Zagreb theatres are negotiating for the troupe. ^Salomon Stramer heads it with*Ballet Master Feld- baum. Zurich World Congress (Continued from page 7) cerned at the International meet after plan as now devised will bo done over by J. E. Otterson, W. E. official and head of ERPl. Ot- terson Is slated to shove off for Ciermany first week in June. He will confer with Zukor before sail- ing; Bedfellows Behind the maneuvering that means W. E. control Is tl)e strange position of DeForest, which unno- ticed made the wedge that permit- ted W. E.-German negotiation to strike an attitude. The new deal encompasses DeForest by the fact that it is a partner of Tobis in an International .equipment syndicate formed last fall, Tobls Is .a p?.rty to the new deal. Which makes everybody strange bedfellows. The break between DeForest and the German interests already with a foot in the machinery, was over one point; That involved recip- rocal license control by DeForest. Germans would not subscribe to the correlative privilege of requiring American licenses for German pro- ducers ^o show In the States. Tangles and Angles A quick smooth out since Zukor's visit to Berlin and negotiations started by Warner Bros, for the UFA company and the latter's the- atres is now expected. UFA being licensed by Klangfllm and bought by Warner Bros., ^/hich participates as a partner In Tobis is looked upon as a move to cement the two Ger- man electrics closer. Only obstruc- tion to Warner Bros. UFA deal so far as reported may be, however, a clause In the Klangfllm llcen.9e which grants the latter right to cancel license if UFA owner con- trol changes. To overcome this Warners may not buy control, but merely buy participating right in UFA and take over management of the theatres. Deal altogether goes for about |10,- 000,000 In ui?A-Warner Bro.s. Another angle to the Warner- UFA buy is that Warner Bros, be- lieve it best for American interests in'-Europe to control their own the- atres. Paramoiint and UFA ar© still allied through a distribution contract on silents f(Jr America which has nearly two yeans to run. Besides the electrics already men- tioned another German company In the deal Is the Algen.elne Elek- trische Gesellschaft. Difficult In the international con- fab in June Is expected to tighten when the question of who Is to gov- ern comes up. There is where Fox enters. So far not figured in the proposed pool Fox will probably get a setup as arbiter In the big con- fab. In Wall Street it is figured that actual settlement of the patent pool situation when accomplished will find Harley L. Clarke in the role of judge, 80 to speak. Which means probably that questions of govern- ing control and other hitched up de- tails will be submitted to Clarke for decision and he will iron out for evet-ybody. Clarke's r<.'p as a utility and buslnf;.«!S. man, besides pictures. Wall Stropt figure.'!, puts him logi- cal In that spot._ Riffht now in the matter of gov- erning control the too hold is In favor of "NVarner Bro.s. Warner Bros., l)y Its tie-up with Tobis and getting UFA, will be tho big .shot of Germany plcturc-.s. Another thing Is that Tobls and UFA aro //ilUng Ihr- Warnf-rf, Khonld nianaf.'*,-. That was th'- agrfrf'mf-nt made here wh<-ri the f^-rnuin.s-.'ind Wai'ncr lirov. /^ot tog' l)K-r. London, May '20. Losses oil "Kio liitu'' at the Prince Edward aro o.«=tinK\tod at. $100,000, shnrfd eiiuuUy by Ephvaiin, (Ulles- pio and Edward Stone, the latter owner of the I'rlnco Edward wliere the musical was produced. Epliraitn's other attraction, "Heads Up," closed suddenly at the Palace Saturday (17) after a fort- night. Cast notified at the end of the last performance. This was Ephraim's individual venture, and his aggregate lo.<!S on the two shows will reach above $150,00". "Heads Up" principals were promised'two weeks' salary with payment set for yesterday. Americans concerned in the sud- den closing are Louise Brown, Janet A'elle, Audrey Allan, Harlan Dixon and Atlas and Lamar. ■The players hold six-week guar- antee of which they played four, • (two out of town and two in Lon- don) and thoy had received assur-. ance th.it the remaining fortnight would be played. '' At the end of the final perform- ance Ephralm called the principals together and told them the show . had cost him tp date $126,000 which was his own loss, the venture hav- ing had no outside support. "Dailing, I Love You," closes May 31 at the Gaiety with the house dark for a fortnight. It will relight for '.'Love Race," now touring In the provinces. ROBESON'S OTHELLO UKED IN LONDON London, May 20. Paul Robeson opened last night at the Savoy In his long expected performance of "Othello." He wa« enthusiastically received. Although the audience and news- paper consensus was generally favorable it was by no rrieans undn- imous,'views being divided. Prospect at this time Is for a' limited run. Attraction would scarcely do in the States. Russian Disregard ThCj Hague, May 20. Undlscouraged by the cool gov- ernment reception to Soviet films. and Elsenstein, Sovkino agent here, the Russians continue to send alongr their entertainments. The Russian Comedy troup called "Karussel" opened Sunday in Am- sterdam Sunday as the start ot what Is projected as a tour of the Continent. Sweet Play at Strand London, May 20. "Every Mother's Son," tried out privately for a week at the Players" theatre a few months ago, goea Into the Strand early In June. The story has to do with a mother ■ whose eldest son was killed in the', war and who herself kills her: younger son rather than let him go . to the front. New Sherriff Play London, May 20. A new Sherriff play, "Badgers Green," succeeds the same author's long run smash, "Journey's End," at the Prince of Wales ';he end of June. Horace Hodges will be the star. - Klemperer, 2d, for N. Y. Berlin, May 20. The New York Philharmonic or- chestra has signed Otto Klemperer as its second conductor (besides Toscanlnl) to conduct his first con- cert In Now York about the middle of the season. Yiddish Co, at B. A. Buenos Aires, May 20. Louis Kramer and his Ylddi.sh company from New Y'jrk, opened at the Nuevo theatre heri?. "Evergreen" Title London, May 20. "Kvergre' Ti" i^ the title of a new musical being written for C B. (,'o(-hr,'in by Bj-nn L'-\>, Lortnz ilan and Hi'-hard Itodgers.