Variety (Jun 1930)

^VARIETY'S" LONDON OFFICE B St. Martin's Place, Trafalgar Square FOREIGN SHOW NEWS CABLE ADDRESS: VARIETY, LONDON Temple Bar 5041-5042 69 1ST BULLFIGHT IN PARIS GETS RAZZPROPER Made Bloodless After Gendarmes Hopped in Ring—rToo Tame Paris, June 3. First attempt to introduce bull- fighting near Paris resulted in a riot at the arena in Belun, near here. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the ritzy ob- jectors Invaded the ring, assisted by a corps of gendarmerie. Many were Injured, and arrested. A non-killing bullfight w-hich en- eued was a joke compared to the real article "and heartily razzed. Toreador fans who know the real article through experience around Biarritz and San Sebastian on the Franco-Spanish border, were dis- gusted at the farcical bloodless matador conte-sts. STAGE SHOP BIZ UP PICKS UP IN LONDON London, June .3. Business appears to be slightly on the mend. Increased tourist trade and better weather conditions are the best reasons. The recent Command Perform- ance at the Palladium seems to have acted as a stimulus to the variety business at the halls. Legit houses, in A frantic effort to counteract the slump are resorting to price reductions in the case of nearly every new show. Heretofore the difficulty of reduc- ing prices has been that either the original lessee or his sub-lessee has made objection. Now that they have suffered from bad business everybody seems to be amenable to argument. Sayag Sticking to Ostend, Eased Out at Monte Carlo Paris, June 3. Edmund Sayag, eased out of Monte Carlo, will only concern him- self with Ostend this summer where he has the Kursaal with Andree, the gambling king. Sayag bucked An- dree, who is always at Cannes, and sought to oust his associates at Monte Carlo, with the result he him- self is no longer in the Monte racket. Sayag also is out of the Ambassa- deurs restaurant, Paris. His orig- inal plan to only confine himself to the new next-door 1,800-seat thea- tfe, which opens this fall on the Ambassadeur's restaurant plot, Is also cold. Camille F. Wynn has the lease. House probably will be call- ed the Theatre de la Concorde, be- ing near to the Place de la Concorde and the Ohamps-Elysees. Kane's First Paris-Made Paris, June 3. Paramount theatre will screen Bob Kane's, first feature length pro- duction made over here. It is the long deferred "Le Trou dans le Mur" ("Hole in the "Wall"). Killed for Trying London, June 3. "The Living Law," Danish drama, was produced at the Garrick Sunday evening (2) by the Anglo-Danish epclety in collaboration with the Lyceum Club, stage society, which wakes such Sunday night prpsenta- tions. Piece is a morbid story of a no- bleman encouraged by an old clergyman to commit suicide in ex- piation of the'killing of a youth who had tried to seduce his daughter. Play is rich in color and it l.s like- ly it will be worked over in prep- aration for a .-regular production. London Wedding London, June 3. "VTedding date has been set for June 7 of Herbert Clayton's daugh- ter Marjorie, to Nell Portfr, actor. LIGHT TOURIST TRADE IS FELT BY PARIS Paris, June 3. Tourist trade considerably off. American Express Co., perhaps the best form for tourist travel, states the turnover is much below what it should be at this time of the year. Showmen are anticipating general slackness to the degree they are conserving on their show budget for the summer. The new Ambassadeurs, rebuilt and enlarged, opened May 28 under Clement Hobson, of Ciro's manage- ment, and no longer handled by Ed- mund Sayag, has a conservative line up in the eight Muriel Abbott Girls, Gaudsmiths, Stone and Ver- non 4, "Jelly Bean" Johnson and the Xoble Sissle orchestra. No big floor attraction and no big name band; PIRANDELLO'S PLAY JEERED Berlin, June 3. Most sensational legit scandal within Berlin's mem iry was the whistling, hissing and jeering which greeted Pirandello's premiere, "To- day We Improvise." The negative audience reaction was manifested throughout the per- formance with the theatre a con- stant beillam. LONDON'S PICCADILLY GIVING UP LEGITS London, June 3. Piccadilly theatre is abandoning its policy of legits in favor of pic- ture and specialty stage show, des- ignated here "kinevarlety." Change takes place June 16 with Jack Hylton and band as the initial vaudeville attraction and double feature screen show, "The Kiss" (M-G-M) and "Wise Girls." The theatre is owned by the Berkeley Syndicate, which also op- erates the Brixton and Old Kent, Astoria, cinemas under the manage- ment of Charles Penley who will direct the Piccadilly. Austrian Plays for N. Y. Vienna, June 3. Among recent sales of native plays for America are "Sachertorte," by Oestrreicher and Gayer; "Tempo Over 100," by Franz Kammerlohr, young author discovered by Max Reinhardt, and "Business with America," local comedy success by Frank and Hirschfeld. Nares' Play No Hit London, June 3. "The Last Chapter," by Edith and Edward Ellis, was nicely re- ceived, opening May 27 at the New theatre with Owen Nares starred, but It doesn't look to have any pros- pect of a protracted success in London. Play has been tried out here with several titles. A story Is It was given a trial production in the States but never reached Broadway. Name at that time said to have -been "AVomen." "Avenue 1930" Short Flop Paris, June 3. •Avenue 1930" is a mixed show with sketches by Simon Gandillon and Marcel Espiau, arranged by Paul Colline and mounted by Mile. Falconetti at the Theatre dc 1'Ave- nue. Its purpo-'sc i.« to attract a sum- mer clientele, but the piece looks from its first few performances like a conclusive flop of short duration. English Actors in S. A. Buenos Aires, June 3. "The Second Mrs. Choyney" has ju.st opened with an all-English ca.st, replacing "The Laughing Lady" at the Petit thoalrc. Latter play was a succo.<=.s durin? its thrtf wf:f k .=tay. New Ballets London, June 3. Anton Polin op^-ns June 16 at thf Coli.^eum In a .serks of new bnllets. Box-Office Chiseler Tried to Take Canty Paris, May 23. Only by ihcateninp the Mou- lin Rouge management with a complaint to the Minister of To\iri.-^m did Goorge Canty, American Film Trade Commis- sioner, receive a 10-franc re- fund which he was short- clKinivcrt buying two 21-franc tiiikots to the Moulin Rouse- Giving the box-office girl a 50-frano note, instead of read- ily making eight francs change for the 42-franc total, she first gave Canty three francs and tried to outfumble him on the additional five-franc note. On getting into his seat and realizing the locations were poor—and that he had request- ed the best seats—^he saw that his tickets were marked 16 francs each, but he was charged 21 francs. Canty burned. Without tell- ing the house manager who he was, he merely said he'd com- plain to the Commissioner of Tourism, Gaston Gerard, who has been making local, cam- paign against the sundry gyps of Paris. The box-office girl, although It was some time after, recog- nized Mr. ■ Canty as somebody she had "taken" and readily "regretted the error." Gertrude Lawrence Is Out of Chariot Revue; Beatrice Lillie Now London, June 3. With the new Chariot revue on the eve of rehearsal a jam has come about in the casting arrangements, due to Gertrude Lawrence walking out. Piece Is scheduled for the new Cambridge theatre, and Miss Law- rence and Seymour Hicks were sup- posed set for the leading roles. At the last minute. It Is under- stood. Miss Lawrence refused to fill the engagement. The management suggested that Margaret Banner- man and Phyllis Monkman be brought in, but Hicks refused to. fall In with this suggestion. In.side of the* story Is that Noel Coward met Miss Lawrence in New York some months ago and said: "You're going to appear In my new play." Upon her arrival home the actress served notice upon Andre Chariot she would not join his revue cast, adding that if he tried to force her to play by restraining her from other engagements she would return to the States. C. B. Cochran, who is to do the Coward play. Is Innocent of any move in the matter, according to the best information. He had not spoken to Miss Lawrence about the play, nor had he discussed its cast- ing with Coward. Meanwhile, Chariot has talked with Beatrice Lillle- by phone from London to Hollywood. Miss Lillle is now on her way to London to take the Lawrence role in the revue, with the likelihood Hicks will return to the cast. Oumansky's Dance Job London, June 3. Ale.xan(1(-r OumansKy has been appointed sole dance director for all British International film musifal.s made at the Elstree studios. U. S. Firm After New Buchanan House London, June 3. Thf- ii'-\v ..sick Buchanan thoatro, undfir f'on.«truction In L<;ice.stpr Kfiuaro. will bff ready for op'-nlng by autumn, af'cording to pre.«-c-nt schod- Ult'.«. It is now undf-r nf-goUai Wm by T.'nitf^d Arlint.';, who want it und"r a lf-!isf! for uHf as a "show winddw." The site orifrinally bf-longfd to Sir Walter fllbli" ns and Uiir-hanan hns a fivr«y,'tr ](:i<-(- railing for rf'nt jit the ratf of $3,750. a w*f-k. For Mats Only London, June 3. C. B. Cof hran will prc-.sent a t\o\v pU-o(-, "Anf.'na Kntffra," for nine hjk-- rlal mHiinf-f-p. ntarting at thf Quf-f-n'."-' Jiinf- 10. NEW MUSICAL COMEDY FAIR; CHORUS AWFUL Paris, May 2S. New musical comedy at the Atho- nee, "Le Coeur Y Est," opening May 21, obviously a summer frolic wholly, and will last just about thai length of time here. Nothing dis- tinguishing about it excepting- a hilarious second act bedroom scene not dirty, but very funny. Music by Phillipc I'aros and G. van Parys unoriginal, frankly "adapiod" and yet by no moans con- tagio\is for all its general borrow- ings. Raoul Praxy did the book; lyrics by Roger Rcrnstoion and F. Vimont. Of the cnst principal males all right, but the three femmcs not .so good. The chorus of four would be- stow a favor on the audience if pay- rolled to stay off the stage. 8THWESTEND$2 TOP LEGIT SHOW London, June 3. Commencing this week, the Lyric goes to $2 top for its revival of "Li- lac Time." This makes the eighth West End theatre operating on a popular scale of prices, reflecting the dullness of show bu.siness in the British capital. 2 DAILIES MERGE IN LONDON-LEAVES 7 London, June 3. The merging of the "Daily News" with the "Daily Chronicle" reduces the number of dally now.spapers In the London area to seven, excluding tabloids. Hereafter the merged pub- lications will be issued under the title of "News-Chronicle." The "News" Is absorbing about 30 per cent of the "Chronicle's" old reportorlal and mechanical staff, letting out the same number of men from Its own force. Editorial men not under contract receive a month's salary, while the editorial, people under contract re- ceive from three to twelve months' salary. Princess and ''Miracle" Paris, June 3. Princess Matchiabelll here on hor annual two months' visit. Says she's going out with "The Miracle" again in America next season under an independent man- agement which has acquired the rights from Morris Gcsl's. bankrupt estate. "Hamlet" Broadcast London, June 3. Alexander Mols.si and Henry Aln- ley broadcast excerpts from "Ham- let" on a special program last eve- ning. The German actor spoke In English for the first timf In this country. Following the advorlised feature Molssi recited two poems in Ger- man, the language he usoh in his local appearance at the fJlobe in "The Living Corpse," Dora Maughan in Paris Paris, Jime 3. Dora Manghan with (Jerry Wil- liams pianoIoKing oponod for I'eppy dc Albrcw at liIs Trofadf.-ro In Mont- martro. Miss Mauglian Is In for a limited period, due to rf^turn to London for vaudeville bookings. Marino and Norrls, colored team from the I-ondon "Sliow P.oat" com- pany, around thf; I'aris f^fibarcts, nn: with Ihf Anu-i'ican nomf.-dif-nne. "Moloch" No Go l.,()ndf>n, Jun<- 3. ".Molo'-h" dof-s not look lik» a r-orjirnr;rfia] sufcy-ss at tlif; Sti'and. I'lay lirKt callPd "Any Moth'T's ."^0)1," but til'; title was r-hangf-d to avoid conflif:! with the picturf. "Evfry Mother's .Son." Piecrf! wa.H reviewed niien it. wa.*- pre.sf«nlf'd at the I'lajei.*-,' the--:tj'e several month.*- ago. BELGIUM AIDS THEATRES BY TAX REUEF Brussels, June 3. An oflicla! ;ittempt by the Belgian Government to revive the show business and halt its stifling through prohibitive taxation, resulted .in the Belgian Chamber of Deputies to- tally abolishing taxes on dramatic productions. All other entertain- ments of educational or charitable nature, where the element of per- sonal proflt doesn't figure, are now free of any taxations. Film, vaudeville and dance-hall taxes were cut In half, the new scale for pictures now covering a range of six to 15%; vaudeville, six to 12%; dance-hall.s, 10 to 25%. Socialistic party was generally instrumental in this reform with an eye to alleviating the plight of tho musicians ousted. by film the- atres going sound; also to increase the scale of remuneration for legit actors whose miserable salaries were directly attributed, to the heavy taxation choking the legit stage. MANY BUSTED RECORDS BY NEW PARIS REVUE Paris, June 3. "Folles Bergere," new revue edi- tion, has broken Its own house rec- ord five times since the new show" opened here. Capacity of 2,000 has seen up to 2,750 In the revue house with the standees back Into the spacious lobby at 10 francs (40 cents) per for the "promenolr" (standee) locations. Revue will be In for 18 months at '^ least, according to conservative es- timates, probably the smash hit of the entire scries. In tho basement, between acts, a 300-seat auditorium to a two-bit admission (six francs) Is also doing heavy trade with an Oriental cooch show. The Turks and Arabians throw that thing around for pass- out dough in a manner that has made the wise muggs take a look- see below for themselves. Holland's Stage Season Falls Off-Revue's Big Hit The Hague, June 3. Theatrical season Is on the wane here, partly due to the arrival of warmer weather and partly to the competition of the great annual fair. Another element Is the enormous draw of "Buzlau," new revue at the Scala. Two new Dutch plays have just gone Into production, "Hidden Forces," by Herzog, and a detective play by Ivan.s, both of mild inter- est. Attention of city dwellers Is turn- ing to the re.sortfl. The Casino at Schevenlngen has opened for the sea.shore season. The Bela band is there thi.s month. Slight Women Wrestle Paris, Juno 3. New floor show at tho Bal Tab- arln, Montmartre popular priced night club. Is women's wrestling matches. The fcmmes are usually tall and slim. Same matches used to be .shown there several years ago, but had been discontinued. Wrestlers were then of the.more beefy types. Femme Act Scarcity Parl.H, June 3. Dearth of femme acts, recently noticeable in .some American cir- cuits, ha.s reached the Kmpir" lioro. It may sound for I'aris like a f;ilry tale, but cui-rent bill is uricly a Mag i)arfy. Leader Leaves After 12 Years London, June 3. .Sam liicliardson, orchestra leader at liie Holborii Empire for 12 year.s, vacates that berth mis week. He l.s replaced by Sydney Kaplan, formerly- of the Hippodrpnje, li: jgl.ton.