Screenland Plus TV-Land (Nov 1952 - Oct 1953)

DANTON WALKER'S HOLLYWOOD ON BROADWAY [CONTINUED FROM PACE 20] everything. The show went on with no further interruption . . . John Beal, who has always lived in the same West 55th Street apartment building, when he is in town, took over the running of the house elevator when the operator was taken ill. During the four hours he remained at his post calling floors and accepting packages, he earned three dollars in tips which he turned over to the ailing employee. None of the new tenants recognized the actor who manned his up-and-down cage sans his toupee . . . Audrey Hepburn witnessed a special showing of her co-starring film with Gregory Peck, "Roman Holiday," without a single other person in the N. Y. projection room. She wouldn't explain the reason for it . . . Metropolitan Opera singer Robert Merrill secretly tested for the Mario Lanza role in "The Student Prince" in Gotham, but declined discussing film matters with MGM execs after seeing the finished footage . . . Rosemary De Camp was mobbed on Fifth Avenue when fans spotted her and yelled, "There's Doris Day's mother!" The youthful (despite her film characterizations) actress took cover in a crowded Radio City Music Hall line of movie -bent patrons. It cost her $1.80 to escape the onslaught . . . Nanette Fabray, linked with every young, rich and eligible male in Manhattan, still prefers the company of her ex-husband, publicist Dave Tabet, despite the fact the "Band Wagon" star insists they'll never remarry . . . Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis squabbled in a Madison Avenue shop over the selection of ties made by the handsome actor. Tony was insistent on making his purchases despite his wife's criticism of his taste in the matter of handpainted cravats. Apparently Janet won out. Next day, ten ties were returned and exchanged for "something subdued" . . . Pier Angeli went nightclubbing until dawn — Stork Club, El Morocco and Little Club — with a handsome blond male escort, without her mother hovering in the background. It was the first time the young star had appeared in any of these famous cafes with a lone date. According to observers, she never had a better time . . . Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis and Danny Kaye travelled all the way upstate to a borscht circuit hotel just to catch the break-in comedy act of a newcomer in the funnymen ranks — Larry Best. The trio of topflight comedy stars had nothing to offer the younger comic by way of advice. They agreed he's "on his 72 way" and shouldn't be confused with conflicting opinions about how to be a success. "He's loaded with talent," confided Danny Kaye . . . Dean and Jerry stopped in at Le Ruban Bleu to catch another rising young entertainer— comedienne Ceil Cabot. The unpredictable zany is a femme Jerry Lewis and Producer Hal Wallis plans using her in a forthcoming Martin & Lewis film in which she will play Jerry's younger sister. When she mugged and shouted her hilarious laugh routine, Jerry exclaimed, "It's me with a wig and dress on!" . . . Jack Benny talked business with Lena Home at The Embers, fifteen minutes after Groucho Marx had exited the premises with a near-promise from the talented songstress that she would consider a role in Groucho's planned return to Hollywood film-making. Benny, who also wants to make another movie, may try to get before the 3-D cameras with an original musical that would have him co-starring with the glamourous Lena. From where the much-sought after Lena Home sat, the 3-D race is on between Marx and Benny . . . John Forsythe narrowly escaped serious injury when the plate glass window of a Lexington Avenue florist shop gave way and crashed to the pavement just as the actor walked out of the shop with a box of posies . . . Zsa Zsa Gabor startled the Powder Room attendant at Bruno's Pen & Pencil when she ankled in and shed five crinolines from under her billowing Ceil Chapman gown and asked to have them checked until she was ready to leave for home . . . Edward Everett Horton told friends he didn't expect to ever make another Hollywood film unless it's in color. As he prepared to leave the Pierre Grill after issuing that statement, his West Coast agent telephoned wanting to know if he would accept a role in the remake of "Magnificent Obsession." The aging comedy star said he'd consider it, despite the fact it was scheduled to be filmed in black-and-white. Queried as to why he changed his mind, Horton replied, "In 'Magnificent Obsession' they're suggesting me for a straight dramatic part. That's O.K. It's only in Technicolor that I want to be funny!" . . . Basil Rathbone will return to the New York stage as the star of "Sherlock Holmes" for Producer Bill Doll. After the premiere of the play, a filmed version of the production will be made in 16 mm and distributed to high schools and colleges . . . As a lure to early morning patrons, a Broadway movie theatre announced, that the first 500 customers to reach the box Ann Blyth and her husband, Dr. James McNulty, are both native New Yorkers. office would have their polarized viewers autographed by Joan Vohs, featured in "Fort Ti." The pretty blonde from St. Albans, Queens, excited because she plays the romantic lead opposite George Montgomery, and because most of her old neighbors were on hand for the opening, got even a bigger thrill when she found the first person in line was Mrs. Montgomery — Dinah Shore! . . . John Lund and Jean Arthur are planning to co-star in a new Broadway stage play. They huddled daily in the lounge of the Algonquin Hotel and chatted with such friends as Biff Elliot, Basil Rathbone, Mary Pickford, Helen Hayes and Hedy Lamarr. Conferences about the prospective production were also held in the hotel lobby because Lund's upstairs room, too small to accommodate more than three people at any one time, was being redecorated to please him. It's the same tiny room he's occupied in the past, long before his Hollywood success, and the hotel management wants him to feel "at home" . . . Arlene Dahl ducked into town, sans Fernando Lamas, and wouldn't tour any of the glitter spots without his telephoned-from-Hollywood approval. When she arrived at El Morocco for supper and dancing, with several of her agents and their wives, Arlene's favorite late-hour snack, diced creamed chicken, was being brought to her table even before she sat down — as ordered by Lamas . . . Lee Marvin is the envy of most young Broadway actors who have been struggling for recognition. After being spotted on TV's "Dragnet" by Producer Stanley Kramer and given a role in last year's "Eight Iron Men," he'll next be seen in "The Wild One," "Gun Fury" and "The Caine Mutiny." His Gotham actor pals gather at their favorite Broadway hangout, the drug store in the Hotel Astor, once a week and each read aloud letters received from the busy Lee. Upon his return to New York for a brief vacation, Lee will be the honored guest at a midnight Coke-and-cofjee party being tossed by his friends. The management of the Astor drugstore has approved the