Variety (December 1954)

62 CHATTER Wednesday, December 22, 1954 Broadway Freelance announcer John Sav- age off on a flying visit to France for the holidays seating capacity of Portugal in the last six years. The company of actor-managers Amelia Rey Colaco and Robles Monteiro has returned here after Paris u a two-month provincial tour. They Harry Morns, bomface of the * resented a tI £ gedy , “Father Lewis I Colony Club in London, arrived E .. t the S an Carlos Opera from Britain Saturday (18) on the House ’ ^ commemoration of the La r!I 1, n« fl r , ho Accrt death, 100 years ago. of author Al- . J ®« £ la i? r ’,A ead °! V? e A meida Garret, considered the "fa- ; elated Booking Corp. to the Coast th of the Portuguese theatre.” today (Wed.) for the holidays with his mother. D ». Writer Jerry Lieberman has DCnlO named his daughter Laurie Jo in honor of his friend, the late author- comedian Joe Laurie Jr. Frederick C. Schang, Columbia Artists Mgt. prez, left last Friday (17) with his wife for Palm Beach, for the holidays. Due back Jan. 1. Mattiwilda Dobbs. Negro colora tura soprano from Atlanta, arrived | a t last count. By Hans Hoehn ( Lichterf ., 9a Tulpenstr; 760264) I There are now 250 cinemas in West Berlin, with seating capacity of 120.000. West German cinemas that can play C'Scope pix were totalled 476 Monday (20) from London, where she appeared with the Royal Opera. Vet vauder Francis Renault, who is staying with friends at 328 West 84 St. until his reentry in the N.Y. Hospital, will undergo surgery on Dec. 27. Phil Isley, Dallas theatre chain owner, in N.Y. to spend Christmas with his daughter, Jennifer Jones, and o.o. her legit performance in “Portrait of a Lady.” Edward L. Bernays named chair- O. W. Fischer will play title role in "Hanussen.” based on a book by Curt Riess. Ulla Jacobsson. Swedish actress, pacted for her second German film, “Die heilige Luege.” Frederic Kohner currently scrip- ting “Helene Willfuehr,” new CCC film based on Vicky Baum’s novel. West Germany’s entry at the Punta del Este Film Festival will be the Lili Palmer starrer, “Fire- man of the p.r. committee of the works.' National Multiple Sclerosis Soci- Ivan Desny pacted to play lead ety’s 1955 fundraising campaign. j n “Griff nach den Sternen” National goal is $2,000,000. (NDF), which Helmut Kaeutner Longtime Paris expatriate Irvin ' will direct. Marks clippered in via London for a New York holiday, with detours “Musik, Musik, Musik” is the title of a new German musical di to Grosse Point. Mich., and a rected by Ernst Matray. England's Miami yachting excursion as guest Suzy Miller may appear in it. of American friends. i Latest GI show in Berlin is the Harry Tannen has taken over the Hollywood Stars, a group of pro Restaurant Charles, class French entertainers who feature doubles eatery in Greenwich Village, and of the famous Hollywood Stars, his ex-partner Bill Hardey is eye -1 Heinz Goldberg, German pic di- | ing Florida as a possible new scene rector and scripter of the pro- of operation since both sold out Hitler era. will visit Berlin next their Bill’s Gay 90s on East 54th week after an absence of 22 years. St. to the 3 Crowns restaurant Latest U.S. pix preems include operators. I “Gypsy Colt” (M-G), "Man Behind John Golden waxes punny when Gun” <WB), “Rails Into Laramie” he gifts friends with Rocket Cor- (U), “Devil Riders’ (PRC), "Dan- nish Game Pullets, which Victor gerous Mission” (RKO) and "Thun- Borge raises on his Vibo Farms, dering Gun Slingers” (PRC). Southbury, Conn.—he calls them Michael Rhodes, baritone now “Pulitzer Prize” (Pullet Surprise— singing wtih Berlin Civic Opera; get it?). Borge, of course, when Robert Fitzgerald, tenor of Wuerz- not farming-for-profit is big b.o. at burg Opera; Ellen Rapp, soprano the John Golden Theatre—second ol Munich and Nuernberg operas, season. and Mary Van Kirk, contralto of Vienna opera and former Met singer, volunteered their services as soloists in an oratorio set for December. Choral groups of Berlin’s three U.S. Army chapels supply the 60-voice combined choir. By Gene Moskowitx (28 Rue Huchette; Odeon 49-44) Newsreels go biweekly here this week. There are 19 French pix now on the floor here. Sue Stanley, U.S. chirper, into the Dinarzade here. Kirk Douglas expected for the preem of his Italo pic, “Ulysees,” in January'. Max Ophuls starts his first tint- er, "Lola," with Martine Carol and Peter Ustinov on Jan. 3. Erich Von Stroheim to star in the new Henri Diamant-Berger pic, “La Madone Des Sleepings.” Jacques Flaud. head of the Cen- tre Du Cinema, skedded for a long- delayed U.S. visit next month. Alhambra inaugurating big scale stageshows to accomp the first run film presentations. An ice show is first in. Vivien Leigh here confabbing with Anatole Litvak on her role in the forthcoming “Deep Blue Sea” (20th), which will be made in London. First Franco-Italo pic to be made in C’Scope is “Frou-Frou.” which j starts here this week with Dany Robin, Gino Gervi and George i Marchal. Sheldon Reynolds preparing the j first full length theatre version of his “Foreign Intrigue” to roll here this season. It will be a tinter and C’Scoper. Lionel Hampton orch breaking records at the Olympia Musichall, but management nixing any jam sessions the boys want to play on the theory that all playing is strict- ly for the house. Sacha Guitry, with “Napoleon” in the can. now preparing another super spec in “Si Paris M’Etait Conte” (If Paris Were Told To Me). This will recite the history of Paris and have an allstar cast. New' Gallic anamorphoscope process, Cinepanoramic, besides being used for forthcoming remake of “Hunchback of Notre Dame,” also will be employed for another remake of Jules Verne's “Michael Strogoff.” Chicago Ralph Marterie orch current at Melody Mill Ballroom. Joe Louis in town catching shows at Blue Angel Cloister Inn last week. Sarita Montiel, Mexican film star, here last weekend making personals for “Vera Cruz.” Rusty Draper here for Mercury recording session prior to opening Congress Hotel in St. Louis this week. Cliff Ayers. Emerald label chant- er, and a&r man Leon Holmes making deeja.v rounds to plug lat- est etching. “Blue Prelude.” Conrad Hilton Hotel and Palmer House closing their shows for Madrid By Ramsay Ames (Castellano Hilton; 37-22-00) “La Mordaza” (The Gag), now’ a big draw at the Teatro Espanol, is being adapted for the screen by Alfonso Sastre. Author-producer Edgar Neville preparing his next picture. “Ml Calle” (My Street), which will star Conchita Montes. Gregory Peck and John Huston three days, beginning tomorrow here overnight last week enroute (Thurs.), which is usual yearly pro- to shoot exteriors for “Moby Dick” cedure. (in the Canary Islands. Gabe Favoino joins Chi Variety Italian actor Tullio Carminati ar- staff this week to cover pictures, rived in Barcelona for his starring vaude and music, vice Les (Les.) , role in Ignacio Iquino's “Good-Bye ^rown who moves to another pub- Sevilla,” his first acting chore in lication. 'Spain. Lucy Reed filled in for Injured Dona Carmen Polo de Franco, Mary Ann McCall with* Charlie , "ife of Spain's Generalising, pa- Ventura Quartet at the Blue Note i tronized a Christmas benefit for several times last week when Miss | the poor at the Teatro Calderon McCall went to hospital. [Dec. 12. Jose Luis Saenz de Heredia. Spanish co-producer of "That Lady” (20th), seeking actor Fran- cisco Ra , bal for a role in his “Tres Historias de la Radio,” which goes into production here in January. Starring role in Angel Martinez's La Legion del Silencio,” original- Lisbon By Lewis Garyo (Tel. 32 479) Laura Alves and Vasco Santana, after a provincial tour, have re- Zorich By George Mezoefi Lionel Hampton orch touring Swiss cities. U.S. pianist Leonard Eisner gave recital at Konservatorium here. French mime Marcel Marceau’s fourth Swiss tour a sellout at Schauspielhaus. “Gate of Hell” and “I Vitelloni” are longest runs currently at Zur- ich arty houses. Stadttheatre Lucerne staged first Swiss performance of Jean Anou- ilh’s “The Lark.” Walt Disney’s “Living Desert” one of season's b.o. toppers at Le Dome, Geneva, and the Cineac, Lausanne. Jean Giraudoux’ posthumous play, “For Lucretia,” is set for Swiss preem at Schauspielhaus next January. Galas Karsenty’s Paris road com- pany in second show this season. Julien Green’s “South,” playing several Swiss cities. “Sauerbruch.” German biopic of the famous surgeon, one of this season’s top hits, finished an eight- week run at Capitol. Schauspielhaus presenting Swiss preem of Herman Wouk’s “Caine Mutiny Court Martial.” Kurt Hirschfeld is directing. turned to the Monumental Theatre 1^3^ T*\ nai : with new nlav Married an An- ^ intended for IMiroslava, went to p > . 1 ” arrlea an An * Spanish Nani Fernandez, with gC rnm ZiTL H r „ 'Jorge Mistral playing the male Company of Irene Isidro, An- ]pafl Pi -tartPH rniiina tw o in tonio Silva and Barroso Lopes has r J r rpfnn»15 transferred its production of the viJJLVnnS* aH^FnrmiP^ 1 * 011 f Spanish comedy, “Three Bed- ^ , £ ve ?‘P°nde and lorque rooms.” from the Monumental to the Avenida Theatre. Dancers Fernando Gil. Tony Spain’s participants to date in Uruguay’s Film Festival are pro- ducer Cesareo Gonzalez, actresses Emma Penella and Elisa Montes shall’” Birmingham Tpivpira Dranna c-nuiia I'ciieua ana r.nsa monies MarU^c'lara^hSv? leftThe* v£& ^u'n'TLr'^ Gaio ballet, operating at the San T gom % to Punta Carlos Opera House, and have nil? Po r rtu1u*se a fo C lklore r ° UP PreSen,ing long, of liienvemdo Mr?" uZ- Alicia Markova and Alexis Ras- sine started here on a tour of Pen- insula Iberica. They filled 1.600- seat Tivoli Cinema here and 2.000- seat Rivoli in Oporto at four mati- By Fred Woodress nees. organized by impresario Var- Joan Hager and Christine Pier- ela Cid. Scale was upped to $4. son now at Mirror Lounge of Tut- very big for Portugal, but at this wiler Hotel. price, hundreds were turned away WABT has broken ground to en- in both cities. large its tele studios to have a re- New cinemas have been launched volving stage, in Alcanena. Castclo Branco and RKO booked “Hansel and Gre- Covilha. All have facilities for the tel” into Empire for week around latest cinema inventions. Each Christmas time. •eats about 1.000. The continuous, Jimmy Blount, trombone player opening of new modern houses in in Jerald’s Scott’s Dixieland Band the provinces and in the Portuguese at the Beverly, left to join Ted empire has virtually doubled the i Weems. Frankfort The German tv chain is now- complete, with stations added in Bavaria. South Germany and Southwest Germany. _ Republic has set a pair of Ger- man-made films for U.S. release— “Stars Over Colombo” and “Pris- oner of Maharadscha.” 20th-Fox is now set to do its Cinemascope dubbing of dialog in Germany, instead of having to send work back to the U. S. Constantin’s next film is “The Holy Lie.” starring Ulla Jacobsson and Karlheinz Bohm. It goes be- fore the cameras in January. Werner Egk’s new opera “Irish Legend.” based on W. B. Yeats’ “Countess Kathleen,” will be done at the Salzburg Festival next year. Charles Kalman, son of the com- poser Emerich Kalman, has writ- ten his first operetta. “The Great Tenor,” which preems Jan. 8 in Wiesbaden. Mrs. Wanda Jennings. “Mrs. America of 1954,” did three shows for Armed Forces network. She’s touring Europe with her husband, and publicist Bert Nevins. Vicki Baum’s novel, “Stage En- trance.” being filmed in Munich as a German-French coproduction. Marc Allegret is directing pic, due to start early in December. “White Christmas” (Par) opens in 20 prints in key cities for Christmas throughout Germany. Studio has arranged tie-ins with 3,000 German music stores on rec- ord album for window promotions. Trio of American companies on location at Gieselgasteig, Owen Crump making “The River Changes” for WB, William Dieterle megging “Magic Fire” for Repub- lic, and the 20th-Fox “Oase” com- pany which just finished its Moroc- can shooting and moved in. Vienna By Emil W. Maass (Lichterf., 9a Tulpenster, 760264) Karl Hofer, film producer, a sui- cide. Film actor O. W. Fisher to play part of “Hanussen” in a new film. All-Austrian Star Quintette formed. They played for Lionel Hampton. Milan Scala ensemble to be guested at Bregenz, Vorarlberg fes- tivals in 1955. “Immortal Mozart,” directed by Alfred Stoeger, preemed to good crix appraisal. Philadelphia orch under Eugen Ormandy invited for Vienna festi- val weeks in .1955. Rondo Film, “Echo of Moun- tains” (all-Styrian production), preemed with success. Walter Kamper won Metro’s best: pianist competition in Austria. He 1 is on his way to Paris for the ! finals. Pittsburgh By Hal V. Cohen Marty Allen, of the comedy team of Allen and DeWood, holidaying with his parents. Local singer Sylvia Karlton working the first winter cruise of the lie De France. Sid Dickler doing his record pro- motion from a bedside phone until his broken leg mends. Sportswriter Tom Birks leaves Xmas Day for Florida on a three- month leave of absence, i Work begins shortly to enlarge seating capacity of Horizon Room at Greater Pittsburgh Airport. Earl Gordon, manager of Squir- rel Hill Theatre, and his wife cel- ebrated their 8th wedding anni. Ankara’s Raul and Eva Reyes gave up their dancing studio at Hollywood Beach Hotel in Florida. Shirley Jones home with her folks for the holidays after finish- ling Laurey role in“Oklahoma!” on Coast. Johnny Kirby passed up Twin Coaches booking to open tonight (Wed.) at Copa City in Miami Beach. Deborah Kerr left for Palm Beach after “Tea and Sympathy” , closed here, to spend show’s layoff with her family. Minneapolis By Les Rees Felix Knight continuing at Hotel Radisson Flame Room. St. Paul Civic Opera Co. sched- uled “Tales of Hoffman” Jan. 13-15. Prom, leading Twin Cities’ ball- room, shuttered pre-Christmas, Dec. 13-24 . Jan Peerce “Bonds for Israel” benefit concert at Lyceum drew audience of 1,600. Twin Cities’ lone topdrawer sup- per club, Hotel Radisson Flame Room, will have “The Diplomats” and a $7.50 minimum for New’ Year’s eve. Star Theatre offering “My Three Angels,” with “Father of the Bride.” “Death of a Salesman,” “Gigi,” “Sabrina Fair’ and “Sum- mer and Smoke” to follow’. Robert W. Burtt, 32-year-old actor and stage prop director at lo- cal Old Log strawhatter here, J found dead in his Cincinnati, O., apartment, and autopsy was or- dered to determine cause. Legit Lyceum manager Lowell Kaplan back from New York with promise of “The King and I” im- mediately after end of its present Chi engagement and companies of I “Pajama Game” and “Teahouse of August Moon” “at earliest avail- able times.” Ireland By Maxwell Sweeney (22 Far my Pk : Dublin 64506) Abbey designer Vere Dudgeon bowed out for study trip to Paris. Dublin Globe Theatre currently presenting M. J. Farrell comedy, “Spring Meeting.” Liam Redmond pacted for lead in N.Y. production of Paul Vin- cent Carroll’s “Wayward Saint.” T. C. Murray’s “Autumn Fire” broadcast by Radio F.irean as trib- ute to Abbeyite late M. J. Dolan. Gladys Cooper and Wendy Hiller in pre-London tryout of Michael Bun’s “Night of the Ball” at the Olympia, Dublin. Harry O’Donovan scripted new Christmas show, “Date with Laugh- ter,” for Ireland’s comedian Jim- my O’Dea at Gaiety, Dublin. Hollywood Peggy Lee hospitalized for sur- gery. Lisa Montell to Tucson to enter- tain troops. Ricardo Montalban returned from Rome. Jack Kruschen returned from Hong Kone. Ivan Hayes changed his name to Steven Hayes. Roy Evans recovering from an appendectomy. Johnny Green returned from his Honolulu vacation. Luigi Luraschi feted on his 25th anni with Paramount. Clark Gable and Edward Dmy- tryk in from Hong Kong. Mel Torme to St. Louis for that city’s Cerebral Palsy telethon. Tony Martin and Cvd Charisse heading for a tour of Australia. Gene Autry and Pat Buttram to Denver and Chicago on a p a. tour. Mara Corday east on a month’s drumbeating tour for “So This Is Paris.” Pinky Lee and Jimmy Brown performed at the L.A. Press Club’s Christmas party. James Stewart back in town after attending his father's wxd- ding in Pennsylvania. Y. Frank Freeman and William Demarest to the uranium discovery claim near Tonopah, Nev. Jean Hersholt received the 1954 Award of Honor from the Cali- fornia Home for the Aged. Washington By Florence S. Lowe Eric Johnstons, just back from a Far East trek, off to their Spokar.e home for Christmas. Mrs. Eisenhower sponsoring a benefit preem of “Romeo and Juliet” at Lopert’s Dupont The- atre. Cab Calloway spread Yule cheer to local military hospitals during his oneweek stint at Casino Royal nitery. Alexander Stewart, octogenarian father of screen star James Stew- art. here with his bride before planing to Hollywood for Christ- mas with his family. Three-vear-old Channing Carson brought here to spend the holidays with his mother. Carol Channing. current in “Wonderful Town.” and father, pro-football star Alex Car- son. Miami Beach By Lary Solloway Ocean front hotels sold out for the holiday week. Jerry Brooks’ Patio and Felix Young’s L’Aiglon reopened for the season. The Hilton Sisters booked into the Red Barn, which heretofore had featured strippers. The 560-room Fontainbleau readied by a crew of 1,100 men for official opening this week. Monte Proser and Buddy Howe at the Balmoral hotel to check bookings and take in some sun. Biltmore Playhouse, only legit house in area, shuttered tempo- rarily by new owner Jonathan Dwight. Jack Rael, Patti Page’s manager at the Sans Souci, setting up a season date for her, two hotels reported bidding. Maurice Schwartz, vet Yiddish stage star at the Delano hotel while looking over likely theatre : for plavs this winter. Joe E. Lewis resting at friend Danny Arnstein’s oceanfront es- j tate. living the ^arly-to-bed life ! while recuping from recent sur- gery. | New Fontainebleau hotel started I five day junket for press reps from ; all over the country (Saturday. 18) with a guided tour followed by a cocktail party and buffet. Lou Waiters previewing his Latin Quarter show’ Dec. 22 for Variety Children’s hospital bene- fit; reservations for this affair tabbed at $50 and $100 a couple. I Variety Tent 33 is sponsoring. Sooth Africa By Arnold Hanson Emlyn Williams Co. doing good biz with Charles Dickens character series. Because of biz slump, local cinemas are starting an economy campaign. Brian Brooke Co. opening a the- atre in Johannesburg to expand its activities. The government, through the Controller of Imports and Exports Dept., is sponsoring a conference with Schlesinger Organization, Metro and 20th-Fox to discuss importation of C’Scope. High fidelity panoramic screens made in South Africa are being fitted to local cinemas. The frame complete with automatic adjusting shutters is made locally and equipped with an imported U. S. plastic screen.