Hollywood Studio Magazine (February 1968)

t Disney Productions Handsome singer John Davidson is touring the eastern seaboard this month with his second major night club tour. The trip began with a holiday stint at the San Juan Caribe Hilton in Puerto Rico and will wind up at the famous Copa Ca¬ bana in New York. John’s second Disney musical, “The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band,” is .set for release in June. During filming of the Disney comedy romance, “Year of the Horse,” one scene called for Kurt Russell to walk into the grandstand at a New England horse show. As the cameras rolled and the horses be¬ gan their maneuvers in the background, director Norman Tokar yelled, “Kurt”, when he wanted him to enter the scene. But the camera operator thought he said, “Cut,” and the whole take was ruined. Next time, Tokar yelled, “Russell.” Congratulations to Paul Petersen upon his marriage to Brenda Benet last January 20 at Westwood Community Church. Paul got his start at this Studio as one of the Mouseketeers back in the late 50’s. He was back again just a couple of years ago for a part in “The Happiest Million¬ aire.” Grace Lee Whitney, who stars as a hip¬ swinging, gum-chewing gangster moll in “Way Down Cellar,” a two-part show on “Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Col¬ or,” recently opened her own dress design firm and is making quite an impact on the Southern California scene. Grace serves as her own model on those occasions when she accepts a singing date. She wears gowns of her own design and prac¬ tically sells them off her back while sing¬ ing. * * * Dick Van Dyke took time out from the extended European production sched¬ ule on his new movie, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” to fly home this month for the taping of his second television com¬ edy special. He’ll return to London for additional scenes in “Chitty Bang” dur¬ ing March. His Disney comedy, “Never a Dull Moment” with Edward G. Robinson and Dorothy Provine, is now scheduled for release in July. * * * Dee Somers, President of Girls Friday of Showbiz and secretary to Herb Cope¬ land of Stanley-Warner Theatres, entered Glendale Memorial Hospital on Monday the 22nd for four weeks in tractions for a spinal correction. While in the hospital, the business of helping needy children re¬ ceive reconstructive surgery will be car¬ ried on by the Executive Vice President, N. Drapkin. CHUCK GRIZZLE\ Elsa Lanchester is collaborating with New York writer Ned Hoopes to do a ser¬ ious study of the life and career of her late husband, actor Charles Laughton. El¬ sa was on the lot recently to portray a de- cendent of dastardly pirate Edward Teach in the comedy, “Blackbeard,s Ghost.” The picture, which stars Peter Ustinov, Dean Jones and Suzanne Pleshette, pre¬ mieres at the Pantages Theatre on Febru¬ ary 9. * * * * The Studio players are thinking about putting on another play for Disney em¬ ployees. The drugery of those long reher- sals is dim in memory now and only the fun and satisfaction of a successful ac¬ complishment is recalled to prompt the workers to do it again. Their last play, “The Whole Darn Shooting Match,” was a laugh riot. So here’s hoping the amateur actors decide to follow through with an¬ other winner. * * * =t= Dean Jones, who just completed “Year of the Horse,” his fourth starring role on the Disney lot, is planning the production of a variety stage show which will benefit the Los Angeles Teen-posts. He has been meeting with William Elkins, Director of the 103 recreation facilities for teen-agers, to discuss details for a ma¬ jor show that would feature several big 25