Hollywood Studio Magazine (May 1969)

NEWS FROM GOWER GULCH By Bea Colgan ^Jjie two biggest events of the year are over and things are settling back to normal here at Gower Gulch. Have you ever tried to concentrate on your income tax and watch the Academy Awards simultaneously? It’s interesting. Everyone here was delighted with the triumph of “Oliver” of course. The highlight of the evening for me, however, came when Barbra Streisand said “hello — gorgeous!” If the power of positive thinking can influence Oscar — I feel I may have contributed a wee bit to her success. RELAXING? in Las Vegas April 18th and 19th was Marion Dinelli of Columbia publicity. Marion was showing the big town ta her sister, nephew and niece-in-law, all from a small town in the midwest — The Windy City . . . Also of Columbia publicity, Helen Molenaar, Norman Daloisio, Ollie Prosser and Helen LaVarre found interesting things to do in April. Helen M. had two relaxing weeks in which she did just that. A high-spot was her visit to the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens near Claremont. That world traveler, Helen “Flash” LaVarre, took one of her famous weekend trips — this time to the Bahamas, while Ollie and Norman were off to another Arabian horse show. NEW ON THE LOT - are Vincent Tubbs, president of the Publicists Guild, here to do the unit publicity on “The Liberation of Lord Byron Jones;” Sally Ann Conner, second secretary in Billy Gordon’s office replacing Gaile Palitz, (sorry boys, she’s happily married); and Marie Cubellis in the accounting department. A big welcome to you all. BEST OF LUCK to that ex-Young American, Ken Prymus, formerly in the purchasing department. Ken, who has been actively pursuing (and aptly so) an. acting career while toiling full-time at Columbia, has received his biggest break to date and is playing Pfc. Seidman in Ingo Preminger’s “M-A-S-H” at 20th Century-Fox. Let’s hope this leads to the top for Ken. He deserves it. We hate to see him go - but you can’t keep a good man down. MOVIN’ AROUND are Judy Cramer, who left Columbia publicity for the accounting department, and Harry Flynn, formerly with Screen Gems publicity, now a producer-writer under Jack Atlas in the trailer department . . . Guy Green replaced Kevin Billington as director on “A Walk in the Spring Rain,” now filming in Tennessee. Frank Friedrichsen, unit publicist on “Cactus Flower,” also sticks around to repeat similar chore on “Spring Rain.” RECENT RETIREES are Dorothy Ball, accounting; Carl Stout, head of the staff shop at the ranch; and Wally Wahlstrom of scenic. Wally has been a top furniture grainer for many years in the industry although only at Columbia the last four, while Dorothy and Carl have a total of 59 years between them at ye olde Gower Gulch. Those are the kind we hate to lose. The very best goes with you all. UP, UP AND AWAY - Robert M. Weitman has been named first vice-president in charge of all Hollywood- based productions, joined Columbia on January 3, 1968, moving here from MGM .... New vice-presidents are Marion F. Jordan, Milt Goodman and Gerald Ayres. Mr. Jordan is exec, v-p of Columbia Pictures International in charge of foreign distribution; Mr. Goodman is the domestic general sales manager, and Mr. Ayres is involved with the west coast creative operation. In addition, Eli Horowitz, who is currently assistant secretary of Columbia, has also been named assistant treasurer .... On the Screen Gems side of the ledger, Jackie Cooper is relinquishing his position as vice-president in charge of television production and is entering the field of independent feature film production for Columbia. He also plans to continue to develop properties for Screen Gems and is thus “looking forward to the dual challenge.” Taking over as vice-president in charge of production at Screen Gems is Leonard Goldberg. Goldberg comes to SG’s from the ABC-TV network where he had served as vice-president in charge of programming since February, 1966. Prior to that he was an executive in the tv department at B.B.D. & 0., Inc. AROUND THE LOT and it’s all spruced up. A two-year expansion and improvement program is coming to completion. Included in our “new look” are three new sound stages, three new exteriors at the ranch; a new mobile generator power plant; an ultra-modern looping stage; remodeling of the scoring stage; expansion of data processing; renovation of dressing rooms and makeup and wardrobe; new projection and sound equipment plus a feature dubbing room; and overall face-lifting of the mill, executive dining room, camera machine shop, multilith, central files, business affairs; the publicity department and general improvements at the ranch. ODDS AND ENDS - Betty Corday, executive producer of Screen Gems’ “Days of Our Lives,” spoke to the Department of Television and Motion Pictures at Cal-State Long Beach on April 18th. Seminar subject was “The Current and Future Opportunity for Women in Broadcasting and Motion Pictures.” (Wish I could have been there.) . . . .Marina Ilona of accounting department, took a few days off to have minor surgery. She was up’n’at’um in no time but was disappointed as the doctor wouldn’t okay her performing in the Spring Fling. She and Jon Tyler had a super dance routine all worked out. Both former professional dancers, Jon was as disappointed as Marina. Better luck next year, kids .... Mr. and Mrs. Seymour Yack celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary on April 10th. The actual celebrating came several days later as Seymour was rehearsing for the Spring Fling on the night of the 10th .... Former messenger Ron Couser dropped by the other day to say hello. Ron will be graduating from college in the near future and plans to go; on to law school next Fall. Good for you Ron .... First place winners in Larry Hampe’s annual Academy Award poll were Maureen O’Connell of multilith, Audrie Laurie, trailer Department, and Mike Chavez, former Columbia barber. Runners-up were Audrie’s boss, Jack Atlas, Steve Bolan, Wes Kenney, Arlene Babigian, Hugh Morton and Marie Cubellis .... OBIT — The entire lot was saddened at the passing of Mrs. Jeanette Cohn, mother of Columbia producer Robert Cohn, and widow of Jack Cohn, Page 11