Hollywood Studio Magazine (July 1971)

BEA COLGAN’S NEWS FROM MAJOR MOVIE AND T.V. STUDIOS GOWER GULCH Most talked about item at Columbia/Screen Gems is the projected move of facilities to the Warner Brothers lot next Spring. Opinions vary depending on the circumstances of individuals’ proximity to the present site or the Valley location. The Gower Street lot, a Hollywood landmark since 1922, will probably be sold, closing the door on another bit of filmdom history. Meantime, the Jim Gluskins spent three weeks in Israel attending a cousin’s wedding in a kibutz. Also in Israel for the month of May were Ely and Mathilda Levy visiting Tel Aviv, Haifa, Galilee, Jerusalem and Arad. Most gals hate to admit they are old enough to be a grandmother. Not so Beverly Rapoport of the accounting department. She is busily telling everyone of the recent birth of her first granddaughter, Dawn Michele, daughter of the Bob Rapoports. President Leo Jaffe has been named vice-chairman of the School of the Arts fund raising campaign at New York U. Fund provides student scholarships, purchase of new equipment and building of new facilities. VIP visitors to the “Living Free” set in Kenya, Africa, were the Russian, American and Israeli Ambassadors. Film is a sequel to the memorable “Born Free.” Sam Spiegel’s epic “Nicholas and Alexandra” has completed filming following a precise 20-week schedule. A gala Hollywood premiere will be held December 21st at Loew’s Beverly. Sad to hear of the recent passing of James W. “Pat” Patterson, retired from Producer’s Photo Lab on the Columbia lot, and of Helen Beaumont of the Story Dept. Both will be sorely missed. On a cheerier note, Marilyn Schlossberg, production assistant at BBS Productions, recently tied the knot with John LaSalandra, music editor for TV, in Pasadena. Congratulations. John’s a lucky guy. World premiere of new James Stewart-George Kennedy starrer, “Fools’ Parade,” was held June 17 in Wheeling, West Virginia. Flick is a wild-paced suspense drama which takes place in 1935 during the depression. Youngest Macbeth and Lady Macbeth ever are played by 28-year-old Jon Finch in the title role and 25-year-old Francesca Annis as Lady Macbeth in Roman Polanski’s Playboy production of “Macbeth.” DISNEY DOINGS The classic “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” winner of Academy Awards for Art Direction and Set Decoration, is now in re-release to the delight of millions who will want to see it again, and for an entirely new generation of viewers. The Disney film version of the 1869 Jules Verne tale remains a classic fiction masterpiece. First film to roll at Disney Studios this year is “Now You See Him, Now You Don’t,” a sequel to last year’s high-grosser, “The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes.” Film marks seventh Disney film for comedian Joe Flynn who quipped “They’ve got a complete wardrobe there in my size now.” “Scandalous John,” off-trail western, had its world premiere in Cincinnati on June 22d. Former Cincinnatian Bill Walsh, producer and co-writer of the film was guest of honor. Event was a benefit for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. The American Dental Association has donated a print of “Tommy Tucker’s Tooth” to the Disney Archives. Film, a silent, live-action short with a few animated inserts, was filmed by Walt Lucille Akana, personnel director of Universal Studios, was presented with two trophies for outstanding service to veterans and handicapped persons by the Valley Committee for the Employment of the Handicapped at its annual luncheon in Van Nuys. One award was from the California State Labor Department and the other was the committee's Justine Jhonson award "for aid in employing the handicapped." In addition to giving preferential treatment to veterans and the handicapped. Miss Akana also serves as vice chairman of the Project Committee for disadvantaged persons in Van IMuys, and is chairman of the Valley Committee for the employment of the handicapped. Disney in Kansas City in 1922 and was unearthed in the American Dental Association’s basement in 1955. Amateurish in comparison with Disney’s later efforts, the film was a milestone in his career as it helped get his company started. He was paid $500 for his efforts. Walt Disney Productions recently hosted dn Overseas Comic Program Conference, a week-long international convention on the publication of Disney comics. Comic book collectors should hand on to any they have. They will be worth a lot of money someday. PARAMOUNT NEWS Frank Bracht has been named film editor on “Star Spangled Girl” with Don Beckwith as his assistant. Sandy Duncan, Tony Roberts and Todd Susman topline. Filming is being done on a unique 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. schedule. Producer Howard Koch and director Jerry Paris feel that the usual 9 a.m. start is meaningless since cast & crew are still in the process of waking up. The theory seems to be correct as filming is ahead of schedule. Kenneth Hyman, former VP in charge of world-wide production for Warner Brothers will make his bow as independent producer with _ “The Emperor of the North Pole” for Paramount through his Interhemisphere Productions Ltd. This will mark Hyman’s first production since leaving Warners. Speaking of Warners, Jack Warner will feel right at home when his “1776” rolls for Columbia — which, by then, should be settled in at Warners Valley lot. Back at Paramount, Ah MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal have been honored with the David Donatello Award for their performances in “Love Story.” The Golden David is Italy’s highest official prize for international film. “The Conformist” won the Donatello for Best Italian Film of the current season while “Waterloo” was honored with a David as the Most Ambitious Undertaking of the year. Denise Nickerson, who portrays Violet Beauregarde who is turned into the world’s first, giant, living blueberry in “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” has been named Honorary Blueberry of the Year by the officials of the Fifth Annual Blueberry Festival in Elizabethtown, N.C. “Willy Wonka” has been honored by the Southern Calif. Motion Picture Council with an award as a picture of outstanding merit. Glad to hear that Bob Goodfried, studio publicity director at Paramount, has been given VP stripes. Bob has been appointed Vice-President in Charge of Studio and West Coast Publicity and it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. When Bob was publicity manager at Columbia, the sign marking his parking lot read “Bob Goodfriend” — and he is. Turn to Page 27 16