Photoplay (Jan-Jun 1963)

room of the Hotel Ambassador-East — the world-famous Pump Room. And I’m sitting there like a monkey thinking, ‘Hell, no, I’m not going to let my niece pay for me. When the check comes, I’m going to grab it and I’ll do the paying.’ But the check never came. Ann-Margret had taken care of all this beforetime. And I was so embarrassed I finally said to her, ‘Look, I insist that I pay that check.’ And she said to us, ‘Uncle Roy . . . Aunt Gerda . . . you’ve both done so much for me all my life, now it’s about time I did a little something for you.’ “Ann-Margret pushed herself forward in life. She worked hard. And I’m proud of her and the way she now presents herself. She has not allowed herself to be swept away by the temptation of drinking and smoking. She has never allowed her head I to be turned by all this success. “Yes, it’s a Cinderella story to begin with — but if diamonds were going to be ] paid for effort and for niceness, Ann-Margret deserves thenr. All the diamonds she can get. . . — Ed DeBlasio Ann-Margret’s in “Bye Bye Birdie,” Col. WALTER WINCHELL Continued from page 10 for the show if people go around saying: “I couldn’t get in. They were sold out!” ❖ Madlyn Rhue is one of our favorites on the Hollywood Scene. A movie star-beaut, if ever there was one. We saw Madlyn sizing up the new crop of peacocks in the Latin Quarter revue from the winkside. Only four years ago she was an unknown chorine in the same joynt. * Frank Sinatra’s fans are legion, we know, but he has one on West 52nd Street (between Broadway and 8th Avenue) named simply “Jilly.” This man is the landlord of a popular rendezvous by that name. He usually accompanies Sinatra on his world tours. Perhaps you recall seeing “Jilly’s” get a long free plug in Sinatra’s picture “Manchurian Candidate.” Tennyrate, Jilly’s had a fire the other night. The Fire Chief asked him what he wanted saved first. “Your safe?” . . . “Your files?” . . . “Your what?” “My autographed pictures of Frank Sinatra!” almost wept Jilly. ❖ Warning to Hollywood Studios: Stuart Whitman was nominated for an Oscar last year. For his superb pretending in “The Mark.” But he has had roles only in “The Comancheros” and “The Longest Day” (both for his studio — 20th CenturyFox) since the Academy salute. Unless Stuart gets action soon he will be the next movie property lost to TV. ❖ Martha Raye, who has enjoyed lazying on the heights since she was sixteen, thawt she was washed-up. Martha once owned night clubs in Miami Beach and starred in her own TV shows. She has played every branch of the allied arts. But suddenly the money stopped. However, that didn’t stop Martha. She had a growing daughter to support, bep sides various kin. She wasn’t too proud to play guest-shots or appear on any stage just so long as the check didn’t bounce. Then along came “Jumbo” with Doris Day, Jimmy Durante and Stephen Boyd. Martha was subpena’d to play the fourth major role. It was one of Radio City Music Hall’s most enjoyable fun-films earlier this season. As a result, the bids came in bunches for Martha Raye. She is now back in the High Brackets. You maybe are too young to remember the “Our Gang” comedies and one of its child comics, Spanky MacFarland. He was the chubby, lisping lad whose companion was a dog with a big. black circle around an eye. (Ask your Uncle Max.) Spanky (real name Cy Rich) now weighs about 300 lbs. and is one of New York's popular talent-managers. P.S. There were three Spankies during the life of that film series, but Cy played the role longest and last. “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolff?” is packing them in at the 41st Street Theater. This is the savage drama by Edward Albee that out-profanes Tennessee Williams and the other stage-eminents when it comes to lusty dialog. I have been reviewing the Broadway plays since 1920 and I do not recall ever hearing (on a stage or screen) such four-letter-wordage. Nearly all the critics gave the play rave notices. The cast of four is superb. When the final asbestos falls, you sit there stunned. Me, at any rate. Later, I mused: “Why do audiences flock to it? Because they have read or heard of its brutal insults between husbands and wives? Because they know they will hear foul language uttered — mainly by females? “I don’t use anything, not even greasy kid stuff.” I’m not sure. I think, though, one of its “kicks” is that you find yourself slightly shocked at yourself. For permitting the author to use language in front of your wife or mother — for which you would slug him at Chasen’s. ❖ The Satevepost’s disclosures about the “Ten Best Dressed” lists must have embarrassed quite a number of fashionable ladies. The magazine stated that some of the nominees land on those lists because their husbands or boy friends make deals with certain public relations firms, etc. Jacqueline Kennedy heads the list this year. She didn’t appear on it at all when her husband wasn’t a tenant at the White House. The list-preparers were taking no risks using Jackie's name. No woman is more chic. But talk about name-dropping! Equally guilty are the newspaper editors who have been cautioned often that these lists are rigged. They go ahead and publish them anyway — it makes good copy and gives them a chance to embellish their pages with photographs of lovely ladies. I enjoyed Gloria Vanderbilt’s exclamation when she was notified that she was among “The Best Dressed.” “Oh, shux!” Gloria grumped, “I guess that means no more blue-jeans!” ❖ Planning a visit to My Town? You may appreciate the following suggestions on which shows to see. You really cannot depend on some of the critics’ quotes. Because so many critics enjoy productions the average playgoer doesn’t — or they blackball shows the average patron applauds. For hilarious comedy see “Never Too Late.” The leading lady is Maureen O’Sullivan, formerly of Hollywood. For sophisticated comedy: last year’s hit, “Mary, Mary.” Man-and-woman stuff that gets very comical when it doesn’t get sad with divorce talk. For good musical comedy be sure and see (if you can get in) Irving Berlin’s “Mr. President.” The co-stars are Robert Ryan and Nanette Fabray. Some reviewers were very picky. Some indicted it as “corny.” But it has an advance sale of over $2 million and General Eisenhower and Mamie loved every moment of it. “Too corny?” inquired Ike. “Is being patriotic Q 9? corny : His query followed a complaint that one hit song in it was “flag-waving.” To which the author said: “Name me a better flag to wave!” Walter Winchell narrates “The Untouchables,” ABC-TV, Tuesdays 9:30 P.M. EST