Variety (Apr 1946)

W<«l.i«iMl«y, ARril 17, 1946 Broadway Georme Wellbaum appointed as- gsTa^i v.p. of the N. 5. Telephone Ilei b Bei K. ot Vanguard Filnns, off to Buffalo and Syracuse on company bi/..' Melva Lachman, 2(Hh-Fox publi- tisi, niejiding after asthmatic at- '"lune Dupiez; (laughter of lormet monologist Fred Duprezi pacted by ART ■ Raiph Lycett. of Stamford, jtp p^. Country Playhouse at Westport this summer. : , ,w . Francis Robinson- ahead of Met Opera Co. on wcsteni tour, to be out till Mitf 2:t. . ■ . ^ . Mark Cri).s.s. the 5th Ave. shop, claieliucs all its letters "Mark Cross* lOlst Year." ■ ^ . . Howard Smith t>aclt m "Dear Rulh" uiist (Miller) . a(ter several weeks' illness. Patrice Snyder has left Story Pro- ducUons flackery to join Russell Birdwell office. Comedian Danny Rogers got his fir.st booking from the Paul Small agency—a. release. Sam Jaffe pulled leg tendon in jump from bus step to curb and is gii'nping with cane. Earl F; AJlvine leaving for London today (Wednesday) on a.two-months' slay for Fox-Movietone. . , Ned Alvord went for 35 bucks hosting the RingUnfcBarnum St Bailey agents at Luchow's. .^ngiis Duncan, of. Equity, took neighbor s kid to circus figuring he'd be sure to enjoy the show. John Wildbfcrg bought the ranch at Missoula. Mont, buitt by Ana- conda-tycoon Marcus Daly. A. J. Balabans 28th annled last week and the Edgar (MBS prez) Kobats' 30th anni this year. Jack Yorkc, company manager of "He Who Gels SlapMd," g.m. of American Repertory Theatre. Theatre Guild will host party at the Plaza hotel Saturday (20), cele- br;iling yearV run of "Carousel." Mrs. Oscar (Dorothy) Hamiher.stein 2d. did the new decor for the Quaker RidKc Coimtry club. Purchase; N.' Y. The Arriola.-!, CoiScign tampoiiiu- act wlio.se equipment was .<loliiyc<l in (ransK. now in the RBB circus Jack Dempsey honored with a Coa.st Guard citation for services a.-v director of (he physi(;ai-training pro- | Helena BlUs leaving "Song of , Norway" to sing lead part in 'The Fortune Teller" being revived on i Coasl. Billy Jackson, talent agent, check- ed in at .^dclphi hospital, Brooklyn, for operation. Eddie Garr, actor, also ailing. Malcolm Bcggs took over late Noah Beery's part in "Up in Central Park" and Gloria FoUand replaced Joyce Matthews. Mike Gross, ex-Warners publicity, has joined the William Morris agency as assistant to Ves Zimmer- man, publicity head. Walter Rcade, Jr., given homecom- ing party at WiUowbrook Farm, Fairhaven. N. J., last Friday (12), after discharge from Armiy captaincy. Ever since the Lana "Tumer-C. P.- rPete) Jaeger i-omance publicity, the Broadway kiddies are kidding the ABC sales exec as "Mr. Sweater Boy.- Radiocaster MaggI McNeills and dancer Katherine Dunham are two of the 26 paintings by Werner Philipp on exhibition now at Bone- stell Gallery. Bert Mayers Constellatloning to the Coast today (Wednesday) to join Geovge Schaefer in huddles on Equity Capital Corp. deals. He'll be gone a week. Banshees will hast the American Newspaper Ass'n conventionites next Tuesday i23) at the Waldorf-Astoria and fo>- that luncheon members may not bring guests. Waller Winchcll to get Vetcivnis or ForciKh Wars citizenship medal . May 4 "in recognition of great pa- triotic service rendered combating subversive elements." Gene Raymond and his wife, Jean- ette MacDonald back to the Coast ■ Ihis weekend following a N, Y. holi- day. He'< going back into RKO pix; she did some more Victor recording while east. ■ Max Ginsbci-K named amusement ad niana.ucr of N. Y. Time.s, siiccccd- V^F , •'"•"cph Friedman, resinned. Gmsbcrj:. with, the sheet nine years, formerly in alcoholic beverage ad dt-parlnient. Annette Kcllerman. after wartime I •VMit iis honorary organizer of the Bed Crosls' theatrical unit in the Womcns College (University of Queen.sland». Sydney, Australia, is reluming lo Ihe States. '■■ „ . Hiram-Sherman declined nomina- tion as treasurer of the Theatre JjMapicr of (he American Veterans Lomniittee. on the ground lliiit no aaor out of work should be entrust- ed with the organization's funds. ticbiKc Hirst, who conducted for ToiS'""' 'Show Boat" (1927) and 1933 revival, now batoning currmt •ticgfeld pi-oduction, replacing Ed- win McArthur. Latter filling an en- gasemcnt with St, Louis Muny Opera. Columbia Concerts' publicity on Larry Adlei -Paul Draper has a new lot-mat—a nifty press book of carica- Uires by Covarrubias, Hirschneld. gfrger, Bcrman, Steinberg and Birnbaum, in.stead of usual arli. lcs and news nilors. Monte Pro.ser cocktailing,. Mitzi Green on her 21st anniversary In show biz, which means that Joe Keno and Rosie Green's daughter .started when she was in diapers. In- vite says. "'Tliis' is tor us show busi- ness grifters alone; the public ain't invited." The American 3rdadcasting Mis- sion to. the ETC doing a noblesse oblige under ex-Col. Ed Kirby, now NAB publicist, by planning a re- ciprocal party for the Marque.ss of Queen!ibury. Jack Harding, latter's aide, is rn N. Y. in advance of the Marquess" advent next niohth. LondoB CBATTBII 71 at Miami By Larry. Selloway ■ Hal Wayne orch into Beachcomber Lagoon. Giro's shuttered for season Sun- day (14). Frank Ross imd Marionettes into the Clover Club. Nadya Norskaya paclecl for Bill Jordan's Bar of Music. Woolie Donohue a nightly visitor lo the Little Palm Club, Paddock Club reported for sale, with Mocainba al.-io on the block, ' . Lou Saxbi). Gene Gory and Rob- erta in new show at Kitty Davis'. Lenny Green, local talent agent, transferring operations to New York. Boolhbay players pi'esenting "Springtime for Henry" this week- end. Al Robinson and .Mkali Ike head new show at Danny and Doc's Jewel Box. , Roney Plaza closing for summei". Cabana club will remain open, how- ever, Flagler Gardens closing tempo- rarily when Glen Gray 'rounds out stint. , Five O'clock shuttered Saturday fl3) with a reopening planned' in June. - Jerry Hirsch now in full charge of local American Guild of Variety ArtisLs; Mel Murray doubling between Blackamoor room and Winnie's Lit- tle Club. Bill Jordan opened his Minor Key rooni. private club adjunct to his Bar of Music. . Danny and Doc dickering for Dwighl Fiskc or Nan Blak.stone for Ihcir Jewel Box. Harry Sanllcy. GAC rep planed back to New York after vacash at Lord Tarlelon hotel. New gambling room opened up North Miami-way to garner the off- season chance money. Dean Murphy and wife; former Dorothy Dey. spending delayed honeymoon in Na.s.sau. Jan Bart will hold over at Jack Goldman's Clover. Club when new show comes in April 23. Chine.-ie eatery and dance spot opening this week on site of Terrace club. Will be called Shanghai Ter- race. Waller Jacobs returned from trip lo Lake Tarlelon. .N. H.. lo arrange for closing of his Lord 'Tarlelon hotel here. May 1. vGlendenniiig Ryan ^Thomas For- tune Ryan's grandson) took over Lofthouse in Nassau at a reported price of lOOG.. ' Leslie Balpgh Bain, syndicated col- umnist, who makes his home here, launched new mag,' The Week in South Florida. Murray Weingcr closing cocktail lounge for a couple of weeks, prior to reopening the big room with a pop-priced summer policy. Evelyn Brooks follows Jan Bart into Clover Club April 23. with Ed- wards and Piane held over. Jerry Cooper set to come in two weeks later. Filmery being erected for Brandts, on Miami Beach's Lincoln road, go- ing, up fast, present building restric- tions coming too laic to stop con- struction. Benny Gaines may sell his Black- amoor room lo New 'i'ork restaura- teur Gerslnvitz. who may also take over lavish restaurant next door (Pomcroy'sl. Ned Schuyler and Casey Ca.stle- msii; clicking with .Iheir Lagoon, out- door setting in their Beachcomber. Soot fs drawing them, in with ,Tose Torrano's oich and South Seas food. Cadjll.-ic hotel has decided to re- m.iiii open all summer with a re- duced-rate policy. Irvine Fields trio playln? there now. wilh Canay and his rhumhaddicts coming in May 1. , Bud Flana;;an hibernating Cornwall after throat operation WiUiani Pepper giving up post of general manager of Warner theatre June 1 owing to ill health, Madge Elliott and Cyril Ritchard homeward bound to Australia to dp three playlets by Noel Coward. . Dave O'Gorman lO'Gorman Bros.) elected chairman of the Varsity -Ar- tistes' Federation, replacing Albert Whelan. Einilc Littler has acquired English rights to "The Red Mill," which he will produce in the West-End, with ColLseUm as likely spot. Phillip Levard. head of production for South African Theatres, over here on talent hunt. Will stay for two weeks, after which he plane.^ to tfew York. ■ Alfred Esdaile's revue, "Ladies Without,T closes at ttie Garrick end. of April, with"Better Late," the Bea LUlie revue^ now touring provinces, replacing first week in. May. Roy and John Boulting, of Chai'ter Film Productions, have acquired film rights of Howard Spring's best seller, ''Fame Is the Spur," • which they will make for Two-Cities Films. Henry Sherek's ■ n e w s h o "Frieda," ,comes in from the. prov- inces • to the Westtninslec in early May.This will cause transfer oi current attraction, "The Sacred Flame" to the Comedy; Hal Wallis and Jo.seph Hazen off to Germany and will visit Berlin Frankfoi-t and the Nuremberg trial at invitation of Ainerican Army. May also visit Rome, after which they go to Paris and then return to Lon(ion. Three special performances at- tended by royalty'in one week is a record, all being for the .same char- ity—King George's Pension Fund for Actors. Shows were "Perchance to Dream,' at Hippodrome; "Oepidus Rex" and "The Critic," by the . Old Vic Co., at the New, and "The Im- portance of Being Ernest." especial- ly revived at the Hay market for sin- gle, matinee. nouncer to WCAE, to Boston terri- tory, Ilou Schenfield fiew in from NY to spend a few days with his .-^ng- stress wife, Terry Lawlor, at Ter- race Room. Chicago Anson Weeks: orch at the Sky Club, r ; . ■' Jay Frank of 20th-Fox exchange to Mercy hospital Victor Borge due-in. May 28 tor an Orchestra Hall concert. ; ■ The. Applctons join the Boulevard Room show Friday 118). . Dario Toflehetti planning'a replica of his Times Square eatery for Chi.. I Guy Lombardo due in Tuesday I i23) for a One-niuhter at the Tria- ■ non. ; New member of U.^'s Chi sales ■staff is Ed Jones, ju.st out of the Army. Norman Bel Geddes is giving Chi's Commonwealth Edison building a facelift. HoOywM A1 Jnrvis hospitalized iov checkup. ."Vrlhur .Murrays returned from Cuba. • Lina Rbniay laid up with bron- chitis. Ida Lupino vacationing at La i Quinta. , Mrs. Will: Rogers recovering from I surgery. . I John LeRoy Johnston'hoispilalized 1 with flu. I Everett Crosby, checked- in from New York. Lewis Stone laid up by a fall from a stepladder. June Haver oiit of the hospital and resting at home. Joe E.. Lewis opens a long run at Giro's thi.s week. Jose Iturbi planed in from an east- ern concert tour. Jose R. Goula, Mexican lilm a(;tor, checked in at RKO. Jean Hersholts celebrated .their 32d wedding anniversary. n.,>f,.,v,„.. «■ ,1 , ■ i Edward Everett Horton cetebraled rl.^irt nMv '^iKhl°w- \^ u ""^ his 25lh year in films. 'i'"3f.'^r^9.V^l.'^"''"*• "^i'^ ""'I I Henry Ginsberg and family vaca- tioning in Phoenix, Ariz.. Kansas City Ry John Qiiihn' Vivian Marshall headiiie .show in El Cabli.sh of the Hotel Bcllerive. Alec Teinplelon pcr-foiming in a one-day sUind ill Ihe Mii.-:ic Hall of (he Cil.v Auditorium. . ;;.facobowsky' and the Colonel" given a l\Po-pciroi-niance pif.s'enta- lion by the Junior College speech depai-linent. Paul Weber «l the Tropics of the Hotel Phillip.s: also Bob Jones at the organ and Margaret Arrow, doing numerology. Elmer Rhoden, the chief, stepped out of character to plunk the banjo for his managers at the Fox-Midwe.st convention last week. Wauhila Lahay, une-tiine WHB chief of piiblieily. back in town to Icctiii-c at the Ad Club. Now chief of publicity for N. W. Ayer, . , .. Palm Springs ' By Hank Geldcn berg Fay Bainter at airport hoisting son on. plane for L. A. . Van Johnson dining, at Clii Chi Blue Room amidst tlutteritig Temmes. Bob Hope (hrew parly at Decs. Ditto Gene Autry, who flew his own plane in. - At the Desert Inii: the Paill Kellys in full cow-boy regalia, and the Vin- cent Astors. Tony Martin checked into the Lone Palm. Also guesting there is Mrs. Frank Sinatra. Wearing town's largest sombrero. Gilbert Roland window shopping. Also window gazing; Al Jolson. At La Quinta: the Joel McCreas, George Sanders. N. Goff, ".^bner" of Lum & Abner. bronzing in the sun. At Rogers Ranch: The Freeman CAmos ■ & Artdy) Gosdchs jwith daughter Virginia and Friank 'Bor- zage; .. Joe Blumenfeld bought Wonder Andy Devlne. Bill Holdei. uppcd from manager of Balab'an & Katz' Chicago theatre to district supervisor. . Jackie Green held over for the hew Gypsy Rose Lee show opening at the Frolics tomorrow (18). Walter Gonsalvcs and Al Mehconi bring, their samba and Afro-Cuban music to the Glass Hat May 8. ' Ben Blue replaces Allan Joiics at the Chez Paree, with the DiGatanos. and Christine Forsythe held over. Danny Thomas, in . While enro'utc to the Coast for' a short vacation,, comes back May 8 for a Chez Paree engagement. Henry Scott, sepia star of "Deep Are the Roots," addressed City Club on "The Need for Better Race Rela- tions" Thursday (11). . Dorolhy Lamour,'enroute,t6 N. Y., missed out oh photos in Chi's press because shf wouldn't let' her thrcc- month-old son pose too. "On the Town'' cast rehearsing whodunit by Lee Edwards; "Luna- tic Fringe." to be presented soon at private, no-pay performance.; Ji.vesters Red Norvo. Bill Harri.s, Flip Phillip.s, Ralph Burns.- Sunny Bcrman, Billy Bauer, and Don La- inond invi^,de Kimball Hall May 12. Mike Conner of Decca and UA's exhibitor service chief Mori Krushcn huddling on exploitation deals for "Night in Casablanca," bowing at the Oriental, April 25, New twist in cocktail parties , staged by Universal for Deanoa Dur- biii and Felix Jackson when news- I men-guests were presented with I Decca albumns of her pic. "Can't Help Singing," at luncheon in the Pump Room. Similar shi'hdig in N. y. Thursday (18). Date Ranch and will rebuild into lavish guest ranch and training field for his Oakland Ball Club. Five cocktail bai* owners, who.se liquor' licenses were terminated end of March, happy again when Liquor Board okayed to end of season. ■. Current Circus Week biggest event of the year marks the concluding weieks of the season, which closes after Easter. Big events staged dur- ing week were Western fashion show, pet show, rodeos, paradfr of Indians, Mexicans, cowboys and floats, al! culminating in big ball at Racquet Club, mo.st ' outstanding shindig in these parts. on By Florence S. I.owc Ciare Luce cut a birthday cake j when she was feted by Congressional wives, last week. Pittsburgb By Hal Cohen Saul Case oiit ot the Navy and plans lo open his own scenic .studio. Buzz Aston, radio crooner.'due lo don his civilians again in couple of weeks. Jake Soltz. Hill district theatre owner, home from a vacation in Hol- lywood. Mary Jane Walsh opeiis at Wil- liam Penn Hotel's Terrace Room April 29. ■ Jean Wald. Coast anenl, in to spend a couple of weeks wilh her folks here. Dorothy John.son in town beating (he drums for Guild's "Merry Wives of Windsor." Boogie Woofiie Sherman back at Nile Court of Fun again atlcr being out with.a bad throat. Lee Bi.s.singer, local girl and grad- uate of Carnegie Tech. named book; critic for Pic magazine. EIzi CovatO: one,of Villa Madrid owners, celebrating 20th anniversary as a local iiitery\imprc.s.-iaiio. Grclchen Brown, late Harry Brown's daughter, going lo Coast and will make her home there. Eddie Andrews, local lad. slated to take Anthony Ros.s' role in ''Cl.i.s.s Menafferie" when'Ip'tpi- leaves cast. Jim Baker's Mode-Art Pix has been given - contract for' U. S. De- partment of Agriculture films in 1946. Mary Vatral, of Mfrcur Music Bar .staff, to Miami (o spend a niohth with her old bos.scs; ihe Lou Mcr- curs. Fletcher Wiley organization a.s- -isiAniug Jolin. Trent, former bead an-: Glen Echo, local Coney Island, opened the season last week with Jack Corry's 12 piece band. Bill Michaelson, 20lh Fox exploita- tion, head for this area, elected to membership in Washington's famed Advertising Club. - Senor Wences, ventroloquist, play- ing a return at the Slatler. Billed with, him is dance team of Pierre D'Angelo' and ex-Ballet Russer Vanya. Edward Purcell. 3rd, manager of Warners' Strand Theatre at Staun- ton, Va.. has been named outstanding young 'Virginian of the year by the Virginia State Junior Chamber of Commerce. MPAA puts out the "Welcome" mat at its new headquarters here April 27. Jack Bry.son and his boys move in along with Prexy Eric John- ston and his staff, making a total of- 15 in the D. C. office. Honolohi building By Mabel TbemaM Consolidated Amus. Go five theatres. Albert Spalding, violiiiii-t certed on Maui and Oahu. Grant Mitchell in after hazardous trip from Guam with USO troupe. "Dear Ruth." Senator Murphy back once more with new USO troupe, hc.iding for Guam and Tokyo. Royal Amus. Co. building hime supermarket and theatre, with park- ing available for child and cai'. Has allotted $3,000,000. Conrad Hillon. hotel operator, dickering tor outright purchase of ; Royal Hawaiian hotel Diopcrlics. I froni Matson Navigation Co. Sister Kenny lectured here and ! .-iliowed interesting motion pictures, 'the gift of dim .star Roz Russell, during her overnight stay en route to Australia. Consolidated Amus. Co. was a tiolably heavy lo.ser in recent, tidal wave, its number one theatre being flooded. Other theatres, smaller ones, were wiped out. Millionaire Paul Fagan, part owner of San Francisco Seats, owns Hana, Maui, and will open his hotel there about July. Mainland entertainers will be llown in here; every month, I name bands alternating with Ha- waiian.s. Edward L, Alperson, indie pro- ducer, in from Manhattan. Claude Binyons celebrated their 18lh wedding anniversary. Bill Goodwin vacationing on his ranch in Northern Calitornia. Sam Lutz, former Chicago agent, opened an office in Hollywood: Reavis Winckler out of the. Army and back.in the Metro flackery. - Ihga Arvad touring the Pacific Coast to plug"Duel in the Sun.". Arthur Wilde shifted from Colum- bia to International as art editor. Norman Staller to Chicago lo^ogle talent tor shows at the Trocadero. Irene Hervey planed to Cnicago to rejoin her husband, Allan Joiies! Patricia Vodra, singer,, divorced Richard J. Vodra, Hollywood. agent. Herbert J. Yates returned to his Republic desk after huddles in New York. '■ Arthur Lyons back in town after getting a natural sunburn at Palm Springs. John Charles Thomas sunning his tonsils for a while at Suboba Hot Springs. Peter Godfrey hosted the Society of . Amateur Magicians at the Mas- quers Club. Don Amcche named defendant in a $10,297 damage suit, the result of an accident. Dinah Shore and' George Mont- gomery aired to Seattle for the Red Cross show. Samuel Bronston in from Wash- ington to. start work on "The Life of John Paul Jones." George Marakas, formerly Daily Variety staff man, joined the Samuel Goldwyn fiackery. Perry Como, back from the east, checked in at 20th-Fox: to start work in "That's For .Me." Col. Robert Fleishman took off his Army uniform and joined the coach- ing staff at 20th-Fox. Gen.. Carl A. Spaatz guest of honor at a luncheon tossed by Darryl F. Zanuck at 20th-Fox.. Stanley .Bcrgerman, California Commercial Films prexy, returned from New York business. Lucille Ball on a five-month vaca- tion, following completion of "Lover Come Back"at Universal. ' Nunnally Johnson returned' to work at International after his mplh- er's funeral in Columbus, Ga. Robert Stack, recently out of Ihe Army, vacationing at Lake Tahoe before resuming picture work. - Albert Dekker forgetting his polit- ical chores for a while to play in the Jack Bernhard picture, "Decoy." William Elliott, formerly WUd Bill, got farther away from the Wild West by selling his Encino ranch. Jack Carson, Arthur Treacher .md Dave Willock lo San Francisco for a Si.s-ler Kenny Foundation benefit. (^leatus Caldwell to Las Vegas for a two-week vacation before taking a film role in Comet Productions. Clarence Nordstrom in from Broadway for a one-picture chore at Paramount in "Welcome Stranger." Andre Ullmann, theatre chief for Paramount in France and Belgium, arrived for 10 days of studio hud- dles. Mickey Rooney prepping his hay- burner. High Harp, for the 1100,000 handicap at Hollywood Park 'this summer. Maury Janov resumed his old job as business manager ot. Vaiiguard't . publicity department after two years in the Navy, O.sa Ma.ssen, an American citizen ' by adoption, addressed a class in American citizenship at Hollywood High School. Torn Gorman- moved in from the- east as field public relations man for Warners in the Los Angeles and' San Francisco territories. Joseph Manlciewicz lo Palm Springs.for.three weeks of scripting (111 "Berkeley Square," which, he will . produce for 20tn-Fox. . Ted Tetzlaff shoved off for the Panama Canal Zone with a camera crew to shoot backgrounds for the RKO picture. "The Big Angle." Jack L. Warner will be presented with the first world peace prize by the Hollywood Foreign Corre.spoiid- ents as50i:lation at a luncheon April n. ' Al Galston and Dave Bershon were elected Southern California dele- gates to the National Variety Clubs ol America convention-itr New York, May 15-19. - -