Variety (Apr 1947)

Tfiye J-^e. CWnfse actor, S«« fling at l0glt. Matty Bdsens (Vons^? Rog- Xted an infant son. »»? ,fSva^ue here in late May uriwon gave away Ws new aSJ«"°'^ hisVrsailles P'Sa E. Green here from Holly- Blew to Florida with mother .Kliiroraered abed because of 3 Prima to race Ws^Iiotse. Re- Neumaa galleries in May. ; ■ lack Kaleheim and Charlie Allen, vaW ana cafe agents, how on an iffSfihartoB arrangement. Morris Jacobs, general manager lor fcrs & Hammerstein. home m smt9, attaclc of grippe. Nat Lorman, ex-Morris now Iieading Apollo Records flaclfery, Irving Berlin planning to fly back with Abe Lastfogel and George Jes- jel for Sophie Tucker dmner May 4. For the fourtti anniveisanr of "OUahoma!" the Theatte Guild Bent oit cute mtalaiute IiOWte Sherry birthday cakes. Assoeiated Motion Picture Adver- tisers holds-its annual election of iffleeatomorrow (Thursday) at the jwn Stall Glubt Alan Dinehart, Jr., OSS captain^ up for discharge in Washington this week following his return from Germany, and 42 months overseas. Ruby Foo's, Broadway Chinese eatery, olanning to feature a "Miracle of the Bells" dinner, based on a se- quence in the Russell Janney novel. Loilella 0. Parsons will do at least two more broadcasts from N. Y. She commutes to Baltimore where hubby 1^. Harry Martin is under observa- tion. ' Carmen Miranda's Copa preem (lelayed'to May 1. No replacement fit yet hetween.Aprtt 17^ when Ruth tting bows out, and Mfts Miranda's openmg. Trans-Lux Corp. commissioned by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad to develop a special film projector for its new streamlined trains now be- ing built in Philadelphia. Peter Donald misses first "Can You Top This?" show in 6% years this Saturday (5) when he goes to Wash- Ingtoix tcentertain President Truman lit aimual Jefferspn Day banquet. . Cue mag shooting antique collect tion of Beatrice Kay, conUc at Car- nival, in connection with coming an- nual Antiques Fair, AprE 14-18, at Which she'll preside at Armory here. Jules Levey, indie producer, re- turns to the Coast Saturday (5) but Will return to N. Y. the following *^ F^P ^P"^ *e world preem of ^v^Orleans," at the Saenger. N. O., Jouvet n Moliere's "Ecole des Femmes," to co-star with him again in hJS f9rthcoming production of Mamc.;^"'*" ^^"^ i-'^eS?,Letra?., who already has his Moumou" at the Ambigu, and his Descendez on Vous Demande" at Palais Royal, soon will have his "Foutez-nous la Paix" at Varietes. Gives him three legit plays run- ning simultaneously. ■ ^ ■ .CtHIAlTiEIHI 85 London Miami Beacb ' Paris By Haxime de Belx Fritz Stengholt to London, Paul Graetz back from Rome. ^Jemandel set for a, Belgium vaude wedish star Greta Gynt visiting AtbSf ''^^ at Plaza Wh^«?vi.J^^**'*'^'>'s l««P stolen wmie parked in front of hotel. at mL|!!IJ?"**«!i ^"'^ fr«n» Morocco, O'pSr producer Pierre A& S^H?""^!: ^^'^•^ 'r""" South Scr ?hwf * t«"- It's sum- "QMtre^pi'f ®'^*',.w''« appeared in Lo don nwfcontacted for a Ann" Picture contract. asas UnSn"'^' '^^Bit Theatre Man- ficor of wP''^¥;»'"0«'0ted to Of- J«an Marti?^''"?"^ to star opposite faatbiTof Tfi? ^l^^ Cocteau^ fllm- Cyndn rYi'=*''l'«"8<' S "Ruy Bias." *rv with . 2° ^^^^ from ski coun- Wth friLlr^^^y tan and visiting Sir A?Pvni"^^""^^^' Wo.to PnJi^"-"^ Korda intended wre of due to pres- ilh»ss" °"smess after his recent ""ot'uctlon Sf'^^*""? Jo Prague for ;f Anle?'>**??5 hiar Play "Nights Jf'.i-i^Bv; • current here at the Neubach jsked- S< -y i<! K?,"^*^*^^*^* ^onch picture. rr -J Ernest Neubach, Ger- ■•'-t W ^apac will direct. ■ 'MviPr«''® leaving for a rest on nvh.^^?^ J^^^^ by his ir""ci in White suc- Vor.say ®" «P»rtment on P '-int'^i^y- manager of By iMry Solloway Meyer Davis in town. Shep Fields vacashing at the King Cole. _^Danny Yates orch into Boca Raton Club. , -v ; ■. . Nancy Donovan into Clover Caub April 9. Jacltie ^WHalen held ovir at Pad dock Club. Buddy Walker hosting and emcee ing at the Fiesta, ^ husband due at McPtdden Deauvllle. Radio Aces, current at Copacabana set for Rio Cabana, N. Y, 5*i,.^2^,^'cc'' a nightly regular at Art Childers Little Pahn Club. John Byram, Paramount story dept. exec, at Kenilworth hotel. Tom Wiiliams, dean of local nitery OPS, to Johns Hopkins for a checkup. Catron and Gorman back for re- turn engagement at Mother KeHy's. The George Rosens (VAaiBar radio ed) motored back to N. Y. after week's stay here. Joe Schenc* house guest of brothef Nick and ganderhig the bet ter niteries and restaurants. Beachcomber ops Ned Schuyler and Casey Castleman scanning plans for rebuilding, with room to seat 1,000 next season. Councilman election due in May will see several candidates spon- sored by nitery and hotel groups which have been feuding tnent li- censes and operating hours. Lou Vogle and Naomi Stevens added to Ben Gaines Bkckamoor room show. Mel Murray held over for his sixth month in room. ■ Copacabana remains open with new show coming in latter part of week headed up by Phil Foster, Everett Marshall and Joan Adair. New and lavish layout in area be- in^ planned for island north of Miami Beach. Will contain hotel, villas, casinos and nitery, all on membership plan. Five O'clock club leased to N. Y. syndicate for 15 years. Spot will be turned into class restaurant by new ops. Barken brothers, who ovwn the room and the Beachcomber prop- erty, retiring from the cafe biz after 25 years, Stockkk By Sven G. Winquist Ebbe Neergaard, Danish educa- tional film expert, in town, for con- fabs. "Quartette di Roma," Italian solo- ist group, is appearing with good success. Austrian Boys Choir warbled at Concert Hall and slated for other Swedish spots. Swedish mannequins, Hjordis Genberg and Kim Andersson mull- ing offers from Hollywood. Film actre.ss Liane Linden, fre- quently seen in British pix, may at- tempt come-back in Swedish films. Royal Dramatical Theatre closed successful two-month season with Swedish play. "Markurells,'-' with Anders de Wahl starred. Wanda Rothgardt and Sammy Friedmann leaving Gothenburg the- atre and due for stage-film appear- ances in Stockholm. Gaby Stenberg, current in "Sol- dier's Reminder" at the Malmoe City theatre, soon leaves for Eng- land and may join J. Arthur Rank's organization. She's also mentioned as possible star in Svensk Filmin- dustri's ver.-iion of "Soldier's Re- minder." ' '"wmont • actress manager of S^"' leSv S''?,?!?''^ there her «enyie.?r, «r titled "Monsieur Provi- '"!^"de'%^.% '.Albert Husson »enlly"^ Jo'^n-'^ique Blanchard. cur- Chicago Charles P. Skoiiras, pre.sidcnt Na- tional theatres, touring midwest houses. Irwin Corey, currently at the lUo Cabana, will be screen tested by Paramount. Henri Elman. prexy oX Capitol Films, recuperating at home after recent operation. John Balabnn, theatre exec ap- pointed to the Chicago Citizens Committee of the Greek War Relief. Frank Warren, tunesmith, has written production .song.s for Rudy Vallee show opening Copacabana April 3. Veronica Lake and husband Andre DcToth will head list of celebs ap- pearing at Chi preem of 'Ramrod at Palace theatre April 17. Portrait of Joe. E. Brown, cur- rently starring in "Harvey here, done by Nan Rice, will be placed on exhibition Am-il'S in Chicago Art Galleries and Will later go to U.C.L. A, Joe E. Brown trophy room. • ^ii*" Arnolds off to Sweden m May on six weeks' vacation. Ninette de Valois, head of Sadler's Wells Ballet, off- to Turkey in April. Ixraham Payne, who plays in Noel Coward's 'Pacific 1860," opposite Mary Martin, is down with yellow jaundice. Peter Cotes' production of "The Animal Kingdom," tried out -in the provinces, comes to the Playhouse theatre, April 2. Benjamin Britten, composer of the successful "Peter Grimes," has a new opera due for production at Glyndebourne in June. . Issy Bonn's new road show, open- ing at the Empire, Croydon, for Hyams Bros., March 31, already has been booked for 32 weeks. Firth Shephard's "Lady Fred- ^''.'.i'^^^^oses at the Savoy March 29, with Donald Wolflt to open shorf Shakespearean sfeason there on April 9. Walter Henry Passmore, one of the last of the old Savoyards, who recently died, left $33,000, all going to his wife, Agnes Fraser, also a Savoyard. Tawney Nielson, British Broad- casting Corp.'s head of band de- partment, off to New York before BBC graft inquiry result is due to be made public. First Continental tour since 1936, the BBC Symphony Orchestra is booked to give series of concerts In June in Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Scheveningen. Lou Wilson thinks that Tommy Fields, brother of Grade Fields, who is presently scoring hit in London Palladium short vaudeville season, would prove hit in U. S. Henry Sherek - James Hilton's "Random Harvest," starring Googie Withers, opens out-of-town in June, Sherek is trying to get Richard Greene or Griffiths Jones for lead. Waiters strike at the Savoy, Claridees and Berkeley hotels has proved boomerang to other London eateries, one of biggest gainers be- ing Giro's club, which is 4oin(! ca- pacity biz. Emile Littler is reviving "The Red Mill" with Jewel and Warriss in lead. Show opens at the Opera House, Blackpool, On April 4, stay- ing about a week. It comes to Pal- tce, London, May 1. British Actors Equity is negoti- ating with the British Broadcasting Corp. for revision of minimum rates for artists doing television broad- cast, with minimum rates to be $21 for each transmission, plus $4 day for rehearsals. "Fools Rush In," at Fortune the- atre, closes after seven months run, being replaced by New Lindsey Theatre Club hit "Power Without Glory," March 31. Play was ac- quired by Peter Daubeny after try- out at former house. Daniel Mayer company has ac- quired "Jealousy," play currently touring Germany for Combined En- tertainment Services, with Marius Goring and his wife, Lucie Mann- heim, starring, for the West End. Show tours provinces early Septem- ber, coming to West End Sometime in November. winner of radio Pot of Gold's $1,000 cash prize. Sunny Skylai: and Richard Adair Dancers mto Hotel Nicollet Minne- sota Terrace. Postponed Rudolf Serki.i concert at University of Minnesota Audi- torium now scheduled for April 24. Charlie Weiner, local Selznick representative, in Chicago for con- ference with Neil Agnew and Sam Horowitz, sales executives. Sigmund Romberg plays fourth Orpheum engagement here April 29-30 and also goes into St. Paul RKO - Orpheum for one-nighter April 28. Homewood, indie nabe, has had old Al Jolson film, "Heart of New York," resurrected on strength of "Jolson Story" smash, and cleaning up with it. George Olsen. Elliot Laijrence and George Winslow's orchestras on prom Ballroom list when it reopens this week following remodeling and redecorating. Film Row flu victims include "Hy" Chapman and Sid Latz, Co- lumbia branch and office managers, respectively; Ralph. Maw, M-G-M district manager; Fay Dressel, RKO branch manager, and Al Putz, M-G- M city salesman. Virginia Safford, Star-Journal col- umnist, to New York to cover Broadway premiere of "Barefoot Boy With Cheek" at Martin Beck theatre because of University of Minnesota campus setting and fact that librettist, composer, and lyricist are Minneapolitans. ■> By HftI Gohen Patsy Kelly and Barry Wood into Bachelors Club. Art Levy, Col manager, off for Miami to visit his family. Bandleader Marty Gregor's wife seriously ailing in local hospital. Sonny Miller has sold his Liberty avenue cafe and will move to Cali- fornia. Johnny Harris has pulled out for Coast to prep Hollywood opening of his "Ice-Capades." Sol Bragin, WB theatre booker, pulled out over weekend for couple of weelcs in, Florida. Sinclair Bn,d Alda, Florence Hln Lowe and Bobby Winters heading new show at Nixon Cafe. Buddy Lester missed opening show at Carousel when he couldn't get a plane out of St. Louis. J. English Smith, of Playhouse staff, and his wife, Helen Lake, will act this summer in stock at Dorset, vt. ■ Tech drama school's next will be 'Coronada's Children," by John Witcher Young, Mary Morris di- recting. Ceil Charles, who quit Dance Cocktails year ago to get married, back captaining the line at Club LuMarba. Bill Finkels moved their daughter from Tech to Pitt to kill her stage yen, so she winds up with femme lead in Pitt Players' production of "Room Service." Minneapolis By Les Rets Paul Whiteman into Auditorium April 24. ^, ■ Edyth Bush Little Theatre of- fering "Fly Away Home." . , Oscar Levant plays Auditorium concert engagement Apfil 14. Lyceum, legit house, returning to Scandinavian films weekends. Annual Northwest Sportsmen .s Show at Auditorium April 5-13. Nora Gaines of Warner Brothers recuperating after major operation. Vic Hyde heads .stage entertain- ment at Buildcr.S'ShOw at Auditor rium. ■•, ' , ■ Local veteran railroad conductor By Erie Gorrick Ken Hall, Cinesound director, back from his recent overseas' look- see. Bob Lttcas, head of Metro's tech- nical department here, ia in U. S. for confabs. ■ Lidia Paolozzi and Leo Demant giving concerts here under direction of Ltwrence I* Kerr. Night trotting is hurting film biz in Perth on the ace Saturday play- date. Trotting pulls inob of 50,000. W. Romano, Who operates a big nightclub in Sydney, is planning a chain of nightelubs in key country towns. Still difficult dovra here to buy wax platters. Majority go to the radio stations,. leaving few for the public. Harry Watt, Ealing director, bows back into this zone on pic produc- tion next month with ''Eureka Stockade." Wee Georigie Wood will play a date in Perth for Bruce CarrdU on agreement with Dave Martin's Tivoli loop. Expected that Norman Rydge, Greater ITnioii chief, will add a couple more nabe theatres to his chain soon. Newsreel biz is bright in the Aussife keys.- New theatrette hts just opened in Perth under the indie Moss management Ernest Turnbull, chief of Hoyts circuit, is introducmg more kid cin- ema clubs in the urban territory for Saturday matinees. "Gay Rosalinda" is a top click for Williamson-Tait at Royal, Sydney. "Follow the Girls" likewise at His Majesty's in Melbourne. "Follow the Girls" is copping plenty of coin in Melbourne for WilliamsonrTait. Lois Green and Don Nichol have the top roles. William Winter, out here again to get the inside on the Aussies, is do- ing a series of broadcasts via Australian Broadcasting Conmiis- sion. Outdoor shows are shutting down now with the end of summer. The departure of Yank troops saw a major biz drop with'these attrac- tions. Jascha Spivakovsky, pianist, giv- ing final concert tour before going to London and N. Y. for seasons. He's under the management of Law- rence Kerr. "Life With Father," currently playing Perth for the Fullers, start- ed oft slowly but is building oke. Leonard Lord and Virginia Barton are starred. Bob Kerridge, head of the Ker- ridge cinema loop in New Zealand, visiting Sydney to make deal with Tivoli chain for more acts to route over his circuit.. Picture cU-cuits anticipate sm;.sh biz in Sydney this Lenten with the reopening of the. Royal Fair. Big- gest influx of country visitors in 10 years is indicated. Allaiilic City Hollywood By Joseph W. Walker Luis Bus.sell here for one-nighter at Sepia Waltz Dream (29). Paddock International opened Fri- day (28) £.fter ABC trouble. Mills brothers to head opening bill at Orsatti's Casino, Somers Point, reopening early in June. Tom Endicott, originator of the Miss America Pageant idea, to sell his Dude ranch and quit the resort for California. Alex Bartha and band to tour Maryland following Easter weekend date on Steel Pier. Also set for a return engagement at Click cluSj, Philly. Margaret Price Cornell, resort dance teacher, slated to attend the International Dance Congress to be held in London in July. She'll rep- resent the middle; A'tlafttie,states<on the education- committee of. Jjance Miistcrs. ■ • ' '. / Sam. Israel laid up with influenza, Darryl F. Zanuck in from New York. Charles Boyer returned from Man- hattan. I William Powell sunning at Palm Springs. John Steinbeck In town to tall? film deals, William Elliott sold nis Single Springs ranch. Charles E. Morrison's vvife filed suit for divorce. Anne Baxter to Chicago for the Greek relief show. Charley Foy returned from an eastern talent htmt. Dennis Morgan hospitalized with an injured shoulder. Armand Deutsch and Benay Ven- uta'to Palm Spruigs. George "Gtoby" Hayes vacation- ing at Palm Springs. Jane Frazee to Las Vegas to head* line a fashion show. Jan Peerce trained in for work at Universal-International. Walter Mayo celebrating his 32nd yeE.r in motion pictures. Dorothy Lamour recuperating at home after tonsilectomy. Ben Kalmenson in town for con- fabs with Jack L. Warner. Lou Kerner to Chicago on busi- ness for Samuel Goldwyn. Nathan Levin in from New York to look over his film interests. Bert Wheeler visiting old pals on the Universal-International lot. Jimmy Durante- buying a group of houses along shore near Malibu. Gene Autry entertaining Robert S. Kerr, former governor of OldafaOma. Dennis O'Keefe laid up with flu while "Atlantis" is shot around him. Peggy Ryan booked for two vveeks at Golden Gate theatre, San Fran- cisco. -, Edward S. Jeffries, mayor of Dew troit, gandering production at Parj.'- mount. James A, FitzPattick returned to his Metro desk after six weefks in Mexico. Henry Ginsberg returned to his Paramount desk after 10 days in Phoenix. Seth Arnold stricken With flu and out of the "Mourning Becomes Elec- tra" cast. Irene leaves for France in two weeks to ogle Paris fashion shows for Metro. Gene Raymond in from New York where he attended the preem of *'Xnc Lodccft*** Caspar and Julio Pruneda^ Mexi- can distribs, in town to line up Hollywood product. Dominic Frisina, chief of a 60- house circuit in Illinois, looking over product at Paramount. Jack Dunfee in from London for three weeks of business huddles with Charles Feldman. Chico Marx reported his ticker working on all cylinders, despite rumors to the contrary. Ruby Rosenberg returned from > seven-week tour of England, Prance and Switzerland for RKO. William Goetz returned from New York in time for his birthday party at Universal-International. Robert Bassler returned from New- York, where he huddled With scripters on "The Snake Pit." , Roy Acuffi drew the Mark Hel- Imger Swell Guy award by Variety Tent ;20 for aiding charity affairs. Clifford Ahny planed to Manila to resume his chores as supervisor for Warners in the PhiUppines and Japan. Regis Toomey is the new secre- tary of the Permanent ^^larities Committee, succeeding W. Ray Johnston. ^ Gail .Patrick was awarded her final divorce decree from Arnold Dean White. Arnold Pressburger in from New York to huddle with Hedy Lamarr about a picture, ^ Anthony Quinn shifted from his Mexican allegiance to become a citi- zen of the U. S. Waslii^oii By Fiorenee g. i;,owe Variety Club will hold an Easter open house next Saturday (5). George Canty, State Dept. flUn specialist, back at his desk after a bout with grippe. '"The Way of Peace," American Lutheran Church film, preems here at Constitution Hall April 23. ' Glen Echo, amusement park, preems for the season April 5, with Jack Corry's orch on tap again. Justin Miller, NAB prexy. named to Justice Dept's Advisory Commit- tee on Citizenship by the Attorney General. Albert Gamse, composer of hit tune "Managua, Nicaragua," is a native son and former Dept. Of Commerce employee. Xj.eo J. Paulin, ■ local indie radio producer, heads publicity for the Cherry Blossom Festival April I2 and 13, town's fiirst since 1941, Mrs. Elizabeth Gording, actress of the National Theatre of Oslo, cur- rently in this countiy On a three month visit tb stuay American stagecraft. Leonard Bernstein, maestro, has been invited by the Czech govern- -ment. to conduct the; Cz?ph Pbilbar- jnonio Orch«tRtra;fttjthe IrjtejnaMoflal Music Festival in Prague. May 8-28.