Variety (Mar 1948)

CHATTER Broadway Rinehart mulling a book on Jolrn ©olden. , ^ .. , Leopold (Loew's veepee) Fried- man back from Palm Beach holi- Rose Dugan in Mt. Sinai hospi- tal under treatment for cardiac ail- ment. ., , Ken Englund, Hollywood scripter, east, working on a Broad- way play. , Leon Siritzky saife for former home in Paris today. Be gone three months, Sid Field, British comedian, will do "Harvey" in London. Field's on his first U. S. visit. Lynne James, pianist at Town House, recuping from appendec- tomy at the Gotham hospital. Arnold Shaw now signs himself veepee of Duchess Music, BMI affiliate of Leeds Music (ASCAP). Charles McDonald, RKO theatre exec in N. Y. area, back at desk after bQing bedded by flu for weelt. Joseph Seider, prexy of Pruden- tial Playhouses, back from a 38-day South American cruise on Mon- day (22). Booker T. Washington Birth- place Memorial Fund out to raise S235,D00. Arthur Pme handling the bally. Alan Anderson is stage manager of the revue, "Inside tr.S.A.," tis'- Santa a few nitery Monty ing out next week at the Shubert, Philadelphia. Inner Circle $25 per plate dia ner at the Hotel Astor Sunday (21) featured a skit billed "A Streetcar Framed O'Dwyer." Freddie Cheviantone, who maitre de'd at the Carnival (N. Y.) before going to Florida, will be Bradley's headwaiter. ' Film importef-exporter Jacques Grinieff planed to London over the weekend. Returns next week after also visiting Paris. Meyer Hutner, formerly in the Carl Erbe flackery and onetime pressagent for Billy Rose, has joined 20th-Fox press dept. Chester Erskine, pro d u c e r- scripter of "Universal's "All My Sons," arrives in New York tomor- row'<Thurs.) from the Coast. Yolanda, French chanteuse, known to GIs as "the Gallic Hilde- garde," makes her'American debut at the Blue' Angel this week. Ben (News) Gross and Charles (Times) Zemer having their first play, "What This Town Needs," making the Broadway rounds. "Third Person" to be presented by Lassor H. Grosberg, co-producer of "An Inspector Calls" and Al Rosen to be general manager. French chanteuse Edith Piaf planed to Paris but returns to New York in October for a three-month repeat engagement at the Yer- Robert Bryn of "Allegro" (Ma- jestic) sang lead in concert version of "Tannhauser" at the Met Fri- day (19) under his right name, Bemauer. Susaii Peters, paraplegic screen star, making the nitery rounds in her wheelchair, squired by her brother and Columbia Pictures' Bay Murray. Dave Wolper,' former owner of tfaie Hurricane and onetime legit jE^Oducer, now. a St * ■ Petersburg i^epticide manufacturer, is visit- ing Broadway haunts. ifjA- Soon as George Abbott com- plete the staging of the "High But- ton Shoes" road company, he'll be- gin preparations to direct "Clutter- bujjk" for Roland IJaas. L. N. Schultz, chief engineer of Maoquarie Network. Melbourne, in from England Thursday (18) for Institute of Radio Engineers con- vention in N.Y. this week. Jules C. Stein (MCA) in town for a month on business. MCA about ready to move into its new $7th and Madison Bldg. Chase Bank is one of the lessees. Bert Bloch, 20th-Fox's eastern story ed, who has been recuper- ating from an illness at the home of bis wife's family in Greensboro, N. C., due back at his desk ApriL S. Sir Ernest Pooley,' chairman of the Arts Council of Great Britain, scheduled to arrive next Tuesday (30) under auspices of the Rocke' feller Foundation, has cancelled his vjjiit. Robert Garla«d inaugurated a series of lectures entitled "Current Broadway Theatre" last Wednes- day (17) at Queens College, at school's Play Shop headed by John Newman. Charles Palmer, east from Dis- ney studios for temporary script- ing stint with Louis de Rochmont Associates, stays on indefinitely following inking of a new deal with de Rochmont. -Lillian Nadei Gerard named exec assistant to Jacques Chabrier American rep of Pathe Cinema and director Of the new Paris theatre She's the wife of Phil Gerard Mj^tro press agent. Ted Straeter's band into the Directoire (nee Cafe Society Up fm) with Kay Thompson & Wil ms Bros. April 1 when Herbert Boby-Max Gordon take it over, a $9 minimum scale. Paul Lazarus, Jr., UA pub^ad chief, due back today (Wednesday), following three weeks on the coast huddling with UA producers on pieture campaigns; also a short vacation at Palm Springs. Gracie Fields to her Monica home to rest for weeks, following strenuous schedule. Comedienne and Banks celebrated their 14th wed- ding anniversary last week. Cartoonist William Steig has de- signed the dolls and written a 12- minute act for puppeteer Remo Buffano. Turn has been auditioned for a break-in at the Blue Angel, N. Y., prior to theatre dates. Robert Breen, exec, sec of the American National Theatre ^ Academy, due back by plane last midnight (Tues) from Dallas, where he attended the festival week of Margo Jones' Theatre '48. Shirley Graf, former N. Y. Mirror amusements writer, going out with Gloria Swanson Saturday (27) as the actress' personal rep on her six-weeks toUr as replaeement for Ilka Chase in "There Goes the Bride." Wayne Pierson has'had two of- fers since he started his new moustache; one ftom his wife» Lulu, to get the heck x)ut of the house and the other from "Men of Distinction" not to change to Calvert's. Elliott Silverman, recently with the Fordham Univ. drama school, has joined the Barter Theatre, Abmgdon, Va., as iightlng techni-, cian. He was engaged Uitough the American National Theatre & Academy. ' Adrienne d'Ambricourt, film ac^ tress and former member of the Comedie Francaise, sailed for France yesterday" (Tues.) aboard the De Grasse. Ship's other pasr sengers included French violinist Zino Francescatti. Copacabana boniface Monte Proser and the William Morris agency's George Wood patched up an eight-year old quarrel last week, when Wood brought Proser in as producer for the Jay Gorney-Barry TMvers musical "Heaven on Earth." Clifford C. Fischer, Martha Raye, Nick Condos, British Technicolor's managing director Kay Harrison and Columbia Pictures Interna- tional's veepee • treasurer Jack Segal among those sailing to Bri- tain on the Queen Mary last week. 1 Ted Gamble, prez of Theatre Owners of America, acting as I chairman of the Franklin D. Roose- velt memorial fund drive which tees off in 1949. Spyros Skouras, Harry Warner and Frank Walker serving as board members of the foundation. Plans for establishment of the Theresa Helburn Chair of the Drama at Bryn Mawr Collegte were announced yesterday (Tues.) at a reception in honor .of Miss Hel* bum. Gathering was cbairmanned by Brock Pemberton who heads a fund-raising committee for tl^e drama project. "Cockpit" skedded to (flose at the Plajmouse April 10. , ^ Olive May (Countess of Drog- heda), former Gaiety girl, left around $112,000., . Ram Gopal Indian Ballet season at the SaviUe extended by two weeks to April 3._^ ^ Andy Rataucheff, midget in Ol- son and Johnson company, had nervous breakdown and is now undergoing treatment at Charing Cross Hospital. , Peter Glenvllle to present- "Major Barbara" at the Arts Thea- tre Club April 21, with the produc- tion he's been recently" touring mining villages. , Francoise Rosay to appear m Sydney Box's "Alien Corn," one of Somerset Maugham's four stories in "Quartet" being filmed by Gainsborough. , Anna Neagle voted most popular screen actress in recent poll bv London DaUy Express and- with her partner, Michael Wilding, most popular romantic couple. Patricia Roc's next film appear- ance will be opposite Eric Portman in an adaptation by Bridget Boland of Hugh Walpole'a "The KUler and the Sbin." %rold French to dl- rcct ■ "Little Lambs Eat Ivy," by Noel Langley, new Linnit & Dunfee production, opens at Ambassadors April 8, replachig "Sweetest and Lowest," which, with its tvro earlier editions, has occupied the theatre for tliree years. . the has now cleared up his tangle with Warner* Bros. "Therese Baquin," Mtarcelle Mau- rette's dramatization of Emila Zo- la's novel, will be done by her at the Gymnase, , . , , ,, ^ Alfred Cortot, musical director under the Petain regime, suing the musicians union because It refused to play for his concert last fall. Roger Ferdinand, prexy of Au- thors Society, to have his new play, "They Are Aged 20," ioUow his hit, "Three Boys, One Girl," at the Daunou. . . Jacques Haik, who already got his Cinema Francais back from government control, is now battling to regain full control of the Olym- pia and Normandie. Victor Francen to take pajft of Rene Lefaur in revival of Jacques Deval's "Tovarich" at the Made- leine, opposite Elvire Popesco, who was In the Original produt^on. on By Florence S. Lowe Cliff "Ukelele Ike'' Edwards cur- rently at Club C!airo. The De Marcos, who recently broke all records at Shoreham's Blue Room, skedded to return early next month. Elliott Roosevelt represented family at benefit preem of "The Roosevelt Story" at newly opened Dupont past week. Merrie Smith, Eric Johnston's secretary, returned from her Brit- ish jaunt and checked into hospi- tal for treatment of bad cold. Paul Foley's - Airport Drive-In won spring opening sweepstakes for the outdoor theatres past week- end, with other two outdoor spots skedded to follow suit within week. Sheraton hotel reports biz up in its Lounge by new policy of "glam- orizing waitresses" with show girl cheese-cake. A trend probably due to spread to other hotels in chain. , District Theatres, chain of 26 negro houses in Baltimore, Wash- ington and Virginia, held a two-day pow-wow here last week, with pres-; ident Harry Freedman hedding up confabs. By Larry SoUoway Bugs Baer and. family at Tarleton. Jackie Miles and family planed out Saturday (20). Jerri Blanchard into Mother Kelly's Thursday (25). Dave Vine in town for son Billy's engagement at the Copacabana. Paddock club dropping shows and going to two dance band setup. Leslie Charteris and wife head- ing Coastward after extended stay here. . Joe E. Lewis planed to Coast Monday (22) to join wife, Martha Stewart. Miss Miami Beach contest fit Lord Tarleton netted $1,000 for Cancer Fund. Eileen Barton into Clover Club, joinmg the Vagabonds, ZarcO & Beryl and Aurora Boche-Garlyle The jack (Columbia Pix) Cohns celebrating their 3Sth wedding anni at the King Cole hotel here this week. Sammy Kaye, at Boca Raton for annual southern vacant, broadcast Sunday (21) from gardens Of the swank resort, Sophie Tucker, set for vacash, broke two toes in fall at Veterans' hospital (Pratt General) Friday (19), while doing benefit «how. Had to cancel Boston engagement and virlU recup here. Tony Martin heads for Boston and preem of his latest pic, '^Cas- bah," following current Beach- comber stint,'then to Europe, with Beachcomber (>p Ned Schuyler, making trip with him. Guy Lombardo and Tommy Dor- sey joined for Barry Gray Copa broadcast the other' ayem. Lom- bardo will try for speedboat record next week, on course along Indian Creek. Brother Carmen also in town.. Arthur Lee Sifitipkins, singer, ill with pneumonia. . , , Johnny . Coy, the. hoofer, and Alan Carney set for State-Lake, April 2, Mrs. Danny Graham, wife of MCA booker, recuping from recent operation. .. .■ , Bob Hope will preside at the Chi Board of Trade's 100th anni testimonial April 3. . . , Freddie Williamson, of Associ- ated Booking, in Chi Osteopathic hospital for checkup. ' , , Glenn Ford here from Coast for confabs with Leo Salkin, local head of William Morris. Ml-, and Mrs. George Brown, he's Paramount's studio publicity chief, here to attend wedding of their son. Shirley Temple apd actor-hus- band John Agar coming in to at-- tend the preem of "Fort Apache" at Palace. . „ . , Clark Gable and Howard Strick- land, of MeUo's pubUcity staff, here to discuss promotion plans for "Homecoming" preem. J. J. Shubert here conferring with Sam Gerson, local Shubert of- fice head, op reopening of remod- eled Great Northern theatre, April 12.. • ■ ■■■■ Steve Cochran in from Holly- wood to see his wife, Fay McKen- zie, who is co-starring with Bert Lahr in "Burlesque" at the Sel- wyn. Paris New Haven By Harold M. Bone Daggett Lee on last lap of his Woolsey Hall concert series. Maurice Bailey now chairman of Variety Club Tent 31 welfare committee. Mickey Wren shaping up his third annual Sports Follies for Arena run, May 5-9. WBIB etherizing backstage in- terviews and lobby broadcasts at Shubert legit openings, Two preems skedded for early dates at Shubert are "Hold It," March 25-27, and "Play's the Thing," April 1-3. Yale Drama Dept. set "Listen, My Children," by Norman W. Ash- ton, as next big show March 24- 27, at University theatre. By Maxime de Beix Joe Hummel off to Rome. Dave Lewis on a middle East survey. Paul Wmckler on quick trip to America. Charles Campbell suffering from throat ailment. Comedie Francaise prepping London season this fall. Ed Pendleton promoted concert at the American Church in Paris. Metro's Spanish head Cesar Al- ba and wife at Plaza Athenee for short visit. Henry Lartigue, ex-Metro head here, enjoying an indef rest for the first time. E. Marks bought- film rights to "Dame du Cirque," Guy des Cars bestseller on tent life. Claude Dauphin to film his legiter, "Bal des Pompiers" ("Fire- men's Ball"), a resistance story. Ingrid Bergman hitting Paris screens with two pictures on same day, "Notorious" and "Spellbound, "Peine Capitale" run at Fran caise Luxembourg suspended on account of illness of actress Renee Faure. Steve Passeur to have hi "Demoiselle en Smoking" produced in Brussels and Geneva before it hits Paris. Fourteen-year-old ballerina Bet- ty-Josette Clavier a hit as star in "Malheurs de Sophie," new ballet at the Opera. Andre Magnus inking manage- ment pact with Yves Montand, who Detroit at By SJbn IVonto Mickey's SHow Bar reopened. Herb Jeffries current feature Bowery. . ■ , Kay Robinson joins Dublnettes at Bowery. Herb Jeffries penciled into Bow- ery week of March 22. Ruth' Wallis opened in Town Pump Room, March 18. Singer Bunny Paul in 18th month at Palm Beach Club. Buddy O'Day, comic, to Chicago after 6-month run at Empress. Audrey Nelson joined four other girl singers at Cafe Bur- gandy. Mike Sachs, blind burlesque comedian, to Boston for more eye surgery. Pat O'Shea, Irish tenor from Coast, to Columbus, O., to fill two- week spot. . * Kay Carson, singer-comedienne, fiew in from Coast to open at Penobscot Club. Ross Chepeleff resigned from publicity staff of Detroit Civic Light Opera Co. Charlene Harmer' quit Fox the- atre drum thumping after raves for her work in Robert Hampton's production of ."Death Takes a Holiday." She hopes to land on Broadway. -- , Mywood ^ Merian ©joper in from Mexico moiff ^^^^ P«eu. Leon Errol'around after a week in the hospital. Joe Bigelow rushed to the ho*, pital after a heart attack. Georgette Windsor recuperatina from emergency appendectomy Jean Simmons, British star, nav. ing her first visit to-Hollywood Keenan Wynn tore ligament in right shoulder in fall at his horn? ^ William Elliott to Baton RouRe ? 10-week rodeo toui' Eddie Cantor produced the show for Dnarte Sanitarium benefit ffi ner. ^ Sid Field in from London to bn guest of honor at the Masquers dinner. Sam Dembow in town to confer with Mary Plckford on future pro- duction. . Elisha Cook, Jr., started hir25th year as a thesp in ''Tlie Great Gats- by" at Par. Darrylin Zanuck, daughter of the 20th-Fox studio chief, taijured in tu auto accident. Lana Turner out of hospital with a brace on her arm, injured in fall on set at Metro. Alf Jorgensen. Swedish pro- ducer, in town for, confabs with David O. Selznick. Bing Crosby doing spring train- ing with his favorite ball club, tbt Pittsburgh Pirates. New Zealand Ambassador Carl Berendsen ganderlng ' film production at Metro. Mrs. Florence Hubbard, winner of the Walking Man contest, gandering film studios. Glenn Strange, film monster, broke a foot while monstcring in U's Frankenistein picture. South Africa By Joe Hanson Will Hay, British stage and radio artist, here to recuperate from re- cent serious illness. South African National Theatre movement launched with staging of "Dear Brutus" in Cape Town, Enrique Jorda, new conductor of Cape Town Symphony Orchestra, kudosed after batoning ih:st con* cert. , ^ "Historic Cape Town," first of Technicolor shorts made for Movie- tone by cameraman Jack Painter, released at 20th-Fox, Johannes- burg. Dutch Reformed Church to make religious and educational films in English and Afrikaans (Dutch), Capital of £90,000 ($366,250) re- quired, Of which less than half has so far been raised. , „ Universal - International Films offers prize of a six-month contract in a beauty contest organized in collaboration with African Con- solidated Theatr§s throughout Australia By Eric Gorrick Wirth's Circus in Sydney for Lent. Biz brisk. Wolfe Cohen, Warner's foreign head, planes in April 1. Bookings tremendous for Old Vic Co. at Capitol, Perth. Syd Albright, 20th-Fox head here, planes to N. Y. April 3 for h.o. huddles. Doris. Fritton is playing in ''The Little Foxes" at Majestic, Adelaide, for the Fullers. Sir Ben Fuller compelled by biz to postpone his trip abroad for an-; other 12 months. Ballet Rambert still sock at the Tivoli, Sydney, for D. D. O'Con nor-British Council, Grand opera at the Princess, Melbourne, for , Fullers - Carroll, with a local setup, is doing okay. Bob Kerridge, head of the Ker- ridge New Zealand loop, on biz visit. He's a SO'/o partner in Rank setup in N. Z. "Under the Counter" reopens at Royal, Sydney, March 27. British star. Cicely Courtneidge, who was ill, okay again. Bob Parrish, U.S. ^nger, is here on second visit fon Dave Martin's Tivoli loop. He's presently on loan to the Hoyts' cinema loop. South Africa and Rhodesia. By Sven G. Winquist 'Born Yesterday" celebrSiing its fifth month at the New theatre to capacity business. „, Some four new Czech mm slated for distribution here W Nordisk • Tonefilm. ' _, Producer-writer-actor Hasse JiK- man leaving Europa Film Co. and back to Terra Film Co. , Terra Film Co., Swedish produc- tion-distribution company cele- brating 10th anni this year. London Films (Korda) mvading Sweden with strong pix. Critic* like them better than Rank's. "The Breakfast Club" a success- ful Swedish radio show aked Sat- urday mornings with Sigge lyrsi. will be filmed shortly, _ „ . "Anderssonsfcans Kalle," filmed here twice before (last in ISm'j to be filmed again. Wive Film and S.A.S. Swenson producing. Copenhagen By Victor Staarup "Dear Ruth" is a hit at the Ny Paper shortage is so serious tliat many weeklies only appear as m weeklies now. . , Max Hansen has returned trom film work, in Sweden to do a_ con- cert tour with Danish revue smgei Osvald Helmuth. Universal - International vice- prez, A; E. Daff, in town, trade- showing "A Double Life" and "Woman's Vengeance" at PaiK, Det bedste-Danish .version^ oi Readers' Digest—is a big hit here. Sales rumored passing the lOO.OUu mark after a year of P"Wication, which is tremendous in .DenmarK. "Glass Menagerie" big hit ai small Riddersalen. Manager Meyr Feigenberg plans taking over big jjer Alle-Scenen, where Per Knui zen is leaving for a^ director's con tract with the Royal theatre.