Variety (July 1949)

118 CHATTER Wednesday, July 27, 1949 Broadway Peter Donald vacationing in Ber- muda. . ^ John C. Wilson back from Coast to his Fairfield, Conn., home. Agent Louis Shurr hospitalized in Hollywood because of a kidney ailment. . , . „ , Gene Tierney and John Boles left for Europe Thursday (21) on the Caronia. John Nasht. television producer, planed to Europe Monday (25) for a month’s stay. . Jewish Theatrical Guild to hold annual meeting Friday (29i in Guild office at 4 p.m. Sam Siritzky planes to Paris over the weekend for a month’s 0 . 0 . of new French product. Bert Lewis, vet vaude emcee and b’ackface comedian, back in town after 14 years to tackle video. Arthur Steinberg, manager of the “Skating Vanities,” in from Europe Friday (22) on the Wash- ington. Harpo Marx returned to New York by plane Monday (2.5» after four- veck engagement at the Palladium, London. The Louis W. Schines announc- ing engagement of daughter Dorene to Ross Harold Higier of Gloversville, N. Y. Agnes de Mille due in from her Mariaville (N.Y.) home Monday (1» to begin choreography on “Gentle- ni^'n Prefer Blondes.” Metro producer Arthur Freed * flew in from the Coast Monday (25) for a two-week o.o. of the current Broadway play crop. John J. Wingerter, former g.m. for Louis de Rochemont, appointed a.ssistant to William Miesegaes, I presi(ient of Transfilm. Tess Michael. United Artists magazine contact sails Saturday (301 for five weeks’ vacation in London. Paris and Rome. Richard La Marr, talent agent with A. S. Lyons for eight year.s, left firm to join Charles K. Feld- man’s Famous Arti.sts Corp. James A. Farley, Morton Dow- ney and Joseph Vemer Reed, one- time theatrical producer, sailing today (Wed.) on the America. Frank P. Satenstein. legit, TV and film producer, engaged last week to Joyce L. Seigenfeld. with wedding scheduled for Oct. 23. British film-man Filippo del Giu- dice, originally booked as a Garonia passenger last week, oft to('ay (Wed ) on the Mauretania. .Abbot Weisbord of Metro’s art dept, named chairman of the luncheon speakers’ committee of the Art Directors club of N. Y. It’s “Mi.ss Liberty” night at the American Theatre Wing’s third benefit being held at the Hotel Plaza’s Rendez-Vous tomorrow (28>. John Nesbitt, producer of Metro’s “Passing Parade,” arrived in Gotham yesterday (Tues.* from the Coast. He returns at the end of the week. Harry Brandt. Ike Levy and Mike Nidorf arrived ye.sterday (Tues.) on the Queen Mary. Vic- tor Francen due in today (Wed.) on the He de France. Sidney Franklin, who’ll direct Metro’s sequel to “Mrs. Miniver.” sailed Friday (22) on the Nieuw Amsterdam for Britain, where the picture soon rolls. Harry Blair. RKO tradepaper rep for N, Y. and AMPA treasurer, will contact ex-members of latter organization while on the Coast next month vacationing. William Saroyan, present at three off-Broadway openings last w’cek. may do piece on non-com- mercial groups for Sunday theatre section of the N. Y. Herald Tribune. Larry Beller. formerly assistant to Tom Waller. N. Y. publicity chief for Johnston OfTice, joined 20th-Fox publicity staff under David Golding, company publicity manager. Joseph Gotten arrives Friday (29' to sail aboard the He de France the following day on his Way to Rome where he will work on the Hal Wallis production. “September.” Having made her first trip to France and Israel with her daugh- ter Barbara, early this summer. Mrs. Hal Horne and the film exec now plan returning at greater lei.sure in September. Erich Arnold. Viennese musical comedy .star who arrived in the U. S. last week, being hosted to- morrow (Thursday) at a reception to be given by his American rep. I)onald Neville-Willing. Ezra Stone guest-speaking to- night (Wed.) at Motion Picture chapter, American Veterans Com- mittee. at Hotel Taft on abuses in employment of actors for enter- taining at military establishments and hospitals. ■The Charlie Millers (MC.A v p.) station-wagoned from Cherbourg and the battle grounds into Paris They’ll await the J. C. Stein board chairman) who sails for Eu- rope Saturday (30) on the n^idcn voyage of the He de France. Steins will be away two mon^s. Attorney James E. Doherty. Jr., of Jamaica. N. Y., seeking where- abouts of Eva Esmond, who some years ago had been teamed In an act with the late Flora Esmond and more recently in the act of Esmond & Grant. She’s wanted in connec- tion with the settlement of her former partner’s estate. David E. Parry, former Goldwyn flack and son of Florence Fisher Parry, Pittsburgh Press columnist, takes over as Coast representative for Carson-Ruff Associates, New York drumbeaters, W'hen outfit opens its new L, A. office Aug. 15. London Las Vegas Ted Lewis capacity at Last Frontier’s Ramona Room. In for four-week engagement. “In escrow” for six weeks with son Craig is Mrs. Dean Martin, wife of the comedian. I Jan Murray making them laugh at the Flamingo, with Patti Moore and Ben Lessey doing same at El Rancho Vegas. Burl Ives a hit at the Thunderbird. On same day Monte Carlo intro- duced craps to European custom- ers, Las Vegas returned the com- pliment by inaugurating Monte Carlo’s traditional chemin de fer at last Frontier. Upcoming shows: Carl Brisson, Sugar Chile Robinson, Lou Holtz, Jan Bart, pianist Liberace and the “Ice Classics” at Last Frontier. Lena Home and Spike Jones forth- coming at Flamingo. I Desert Inn. standing half fin- ished on Las Vegas resort strip all last year, in throes of completion after owner Wilbur Clark secured backer with $1,500,000 to complete structure. Will be fifth swank spa I in this resort, employing top na- tional floor shows and other en- tertainment. the Riviera By Margaret Gardner George Raft off to Italy. Ella Raines at the^ Hotel in du Cap. Mr. and Mrs. Lee Shubert at Carlton. Anatole Litvak in Juan-Les-Pins for two weeks. Mr. and Mrs. David Selznick 1 planed to London. ! Felix to open his famous “Blue iBar” the end of July. Mr. and Mrs. Jacques Heim in C’annes for the summer. Georgia Gibbs the star of the Monte (’arlo Gala on July 22. Charles Correll (.Andy of Amos ’n’ Andy) passing through Cannes , on way to Switzerland, j Eari Wilson at the Carlton, re- I searching for two Collier’s stories, one on Monte Carlo, the other on French bathing suits. ' Tables reserved for the big Sunny Bank Charity Gala at the Palm Beach Casino by the Darryl Zanucks, the Begum, Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Foy. Wife of Jimmy Jewel (&c War- riss) just getting over serious ill- ness in Blackpool. Eddie Vitch goes into Bernard Delfont’s “Folies Bergere” show at London Palladium poening Sept. 19. Alfred Esdaile staging return to West End show biz, and on lookout for the purchase of a West End theatre. Bert Levey planed to Paris Mon- day (25) after few days in London; to return to California from France. I Harry Kalcheim to Blackpool to' take Inoksee of William Morris- Fosters’ American acts there, and taking in the shows. I Stewart MaePherson, BBC com- mentator, leaving in a few’ days for New York to look over proposi- j tions made to him by an American radio network. Douglass Montgomery packing ’em in in “Berkeley Square” re- vival in the provinces and may i come to London w’ith the show after provincial tour. . Betty Jumel. one of the stars' in Lawrence Wright’s North Pier, Blackpood revue, “On With the Show,” is being dickered for Amer- ica by Jean Le Seyeux. Wally Boag to tour Moss Em- pires after he finishes at Black- pool Oct. 21. He then goes into Tom Arnold pantomime “Queen of Hearts,” either at Manchester or Leeds. ' When Jennifer Jones arrived with David Selznick to make “Gone to Earth” they realized they had forgotten to get a labor permit. * .A last-minute application was put in to the government. I With 12-year ban imposed by the i Lord Chamberlain on the public i production of “Tobacco Road”, i lifted, show opens at the Embas.sy.' 1 Hampstead. Aug. 9. After a short I season it will move into the West End. i Jewel and Warriss want Gil Maison to tour with them in their own vaudeville unit w'hen Maison , I finishes his Blackpool date withf Jack Taylor and Tom Arnold show ^ “Coconut Grove of 1949,” at Hippo- i drome. j Having just returned from Amor- { ica where he went to attend his son’s wedding. David Drukker. Charles L. Tucker’s director, sails ! for New York again .Aug. 20 for his daughter Estelle’s w'cdding Sept. 11 to an American doctor. in “The Heiress.** Current bill is “Anna Christie.” Annual “Aqua Follies” has Paul Remus & Toy Boys and Johnny O’Brien on stage, with Joe Mc- Kenna emcee and Vicki & Lyle Draves as tank stars. Dorothy Lewis Ice Show and Danny and Doc’s “Jewel Box Revue” continuing long runs at Hotel Radisson Flame Room and Curly’s nitery, respectively. T Hollywood Mexico City By D. L. Grahame Jack Lacy, WINS, N. Y., disk jockey, and bride honeymooning at the Hotel Del Prado. Tona la Negra, vet songstress, inked by FranR Founce for his Latin theatres in California. Philips Mexicana, has obtained a Ministry of Finance franchise to manufacture radio apparatus parts here. Pic production combo of Carlos Orellana. Joselito Rodriguez and Alfonso Sanchez Tello inked Della Magana for three pix. N i n i Marshall, Argentinian comedienne, headlining in vaude at the Folies Bergere while she readies for Mexican pix. Roberto Vicente, Spanish musi- cian-composer. inked by pic pro- ducer Ramon Pereda to write music for his productions. Michael Sokol, who resigned re- cently as WB manager here, is or- ganizing a company to distribute for Mexican indie pic producers. Maria Conesa, Spanish come- dienne who has played for 50 years, is on a stage tour of north- ern Mexico and southwestern U, S. Manuel and Ernesto Espinosa Iglesias, cinema circuit operators, sold their sugar plant in Puebla State, as they want to concentrate on pix. Alan Young vacationing at Coro- ; nado. Earl Baldwin recovering from I surgery. Wayne Ball recovering from major surgery. Adolph Zukor in town for Para- mount huddles. ! Christopher Kent in town after a trip to Sweden. Leonora Amer rrecovering from emergency appendectomy. Walter Wanger moved into new quarters in Beverly Hills. Shirley Temple confined to her home with appendix trouble. Charles Starrett to Cheyenne for ! the Frontier Day Celebration. Jan Fortune hospitalized for I treatment of an old back injury. I George Gla.ss returned to work after three weeks out for surgery. I Audie Murphy and Wanda Hen- drix to Oregon on a fishing expedi- tion. i Maj. Barney Oldfield in town on I his way to a new tour of duty in Hawaii. Neil Walton out of the hospital after recovering from an eye in- fection. Ted Wilk shifted from the Lou Irwin office to the Al Kingston agency. Joe Hazen in from N. Y. to handle Hal Wallis properties while Hal is in Europe. Ed Cunningham celebrated his 25th year as top juicer at Univer- sal-International. Veterans of Foreign Wars will present Herbert J. Yates with the gold Cross of Malta medal today “for courage and loyalty to Amer- ica.” Rome By Helen McGill George Denny guest New Hampshire Billy West, Jr., comedian, di- rected the Bradford Players in their first production, “The Ghost Train.” State and local police are search- ing for vandals w ho have destroyed advertising signs in the Lake Sunapee region. Flora Sleeper of Laconia. “Miss New Hampshire of 1949.” made her stage debut at the Little Theatre. Gilford, July 19, as June in “Happy Birthday.” Ralph Osterman, manager of the old Colonial in Rochester, and Lawrence Willey, once owner of the theatre, visited Eddie Dowling while he appeared in “The Time of Your Life” at the Ogunquit Playhouse. An all-cartoon show drew flocks of kids, as well as grownups, to two matinees at the Palace. Man- chester. July 19. There were 15 cartoons, instead of regular fea- ture. with admission of 40c for adults and 20c for youngsters. Chicago Ann Baxter, pic actre.ss. will do a p.a. at Oriental theatre, Aug. 4. ' Billy Eckstine, currently at Chez Paree, robbed of a $2,000 diamond pin at his hotel. Lucille Ballantine, director of entertainment and publicity for Bismarck hotel, recuping ' from surgery. Red Skelton. Monty Blue and Harold Lloyd in town last week for Shriner convensh, with Lloyd installed as Imperial Potentate. Sid Caesar, comic w'ho clo.sed at Empire Room, Palmer House Wed. (20) launched $25,000 drive of the Hematology Research Foundation. Terry Turner. RKO director of exploitation, in town drumming up .stunts for preem of “Mighty Joe Young” at Grand theatre, Aug. 3. Kling Studios here are filming “Abe Lincoln in Illinois” under a $30,000 contract with the state of Illinois. Film will be used in col- leges, organizations and schools at no cost. Bob Hope stopped off In Chi Friday (22) to check on “Sorrow- ful Jones” receipts at the Chicago theatre, before heading for Minne- apolis and his guest appearance at its Aquacade. Tubbs of honor at The Louis Jourdans are in Porto- fino. Nancy Carroll is in Capri for a few' weeks. Counte.ss Dorothy Di Frasso back from Paris. Film producer John Sutro and wife here from England. The Mordecai Goreliks off to Switzerland for a vacation. The O.scar Homolkas have left Rome for the French Alps, a reception given by Ambassador and Mrs. James C. Dunn, at their home. Louis Lober of Warner Bros, and his daughter are at the Ex- celsior. F'oreign films distributor Max Mark and wife returned from a fortnight in Venice. Doris Dowling has returned from North Africa where, she played a role in “Othello” with Orson Welles’ company. Betsy Fur.stcnborg. from New’ York, being tested for several pix being made in Rome. She’s here with her mother. Countess Fursten- berg. Minneapolis Marie Panther Australia By Eric Gorrick Edwardos, British comedy troupe, playing Roosevelt night c 1 u b, Sydney, Wesley Barrett has just complet- ed an extensive coverage of the south-west Pacific for Columbia. Stanley Holloway, British comic, will probably return to his London base soon, after short Aussie run. Al Daft, U-1 v.p., here on short looksee, will probably view the New Zealand scene before rcturn- Y. ba.se. Norm Louden will top advertsing seat at Warners vacated by Pete .Abbot, now with J. Walter Thompson. S. C. Williamson Co. planed its Italian grand opera troupe from Brisbane to Adelaide, 1.500 miles, creating a record for talent airlift in the Antips. Peter Dawson, who controls the Savoy pic theatres in Sydney and Melbourne, is visiting London on biz-pleasure, Dawson will spot | ing to his N Looks like step into the By Les Rees Shaw at Hotel Minnesotan Room. Jack Cole’s orchestra underlined for Prom Ballroom. Mae West in “Diamond Li!” set for Lyceum Aug. 29. Prom Ballroom has Jack Cole’s orchestra for one-nighter. Gene Krupa’s band played one- nighter at Prom Ballroom. Univ. of Minnesota Theatre of- fering “The Play’s the Thing” Sally Rand returning to Minne- sota State Fair midway for second successive season. Hotel Radis.son Flame Room has Monica Lewis, Frakson and Danny Ferguson orchestra. Much publicity being garnered for vaudeville’s return at RKO-Or- pheum here July 28. Joan Edwards. Buddy Lester and Betty Hill into Club ('arnival with Pt>rry Martin orchestra. .Annual Harry Hirsch - Tony Stechcr roller derby set for .Audi- torium here for month of August. St. Paul Auditorium “pop con- cert” scries featuring Hodgers- Hammcrsteln program with ice show. Old Log strawhatter had sea.son’s Scotland By Gordon Irving Sir Harry Lauder celebrates his 79th birthday quietly Aug. 4. Carl Brisson returned to Glas- gow'. Monday (25), in variety show’, “Brigadoon” touring version, to be ('hristmas draw in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Noel Coward’s 20-year-old musi- cal, “Bitter Sweet,” revived here on six-weeks’ .stay. New farce “For Husbands Only.” with Tamara Desni, flopped badly at Theatre Royal. Glasgow. Jack Anthony. Spot comic, clicked with big support company in summer run at Edinburgh Em- pire. Anne C’rawford and John McCal- lum have leads in “Western Wind.” by Charlotte Frances, which preemed in Glasgow’, Monday (25). Alec Frutin bu.sy planning “Roamin’ in the Gloamin’,” ba.sed on cavalcade of Sir Harry Lauder songs, as Christmas revue for Glasgow Metropole, Elliot Playfair, nephew’ of actor- manager Sir Nigel Playfair, taking title role in first stage adaptation of George Eliot’s “Silas Marncr,” at B\ re theatre, St. Andrews. Paris B»v Maxime de Beix (33 hlvd. Montparnassi’) Cynda Glenn due any day. Eddie Cantor visiting hospital sick here. Harry Potter trip to Paris a short one. Babette Deval from Vichy to thf Savoie Alps. Borrah Minevitch entertaining the Harry Fosters. Dave Lewis to the Riviera on return from Holland. Pri.scilla Kastner entertaining the Serge Semenenkos. John B. Nathan throwing cocktail party for Mrs. B. Balaban. Harry Novak to London for hud- dle with Joe n. Seidelman. Mrs. Jules Levy in town and expecting her husband from Lon- don. Cliff Fi.scher. after a hot week in Paris, to cooler English Black- pool. Vladimir Lissim entertaining one vi.siting Korda exec after an- other. David O. Selznick and bridt Jennifer Jones from Riviera to London. Charles Miller in town for a W'cek. then to Italy; due back end of August. Marlon Brando wandering on Champs F'lysees, unrecognized by passersby. Al Szekler spending a few dayi in town before opening L'-I office in Germany. Maurice (’arrere taking a few days off on his Monfort I’Amaury farm after exiting hospital. Warner Bros, taking space in trade mags to advise eventual local infringents that they will take legal steps to protect their film rights of “White Horse Inn.” French pix in his two houses. I biggest week with Diana Kemble, I Doc Hartley. Kansas City By John Quinn Bobby Peters and Musical Mani- acs into Eddy’s restauranf. Hannonicats set for El Casbah of the Bellerive hotel July 29. George Arnold’s “Rhythm On Ice” into the Terrace Grill of the Muehlchach hotel. C’ole Bros. Circus the town this season with formanccs July 19-20, Carl Cooper of the handling film reviewing for.the Kansas City Star during illness of first to hit four per- city desk. Washington By Florence S. l.owe Mrs. Robert J. Rubin in tow’ll with hubby, the SIMPP law'y’cr, wlio came in on company biz. , • Paramount counsel Louis Phij* lips an interesled observer to testi- mony of SIMPP prexy Ellis .Arnall before House .hidiciary Committee. Howard U Players, representing town’s Negro university, will tour Norway at invitation of the Nor- w’egian government, in Ibsens “The Wild Duck.’’ Carter T. Barrofi. I.ocw topper in this area, and George Crouch, Warner zone manager, liavc been named to handle C’ommunity Chest Federation drive next Fall. , Jake Flax, chief barker of l(^rai I Variety tent, has appointed exhibl* j for Fred Kogod, tent’s ' « liairman. to represent D.(’ on visory board of the Will Rogers Memorial Hospital. . Loew’s Capitol auditioning f® “Going Native,” its annual joc^ talent revue, with Kay Fold. of Gene Ford, show'.s originator, co-producing with (’arter Barro and Joel Margnlis. Walter and Je.’ui Kerr. ‘ dividing time hclwern I Catholic LJ and working |' w George Abbott musical. ’ T'la You. Just Looking." will - , year’s sabbatical from tcacn • 1 next fall.