Variety (June 1950)

62 CHATTER P'Rriety Ed and Pegeen Fitzgeipld’s 20th •nhi on the 30th. Alan Perry, radio-TV- producer, bought new home in Rye, N. Y, Meyer Davis to his Sorrento, Me., home SundayX2) for the sum- mer. Anne Pinkus, of the William Morris agency, planing to Europe July 17. Christopher Lynch, Irish tenor, off to Britain, Saturday (24) on the Mauretania. Louise (Mrs. Bugs) Baer out of the hosp and convalescing at their Stamford place. The Benjamin (Bernice) Krasnes to the Coast with their daughter for the summer. Ruby Zwerling, ex-Loew’s State pit maestro, retired and sojourn- ing on the Coast. Hal Horne arid Jack Goldstein setting up offices to go into the theatre candy biz. Frank Bonacchini, owner of Le Coq Rouge, out from under strict medico supervision. . Roxy Grill boniface Henry Gruhn’s mother died at 82 in N, Y. City last Thursday. . Les Kramer sailing to Europe Friday (30) aboard a Norwegian freighter for a six-week stay, Frank Law has given up press- agenting to operate the Nutmeg Inn, Brookfield Center, Conn. Major Albert Warner to the Coast for three weeks of huddles with brothers Harry and Jack. Paramount story editor Alan Jackson flies Friday (30) for three- week visit to Paris and London. : John B. Nathan, Paramount's Eu- ropean supervisor, returns to Paris this week after a prolonged stay at the h.o.; Jascha Heifetz due in by plane this morning (Wed.) from Europe, and flying tomorrow (Thurs.) to California. The S. Jay Kaufmans (Florence Aquino) due in this week from Naples. He’s been on a scouting trip for Dazian’s. Nat Kahn, Variety associate editor, and his wife, actress Hope Miller, to the Coast today (28) on three-week vacation. The Ed (Sylvia), Sullivans sailing to Europe Saturday (i) aboard the Queen Elizabeth accompanied by their daughter Betty. Boris Karloff turns sports com- mentator July 21, pirichhitting for Bill Stern over NBC on the latter’s Friday Colgate show, Fredric March out of Roosevelt hospital today (Wed.) after toe in- fection and operation. Will re- cuperate at his Conn. farm. Joan Ornstein, daughter of Bill Omstein, Metro h.o. publicist, en- gaged to Bruce Kaufman, fellow student of Purdue ^University. Groucho Marx’s crack, when giving in to NBC’s flattering exclu- sive terms for TV and AM: “We put up a good fight but we lost.’’ Nancy Davis, Metro thesper, re- turned to the Coast after a three- week stint in the east ballying Dore Schary's personal production, “Next Voice You Hear.’’ . Anton Karas, zither player of “The Third Man’’ pic, returned to Europe last week on the Queen Mary after a series of p.a.’s in the U. S. Film producer Jesse Lasky, in New York and Washington over the weekend on a four-day quickie business trip, has returned to the Coast. . - / Publicist Benjamin Sonnenberg baching it at the St. Regis while his family summers near West- port; their Gramercy Park manse folderoo for the hot spell. John Joseph, Metro's publicity chief, planed to the Coast for one- week of huddles with production execs. He then takes a vacation before returning to New York. Lawrence Weiner, formerly with* the Pioneer ad agency, has formed his own agency, Lawrence Weiner & Associates. With Weiner in the new venture will be Herman Jacobs and Norman L. Weiner. Mary Martin, Jane Pickens, Sloan (Mrs, William) O’Dwyer and Jinx Falkenburg were “angels” yesterday (Tues.) at a cocktail party in the Rainbow Room, for benefit of the Cerebral Palsy drive. Lou Wilson, London agent asso- ciated withy Emile Littier, planed into New, York Friday (23) after a 16-hour delay. Goes to Cleveland next week to visit his liUyear-old daughter. Her mother is Gwen Stone (& Vernon). t Jerry Pickman, Paramount’S as- sistant ad-pub chief; Mort Nathan- son, publicity topper, and photog- rapher Joe Heppner pulled into i Gotham today (Wed.) after helping stage world preem of “My Friend Irma Goes West” in Las Vegas. Joan Arnold, stepdaughter of Hinson Stiles, managing editor of the N.Y. Mirror, to marry William S. Kent, radio arid TV writer, in N.Y.. Saturday (1). Miss Arnold toured the Pacific for seven months in 1945 with the USO version of “Mexican Hayride.” Helen Hayes and the cast of “The Wisteria Trees” will be on hand for the American Theatre Wing’s second benefit being held at the Hotel Plaza’s Rendezvous Room tomorrow (Thurs.). “Gentle- men Prefer Blondes” cast trail- erized the initial benefit two weeks ago. \ Hotelier Walter’^ Jacobs * (Lord Tarleton, Miami Beach,. and Lake Tarleton Club, Pike N. H.) does a nostalgic SOS to sojourners in Europe this summer with display ads in the airmail overseas edition of the N. Y. Times beseeching them (Hildegarde, Kay. Thompson, Borrah Minevitch, et al.) to “come home, all’s forgiven.” Richard Aldrich back on Cap® last week from Cambridge, Mass., where he attended 25th reunion of his Harvard Class; Dorothy and Lillian Gish up at Falmouth Playhouse where latter starts rehearsing “Miss Mabel,” the July 10-15 offering. Anita Loos with Paulette God- dard up for “Caesar and Cleo- patra” opening Monday night at Cape Playhouse, starting its 24th season. '■ ' Mary B. Wirislow, whose Mono- moy theatre, Chatham, starts eighth seasori with “The Play’s the Thing,” named Ted Nelson pub- licity director. Julius Monk, emcee at N. Y.’s Le Ruban Bleu, opened his At- lantic House Cabaret Room in Provincetown Thursday (22), and will use Ruban Bleu talent. dur- ing the summer. ■ Lawrence Schwab, St. John Ter- rell, director Robert Jarvis and Grant Mouradoff, choreographer with six Ballet . Russe de Monte Carlo members, arrived Hyannis Monday to start rehearsals for “The New Moon” which opens Cape Cod Music Circus July 4, John Tyers and Jean Nelson, the leads, also here. Paris By Maxime de Beix (33 Blvd. Montparnasse ) Par throwing a cocktail party for Dorothy Lamour. . Rosario and Antonio recitaling at Palais De Chaillot. Farley Granger in town after suspension for refusing a role. “Ecstasy,” with some cuts, resur- rected for run at Cinema D’Essai. Ted Grouya establishing a Fran- co-Spanish music publishing firm. American Student Center to present Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men.” Arlette Amaud, RKO ad-public- ity chief, out of hospital after ap- pendectomy. Jean Weber, of the COmedie Francaise, due for his first music hall engagement at the ABC. Charles Trenet Palais de Chail- lot concert no sell out arid no rave, partly due to faulty niike wiring of theatre. Theatre Des Varietes housing a gala benefit for the old actor’s fund with the cream of Gallic tal- ent on tap. Rene Clair turning to radio and directing “The Devil’s Tears,” with Gerard Philipe, Daniele De- lorme and Marcelle Derrien. “Phedre,” Jean Cocteau’s new ballet, choreographed by Serge Lifar and danced by Tamara Tou- manova, being inaugurated at the Opera. CBS soon teeing off new Windsor outlet, CBE, to vie with Detroit stations in Canada’s most southern area. Andrew Allen, Canadian Broad casting Corp. drama chief and pro ducer of the CBC top drama stanza, “Stage 50,” spending summer in Europe probing British and con tinental drarnatic work. Canadian Repertory Theatre, Ot- tawa stock troupe, shuttered for summer after nearly 250 perform ances in La Salle Academy theatre. Will reopen in fall only if local legit patrons promise solid support By Les Rees Jack Owens into Hotel Radisson Flame Room. Les Brown into Prom Ballroom for one-nighter. University of Minnesota Theatre offering “The Guardsman.” Club Carnival has Rose Marie, Jimmy Rae and Jane Margo. Antal Dorati, Minneapolis Sym- phony orch conductor, back from European trip, will do series of summer guest conductor appear- ances throughout country. Aqua Follies.-- of. J'J-r/j, locally produced and opening July i'j as part of annual summer festival here, will star Hopkins Show goes to Seattle for engage- ment after Minneapolis rum • Irene Dunne met the King and Queen at a private tea party given by the Marquis and Marchioness of Carisbrooke. Major Reginald P. Baker, man- aging director of Ealing Studios, to succeed J. Arthur Rank as British Film Producers’ prexy* Harry Kahne, brought over here for three weeks’ appearance at the London Palladium, booked to play four weeks at Savoy hotel, opening Aug. 7 On his Stockholm visit, Lou Wil- son inked Svend Asmusseii and his five-piece unit for short vaudeville tour of Britain opening at Bristol, Sept. 4. Radcliffe and Ray with the Nor- man Evans vaude unit in Canada, set for six months work in New York niteries by Hyman Zahl, opening Oct. 12. Jerry Bergman, American hiagi- co who recently won top award at the Magician's contest in Amster- dam, booked by Lou Wilson for tour of Stoll Circuit. J. Arthur Rank’s super house, { the State, Kilburn, goes into vaud- film policy with management lining up a big orchestra.. Opening likely will be in September. Ruth Draper playirig at Wimble- don this week with Edinburgh for the next session, returns to U. S. but returns to open short season at Criterion theatre in October. Clark Bros., /currently in Tom Arnold and Emile Littler’s London Casino revue, bobked for Tom Ar- nold and Jack Taylor’s “summer show at the Hippodrome, Black- pool. Bernard Bernard! in from New York huriting for unique acts for a fall Broadway production. Also goes tp Paris, Netherlands and Scandinavia before re turn in g home. . Maudie Edwards, who just re- turned from Canada where she was featured in Norman Evans’ vaude unit, plays her first London Palladium date opening July 10, for two weeks. Roily Rolls doubling at Palladi- um and Berkeley hotel, latter spot being booked for two weeks with option for third, which is longest he can stay because of other com- mitments, on the Continent. Op- tion taken up for Berkeley after opening night. Westport, Conn. By Humphrey Doulens Raymond Massey here from the coast. Nigel Bruce at the Gene Tunrieys. John C. Wilson to Boston to look over the national company of “Kiss Me, Kate.” t Mrs. William Anthony McGuire in from the Coast and visiting the Peppy d’AlbreWs. John Barry Ryan, grandson of the late Otto Kahn, an apprentice at Country Playhouse. Frank Lloyd Wright, the archi- tect, Mrs. Wright and Elizabeth Winston weekending here with Baroness Rebay. Laurence and Mildred Schwab planed over from Montauk to in- spect Ben Boyar and James Wes- terfield’s “Melody Fair.” three weeks at the Antibes villa of Countess de Seilan, Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Lee Hill- yer (the former Princess Fatima) have rented the villa La Carriere at Villefranche, ex-royal residence of King Michael of Rumania; they recently entertained Somer- set Maugham at lunch there. Eugene Lourie, assistant to Jean Renoir in the recently completed production “The River,” in Nice to lay groundwork for the Errol Flynn-MicheUne Prelle starrer Which is scheduled to start rolling here next month. Tommy Trinder at Cannes. Jimmy Durante opening at Wil- bur, Clark’s Desert Inn. Ink Spots back at Thunderbird for third successive trip. Mitzi Green back at the Fla- mingo. Five Taylors and Star Kings in support. El Rancho Vegas has Patti Moore and Ben Lessey set to fol- low Tito Guizer. Sid Silvers dusting off new night- club routine ’ at Last Frontier in try as floorshow entertainer. Photog David Lees, formerly with Columbia Pictures, joined chamber of commerce news bureau here after death of Bill ’ Carneal, once Paramount still man. Hank Greenspun, press agent for Desert Inn, resigned to* become publisher of Las Vegas Free Press, town’s newest daily. He purchased it from International Typographers Union who had founded it less than two months ago to employ out-of-work printers. By Lary Solloway Bill Jordan will reopen his Bar of Music early in July. Martha Raye tops new show for Five O’clock Club reopening July 6 . Dean Murphy headed up week- end show at Sans Souci Blue Sails Room. Tommy (Moe) Raft, hurley comic, now running Club 22, featuring strips. Mother Kelly’s ops changed minds and will reopen for summer first week in July with a “girlesk” show. Biz at Alan Gale’s sagged for second show this week, but first show • was healthy. Only straight nitery running Currently; Kitty Davis’ due to reopen Soon with Arena theatre idea. Origi- nally proposed by producers who had N. Y. subway circuit companies set for spot,.Danny Davis decided to run oh his Own. Currently in 'N. Y. setting plays and players. By Helen G. Tubbs David Appleby, radio actor of N. Y., seeing Italy. “Three Steps North” company off for the Amalfi location. “Berliner Ballade.” in German, is playing the Arcoboleno. G. W. Pabst left for Calabria to look for “Odyssea” locations. English language version of “Volcano” arrived in Italy but not shown yet. Robert Taylor moved out of Grand Hotel and took an apart- ment, “Christ in Concrete ” J. Arthur Rank production of the Pietro di Donato piece, now being dubbed, Lily Pons and Andre Kostelanetz at the Excelsior. He will direct some concerts for the Italian radio* Montreal Carol Grauer readying new boite, La Maisonette Carol for July 15 opening. Corinne Calvet, John Hoyt and Patrick Knowles in Quebec City for shooting of picture tentatively titled “Quebec.” David Nantel, managing director of Selkirk Productions, announced that a deal had been set with United Artists to handle Selkirk’s recently completed . pic, “Forbid- den Journey” in Canada. It will be preemed here in September, Sudden heat wave and beftow- average returns at boxoffice forc- ing medium-sized theatres to fall in line with deluxers with air con- ditioning and better seating. The Outremount is latest to shutter temporarily; reopens Friday (30) with cooling system and new seats. Ed Hartman booking agency re- cently added the Mac theatre, McPherson, Kans., to list of clients. Newest ozoner in area is Spa Motor Movie opened June 22 near Excelsior Springs, Mo. It is owned by Richard Wilkes, Jr., Brooks Noafi end Carl Koch. About 200 film row and theatre- men turned out for industry’s an- nual stag at Milburii Golf and Country Club Monday (26), Bob Withers, Republic exchange head, chairmanned affair. , By Margaret Gardner The Harlem Globe-Trotters in a tour of the Riviera. Gaby Andreau temporarily aban- doning Hollywood to set up resi- dence in Nice. Mr, and Mrs. Irving Netcher 'Rose Dolly), Riviera regulars, now at the Hotel du Cap In Antibes. Jean Cocteau, after launching hia new ballet, “Phedre,” at the Paris Opera, back to his Ville- franche haunts. English actor John Mills, accom- panied by his wife, guests, for By Joe W. Walker Lenny Herman in Submarin room of Hotel Tray more. . Resort's first drive-in, 12 mile away which opened June 16 doin okay business despite cold weathei Steel Pier brought in Eileei Barton and Wally Brown as vaude ville toppers plus Ray Buddy Wil liams band on weekend startin, Monday (26). New Orsatti’s in Suburban Som ers Point opened Friday (23) ant will bring in acts with Jay Bros Little Ernie and Dolores Martel opening June 30. Babette’s, under new manage ment of Joe Simone and Fran) Gormley, opening show had Jimmi' Costello, Six Atomic Blondes am Stepping Macs plus Vincent Rizzi orch. Spot operating with n< cover. Wednesday, June 28, 1950 Hollywood Jack Lait in town for annual looksee. Edward Nassour bedded with throat infection. Norman Moray, WB shorts sales topper, in for. studio huddles. Lillian Roth recuperating at home from a sacroiliac injury. Burt McGuire joined Lou Irwin agency as an associate in charge ! of TV bookings. Dore Schary returned to his desk at Metro after an absence of almost six weeks. • Rolph Boyer readying trip to Manila to organize national thea- , tre iri Philippines. Twelve-year-old Louise Karie making her film debut in dad Joe Kane’s “Black Hills.” Mrs. Gertrude Berg due in for huddles at Paramount about film version of “The Goldbergs,” Spike Jones bought a piece of Turk Greenough’s .• Rodeo head- quarters at Billirigs, Montana. Milt Grossman pulled out of Kurt Frings agency, dissolving the new partnership after two months. Hollywood Foreign Correspond- ents handed an award to 20th-Fox for “The Big Lift” as best film of month, Beth Merrill, whose legit career began with the Oliver Stock Com- pany in Lincoln, Neb., in 1916, in ; to huddle on screen debut. Paramount’s new managing di- rector for Australia and New Zea- land, Clay Hake, visiting the studio before leaving for new post.: Barney MODevitt switched his tubthumping activities from the Aragon to the Palladium after many years at former terpery, Jack L. Warner, Jane Wyman and Gary Cooper won gold trophies from Cine-Revue, European film mag, with editor Joe Van Cottom on hand to make presentations. Harold Garfield, prexy of Mt. Sinai Hospital and Clinic, tosising a Giro’s dinner party in honor of Walter O’Keefe for all benefits the comic has played for the hospital. Bucks County, Pa. Phyllis Perlman, New Hope flack, bedded by bursitis. N.Y. rent controller Joe McGol- drick hiding from his woes on his Solebury farm weekends. Rosemary Casey due in from Pittsburgh this week to catch her “The Velvet Glove” at Playhouse. Warren Munsell, Jr., in to see Arthur Kent in opening of Music Circus production of “Song of Norway.” Annamary Dickey starring op- posite young unknown, David Atkinson, at Terrell’s Tent this week in “Rio Rita.” William Hillman, Arnold Weiss- berger and Milton Goldman down last week to o.o. Florence Reed in “The Royal Family,”/ Enid Markey andNhady Parrish in at Playhouse for rehearsals of “The Silver Whistle,” opening next week with Henry Jones starred. New Hope Street Fair opens four-night stand on Logan. Inn grounds Friday (30) for benefit of Recreation Center. It’s ninth year i for volunteer-manned shindig. By Abe Berger Rosalind Courtright current hit at Baker hotel Mural Room. Joe Bond reopened the Sky Club with Dale Belmont and her song styling. Tito Guizar into Mural Room. We Three (Jack Timmers, Bridget Browne, George Floyd) currently at Abe’s Colony Club. Jan August, piano wizard, at Studio Lounge. “South Pacific” booked for State Fair in October. Lucille Ryman, talent scout for Metro, interviewed over 12 femmes here for a part opposite Clark Gable in “Across Wide Missouri.” Mary Hatcher and Herkie Styles Open at swank Cipango Club on June 30. By Mabel Thomas Louis K. Sidney rounding out three weeks at Royal. Ida Lupino clippered back after two weeks at Waikiki. t Proudest Shriner to big conven- tion was Duke Kahanamoku. Alfred Akapa back from two weeks Decca recording With the Andrew Sisters. Jeannette MacDonald, with hus- band, Gene Raymond, here for concert; at Civic Aud. Ginny Simms and husband, / Hiatt Dehn, spent most of their three weeks at Hana, Maui. Erupting volcano, Mauna Boa, • 225 miles from Honolulu on island of Hawaii putting on terrific show; heavy volcano smoke blackened Honolulu for about five days.