Variety (October 1953)

94 CHATTER Wednesday, October 14, ] 9r>3 Broadway Warner Bros, actress Martha Ilyer in for bally work on “So Big. ’ Spencer Tracy back to Holly- wood after vacationing abroad and in Gotham. Seymour Moses. Loew’s interna- tional director in Holland, in from abroad with bis family. Harry A. Bruno and the Lotos Hub cocktailing Deborah Kerr at the clubhouse next week. Tom Hammond, ex-'‘Candida’ (Olivia de Havilland). now agent- ing with Barron I'olan in N. Y. The Dan Terrells (he’s Metro publicity manager) celebrating their I lit h wedding anniversary. Kashion designer Helen Rose in from the Coast to bally the Joan Ci iwford starrer. “Torch Song.” Mrs Joseph Pasternak, wife or the Mel to producer, returned from tons Saturday (10) on the Flandre. Celia Lipton and Monique Van Vooren joining llennione Gingold in John Murray Anderson's Alma- «• nae Woman's fiat clue in last Sun- day's Oh Dick Tracy comic strip ins Tracy phoning “Heddor” for advice. • Showman Harry Brandt signs hi-, personal notes with a “before” and “alter” 3-D character; smiling up “before,” naturally. Dore Scliary back to the Coast Saturday (It)) following the World Series and confabs with home- office execs on future studio plans Alfred hunt and Lynn Font anno in from Europe yesterday (Tues.) on the Queen Elizabeth and left for their Genesee Depot, Wis., farm. Sports note: Dore Scliary, ac- knowledged Coast scrabble champ, lost the title to Good Housekeep- ing editor Herb Mayes last week. Return match in a neutral terri- tory. San Francisco. Bob Hope, Gloria De Haven. Elsa Maxwell. Mrs. Sylvia Gable (Clark Gable's ex) and British TV- ladio artist Jerry Desmonde ar- rived from Britain Sunday (11 > on the SS United States. William Tonetti. formerly with the Plaza Hotel as assistant man- ager in charge of catering and sales, takes over as manager of the Sherry-Netherland Hotel. Oct. 26, replacing Bert J. O’Neill who resigned last May. I Kd Fitzgerald's private joke dur- ing his Lenox Hill hospitalization (lie got out this week' was a nom - de - patient nameplate that sounds on the Saudi-Arahian side: “Ariz Garterzon.” Translation: ' Are his garters on'*” Business pressure in the States cancelled out RCA prexy Frank M Folsom's scheduled flight on Columbus Day to Rome and Ma- drid where new RCA recording and pressing plants are just going into overseas operation. Julie Wilson to Italy for a va- cation and to continue voice and dramatic studies, a la Mary Mar- tin She just closed in London ‘South Pacific” and won’t do any niteries until landing another legit- er, on Broadway or the West End. Norman Reader, pub-ad head of French Government Tourist Office. oiT to Paris on Air inaugural flight from Chicago Oct. 21. Will also visit Frankfurt and attend ASTA Convention in Rome, also take jet j oint to Xlgiers. to gander tourist sol up Grace Rosenfield Weiss, for main veils publicity and eastern representative for Hal Roach, has onene-.l her own office as eastern distribution agent for Niagra Pul- sat or C up. Orch leader Noble Sissle is associated with Mrs Wei-,., in the enterprise. Mr Ar Mrs. Arthur Judson cock- t ul-partvmg Efrem Kurtz at the Lotos Club Friday (1(5'. prior to litters departure for his Houston Symphony Orchestra conducting stmts Columbia Records is honor- ing maestro same time, to com- memorate pressing of his 3,000.- 000th dixk Victor t* r inren. who appeared in the. shorMiv ed “Strong Are Lone? 1\“ on Broadway, sails for Paris today Wed > on the lie de France, Koine! h Alexander, formerly with I Walter Thompson, NBC and 2ffth-Fox, elected veepee and member of hoard of directors of Columbia Artists Mgt. and New Zealand before returning to N. Y. Commission set up by the gov- ernment to probe TV setup here will complete report next Novem- ber. Radio toppers say it will lx* two years before TV is established here. It looks as though it will he a race between “Cruel Sea" and “Queen Is Crowned" for top ho. trade by the end of 1933. Both are distributed by British Empire Films here. London Paris Bal Tabarin to shutter again Oct 15. Tony and Eddie into Carroll’s after Riviera tour. Steven Carlin. RCA Victor pro- ducer, starting Continental tour here. Kirsten Flagstad here for con- cert at Theatre de* Champs- Ely sees. John Ringling North, hack from Spain, feting Irvin Marks’ birthday at Maxim’s. Spivy’s East-Side which closed down several weeks ago reopening as O’Dette’s. Rosario and Spanish dance com- pany into Theatre des Champs- Klysces last week. First 3-D French pic now being made here by Jean Laviron is “Paris Evenings"; will feature nudies. James R Grainger and Al Crown here for looksee of RKO foreign setup; will tour the Continental offices. Jean-Piorre Aumont will play a double role in upcoming new le- giter of Albert Ilusson “For Life and Death,” as a father and son. Marie Bell definitively quitting the Comedie-Francaise after the hassle over promised secretaryship she was to get. Lise Delamare re- placed her in rehearsing “Honey- moon in Mourning.” Gina Lollobrigida here for makeup tests for forthcoming Rob- ert Siodmak pic “Le Grand Jeu” (“The Big Game”). Arletty, Ray- mond Pellegrin and Jean-Claude Pascal also signed for this pic which is due to start this month. Herbert Kline left London last •week for N. Y. enroute to Holly- wood. David Coplan, chief of Interna- tional Film Distributors, rushed to hospital for appendectomy. Julie Wilson, who has just com- pleted a year as femme lead in • South Pacific,” winged to Rome for a rest. Simon Kershaw, assistant pro- duction supervisor at Ealing Stu- dios. appointed studio manager at Merton Park. London’s first Christmas panto- mime will he "Sinbad the Sailor on Ice” which opens at Earis Court arena Dec. 3. Patricia Medina due hack in London this week to play femme lead opposite Alan Ladd in “The Black Knight.” Laurel and Hardy make their British television debut Saturday «17 * as guest artists in Henry Hall’s BBC-TV program. Film director Anthony Asquith branching out as an opera produc- er; his production of “Carmen" will preem at Covent Garden Nov. 2 The Duke of Edinburgh attend- ing the charity preem tomorrow night (Thurs.) of “The Intruder.” proceeds of which are being do- nated to the Returned British Pris- oners of War Assn. Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne returned to N. Y. last week on the Queen Elizabeth. Traveling on same ship was Ed Horwood man- aging director of Steinway. How- ard Phillips, director of WMCA, N. Y., sailed on He de France. Ireland By Maxwell Sweeney William Perks named prexy of Irish Showmen’s Guild. AbWyite Geoffrey Golden hos- pitalized with leg injuries after auto crash. Terence Rattigan’s ‘‘French Without Tears” currently being translated into Gaelic. Jack Hulhert in for production of Ian Hay comedy, “The Housemas- ter.” at Olympic Dublin Dublin Operatic Co. has skedded “Lily of Nillarney,” “II Trovatore” and “Simone Roccanegra” for fall. Eugene O'Neill’s “Anna Christie” slated to replace “Berkeley Square" in reshuffle of Hilton Edward s- Michael MacLiammoir season. Barry Keegan in on vacation after .six-months tour of army camps in Germany with Hugh H i>- : tings' “Seagulls Over Sorrento.” Cleveland ♦ By Glenn C. Pullen Gqy Mitchell played second date at Sky-Way last week. K. Elmo Lowe casting for Play- house edition of “Bloomer Girl," due Dec. 9. “Kind Sir.” new Mary Martin- Cliarles Boyer comedy, got Hanna’s legit season going Oct. 12. Eddie Sindelar wired Helen Traubeil, opera soprano, an offer to appear at his Sky-Way Club. George Milner replaced Ted King as manager of local Decca distrib branch; latter resigned to join Merle Jacobs’ talent agency. Alpine Village placing cover charge of 25c (lowest in town' for one week date of Darrell Glenn, j who opened last Friday <9>. Starts new policy of higher-budgeted shows. Chicago Rex Allen here for rodeo at In- ternational Amphitheatre. Al Borde. agent, moving to the Coast the first of next year. Tony De Santis is not renaming his Drury f.ane straw hatter, as earlier contemplated. Lou Diamond, orch leader, to he feted at testimonial dinner by the Covenant Club Oet. 24 Mickey Sharp brought into Chi- cago Theatre to sub for Bobby Van. ailing with a cold. Hope Summers’ Kquitv Show- case Theatre in Evanston si irted fall season Oct. 7 with “Grass Harp." International Ballet Club, newly formed by Madame Violetta A Andre, kicked .off with a confer- ence and reception Moitdav M2 1 . Philadelphia Australia Rv Eric Gorrick S »m.* nabe houses are buying 3 D equipment here. By Jerry Gaghan Dave Miller, of Essex Records, left oil three-week European trip. Willis Jackson, at Pep’s Musical Bar. has new vocalist, Veretta Dillard, for orch.' David Rosen. Inc., local Mercury and Okeli distrihs, will handle the Epic label, for Columbia. Celebrity Room launches a series of Wednesday night fashion shows using Oscar Neufeld models. exec, currently !ook.-.eeing here, 'current al Rendezvous), receives will cover Melbourne, Brisbane • final citizenship papers this month. Scotland nr*; Rv Gordon Irving ; Billy Reeves new manager at Metropole, Glasgow, replacing J. S Graham. Harry Gordon, senior Scot pome- I dian. inked for vaude week at Gaiety. Ayr. in November. Three Lorandns, acrobatic trio, inked as specialty act for panto- mime at Pavilion. Glasgow. Tom Arnold staging “Rose Marie on Ice" at Murrayfield Ice Rink. Edinburgh, for Christmas stint. [ Teddy Johnson, British singer, inked for return radio series in mystery drama over Scot radio. George and Dave Woolley, own- , ers of Empire Theatre, Greenock, inked Logan Family for a four- week stint. Scot vaude acts running benefit show in Empire, Glasgow, for He- brew-Scot comedian Ike Freedman, who recently had a leg amputated. Duncan Macrae, Scot thesper, made chairman of Scot committee of British Actors Equity Assn., with Lennox Milne and Roddy MacMillan vice-chairmen. Hollywood Minneapolis By Les Rees Ben Arden and his Latin-Ameri- can orch into Point Supper Club. St. Paul Flame’s new Flamingo Room has Johnny Savage combo. Singing comedienne Marjorie Garret son and dance team Teddv A- Phyllis Rodriguez set for annual Hotel Radisson Flame Room date i Oet. 15. I “Pal Joey,” opening at Lyceum ; Oct. 20. scaled at $4.80 top. It’s a Theatre Guild subscription season attraction and subscribers get re- dud ion for season's first musical Boros Sokoloff. former N. Y. Philharmonic assistant manager, here to take over Minneapolis Symphony managerial reins, suc- ceeding Arthur J. Gaines who re- cently resigned after holding post 12 years. Portland, Ore. Eileen Wilson topper at the Clover Club. “Good Night Ladies” held for a second week at the Playhouse. U. S. Navy Band inked into the Auditorium for a one-nighter next week. The Sparklets, Arron & Brod- erick. and Regy Rymal in at Ama- to’s Supper Club. Mary Astor in “Time For The Cuckoo” cancelled out. Inked for the last week of October at the Oriental. “Pal Joey” played here last week '6-9) and then headed for Seattle. William Duggan has other musicals set for the Auditorium. “The Rohe” opened here last Thursday with a morning precun. This was the first city to play the pic without night gala preem. San Francisco By Ted Friend Ted Lewis held over at Italian Village. Paul Gregory in for “John Brown’s Body” preem Barnaby Conrad, author and ar- tist. opens North Beach bistro, El Matador- Critics’ Council tosses farewell party for Civic Light Opera press- agent Tony Buttitta. Agent Sam Rosev pens nitery musical. “Call Me Mademoiselle.’* to preem at the 365 Club Oct. 20, with Fiti D’Orsay. Pittsburgh By Hal V. Cohen Shirley Jones has gone into Broadway cast of “South Pacific.” Ike Sweeney. Republic exchange manager, in St. Francis Hospital for a checkup. Local actor Gene Lyons gets lead opposite Lillian Gish in “A Trip to Bountiful.” David Crantz upped to assistant general manager in charge of pub- licity for the Playhouse. Boh Post, TV and radio pack- ager-producer, and his wife cele- brated 19!h wedding anni. Cinerama will reduce Warner Theatre's present seating capacity of over 2,000 to around 1,200. Pittsburgh Newspaper Guild will hold its second annual Page One Ball at William Penn Hotel. Feb. 6. Bonds for Israel show at Syria Mosque. Nov. 12, will have Yehudi Menuhin, Dorothy Sarnoff, Myron Cohen and Larry Storeh. Washington Bv Florence S. I.owe Frank M. Boucher, vet showman here, elected president of the United Cerebral Palsy Assn, of Washington.’ D. National Symphony Orch offering 50 r o discount on student season tickets for its Wednesday night concert series. John Haskins, associate music ciitic of the Washington Times- HeraUI, starting series of record review programs oxer Station WCKM. Sidney Hoffman, manager of Stanley-Warner Metropolitan The- ilre. discussed angles of theatre management at last week's local Motion Picture and Television Council meeting here. Irving Berlin planed in from N y n c ssssssrjsssr ,n ,o ‘ n Cornel Wilde and Jean Wall. - returned from Europe. Arthur Lubin returned f 10: .. , Lausanne, Switzerland. Jon Hall to Yuma for openin' <»f new TV station. KIVA. ’ ‘ Ellis Arnall in from Atlanta f »r : huddles with indie film product, Jane Powell will tecoff ( I munity Chest campaign in K.ut Worth. Len Simpson arikled Columbia to become publicity director t.,i Norman Productions. Steve Broidy returned to hi> Allied Artists desk after three weeks in N. Y. and London. Darryl F. Zanuck will he gue-t of honor at Screen Produeeis Guild’s annual Milestone Dinrun Pandro Berman draws a six- month vacation from Metro when ; he completes “Knights of the Round Table.” American Society of Cinematog- raphers held a symposium on TV film production at its clubhouse, Panelists were George Burns and Jack Webb and their lensers, Phil Tannura and Edward Col man. Pic- tures from “The Burns and Allen Show” and ‘‘Dragnet’’ were screened and analyzed. One dozen new members have been added to the Screen Produc- ers Guild. Inducted into the organ- ization were John C. Champion, Pat Duggan, Tom Gries. Richard V. Heermanee, Howard W. Koch, Jack Pollexfen. Dick Powell. Ben Sehwalb. Sam Spiegel, Richard Wil- son. Aubrey Wisberg and Albeit Zugsmith. San Diego By Donald Freeman Shelley Winters breaking in her nitery ad at Top’s. Mel Ferrer in town for confer- ences on expansion of La Jolle Playhouse. Lotte Lehmann appeared wiih company of six singers in narration of opera at Hoover Auditorium. Paul Gregory’s “Came Mutiny Court martial” opened two-night run in Russ Auditorium Oet. 13. “Mr. Roberts” closed record three-month run at Old Globe Theatre under direction of Craig Noel. Most of cast was recruited from Navy. MARRIAGES Abbie Neal to Gene Johnson Pittsburgh. Oct. 10. Bride has a girls’ hillbilly band on WENS: lie's head of artists bureau at WWVA, Wheeling. W. Va. Shirley Fowler to Paul Clarke. New Y<*rk. October 10. Bride is an actress; he’s an actor. Ruth Goddard to Theodore Lee London, Los Angeles, Oct. 4. Bride is a former story analyst at 20th- Fox. He’s a Detroit exhibitor. Lorraine Ludwig to John Shel- ton. Kingman, Ariz., Oct. 3. Bride is a niece of film director Eddie Ludwig. He’s an actor-writer Magdalen Frazier to Gene Palm- er, San Antonio, Oct. 12. He’s an engineer with KM AC there. Anne - Marie Ekberg to Sven G. Winquist. Stockholm, Oet 3. He’s Swedish correspondent f »r Variety. Wanda Hilliard to Steve Allison. Boston, Oct. 4. Bride is nitery dancer: he conducts late night (Kil- ter and interview’ show’ on station WPEN, Philadelphia. Esther Stiefel to Leonard Stev- ens, Philadelphia. Oet. 4. Bride is member of theatre family; he's Third Army public information of- ficer and former production man- ager at station WHAT. Phila Paula Lloyd to Charles Atkin. Oct. 11, Norwalk. Conn. Bride is solo dancer with the Radio City Music Hall Ballot: he’s general stage manager of “Me and Juliet ’* Memphis By Matty Brescia Dean Hudson orch at Peabody Hotel's Skyway. Rubinoff booked at the Audi- torium for two concerts on Oet. 27. Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey re- turn for a two-week stand Oet. 15 in Hotel Claridge’s Balinese Room. Tommy Baldridge. Memphis film row flacker and salesman, now en mend after two-week siege in hos- pital. Chuck Foster and his crew, now doing one nighters in this area, skedded for a four-night stand at the nearby Naval Station near end of month. Seattle “Pal Joey” at Metropolitan. Louis Jordan and Tympanny Five into Trianon. The 50th season of Seattle Sym- phony Orch kicks off Nov. 3. Tyrone Power, Anne Baxter and Raymond Massey in “John Brown's Body” set for three day run al Paramount, opening Oct. 22. Northwest Grajid Opera Assn production of “La Boheme.” star- ring Bidu Savao. sold out for seven-city Pacific Northwest tour. BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Richard Whit \ son. Sept. 28. Chicago. Father is publicist for Conrad Hilton Hol d; mother is Patti Keefe, formu* NBC-TV producer. Mr. and Mrs. Ross H. Uigur, son. Gloversville, N. Y.. Oct. 3 Mother is the former Dore re* Schine, daughter of Louis W. Schine. Schine Circuit exec. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hosie. son. Sept. 18. Greenwich. Conn. Father is radio-TV director of the Hilt & Know I ton agenev in N Y. Mr. and Mrs. Ted Okon. v.n, Pittsburgh, Oet. 3. Mother's Gloria Bergman, of TV; father operates a radio-and-TV school. Mr. and Mrs. Howard Jackson, son. Pittsburgh. Oet. 2. Father's a KDKA salesman. Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Mrarn.i. son. Pittsburgh. Oet 1 Father* with Tommy Carlvn hand Mr. and Mrs. Tom Powers, son. Pittsburgh. Oct. 2. Father's bu- rner p.a. for Pitt Playhouse atto now with Westi'nghouse. Mr. and Mrs. George A Shan- non. daughter. Miami. Oct Mother was a booker for Cooper- ative Theatre Service in P*' burgh. . , Mr. and Mrs. Darvin Ri^> <• son. Berkeley. Cal . Oct 3. I; '"' T is assistant manager of the Golden. Gate theatre. San Francisco Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hall. ' ’ Santa Barbara. Oct. 6 Mother * Gita Hall, novelist; fathers a announcer. , _. , Mr. and Mrs. Noel Sin- daughter. Hollywood. Oct Father is a business manager Mr. and Mrs. Walter Gould. - New York. Oct. 7. Mother is ep-'i •* nitery singer Mimi Befizclt.