Variety (March 1954)

n CMATT l Broadway Vedaftiday t March 24, 1954 t*ura Lee (Payne), former WB •tar, in from Hollywood at the Savoy-Plaza. WIlUam M. Judd,, veepee of j Co- lumbia Artists Mgt., hospitalized all this week for minor operation. A mass will be held for the late Mrs, Adele Blair, ex-Shap ro-Bern- stein, at St. Malachy’s Friday (20) at'9 aon. ♦ Dancer - choreographer David Lichine artd his Ballet de la Ville des Anges Jh from Europe on the Liberte Monday (22). Music biz execs are throwing a S arty ' for vet bandleader Russ [organ on his 50th birthday April 29 at Hutton’s Restaurant. Vet legit pressagent Joseph Heidt to marry radio-legit actress Joan Vitez in N.Yi Friday (26). First marriage for her;.second for him. Charles Dingle, currently fea tured in “The Immoralist” at the Royale, N. Y., observes his 50th year in the American theatre today (Wed.); Lucille Littel (ex-Mrs. Deems Taylor) one-woman showing her Paris art works—two years’ produc- tion of 35 canvases—at Ward Egg- leston Galleries until April 3. Hildegarde gets “Person-to-Per- 8on’’ed on Ed Murrow’s CBS-TVer May 7, which will also be her video debut. She has vaudeo guesters with new partner Johnny Johnston slated to follow. . Pegeen (Ed &) Fitzgerald into the beauty preparation business on , her own with an imported Irish lotion recipe which is being mer- chandised on a mailorder basis but may be bankrolled by a large cosmetician. The Ziegfeld Club, - Inc. holds its 18th Annual Dinnet-Dance this year at the Waldorf Astoria Sat- urday, April 24. Meyer Davis will supply the music and there will be an all-star show. Tickets are $22 per. including dinner. Hilton Hotels making a “pre- miere” of the new lobby and ball- room decor of the Hotel New Yorker this (Wed.) afternoon, the first standing since the chain took over its management. Eleanor LeMaire did the decorating and Eugene Voit is resident manager. Arturo* Toscanini Will mark his 87th birthday quietly in his home in Riverdale, N. Y., tomorrow ,Thuss.), with his son, Walter, daughter-in-law Cia, grandson Walfredo, daughter Wanda (Mrs. Vladimir Horowitz), granddaughter Sonia Horowitz, and his daughter the Countess Wally Castelbarco. Equitable Life of Iowa, through its Philadelphia office, trying to local Robert Evans Schenck, whose wife is Mildred Leo Clemens Schenck, and formerly connected with the Swarthmore Chautauqua Association, Swarthmore, Pa., in the late 1920s. Insurance company has a small endowment policy due Mr. Schenck. Count Basie orch at the immense Salle Pleyel April 3 and 4. Two new Henry de Montherlant g. “No One'* Son” and “Port- London *»oyai,” ‘ accepted for Comedie- Francaise production next season. “Kean,” Alexandre Dumas-Jean- Sartre legiter, sold out until next summer, with Pierre Brasseur now back on stage after his hospital gi0gg t Alex Joffe will do a color film version of the hit legit, ‘The Cavalrymen,” with Gina Lollobri- gifla, Robert Lamoureux and Jacques Fabbri. Edith Piaf winds a highly suc- cessful music hall stint at the Alhartibra this week which then becomes a film house operation with stageshows. Mitch Miller here for a looksee at the Gallic disk and music biz set- up; also huddling with U. S. Army reps on the cultural aspects of U.S. music and disks in Europe. Andre Roussin, with three hits now on the-legit stage here, prepar- ing another to succeed himself next season when “Helene” goes on tour and quits the .Madeleine. Jose Ferrer picked up the U.S. legit rights to a second Albert Husson play here, “The Pavements of Heaven.” Show has had a suc- cessful run, with Micheline Presle and Jean-Pierre Aumont the chief draws. By Les Rees Starlight club has comic Buddy “Affairs of State” on tap at Edyth Bush Little Theatre. St. Paul Home 'Show, April 3-11, will have Mills Bros, for its stage- show* Eddie Fisher here briefly ehroute to Mayo clinic, Rochester, Minn., for checkup. * ' Phil Spitalny and his “Hour of Charm” orch wound up nine-day run with Builders’ Show at Audi- torium. * ' Carl Brisson, in third week at Hotel Radissoh Flame Room, will be held ever for an additional two, longest consecutive date ever chalked up by any act there. Additional Lyceum bookings are the Abbey Players in “Pygmalion” on April 29 and “Stalag 17” May 3. WithJ'Porgy and Bess” current, house also will get “My Three Angels” and “An Evening With Beatrice Lillie” in April and May. It already has lined Up “Picnic” and '“The King and I” for next season. Peggy Taylor started this week at the Colony. ‘ Viera opened a four-week cabs* ret date at Quaglino’s and the Al- legro Room this week, succeeding Linda Gloria. * Gerry Femback, publicity di- rector for Republic here, bedded by jaundice and will be away from his desk about a month. y , Anthony S. Grundr, formerly a film editor, joined Sidney L. Bern- stein’s Granada circuit in charge’ of press and :public relations. Rex Harrison returned here to star in a new Launder-Gilliat com- edy. ‘‘Marriage a la Mode,” which is to be lensed at Shepperton Studios. The Lyon family—-Bebe, Ben, Barbara and Richard—will make its first appearance on tele April 2 in a program being produced by Henry Caldwell, - ' ^Visitors to London last week in- cluded Indian exhibitor Kiki Modi; actress Ann Hunter; and Milton Ritzenberg, La Salle Hotel, Wash- ington, D C., prexy. Ealing Studios sending a unit to Austria and Yugoslavia for loca- tion lensing on “The Divided Hearts,” which co-stars Yy.onne Mitchell and Cornell Borchers. The dates of the regular Variety Club luncheons are being re-ar- ranged to enable Danny Kaye, who is coming specially for the charity preem of/‘Knock on Wood,” to be guest of honor April 22. Tribute to the late Noel Gay, who died earlier this month, to be broadcast by the BBC next Mon- day (29), will include some of his hit tuneslsuch as “The Lambeth Walk” and “Run, Rabbit, Run.” ^ Preston Sturges, in London to direct Katharine Hepburn in “The Millionairess,” has' - been looking around to locate the family apart- ment where he lived as a youth. He found it above Variety’s Lon- don bureau; it’s the flat occupied by Hannen Swaffer. , , Errol Flynn inked by Herbert Wilcox to co-star with Anna Nea- gle in “Lilacs in the Spring,” based on the musical play, “The Glorious Days” which was at the Palace last season. United Artists will release in the western hemi- sphere with Republic distributing in Europe. billy and western department at the Leo iftLeo Theatrical agency. Herbie Fields, currently with combo at the Rendezvous, opened nitery of his own near Ft. Dix, N.J. Danny Kaye guest-cohducted at the. Children's Concert of the Philadelphia Orch Saturday morn- ing (20). Helen Tamiris replaced Donald Saddler as dance director of “By the Beautiful Sea,” current at Forrest. Guitarist Vince James, whose outfit wae* broken up by death of his pianist, joined Del Lucas combo at Pacey’s Show* Bar. Conte Condoli, trumpeter inr lured in the crash of the Stan Kenton band bus last summer, making first appearance since ac- cident at the Blue Note; Washington By Florence S. Lowe Oscar Levant due in March *31 for the first of three stints with National Sym phony Orch: Super Music has booked Tony Bennett with the Percy Faith orch Into 4,000-seat Constitijtion Hall for a one-night stand Saturday (27). Variety Club sponsoring mine Arena preem of Hollywood Ice Re- vue, starring Barbara Ann Scott, April 6 for benefit of this tent’s welfare fund. RKO Theatres prexy Sol Schwartz here the past week for Department of Justice huddles and a reunion with former RKO staffer Col. Joseph Goetz. Celeste Holm, currently break- ing in her new show at Hotel Stat- ler’s Embassy Room, taking time out for some ward shows at Walter Reed and other military hospitals Washington Board of Traders an- nual Theatre Week luncheon March 23 highlighted by presence of bal- lerinas Leslie Caron and Colette Marchand, current in “Ballets de Paris.” Paris Colette’s “Gigi” big legit click at Theatre deb Arts. Colette Mars set for a repeat U.S, nitery date next fall. Marcel Pagnol preparing see iiario for biopfc of Swiss novelist C. F. Ramuz. Jean-Louis Barrault adding the Jean Anouilh hit of two seasons ago, “The Rehearsal,” to the com pany rep again. Ancient meller, “Lyons Mail,” to be lensed with Sophie Des- marets, Charles Vanel and Georges Marchal in leads. . . Van Johnson, director Richard Brooks and Metro crew to Riviera for week’s location work on “Last Time I Baw Paris.” Ducats practically sold' out al- ready -for the four concerts -of Mexico City Miami Beach By Douglas L. Grahame Andres Soler to Havana to make wo pix. . Oscar *Danciger to co-produce a pic with Rizzoli. • ' Marissa Belli, Italian actress, here to play in a Mexican film. Esther Fernandez inked to play in a film in English with Burt Lan- CdStGI*. National University’s ballet click- ing at the Palace of Fine Arts (Na- tional Theatre). Sara Garcia, vet stage-film char- acter woman, recuperating from major surgery in her home. Sofia Alvarez, Colombian come- dienne who’s a favorite in Mexican showbiz, inked by the Reno nitery. David Negrete, brother of the late Jorge Negrete, new prexy of Fimadora Atlantida, a top film pro- ducer. • Matilde Palou, vet actress, hos- pitalized by fracture of her right arm caused by falling off a ladder during a performance. Ana Eugenia Robinson, grand- daughter of Gen. Plutarco Elias Calles, ex-president of Mexico, bows as piC actress in “Sittin** Bull” which. Panoramic Films an Tele-Voz are to make soon. By Lary Solloway Jana Mason a click at the Vag abonds Club. Jeanette MacDonald and Gene Raymond in town, hoqse guesting with friends. * Eddie Albert and Margo break- ing in their cafe act in Driftwood Room of the Nautilus. Phil Silvers at the Lord* Tarle- ton prepping for world preem here of “Lucky Me” on March* 31. ' Xavier Cugat orch, with Abbe Lane, into Saxony Hotel’s Pagoda Room March 26 for a six-day run. Sophie Tucker to appear on Ed Sullivan tv show April 4, with her segment cut in from Saxony Hotel stage here. Jack Carson set for Olympia Theatre, opening March 24. Los Chavales de Espana and Trini Reyes follow the next week. Sans Souci Hotel will host screensters coming in for launch- ing of “The Miami Story” April 2, this oceanfronter being setting for many scenes in pic. Barry Sul- livan and Luther Adler will head the contingent. Vienna By Emil W. Maass Alois Uebelhoer appointed chief of the Austrian radio system. “Jazz at Philharmonic,” with Ella Fitzgerald, played to full house at Konzert House. Ernst Lothar translating and directing Oscar Wilde's “Bunbury" for the Academy Theatre. Film director J. A. Huebler- Kahla will direct the pic, “Yblan- the,” for Berolina Film Co. Ljuba Welitsch and Fred Lie- wehr will play the leads in “The Bat” at Bregenz summer festivals. Paramount and French news- reels intend to compete here with the Austria State newsreel com- pany. Dutch conductor Rafael Kubelik directed Philharmonic and goes with Amsterdam concerthouse orch on U. S. tour. Singer Vico Torriani will play the part of the singing ski teacher in^the next Sievering studio'pro- duction. Before discovered as vo- calist, he earned his living by giv- ing ski lessons. . By Hans Hoehn Jean Cocteau applied to Allianz to send its pic “Tiefland” to Cannes. . ■ ■ . Hugo Hirsch, Berlin film and operetta composer, observed his 70th birthday. “Mamsell Nitouche” preemed at Kurfuerstendamm Theatre ' with Inge Konradi in the title role. “Beggar’s Opera” (Wilcox) will be shown in original version and without subtitles at West German art houses. Alfred Braun appointed manager of Sender Freies Berlin, new West Berlin radio station, which starts broadcasting in June. “Die Gefangene des. Maharads- cha,” second portion of the Veit U. S. pix recently showing here include “She Wore Yellow Rib- bon” (WB), “Ride Vaquero” (M-G), “Here to Eternity” (Col), “Apache Chief” (Lip), “Big Heat” (Col) and ‘My Dream Is Yours” (WB)’. Two musical comedy shows are slated for the Berlin GIs soon. First includes Two-Ton Tessie O’Shea, Fran Dowie, Danny Ar- nold, Johnny Matson, Mona Mc- Call, Billy Baxter, Granger Bros., and . London-town Lovelies. The other comedy outfit is the Boyd Bachman band which will appear with Jay Cameron and Gerard & Ak Van Rooyen. MARRIAGES Joan Javits to Lieut. John Hui- bert "Zeeman 3d, Palm Beach, Fla., March 20. Bride is a songwriter. Evelyn Robinson to W. Nelson Weitman, New York, Feb. 20. Bride is a commentator and disk jockey with WOV, N. Y.; he’s a production assistant at ABC. Julie Reily to Ben Rosner, New York, March 5. He is assistant ad- vertising sales manager for RCA Victor disk division; bride was his secretary. Gwen Frutin to Alan Cohen, Glasgow, Scotland, March 16. Bride is daughter of Alex Frutin, owner of Metropole Theatre, Glasgow, and w.k. exhib. Hollywood Patricia Medina bedded by liver trouble. - . ... /uver John Steinbeck _ hospitalized for checkup. v Bob Hope to Palm Springs for 10-day rest. 'Janet Leigh limping on a sprained ankle. . Liberace to St. Louis on start of midwestem tour. Billy Gilbert back in town after five years in „N.Y. A. C, Blumerfthal up and around after serious illness. Joan Crawford", hack in town after coast-to-coast tour. Virginia Grey suffered three fractured ribs in a motor crash. Russell Holman. in from N.Y. to view VistaVision at Paramount. Frank Daugherty resigned after eight years as a Columbia publicist. Merian C. Cooper to Detroit for first anni of Cinerama in that city. Don Hartman heads* out next week for an extended tour of Europe. Dennis Morgan to Dallas forthe- Variety Clubs International Con- vention. Harry Cohn to Phoenix to re- cuperate from his recent throat operation. Phil Goldstone donated $125,000 to Mt. Sinai Hospital as a memorial to his mother. Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis palsy-wolsy again after brief mis- understanding. Ted Loeff signed Jeahette Saw- yer to head his newly-opened N.Y. publicity office. Irving Berlin checked in from N.Y. with completed score for “There’s No Business Like Show: Business.” Chicago Max Cooper handling flackery for new Blue Note. Andres Segovia here in concert at Orchestra Hall Sunday (21). Crossroads abandoned vaude and has switched to a stripper policy. Phil'Regan flown in from Eire to sing for Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago on St. Patrick’s Day. George Jessel and Melvyh Doug- las spoke at Roosevelt College’s ninth anni luncheon yesterday (Tues.). Ice Capades current at Arena through April 1, at which time house closes for conversion to CBS Chi headquarters. Irv Kupcinet, Sun-Times column- ist, to Hollywood for Academy Award presentations; then goes to Hawaii for three weeks. Alvin Etler’s Symphony No. 1 getting American preem by Fritz Reiner and Chicago Symphony Or- chestra tomorrow (Thurs,). t George Gobel to m.c^ at Ameri- can Film Assembly .here April 1 for Goldeh Reel Awards Banquet, with critic Gilbert Seldes and Dr. Albert W. Trueman, film commis- sioner of Canada, as keynote speakers. Ireland By Maxwell Sweeney “GlennJMiller Story” (U) opened to big biz at Savoy, Dublin. Roy Rogers in for four perform- ances at .Dublin Theatre Royal. Delia Murphy, wife of Irish Am bassador to Australia, warbling ballads for BBC Light Service, St. Patrick’s Day. Padraig Fallon’s “The Seventh Step” set for preem by Dublin Globe Theatre Co. at Cook Opera House next month. Paddy A. McNally, Chief Barker of Variety Tent 4T, will visit 17 Tents in the U.. S. during 10-week tour starting in April. Lord Longford, prexy of Long- ford Productions, awarded honor- ary degree of Doctor of Literature, for services to drama by Dublin U. **r By Jerry Gaghan Singer Giselle McKedzie. made the rounds of the disk jockeys last week. . Betty Jane Bruce, former “Miss Philadelphia,” joined Bill Davies orch as vocalist. Jack Casper, manager of Jaye Brothers, Set duo for Palace Thea- tre (N.Y.) debut, April 16. Harry Dobbs, nitery orchestra leader and booker, is recuping at home following, heart attack. - Jack Howard heads the new hill- BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. John Cole, son, Burbank, March 12. Father is an advertising executive. Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Tarplin, son, New York, March 21. Father is a radio-tv actor. .Mr. and Mrs. Irvjn Seyler, daughter, Hollywood, March 18. Father is with Fox West Coast. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Flannery, 'Son, Chicago, March 15. Father is vice-president of Whiteway Signs. . Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Sundry, daughter, Pittsburgh, March 12. Father owns the William Penn Tavern. Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Rehfield, son, Hollywood, March 14. Father is one of the stars in “Frosty Frolics,” Coast teleshow. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Kodinsky, daughter, Pittsburgh, March 13. Father and mother are both in public relations. ■ ‘ ' Mr. and Mrs. Don Costello, daughter, Dallas, Tex., Feb. 9. Mother is dancer Ginnie Boucher; father is a comic-emcee; Mr. and Mrs. Jonas T. Silver- stone, daughter, New York, March 7. Father is member of Silver- stone & Rosenthal, theatrical at- torneys. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Clarke, daugh- ter, San Diego; Cal., March 7. Mother is the former Peggy Tay- lor/an adagio dancer; father’s an- engineer. ' Mr. and Mrs. Rudi Fehr, daugh- ter, Los Angeles, March 17. Moth- er is the former Maris Wrixon, ex- Warner contract actress; father’s a Warner film editor. Mr. and Mrs. Benny Weiss Jr., daughter, Reading, Pa., March 15. Mother is Rosanne Drexel, dancer, father is a singer and night club emcee. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Hoffman, daughter, Seattle, March 19. Father is a Paramount field man; mother, the former Marilyn Goldstein, was in press department of WCCO, Minneapolis. Pittsburgh By Hal V. Colien Max Shulgolds of Film Row celebrated 18th wedding anni. Nixon gets “The Fqurposter” with John Beal and Carol Stone week of May 3. . Singer John Geary recovering at West Penn Hospital after throat operation. . _ , His doctor vetoed Carl Dozers projected trip to Dallas for Variety Club convention. , Johnny Harris to Europe for second time this year in seacch oi “Tee 'Capades” novelties. Dr. Ralph Cohen, local dentist acting in Catholic Theatre Guild production of “Barabbas.” . New cocktail, lounge opening shortly in the Roosevelt Hotel will be called the Gill ’N’ Quill. t . Morry Berman, Sun-Tele photog, won $300 first prize in Variety Clubs photographic competition. Local designer Burton. Miller made special costumes Carol Gnan- riihg will Wear when she goes into “Wonderful Town.” Madrid By Geeno Gairr Pianist Alexandra Uninsky on » concert tour of .Spain. ■ m Trini Moren and Nino Utrera off to Buenos Aires to work in radio and niteries until late in August. Argentinian actress Pepita Ser- rador at the Teatro Maravillas with the legiter, “Bitter Victory. Dancers Emilia Escudero ana Rafael Farina are organizing J new Spanish folklore songs ana dances group. . Spanish maestro Ataulfo Argen ta and Italian pianist Alfredo Cic- colini at the 1,200-seat Palacio MU sica with the Madrid Symphony. Poetess Gloria Fuerte, dancer Fernando Guerra, composers Dume and Jose Fradere, all from Cuba, started a tour of recitals i Snain.