Variety (June 1954)

62 Broadway Ava Gardner back a six- month stay in Europe, Metro production chief Dore Schary due in from the Coast Mon- day (7). Raymond Massey left for the Coast to report to Warner Bros, for a role in "East of Eden." Barney Balaban, president of Paramount, elected a director of Manufacturers Trust Co. Marks Levine and Q: O, Bottorff, co-owners of National) Concert St Artists Corp., left Friday (28) to scout European music centres for . talent. Charles Steinberg, Warner Bros. ' assistant publicity manager, back from Washington where he ar- ranged educational tieups on up- coming pix. On the Liberte for Europe May 29: Rudolf Bing, general manager of the Met; Marks Levine, prez of National Concert St Artists Corp.; actress Joan Greenwoood; director Tay Garnett. Norman .Luboff signed to make the vocal arrangement of the sea chantey, “A Whale of a Tale/' .which Kirk Douglas will sing in Walt Disney’s “20,000 Leagues \Under the Sea.” Broadway stage designer Donald Oenslager, artist in residence this season at the Rome' Academy of Art, flew back to Italy last Thurs- day (27) after a short visit here on family matters.' The Howard Dietzes hosting the Wedding reception dinner-dance, June 13, at their Sands Point, L.I., home, for his longtime collaborator, songsmith Arthur Schwartz, and Miss Mary Scott. Anna Russell, Burl Ives and Paul Tripp (Mr. I. pagination) will be guest narrators for the 1954 sea-' son of the N.Y. Philharmonic- Symphony Young People's Con- cents at Town Hall. Alfred Muenchhausen who has been with the Rogowski Press as a linotype operator and proof- reader for 49 years, retired June 1. Rogowski’s is Variety’s printer. On behalf of Warner Bros., phil Silvers accepted a Father’s Day National Committee award for the Warner short, “Declaration of In- dependence,” at a luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria Thursday (27). \ - Atlantic City By Joe W. Walker Punchinellos into Shelburne Ho- tel’s Boardwalk lounge. Warwick featuring Neil Lewis band in Bambo Lounge. Toni Bari into 500 Club for Memorial day weekend. Brighton featured Bob Barrett orch in its Punch Bowl as new sea- son started. Hialeah has George Geraty. Johnny Hartman, the Victors, and Raye & Shaye. Dude Ranch unshuttered with Larry Swain, Ben Cotey, Virginia Swain, * Eileen Ryan. . Bruce (Bubbles) Becker into Steel Pier ballroom June 5-6 while Jo Ann Tolley stars in stageshow. Jackie Davis Trio and Dorothy Donegan at the Harlem. Spot has changed policy for new .season, and operates without big sepia shows. Washington By Florence S. Lowe Shoreham Hotel’s outdoor Ter- race supper club opened for season last Thursday (27). Arena Stage, town’s theatre-in- the-round, teed off run of Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons” last week. “It’s Everybody’s Business,” 16m animated short “explaining the American business system,” to be unveiled Thursday (3) by Chamber of Commerce of U. S. Patrice Munsel highlighted the White House ditiher given by Pres- ident and Mrs. Eisenhower in hon- or of Ethiopia’s Emperoi Haile Se- lassie with after-dinner singing. Screen star George Murphy one of 11 men to receive the Award of the Silver Buffalo from National Council of Boy Scouts of America for “distinguished service to boy- ’ hood.” This was in recognition of his work as producer of last sum- mer’s Scout Jamboree tinter. Paris First French 3-D pic, “Paris Nights” preems this week. Marcel Marceau and Co. into Renaissance for summer stint. Robert Dhery preparing a new comic revue, “Heads Up,” for the Theatre Des Varietes. DTEnnery’s 100-year-old meller, “Two Orphans,” being scripted for a pic by Yves/Mirande. Rock Hudson here prior to loca- tion shooting in Ireland on Uni- versal’s “Capt. Lightfoot.” Claude-Autant Lark getting the Grand Prize of the French Cinema for his fllmifation of the Colette novel, "Flowering Wheat,” Borrah Mtaevitch* completing renovations on his Be St. Louis, after hours club, which will be opened this week. Maurice Chevalier starts a pic here this week. Titled “I Had Seven Daughters,” ft will be direc- ted by Jean Boyer. Jean-Pierre Aumont set for lead in Jean-Bemard Luc’s new Com- edy, “Carlos and Marguerite,” which goes into the Madeleine in September. Corinne Calvet, here for “Catch a Thief” film, inked for two other pix. First is to be Henri Decoin pic, “Good to Kill,” with Danielle Darrieux and Jean-Claude Pascal, and second is the Madame Re- camier role in Sacha Guitry’s “Napoleon.” Charles Trenet takes over the stage of the European Theatre as head of a vaude revue as Suzy Delair leaves for her ..vacation and closes down the hit operetta, “Mo- bilette.” Theatre will be a Music Hall again this summer for the first time in four years. Berlin By Hans Hoehn Japan is showing “Ikuru” at Ber- lin Film Festival. Europa Film will hold Its annual meeting here this month. , ^ r Charlotte Thiele, German film star until 1944, returned from Ar- gentina. “Dial M for Murder” is next- preem at Komaedie with Viktor de Kowa starred. RKO and United Artists plan to release German films during the forthcoming season. Ivan Desny to play the lead in two German pix, “Uriter vier Augen” and “Geliebte Feindin.” “Arizona Lady,” Emmerich Kal- man’s last operetta, will have its German preem in Augsburg Oct. 26. Apollo has started “Annchen von Tharau” in Berlin-Templehof with Ilse Werner, Wolfang Schleif is directing. “The Ambassador,” Hawaiian show featuring hula dancers and Hawaiian musical quartet, being presented at local GI clubs. CCC studios at Berlin-Spandau enlarged by addition of two more stages which are supposed to be- come the biggest, mofet modern ones in Germany. Several West. German film’ asso- ciations have., decided to hold their 1954 meetings here during the forthcoming Film Festival, includ- ing the SPIO (top organization of W. German film industry). Assn, of [ West German Film Producers and Assn, of West German Film Au- thors. Copenhagen A.B.C.-records, specialist in'^Dan- ish recordings, now distributing through Philips diskery. After flop of “Taming of the Shrew,” the Frederiksberg Theatre again is showing “White Horse Inn.” • Danish actress Ernie Arnesoh, who has been in real estate biz in Hollywood since 1949, guest-star- Yihg in this summer’s Cirkus Re- vue. French and Italian pix gaining foothold in Denmark. Palads played “Lucretia Borgia” (Asa) for six weeks and “The Price of Fear” (FCP) was a hit at World Cinema. . The Kongelige Jeater played “Hamlet” this season to good box- office. Richard Burton and Claire Bloom coming in July to play “Hamlet” (in English) at old Kron- borg Castle in Elsinore. Minneapolis By Les Rees Rose Murphy into St. Paul Flame Room. Hotel Radisson Flame Room has singer Jimmy Carroll. Edyth Bush Little Theatre pre- sented “Love of Four Colonels.” Ra 1 p h Flanagan’s orchestra played two-night Prom Ballroom date. Charlie Washburn in ahead of “The Seven Year Itch,” Lyceum underline. Minneapolis Symphony orch’s 1954-55 season $265,000 guaranty fund drive passed $100,000 mark. In chalking up $94,568 for four performances here, Metropolitan Opera played to 18,368 patrons as compared to $93,112 and 18,302 last season. Jess Meltzer, vet Minneapolis Symphony orch celloist, named or- ganization’s personnel manager, succeeding John G. McKay, who resigned to become associated with business enterprise. London Loke Wan {Tho, big Singapore circuit owner, in town with his wife. Larry Adler entertained 300 con-, victs at a London prison with har- monica recital, Anthohy Howard, former acripter and free lance journalist, named press officer of Associated British- Pathe. Sid Phillips is to represent Brlt= ish light music at British festival week at"Maastrlch (Holland) open- ing June 13. Phyliss Kirk conducted the draw of Variety Club’s annual derby sweepstake, which raised nearly $20,000 for charity. Sir Philip Warter, chairman of Associated British Picture Corp., sailed for N.Y. on the Flandre last Week for confabs with WB execu- tives, Beverlee Dennis, currently top- ping the show at the Colony restau- rant, celebrated her birthday last Saturday (29) by being featured in “In Town Tonight,” Britain’s only simulcast. Henry Cornelius, director^ of “Genevieve,” planed to Hollywood last Thursday (27) for confabs with Christopher Isherwood on script of “I Am A Camera,” which he is to meg for Romulus. Harry Mandell, chief barker elect i of the Toronto tent, guest at Var- iety Club luncheon which feted Group Captain Douglas Bader, Lord Douglas of Kirtleside, and Jack Nener, Daily Mirror editor. Passengers on the Elizabeth which sailed for New York last Thursday (27) included Milton H. Biow, Maurice B. Mitchell, and Joseph M. Allen, director radio-tv activities of Assn, of National Ad- vertisers. Pittsburgh By Hal V. Cohen Johnny Kirby flew in from Hol- lywood to spend week with Jiia family. Wayne Hecht named house man- ager for Little Lake Theatre this season. Ralph Buring, .Par exploiteer in this area, to Florida for two-week vacation. Bob Nellis, former Playhouse ac- tor, will direct' strawhat season at Foxburg Playhouse. Stan Watt, who was a soldier in "Home of Brave” at .Community Theatre, into the Army. Dick Fortune, WDTV publicity director and former drama critic, and wife observed first* wedding anni. John Bracchita, drama student at Tech, awarded Fulbright Schol- arship to Royal Academy of Dra- matic Art in London. Jack DeLeon, who played the Penn with Vaughan Monroe and Sauter-Finegan band Easter Week, at Twin Coaches with Tony Martin. Truth Scott’s health forced her to withdraw from Charlie Gaynor revue, “Between Friends,” at Play- I house; .Janice Norris took her place. ! * __ Memphis By Matty Brescia Johnny Eaton now running Nor- mal nabe house here. Early Maxwell, Memphis pro- moter, back from trip .to Holly- wood. Louis Jordan set for Handy The- atre in September by Chalmers Cullins. Cliff Miller skippering the swank Flamingo Room in the Improve- ment Club. “King and I” penciled in here for one week at the Ellis Auditori- um South 1 Hall this fall. Ted Mack on Beale Street here 'lining up Negro talent for future showing on his Amateur Hour shows. Chalmers Cullins, vet Memphis showman, back from Chicago and Cincinnati, to set Negro talent for his Handy Theatre next fall. Philadelphia By Jerry Gaghan Palumbo’s to break long-estab- lished policy by remaining open this summer. The Troc, local Hirst Circuit house, ended burley bills for sum- mer last week. George Tunnell, former band vo- calist, known as Bon Bon, suffered broken leg In a fall. Eddie Suez, local booker, opened his Club Avalon, Wildwood, N. J. showplace, over holiday weekend. Sherman Frank, local pianist, goes to Kansas City for his third summer to maestro Starlight Opera Series. Lexington Casino, operated by T°ny and Arthur ^Phillips, booking agents, celebrates its eighth anni June 3. Robert de Pasquale, violinist, will get out of the Navy this sum- Wednesday, June 2, 1954 me? and join tho Boston Symphony in the fall. ... Singling Bros, and Bamum & Bailey Chrcus in week’s stand starting May 24 at its new location in North Pnilly. Eddie Fisher will be a repeat star at the annual Philadelphia Inquirer Music Festival in Munici- pal Stadium June 11. Tune penned by local songwriter. Blx Reichrier, “ft You Know the Lord/' is being. plugged by Rev. Billy Graham at revival meetings in London. Liberace ; 'Continued from pas* 1 Hollywood ages adopted In an effort to attract Liberace’s personal attention while he was on the platform. Even in the far reaches of the Madison Sq. galleries femmes seemed intent upon drawing in their direction a lift of Liberace’s melting brown eyes, or a flash of his swoonable smile. Some on the ground floor were a little bolder. Two threw floorers at him, hundreds photographed him in every pose. Liberace seemed I more than, an entertainer that night. He was the leader of a move- ment — a movement that would have on its banner a gleaming set of choppers and a candelabra. It’s readily seen that he is all things to all women. It’s conceiv- able that the elderly dames might recall a lad in the living room play- ing a piano. Others, viewing the distinguished thatch of hair might see an old beau,' and still others may have some other reasons. Any- how, this guy has insinuated him- self via television and Columbia waxings Into the favor of a horde of women. Certainly, there are more accom- plished pianists either in the clas- sical or pop vein. As a matter of fact, Liberace digs into an ancient bag of show biz iHcks—some of them so elementary as to cause showmen to wonder that these hackneyed bits of business could ever hold up. For example, fol- lowing a Chopin medley, he' urged that the applause be directed to his mother in the audience. In a split second the spotlight picked up the ample, beaming and orchid- bedecked Madame Liberace, who acknowledged the hearty applause with several bows. Such elementary ‘ tricks couldn’t very well be used upon sophisti- cates. Liberace could only develop so tremendous a hold on these femmes in an era when to be ac- cused of having some intellect is tantamount to vilification. While Rudolph Valentino re- mains par for the course arid hard- ly anybody now remembers that Rudy Vallee, now a character actor, was once a feminine butterball darling, the cases of Frank Sina- tra, Johnnie Ray and Carl Brissbn come to mind. Each induced strange behavior in grown females. If the menfolk won’t take the gals to Liberace’s concerts, one thing is for sure, the gals will go on their own. Undoubtedly, Liberace is of the top level of current-day showmen. He has carried his talent a long way. He gives the impression of enjoying his work, and his'Small- talk helps. As a matter of fact, he’s presold to his audiences. His vid- pix show (in N. Y. over WPIX) has built him up to one of the heaviest boxofflees in the U. S. He emphasized his hold on the people by citing the fact that he filled the Garden even though critics lambasted him, mentioning the Herald Trib’s John Crosby, and the Journal-American’s columnist, Dorothy Kilgallen. He seemed to have warm support from the crowd on the Crosby deprecations, but there were audible hisses when he mentioned Miss Kilgallen. Appar- ently, she s a familiar name to this crowd. Anyway, after one mention, Liberace refrained from further mention of Miss Kilgallen, al- though he continued taking pot shots at Crosby. His music is of a good commer- cial brand, loud and without any tremendous depth. From pops to Chopin and “Cornish Rhapsody,” he and his maestro brother George, heading a 50-piece crew, went through hillbilly and circus rou- tines, and a wide variety of tunes which, according to musical stand- ards, represents a good brand of parlor music. Liberace is a modern-day box-' office phenomenon, much as is Victor Borge He’s at his peak, and it looks like he’ll be on*that level until the fickle femmes latch onto another symbol. Paul Kohner returns next month from European jaunt. - Cesar Romero back from io weeks in Mexico City. Milt Stein returns to 'Columbia after three-week illness. * Karen Sharpe hops to Frisco to- day to joih Robert Stack. Chariton- Heston* motored in from Chicago for confabs with C. B DeMille. S. Z. Sakall, vet thesp, entered Cedars of Lebanon Hospital for checkup. Frederick Bnsson returned from two months of launching Broadwav “Pajama Game.” y Herbert J. Yates back from N Y along with Mercedes McCambridge and Scott Brady. Richard Widmark to London to prep co-star role in Warnick’s “Prize of Gold.” ‘ Milton Sperling succeeds Dore Schary 'as Board ‘of Overseers chairman of. the U. of Judaism Dividendv of $20,608 being dis- tributed by Universal to employees on company’s group Insurance {dan. Mitzi. Gaynor collapsed with high fever on 20th-Fox’s “There’s No Business Like Show Business” set: ordered to bed. Jesse L. Lasky succeeds William H. Wright as chairman of Screen Producers Guild membership com- mittee for coming year. Chicago Lenaud Sisters, Evlyn and Hazel, held over at Sheraton Hotel lounge. Karen Ford, local warbler, signed with St, Louis Municipal Opera. Mercury Records .held two-day sales meet for managers and field reps here last week. Film actor Jay Robinson in town doing scenes from “The Robe” be- fore high school audiences* Chez Paree availing special rate for prom dates after midnight on weekends $3.95 for dinner and en- tertainment. Jack Palance here for two weeks in “Dark of the Moon” at Salt Creek Summer Theatre which kicked off season May 31. Marion Davies here over last weekend as cocktail party hostess to launch Arthur Lake’s new tv series, “Meet the Family.” Irving Green, Mercury Records prez, left on weekend for 10-day visit tb Japan, where he will set up new branch for the diskery. Janet Brqce playing current one- week, at Cloister Inn, sharing bill with Lurlene Hunter. Cloister boni- face Pat Fontecchio now in N.Y. seeking new recording acts. , Ed. Murrow and' Elmer Davis honored with citations by Roose- velt College last week, with Mur- row speaking before school’s ninth annual banquet, Davis cancelled appearance because of illness. Cieyeland By Glenn C. Pullen Ward March, vet film critic for Plain Dealer, in Hollywood for three weeks. Wally Griffin 1 returned to Vogue Room May 31, with Dorothy Col- lins due June 21 and Don Cherry on July 8. Meyer B. Fine, of Associated Theatres, reported to be dickering with Stanley Warner for tWo of its nabe houses. Norman Knuth orch, Starliters of WGAR, replacing Sammy Wat- kins’ crew at Statler Terrace Room this week when Watkins goes tour- ing. Manny Stutz, operator of Circle, installed new policy of country and western acts in stage revues for double performances every Sat- urday. Rosemary Kuhlman inked to warble in “New Moon” for'Musi- carnival strawhatter week of July 6; also for “Showboat” for two weeks starting Aug. 3. Louise Hoff and Randi Sabatini topping Alpine Village show, while Carmen Mirandi checked into Sky- Way Club Friday (28), Jovita. dancing Zeas and Stella Gil teamed In Vogue Room’s new Latin pack- age. Istanbul Cem&l Resir Rey, conductor of the Istanbul Philharmonic, back in town from his annual European concert tour. Mucap Oflu, legit actor, inked by Michel Vitold for role in the French actor-director’s film, “Star of the Orient.” Maldun t Dormen, legit str— of “Dial M ior Murder,” set. for the title role in TUrkish-Italian copro- duction, “The, Young Sultan.” Muammer Karaca, Turkish come- dian, back from Athens; goes to Ankara to join his company of “Cibali K*r$kblu, u ‘to tout. J « i i K «*> ,‘i , .1 • '