Variety (September 1954)

■ m * Broadway Ed (and Pegeen) Fitzgerald, and Hope Hampton and Herman King (Bros.) in on the SS U.S. yesterday (Tues.). Meyer Davis sailing for Europe on Sept. 17 aboard the S.S. United States. He will return early in October. ■ Constance Moore reopens the St. Regis' Maisonette season Sept. 9, her third engagement/in three sea-i tons at this hostelry. Carroll Carroll back to the-Coast and his CBS production-writing chores on the Bob Crosby show after vacationing east with his family. .. - , „ .. Pianist Claudio Arrau left N* Y. Saturday (28) for the Edinburgh Festival, Where he was scheduled for ‘appearances last night (Tues.) and Sept. 4 and 6. Theodore R. Kdpfermam v.p. and general counsel of Cinerama Productions Corp., nominated for prexy of Federal Bar Assn, of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut Collier Young, prexy of Fil- makers Productions, and Irving H, Levin, Filmakers Releasing chief, poured at the St. Regis yesterday (Tues.) to mark opening of “Pri- vate Hell—36” at the Paramount this week,- Anna Russell is sailing today (Wed.) for England where, on Sept 21, she’ll make her London bow at the Watergate Theatre in her own one-woman show. She will also perform in Paris; and on seven BBC television programs. ; Returned on the Queen Eliza- beth, berthed yesterday (Tues.) in New York, are Jan and Syd Silverman. (Variety), after their ' 6-week honeymoon; spngsmith Jo- seph Meyer and his wile, after a three-month European vagabond- age; theatre owner William Brandt and his wife. Photographer Maurice Seymour solved a problem for Hildegarde and Jack Whiting in a resourceful way this week. Assigned to rush pictures of both, for their new act, and with the chanteuse in Las Vegas, Seymour shot Whiting alongside some huge blowups o the songstress. Bill Treadwell, publicist now With the Leo Burnett Agency, go a press break with “The Museum pf American Comedy” at Riviera Beach, Fla., and his plan to “pay tribute” at monthly intervals to Red Skelton, W. C. Fields, Damon Runyon, Fred Alien, Jack Benny, Bob Hope, George Burns & Gracie Alien, Mack Sennett & his Key- stone Kops, Ed Wynn, Mark Twain, Victor Moore and Robert Behchley. Lull Saez da Heredia. Spanish- American co-producers plan to make another pie together in Spain next year, along with director Ter- ence Young who,did “Lady. Eng- ish actor Paul Scofield, in same film, is being Paged by 20th-Fox for a term contract.' Paris London Legit houses unshuttering this week with return of last season s clicks. Eric von Stroheim to be Beet- hoven In Sacha Guitry’s biopie of Napoleon. .. 4 . .. Borrah Minevitch opening his Quai de Bourbon (lie St. Louis) cafe, Sept. 22. Fortunia replacing Yvonne Me- Harrv Green to star in a tele version of “Isidor Comes to Town. which he's adapted from Aaron Hoffman’s play. . Wally Griffin, currently topper at Colony Restaurant, has had his booking extended a fortnight by. rlnuiva Fnmnean man pix, were the biggest local ' Bobby Weiss, Capitol s European /trosscrs last month* r £ P ' A rhlp°f m Glen^alfach 1 Kart Ritter, former director of ahead of Nazi pix who returned frbm Argen who is due from Hollywood in a tina lagt year, soon wUl start di soon will start directing a film about Richard Wagner* “Magic Fire,’' for Republic., ■ ; ■ . West Germany’s entry Into the San Sebastian Film Festival was “Ho Way Back/ 5 in addition, four unofficial pix were sent. “Weg ohne Umkehr” (No Way | Back), “Fraeuleln vom Amt” and “Eine Frau von Hente,” all Ger- few days. Val Parnell; London Palladium topper, writing, a series on Las Vegas in the Daily Express under headline, “It’s the Craziest Town on Earth.” ■ . f- * . until recently in recting “Ball of Nations” (operetta by the late Fred Raymond) with an international cast. Stubby Kaye, . . - ^ 0 li M«?ar| e goes h °to' U RC S Doll ^ack C f romVe w York and Madness. Menard goes to U. S. „ British, vaude tour at or Lou Walters in October. Mike MacKenzie into Mars Club o share billing with Charlie Beals who. switched from Calvados re- cently. Milton Sealey replaces Beals at Calvados. Hal Wallis in Rome to confer with Tennessee Williams on screen- play of “Rose Tatoo,” in'Which Anna Magnani and Burt Lancaster will co-star. Producer will do Cy Howard story, “Martin and Lewis in Paris,” here in January. Madrid . . By Ramsay Ames John Ringling North due in Sep- tember. King Bros; expected soon in Eu- rope to Resume film production program in Germany and Spain. Xavier Cugat, recently arrived in Barcelona with his wife Abbe Lane, and tremendous show, expected for long engagement here. Lew Ayres arrived quietly and Without fanfare, spent two days in a hotel suite, and left almost be- fore anyone knew he was here. Barclay Acheson, director of Reader’s Digest International Edi- tions, in for a week to confirm Vicente Bobadilla’s replacement of Dennis McEvoy (he’s off on a year’s leave of absence to write a book) as Spanish editor-in-chief. Lfed Kennealley, New York-New Haven Railroads prexy, here to publicize boss Pat McGinnis’ pur- chase of streamlined Spanish train, Talgo. Campaign included tele- vised fashion show filmed in color in the lobby of Castellatta-Hiltoa Dolores Del Rio in via Cifban Airlines to begin her starring stint in “Senora Ama.” She was met by her director, Mexican Julio Bracho, and a large group of flower-laden friends and admirers, in spite of the hou? and the chill in the air at Barajas airport at 2 a.m. Tourists and show biz- VIPs still swarming into Madrid, in spite of its being definitely off-season on the books. Sudden, unprecedented cool weather is bad news for out- door niteries, but hotel bistros and indoor club-restaurants' (such as the popular Riscal, which is a sort of Spanish Sardi’s) are doing con- stant SRO. Ambitious Spanish-Italiari film in preparation on the life of Goya, 'one of Spain’s most famous paint- ers. Italian producers Lombardo of Titanus Films, and Casuto and Argento of Unitalia, a $1,000,000 budget and expectations of featur- ing a big American star. Pic will be filmed in Spain, titled “Goya”: writers to be Spanish, Italian and American. Sy Bartlett, producer of the Olivia de Haviland-Gilbert Roland starrer. “That Lady,” here from London en route to Malaga, where be will spend two weeks as guest of his Spanish po-producer, Jose By Jerry Gaghan Bernice Massey, cafe chirper, joined cast of “By the Beautiful Sea.” Mary Small will head reopening show at Chubby’s, South Jersey spot. Sept. 7. Sam Lemer will reopen his mid- town showplace, the Celebrity Room, Sept. 8. . Hilde Simmons, the Embassy singing-pianist, is recovering after minor surgery, Ted Kellem, former bandsman, now handling promotion for Epic and Okeh labels, locally. Hy Slavitz will reopen Chanti- cleer Club Sept. 15. Spot was burned out early in spring. Dinah Shore in for press and broadcast interviews, shepherded by . Jack Rosen, local RCA Victor distrib. ’ Sammy Davis, Jr., with Will Mastin Trio, signed to head reopen- ing bill for new Latin Casino Oct. 8; Georgia Sothern will be initial topper at Troc, Hirst circuit burley house, which reopens for season Sept. 5. Eddie White, vet comic turned bistro operator, bought out his partner, Dave Harris, at Drury Lane Ink'. .Dr. Chevalier Jackson, president of Civic Grand Opera Co., is plan- ning $I00-a-plate dinner to launch new season. * Veteran comedy team of Collins & Peterson has split because of illness of Harry Peterson. Marty Collins is now doing a single. Peter Binder, young baftitone with Lambertville, (N. J.) Music Circus, won a Fulbright scholarship and will study voice fa Rome. . starts a British vaude tour Chiswick next week. Christine Jorgensen, assisted by Miles Bell, after week at Manches- ter for Moss Empires, booked for two weeks at Scandinavia, with several Continental dates to follow. Jerome Whyte, hospitalized after a heart attack and ordered to take two-week rest by his. doctor; hopes to be well enough to start “Can Can” rehearsals on schedule Sept. 6. Ernest Betts appointed chairman of publicity committee which will handle press arrangements for this year’s Royal Command film gala at the Empire, Leicester Square, Nov, 15. - Tommy Trinder, recently re* turned from a two-year tour of Australia and New Zealand, makes his blades debut as star of Claude Langdon’s Christmas panto, “Cin derella on Ice,” which preems at Empress Hall Dec. 2. " Norton V. Ritchey, Allied Artists International prez, went to 'Edin- burgh for festival screening of Walter Wanger’s “Riot in Cell Block 11.” Next week, he goes to Monte Carlo for joint AA-AB Pathe sales convention. Billy Baxter, new English comic, who made an initial appearance on one of Billy Daniels’s programs, When the star predicted a big future for him, booked for full Moss Empires tour. Opened at Finsbury Park Empire Aug. 30. Contracts have been exchanged between Jean Carson and a rep of Max Liebmann for former to go to N. Y. to make two tv ap- pearances Nov. 20 and Dec. 5 on latter’s program. Miss Carson is due back bore in December to star in Emile Littler’s “Love From Judy” in either Glasgow or Edin- burgh in her original role which made her a star. By Gordon Irving Richard Mathews named new producer of Glasgow Citizens The- Dr. Crock and his Crackpots heading vaude at Empire, Glas- gow. ■ Citizens Theatre, * G1 a s g o w, launching fall season Sept. 6 with James Bridie oldie, “Marriage Is No Joke.” ■ Greta (niece of late Sir Harry) Lauder vacationing with her two nieces at Mention, France, and San Remo, Italy. . “No News From Father.’ new comedy starring Bernard Braden, played to solid biz at King’s Thea- tre, Glasgow. Carleton Smith, of National Arts Y., looking Bebe Daniels And Ben Lyon in from London; Kitk Douglas buck to work after siege of. vims. Tom , Moore recovering from major surgery. Theda . Bara hospitalized for fourth operation. Samuel Goldwyn celebrated his 72d birthday. Anthony Quinn returned after 18 months in Europe. Adolphe Menjous celebrated their 20th wedding anni. Penny Singleton in town after two weeks in Washington. Eugene K. Zukor returned from visit to his parents in N.Y, Dorothy Gish in from the east to visit her sister Lillian.. William Guthries * celebrated their golden Wedding anni. Jack Webb returned from Chi- cago opening of “Dragnet.” Fibber McGee and Molly cele- brated their 36th wedding anni. Ray Sackheim joined the Clary, Strauss & Irwin flackery as an as- sociate, Taylor McPeters broke three ribs in a battle scene for 20th-Fox “Untamed.” Frank Sennes appointed Earl Vollmer general manager of the Moulin Roqge. John H. Auer returned to Re- public after confabs with Navy brass in Washington. Barbara Rush to Durango, Mex., to visit her husband* Jeffrey Hun- ter, there on location. Victor Stoloff, Wanda Tuchock Foundation, N. Y., looking over Scot talent and planning visit to Edinburgh Festival. Will sandwich and George O’Brien signed agency a flight to Germany to trace the deals with MeHugh-Molson. eight lost Wagner manuscripts r. Jack L. Warner awarded a given to Hitler, and never recov- plaque by the U. S. Marine Corps, ered. Los Churumheles, ! Spanish orqh, off to Santo Domingo and New York. Movietone Newsreel now being presented in combo with El Diario Ilustrado. - Sergio Venturino and Tito Pala cios to Buenos Aires to book talent for Caupolican. Mario Clavel, Karina, Manolo Gonzales, Carmen Rodriguez and Tula Montenegro at the Capri and Bodegon. Enrique Castro Farias and Her- nan Garrido heading up Compania Filmadora del Pacifico, documen tary production outfit. Buddy Day trying to repeat his for producing “Battle Cry.” Hernando Courtright, managing director and prez of the Beverly, Hills Hotel, currently in Rome on a semi-ecclesiastic mission, has a five-year management contract at the hostelry. When the new Detroit interests acquired control of the hotel, and also bought out .some of Courtright’s personal holdings, they insisted that he stay on. . . Westport, Conn. By Humphrey Doulens Paul Kwartin hospitalized. Edna Ferber due in from the Coast. Ditto Mrs. William Anthony Macguire. Herbert and Dorothy • Fields at Stonehenge. Theresa Helburn back from a Maine holiday. ■ Gordon Duff and family back from Bermuda. Ed and Sylvia Sullivan at their new Southbury farm. - Fan Beurke hosting- for Mitzi Hajos, who’s vacationing from Shubert office. Helen Marsh Levy to Chicago to join Arthur Jay Levy handling “Time out for Ginger.” Mimi Benzell closing summer “pops” series of Connecticut Sym- phony next Friday night (3). Max Gordon, Christie Mac- Donald, Howard S. Cullman, Rob- ert Lewis, Gii Fates, Nat Dorf- mann, Ezio Pinza, Justin Sturm, Helena Bliss, Warren Caro, John By Les'Rees . Edyth Bush Little Theatre has “Peg O’ My Heart” on tap. Songstress Giselle MacKenzie continuing at Hotel Radisson Flame Room. Flame Cabaret has Percy Hughes band, Judy Perkins and Dicky Mayes. Dorothy Lewis . Ice Show and songstress Marie Shaw in second month at Starlight Club. Jackson Trio, including one-time Farina of “Our Gang” film com- edies, playing return engagement at Augie’s nitery. Lyceum’s Theatre Guild season subscribers now number 2,000, close to last year’s mark. Five more shows, in addition to the just | concluded “Picnic,” are promised, with “The King and I” next in line. Paul Bunyan • strawhatter at Bemidji, Minn., concluding 10-play season with preem of “Buy Me Blue Ribbons,” story of child prod- igy washed up at 18 and trying to get a new start in theatre. It’s said to be largely story of its au- thor, Jay Robinson. By Earl J. Dias Joe E. Brown closing Dennis sea- son in “Show-Off.” Gloria Vanderbilt Stokowski winding up Falmouth season in “The Swan.” Folk singer Richard Dyer-Bennet “BTm“BanTBum” revue hit"at’new filling week’s date' at Playgoers* Roma Theatre with vaude show Restaurant, Falmouth, including Carmen Rodriguez. Braz- “High Button Shoes,” final show ilian songstress; the Champs Ely- at .Richard Aldrich’s Cape Cod sees models from Buenos Aires, Bruno the Fantastic, Manolo Gon- zalez and Marta Rivet dancers. Honolulu By Walt Christie Henry Fonda at dock to meet William Powell, who will co-star with him in film, “Mister Roberts.” Latest to join list of tv execu- tives at Waikiki is Herbert Gordon, veepee of Ziv Television Produc- tions. Mary Cooke’s latest Opus, a three-act play based on “Ali Baba and 40 Thieves,” opened at Ruger Theatre Aug. 27, with Josephine Taylor as choreographer. Robert Trumbull, New York Times staffer for India, Pakistan, Ceylon, Afghanistan and Nepal, en- joying Hawaii reunion with Walter King, ex-India director of British Information Service. Melody Tent, Hyannis. Oscar Serlin, original producer of “Life with Father,” and Russel Crouse, co-author, caught show last week at the Falmouth Play- house, Coonamessett, with co- author Howard Lindsay and Dorothy Stickney (Mrs. Lindsay) costarred in their original roles. Berlin By Hans Hoehfi Dieter‘Borsche will appear in an- other French film, “Escale a Orly.’ .Rudolf Forster arrived here to play a role in “Rittmeister Wron- San Francisco By Ralph J. Gleason “Ice Follies” closes Sept. 12 after one of its most successful seasons in years. Louis Caihern in town for ap- pearance at “Summer Festival” and sell bonds for Israel. Norman Granz drove his new Italian Farina sports car to San Francisco just to show it to. Papa gayo Room owner Al Williams. George Avakian, Columbia al- bum chief, in town and combining Chicago Count Basie orch racking up fine biz at Blue Note. Jim Meredith joined MCA small unit department last' week. Pat O’Brien here in “Front Page” at Drury Lane Summer Theatre.’ "Jerry Colonna, just back from successful Australia tour, visiting friends in Chi last week enroute to next,nitery date. Producer Collier Young with Frank Lovejoy and Keefe Brasselle in city to start shooting “Mad At World,” a Filmakers pic set here. Al Morgan in Edgewater Hos- pital with broken shoulder suffered in auto accident; Norm Dygon sub- bing for him at Preview Lounge. Gertrude Kinnell in from Bucks County Playhouse to star in’ “Fresh Fields” currently at-HighJandPark Tenthouse Theatre; resident cast plans to wind season- with “Home At Seven” in its American preem beginning Sept. 7. ski;” r „ Josephine Baker hired a German I business with pleasure by huddiinIJ ^ w - • with -\y 00( jy Herman on album Zurich G. Wilson, Richard Whorf, Worth- couple (East refugees) 5 for her es- ington Miner, at opening Monday tate in France. " (30) of “Home is the Hero” at Erich Maria Remarque writing | Columbia ,LP “The Three Herds.” » . By GeOrge Mezoefi RKQ will release “French Line notes for Herman’s fourthcoming lat Corso Zurich late this month. Country Playhouse. Songstress Heleii O'Connell due to work on a pilot film for a tv series following her fortnight at Eddys’ Restaurant. Crew Cuts scheduled for a two- week stand in mid-September at Eddys on a contract signed months ago; now due to cash in on record fame. “Holiday on Ice” opens its fall- winter tour with a date in Munici- pal Auditorium beginning Sept. 10, first one following summer re- hearsals in Sioux City* on the script for G. W. ,Pabst’s next film, “The Last Act.” _ Children, Mothers and a Gen- nltVAlls eral” is the title of Eric Pommer’s lldYttUd next film which Laszlo Benedek=4s By Jay Mallin to direct. Nine U. S. newsmen here Walt Disney’s ’The Living Des- United Fruit tourism junket, ert was declared exempt from Two Fernandel pix playing taxes by West Berlin finance de- simultaneously on two circuits, partment. Cuban impressarios Paul Gordon shooting “A Christ- trying to bring FOlies Bergere to mas Carol” at Berlin-Tempelhof. Havana. It is said to be the first color tv- Churumheles’ former singer film in Europe. Juan Lejido now on Television There are 13 new West German films offered by Herzog Film, one of largest German diatribe, for world distribution, William Dieterle, in Frankfurt, Sehauspielhaus set Swiss preem of T. S. Eliot’s “Confidehtial Clerk” for Sept. 9. “Roman Holiday" (Par) finished terrific 14-week run at Scala, set- ting, several records. O p e n - a i r performances of “Everyman” for first tisne at Peter- hofstatt, ancient part of Zurich. Current U, S. first-runs here in- reported I elude “Arena” (M-G) “The Com- mand” (WB). “Little Boy Lost” (Par), “Naked Jungle” (Par) and “Bad Boy” (AA). Season openings here will in- clude “Knights of the Round (M-G), “Light of Love” Nacioiial “The White Rose,” Mexican film Table” „ about Cuban patriot Jose Marti; (Austrian) “Oh Mein Papa” (Ger- preemed at Radiocentro witji Pres- man) and Sacha Guitry’s “If Ver- ident Batista present. sailles Were Told To Me.”