Variety (January 26, 1955)

Wednesday, January 26, 1955 Broadway Director George Sidney in for a few days. Robert Abramson joined Larry Gore’s publicity office. He’ll handle ttye features department. Esther Williams and her hus- band, Ben Gage, returned to the Coast over the weekend. Ditto George Murphy. * Dave Ferguson, executive secre- tary of the Jewish Theatrical Guild, is in Polyclinic Hospital, N.Y., with a heart ailment. Anton Dolin, director of ttat Festival Ballet, flew in from Lcm- don over the weekend to join his troupe, now tourirTg this country. Milton Berle, Mel Alien and Bill Leonard topliwing the show at the Hotel Plaza Feb. 26 for the Na- tional Council to Combat Blind- ness. Robert Taylor in from the Coast over the weekend. He leaves fo.' New Haven today (Wed.) for the premiere of Metro’s “Many Rivers To Cross.’’ Mario del Manao, Italian tenor, arrived Monday (24) on the Queen Mary to resume at the Met Opera. For the past three weeks he has been singing at La Scala, Milan. Charles B. Moss, executive di- rector of the Criterion and B. S. Moss Theatres, elected a member of the board of directors of the Broadway Assn, for a three-year term. Musicians Emergency Fund is holding a tea-and-coektailery at the St. Regis Roof next Wednes- day afternoon <2) to honor Fritz Kreisler on his 80th birthday. Violinist is board chairman of the Fund. Sylvia Froos headed the bill presented Saturday night (22) at a testimonial dinner given in the Sheraton-Ten Eyck Hotel, Albany, for Stanley R. Bookstein, com- mander of the Department of New York, Jewish War Veterans. Broadway Assn., in cooperation with Columbia, is sponsoring a Broadway review of the West Point cadet corps and band Saturday morning, Feb. 12. Panade is being held in connection with opening of Col’s “The Long Gray Line’’ at the Capitol. Wynn Rocamora, Coast artists’ manager recently appointed artistic director of the Hollywood Bowl, arrived in New York Monday (24) for two weeks of meetings with artists and concert managers to negotiate contracts for the Bowl’s summer season, which begins July 7. na,” with Paauita Rico, will open at Teatro Calderon in February in a musical revue written for him by Maestros Quintero, Leon, and Quiroga. • The Benavente Co., headed by Ifene Lopez Heredia, Maruja Guerrero, and Pepe Romeu, leave in February for the U.S. to pre- sent Don Jacinto’s posthumous Colirnr an A mAr 1 ’ I T r\ Qoi/I London George Cukor arrived for “Bhowani Junction’’ which he is to direct for Metro. Charles' Smadja. United Artists foreign chief in Europe, in London last week on a quickie. Alexander Wolcough, head of Shell Advertising, named an inde- Mexico City, Guatemala, Havana and San Juan. Actor Arnold Moss skedded for Library of Congress .poetry read- ing next Sunday (30), his day off from his current featured role in “The Dark is Light Enough,” Broadway-bound Tyrone Power- Katherine Cornell starrer. Hollywood Por Salvar su Amor (To Save pen( jent member of the Films His Love). "La Novia de Reverte” (Reverte’s Sweetheart), story of one of Council. Virginia Somers, topping a caba- ret program at the Cafe de Paris Spain’s most famous bullfighters w ith Vic Perry, opens a new sea- in the 19th century, will be pro- t th Co , onv Res taurant next duced »nd directed by Juan de monlh Orduna. It goes before the cameras early in March. Pic stars Paquita Luis Miguel Dominguin in Lon- don from Madrid on a 48-hour m a _ ■ ■ j UUU 11UU1 mauilU WII u 1U-MVU* Rico, Rafhsay Ames, and a second s t opover before planing to Holly- ttt I n n /tf trot iMobori I * _ * ... • male star, not yet picked. Chicago Paris By Gene Moskowitz (28 Rue Huchette, Odeon 49 44) Lionel Hampton will do a two reel color film here Rainbow Ends,” planed to Bahamas on vacation. Bill Cell, Monarch Films topper, back from his annual visit to the Betty Riley doing her first Gal- coast during which he signed For- He song stint at the Night Club. rest Tucker for his upcoming pro- is i __i ;j duction of A Yank in Ermine. "! Ned Clarke. Walt Disney's for- ?£ P r? 1 *° r r ° C m ^ S eign sales exec, arrived last week ^ ar ‘ . . .. „ . for confabs with Cyril Edgar and “White Christmas (Par) and Cyril James on the newdy estahr “Knights of Round Table (M-G) ij s hed releasing organization in doing sock biz. Britain. Les and Mary Ford here, and Kli Wallach and his wife Anne will record the pop Gallis, The Jackson sailed on the Liberte last Lament of Poor John, for Pathe Thursday (20). He has just ankled Marconi. ... the London production of “Tea* Laurence Olivier brings a legit house of August Moon.” to take version of Shakespeare s Richard over the lead on Broadway. Ill” here after he winds film vej- , Laurence Harvey, who finished °f Play- . . , I studio work on “I Am A Camera” Fifty pix were given special dis- j as j Wed. (19), planed to Khartoum pensations for admission price f be following day for location lens- raises here last year, with Quo j ng on "N 0ne but the Brave,” Al- tadis (M-G) getting the top hike. eX ander Korda C’Scope remake of Mynam Bru, Gallic player who .. The Four Fea thers ” became a star in Italy, returns for her first big role in her own coun- try this week. It will be a Franco- Italo film. John Ford gave his first press confab here before hopping to Ireland to begin his next film, Fairmont opening Feb. 22. "Four Leaf Clover,” with Maureen *'■*— ■ -*■ - O’Hara and Tyrone Power. Austro-French pic, “Bel Ami.” made in Austria by filmmakers Louis Daquin and Vladimir Poz- ner, banned by censors here, until some anti-French statements are J Chat ton cut from it. Lloyd Nolan airlined in from N.Y. Robert Stack and Robert Ryan planed to Tokyo. Pat O’Briens celebrated their 24th wedding anni. Elroy Hirsch making a 12-city p.a. tour for “Unchained.” Bing Crosby on the mend after removal of a kidney stone. _ , . _. . . .. i Jeanette MacDonald and Gene Sylvia Sims returns to the Clois- Raymond planed in from N. Y. ter Inn for eight weeks. I Milton R. Rackmll «n town for Marian Anderson concerts at the a ser j es 0 f huddles with Universal Park Forest high school tomorrow execs bai (Thurs.). , .. i Dino De Laurentiis in from Gloria Swanson helmed a Mar- Rome f or huddles with Paramount shall Field fashion show built toppers uuru around her dress label J Pat buggan returned to his Carlos Gastel, Nat ‘King) Cole s Paramoun t desk after severe at- manager, in for huddles at the tac k Q f fj u Chi General Artist Corp. .office. j David O Selznick in from m v ^OTLsa- Var Doirtnmir Vn/lo nl onon T A tho ! . , | a • I , / fT* i cliid I mv. v. ine benefit concert last night (TuesJ. j Bill pine an< | - Bill Thomas to Northwestern U scholaiship be- Texas f or inauguration of Gov. Al- wood for “Matador,” in which Jose Ferrer will star. Alicia Markova, who co-starred with Anton Dolin in the Festival ing endowed in the name of Robert Leler, midwest manager of Tele- lan Shivers. Kathryn Grayson laid up with Minneapolis San Francisco By Ralph J. Gleason Cab Calloway booked into the vision Programs of American, who flu while “Vagabond Ki^g” shoots was killed in a plane crash. | aroun d her. Projectionist Newton J. Engle- hart * suffered a broken shoulder bone in an auto crash. _ , Spyros Skouras and A1 Lichtman A By L,e ® 1 " e ^ s . . in town for 20th-Fox huddles with Pianist Leon Fleisher here for £) arry j F Zanuck and Charles Ein- St. Paul Auditorium concert. feld “Father of Bride” and Nothing Due to a con fl| c t in bookings, But Truth” holding over at Stm the Screen Writers Seventh Award Playhouse and Edyth Bush Little Dinner wilt be held Feb 2 8 in- Theatre, respectively. stead of March 7 at the Moulin John K. Sherman, Minneapolis R 0Uge Star drama critic-editor taking p r i n t of the first three-color annual New York pilgrimage Feb. Uve-action fii m> "La Cuearaeha.” 7 to give Broadway theatre the made , n 1933 by Technicolor was 00 - ., , r v.i r _, presented to the Academy of Mo- Considered favorable for amm - tion P j c t ure Arts and Sciences by ments is the fact that Minneapolis Dr Herbert t. Kalmus, Techni- employment has reached highest , or Drexv level of the 12 months, with 273,- tolor prexy * 397 persons employed, according to latest figures. Minneapolis looming Tribune amusements and tv-radio columnist Will Jones in New York on annual trip to interview entertainment By Robert F. Hawkins (Archimcde 145; 800 211) urmoni oupniTitz i-pn 7/ t - .,,, , . j Sarah Churchill due here soon Uimoni opening reD. personalities and comment on f nix blldd i p ,. Sylvia Siegel in town in advance Broadway shows. 1 Rome of Edith Piaff show to arrange theatre parties. ^ Cecil Steen, partner in Story- Silvana Pampanini back from _ _ * _ . . 1 _ U 1 I vuua x uiiii/uium uuviv i* ' Hotel Radisson Flame Room holiday trip to the Holy L and. holding over pianist Nino Nanm. Maruja Asquerino, Spanish star, uec.i aieen partner in biory- Ball0t Thea t re and “The Tender h ™ JJ-Took over film oossib lit ei ville Records, in town briefly visit- T - st p , Auditorium under- ne * e . t0 l0o A k over poss D,m us ine his local distributor Bcb ,. rap *: , ul AUU , • Pedro Armendanz back from ing nis local distributor, lines latter for an, exclusive Twin Paris t0 appea r in “Shaitan” for Cities’ engagement. Henri Lavorel French film pro- 1 L^ywood, Mervyn Leroy “South Pacific,” which has d Henri navorei, rrenen 111m pro aTld ot hers flew up from L A. for | nlav _ ri three encasements Drevi- A n ' cer and ex-husband of Madeleine a sneak preview of “Mr Roberts” i p ^ ® , C( , ; Anuit va/au.c, m.m.n u,, wiu,, Carroll, killed in auto accident this at tbe paramount last week I ? us ! y * bot A- h * r ® ! starts the first 1955 Franco Italian Zeus Film in Franco-Italian tan- Pittsburgh By Hal V. Cohen Mae West unit booked into Tony Calderone’s Twin Coaches week of April 11. John H. Harris, Jr., working at The Gardens until his draft num- ber comes up. Lyle Harding just started his 19th year as manager of Sheridan Square Theatre. Dancing Evans Family obtained a release from management con- tract with MCA. Dave Silverman, head of RKO exchange, and his wife celebrated 26th wedding anni. “Late Christopher Bean” re- placed “Late Love” for late Feb- ruary show at Playhouse. Paula Caputo, of New York City Ballet, working with Ambridge Little Theatre group until her leg mends. Lou Fordan, manager of Me- morial Theatre in McKeesport, took his wife to Florida for three weeks. Madrid By Ramsay Ames ( Castcllana-Hilton, 37-22-00) Joaquin Calvo-Sotelo’s “La Mu- ralla” (The Wall) opened at Sevil- la’s Teatro Cervantes to the same acclaim it received in Madrid. Maria Felix has left Paris for Mexico, where she will co-star with Pedro Armendariz in “La Mujer Perseguida” (The Pursued Woman). Louis Miguel Dominguin off for Hollywood and huddles on Barna- duc week when his car collided with a tractor. Lavorel just completed Franco-Italian pic, “Cheri Bibi.” John Collier here scripting three of his supernatural-type short Andre Cayatte, French director, 1, - , .. 0 . „ . ■ , aiarts the first 1955 Franco Italian Chris Connor slated to open at! n™ „n,w I L win Project, “Dossier Noir,” in S iT 11 1, 1 * Q 1? ° • f 1 1 Feb. 16-18 for fourth time under R orn „ ■the Black Hawk last week ran into; hi f j L Duluth Ro ^f. a contract hassle here and couldn t 1 „, nooor * . Kur stories into film form for a pic ver- 0VPr sion. It will be directed by Henry Cornelius in London when he fin- ishes his current pic, “I Am A make it. Instead, the Jerry Dod- gion Quintet, a local group, took Leon Radsliff, KCBS staff musi- cian, will record two of his own tunes “Little One” and “Theme in Camera,” also scripted by Collier, glue.” for Mercury with Johnny .Two French f*J ms . based on 1 Martin. MC. at Bimbo’s 365 doing Stendhal novels, Le Rouge Et Le tbp vocals Noir” (Red And The Black) and • “La Chartreuse De Parme” (Char- terhouse of Parma), have been dubbed into Russian and repqrted- ly have played there to 20,000,000 patrons. Two more adaptations of English plays open here this week, with manager. Scotland By Gordon Irving (Glasgow: Kelvin 1590) Alec Finlay mulling trek Australia. to Cleveland By Glenn C. Pullen Kurt Unger, Italian UA topper, hurt when his car overturned re- turning from airport, is now recov- ering. Jules Dassin reportedly will shoot two pix in Italy this year, "Enemy of the People” and “Mas- tro Don Gesualdo.” Rossano Brazzi, now on 60-day call for his Marco Polo role in the -• .. T a 1 t f p otv , AA 1.011 1 UI 1113 ividltu x luit *11 vuv Martin Luther pic into Cameo u.S., is now also being considered cinema, Edinbutgh att> h 0 use. for f,i, n i za ti 0 n of “South Pacific.” Dave Willis, vet Scot comedian, j j obn Ford received Italian dec- a WHoon "ceks at orat i on d ur i ng his local stay. Dc- at Thn ■ s P ite officially “no business” slant Dick La Salle orch replaced , a tr^ R ov^alGlasgow muHing 1 offers of st °P° ver - Ford is reported to u n tai I atre Royal, Glasgow, mulling oners bave talked Italian film possibili- Johnny Singer’s crew at Hotel ^ ^ Cleveland’s Bronze Room for one ' t0 Sing opera in .Germany. the Theatre National Populaire’s month visit. ^“" a " d , Reb . c .S“ ie ', s Maria* GambarenJJjMet prima ■ onauion of Shakespeare's "Mac , Eau. who.operates Little beth” (with Jean Vilar and Maria Ted’s spot, leased site for a bigger Casares), and George Bernard version of it in heart of city’s the- Shaw s Pygmalion at the Bouf-1 a trieal zone. fes-Parisiens, with Jean Marais starred. Miami Beach By Lary Solloway Ted Briskin and bride, Colleen Miller, Universal contractee, hon- eymooning at the Saxony. Henny Youngman and Maxie Rosenbloom joined forces for a week in the Moulin Rouge of the Di Lido Hotel. The Olympia, former vaude house which has been dark for atrieal zone. Ray Elias, play-writing publicist for Cleveland Play House, turning director to stage “Burning Bright” Da cted'“rtwwhat "season "Yn this theatre next month. "Half-Past Eleht" jevue at Alham Johnny Gluck. ASCAP composer riJXnw in the N.Y. music biz. returned to , ' 8 plug Major recording of his “Only One For^fou,” in his hometown. I. B. Schmertz, 20th-Fox branch manager, was saluted by big crowd of local and out-of-town film execs last week at testimonial party celebrating his 50th year with the company. rYv Yf role in Michelangelo Antom- Fnini>p th FHi a nhnr0h rp f 0n ‘ S “ Le Amiche,” Opposite ElC- . E , mP w » k a " d anora Rossi Drago and Valentina placed by Peter Casson in Hypnotic. Fantasy. Kenneth McKellar, Scot singer. Portland, Ore. The Harlem Globetrotters Va- riety Revue at the Auditorium for a one nighter. Marie Wilspn not only scored in ... her recent nitery debut here at Herman Pirchner, Alpine Village Amato’s but made a host of friends Cortese. Pentagono Film is pro- ducing. Club, copped assignment to pro- duce 100th jubilee Miller High several months, reopening Feb. 11 ; Life show in Milwaukee. Nitery as a first-run cinema with “Battle | owner picked Ilona Massey, Har- Cry.” Palm Beach Playhouse lights up Jan. 31 with its annual run of re- vivals. First is “Sabrina Fair.” with Constance Bennett and Tod WWV4 numuva uu wuiuu-j » « by Conrad’s “Matador,” which will 1 n drews. be made here in the spring, with | The Ritz Bros, head up the new- Miguel in the title role. Irving Rapper, who directed show at the Beachcomber. Louis vey Stone, Eddie Peabody and Stanton-Petti comedy-team for the bill. Washington Eddie Fisher donated $1,000 to local Variety Club’s Welfare Fund Now Voyager” and “Adventures and Nanci Crompton are in the Armstrong, the De Marco sisters in fulfillment of pledge made at of Mark Twain.” arrived here to take over the reins of King Bros.’ “The Boy and the Bull,” which rolls Feb. 10. “Juicio Final" (Final Judgement), written by Jose Suarez Carreno, Fisher & White, named as the next starring vehicle ! The Ted Macks resting at the for Silvia Morgan (now enroute to Fontainebleau after his 20-hour the Uruguayan Film Festival) and stint of helming the Cerebral Gustavo Rojo. Palsy telethon on WTVJ Saturday Jorge Mistral off to Chile where night through Sunday, he will star in Spanish-Mexican co-1 Variety Tent 33 feted Mitchell fete which honored him as “Show same show. * Biz Personality of Year.” Place Pigalle installed a show Sande Williams, maestro of Pal- policy, with the Borscht-Belt type ladian Room orch in Shoreham of entertainment clicking. Fea- Hotel, celebrated his seventh anni tured are Michel Rosenberg and at same stand and his birthday at Vi ~ Ur '- ®- joint celebration last Saturday (22) night. Brass hat preem of “Long Gray production. “Cabo de Homo’s,” which goes before the camera laten tliis month, under the Athenea and Mier-Brooks banner. Recording star Angelillo, who „ just finished “Suspiros de Espa- Wolfson and Sidney Meyqr, co- owners of Wometco Theatre chain, presenting them its annual “Good Samaritan Award” for outstanding work in civic and charitable af- fairs. in Portland. Shipstad and Johnson turned their long-dark ice arena o*er to the University of Portland for an athletic arena. Frank Collins has reopened his Clover Club, with Cooper Sisters, Jackie Wrenn and George Arnold orch in for two weeks. Frank Sennes’ “A Night in Paris,” with Tippy & Cobina, Mau- el & Martha Viera, Belles & Bows, Sing Lee Sing Family, Manhattan Trio, Larry Allen, Jerry Paulos, Bea Sweet and the Dorothy Dor- ben Line stayed for a second week at Amato’s Supper Club. Philadelphia By Jerry Gaghan Bill Haley and his Comets signed by Universal for forthcoming pic. n:n: - it.ii j i m _ « w * _ ji • Line* for benefit of loeal service- men’s home, under honorary chair-1 'Billie Holiday initial ^headliner manship of Mrs. Eisenhower, a at the Cheeko Club, new Roose- solid sell-out several weeks in ad- vance of its Feb. 9 debut. Theodore C. Streibert, director of the U.S. Information Agency, left last week on inspection tour of U.S.I.A. installations in the Caribbean are^ he’s slated to v^it velt Blvd. spot featuring Negro revues. Lee Guber, owner of Rendez- vous, and deejay Frank Ford, will present Andre Segovia, guitarist, and Little Symphony Orch. at Acjjjiypy of Music Mai£)i_L ; _Jvith Mrs. Has tings,by ship Memphis By Matty Brescia Jimmy Rose, Chicago praise agent, now a top sales exec with WMPS, Memphis ABC affiliate. Mara Corday, UI starlet, here to boost “So This Is Paris” at Mal- co, with Ben Hill, erstwhile sports scrivener flacking out of Dallas. Hugo Warren, Washington pro- moter topper, in town hypoiog Pittsburgh Courier Home Service Fair with Brescia Enterprises, booked for Ellis Auditorium, Feb. 8 - 10 . George Mooney to’ Knoxville to sign final papers taking command of WKGN, Knoxville Mutual out- let. Mooney returns here Feb. 2 to resume sports and commercial chores with WHHM, Memphis indie. Honolulu By Walt Christie (P.O. Box 3080; 5-7911) , Ward-Bell Circus booked for two-week run, starting Feb. 15, with several U.S. acts coming along for the Shrine benefit shows. Abe Prell, part owner of Las Vegas’ Hotel Sahara, and Mrs. Prell arrived by ship to spend fourth consecutive winter in the Islands. . Gala dockside aloha (welcome) greeted Edwin K. Hastings, newly- named veepee for Matson Hotels in Hawaii (Royal Hawaiian, Moana. Surf Rider and soon-to-be-opem d Princess Kaiulani), as he arrived