Variety (March 1955)

62 CHATTER Wednesday, March 23, 1955 New Broadway expression (coined by Earl Wilson): “He lived the life of Toots Shor.” Playwright Paul Vincent Carroll returned to London Saturday (19) on the lie de France. Also sailing was actor Michael Lewis. Brandon De Wilde, reads 1 The Children’s Bill of Rights” March 24 at Town Hall as part of benefit for National Nephroptosis Founda- tion. Disease is often fatal with kids. Paul Gallico due in N. Y. this Spring wearing a beard. U. S. Con- sulate at Zurich called him in for new passport pictures. Author lives in the Principality of Lichen- «stein. Songwriter L. Wolfe Gilbert and his brothers, vaudevillian Bobby Gilbert and video producer Ed Wolf, gathering in N. Y. this week to be with their critically-ill 88- year-old mother. . . ,, . When Arthur L. Mayer and his wife visit Athens for the first time May 1, on their current European o.o„ they have promised Spyros P. Skouras to “check up on the town where I was born.” Eddie Miller, ex-vauder and now voice teacher, leading the Friars’ glee club, was omitted, from last week’s story on the roster' of tal- ent who participated at the Martin & Lewis testimonial dinner. Paul Hartman’s wife, Ann Buck- les, currently touring with “The 5th Season” where its road tour opened this week in Detroit, flies to Paris in two months when the show folds to start a vidpix series based on the U.S. Government girls working abroad. Leeds, the theatrical clothiers on West 46th St. (Max, “the boy gen- ius of 46th St.” and Harry, his pard), wiped out by fire. There was $30,000 coverage; two months ago they had cancelled an addi- tional $25,000 policy. Building owner is rebuilding a new atelier for them—look up that “atelier” yourself. ’ _ . , _ Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, whose “Inherit The Wind” is slated to open on Broadway short- ly, are making it a package deal by incorporating a theme song, of their own authofship, titled “No- body Knows.” It Will be played as background music in the course of the play which is. due to open April 21 at the National. Billy Goodheart, one of the orig- inal three founders of MCA, with Jules C. Stein and the late Billy Stein, and now a practical farmer in Indiana, comes to New York periodically for business and pleasure. Last week he visited the Music Corp. of America offices and discovered (1) a staggering total of manpower due to vidpix sales, and (2), a situation where some of the people say “we don’t know half the people here,” due. to the large selling force. Miami Beach By Lary Solloway AGVA local director Jerry Baker kudoed by Variety Tent 33 at weekly “iking for a night” din- ner. . , . Genevieve set for a two week run at the Saxony beginning April 1. Arne Barnett’s orch opens on the same date. Ciro’s property bought by Mu- tual topper William O’Neil, who’ll turn the building into an annex for his General Tire service cen- ter next door. Eden-Roc will be the name of the new 350-room hotel to be built next to the Fontainebleau. It Will feature a cabaret, as will the cur- rently building Seville, another 350-roomer. Jerry Hirsch, ex-AGVA head here and in New Orleans, resigned managerial position at the Beach- comber to take over like post at Ridgeway Country Club in Mem- phis, beginning April 1. Clover Club’s Jack Goldman, busy with his Las Vegas (Riviera) interests, dropped production shows for his local spot and will feature moderately budgeted lay- out. New- policy was inaugurated Sunday (20) with Marion Powers, Joe E. Ross and the Archers mak- ing up the bill. Zurich By George Mezoefi Annual Locarno Film Festival will be held July 9-19. Noel Coward's “Quadrille” cur- rently in its Zurich preem at Thea- tre am Central. The Greek National Ballet, under auspices of Queen Frederica, will give a recital here. N. Y. City Ballet’s second Swiss appearance to be during Zurich June festival at Stadttheatre. The Berne Stadttheatre present- ing “Caine Mutiny Court Martial,” drama’s initial date in that city. The 19-year-old Chilean pianist Edith Fischer drew great reviews on her Swiss debut at Tonhalle. Francis Lopez’ Baris- hit oper- etta, “La Bello do Cadiz/’ Will have its initial German-language performance at Stadttheatre. Swiss preem of John Patrick’s “Teahouse of the. August Moon,” set at Schauspielhaus this month; tagged “The Little Teahouse” here, Pierre Brasseur star* in French road presentation of Alexandre Dumas’ “Kean,” adapted by Jean- Paul Sartre, in several Swiss cities. Harold Steinman’s “Skating Van-, ities” will be back at Hallenstadion here April 28-May 8 after a two- year hiatus. Show is tagged “Rol- ler-Follies” for date here. Six U.S. firstruns on Zurich screens recently “Executive Suite” (M-G), “Hear Window” (Par), “High and Mighty” (WB), “Calamity Jane” (WB), “Sabrina” (Par) and “Man in Dark” (Col). Paris By Gene Moskowitz. (28 Rue Huchette; Odeon- 49-44) United Artists will distrib Gallic pic, “La Mom’e Pigalle.” Moshe . Wallin, Israeli agent, here ogling talent for Israeli book- ing. Brigitte Bardot to London for a top role ih Anglo pic, “Doctor At Sea.” Bethe Douglas, U.S. chantoosy, in from London for a nitery song stint here* Frederico Fellini and wife Giu- letta Massina in for preem of their Italo pic, “La Strada” (The Street), with Anthony Quinn. Gina. Lollobrigida inked to star in the next version of “The Hunch- back of Notre Dame” by Robert and Raymond Hakim. Robert Lamoureux and Sophia Loren will be “Adam And Eve” in a big new Franco-Italo coprqfluc- tion which is to roll this summer. . Georges Peynet is the architect for remodeling of the Empire which will house Cinerama here this year. Opening likely will be in May. Leo Ferre, songwriter who has taken to singing his own numbers,, being pushed to star status ih topping current Olympia Music Hall show. Rene Clement announced he will abandon his plan to. film Jean Giono’s “L'Hussard Sur Le Toit” (The Soldier On The Roof), in favor of a pic version of Emile Zola's “L’Assomoir” (The Trap). San Francisco By Ralph J. Gleason Charlie Barnet at Fack’s front- ing a local group. Cress Courtney and A1 Wilde out for Edith Piaf preem. ^ Mae West followed Patti An- drews into the Italian Village. Stan Kenton set for two-day stand at the Downbeat Club, May 11 - 12 . Tax problems shuttered the successful Macumba although it is planned to reopen in April. Wally Norman, Australian band- leader, in town visiting relatives and digging local jazz scene. Honolulu By Walt Christie (711 Prospect St.; 5-7911) Eddie Edell now playing piano at Surf Rider hotel. Bob Hamma in from San Fran- cisco to join organist Roily Wray in Gibson’s Circus Room. * Stewart’s is latest downtown lounge to add live entertainment, i with Bill Appleton doubling on organ and piano. Henry J. Kaiser’s latest an- nounced project for Waikiki is a 4-,000-seat convention auditorium designed to lure big convention groups here. Barcelona By Joaquina C. Vidal-Gomis ( Angli , 43; 24-00-18) Emporium nitery has Les Cinq Peres singers. Guylaine Guy and the five Olanders at Rigat nitery. Conqhita Piquer back again at the Poliorama with the show, “Salt of Spain.” American mezzosoprano Leslie Frleck arrived here on her way to Madrid as guest Of the Instituto de Cultura Hispanica. Pastora Imperio, former dancer singer and ex-wife of bull*fighter El Gallo, here to work on pub- lication of her autobiography. Lycette Darsonval (nee Alice Perron), prima ballerina of Na- tional Opera of Paris, at the Cald- eron for one performance with her ballet. For the first time in the history of theatre, Rev. Father Venancio Marcos announced by radio the coming performances of the “Pas- sion of Christ” drama which takes place during Lent at the village of Olesa (Spanish'. Oberamengau), at 20 miles from here. London Jerome Whyte returned to Lon- don this week for his regular two- month stay. Moira Shearer featured in a BBC sound radio “Close-Up” pro- gram last Sunday (20). Dame Edith Evans unveiled a bust of George Bernard Shaw in foyer of Royal Court Theatre. Wally Peterson produced the an- nual show of the Songwriters’ Guild at the Victoria Palace last weekend. Don Cornell arrived from N. Y. last for an 11-week vaude tour, which opened in Glasgow last Monday (21). Harry Secombe heads a unit which has gone to the Canal Zone, under War Office auspices, to en- tertain British troops. Rosemary Clooney, due here next month to join her husband, Jose* Ferrer, being paged for a Palladium engagement to follow Danny Kaye in July, Reginald Maulding, economic secretary to the Treasury, to be guest speaker at the anntial lunch-' eon of the Assn, of Specialised Film Producers next. month. George Margo, signed for the upcoming production of “‘Desper- ate Hours,” to act as -consultant on the BBC-TV panel, game, “Tall Story Club,” which he devised. A musical by Alec Grahame, David Climie and Peter Myers, based on “Little Women,” is to be staged by Linnit & Duiifee in the fall under the title of “ A Girl Called Joe,” Scotland By Gordon Irving (Glasgow; Kelvin 1590) “Windfall in Athene,” Greek feature pic, into Cosmo cinema at Glasgow. Jack Short, father of Logan Family, bought coast hotel at Rhu, on Firth of Clyde. Jimmy Neil, Scot comedian, pacted for fall tour of Canada with Robert Wilson group. Ben Lyon and family to Glasgow for waxing of their weekly radio show, “Life with the Lyons.” Desmond Carroll, dancer, will do his first meggmg chores in summer at Palace Theatre, Dundee. Babette & Raoul, adagio act, home from cabaret dates in India and joining “Folies Bergere” revue, starring Vic Oliver. Palace Cinema in Edinburgh, last entertainment house on fash- ionable Princes Street, shuttered after 42 years, Premises bought by F. W. Woolworth. Philadelphia By Jerry Gaghan Gilda, former blond moppet of the “Our Gang Comedy” films, featured at Pacey’s Show Bar. Billy Duke, local combo leader, elected to membership in Ameri- can Society Composers, Authors and Publishers. John B. Kelly, head of the Play- house In the Park, named recipient of the sixth annual Deborah Hu- manitarian Award. Hedgerow Theatre wound up its second season in the Academy of Music Foyer with five perform- ances of “Crucible” last week. ’ Dolores Wilson, soprano, makes hometown debut in Philadelphia Civic Grand’s production of “Lu- cia di Lammermoor” at the Acad- emy March 17. Chicago Harry Angelo and Reynolds Gor- don held over indefinitely at the Brown Study. The John Balabans (he’s the Bal- aban & Katz prexy) celebrated their 39th wedding anni last week. The Jean Hersholts checked in for a visit with longtime friend Fred Chramer of the Kungsholm restaurant. Paramount producer George Seaton here for huddles with De- borah Kerr, starring in “Tea and Sympathy.” Irving Brown, Rodgers & Ham- merstein’s Chappell Music rep, in to check up on R&H’s touring “King and I” legiter. Berlin By Hans Hoehn “Glenn Miller Story” (U) preemed at Gloria Palast. Quartier du Jazz is the name of a jive spot opened on Kantstrasse. There are currently, four films being shot in West Berlin studios as against three in East Berlin. Kaethe Dorsh drawing top. press praise for her performance in “Mrs. Warren’s Trade” at Renais- sance Theatre. Wolfgang Staudte expected to start directing “Ciske .de Rat” (after Piet Bakker’s novel), an East-German-Dutch coproduction. . Swedish .Goeran Strindberg , is cameraman on the;-German pic “The Rats,” currently, being di- rected by Robert Siodmak at CCC studios. West German Cannes executive committee selected “Ludwig It” and “Die Muecke” as German entries at the forthcoming Cannes Film Festival. “Children, Northers and a Gen- eral” (Interqontinental/Schorcht), German film directed by Laslo Benedek, picked as February film by Protestant Film Guild of Ger- many. ^ Tokyo By Richard JEE. Larsh (Press Club: 27-0161) Soviet /government invited a Japanese kabuki group to visit Russia for a 10-day tour of two cities. * Margo, the “Z-Bomb,” torrid Puerto Rican dancer, packing the Latin Quarter. Margo came here from Manila.. Sam/ Fuller directing 20th-Fox “House of Bamboo” on location here-with Robert Ryan, Robert Stack and Shirly Yamagucbi. Japanese films-to be shown at Cannes Eighth Annual Film Festi- val are: “Tales of Chikamatsu” (Daiei) and “Moonrise” (Nikkatsu). Thirty-three of the 113 U.S, major films released here in ^.954 grossed more than $140,000 each. “Roman Holiday” (Par) was top moneymaker with $746,000. Par had eight films in the “Golden 33/’ _ i Havana By Jay Mallin Folies Bergere opened at Blah- quita. Carlyle producing shows at Montmartre. Xavier Cugat was here audition- ing local, acts. “Desiree” (20) at the Payret and Trianon theatres. Miguelito Valdes at the Sans Souci, to be followed by Nat “King” Cole. Pittsburgh By Hal V. Cohen pick Dana to Buffalo for. hurley stock after playing Casino here for 13 Weeks. Theatre owner Charles Mervis and his wife celebrated 33d wed- ding anni. Christine Jorgensen booked into the White Elephant for Holy Week, beginning April 1. Henny Youngman tops annual Hillel Academy benefit show at Mosque Sunday (27). Margaret Hayes due in Friday (25) to do some plugging for Metro’s “Blackboard Jungle.’’ Variety Club, appointed a com- mittee to consider a suitable me- morial for the late Rosey Rows- well. Tech drama school’s annual Shakespearian production, “Much Ado About Nothing,” opens run March 29. Tech drama grad Fred Miller, who operated Somerset, Mass., strawhat last season, signed for role in “Inherit the Wind” with Paul Muni. Mobile Station S 5 S Continued from page 1 it and recording companies, per- forming artists and publishers will not touch it. Naturally, writers will think twice about penning a tune for which there is no mar- ket.” “Someone,” the ad states, “has to start the ball rolling. This is what we hope to do.” WABB 1 execs as- sert that they will only play “those new songs which measure up to the standards which have been set by the perennial favorites. . , . The offensive will be discarded. They represent 'the music you won’t hear on WABB’,” the latter phrase also being the heading for the ad. Quick Payoff jSij i Continued from page 1 $30,000. Operating profit for show’s first three weeks on Broad- way, ending last Saturday (9), was around $20,000, bringing the total income as of that date was $50,000. With the. cost of bringing the show to Broadway running around $45,000, that gave the production an approximate $5,000 profit at the windup of the third frame. Ven- ture was capitalized at $65,000. Prior rapid payoffs: this season were “Tender Trap” and “Rain- maker,” both moving into the black .at. fheupn&ip£ ; .£iya, week*, with 1 film.sales/ responsible >f actors; :. Hollywood . Eddie Mannix, Lee Tracy and Lee Bowman returned from N. Y. ■ Thelma Ritter will emcee Oscar Derby presentations for 17 nomi- nees in N. Y. Paramount tossed a party to celebrate Jean Hersholt’s 50th year In pictures. . Linda Christian applied for final citizenship papers but was told to wait until May 15. Mr. and Mrs. L. K. Sidney Cele- brated their 42d anni while vaca- tioning in Honolulu. Universal tossed a cocktail party to celebrate Alfred E. Daff’s 35th year with the company. Cornell Borchers, switched brief- ly by U to Cornell Borgers, has re- sumed her original name. Jane' Powell and George Stoll heading north for the Portland (Ore.) Symphony Fund benefit. Ann Miller will represent Metro at the world preem of “Interrupted Melody” in Melbourne, Australia. Robert J. O’Donnell notified Doris Day that she had been elect- ed as winner of the Interstate Cir- cuit’s. first annual “Golden Script” award. Minneapolis By Les Rees Wayne King played Prom Ball- room ofte-nighter. St. P'aul Civic Opera readying “Oklahoma” for April 14. Pianist Carman Cavallaro at Hotel.Radisson Flame Room. ■ Edyth Bush Little Theatre ex- tending “Rebecca” engagement. “Grand Ole Opry” in return one- night date at St. Paul Auditorium. Pianist Walter Gieseking soloist with‘Minneapolis Symphony orch, Boston Pops Symphony orches- tra concert drew capacity crowds here. • Minneapolis Symphony to have Skitch Henderson as conductor and Faye Emerson as narrator for special St. Paul Auditorium„ con- cert April 24. In some Minnesota depressed Iron Range towns, banks are offer- ing to loan money to permit short-of-fund residents desiring to patronize shows. Wayne Peterson, pianist with Don McGrane orchestra at Hotel Radisson Flame Room supper club, had' a composition, “Introduction and Allegro,” given world preem by Louisville, Ky., Philharmonic orchestra; Cleveland By Glenn C. Pfrilen George Young, local showman, booking Pinky Lee and his tv troupe into Arena April 17, Margaret Hayes, film and tele actress, due this week to promote her. film return in “Blackboard Jungle.” Guitarist Bill De Arango, form- er Cleveland resident, returned here with jazz quartet to open new Trinidad nitery. Fran Warren doubling between Hanna’s “Pajama Game,” co-star- ring hen three weeks, and Vogue Room in latter’s midnight shows. Jan August also featured on club’s bill. Leonard Greehberger donated his Fairmount, nabe picture house, to Variety Club’s benefit show Match 22 for local cerebral palsy foundation school, one of group’s pet charities. Johnny Price has “Fledermaus” set as third musical for his Musi- carnival’s strawhat season, starting June 10. “Kiss Me Kate” is open- er. “South Pacific” slated as sec- ond tuneshow June 27 - July 17. By Ramsay Ames (Castellana-Hilton; 37-22-00) Cinema actress Aurora.' Batista returning soon to legit theatre in Madrid. Spanish Maestro Moreno Tor- roba’s zarzuela, “Maria Manuela/* a big hit currently at Buenos Aires* Teatro Avenida. Luis Prendes opens in Monte- video March 22 with Argentina’s Amelia Bence; they go on from there to Buenos Aires’ Teatro Ateneo. Spanish-English pic, “That Lady** T20th), starring Olivia de Havilland and Gilbert Roland, preemed at Palacio de la Muslca to an enthusi- astic audience. Producer-director Herbert Wil- cox and his actress wife. Anna Neagle in Madrid recently, enroute to Barcelona, where Miss Neagle is now filming “King’s Rhapsody,” a Spanish -English - American copro- duction, with Errol Flynn. Sol Hurok will be here in April or May for a special audition with Spanish soprano Pilar Lorengar whom he heard A few weeks ago in London’s Covent Garden. He has asked Miss Lorengar not to sign any contracts until »they meet again, «vi v> -’ v -