Variety (May 1955)

TO CHATTER Broadway Francis M. Winikus, United Art- ists ad-pub director, back from a two-week Paris Vacation. William S. Hedges, NBC v.p., elected president of the N. Y. no- tary Club at the annual meeting last week. Stephen Mitchell, London legit producer, in from London today (Wed.) on the Queen Mary with Mrs. Mitchell. Edward Dymtryk heads for Eu- rope (13) to scout locations for “The Mountain," which he'll pro- duce and direct for Paramount. Impresario Sol Hurok arrived Sunday (3) from athree-week Eu- ropean scouting trip for NBC-TV, in Paris, London, Milan and Rome. James Stewart off to Paris Mon- day (9) on the first leg of a trek to North Africa for the lensing of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Man Who Knew Too Much." Gloria Swanson sailed for Italy Saturday (7.) on the Cristoforo Colombo to confab with Vittorio DeSica concerning a possible film venture in which she’d appear. Sol Hurok has hired Wolfe Kauf- man, ex-Broadway legit .tubthump- er, to be his Paris p.a., with special emphasis on preparing the forth- coming American tour for the Comedie Francaise. Carl Brisson was honored by the Emerson College Women’s Com- mittee at Hotel Statler, Boston, Saturday (7), with a citation for his contribution to the arts of the theatre and to good speech. Robert Bassler, Richard Sale, Mary Loos and Robert Waterfield, who . share the various production credits on “Gentlemen Marry Brunettes," all in town from the Coast to publicize release of the film, UA comptroller Jack Rothen- burg’s wife ailing because of a post-operative complication, which necessitated supplementary sur- gery to arrest an infection. Mrs. Rothenburg now doing better in LeRoy Sanitarium. Corinne Calvet and her actor- husband, Jeffrey Stone, in from Europe Monday (9) on the United States. Also arriving were John C. Glass, gm. of Hoyts circuit in ’ Australia, and Boris . Jankolovi.es, Paramount manager in Brussels. G. A. (Joe) Biondo, head of. RCA Victor's operations in Italy, in for a week, because of the death of his wife’s mother. Biondo and RCA prexy Frank M. Folsom going •abroad next week, latter in the interests of RCA's expanded over- seas business. Mrs. Kay Ashton-Stevens back to * Chi after sitting in on the Zenith Phanevision panel debates over NBC, two Sundays in a row, with Cornelia Otis Skinner filming one segment of the argument to which exliib leader Alfred Starr and Faye Emerson rebutted. Milton Katims, conductor of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, left N. Y. by air for Europe yesterday (Tues.)., In Paris Katims will lead the Radiodiffusion Orchestra in a series"of broadcast concerts. He was accompanied by his wife, for- mer concert cellist Virginia Peter- son. A typo in the P. 2 trailers on Variety’s upcoming Golden Jubilee Number, as published last week, made it appear that William Rock" Sc Maude Fulton headlined the Palace in 1908, and the many com- municants to Variety are correct that'the Palace didn’t open until 1913. Will Mahoney, now rehearsing for the legiter, “Finian’S Rain- bow," opening May 18 at City Center, N. Y., had to fly out to Chicago yesterday (Tues.) to do a club date at the Conrad Hilton, re- turning to N. Y. late at night. Pro- ducer William Hammerstein okayed the rehearsal interruption. Michael Stern, longtime roving European correspondent for Faw- cett Publications (True mag), and now ditto for Argosy, being fare- well-partied with a fancy “brawl” at 21 by Lucille and Harry E. Gould prior to his return to Rome. Stern has been doing a roving do- mestic job for Argosy (features on Las Vegas. New Orleans, etc.) but his home, in recent years, has been in the Italian capital. Sonja Henie hostessing *& literati cocktailery at the Harwyn Club to launch N.Y. Daily News columnist Danton Walker’s memoirs, “Dan- ton’s Inferno", and couturier Tdbe Davis dittoing for Hollywood pub- licist Margaret Ettinger. Past weekend Rosemary and Earl Wil- son staged a double-feature fare- well party for ex-radio commenta- tor Shirley Eder and her husband, who will headquarter in Detroit, and for Lilo (“Can-Can") and her husband, Marquis Guy de la Pas- sardiere who are returning to Paris after the marathon musical. Closed-CircMit Bout Continued from pace 1 i attaas the lack of sufficient mobile equip- ment, duplications in some areas, and the inability of - the* American Telephone & Telegraph Co. to service lines to some r A £ions. Hal- pern said no line clearance could be obtained for the states of Wash- ington, Oregon, arid Arizona; The increase, in the lineup of theatres is attributable, to the avail- ability of special TNT portable equipment which has been leased to theatres for from $300 to $500. All in all, 33 mobile units are be- ing employed, most in conventional theatres. Seven drive-in theatres are included in the hookup. The average admission price for the event will be about $3, al- though some theatres are charging $3.25, $3.50, and $4.50. Latter is the tab set by Loew's State on Broadway. New York City, which hasn’t seen a closed-circuit telecast of a championship bout in three years, will be represented by 17 theatres in the greater metropoli- tan area. In addition, New England fight fans will finally get a gander at Rocky. Marciano, the area’s favorite son. New England pre- viously was blacked out for all the Marciano fights originating in New York, Blackout was devised to pro- tect the “live” gate, the fight pro- moters feeling that a large New England delegation would come to Gotham to see Marciano in action. The blackout for the Marciano- Cockeil bout Includes the entire state of California. The Interna- tional Boxing Club reasoned this time that without television Coast fans, lacking a local heavyweight championship fight in years, would trek to Frisco for the -event. The bout gets under way at 8 p.m. Coast time, and will hit east- ern theatres at . 11 p.m. Theatres are following different policies in offering the attraction. Some will present the regular feature film to be followed by. the fight: Some eastern houses are emptying,the theatres at 9:45 and reopening at 10:15. TNT’s and IBC’s cut depends on a sliding scale, starting, at 50% of the net proceeds for all tickets under $3. Expansion of the hookup via the use of mobile equipment will find a closed-circuit event reaching for the first time a number of smaller communities whicli have heretofore been unable to receive the cham- pionship bouts. Included in the present lineup are such cities as Columbus, Ga.;' Beaumont, Tex,; Portland, Maine; Manchester, N. H.; Akron, O.; Wichita, Kans.; Spring- field, Mo., and Plymouth, Pa. London Charity jg— Continued from page Z ments, leaving final details to his personal rep, Charles Russell. Tyrone Power, who expects to be in Europe, has accepted provi- sionally and Carol Channing plans to cross the Atlantic specially for the pccasion. Gloria Swanson and Mary Martin, who will also be on the Continent, are also expected. Firm acceptances have already been received from Alfred Drake Doretta Morrow, Jan Sterling, Paul Douglas, Clifton Webb and Mar- lene Dietrich. Danny Kaye, who will be appearing at the Palladium at the time, also has been invited, as have Rosemary Clooney and ■ JoSe Ferrer. The British contingent will be headed by Morley, Margaret Lock- wood, John Mills, Eric Portman, Relita, Jimmy Edwards and Her- fflione Gingold. Miss Gingold is due back from' N. Y. this week, Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, who are working at Strat- ford-on-Avon. may travel to Lon- don after their performance in time to appear in the second half of the show. Last year’s efforts raised more than $28,0.00 for the orphanage. Admission p r i fc e s range from $45 to $1.50. Kaileman ——mmi Continued from -page Z itors are unpaid to the tune of $400,000; that the total debts due amount to more than $3,000,000 with other long term obligations amounting to $2,900,000. Katleman, who filed the suit while the Tax Commission in Car- son City was weighing the fate of the new purchasing group of the New Frontier, asks in addition to a receiver that an accounting be made of all the defendants. London „ The Four Aces, who opened a Palladium season last Monday (9), make .their first BBC broadcast Sunday. Princess Margaret went to see the London production of “Kis- met" last week for second time in Six days. • • Jules Stein, MCA topper, ar- rived via the lie de France for his periodic looksee of the London show biz scene. Alfred Hitchcock in town to cast his upcoming production, “Into Thin Air," which will star James Stewart and Doris Day. Jerome Whyte planed out last weekend for confabs with Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein; due to return here ori May 28. Alfred Drake, Doretta Morrow and Joan Diener, the three Amer- ican stars in “Kismet," guests of honor at yesterday’s Variety Club luncheon. ... Francis Lederer is continuing in the touring company of “Wiedding in Paris" because Frank Lawton, who had been signed to replace him, has been hospitalized for sur- gery. Big show biz contingent which sailed on the Quepn Mary last week included Geofge Brest; Wil- liam Cartlidge, managing director of Associated British Cinemas; and Stephen, Mitchell, London legit manager. Minneapolis By Les Rees Mills Bros, featured in Duluth, Minn., Home Show. Prom Ballroom had the Four Lads for a single night. Raymond ' Cutting named St. Paul Civic Orch conductor . Dizzy Gillespie and his Swingin’ Sextette opened at Flame nitery. Dublin Players in “The Devil’s Disciple" into Lyceum for four days starting May 18. “Pajama Game," at Lyceum cur- rently, was practically a complete sellout for all eight performances before run opened. “Aida” in fourth week at local nabe • Suburban World where it’s having first Twin Cities’ ruq -at ad- vanced $1 admission. With “Cinerama" still profitable in its 55th week. “Cinerama Holi- day" not expected to be unveiled at Century here until fall at the earliest New York Philharmonic, with Dimitri Mitropoulos who formerly conducted Minneapolis Symphony orch, scheduled for concert here May 17. . Territory’s only closed circuit telecast of Marciano-Cockell fight next week will be at Radio City here, although the Minneapolis Gopher and St. Paul Paramount have large screens. Because of favorable crop con- ditions, recordbreaking general biz, boosted employment and increased store sales, shown by. current Min- neapolis Federal Reserve Bank re- port, outlook for territory’s exhibi- tors is considered bright by local branch managers. Barcelona By Joaquina C. Vidal-Gomis (Angli, 43; 24-00-18) Bolero nitery features Trio Bruni, aero dancers, and Arianne, singer. “Limelight" quite an event here, being shown at Cristina and Astoria day-date with sellouts nearly every day. The Emporium nitery has Span- ish dancer Rafael de Cordoba; Sue Stanley, American singer, and Rosanne Richard, French aero d&ncGF “The Invaded Home" (El Hogar Invddido), by legit author Julio Trenas at Espanol Theatre. Leads are Carlos Munoz and Asuncion Sancho. American pix on Barcelona screens are “Chicago Deadline’’ and “Silver Lode" (RKO); “Far Country" (U), “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (20th); “Knights of Round Table” and “Westward Women," both Metro. Memphis By Matty Brescia Rogers Circus in here last week for a two-day stand. George Rank orch‘ to Peabody Skyway for two weeks. Sauter-Finegan orch in for one- nighter at Memphis State College shindig last week. Eddie Sligh, Chicago agent, also running a southern office here out of Claridge Hotel. Cathy Bauby, WMCT model- charm spieler, doubling in brass with her own model agency and booking office in her spare time from four tv shows daily. Model agency office in King Cotton Hotel. Danny Thomas due in liere this week to tee off promotion for St. Jude Hospital building fund. Sev- Wedittsdily, M«r 11. 1955 eral Hollywood film and celebs art alto expected to check in here to help Danny. Paul Molloy, radio- tv ed for Commercial Appeal, is fronting for Thomas on home stand. Paris By Gene Moskowltz (28 Rue Huchette; Odeon 49-44) Jean Renoir preparing a film to star Ingrid Bergman to be made here next year. Empire Theatre trimmed capac- ity to 1,100 seats, from 2,000, for the “Cinerama" opening May 17. Jean-Louis Barrault will do Jean Gauthier’s piece, “Fortissimo,” at his Petit Theatre De Marigny next season. Orson Welles inked to star in the next Jacques Becker pic, “Vou- lez Vous Danser" (will You Dance). John Berry set to direct the Franco-Hispano comic version of “Don Juan" which will be made in Spain next October. Michele Morgan Inked for next Yves Allegret pic, “Trois Chambres A Manhattan" adapted from a novel by Georges Simenon. Madeleine Robinson to star in film version of Ugo Betti legit hit, “L’lle Aux Chevres" (Goat Island). It will be called “The Possessed.” Daniel Gelin studying English for his first Anglo-speaking role. in. Otto Preminger’s “Lovely," which will be made in London next sea- son. Ray Milland and Maggie Mac- Namara star, Eddie Constantine may do a U S. musical' pic with Doris Day here next season. Meanwhile he makes one pic after the other, as his own producer; next one is “La Legion Invisible," with [Peter Ustinov. Robert Hossein, stage actor- playwright-director, to make his first pic, “Les Slauds Vont En Enfer" (Heels Go To Hell) which will have only 100 lines of dialog and feature a . 30 minute jailbreak without a sound. Madrid By Ramsay Ames (Castellana Hilton; 37-22-00) “Limelight" (UA) biggest smash in years in Barcelona .just as it was here. Aurora Batista leaving the legit stage temporarily to do a film, “Puerta Cerrada” (Closed Door), Ignacio Iquino signed Germany’s Lay a Raki arid Vicktor Staal for his I.F.I. Productions’ “La Senora de Fatima." It will be directed by Iquino. Luis Sagi-Vela’s “A1 Sur del Pacifico” (South Pacific) Company going strong in Barcelona, despite the absence of Marta Santa Qlalla, recently replaced by Josefina Canales. Actresses Carmen Sevilla and Emriia' Penella are Spain’s good- will reps at Cannes Film" Festival, where “Marcelino, Pan y Vino" (Marcelino, Bread and Wine) is Spain’s entry. <’ Sevilla Films Studios will be the site of a number of U. S. pix. Once Robert Rossen’s “Alexander the Great" company vacates, Stanley Kramer moves in for United Art- ists’ “Pride and Passion." Fredric March winds up his role of Philip of Macedonia in Robert Rossen’s “Alexander the Great” at the end of this week. Company is now on location at La Pedriza, a village northeast of Madrid. While Amparo Rivelles’ “La Hija de Jano" (Jano’s Daughter) is still at Teatro Reina Victoria, her film, “El Indiano," co-starring Mexico's vet Fernando Soler, opened to en- thused audiences at Madrid’s Tea- tos Pompeya and Palace. Anthony Bartley, CBS Televi- sion’s European director, here last week to start series for the net- work which will be filmed in Spain, starring Errol Plynn and concerri- ing the “Battalion d’Afrique," toughest battalion of the Foreign Legion. Scbtland. By Gordon Irving (Glasgow; Kelvin 1590) Billy Eckstine due at Glasgow Empire week of May 16. “Down at the Mains," long-run- ning radio show, celebrated its 200th airing. O’Duffy Bros, joining singer Robert Wilson for Irish season at Portrush, coast Vacation center. Alec Frutin, Scot theatre and cinema owner, named as a veepee of British Newspaper Press Fund. “Brazilians" pacted for June 6 week at King’s Theatre, Glasgow. “The Moon Is Blue," with Frank Leighton, set for same* house May 30. Tommy Morgan, Auld Lang Syne comedian, topping in vaude at Empire Theatre, Edinburgh, prior to summer run at Pavilion, Glasgow. Hollywood Barbara Whiting bedded by chicken. pox.‘ . Dennis O’Keefe laid up with an injured ankle. Gary Cooper returned from European tour. Arthur Loew in from N.Y. for Metro huddles. Douglass Dumbrille celebrating his ,50th year as an actor. • Paul Gilbert taped a show for overseas broadcast via AFRS. : Yvonne De Carlo to Texas and Oklahoma on a 10-day tub-thump- ing tour. Roy Rogers to Dodge City as grand marshal of the Boot Hill Fiesta for March of Dimes. Ronald Reagan required seven stitches in his left hand after an accident on his Malibu ranch. Charity preem of “Daddy Long Legs" raised $103,295 for St. John’s Hospital, in Santa Monica. Betty Hutton sold her home to Dorothy Lamour and William How- ard who have called off their plan to move to Baltimore. Motion Picture Division of the United Jewish a Welfare Fund has raised a total of $363,358 in con- tributions" and pledges toward its goal of $575,000 in the current 1955 drive. Portland, Ore . 1 By Ray Feves Gloria Jean here for a week with the Beauty Bazaar at M&F Dept. Store.. Eddie Cantor xet to be here May 19. Fisarra Sc Reynolds, Tommy Wonder Sc Margaret Banks, Bill Carroll Dancers arid Herm Jobel- man orch at Amato’s Supper Club., Ed Sullivan and His “Toast of The Town" revue played Eugene, Ore., May 3, and Spokane, Wash., May 5. Seattle cancelled May 6 date when seat sale was disap- pointing. “Pajama Game," with Fran War- ren, Larry Douglas and Buster West, set to open five-day date at Auditorium for William Duggan Attractions May 18. “Teahouse qf August Moon” Opens 3-day run May 31, “It 'was sold out since April 18. Chicago Julie Bishop in for an industrial film assignment at Wilding Studios. Dore Schary and wife guests last week at the home of former Demo- cratic national chairman Steven Mitchell. Ernie Ricketts sold his Chicago Ave, eatery to Julian Schwartz, formerly operator of the 201 Club, for $135,000. Balaban Sc Katz prexy John Balaban hosted an Ambassador East reception Friday (6) for the Jimmy Stewarts. Vet actor Phil Lord spearhead- ing a committee to reactivate the Chi Actors' Club with a rally planned for June. San Francisco By Ralph J. Gleason “Cinerama Holiday" - opens at Orplieum Aug. 2. Vernon Duke in town for inter- views re his ’new book. Harry James in for one-nighter at El Patio Ballroom last week. Stan Kenton’s new band in town for college dates at Stanford'and City College and promotion at Sweet’s in Oakland. Manny Schwartz’ new operation, Griffin Ballroom iri El Cerrito, broke in last week with Charles Brown and the Four Blazers; fol- lows this weekend with Bill. Dog- get t. Tokyo By Richard‘H. Larsh (Press Club; 27-0161) Larry Adler and his harmonica due in from London for series of recitals opening this week. . Metro producer Jack Cummings, here for look at possible locations for “Tea House of August Moon.**“ Walter Thompson and 13-man crew here to shoot footage for Cinerama's “Seven Wonders of the World." Jack Gross, Superama Inc. prexy, here to arrange for Japan manu- facture of anamorphic lenses to be distributed by him in U. S. “House of Bamboo," made here by 20th-Fox, to be preemed in Tokyo day-date with New York opening, according to local 20tlv* Fox office. Li Li Hwa, veteran Hong Kong film star; here for location shoot- ing for her recently formed pro- duction company’s “Tull Hong Long Ngan Kee." Mr. and Mrs. William Wyler here for 10-day visit. The Para- mount' director is very popular with Nip film fans who swarmed to his “Roman Holiday."