Variety (April 1956)

62 CHATTER Pfi&IETr Wednesday, April 4, 1956 Broadway Charles Rosmarin, RKO's Euro¬ pean general sales manager, aired in from Paris yesterday (Tues.) for homeoffice powwows. Roger Gimbel, NBC, producer, engaged to Mrs. Nancy Strauss Davis. Both have been married and divorced previously. Claude C. Philippe back from his seasonal Easter trip to Paris to be with his wife, Comedie Fran- caise actress Mony Dalmes. Paul Derval, owner and director of the Folies Bergere. in from Paris today (Wed.) on the S.S. Li- berte accompanied by Mrs. Derval. VictQr Saville, indie film pro¬ ducer; violinist Nathan Milstein and designer Cecil Beaton sailing for Europe today (Wed.) on the Queen Elizabeth. Arthur S. Lyons, back in the agency business, reestablishing the L&L firm name as when his brother, Sam Lyons, was alive. Latter died in 1941. Jack Hylton is on a flying quickie for two weeks of o.o.'ing the Broadway shows. London pro¬ ducer now has five shows concur¬ rently in the West End. Phil Wyman and Bob Sanders, co-owners of Showcase, Rehearsal Center and Wyman Studio, have taken over the Malin Studio on West 46th Street and renamed it Variety Arts. CBS-TV v.p. Robert M. Weitman named chairman of the presidents’ luncheon of the Cinema Lodge of B’nai B’rith to be held at the Sheraton Astor April 24. Luncheon will honor retiring prexy Max E. Youngstein and welcome newly- elected prez Robert K. Shapiro. Hoagy Carmichael and the Wal¬ dorf couldn't come to terms, so the booking to follow Ray Bolger, who opened Easter Monday at the Em¬ pire Room, is still open. Gordon MacRae’s picture commitment forced cancellation of that April 30 four-week stanza, ' previously booked. Gene Leone, who once before bought (and later sold) the next- door President Theatre (formerly the Edythe Totten Playhouse), has bought the house again, this time from the successor owner, the School of the American Ballet, and will convert it as an entrance to Leone’s Restaurant, long a West 48th St. landmark. Like every newspaper office Variety has its own intra-office gags and ad libs. One of them is, "They sure must read every semi¬ colon,” judging by the eager- beaver readers who are quick to point out any erratum, even when it’s palpably one of spelling (such as "Minc'heH” Smith for Winchell Smith, in the Golden Jubilee Edi¬ tion, obviously a printer’s typo, rather one of ignorance). How¬ ever, there’s no douibletalking this one: once and for all, and this is official,-' Karyl Norman was "The Creole Fashion Plate,” and not Francis Renault as erratumed by Variety in one of the Fred Allen reminiscence stories at the time of his death. Renault’s billing was "The Slave of Fashion.” Lisbon By Lewis Garyio (Tel. 32479) New Music Quartet from U.S. started from Oporto on tour of,the Peninsula Iberica to crix raves. "Love of Four Colonels” was re¬ prised at the Teatro Avenida to better returns than on its first run. Chinese revue star Mai Lan ar¬ rived here from Paris to appear in revue now in rehearsal at the Colieu Theatre. "Arsenic and Old Lace” ended six-week run at Teatro Trindade and was followed by J. B. Priest¬ ley’s "I Was Here Before.” Teatro Nacional is prepping G. B. Shaw’s "Saint Joan” starring Mariana Rey Monteiro for presen¬ tation. Francisco Ribeiro is pro¬ ducing. Tony Teixera, former ballet dancer of San Carlos Opera House, working at Ritz nitery with part¬ ner Mary. Giving repertory of Portuguese folk dance. Marquis de Cuevas Ballet Co. will appear at the San Carlos Opera House for two weeks in May. It will play the Liceo Opera House m April and Teatro Madrid in Madrid late in May. Philadelphia By Jerry Gaghan Don Philips and Buddy Le^ comedy team, splitting, with Le moving to Coast. Harry James band booked Sciolla’s (May 14). . Gypsy Rose Lee at the Erie cial Club Easter weekend. George Britton to cut an LP Israeli songs on Folkways labe Spike Jones booked for Allentown Fair as part of r policy plans for,the summer. Freddie Bell and the Bellb pacted by Wing Records following click in "Rock Around Clock.” A Theatre-In-The-Round being built on Route 202 near Wilming¬ ton to operate on yearly basis. Philadelphia Orch left $100,000 under will of Frances Wister, prexy of orchestra’s women com¬ mittee, Earl "Fatha” Hines moved his family from Philly to Los Angeles where he has a night club contract and radio show. Efrem Zimbalist’s first opera, “Landara,” will be given world preem at the Academy of Music April 6 with a repeat performance following Monday. Harry Kammerer, assistant sec¬ retary of Musicians Union Local 77, for the last 16 years, resigned because of ill health. Charles Mc¬ Connell Jr. succeeds. Duke Ellington orch will play two night performances April 16 at the Doylestown-Central Bucks County High School. Proceeds go to aid underprivileged children. San Francisco By Bill Steif On location at Frisco Airport: Doris Day in "Julie.” Flack ' Hanns Kolmar flew to Hawaii to do advance work, for Larry Mack. Hugh Marlowe returned to "An¬ niversary Waltz” cast at the Al¬ cazar. replacing Russell Nype. Rusty Draper got his solid gold record of “Gambler’s Guitar” for passing the million-sales mark. Pat Yankee departed the Go- mans’ "Gay Nineties” after four years, and is heading for Holly¬ wood. Sagebrushes mm—mmm Continued from page 1 influence other film-makers to wrestle with similar situations. Not right off, anyways. Little by little, progress was be¬ ing made, almost imperceptibly. Sex, it was discovered, had its place in the west but it had to come naturally—sort of brought into the that-a-way tales 'with some degree qf plausibility. This presented a problem centering on how to make a femme excite the Galahad of Gulch Junction if all her endowments are covered in the Victorian garb of frontier days. The answer has been found: Make her a squaw. Hollywood has about 60 sage¬ brush spectaculars upcoming and you can bet your boots and sad¬ dle that Indian lasses will not be left alone in the woods. And no need to compromise with authen¬ ticity because these daughters of Sitting Bull can be depicted in unencumbering buckskin skirts or similar quick-getaway attire. And it's fitting that they’d bathe in the stream al fresco. From this sort of business it isn’t difficult to segue into "an exciting saga of primitive passions torn from the flaming pages of history.” (Quote borrowed.) A disturbing note might be added, though. Metro’s "Last Hunt” and Bryna’s "Indian Fight¬ er” camp out just a short time apart and each had Pocahontas types doing the unclad splash bit. This could be overdone (?). Film companies are lavishing hefty investments on westerns in line with the overall trend toward more and more production values. Top names, color and a wide¬ screen process are now becoming a definite part of the oaters from most principal studios, unlike the past when the sagebrush sagas were at the bottom of the produc¬ tion rung. For the most part, small-scale production of any type simply doesn’t go hand in hand with the new industry economy. House Reviews (Temple Bar 5041/9952) Hal Hackett, Official Films prez, in town for confabs with his Brit¬ ish reps. The Folies Bergere revue at the Prince of Wales celebrates its first anni next Monday (9). Winifred Atwell closed deal with ITA for series of 45-minute tele shows. First is due April 21. Harry Green, American come¬ dian and longtime London resi¬ dent, starts a new BBC-TV series April 13. Fess Parker, here for personals _.i "Davy Crockett,” guest of honor at a Dorchester reception yesterday (Tues.). In from New York: Robert S. Wolff, RKO Radio topper; British film actor Jack Hawkins, and Ed¬ ward R. Lewis, head of Decca Records. The Albany Club, taken over by Jack Hylton a few months ago and used as setting for some of his tv programs, shuttered over the weekend. Aidan Crawley, who recently re¬ signed as . editor-in-chief of Inde¬ pendent Television News, inked two-year pact with BBC-TV to handle current affairs programs. Harry Secombe, who stars in up¬ coming Palladium revue, returns next week frdm a Bermuda holi¬ day. Beryl Reid, who will be fea¬ tured in same show, just back from Tyrol. Anthony Steel, whose engage¬ ment to Anita Ekberg w5s an¬ nounced in Hollywood last week, was profiled on the commercial tv show, "Portrait of a Star” - last Sunday (1). S. A. Gorlinsky is bringing over Andre Kostelanetz to do a 45-miii- ute tv show for BBC May 3 and a concert at Royal Albert Hall May 6. He will conduct the Royal Phil¬ harmonic in an all-Gershwin. pro¬ gram., with Winifred Atwell solo¬ ist. Advance bookings seat sale is so heavy that Kostelanetz will re¬ peat the program May 8. Jerome Whyte sailed back to N. Y. last Thursday (29), but due to return in June to line up a West End production of "Time Limit.” Fellow passengers on the Queen Elizabeth included Sir Alexander Aikman, director of EMI; Muriel Smith; Zoltan Korda; Walter J. Pickard, director of the Cafe de Paris; Bob Allison; Sonia Cortis, and Stanley M. Rinehart. London Montreal "Bus Stop” slated for one week at Her Majesty’s Theatre starting April 23. Maurice. Chevalier opened nine- day stint at St. Denis Theatre March 31. "Cinerama Holiday” to have Canadian preem April 5 St Impe¬ rial Theatre. Molly Picon in "Farblonjeter Honeymoon” opened last week at the Monument National for five performances. Eric McLean, music critic of the Montreal Star, elected president of the local Critic’s Club for 1956. "Hill 24 Doesn’t Answer” opens at Her Majesty’s Theatre April 4. Preem of film is under auspicies of State of Israel Bonds. French-Canadian soprano Mar¬ guerite Paquet invited to sing with the choir at wedding of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier. Havana By Jay Mallin (Calle G-159) Treniers at Sans Soucl. Rosalind Ricci and Eva D’- Amour at Bamboo. Mexican pic, "The Illegitimate,” due in six theatres here. “Desperate Hours” coming to Trianon and Payret theatres. “The Medium” and "The Tele¬ phone” being staged at Blanck Salon. Dave Westlein of U.S. Naval at¬ tache’s office to play bit part in "The Sharkfighters,” being filmed here. Continued frora page 54 Vernon group carried off their tricks excellently, despite the haz¬ ard of the littered floor. The two lads toss the girl with regulated abandon, and their tricks bring midterm applause and a sock re¬ ception. Cummings does okay with his lines and roping bit. The Hungaria Troupe, compris¬ ing an entire family, are standout nsley acrobats. Their tricks are sure applause winners with three high formations. They do exceed¬ ingly well in the opening slot. The Martin Bios. (2) do a cute marionette turn appreciated by« the youngsters. Ross Wyse Jr. & Jan Adams provide their usual brand of comedy and knockabout for good effect Betty Luster is under New Acts. Myron Roman provides a strong brand of musi¬ cal support. Jose. Frankfurt By Hazel Guild (24 Rheinstrasse; 776751) Vienna Philharmonic to make its first concert tour to Japan this month, with Paul Hindemith con¬ ducting. "Dirty Hands,” controversial Jean Paul Sartre play, set for May 2 on German tv, Franz Peter Wirth directing. June Allyson and Dick Powell expected in Germany in July to film "Unfinished Symphony” for Univers§l. * Terence Rattigan’s play, "The Browning Version,” to be presented on German tele from Munich April 12, with Trude Kolmann directing. . Alfred Weidenmann’s plan to make "The Great Tyrant,” star¬ ring O. E. Hasse, dropped because budget came to about $750,000, rated too high. Don Cossack Chorus signed by Berolina Films to perform in "Das Don Kosaken Lied” (The Don Cossack Song), new film which Geza von Bolvary will direct. American promoter Boris Mor- ros bought the American film and drama rights to Fritz Eckhardt’s play, "Rendezvous in Vienna,” now playing at Theatre in Josef- stadt. Portland, Ore. By Ray Feves Frank Breal making , prepara¬ tions for Liberace one-nighter in June. Jack Matlack, former J. J. Par¬ ker exec, doing great in his own promotion biz. Mills Bros, with Norman Brown and The Jeffrey’s held for a sec¬ ond week at Amato’s Supper Club. Marty. Foster up from San Fran¬ cisco for a few days to look over remodeling job of his Guild Thea¬ tre. Frankie Laine with Al Lerner, Vickie Young, Kurtis Marionettes, Clark Bros, and George Arnold orch completed a 10-day date at Al Learman's Annual Home Show at Exposition Building last Mon¬ day (2). Miami Beach By Lary Solloway Alan Gale closing his Versailles Hotel Celebrity Club on April 15. Roberta Sherwood doubling be¬ tween Murray Franklin’s and series of four shots on Gleason’s ‘"Stage Show.” Allan Walker took leave of ab¬ sence from Murray Franklin’s for six weeks to join Red Buttons’ act opening April 6 at the Copacabdna in N.Y. « Orson Welles Continued from page 2 —— fought for the same thing, only to be thumbed down.) Greatest handicap to European production is the terribly complex problem of moving film from coun¬ try to country. Custom regulations are stringent and he once had footage from his "Othello” held up three months in British cus¬ toms because of some rocks used as ballast in the crate carrying the film. These were declared "un¬ identified mineral objects” and the British held up clearance until they were satisfied that Welles wasn’t smuggling something into the coun¬ try. I This incident Welles cites to sup¬ port his contention that American film organization is superior to European. “A big organization could have cleared the matter in a few days. An independent got into a lot of trouble.” Matters like these are the par¬ tial reason why so many European pix makers are entering co-produc- tion deals with American firms, to take advantage of widespread or¬ ganizations developed by U. S. out¬ fits, he declared. Eventually, it may become pos¬ sible for a feature producer to get his money quickly, out of a single telecasting, a la "Richard III” on NBC-TV, Welles observed. ''Lack of distrib costs is one factor he cited, but "even with tremendous ratings on tv, enough people will not have seen it to make theatrical distribution still possible. If it’s a good picture, the word-of-mouth advertising will also help. In my opinion, tv can only help, not hurt.” Pix debuting on tv has not yet had a real test case, he felt. "Con¬ stant Husband” which introd’d the practice, was a bad picture which didnt’ do well even in England, while "Richard” is a special art house feature, he noted. Welles was also disturbed that there is no middle ground in tv at present—that a performer or program is either considered a. tre¬ mendous hit or a flop. “We live in a hit-flop economy,” he commented sadly. "The networks and the big studios are grand, but I hope they don’t do away with the local and the regional presentations.” At present there is no place for the medium-sized show except on local tv ,and he’s not too hopeful that this will continue to hold true. "Costs are up, so the producer can only afford socko presenta¬ tions,” he said. Elaborating, he pointed to the off-B’way legit the¬ atres in N. Y. "It’s the best some producers can do under the present setup, but it’sS. still off-Broadway, and it’s not good enough. The players' deserve the best.” • •-. Paris By Gene Moskowitz (28 Rue Huchette; Odeon 49744 ) Roberto Rossellini working on a screenplay with Carlo Levi for a forthcoming pic to be made in Israel. Alberto Cavalcanti in with a copy of pic he made in Germany "Herr Puntilla,” from a story bv Bertold Brecht. y , Yvan Desny, bilingual Gallic actor, to play opposite Ingrid Bergman in Anatole Litvak's film version of "Anastasia” (20th). U.S. singers on nitery scene here, with Anne Morre into Cal- avados, Quentin Foster to the Mars Club and Rosette Shaw at the Drap D’Or. , A new Gallic daily, Les Temps De Paris, hits the stands late in April, making 13 in all. This will be a 30-page tabloid with an eight- page mag section every day. Ben Hechit is working on Anglo version of Raymond and Robert Hakim pic, "Hunchback of Notre Dame” which will star Gina Lol- lobrigida and Anthony Quinn. Jean Vilar’s State subsidized legit troupe, the Theatre National Populaire, played to more than 292,000 patrons during their Baris season from November to March. Majorie Tallchief and Georges Skibine are to take a three-month leave of absence from the Grand Ballet Du Marquis De Cuevas for a three-month toup of U.S. next season. Bob Hope .will make another vidfilm utilizing Fernandel next month. This will be made in Mar¬ seilles with Fernandel Showing Hope around the place, and doing his mugging. Lenise Provence heading a troupe of Gallic thesps here who leave for Brazil to play “La Pa- risienne.” Also going are Marthe Mercadier, Jean Masson and Jacques Charon. For first time a play, created on television is being transfered to a legit. stage here. Piece is Roger Ferdinand's "Le Mari Ne Comte Pas” (The Husband Doesn’t Count) and will be done. at the Theatre Edouard VII with the tv cast. . French Syndicate of Actors pro¬ testing against the hiring of Curt Jurgens for the title role of the Gallic pic, "Michael Strogoff.” Gallic studios always have been open to foreign actors, but the Syndicate feels that it has ’been too lax and'that its time to make a test case. Film boxofflce leaders this round are the Gallic "Si Tous Les Gars Du Monde” (If All The Guys In The World) followed by "Seven Year Itch” (20th), Gregory Ratoff’s "Abdulla The Great” and Gallic undersea documentary, "Le Monde Du Silence.” Top pix for season so far are Rene Clair’s comedy costumer, "Les Grandes Manoeuvres,” the Italo explora¬ tion pic, "Lost Continent,” "To Catch A Thief” (P?”), "20,000 Leagues Under Sea” T,V), Sacha Guitry’s "Si Paris Nous Etait Conte” and "Nana.” Chicago Singer-guitarist Luc Poret back at the Gate of Horn. Professor Studs Terkel helming a 10-week course bn jazz at U of Chicago’s Downtown Center. Norm Weiser resigned as pub¬ lisher of Downbeat and is now ad¬ viser to the publisher of Playboy. Ambassador - Sherman prez Pat Hoy accounted his hostelry experi¬ ences on WBBM-TV’s "This Is the Midwest*’ Sunday (1). Amusement & Recreation sec¬ tion of Red Cross, headed by Ar¬ thur Schoenstadt and Jack Kirsch, first to go over top in the annual fundraising drive. . , Chuck Wiley left Zenith Radio s public relations department to handle Sen. Estes Kefauver’s mid¬ west press relations for his bid for Democratic nomination. Cleveland By Glenn C. Pullen Johnny Haymer, comic, now at Alpine Village, going into Broad¬ way "New Faces of 1956.” Johnny Price lining up New York principals for "King and. I, which tees off his Musicarnival tent strawhatter’s third season June 8 for 24-day run. Saul Richman, who publicized Cleveland 500’s musicals eignt years ago, back as tub-thumper for Harry Belafonte’s new show, “Sing. Man, Sing,” which started test tour at Hanna Easter Sunday. Leo G. and -Eleanor Bayer, local authors of whodunits, having their new comedy “Third Best Support, preemed by Margo Jones Theatie Players in Dallas May 12 and go¬ ing there to cover rehearsals. Their last play, "Left Hook, was tested by Cleveland. Play House three years ago.