Variety (May 1957)

62 CHATTER PiKSWF? Weda«d»y, May 22, 1957 Broadway Cinerama Productions Corp. v.p. •Theodore R. Kupferman off on a four-week European jaunt: Alicia Markova ,will dance in Met Opera’s “Orfeo ed^Euridice” next season. Been' in England past year. Mario Lanza, accompanied by his family, sailed for Naples last week on the M/V Giulio Cesare. New gourmet society, known as Les* Copains de Careme, dedicated to Marie-Antoine Careme, master chef of the Napoleonic era, being launched. Jack and Dorothy Entratter back to Las Yegas after a lengthy N.Y. stay during which Mrs, Entratter- underwent surgery at Mt. Sinai Hosp. Entratter manages the Sands Hotel. Adah (Mrs. Ted) Lewis is chair- manning a committee made up of friends of the late Belle Baker for a memorial within the Will Rogers Hospital at Saranac Lake in her memory. Lois Jean Wintermute, sec of the Will Rogers Hospital Memorial Fund, engaged to Merlin Charles Lewis, exec sec of Theatre Equip¬ ment & Supply Mfrs. Assn. (TESMA). Overseas Press Club cocktailery will launch Lawrence G. Bloch- mah’s Signet Key publication Of “Here's How: A . Rpund-the-World Bar Guide.” Blochman is veep'ee of the OPC. Hugh Jff. Flick, former “censor” of N. Y. State reported for reserve officer duty Sunday (19) with the War Records Office of the Adjut¬ ant General, in Washington. Holds the rank of lieutenant colonel. Robert E. Lee (Jerome Lawrene &■) on a West Indies cruise with his actress-wife, Jane Waldo, and thence back to the Coast after hud¬ dling with Herman Shumlin on their latest play, “The Gang’s All Here.” Chester (Benton &) Bowles, for¬ mer Ambassador to India, and Ralph Kirkpatrick, harpsichordist and musicologist, are among seven who will receive honorary degrees at the June 10 commencement at Oberlin (G.) College. Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh sailed for Europe Saturday (18) on. the lie de France en route to Norway where they’ll location for Bryna Productions’ “The Vikings.” Also sailing was Boris Karloff and Bernard Kranze, Stanley Warner v.p. Perhaps not generally know that Dick (Richard J.) Powers, long an exec of ASCAP in New York before going into the personal manage¬ ment business in Hollywood, is also president of the Bank of Encino (Calif.), with branches in Granada Hills an^ Sherman Oaks. The Bernard F. Gimbels’ annual spring-in-the-country lunch, which usually brings up the town’s who’s who to their Greenwich estate, was switched into a. pre-60th birthday surprise party, also, bn Sunday (19), in honor of the merchant’s longtime friend Gene Tunney. A closed-circuit telecast of im¬ provements along the New York Central Railroad line will be a fea¬ ture of the annual stockholders’ meeting in Fabian’s Palace, Al¬ bany on Thursday (23). Video phase will run an hour. This is the secqpd year the railroad has rented the 3660-seat theatre for the confab. Maxie and Harold Myers ( Myro ) —he is head of the Variety Lon¬ don bureau—to the Coast on their first Hollywood visit after over a fortnight in Gotham surveying the Manhattan show biz scene. fa Edna and Joe Schoenfeld (latter is edi¬ tor of Daily Variety accompany¬ ing the Myers' back to Hollywood following their (the Schoenfelds) European vacation. Spivy’s opening last night (Tues.) at .the Blue Angel marks her first return to the Gotham nitery scene since 1950 when .she operated Spivy’s Roof. Since then she has been in ^London, Paris and Rome, latterly at Bricktops. She. worked • for Herbert Jacoby in 1936 in Paris, when he operated Le Ruban Bleu, which he later transplanted to N.Y., eventially bowing out to open his own Blue Angel, with Max Gordon, Meantime, Manhattan’s Ruban Bleu is now no more vdth the razing of the 4 E. 56th St. prop¬ erty for an office site. Frankfurt By Hazel Guild (24 Rheinstrasse; 776751) Hamburg City Opera guesting in Oslo, Norway, repping first musical exchange between Germany and Norway since the end of the war. • Douglas Sirk, Universal director, due in Germany in May to look for locations and actors for his next E ic, “Time“ to Live and Time to lie.” Prof. Hans Knappertsbusch con¬ ducting two German versions,, of Richard Wagner's “Ring of the Ni- belungen” at the Opera in Paris this month. “The Young Lions,” 20th-Fox film starring Marlon Brando and Montgomery TClift (Edward Dmy- tryk directs), will be filmed this- fall ii^ BaVaria. Gary ^Crosby, serving his Army time with Uncle Sam, has been transferred -from . Armed Forces Net in Frankfurt to the 7th Army Symphony in Stuttgart. Don Murray in town briefly en- route to Naples to .visit the refugee home he and his wife, actress Hope Lange, are supporting, His “Bache,- lor Party” will be released shortly in Germany via United Artists. American jazz singer Bill Ram r sey back in Germany to concertize and to attend classes at Goethe University in Frankfurt, working toward his degree in economics. Ramsey, whose home is in Cincin¬ nati, O., spent-several years here with Armed Forces Net and ap¬ peared in a pair of German pix. Paris By Gene Moskowitz (28 Rue Huchette; Odeon 4944) Jacques Deval's . old boulevard comedy, “Mademoiselle,” a hit ad¬ dition to Comedie-Francaise rep. London Festival Ballet into the Theatre Des Champs Elysees for top reviews and 10 curtain calls the opening night. . Darryl Zanuck expected back to do “The Sun Also Rises” (20th) in Paris and Biarritz, with a new di¬ rector, Robert Wise, and new cast additions. Preston Stuges to the U. S. to catch opening of the English ver¬ sion. of the Gallic film he made here two years ago, “The Note¬ books of Major Thompson.” George Simenon will have seven of his books transfered to the screen in France and U. S. next season. In Hollywood Richard Brooks does “Red Light” and Rich¬ ard Conte stars in “The Rico Brothers.” ' Havana By Jay Mallin IGalle 13 No. 416, Vedado; F-6579) Hotel Sevilla Biltmore opened its casino. Seven casinos in operation- in Havana. Bob McFadden coming to Casino Parisien. “Iron Petticoat” (M-G) at America and Rodi. “War and Peace” (Par) at Trianon and Payret. “Dancing Waters” display con¬ tinues at Casino Parisien. Carl Erbe to handle publicity for non-govt, tourist board. Microwave link between Cuban and Florida under construction. Entertainment biz in Santiago, including casino at Casa Grande Hotel, doing pooriy because of political unrest. Pakistan By A. Ghaffar (17 Princes Hotel , Karachi) United Artists’ “The Killer Is Loose” has been banned by the West Pakistan Board of Censors on the grounds that it 4s likely to prove harmful to the youth\ctf the country. -- Mubarak Khan, singer and music director of Pakistan, died in Lahore. Son of a famous classical singer of Indo-Pakistan fame, Mu¬ barak composed music for a num¬ ber of films in this country. The students of Karachi have been granted concessions in cine¬ ma ticket prices. Students pur¬ chasing a lower class-ticket are en¬ titled to sit in the next higher class. For this purpose and to en¬ able the students to avail of the concessions, special performances are held on Friday and Wednesday mornings. A new film house, Godeon Kine- ma. fitted with Cinemascope and wide screen, has been a valuable addition to the show palaces of Karachi. Opening ceremony was performed by Begum Iskander Mirza, wife of the President of Pakistan, on May 1. First booking is “Oklahoma.” The owners also intend to equip to handle Todd-AO 65m process. Pakistani producers are worried at the decision of the Government of Pakistani to - release a number of films that had heen held by cus¬ toms authorities,, some as far back as 1951. -The Pakistani producers feel that with the release .of these films and the import of eight new Indian films sanctioned by the Government the home industry will not be able, to withstand the competition from the neighboring country. Indian films offer serious competition t.o < the local films as the films of that country too are made in Urdu ,tongue and. they are better technically and' other¬ wise. ' ' . London (Temple Bar 5041/9952) Ballerina Beryl Grey left for Montevideo * add 10-week tour of South America. Howard, Keel in London for his two-week Palladium stint, which starts next Monday (27). . Victor Green,, former Republic Pictures exec in England, left for Australia’ via the U. S. last week. Lord Adrian Foley, the piano playing peer, is set to visit N. Y. next .week on a three-day quickie record promition trip. The Queen 'and Prince Philip will attend the Royal Film Per¬ formance aiding the Cinema¬ tograph Trade Benevolent Fund on Nov. 4. Upper lounge of the Warner Theatre will be transformed into a replica of an airways terminal for tomorrow’s (Thurs.) preem of “Spirit of St. Louis.” Associated British Cinemas champ manager, Albert Sidi, and his wife, left for two-week visit to N. Y. last Friday (17). Trip is the prize for his outstanding achieve¬ ments for ABC. Victor Borge, here on a seven- week stint at Palace Theatre, will give an extra matinee show Friday (24). Proceeds gp to the Actors’ Orphanage and Ring George’s Fund for Sailors. Samuel Z. Arkoff, veepee - of American Releasing Corp. of Hollywood and N. Y., here to con¬ sult with Nat Cohen and Stuart Levy of Anglo Amalgamated on forthcoming plans for Anglo-U. S. releases. Portland, Ore. Northwest Releasing inked the Harry Belafonte Show for Para¬ mount early in July. Gogi Grant, Cardinez and The Claydettes at Amato's Supper Club for two weeks. The Sportsmen follow. Capitol Records’ Joni James inked to star in the Rose Festival Stage Revue to be produced by Frank Sennes at Stadium June 13- 14. Jack Tillman, Northwest division manager for Columbia, set the con¬ solidation of Portland and Seattle offices. James Bealle moves to Seattle; Neal Walton retires, Chet . Baker, Zoo^ Sims, Rolf Kuhn and Seldon Powell failed to show up for “The Birdland Revue” at Civic Auditorium last week (14). Manager notified promoters Vol- chock & Engerman that the four would, not show but only a few days before show’s opening. No finan¬ cial adjustment made for absen¬ tees. Miami Beach By Lary Solloway (1755 Calais Dr.; Union; 5-5389) Norwegian film - theatre stars Lasse Kolstad and Bab Christen¬ sen wed in formal gardens of the Fontainebleau (17). Jimmy Ames and Dick Haviland to top all-comedy show which Murray Franklin plans to reopen his nitery with in June. N Lucerne Hotel planning on re¬ turning the Havana , revue that clicked at its Club Chalet last win¬ ter. It’s current at the Dunes in Las Vegas. Nat Tashman out as pub-director of Eden Roc, with post to be filled within next two weeks, before prexy Harry Mufson heads for ex¬ tended vacation. Jimmy Hitz resigned resident managership of Americana to be managing director of Harbour Is¬ land Spa, owned by Desert Inn (Vegas) toppers. , Geoffrey Holder and wife, Car¬ men de Lavallade, teamed to pur¬ vey new act; they're breaking it in at the Americana this week. Arehie Robbins'and Bobby Breen „are on same bill. Boston By Guy Livingston (34 i Little Bldg.; HA 6-8386) Lee Carroll current at fhe-ShOw Bar. ' Lane Bros. , current. at . Blin- strub’s in repeater. Phyllis Ponn opens at Steuben’s for final show opening June 3, ■ Priscilla. . Fortescue, WEEI’s traveling reporter, . in Madrid, Spain taping interviews. • Mrs. Louis P. Lorrillard up from Newport to plug the upcoming Newport Jazz Festival, July 4-6, in press and radio confabs. Pat Mathews, calypso piper, heading show 1 at Bradford Hotel's new Carousel-Calypso Room which features Lord Baladier, Johnny Barracuda and Calypso Islanders. Ringling Bros, circus exited Boston Garden Sunday (19) after six-day stand and opened at Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence* R. I.,. 6,000-seater, Monday (20) for seven-day run. James MacArthur. 19-year-old son of Helen Hayes" and a fresh¬ man at Harvard, leaves at end of school semester for location of “Light in the Forest," new Disney film for which he has been inked as lead. Hollywood * Joseph Gotten ordered his sec¬ ond Rolls Hoyce. Terry Nelson skied to Rome for UI> “The Islander.” Raoul Walsh returned from his vacation in the east. David Marshall Holtzmann, man¬ aging director of South Shore Music Circus, Cohasset and Cape Cod Melody Tent, Hyannis, has been reelected prexy and counsel of the Music Arena Theatre Assn. Holtzmann helped found both lo¬ cal tents. By Les Rees k • Tito Guizar continuing at Hotel Radisson Flame Room, l£dyth Bush Little Theatre pre¬ senting “King of Hearts.” Minnesota U Theatre concluded season with “Midsummer’s Night Dream.” Gay 90’s has Bobby Bravo’s “All Calypso Revue” for return date plus holdover of Lord Bruno’s band. “Slapsy” Maxie Rosenbloom and songstress Kitty Muldoon held over second week at Osterberg’s Supper Club. Old Log Strawhatter at suburban Lake Minnetonka opens I6th sea¬ son June 13 and will present 13 plays in same number of weeks with Don Stolz again at helm. Berlin By Hans Hoehn (760264) Jazz at the Philharmonic at Sportpalast this week. Leopold Stokowski' conducted Berlin Philharmonic May 15-16. Rave reviews given for “Holiday On Ice,” currently at Sportpalast. It’s troupe’s fifth local appearance. Berlin’s CCC is currently shoot¬ ing “Eighth Day , of the Week" in conjunction with Polish Studio in Breslau and Warsaw. Pic stars Sonja Ziemann. Werner Klingler will direct for Berolina two pix, “King of Thieves” and “Fox of Paris,” Klingler di¬ rected “Spy For Germany,” also a Berolina, last year. New American pix in town in¬ clude “Battik Hymn” (U), “Boy On Dolphin” (20th), “Four Girls In Town” (U), “They Met in Bombay” (M-G), “Back Frqm Eternity” (RKO), “Heaven Knows, Mr. Alli¬ son” (20th) and “Foreign Intrigue” (UA). Mexico City By Pete Mayer ( Tel: 238497) Crox Alvarado injured on the “Aztec” Mummy” set 1,600 seats in Cuernavacas’ new¬ ly-opened Cine. Morelos. Starlet Silvia Pinal getting a Life photo coverage. Christiane Martel Hollywood- bqund for Metro. Eduard Ragasol to open his new Cine Paseo next door to the U. S.‘ Embassy sometime in June. . Top local conductor Carlos Chavez in N: Y, for preem of his opera, “Panfilo and Loreta,” Irmad Dprantes, widow of pic star, Pedro Infante, making her film comeback in “The Big Prize.” Pancho Villa’s son, J. Trinidad, doubling for Errol Flynn in 20th- Fox’ “The Sun Also Rises.” Lex Barker in confabs , with Mi¬ guel Aleman Jr. and Antonio Ma- touk over series of co-productions. Local femme star Maria Felix to tele-debut with her own show af¬ ter completing her upcoming “Flower of May." - . ■ Wiley College, Texas, spiritual singers debuting at Mexico City, College, then go into Palace of Fine Arts. , Vet flack Jackson parks back after a year in the’ Orient. Joe Parker will direct “Young Mother" for AB-PT pictures., Victor Jory addresses Pasadena. Playhouse • undergrade Friday. C. V* Whitney in from N.Y. for production huddles with Merian C. Cooper. Julius Tannen, ex Chatterbox of vahde’s heydey, marked his 78th birthday. Sally Hamilton resigned after 10 years with Stanley Kramer; may open her own agency. Motion Picture Relief Fund lined up 1,000 new pledgers in first three weeks of educational campaign, Lian /f OBrieri signed by Marlon Brando’s Pennebaker Co. to screen¬ play “Burst 1 of Vermilion,” which launches the indie’s activities, Carol Lee. Ladd, daughter of Alan Ladd, makes her film debut in “The Deep Six,” Ladd starrer for his own Jaguar productions. Warners has former CBS-TV pro¬ ducer Alex March. Handed him Richard Powell’s noyel “The Phila¬ delphian” as his first assignment. Bill Watters -named Hollywood publicity director for Michael Todd Co., but will continue to tun his own indie praisery handling other accounts. Lew Ayres will be first recipient of the Gplden Heart Award estab¬ lished, for humanitarian endeavors by the Wilshire Juniors of the Mount Sinai Hospital and Clinic. Chicago Taalkeus Blank signed by Hins¬ dale Summer Theatre as business manager. Hugh O’Brian in town last week¬ end for “Horse'capades” at the Armory. , , Blossom Seeley and Benny Fields here today (Tues.) for the Majestic International shindig. Steve Allen and Charles Van Doren due here on May 26 for American Booksellers conclave. Danny Newman exited as Stude- baker Theatre publicist, following company manager Danny Gold¬ berg’s resignation. Irv Seidner, former p.a. and sum¬ mer theatre business manager, joined Rutledge & Lilienfeld agency as copywriter. Magicians Milburn Christopher and June Merlin making rounds last week to bally f estival of magic on “Producer’s Showcase” next Monday (27). By Jerry Gaghan Goddard Lieberson awarded honorary Doctor of Music degree by Temple University % Jean Barrere signed -to direct three productions at Lamb'ertville Music Circus including opener, “The Pajama Game.” Wilbur Evans . directing and starring in “Beggar's Opera,” by Co-Opera Co.',- semi-pro group which Joseph Levine directs. Camden Mayor George Brunner will act as talent scout for Bobby Quinn (of * Gloucester’s .Towne House) on Arthur Godfrey show May 27. Emma Feldman, director of the All-Star Series, will take over the Philadelphia forum programs next reason in place of William Huff, who retired. Westport, Conn. ' By Humphrey Doulens Ditto the Bert Lahrs. - Lee Bowmans now living in New Canaan. Inger Stevens due here from coast in a week: Mrs. William Anthony McGuire visiting the colony here. Joan Crawford and Pepsi Cola’s A1 Steele at Stonehenge. Raymond and Dorothy Massey are in residence at Wilton. Ben and Lil -Boyar established at their Greens Farms home. With Broadway season over, N.Y. News critic, John/Chapman and frau soon depart for Denver. William Hawking, former drama critic of New York World-Telly and Sun, writing a bdpk at his Norwalk home, • ' Celeste Holm, Nancy Walker, Jes¬ sica Tandy and Jacqueline-Logan, guests at luncheon for Country Playhouse subscription committees at. Cobb's Mill. Tuesday (21). Will Hare, who operates plush local-.restaurant “Cafe sur la Plage,” returns to stage with Faye Emerson-in “Witness for the Prose¬ cution” at Country Playhouse June 15.