Variety (November 1957)

78 CHATTER Broadway . John Murphy and Eugene Picker, Veepees of Loew’s Theat: s, off to the TOA convention in Miami Beach. TelePrompter’s Chuck BarriS marrying Dr. Leon Levy’s daughter Lynn tomorrow (Thurs.) in Phila¬ delphia. Dominique Michel, Canadian and niterv chanteuse, to wed Ca¬ mille Henry, N.Y. Rangers hockey player this spring. Phil Gerard Universal’s pub¬ licity manager, to Boston to launch the campaign for “The Tarnished Angels.’’ Milton R. Rackmil, Universal prexy, and Alfred E. Daff, execu¬ tive v.p., returned to the Coast over the weekend after homeoffice conference?. Irene Moyer, a familiar figure backstage for two generations, sell¬ ing special items to actresses, is in Misericordia Hospital, uptown, after surgery. George vessel huddled with the Poor R.chard Club officials in Philadelphia on funds to rehabili¬ tate the grave of Revolutionary War hero Haym Salomon. Metro’s Myra Hansen, who ap¬ pears in “Raintree County,” will decorate the Theatre Owners of America convention starting in Miami Beach-today (Wed.). Paramount scrceritested Rosalina Neri. Italian film actress (who has also appeared in British television), in New York last week. She has since returned to Europe. NBC veepee Mahie Sacks back at his desk following a 5-week flu attack which kept him weeks in the Albert Einstein Memorial Hospital, Plully, and thence to Miami Beach to recuperate. The Richard Himbers’ was the first “mail early for Xmas” cards, and London comedian Wee Georgie Wood beat the international sound barrier to show’ biz friends in the U.S. H. V. Kaltenborn, under medical treatment for some time, attended American Civil Liberties Union radio-tv panel meeting last week, first public appearance of r cuper- ative period. Following McGill U.’s “My Fur Lady,” another Canadian i vversity has dreamed up a parody tiLe. Vic¬ toria College, U. of Toronto, is titling its annual show “Oh Men! No Women!” Kenneth Berc, son of veteran show biz dentist Ira L. Berc, made his “world dehut on any stage” as the bank president in “Time Out for Ginger” given by the junior class of Roslyn (L.lJ High School Nov. 8-9. Si Seadler. Metro’s advertising manager, told the Alumni Assn, of the Post-Graduate Hospital at the Union Club of the therapeutic val¬ ues of "going out to the movies.” His address was entitled “The Tranquilizing Screen.” Martin S. Shapiro, older son of Robert Shapiro, managing director of N. Y. Paramount Tl’ i-\ en¬ gaged to Judy Salkow! i* 4 *s now ^working on film production in Hol¬ lywood. and the wedding will be there, some time in June The Nick Schencks’ daughter Nicola engaged to marry actor-di¬ rector Helmut Dantine. As Nicola Michaels she has appeared in a number of films and her sister has also been in show’ biz, as a nitery singer and actress, under the pro¬ fessional name of Marti Stevens. Vancouver advertising its first annual Festival of Arts (July 19- Aug. 10) in Metropolitan Opera program. They’re doing “Don Gio¬ vanni” out there with George Lon¬ don. Legit, chamber music, sym¬ phony and art films also included. French mime Marcel Marceau booked. In a piece in Metro’s house or¬ gan. The Distributor, Pandro S. Berman writes on his reasons for producing “Brothers Karamazov.” Among other things, he notes that “few novels have enjoyed so many ardent and diverse admirers, among them Marilyn Monroe and Sig¬ mund Freud.” Esther Burke, formerly manager of publicity department of Roy S. Durstine In<\, joined Barkas & Shalit public relations agency in an executive capacity and as a member of the plans board. Tom Rodgers, veepee cf Trans- Lux Theatre Corp., shoved off' for Paris last week on vacation* re¬ turns Dec, 3. Mrs. Ted Lewis and Dorothy' Hirsch of Variety, co-chairmen of the Belle Baker memorial fund,; plan to furnish, as a memorial to 1 the singer, television hi-fi equip¬ ment and AM-FM radio for the newly-activated third floor lounge at the Will Rogers Hospital at Saranac Lake, N. Y. A bronze plaque memorializing Miss Baker will be installed. Only because he pleaded that missing that Sunday night plane would cause him to miss the Com¬ mand. Variety Performance in London did BOAC hold the plane for Jack Hylton while a messenger was dispatched back to his West 55th St. apartment (British pro¬ ducer’s permanent diggings in N.Y.) to get his passport which he had left behind. A 1958 Chevrolet will be raffled off at the Motion Picture Pioneers dinner honoring Loew’s prexy Joseph R. Vogel at the Waldorf Astoria on Nov. 25. Proceeds will go to the) Pioneers foundation. Louis Nizer will be one of the principal speakers and Rev. Ever¬ ett D. Clinchy,. president of the ! National Conference of Christians and Jews, will deliver the invoca¬ tion. Upcoming, show biz nuptials: Gerald F. Phillips, son of Louis Phillips (Nizer, Benjamin & Krirn) engaged to Francine Anri Kantor, with a Thankgiving wedding slated at the Kings Point (L.I.) home of his cousin, Robert S. Benjamin. Music man Abe Olman’s daughter Carolyn Scott Olman, a graduate, of American Academy of Dramatic Arts, engaged to Richard Melville Crocker, of Hollywood. Paris By Gene Moskowilz (28 Rue Huchette; Odeon 4944) Eddie Constantine arid Gilbert Becaud planning to make the first, Gallic western with songs. j Mo Rothman now Continental manager for UA here. He pre¬ viously was Continental sales chief. Firstrurt film admissions were raised this week, since the un¬ freezing, and had no apppreciable affect on the attendance. Jack Teagarden, Earl Hines and i. Cozy Cole giving one concert here during the afternoon at the Olym¬ pia Musichall and Count Basie giving two. Diahann Carroll in to prepare for a featured spot at the next Olympia. Music Hall show. She is accompanied by agents Monte Kav and Pete Kameron who are also ogling the foreign situation for other clients. With film festivals demanding “A” status growing, a proposal i here would limit the list to Cannes, Venice and Berlin every year with two others possibly allowed in— i one in Eastern Europe (Karlovy Vary) and another one in the West. Jean Gabin and Edwige Feuillere playing opposite each other for the first time in 22 years in Raoul Levy’s new production, “En Cas Du Malheur” (In Case of Trouble), being directed by Claude-Autatnt Leo Joarinon making a pic based 4 on the priest-workers who do or¬ dinary jobs and spread their be¬ liefs among their fellow workers. If is “Le Decert De Pigalle,” the case of .such a priest who worked as a dishwasher in Pigalle and tried to save prostitutes. Danny Kaye found time to hop to Israel before settling down here for the exteriors of “Me and the Colonel” (Col) which will be made in Lyon and Marseille. Interiors will be made in Hollywood. Peter Glenville directs. Curd Jurgens and Nicole Maur.ey also star. Allain Bernardin, owner of the successful strippo club. Crazy Horse Saloon, planning a new the¬ atrical sketch revue and paging pic directors Otto Preminger, Al¬ fred Hitchcock and H. G. Clouzot to stage parodies of their “Laura,” “Spellbound” and “The Spies.” Pittsburgh By Hal V. Cohen Jane Fisher named, head of Play¬ house’s boxoffice staff. Local dancer Nora Ann Reho signed for chorus of “The Body Beautiful.” # Ann Hathaway, who last played Dore’s. comes back on Monday to the Holiday House. Joe Shea, in town drum-beating “The Rivalry,” was bedded for two days by the flu bug. Pittsburgh gal Toni Hurwitz went into “Most Happy Fella” as a chorus replacement. David Riehl, after a fling at act¬ ing and writing in Hollywood, back home to work and live. William Wymetal couldn’t make meeting of light opera managers in New York because of flu. Bill Farrell, who has played Copa oftener than any other entertainer, goes back there next week. Director E. Martin Browne in to speak at Carnegie Tech Drama School, where he once taught. Walter O’Keefe set for dais at Variety Club's 30th annual banquet Sunday in Penn-Sheraton Hotel. Phil Richards to Las Vegas to join his old partner, George Ar¬ nold, in El Cortez Hotel iceshaw. Eva Gabor will be in town to-1 morrow to spearhead tri-state preem of “Les Girls” at the Penn. : Donna Kelly quit Craig Dayei Dancers at New Nixon and will go. intb a new. line t>f werk in-Cleve¬ land. : » I P'Sriety 'Wednesday, November 20, 1957 Guild didn’t notify him it wouldn’t renew the contract. Phil Regan chumped Harry S. _ , , Truman into dining at a picketed Les Cinq Peres, currently top-: place when picks themselves were London C Covent Garden 0135/6/7) jping Savoy cabaret show. Joseph Warton, secretary of Gra¬ nada Group, joined the board and named assistant managing directory London tent of the Variety Club to endow a bed in name of the I late Sir David E. Griffiths at St. Agnes Orphanage. Kitza Kazacos to N. Y. for guest shots on Ed Sullivan and Patti Page shows; also to negotiate caba¬ ret. deal. Jerome Whyte, J. Carroll Naish out to lunch. Later, when the ex- Prez was offered a rear door es¬ cape, he said he was an old piano- player and would face the music. So he went out as he went in and apologized to the pickets. Las Vegas By Forrest Duke (DUdley 2-6100) _ . Alma Nitti, BMI exec, in from and Vincent Sherman among show N. Y. catching the shows, biz contingent'which sailed on the j Chuck Cornet, Sahara lifeguard, Queen Elizabeth last Thursday (14). will test for title role in “The Jack Sir Michael Balcon among the Dempsey Story.” guests at a dinner party given at t Bob Clemens, former Variety Buckingham Palace by the Queen J man for Las Vegas, now flacking and Prince Philip. * for the Sans Souci.' British and American industry Jackie and Roy closed at the toppers turned out in force last (Thunderbird, and Beldon Katie- night (Tues.) for the Royal Naval I man signed them for El Rancho Filin Corp.’s dinner, held in the Vegas. Painted Hall at the Greenwich Hal Belfer, former Flamingo Naval Academy. , I show producer, joined George Lib- John Davis, managing director of : erace’s personal management biz the Rank Organization, will take the chair at a luncheon to honor Reginald Whitley, film critic mf Daily Mirror, who just retired after 50 years with the paper. Circuits Management Assn., company controlling the two Rank theatre chains, is launching its 10 th annual Christmas tree gifts appeal to help under-privileged children and needy old folk. Sir Tom O’Brien, M.P., who this month is celebrating his Silver Jubilee as general secretary of the National Assn, of Theatrical & Kine Employees, will be feted at a dinner by his union. Connery Chappell, last week ap¬ pointed assistant executive produ¬ cer at Rank’s Pinewood Studios, narried to the board of J. Arthur Rank Productions and Rank Or¬ ganization Film Productions. Associated Television and Metro were joint hosts at a Dorchester reception to welcome Mario Lanza on his arrival from Italy. He’s to appear in the Royal Command Per¬ formance and in “Sunday Night at London Palladium.” Ron Randell, who has just com¬ pleted his starring role in the “OSS” vidpic* series, Sails for N. Y. on the .Queen Mary Nov. 22 for a coast-to-coast promotional tour, ar¬ riving in Los Angeles Dec. 23. He’ll be accompanied by his wife, Laya Raki, making her first trip to America. in Hollywood. Harold Minsky’s new show at the Dunes is called “Holiday For G- Strings.” Rita Grable and Valerie Valjean are the featured.strippers. Mike Benedict, ex-partner in the Last Frontier, back in town from Atlantic City where he has inter¬ ests in the Paradise and Harlem clubs. Lots of deer hunters still town. One motel on the Strip, either polite or downright roman¬ tic, has on its marquee, “Welcome Dear Hunters.” Sands star Sammy Davis Jr. mak¬ ing the rounds with his old boss, Monte Gardner of the “Girls-a- Poppin’ ” strippery. Sammy worked for Monte at Ciro’s in Miami. Carmen Basilio, who was Riviera veep Benny Goffstein’s guest last week, sent Benny a “thank you” in the form of oversized boxing gloves, forgetting that the little Goffsteins are all girls. -Miami Beach By Lary Solloway (1755 Calais Dr.; Union 5-5389) Frank Sinatra confirmed March 4 date with the Fontainebleau, Liberace switching to a February run. Biz pickup for .most niteries came with influx of conventions such as Southern Medics and Bank¬ ers group. Veep Richard Nixon and his wife toured the Americana while here last week with show-stop in . the Bal Masque. “Cat On Hot Tin Roof,” with Victor Jory and the national com¬ pany, opened season for the Coco¬ nut Grove-Playhouse. "Harry Steinman, Fran- Warrep’s spouse and personal rep, signed Tune Toppers, hot local group around the area’s bistros. Shelborne hotel, adding over 100 rooms, is also building a cafe with owners Charles Yavers J and Irv Pollack on .hunt for talent lor sked. Vagabonds move over to the Beach this season—their mainland location is definitely shuttered— and will occupy Ciro’S.'in the indie night club sector. “Holiday On Ice” inked to play the Beach Auditorium in March; signed to play in future years in now building exhibition hall with capacity of 6,500 when rink is set up- _ Palm Springs By A. P. Scully (Tel. FA 4-1828) Webb building at Deep Jack Well. Pat/Beachcomber) O’Dea bedded with sprained back. Walt Disriey and Frank Lloyd huddling at Smoke Tree. Bing Crosby’s Blue Skies lost Its fight to keep out a trailer camp rival. Amanda (“Gunsmoke”) Blake queened over Western week, harry Finley and Paul Coates got billing too.: Aridrea Leeds Howard blew whole senior class of St. Theresa School to Fred Waring orch at Marion Davies’ Desert Inn. Herb Rogers out as producer of Playhouse,. Michael Ferrall suc¬ ceeding. Rogers, who has shuttled between here in the winter and Chi in ?mnmer, is clqijped* tp. have Cleveland By Glenn C. Pullen Sam and Larry Firsten, local nit¬ ery owners, doing promotion work for “Jazz For Moderns” concert package, which played Masonic Hall last Saturday (16). Karamu Settlement House, in¬ cluding two repertory theatres di¬ rected by Russell and Rowena Jel- liffe, getting two new buildings for its expanded activities. George Szell and Cleveland Sym¬ phony made one-week midwest tour, doing concerts at Michigan University, Detroit, Toledo, Muncie and Goshen-, Ind., Columbus and Delaware, O. - Herman Pirchner’s creditors plus friends raising a "big chunk of coin reported to be around $75,000, needed to reopen his dark Alpine Village club, which went into bank¬ ruptcy. ' . James Binns, formerly technical director of Lakewood Little Thea¬ tre, and Melvin Whittle, doctor who turned actor, opening their new resident stock company thea¬ tre at Oakland Park, Fla., Dec. 4, with “Janus.” Binns is its director- producer with Whittle as associate, and financed by Cleveland money. Vienna Roberto Kolisko elected chief of Vienna Symphonic orchestra. Pierre Monteux will direct the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra for RCA-Decca disks. Samuel Barber’s .opera, “Vanes¬ sa,” on program of Salzburg festi¬ vals 1958 Dimitri Mitropoulos as director. Bregenz Festivals will produce “Bartered Bride” with Wilma Lipp and Waldemar c Kmennt during next season. First thing the new board of di¬ rectors of the Austrian Broadcast¬ ing System did was to promise more Austrian'music. . Cultural film, “Signals in Animal Life,” by Rudolf Zehetgruber and Kurt Miksch received first prize of the Ministry of Education. State Opera preparing ballet week for next year’s Austrian Vien¬ na festivals with works by Hinde¬ mith, Strawinsky, Berg, Bartok and Theodor Berger. Antal Dorati of Minneapolis slated as next chief; of the phil- harmonia Hungarica, the 57-men orchestra of exiled Hungarians. UNESCO Is sponsoring. Oefa-Sehoenbrunn Film of Vien¬ na working on four new pictures, “Water Doctor” . (Life of .priest Kneipp), ‘(’Marriage on Sophien- lund, “The Lover” and “Organ Builder of St. Marien,” ' UNIAUSTRIA, Austrian produc¬ ers export association, officially registered In Chamber of Com¬ merce, Anton Schuchmann prexy; Qttq D.yerer .and Alfred Lehr vee- ;ld<st local thackeyswSF/ $A,0Qp o lastd®p^.^f#c|i<^iy f&iwppr&ptjfijpii^ year* HogprsKsaid the 5 P^yJp©use4dwped?f*».w- **».• * Hollywood Andy Griffith biten by flu bug. Kim Novak bedded with flu. Arthur Kennedy broke arm in fall. A1 Anthony returned from Eu¬ rope. Sale Of Motion Picture Relief Fund Christmas Cards topped the 50,000 ^mark. Ferlrn Husky had a nose bob for his film debut in “The Boys from Tennessee.’* Rouben -Mamoulian returned from N.Y. for “Porgy and Bess” directorial assignment, i Anita Louise will receive the “woman of the year” award from Crestview Lodge B’na B’rith Nov. 23. , Ida Mayer Cummings installed as prexy, Mary Pickford as hon- | orary chairman, of Jr. Auxiliary of L.A. Jewish Home for Aged. Jack Cole in town briefly to pick up special instruments to be used for Ginger Rogers nitery debut at the Havana Riviera next month. James MacArthUr (Helen Hayes’ son) pact with Walt Disney okayed by L.A. Superior Court, calling for $2,500 weekly for 10-week° mini¬ mum during summer, months. Hollywood’s backlot workers have thus far contributed an aver¬ age of $27.56 each to the Motion Picture Permanent Charities Cam¬ paign, chairman James Stewart disclosed. Total contributions from 15,728 members of 36 unions, guilds and crafts comprising Labor’s Executive Committee, reached $433,433. It’s the greatest number of subscriptions from this group since the PCC drives started in 1946. Freddie Montel now singing at Starlite Room. Norm Survis, Variety ad sales¬ man in Chi, resigned to become an actor; replaced by Jack Pitman. Riff-Tones, with- former Ink Spots arranger Mifflin Brantford on guitar, now at Columbia Yacht Club. • Duke Ellington to be spotlighted next Monday (25) on WGN-TV’s- “Hour of Music” with Chicago Symphony Orch. Max Blouet, longtime manager of George V Hotel in Paris, coming to Chi as veepee and general man¬ ager of Ambassadors East and West. I Gale Storm in town this week to help fund drive for Retarded Chil- I dren and for talks with Willard Gidwitz, head of Helene Curtis, her ‘ sponsor. Jac Worth producing “Jazz Song to Sputnik,” with unit comprised of Cy -Touff, Gene Esposito, Ira Schulman and Lee Loving tomor¬ row (Thurs.) at College of Com¬ plexes. Jayne Walton, Chi singer for¬ merly with Lawrence Welk, planed to Coast to record “Marie Elena” on Coral with Welk's orch and for guestshot on his tele show. She introduced original, version of the tune with Welk several years ago. Boston ■By Guy Livingston' (344 Little Bldg.; HAncock 6-8386) June Havoc in for “One Foot in Dobr” at the Shubert. Mahogany Hall All Stars, Dixie¬ land band,, at Copley Square Hotel. Harry Hershfield In to speak at Temple Emanuel. ’I’ony Martin current at Blin- strpb’s through Sunday (24). Fay DeWitt in town for disk jock visit on new record, “Take It Slow, Joe.” Bradford Carousel Room ends caljypso policy and goes back to nitriry format' with three acts wefekly. Eva Gabor, Jack Haley, Ray Bojger, Betty Kean,. Lew Parker and Kathy Barr in for United Fund kickoff rally at Symphony Hall. fl Hibbler opened at Storyville Monday (18) for week with Dakota Staton. Lionel Hempton - follows Nov. 25. £.ce Recording won . an award frdm Advertising Club of Boston for. sponsoring and promoting hit tuner, “On Old Cape Cod.” Westbrook Pegler doing his column from N. E. Baptist Hos¬ pital where he’s being treated for ulcers. Alan Frazer, Boston American columnist, on Hub end of 11 city telephone interview with Marlon Brando for one hour in N.Y. for “Sayonara” (WB). ‘fSearch for Paradise” preemed for Hub press at the Boston Mon¬ day and for Archbishop’s Fund on Tuesday (19). It opens to public Ndv. 20. Four Lads, Richard Hayman, Kay Armen, Pat O’Day, Kathy Batr, Jimmy Joyce, Joan and Stan¬ ley Kayne, Jonah 'Jones, Evans Sisters, Don Rondo and Judy Va¬ lentin# ..beaded variety show for ^OEdr*-Cvj*,i=r £ r.'Ol ' 3