Variety (November 1958)

78 CHATTER t'Ski^Tr Wednesday, November 26, 1958 Broadway RCA exec Frank M. Folsom back from New Orleans on an oil-well deal. Hal Cooke in for the winter at the piano at Stonehenge, Ridge¬ field. Conn. Harrison & Fisher back in New York on Dec. 19 following a stand at the London Hippodrome, start¬ ing Dec. 10. Hotel George V and Plaza- * Athenee (Paris) owner Francois Dupre in this weekend for a Goth¬ am sojourn. Hildegarde named this year’s re¬ cipient of the Atlas Award, given annually by a group of buyers in the fashion trades. Boston Symphony played its 72d season road date at Brooklyn Acad¬ emy of Music last week, sold out lOD^o for first time in 27 years. Van Cliburn, the pianist, will be made an honorary admiral in the Texas Navy when he appears at a concert at the U. of Texas. Hotel Manhattan g.m. Frank W. Kridel distributed Manhattan cocktail glasses to VIPs invited to the first anni of the Zeckendorf hotel. Herbert E. Marks, E. B. Marks Music prexy, named chairman of the. music publishers’ trade divi¬ sion of the 1959 N.Y. March of Dimes. Bernie Lapp, a veteran assistant manager at the Broadway Para¬ mount, home recuperating from an operation and long siege in the hospital. The Claude C. Philippes (Mony Dalmes) may quickie to Paris for the Xmas-New Year holiday to be with the Comedie Francaise ac¬ tress' mother who has been ailing. The Paul Schoensteins’ son, Ralph, • American Weekly staffer, engaged to Judy Lois Greenspan, Fairview, N.J., teacher. Schoen- stein pere is editor of the N.Y. Journal American. Met’s new (second year) tenor, Nicolai Gedda, who breaks the rule that tenors are short (he’s six feet, two) weekended in Chicago for recitals but sings tonight (Wed.) at Met in “Tales of Hoffman.’’ John Corigliano, concertmaster of N. Y. Philharmonic, will partici¬ pate at Brooklyn Academy of Mu¬ sic memorial concert Dec. 2 for late Boris Levitsky. It’s organized by Music Teachers Guild to create a scholarship. Veteran theatre operator Jim (“Bishop”) Lenihan, known to hun¬ dreds of old vaude acts from RKO days, confined to his home on Long Island by MJD. Has been a relief manager for Skouras circuit right to present. Now about 75. Shirley Broughton will choreo¬ graph and premier danseuse the Amato Opera three-week mounting of “La Traviata.” Phyliss Distler, Ann Farar, Joy Gonsorowski, Marsh Hirsch, Lois Long, Rose¬ mary Rehm and Lois Rosner also in ballet. Last word in ultramodern coop¬ erative housings is the Zecken¬ dorf’s plan for the site near the UN, which they traded off for the Hotel Astor. and which will be de¬ signed for UN ambassadorial per¬ sonnel. including quondam office facilities as well as luxury apart¬ ments. Rome By Robert F. Hawkins (Stampa Estera; tel. 657 906) Italian delegation back from Brazilian Film Festival. In-and-out-of-Rome: Curt Jur¬ gens, Ava Gardner, Antonio Vilar, Joseph Levine. Roy Acuff and his troupe enter¬ taining GIs at several Italian mili¬ tary installations. Lindsey Spight, Coast TX exec, through Rome on part of European swing to o.o. continental video- scene.., , .._ Renato RaScel starts his Italian TV series, “Tonight in Rascel City” over RAI-TV net Dec. 7. It’s slated for 12 weeks. Series of Eleonora Duse memo¬ rial lectures held in Rome’s Teatro dei Servi, under aegis of Theatre Club of Rome. Curt Jurgen and wife, Simone Bicheron, due here soon, ditto Ava Gardner, who stops over in Rome on her way to Australia. About 20 Italian production com¬ panies failed during June-Septem- ber period. Most are minor-league, but some fairly important. G. Ricordi celebrated 150th year in music business by preeming their new stereo recording of “Medea,” with Maria Callas. Gian Carlo Menotti’s “Maria Gal- ovin” will be staged by La Scala Opera as its second presentation of fall season. Clara Petrella sings lead. Claude Heater, U.S. baritone working on “Ben Hur,” took time off for some opera appearances in Copenh^^en v‘*-h an Italo Lyric Group. Mrs. nT ~ 1 *'.n?.a joined her husband in Berlin, where he’s shooting “For the First Time,” for Corona Films-Astor Prods. Metro releases. . Japanese pic* “Burmese Harp,” distributed in original version here by Globe Films International, so far topped $115,000, very good for an arty pic. French pic, “The Player,” which MG is releasing here, will have its world preem in resort town of Saint Vincent, one of Italy’s few legit gambling spots. Billie Holiday, touring Northern Italy on singing dates, will appear on Italy’s RAI-TV Sunday night variety show “We and They,” em¬ ceed by Nino Taranto. Abbe Lane and Xavier Cugat made separate guest appearances on top Italian tv show, “II Musi- chiere.” Both appeared for charity and both turned in singing stints. Dino DeLaurentiis’ “The Tem¬ pest,” which has Paramount re¬ lease abroad, will have its Italian preem Dec. 1 at Naples’ San Carlo Opera House as Red Cross gala benefit. Steve Reeves and Giorgia Moll in Jugoslavia to wArk on "Agi Murad” (Thee White Devil), an Italo-Jugoslav coproduction. Pic based on Tolstoy novel, and will be released here by Lux Films. Pittsburgh By Hal V. Cohen (Atlantic 1-6100) Joan Erdeljac joined line at Three Rivers Inn near Syracuse. Suzannah Stahl of “Goldilocks” chorus is local girl Sue Stahlsmith. Pat O’Brien cancelled “Last Hur¬ rah” plug visit on account of ill¬ ness. Nino Repepi now doubling as manager and house singer at Casa Loma. Lou Starr forming dancing line for niteries with Junior Misses billing. Ben Steerman, SW exec, rushed to Montefiore Hospital for' obser¬ vation. Mrs. George Claire to Miami Beach to spend 10 days with her mother. Tess (Mrs. Frank) Andrini in from San Francisco to visit an ail¬ ing aunt. Andy Chakeres, operator of Horizon Room, underwent another operation. Lisa Kirk in few days ahead of Ankara opening to renew old ac¬ quaintances. Post - Gazette sportswriter Jim Gregg Jr. badly banged up in a car accident. Vaude-cafe dancing team of Duquaines celebrated their 8th wedding anni. Mel Davidson, dancer, hit the road again with “Li’l Abner” after visiting his folks. International Theatre brought Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo to Mosque for one-nighter. Singer Kay Baird Marshall up from Florida to spend couple of months with her mother. . Henry Hewes, drama critic for. Saturday Review, sneaking to 20th Century Club Monday (1). Frank Gorshin coming home for visit after finishing role in Richard Widmark movie, “Warlock.” Former Florence Sando joined husband Arthur Manson in Madrid for Cinerama opening hoopla. Bob Rosuali elected Tent No. 1 delegate to Variety. Club conven¬ tion in Las Vegas next April. A1 Checco a replacement with Walter Slezak and Jayne Meadows in cast of tryout “The Gazebo.” . San Francisco newshawk Ed Montgomery in to talk about Susan Hayward starrer, "I Want to Live.” Comedian* Rummy Bishop suf¬ fered hip injury’ when hit by car and. will be out of action several weeks. Philadelphia By Jerry Gaghan (319 N. 18 th St: Locust 44848) Singer Frankie Avalon’s father opened a new teenage ballroom. Ragtime Smitty, 88er at the Bon Bon, chalking up 50 years as an entertainer. Max Rabinovitz, Curtis Institute violinist, touring with the Man¬ hattan Chamber Orchestra. Hugh Walsh, treasurer at the Academy of Music, recovering after operation at Fitzgerald-Mercy Hospital. Comedian Cozy Morley pur¬ chased the Club Avalon, booker Eddie Suez’s nitery landmark in North Wildwood. Actors Equity nixed negotiations to bring.in Zero Mostel’s "Ulysses in Nighttown” for three-day run at the YM & YWHA here. • Warren McCullough, curator of Independence Hall; to make return bid as orchestra leader, heading own band for high school dance here Jan. 10. Charles Garvey, magician and former head of the local AGVA branch, h-’s "one into the adver-. tisiug as p.r. at the Glenn l v $ ey £ ,iS en ?*- - „:ra? }•»/:* London (COVent Garden 0135-6-7) Jack Carter due in Thursday (27) for tv dates. Anna Russell returning to U.S. today (Wed.) after completing her British tour. Metro making its annual show¬ manship awards at reception to¬ morrow TThurs.). Sy Weintraub in for confabs with Sydney Box on their vidpic coproduction projeccts. Eiko, Ando on six-day provincial swing doing personals for "Bar¬ barian and the Geisha.” Princess Alexandra to attend charity preem of "The Square Peg” at the Gaumont Dec. 4. Sir Alexander B. King, 70 last weekend, was feted by local and national trade at Glasgow dinner. Clifton James, who plays title role in “I Was Monty’s Double,” doing extensive p.a. tour through¬ out provinces. Michael Flanders, out of hospital after bout of pneumonia and pleu¬ risy, expects to resume in “At the Drop of a Hat” next week. James Cagney, filming "Shake Hands with the Devil” in Ireland, gave first of a series of talks spon¬ sored by British Film Institute at National Film Theatre. Carl Foreman, to Stockholm last week for Swedish premiere of "The Key” also interviwed local femme talent for his upcoming "The Guns, of Navarone.” Robert Morley among guests at luncheon party given by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh at Buck¬ ingham Palace last Thursday (20). It was the day after the opening of his latest play, "Hook, Line and Sinker.” Australia By Eric Gorrick (Film House , Sydney) Johnny Mathis due for brief run with the Stadium loop. "This is Cinerama” okay on three-a-day at Plaza, Sydney. Berry Greenberg, Warners’ for¬ eign supervisor, on biz jaunt to. Far East . A1 Katz, UA exec, due next month for quick looksee. It’s his second stanza Down Under. Strawhats okay with “Happy Time,” “House by the Lake,” “Si¬ mon & -Laura,” "Titus Androni- cus” and "The Man,” J. C. Williamson readying top publicity, campaign for “My Fair Lady” at Her Majesty’s, Mel¬ bourne, next February. Ron Michaels, Chief of UA here, to Hong Kong for talks with Ar¬ nold Picker. UA’s “80 Days’* in its second year at Paris, Sydney. “Femmes and Furs,” plush re- Vue with Merry Macs, Fredye Mar¬ shall and batch of local nudies, pulling solidly at Tivoli, Sydney. Bernie Freeman, Metro topper here, planed to N. Y. for home office conference. Metro recently acquired local distribution of RKO product. . Record $50,000 net profit re¬ ported by Carroll-Musgrove Thea¬ tres, operators of Prince Edward, Sydney, principal showcase for Paramount product. American producer Clyde Hood was among passengers on illfated "Southern Cloud” which crashed 27 years ago in Australian Alps. Plane was only recently discov¬ ered. Hood was producing minia¬ ture revues at Capitol, Sydney, for Union Theatres, now Greater Un¬ ion Theatres’ cinema loop. Scotland By Gordon Irving . ( Glasgow: BEAtsden 5566) Vaude reopened at Empress, Glasgow. Steady advance booking for pan¬ tomimes and Christmas shows. Touring version of “Grab Me A Gondola” at King’s Theatre, Glas¬ gow. Bruce McClure, tv dance direc¬ tor, mulling tour of U.S. next summer. Teddy Peiro (Peiro Bros), jug¬ gler, injured in fall at Alhambra, Glasgow. Andy Stewart, young comedian, out of hospital following treatment fof-ulcers. "Thistle o* Scotland,” annual winter show, tees off Nov. 21, at Metropole, Glasgow. New Year’s Eve tv show being readied by Rai Purdy, program di¬ rector at Scot indie tv. Robert Wilson, Scot song star, solid biz in resident season at Carlisle, northwest England. David Hughes, currently in No. 1 pantomime at Alhambra, Glasgow, set for BBC-TV series next year. Grace Logan, wife of comedian Jimmy Logan, doing choreography for winter pantomime at His Ma¬ jesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen. Uemrs Lo i: s invay^ at Empire, Glasgow, -'"'d mi’l'ing 1959"trip to trek through America with Ted Heath orch. Kenneth McKellar, Scot tenor, rehearsing Richard Tauber rule in new musical of “Old Chelsea,” opening at King’s Theatre, Glas¬ gow, Dec. 15. Howard & Wyndham’s panto¬ mime “Sinbad the Sailor,” with David Hughes as singing lead, teed off at Alhambra, Glasgow. Jimmy Logan and Rikki Fulton share com¬ edy tops. Fredie Carpenter staged. Miami Beach By Larry Soloway (1755 Calais Dr.; Union 5-5389) Earl Wilsons in and out of town. Disk jock Jerry Wichener no longer with WQAM, Storz station in Miami. A1 and Walter Jacobs back home and mulling offer for a new project on the Beach. Hal Zeiger in for a look around; he’d like to bring his “Borscht- capades” revue back this season. La Ronde room of Fontainebleau, being expanded to seat 750-800, definitely will not reopen until completion date: Dec. 19. Frank Sinatra got a virus, while shooting “Hole in the Head” here. Good weather aided company gen¬ erally and this wound up on skedded date, and left for Coast. Monte Carlo Hotel, which fea¬ tured name acts in its Roulette Room for several seasons, under auctioneer’s hammer this week. May be turned into a co-op or year- lease operation. Demo party chairman, Paul But¬ ler, in to scan new exhibition hall for 1960 nominating convention. Only hitch is state segregation laws, although there have been a number of integrated meets staged in the past without incident. By Les Rees (2123 Fremont Ave. So., FR 7-2609) Vienna Octet gave St. Paul Au¬ ditorium concert. * Violinist Isaac -Stern a Minne¬ apolis Symphony soloist. Theatre St. Paul presented “Lady’s Not for Burning,” U. of Minnesota Punchinello Players presented “Picnic.” Pianist Byron Janis guest artist with Minneapolis Symphony. Schmitz Sisters into Hotel Rad- isson Flame Room for second en¬ gagement. Bob Scobey’s Frisco band back at Lakeview club for its third en¬ gagement within year. Songstress Sarah Fleming and tenor David Daniels appeared at St. Pjul Women’s Institute. Comedienne Anna Russell, who spoofs serious music, guest artist at Mineapolis Symphony special concert. Northwest Variety dub reelected all officers, including chief, second and . third barkers Joe Podoloff, Tom Burke and Gilbert Nathanson, respectively. By Guy Livingston (344 Little Bldg.; HAncock Bobby Hackett in for week stand at Storyville. Anita O’Day opens Monday (24). Christine Carere, French film- stress, in for plugs on new Jerry Wald film, “Mardi Gras.” Jacques Tati in for round of p.a.’s heralding opening of his “My Un¬ de” at the Kenmore arter. Boris Goldovsky’s N.E. Opera Theatre nabbing acclaim for 12 performances of four operas in English at the Wilbur legiter. Gail Riley, daughter of the Mass, registrar of njotor vehicles, turned piper and singing with Sammy Eis- en’s orch at the Bradford Roof. Paris company of Le Vieux-Co- lombier booked to present "Britan- nicus” for two performances at Sanders Theatre, Cambridge, Dec. 6-7. Detroit By Fred Tew (TU 5-8694) Clown Emmett Kelly in '“The DeSoto Story” at the Detroit Ai#o Show. He recounts.highpoints of the auto maker’s 30 years in two- a-day performances. Detroit Free Press saluted FM radio in a special story, noting that, despite troubles which al¬ most red-inked the stations out of business, there are 13 FM stations in the area-. One of the vets of Detroit thea¬ trical biz, Nathan Sehreiber, owner of the Colonial Theatre, celebrated his 74th birthday and 53 years in show biz. He has acquired 30 acres of land in suburban Livonia and has just received a permit to construct that community’s firSt r:n«?rf & h9j£C*iftT 1 rd fmfeb ;«*, Hollywood Arthur Jacobs to London,. Louis Jourdan off to Paris. Jane Powell down with virus. Ted Ashley in from Gotham on tv biz. Monty Kay skied in from Man¬ hattan. Gilbert Kurland back from London. Jim Bowles arrived from Gotham. Roger Corman returned from world tour. Robert L. Lippert skied to Mex¬ ico City. . Ralph Riskin joined Famous Artists literary dept. Phil Harris sustained minor in¬ juries in auto accident. . Ketti Frings filed for divorce against agent Kurt Frings. Joe Hoenig switched from Rog- ers-Cowan to Bill Watters flackery. Anatole Litvak arrived from Eu¬ rope with print of “The Journey.” Ziegfeld Club celebrated its 22d anniversary, with Billie Burke hon¬ orary prexy. t William O. Marsh succeeds Pete Montemurro as 20th-Fox studio purchasing agent. Jerry Weisfeldt hospitalized in Riverside, Cal., result of serious auto accident injuries. Ernest Borgnine sailed for Aus¬ tralian location of Stanley Kram¬ er’s “Summer of the 17th DolL” Bob Cummings tours Japan, Hong Kong and Australia next summer to bally his NBC-TV show. Chicago (Delaware 7-4984) Jack Benko remodelling his Noc¬ turne Club. Bobby Christian orch at Club Laurel on northside. Bill Doggett headlining new re¬ vue at Roberts Show Club. Gaslight Club now employs five ragtime pianists and dixieland combo in its several rooms. Jimmy Payne, onetime producer of Blue Angel calypso shows, now staging ’em for competing Club Bambu. Myron Cohen doubling in town as author (“Laughing Out Loud”) at autographing parties and as top- liner of “Mazeltov Hoedown” at Studebaker. Burgess Meredith in over week¬ end huddling with Lois Solomon and Paul Raffles anent national tour of their jazz production of biblical "Song of Songs.” Dr. John Reich, head of Good¬ man Memorial Theatre, personally staged current production, "Lady Precious Stream,” ancient Chines* play which he adapted for modern theatre. Pedicone’s Gold & Diamond Club, Lyons, III. showcase for smart singing and piano talent, notched its first anni this month. Pearl Eddy and Twa Ton Baker are current. Las Vegas By Forrest Duke (DUdley 2-6100) Hal Loman’s mom in from N.Y. to catch son’s ierp act at El Rancho. Paula Richards, chirper in El Rancho lounge, given new long¬ term pact. Garwood Van giving Jeanne Crain and Paul Brinkman guided tour of Tropicana casino. Mischa Violin, conductor at Radio City Music Hall for eight years, now violinist with Antonio Morelli orch at the Sands. Sam Diamond, formerly of the Flamingo, and now manager of the Pioneer Club, mending after sur¬ gery at Mt. Sinai hospital in L.A. Bicycling down the Strip at 2 am. on their way home, Susan Cartwright of England, Bosalined Michaelis of Australia and Annette McKay of Scotland. All are in Lido de Paris show at the Stardust. Cleveland By Glenn. C. Pullen Actor Alan Baxter in from Hol¬ lywood to visit relatives here. Helen Merrill, jazz canary, breaking in new intimate act at Kornman’s Back Room Club. Kathryn Kane singing at Alpine Village with Bobby Whalen, tenor, aifd Marian Morell on same bill. George Szell, conductor of Cleve¬ land Symphony, taking it on first West Coast tour In spring of 1959. Sheraton chain, which bought Lionel Hampton’s orch cost Sam Firsten’s Modern Jazz Club a pretty penny for a one-weeker but did boffa. Hotel Cleveland, planning to turn its ultra conservative old Bronze Room into a «swank Polynesian dance-dinery. Bandmaster Mickey Katz and Hal Zeiger, former Clevelander, co- producers of "Borschtcapades” last week at Public Music Hall, ban¬ queted by their local clansmen be-