Variety (March 1959)

62 CHATTER Broadway Bernard Sobel to Paris and Lon¬ don the S.S. United States March 6 for five weeks. George E. Lang, ex-Waldorf, named banquet-catering veepee of the Brass Rails. Don Ameehe sailed yesterday (Tues.) on the Cristoforo Colombo en route to Naples. Headline in the N.Y. Post: “Myra Hess to Sing in Brooklyn.” For an encorfe she’ll play the piano! The Robert"K. Shapiros (man¬ aging director of the N.Y. Para¬ mount) celebrated their wedding anniversary last week. Monte Carlo opera (80 years old) world preeming “La Riva della Sirti” (Coast of Quicksand) by Luciano Chaiilv of Italy. Based on a French novel. Igor Buketoff, conductor of the Fort Wayne Philharmonc Orchestra on three-week trip to Europe, dur¬ ing which he will officially open the “World Music Bank” in the Scandinavian countries. Cole Porter, more or less con¬ fined at his Waldorf Towers apart¬ ment since his operation, has old show biz friends dropping in on him. Ethel Merman sang for him virtually the entire new score of her forthcoming “Gypsy.” Dimitri Mitropoulos, who had to cancel his Met Opera pit commit¬ ments for a season because of a serious heart attack, is much better. Friends quip, “He has to be - watched, he smuggles in scores like some patients smuggle in cigars.” “Princesses’ Dilemma,” chil¬ dren’s play scripted by Felicity Hoffecker and Anne Warren, in rehearsal for March 21 premiere by Children’s Dramatic Workshop of Brooklyn Academy of Music. Opus being read by Samuel French office. Orchestra leader Meyer Davis, who’s just recorded a Victor LP, “Meyer Davis Plays ‘Redhead’ for Dancing,” leaves New York at the end of this week for two weeks in Palm Beach, where he’ll baton at several social events, including the March 12 Candlelight Ball at the Everglades Club. New York currently having a Handel Festival, though it’s some¬ what of a secret. Walter & Lucie Foundation putting up coin for Carnegie Hall presentation March 24 of Handel’s “Acis and Galatea,” given last summer at the Caramoor (N.Y.) Festival. Sol Hurok respon¬ sible for event which will have Victoria de Los Angeles in cast along with Ceasare Valletti. The off-Broadway appellation is spreading to the restaurant field. Jack Delaney’s, longtime Green¬ wich Village steak spot, is using that designation in its local ads as part of the new buildup being given the eatery, following its re¬ cent takeover by Aldo, who form¬ erly ran his own Italian restaurant in.the Village. New policy at De¬ laney’s also includes Wednesday- Sunday nigM k°yboarding by Jack i Lane. j Minneapolis Ey Les Rees (2123 Fremont Ave. So., FR 7 2609) Violinist Igor Eesrodni here for concert. • Art Van Damme quintet into Freddie’s nitery. “Mark IV” played Prom Ball¬ room one-nighter. Robert Shaw chorus and orch here for one-nighter. i Annual “Home-o-Rama” Show at St. Paul Auditorium. j Twin Cities’ Macalester College | Players offering “HamletJ* j Mary Martin drew capacity two nights at 4.600-seat Northrop Audi¬ torium. i Northwest Variety club chief barber, Joe Podoloff, back from Florida visit Burglars got $2,000 haul from Schiek’s (Bennie Berger) enter¬ tainment spot. Pianist Van Cliburn’s appearance with Minneapolis Symphony choir drew 4,922 admissions. “Night With Jerome Kern” in third and final Hotel Radisson Flame Room” week. Canadian National Ballet inked for U. of Minnesota Northrop Audi¬ torium March 11-12. Gay 90s nitery holding over Count Barnadino and his Palmetto Boys’ “Calypso Revue.” Another annual Burton Holmes Sunday afternoon travel series launched at St. Paul Auditorium. Seventeen acts promised for 26th annual Boat, Sports, Travel Show at Auditorium here, March 27- April 5. Playing matinee and night, Har¬ lem Globe Trotters drew 8,277 and 7,895 payees, respectively, at local Auditorium. Mannie Gurian, producer of “Warm Peninsula” and husband of star Julie Harris, back with attrac¬ tion at State here. Inf change of policy, St. Paul PfatiEfr Wednesday, March 4, 1959 newspapers now accept ads for legit attractions playing Minne¬ apolis exclusively. Stan Ballard, recently elected AFM secretary, is former local hotel orchestra saxophone player and currently the local union’s executive secretary. “Two for Seesaw” and “Dark at Top of Stairs” tentatively set for March and April, respectively, as State’s third and fourth production of Theatre Guild subscription’s promised five shows. Ghi Symph Continued from page 1 ___ on it. The men have already been hit in the wallet with a $20 week¬ ly cut forced on them in the pres¬ ent inflation by the Ravinia Festi¬ val, which threatened to do with¬ out the symphony this summer un¬ less the terms were met. As for Europe, Reiner wanted a tour of eight weeks while the State Dept, held out for as many as 12. According to one report, the conductor finally talked the project down to ten weeks, but agreed to conduct only six of them, with the added prerogative of se¬ lecting his own dates. Reiner’s re¬ calcitrance finally proved too ex¬ asperating for the Washingtpn schedule-makers and washed out the whole deal. New York Philhar¬ monic will make the tour instead. The government wanted the Chi orchestra, but only if Reiner went along, reason being that in five years on the podium here he has rebuilt the unit into what’s critical¬ ly acknowledged as one of the finest symphonic aggregations any¬ where. %t least part of Reiner's indif¬ ference is attributed to his finan¬ cial independence at the age of 70. His Chicago paycheck is estimated at between $65,000 and $80,000, possibly the highest in the biz. Then there are recording fees. An uncooperative reputation is nothing new for Reiner. His pre¬ vious associations were stormy, and there were voluble complaints from Windy City tv crews who worked with him on local telecasts of the Chi orch. Apart from the fact his refusal to travel frustrates a showoff. of Chi culture abroad, the Orchestral Assn, now fears some mutiny in the orchestra’s ranks, as the hiss¬ ing and stomping of last week would indicate. One member, re¬ portedly, had nixed an offer from Cleveland for next season in the belief Europe was definite with its added income. Further, the orches¬ tra’s guarantors are understood to be near the breaking point in their tolerance of Reiner’s aloof stance, albeit there’s beaucoup gratitude for the lustre he’s given the sym¬ phony. Reiner has not helped himself either with the Orchestral Assn, or the metropolitan gazettes by stead¬ fastly refusing press conferences for four years, and at week’s end he was nowhere to be found for a statement anent the tour calloff. One of the critics, in fact, com¬ plained that Reiner had even changed his phone number, and worse—it’s unlisted. Homo ‘Theorizing’ Continued from page 1 the majority opinion, declared that homosexuality is “not to be ap¬ proved. but society should under¬ stand” its causes and effects. Attorney for Rohauer was Stan¬ ley Fleishman who has made some¬ thing of a specialty of these cases lately. Fleishman again used “ex¬ pert witness” in his case against the city’s action in seizing the films and bringing action against Rohauer. In addition to testimony from a psychiatrist on deviates, Fleishman called the .poet, Kenneth Patchen, to explain the artistic merits of the films. Kenneth Anger, currently in Paris, did “Fireworks,” and John Schmide, ’ a local experimental film-maker, did “The Voices.” Both films have had extensive showings in the past few years at universi¬ ties and other such places. Among the screenings have been those at the N. Y. Museum of Modem Art, the University of Chicago and the San Francisco Museum, where they aroused no particular comment. Films are both short, and docu¬ mentary in nature, attempting to convey through .impressionism the homosexual attitude on life in general. London (COVent Garden 0135/6/7) James Carreras hosting a press get together on Friday (6), prior to leaving for the States on March 15. Charity preem df the new Crazy Gang show, “Clown Jewels,” fixed for today (Wed,), in aid of the Marie Curie Cancer Fund. Florence Desmond out of “Aunt¬ ie Mame” at the Adelphi. She’s stricken w'ith virus; producer Betty Box is recovering from pneumonia. ' Anglo - American Distributors staged its first: fullscale convention last week, Friday (27) ' through Monday (2). , Associated-Television . held a press party to greet Sally Ann Howes, and husband Richard Adler, here for tv appearances. TV-radio comedian Ted Ray will play his first serious screen role in a coming screen comedy, “Carry On, Teacher.” Howard & Wydham’s production chief Freddie Carpenter to N. Y. today (Wed.) for flip round the Broadway shows. Richard Quine to Paris on Mon¬ day (3) after huddles in London over Columbia’s “The Image Mak¬ ers.” He’s now prowling location sites. Robert Stevenson in from Holly¬ wood to start casting Walt Disney’s “Kidnapped,” James MacArthur starrer. Pic rolls in Scotland end of April. Signed as the last of the “Four Just Men,” Sapphire telepix series, is Richard Conte. Others are Jack Hawkins, Dan Dailey and Vittorio De Sica. Rank threw a cocktailery to wel¬ come Mylene Demongeot, French actress signed for a new Betty Box comedy, “Upstairs and Down¬ stairs.” The Queen joined Princess Margaret’s informal theatre-party to see “West Side Story.” It was the Queen’s first visit; Margaret’s second. Jerry Adler, managing director of National Broadcasting Company International, flies to New York on Friday (6) for policy talks with NBC. H. O. Jordan named a'director of Strand Electric Holdings, in suc¬ cession to H. M. Cotterill. Jordan will direct the firm’s two factories, whrih turn out theatrical lighting equipment. Paris By Gene Moskowitz (28 rue Huchette; Oden 49-44) Yank chirper Nancy Holloway into Mars Club. Glenn Ford in to meet the press and out for Spain and a pic chore. Sandra Milo, Italo film actress, finding time to finish her first novel called “The Men,” Roger Pigaut kudosed for years best children’s pic, “The Kite From the End of the World.” Both “Gigi" (M-G) and “Separate Tables” (UA) in for good reviews but only good to fair biz. Joseph Lisbona, pic producer, turns director for next, “The Crab Basket,” an indictment of film world. Jacques Tati’s “Mon Oncle” got special showing for General de Gaulle. at his official residence, i L'Elysee. Harold Hecht, delayed by fog, could not make press conference for the opening of “Separate Tables” (UA). Belgium documentary on Africa, “Masters of the Forests” (20th) surprise grosser here, and ditto firstrun reissue of Jean Renoir’s “La Grande Illusion.” Yank cleffer Joe Warfield having song he wrote with French poet Jacques Prevert recorded by Jean- [ maire on special Philips disk. It’s being released to coincide with her new pic, “Guinguette.” Director Christian Jaque, now winding Brigitte Bardot starrer “Babette Goes to War” for pro¬ ducer Raoul Levy. He’ll next- do “The Campfollowers” for Levy in Greece. This one is sans B.B. Bevy of well known literary detectives and private eyes comes to the screen here with Martine Carol doing femme crime meddler Nathalie, Felix Marten as The Saint, Jean Gabin doing another Inspector Maigret, and Jean Thielment the Japanese detective, Mr. Suzuki. "Boston By Guy Livingston (342 Little Bldg; HAncock .6-8386) Sammy Dtfvis Jr. pencilled in for. June 22 date at Blinstrub’s. Mickey Alpert and Russell Pat¬ terson in to catch shows. Tubby Boots back from tour of Miami niteries. Eugene Istomin soloist with' Boston Symphony concert last night (3) at Symp. cny Hall. Roberta Sherwood played to cap auds at George Wein’s Storyville in'her first Hub stand. Sam Richmond, g.m. Sack Thea-‘ tres, off to Hollywood where he will visit studios and oo films. Repertory, Boston, new endeavor in repertory, opened at the Wilbur Tuesday (3) with “Six Characters in Search of an Author.” ^“Lovely Star, Good Night,” pre- Broadway tryout, arrived at the Shubert Monday (2), for two weeks. Harvard’s 111th Hasty Pudding show, “Busy Bodies,” now in' re¬ hearsal for March 18 opening at H. P. Clubhouse, Cambridge. The off-Broadway Irish Players SRO at the Little Opera House in “Playboy of the Western World,” imported by Jerome Rosenfeld as a first in Boston. Frances Langford in for press party at Statler-Hilton Firday (27) j for her upcoming tv color spec¬ tacular “Frances Langford Pre¬ sents” on NBC-TV March 15, and Hub American Legion ceremonies. Queen’s Visit — Continued from page 1 realize not a cent from it all. “Our only ambition is to further under¬ standing^ of the peoples of the Americas.”' Such sonorous assur¬ ance appears genuine enough, though no one doubts that the games and related events will cer¬ tainly benefit many categories of business. The culture phase will involve several landmarks devoted to same. The Art Institute (whitewashed and boasting a new wing), for ex¬ ample, will house an extensive ex¬ hibit of hemispheric works, while the creativity of Latin American Indians will be displayed at the Museum of Natural History. Ap¬ propriate exhibits are also planned for the Museum of Science & In¬ dustry, hard by the U. of Chicago campus where the 2,000 participat¬ ing athletes are to be domiciled in a “Pan-American Games Vil¬ lage.” Cultural Kick A lot of loose ends are still to be joined, but as of this week the cultural programming includes four al fresco concerts by the Chi Symphony at the Grant Park band- shell, with guest maestri conduct¬ ing compositions of North-South- Central American composers. Ne¬ gotiations are on for at least one opera company, Argentina’s famed Opera Decamera, a hit at the re¬ cent Brussel’s Fair, and for Mex¬ ico’s modern ballet troupe. Addi¬ tionally,’efforts are being made to secure a number of distinguished folk groups in both the dance and concert fields. Some of these per¬ formances, at least, would be staged in the Civic Theatre legitery pro¬ vided dates can be cleared. The town’s civic and social lead¬ ership, not to mention a proud press, doubtless will make the most fuss over the arts aspect, culture here frequently being a frontpage issue for the breast-beaters. But while the patriarchs concern them¬ selves with that area, it’s a cinch the bulk of the locals will be pre¬ occupied with the athletic phase— a 20-sport program that ranks sec¬ ond only to the Olympic Games as an international test of gameman- ship. These events will carry over a 12-day period, and for the first time since it was built over three decades ago, Soldier Field will har¬ bor the Olympic-type, agenda for which it was conceived—gothic columns and all. There will, of course, be a good deal more to the gala, most of it sideshow folderol comprising pa¬ rades, pageantry, beauty queen se¬ lections, etc. Naturally, there arises the spec¬ ulation of what effect all this will have on Windy City amusements, the consensus forecasting more hurt than help. This sizeup obtains from experience as recent as last summer, when several big conven¬ tions staged Main Stem marches that cut down , firstrun film trade. Nor jvere legit shows and niteries helped especially. But if the show trade is skepti¬ cal, the monarchs of commerce and industry, not to say Mayor Daley and lesser chauvinists, look to the Pan-Am hoopla (and the prior events) as the sort of worthwhile commotion, in Col. Riley’s words, “that can only result in acceptance of Chicago as the centre of the cul¬ tural, educational and economic worlds of the Americas.” Ted Rogers here from N.Y. Joe Hyams skied to Mexico City. John Wayne back from Acapulco. Herb, Golden in on UA biz. Harold -Hecht returned' from Europe. Writer Peter Viertel sued for divorce. Jewell Lain in UCLA Medical Center for additional bone surgery. Natalie Wood, on inactive list since July 14, off suspension at Warner Bros. Clare S. Gunniss retired after 20 years as exec secretary of 2Qth- Fox public relations dept. James Stewart in from global 'drumbeating tour for “Vertigo” and “Bell, Book and Candle.” Vera Miles hopped to London for femme lead in ” Paramount’s “A Touch of Larceny.” Earl Kramer checked back from “On the Beach” Australian loca¬ tion. Andre De Toth off to Europe to scout locations for Columbia’s “10 Years a Counterspy.” . Jack Hirshberg succeeds Al Vaughan as pix head of Rogers & Cowan flackery. Marcel Lamaze, maitre d’ at Moulin Rouge, celebrates his 50th anni in restaurant biz, March 22. Robert Stevenson planed to Lon¬ don for Walt Disney’s. “Kid¬ napped.” Bender-Ward Agency dissolved after 15 years, with Harry Ward setting up own management firm. Jack Lemmon off to Europe March 11 to launch bally on “Some Like It Hot” (UA). 20th-Fox payroll included 2,400 last week, largest in more than a year. Debbie Reynolds flew to Madrid for Metro's “It Started With a Kiss.” James Sarno joined McFadden & Eddy Associates as head of national and fan mag dept. Norman Twain here from Gotham to survey local casting situation for Broadway produc¬ tions. Lawrence Weingarten kudosed by L.A. High School as its “most distinguished graduate in the mo¬ tion picture industry.” Variety Club of Southern Cali¬ fornia will pick a “Miss Variety of 1959” to head delegation from Tent 25 at Variety Inter¬ national Convention in Las Vegas, March 31. Chicago (Delaware 7-4984) “Dancing Waters” opens this week at Navy Pier. Art (Cow Eyes) Engler Sextet current at Preview Lounge. Rogers Glover, onetime usher at Regal Theatre, named manager on the house’s reopening. Pressagent Jerry Field back in Chi after trying his luck on the Coast the past six months. Robert Q. Lewis in town rehears¬ ing “Visit to a Small Planet.” which opens at Drury Lane, March 10 . John Carlo, former MCA and GAC-agent, left saloon biz to join Willard Alexander booking office here. Clark Theatre, sponsoring nightly hourlong show on WCLM-FM, which pressagent Bob Howe is producing. Herman Kogan, ex-Sim-Times drama critic, named to board of directors of Chi Foundation for Theatre Arts. Ruth Bailey, producer of Cherry County Playhouse, Traverse City, Mich, strawhatter, in last week to o.o. talent, then planed to Coast. Stage ’59 doing three one-act plays by Tennessee Williams start¬ ing next Sunday (8). Directors- are Lawrence Morrison, Gene Troob- nick and Bill Friedkin. Las Vegas By Forrest Duke (DUdley 4-4660) Erskine Caldwell guesting at the Flamingo. Al Morgan, the 88er, back at Dunes lounge. Patti Casey booked as chirper in Thunderbird lounge. Sophie Tucker and Ames Bros, return to Sahara July 7. Dorothy Dandridge in for Pearl Bailey’s show at Flamingo. Dodo Lloyd celebrating third anni as Pearl Bailey’s secretary. Arturo Petterino, El Rancho vegas maitre d’, vacationing in Palm Springs. Confirming earlier rumors, George Burns inked for summer Sahara session. Tommy McDonnell of Stardust will be a rilarshal in Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, which is on his birthday. Patti Moore & Ben Lessy spent their - Riviera night off in L.A. v ta do benefit show for Jewish Home for the Aged.