2
MISCELLANY
Negro Beefs Loom Vs. 'Mandingo,'
Malenotti-Lattuada s Upcoming Pic
Home, J a n . 21.
Producer Maleno Malenotti and
director Alberto Lattuada are deep
into preparation of "Mandingo,"
fully aware that t h e film could
easily kick u p a storm of controversy when it Is released late
this year or early in 1970. They
are willing to weaken some of t h e
sharper polemic in their historical
y a r n about slave breeding in Louisiana a decade or so before the
Civil War took place.
The subject, drawn from Kyle
Onstott's two widely-read novels —
" D r u m s " and "Mandingo" — deals
with a particular Negro sect, t h e
Mandingos, founded during t h e
Middle Ages in Sudan and distinguished as a racial group for
their physical beauty, civilized
pursuits and gentleness.
Controversy will
undoubtedly
generate, Lattuada predicts, when
the militant Negro groups in the
U.S. and t h e new Negro nations
of the D a r k Continent take exception to film's eroticism and violence
as 19th century survivors of the
Mandingo dynasty in Sudan undergo selection and breeding.
Defends Project
Lattuada defends his project in
citing historical accuracy of the
basic plot. "The breeding process
js humanly degrading," he noted,
"but it was practiced as an
economic expedient by plantation
owners who found cotton a risky
staple for survival."
Malenotti, who is producing in
a copartner association with Dino
D e Laurentiis, offered t h e title role
to Cassius Clay but the ex-boxing
champ backed away because of his
religious activity. Lionel Stander
will play one of the major roles,
with another being submitted to
J a m e s Cagney, if he will come out
of retirement.
After disclosing shape and scope
of their project, Malenotti a n d Lattuada left for Brazil, where t h e
film will be shot almost i n its
entirety beginning mid-March —
with the exception of a few important sequences to roll in New Orleans.
C u r r e n t t r i p to set locations and
initiate minor casting in Brazil will
later take t h e m to Hollywood to
fill out principal roles and subsequently to New York.
In Gotham
(Continued on page 18)
LAMBS BAH-RAH TO
HARRY THE HERSH, 85
H a r r y Hershfield t h e 85-yearold humorist who has been Sheph e r d of t h e Lambs Club for t h e
past t h r e e years, will receive t h e
organization's
highest
accolade
with a gambol-in-the-fold in his
honor April 26. It's t h e first time
t h a t a Shepherd has been honored
in this manner. Last year, Richa r d Rodgers received this award.
J a c k Waldron, chairman of the
e n t e r t a i n m e n t committee, will be
t h e collie
(chairman)
of t h e
event.
'Caesar's the One'
Singer-musician Vic Caesar
was tracked down after a long
search by t h e Nixon people t o
perform at t h e new President's Inaugural Ball on Monday night (20). They located
h i m finally at t h e Playboy
Club in Los Angeles.
Why the eagerness to locate
such a relatively obscure performer—and one who ran for
the Arizona State Senate in
1966 as a Democrat, at that?
Because Caesar wrote t h e
campaign song, "Nixon's t h e
One."
Writers Won't Nix
Moscow; To Do So
Would ^Political'
Hollywood, Jan. 21.
International Writers Guild will
hold its next congress in MOSBOW
July 8-7, this despite some misgivings Initially held by Writers
Guilds in Britain and t h e U.S. For
a time. It had appeared the sessions
would not be held in Russia, because of t h e uneasy climate created
among writers in western countries
by Russo invasion of Czechoslovakia last August.
IWG prexy J a m e s R. Webb, who
did not attend last week's sessions
in London because of flu, expressed
hope next summer's meeting would
be postponed. But writers decided
t h a t any change In plans would
involve their org in politics—something forbidden by its constitution.
Consensus was t h a t t o change a
decision previously made would
clearly constitute a political disapproval decision. Exec committee
had voted in Yugoslavia to hold the
congress in Moscow.
Thus, t h e congress is confirmed
for Moscow, closing on July 7,
date t h e Moscow Film Festival
opens. Fest r u n s J u l y 7-21. Among
resolutions adopted was one concerning awards, intent of it being
that writers' awards be presented
at as many film festivals as is possible to arrange.
Patti Page's Toiletries Biz
Songstress Patti Page Is diversifying into t h e perfumed toiletries
business.
She's f o r m e d Roma
Royale Inc. to handle manufacturing and distribution.
Tom A. Taylor 2d, formerly
v.p. of United Chemical Corp., is
president a n d b o a r d chairman- of
t h e new corporation.
1/22
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Map Aussie 'Disneyland'
Sydney, J a n . 2 1 .
Aussie circus topper Stafford
Bullen is blueprinting a Down Under "Disneyland" to be built some
20 miles from this city. Aside
from his circus, h e now operates a
Lion Safari P a r k at Warragamba.
In addition to the "Disneyland,"
Bullen plans more lion perks in
Melbourne, Adelaide a n d Brisbane.
Reportedly, h e is ready to spend
$2,000,000 on t h e "Disneyland,"
which he may call Bullenland.
LBJ's Final Gift:
To Arts Subsidy
1
Boston Challenges Phiily as Site For
1976 World's Fair; 9,000 Jobs at Stake
Soviet Subtlety
Prague, Jan. 2 1 ,
Most
fascinating
"game
now being played behind t h e
scenes in Moscow is called
telephonitis. Soviet o r pro-Soviet partisans t r y t o avoid
openly opposing or chastising
"pro-Liberal" elements. E i t h e r
these people a r e k e p t in p u b lic office, but with lesser influence or in pigeon-holes. Or,
more and more, especially
with intellectuals, newspapermen, etc., who a r e suspected
of having foreign contacts,
their telephones suddenly g e t
sick. They do not work.
Complaints bring forth m e chanics who seem puzzled by
What is wrong and promise t o
"repair^' t h e instruments o r
lines. Some day..
Boston, J a n . 2 1 ,
Plans for a World's F a i r for Boston in 1976 were outlined l a s t
week by a group, which h a s beeji
working for six years to win the
event for t h e Hub. T h e fair would
be billed as Expo Boston 76.
If the H u b is picked over P h i l a delphia, t h e fair would mean c r e ation of a new community on filled
land and would zoom New E n g land's economy by some $1,509000 in new money. Some 4,000
jobs would be m a d e before a n d
during Expo. In addition, there
would be a massive boost in N e w
England's tourist trade. To c o n tinue after the fair closes, and c r e ation of some 9,000 p e r m a n e n t
jobs.
T h e group, drafting t h e plan
with the aid of the Boston R e d e velopment Authority, is U.S. Bicentennial World Exposition Corp.,
headed by Gilbert H. Hood, chairman of t h e exec committee of H.'
P. Hood & Sons; and J a m e s I. F .
Matthew, general manager. T h e
theme, developed by Alfred Stern
of New York, is " I n t e r d e p e n d e n c e
of Man."
Theodore
Schulenberg,
Stat©
Commerce Commissioner, said t h e
proposed fair would triple tourist
biz and would have a profitable
effect going into the '80s.
But
should Philadelphia be chosen.
h e said, this area would suffer a
billion dollar loss in tourist tradeHood said he felt Boston has •
b e t t e r t h e m e t h a n Philadelphia.
Its plan is less costly, and has several Other advantages which l e a d !
h i m to hope it would be successful.
Gov. J o h n A. Volpe, in a s t a t e m e n t released by Hood's g r o u p ,
hailed the theme, symbol and con!cept. "No theme could be m o r e
suited to t h e times t h a n that of
t h e mutual well being, respect a n d
progress of m e n of all races a n d
nations. . ."
Plans call for Expo 76 to occupy
about 500 acres between Columbia
Point and
Thompson's
Island.
Much of t h e acreage would e i t h e r
be rigid o r , floating platforms t o
allow development of shoreline
and to spur development of new,
waterborne methods of transportation. Pavilion sites would be inter• (Continued on page 56)
Washingon, Jan. 21.
F e d e r a l plans for budgeling In
the arts field call for more money
in fiscal 1970, as outlined by President L.B. Johnson in his budgetary
swan-song, but the increasjs are
mostly token and hard-won.
T h e National Foundation an the
Arts is ticketed for $8,500,000, up
from estimated expenditures during the current year of $8,; 22,000
— but much less t h a n
the
$11,050,000 requested by President
Johnson last year and cut by Congress. And the Corp. for Public
Broadcasting
is
down
for
$20,000,000, lavish in comparison
with this year's kickoff $5,000,000
appropriation. On the other hand,
•the authorizing legislation by Congress expires t h i s year, anc. even
to continue in existence — much
Las Vegas, J a n . 21.
less get $20,000,000 out of Congress
Dean Martin applied with t h e
— new legislation must be won.
Unless a viable iplan for lon;»range State Gaming Control Board for
financing is arrived at by CPB 10% of t h e Riviera Hotel, i t was
officially revealed h e r e .
Martin
(Continued on page 62)
t u r n e d In his application to t h e
local gaming office on J a n . 14.
He is investing $80,000 for the
10% interest. This nominal figure
would indicate a "special consideration" deal.
Gaming control board said Martin's papers w e r e all in order and
Will of Billy Rose, showman on file. His application will be
who died in 1966 at age 66 leav- acted on at t h e board's next meeting the bulk of his $35,C00,000 ing.
estate to charitable Billy Rose
On Nov. 11 last year RevieVFoundation Inc. was upheld by
managing editor
Don
New York Court Of Appeals. J o u r n a l
Rose's sister Mrs. Miriam Stern Digilio had a copyrighted story
saying Martin was through with
had contested the will, claiming the
Sands Hotel and would move
she and another sister, Mrs. Polly up the Strip to the Riviera.
Gottlieb, w e r e entitled to a larger
However, Sands Hotel impreshare of t h e estate.
Under will, Mrs. Sterr
was sario j a c k E n t r a t t e r called the
B-J
story "false" a n d said Martin
bequeathed proceeds from $100,000
lifetime trust, Mrs. Gottliib re- had .no- Intention of leaving t h e
ceived $50,000' plus income from Sands, a place h e has been play$1,000,000 trust: J o y c e Ma .thews ing for more than a decade.
Martin's attorney, last month
Rose (one of showman's i o r m e r
wives) received income from a said the e n t e r t a i n e r ' s contract e x J o h n Steinbeck, Nobel prize
$1,000,000 trust and h e r daughter p i r e s April 29 .with the Sands and
Victoria Berlinger received I i c o m e that he would appear at t h e Ri- novelist who died in New York on
viera
"probably
in
May."
Dec. 28 at age 66, left most of hi»
from a $100,000 trust.
Privately,
Martin h a d
told $1,000,000 plus estate t o his wife
Riviera execs h e was interested Elaine (whom he married in 1950
in playing the Riviera and buying —she, his t h i r d wife, was previinto, the plush hotel-casino. Martin ously wed to actor Zachary Scott).
owned a minor percentage in t h e
Steinback bequeathed
$50,000
Sands before it was purchased by each to his two sons, J o h n and
Howard
Hughes.
Tom.
By COL. BARNEY OLDF1ELD
Biirbank, Jan. 21.
Nobody ever names correctly
t h e m a n who p u t t h e greatest girl
show on t h e road. Or, correctly
identifies t h e date of the pre m e r e .
Or, knows the n a m e of t h e stars.
Trade Mark Registered
It wasn't Florehz Ziegfeli Jr.,
POUNDED 1*15 by SIM'S S I L V E R M A N ; Published W e e k l y by V A R I E T Y , I N C .
Earl Carroll, George White, Billy
Syd Silverman, President
Rose, Mike Todd or A. B. Marcus.
154 West 46th St. New York, N. Y. 10036
(212) JUdson 3-2700
The stars w e r e Ellen Cj lurch,
. H o l l y w o o d , Calif. *002t
Ellis Crawford, Cornelia
Peter•404. Sunset Boulevard, (213) Hollywood 0-1141
man, H a r r i e t Fry, Margaret ArnWashington, O. C. 20004
ott, Jessie Carter, Inez Keller,
784 National Press Building. (202) GTerling 3-S44S
Chicago, III. Mall
•
and Alva Johnson. T h e dat'> was
400 No. Michigan Ave.. (312) DEUware 7-4984
May 15, 1930, and the " p r o c u e e r "
London, S.W.I
was a man named Steve Stimpson,
49 St. James's Street, Piccadilly. Hyde Park 4S61
who now r u n s a travel agency h e r e
SUBSCRIPTION:
Annual, $20; Foreign, S22; Single Copies. 80 Cento
in "beautiful downtown Burbank."
Stimpson is t h e man who inABEL GREEN, Editor
vented, and sold t h e idea of the
"airline stewardess."
120
Volume 253
Number 10
She was to serve well, but to be
lampooned, loved, married, made
over in song and story and book
INDEX
and motion picture, to hiive a
Army
Archerd
24
Legitimate
union (which would get h e r rights
and privileges, the latest being the
Bills
56
'62.
Literati . .
OK to b e married and stay on the
46
Carroll Carroll . . . . . . . . . . 39
Music .. .
job if h e r husband was sufficiently
54
Casting
.
:.
60
New Acts .
tolerant to permit an aerial gypsy
54
Chatter
61
Night Club Reviews .
in his household), to have h e r own
63
Film Reviews
6
Obituaries
special club after she retired
Financial
14
. 3
Pictures
(Clipped Wings), and to have the
46
Foreign TV Reviews
39
Record Reviews
most tolerant employers in the
27
Radio
House Reviews
55
world (they give her six weoks of
34
Syndication & Local
Inside Music
48
intensive and expensive instruc27
Television
Inside Radio TV
, • • 38
tion to get 18 to 23 months of
38
Television Reviews .
active service and t h e n lose ier to
Inside Pictures
22
M
Vaudeville
one or another of the many occuInternational
25
pational hazards of the trade).
DAILY VARIETY
To date, in the U.S. alon;, the
(fuDiishect In H o l l y w o o d by Dally Variety.
n u m b e r of girls who have been
$20 vear
S2$>ore)ar>
(Continued on page 62]
"^*» <m
Its Official On
Dino Exit From
Sands to Riviera
Billy Rose's 2 Sisters
Fail to Upset His Will's
Massive Fund Bequest
JOHN STEINBECK LEFT
$1-MIL TO WIDOW
WORLD'S BIGGEST GIRL
ROAD SHOW CREATOR