From Wayne U. to Westerns
BY HERBERT G. LUFT
(Copyright, 1967, JTA, Inc.)
HOLLYWOOD - Michael Tolan
was portraying the villainous Pete
Spence, city marshal candidate of
the Clanton gang, when we visited
the Mexican location of Mirisch's
motion picture production of "The
Law and Tombstone" in Torreon
in the South-of-border State of Coa-
huila, where a whole 1880-vintage
Arizona town had been swiftly con-
jured up for the screen in the
midst of desert and desolate moun-
4ains.
Tolan confesses that his movie
_./.24reer confuses his precise knowl-
edge of geography, and the selec-
tion of foreign locations is defy-
ing all logic. The young actor most
recently completed filming a
Swedish film entitled "Roseanna,"
in Puerto Rico, after which he was
signed by producer-director John
Sturges to come to Central Mexico
for a featured part- in "The Law
and Tombstone" (starring James
Garner, Jason Robards, Jr., and
Robert Ryan)-a period film with
a typical small-town U.S. back-
ground.
Graduating from Wayne Uni-
versity in Detroit with a BA
degree, Tolan knows his geogra-
phy; yet, like all of us, he can-
not find the city of Hollywood on
any map-because the center of
manufactured dreams is in the
sphere of make-believe, it is
everywhere and nowhere.
Fascinated by the theater since
childhood, Tolan appeared early
in college plays and as an an-
nouncer for ABC and CBS radio.
Upon graduation, he was offered
an "Artist in Residence" award
at Stanford University in Palo
Alto, Calif. While there, in 1950,
he was noticed by a Hollywood
talent scout and signed to a movie
contract with Warner Bros. At the
Coast, he appeared in a featured
part with the late Humphrey Bo-
gart and Zero Mostel in the gang-
ster epic, "The Enforcer." Alter
this he departed for New York
and a solid 13-year stay during
which he appeared in seven Broad-
way plays, including Peter Usti-
nov's "Romanoff and Juliet" and
Leonard Spigelgass' "A Majority
of One"-creating in the latter
the character of Gertrude Berg's
much harassed son-in-law. On tele-
vision, he portrayed the Yeshiva
student in Sidney Lumet's two-
part spectacular of "The Dyb-
buk." Sandwiched in his New York
activities was an assignment in
the national road company of the
play "A Far Country," in which
he appeared in the central role of
Prof. Freud opposite Kim Stanley,
an assignment which took him
back to Hollywood and a month's
run at the Huntington - Hartford
Theater. Film director George
Stevens saw his performance and
signed the young man with the
tortured eyes to portray Lazarus
in "The Greatest Story Ever
Told."
Last year, Tolan starred in
the CBS New York-produced
"The Doctors and the Nurses"
series. Recently, along with two
friends, Wynn Handman and
- Sidney Lather, he formed "The
American Place Theater," an
off-Broadway group featuring
efforts by unknown American
playwrights. The venture is now
in its third season with grants
from both the Ford and Rocke-
feller foundations,
Thier presentations of "Journey
of the Fifth Horse" and "The Old
Glory" won critical acclaim; the
latter was also performed for
N.E.T. in a two-and-one-half hour
TV show. The group won the
Margo Jones award for outstand-
ing contribution to new American
playwrights.
In spite of his highly intellectual
stage work, Michael Tolan is now
far away from modern civilization,
essaying the part of a hick-town
villain, complete with two double-
barrel guns and garbed in a West-
ern sheriff outfit which is a far
cry from the kaftan of the Yeshiva-
bocher in "The Dybbuk."
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
MOVIE GUIDE
Friday, January 13, 1967-31
Kirk Douglas, currently starring
in the Western, "The War Wagon"
with location in Mexico City for
,i)
producer Marvin Schwartz at Uni- ADAMS
Grand Circus Park
GRAND CIRCUS f . d.a r tanc
versal will next do "Scalawag," WO 1-8525
OPEN 11:00 A.M.
Peter Fonda & Nancy Sinatra
based on Robert Louis Stevenson's "THE POPPY IS ALSO A FLOWER"
"THE WILD ANGELS"
"Treasure Island" with a novel SUN. THRU THUR. 11:45, 1:50, 3:55, 6:00, FRI. & SAT. 1:10, 4:35, 8:00, 11:30.
8:10,
10:15.
SUN. THRU TUES. 12:40, 3:55, 7:10, 10.30
screenplay by Albert Maltz. Dou- FRI. & SAT. 11:40, 1:50, 4:00, 6:10, 8:25, Teen
age passions. Living only for today!
glas will be partnered in the new 10:35.
The most provocative film of the times
Wednesday Ladies Day 50c
project with producer Malcolm
"UNDER AGE"
Stuart; the picture is scheduled
FRI. & SAT. 11:30, 3:00, 6:25, 9:50.
SUN.-TUES. 11:10, 2:20, 5:35, 8:50.
to go before the cameras in
Wed. Ladies Day 50c till 6:00
at Miller Road
March.
CAMELOT W. Warren
581-5040
Playing Percentages
Weather forecasters used to say
that skies would be partly cloudy.
Now that they use percentages
even the forecasts are partly
cloud y.-Jackson (Ala.) South
Alabamian.
"MURDERER'S ROW"
gautboatka
Danny Raskin's
LISTENING
FRI. & WK. DAYS. Open 6:15. "Mur-
derer's Row," 6:45, 10:40.
SAT. AND SUN.: Open 1:00. "Murderer's
Row," 6:20, 7:20, 11:18. "The Collector,"
FRI. & WK. DAYS: 8:40 only. SAT. &
SUN., 1:25, 5:20, 9:15._
FOX . . .
2211 Woodward-WO 1-9494
Held Over 3rd Big Week
Together, 2 sizzlers in fiery color
"ADAM & EVE"
"The Shame of the Sabine Women!"
Doors Open 10:45 a.m. Free Parking
LATE SHOW Friday and Saturday
For schedule information call
WO 1-7917
WED. LADIES DAY, 50c
MAI KAI
DETROITERS ARE ALL OVER
the place New Year's Eve, a
bunch got together and had them-
selves a party at the Singapore . .
In Hollywood, Fla., ex-Detroiters
Gerry and Hal Taffies have carved
a large niche for themselves . • .
Their . Hollywood Towers is a huge
success • . and ground has al-
ready been broken on their nearby
Presidential Towers, which will be
one of the largest high rises in
Florida.
* * *
GERRY BUILT a 7,000 square
foot home for wife Bea and chil-
den Lauren and Lance . • • Be-
tween the living room and family-
recreation room immediately be-
hind, there's enough room to hold
a nice-sized ball ! . . . The living
room upper rise floor (its a step-
down room) is of marble imported
from Italy . . • The house has
seven bathrooms . . . It is laid out
in such a way that all the bed-
rooms are on one side and the
other rooms across the way via
roller skaters ! • • The family-
recreation room is in the motif
of The Three Musketeers, plus a
mark of Zorro • , Gerry's flair
as a champion fencer abounds in
attractive ellegance • • • Swords
on the walls, hanging overhead,
above the mantle and bar, and in
racks, would have you believe that
Gerry is still ready to duel at the
turn of a glove .. and he is! . , .
The ex-champ keeps in such good
condition that challengers continue
to come around . • Miguel Oli-
verra, number two in the world
during the Pan-American Games in
1964, was beaten- by Gerry, 5-1,
about a month ago • • and Todd
Makler, who recently won the inter-
collegiate saber championship, is
another victim.
* * *
COMES THE QUESTION, when
is the season in Florida? I
was in a clothing store where the
owner showed me a pair of slacks
• . • I made the mistake of asking
him if they were in season . • • He
looked at his watch and said,
"They are now. In 15 minutes we
start another season !"
* * *
DISA 'N DATA • • • Abe Moss
tripping at dinner and spending
much of his vacation on crutches
... The street for the Orange Bowl
New Year's Day Parade being
painted white for the color TV
lookers-on .•. Rita and Sid Berg
not alone with their Rolls-Royce
. . • Never saw so many in one
area ! •. Joe Steingold doing all
he could to stay out of every men's
shop on Lincoln Mall . • Dr. Harry
and Ellen Woll getting front row
center tickets to "Hello Dolly" be-
cause the box office girl admired
the cameos on Ellen's glasses . .
SADIE AND SID Gray almost re-
turned to Detroit whether they
liked it or not! ... Putting daughter-
in-law Rochelle and granddaughter
Sheryl on plane, the captain luck-
ily took extra time before taking
off.
CI)
Plymouth Rd. at Farmington Rd.
GA 7-0400 & KE 4-6400
"FANTASTIC VOYAGE"
"FANTASTIC VOYAGE" takes you
where no other film has been before.
FRI. & WK. DAYS. Open 6:15. "Fan-
tastic Voyage, 7:25, 9:50. Short Subj.,
6:45, 9:05.
SAT. & SUN. Open 12:00. "Fantastic
Voyage" 1:05, 3:30, 5:50, 8:05, 10:40.
MAIN
Royal Oak-Main St. at
11 Mile Rd.
LI 2-0180
Held Over 4th Big Week
"FANTASTIC VOYAGE"
& Don Knotts in
"THE GHOST & MR. CHICKEN"
"One of the Year's Best!"
Crowther, N.Y. Times
The Shameless Old Lady
Fri.: 8:00, 10:00
Sat.: 7:00, 9:00, 11:00
St n.: 3:30, 5:30, 7:30, 9:30
STUDIO
Written by ROBERT & JANE-HOWARD CARRINGTON
Produced by ELLIOTT KASTNER • Directed by JACK SMIGHT
Liyernois Davison
I
hriF.3 at 4070
Free Attendant Parlor, next to Theatre
TECHNICOLOR ,. FROM WARNER BROS.
FRI., MON., TUES.: Open 6:45, Shown
7:00, 10:45. SAT. EVE.: Re-Open 6:45,
Shown 9:10 only. SUN.: Open 12:45,
Shown 1:00, 4:45, 8:35.
N.Y. Film Critics Award:
Lynn Redgrave
"Best Actress"
Georgy Girl
Virt' George C.
Tony
Curtis • IASI • Scott
Fri.: 8:00, 10:00
Sat.: 7:00, 9:00, 11:00
Sun.:
5:30, 7:30, 9:30
LSTUDIO-NORTH . waWit'
Notwith
fog my wife,
you im't!
Serer rardy by NORMAN PAPAYA LARRY GLOP, 3rd PI.LP BARNES
Ser b, NORMAN PANAMA d MELON TRAK TECHNICOLOR s
hergxed and ITreeled b NORMAN PANAMA
I
Meter Puking lot froot of Theatre
•9
Exclusive
Premiere
Engagement
The Endless Summer
WB
in color
Fri.: 7:00, 8:55, 10:50
Sat.: 5:10, 7:00, 8:55, 10:50
FROM WARNER BROS.
FRI., MON., TUES.: 8:50 only. SAT.
EVE.: 7:05, 10:50. SUN.: 2:50, 6:35,
10:20.
STUDIO NEW CENTER
SAT. MATINEE: Open 1:00
Starts 1:20, out 4:40
free Perkin! • Entree. on 3rd • IR.
3rd all
the
8 (10 1 2 ' '
Michael Caine
Shelley Winters
"5 Weeks in a Balloon"
& "Kong a"
Alfie
Sat.: 7:00,
.
:05, 11:10
r col or
Fri.: 6. 310,:35,
)
10:40
XI.E,RK LEY THEATRE,
:LI 2-0330
.12 MILE AT' OOLIDGE
STUDIO-8
Acres of Free Puking
Greenfield at 8 - Mite •
1.1. 211327
Roeper School Holds
Fisher Theater Benefit
"Man of La Mancha," hit Broad-
way musical, starring Jose Ferrer,
will be presented in a Roeper City
and Country School scholarship
benefit performance at the Fisher
Theater 7:30 p.m. Jan. 29.
Mrs. Miles Jaffe and Mrs. Henry
Bellaimey are co-chairmen for the
fund-raising project for the Bloom-
field Hills school for gifted chil-
dren.
The Dale Wasserman musical
has received the New York Drama
Critics Circle Award for "best
musical," the Outer Circle Award
for "outstanding musical," and five
Tony awards, including "best musi-
cal play."
Ferrer stars in the dual role of
Cervantes-Don Quixote, and Maura
K. Wedge co-stars.
The Fisher Theater benefit is
the Roeper PTFA's only source of
scholarship funds. Roeper City and
Country School is an independent
schol with 475 students who come
from Detroit and a wide suburban
area. All races, creeds and socio-
economic groups are represented
in the student body. Scholarships
are now available to only half the
children who qualify.
Tickets in all price ranges are
still available, and an early cur-
tain time has been arranged so
that children can attend.
Caribbean Hotel Opens
Season Under New Owner
MIAMI BEACH-Joining the ros-
ter of kosher hotels here this sea-
son is the new Caribbean Hotel, oc-
cupying a complete ocean-front
block between 37th and 38th Streets
and Collins Ave.
The hotel is under the new own-
ership and management of Sam
Schechter, formerly of the Pioneer
Country Club of Greenfield Park,
N. Y., and Menashe Hirsch, of
Hirsch Caterers, Brooklyn.
The hotel, which has been com-
pletely renovated just prior to the
current winter season, is under the
supervision of the Union of Ortho-
dox Jewish Congregations of
America.
For reservations and informa-
tion, call the Detroit offices of the
Caribbean Hotel, 341-0533.
"YOU'D BETTER GO SEE IT
AS SOON AS YOU CAN.
Sylvie is superb."
_Crowther, N.Y. Times
"Played to perfection by Sylvie."
-New Yorker Magazine
BERTOLT BRECHT'S
STARRING
Free Attendant
Parking Next
to Theatre
symE
DIRECTED
aY
RENE ALLIO
Daily 7:30, 9:30; Fri. 8:00, 10:00;
Sat.: 7:00, 9:00, 11:00
Sun.: 3:30, 5:30, 7:30, 9:30
STUDIO I
Livernois at Davison • WE. 3-0070
A SUSPENSEFUL...EXPLOSIVE DRAMA
OF THE ISRAELI-EGYPTIAN CONFLICT...
FILMED UNDER
FIRE IN THE
NEGEV!
SEET
....Iii11N
'ODS.
prime
"Leaves the
Audience
Stunned with
its impact!"
c i
Dorothy v F uld.
Cleveland
EXCLUSIVE
MICHIGAN
PREMIERE!
Held Over by Popular Demand
At The
WESTOWN
Wyoming at Fenkell-WE 3-7111
rJ