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Traveling '★★★
with the Stars
by Tim Boxer
NEW YORK-ALEXANDER H. COHEN, one of the most
illustrious names in show business, is creating what will become the
stellar highlight of the 20th century. This pinnacle of entertainment,
“Night of 100 Stars,” will burst upon the world’s largest stage at Radio
City Music Hall on Feb. 14.
The extraordinary program is dedicated to the centennial celebration
of the Actors Fund. It’s the beginning of a fundraising campaign for $2
million to build a nursing home on the grounds of the Actors Home in
Englewood, N.J.
Tim Boxer
, The dedicated man behind this
stupendous occasion, Alex Cohen, is well
known for his classy production of the
annual Tony Awards on television. “Night
of 100 Stars," featuring the talents of
|celebrities from Broadway and Hollywood,
[will be televised March 8 on ABC.
Among the Jewish names are Ed Asner,
(jack Klugman, Lauren Bacall, Howard
I Cosell, Milton Berle, Alan King, Marvin
Hamlisch, Tony Randall, George Burns,
Hal Linden, and of course Sammy Davis Jr.
and Elizabeth Taylor.
’ The highest paid producer in television is
taking no salary for the event. “I could have
been paid in the several hundred thousands
‘for this show,” he said. “But when you ask
1 people to perform for nothing for the benefit
of the Actors Fund, you can’t be paid.”
Right after this show, Alex will plunge into hectic preparations for the
annual Tony Awards, which will air June 6 on ABC. It’s the most exciting
of all such awards programs.
“The biggest problem," Alex said, “is dealing with a hundred stars. So
many more want to participate that we’re gouig.to take a two-page ad in
the New York Times on Jan. 17 and announce a name change: “Night of a
100 Stars And Then Some.” We’ll end up with 150 spectacular names,
every one performing in the show.
“We’re putting together an all-star band with Jack Lemon on piano,
Marty Feldman on drums, Henny Youngman on violin, you get the
idea."
Alex’s father was Alexander H. Cohen who was born in England and
made his fortune as a cloak-and-suiter in the Garment Center as treasurer
of Bashwitz Bros. He died when Alex was four.
“When 1 was 15,1 found a steamer trunk in the basement. Inside were
4,000 telegrams addressed to my mother when my father died He had to
be the world's most popular man. I was overwhelmed."
Alex’s Rolodex bulges with 25,000 phone numbers. He has access to
any celebrity in the world. Yet he insists, “I don’t think I have 10 friends.
That’s probably a high estimate.” He values true sincere friendship.
He runs a business that’s really three jobs. First he's a producer of
plays on B’way and London. He presented Sir John Gielgud and Sir
Ralph Richardson in “Home,” Richard Burton in “Hamlet," Liv
Ullmann in “Anna Christie,” and last year he had “A Day in
Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine,” Alex and Jimmy Nederlander are
co-producing “A Day in Hollywood" this month in Los Angeles. H is next
B’way play will be “The Lady and the Clarinet," a comedy by Gordon
Davidson who wrote “Children of a Lesser God,” opening in May with
Ellen Burstyn possibly starring.
Second, Alex heads Bentwood Productions which produced the
Marlene Dietrich Special and the 50th CBS anniversary show, as well as
the Tony Awards every year.
Third, he runs Interscope, a public relations company which
represented O’Keefe Center and other show business enterprises.
Known for his lavish black-tie opening night parties, Alex assures us
that “when 1 spend money, it’s my own money I’m spending. 1 enjoy it."
* * *
BUDD SCHULBERG, who wrote the original screenplay for “A
Face in the Crowd," will have his movie reissued. In addition, he’ll
dramatize his “On the Waterfront” film classic for a B’way production.
Budd, whose “Moving Pictures” bestseller from Stein and Day has been
shaking up Hollywood with intimate stories of revered studio heads and
starlets, will create a similar shock in the sports world when his inside
story of Joe Louis’s colorful career is aired in April. The two-hour movie
is expected to become a TV classic when it’s produced for ABC-TV by
Jim Jacobs and Bill Clayton. (Contains a great deal of intimate footage
never before seen on the life and loves of the Brown Bomber.)
* * *
BOXER SHORTS: Walter Matthau, who's just hilarious in his new
movie “Buddy Buddy" (with Jack Lemmon), got his first job in the
Yiddish theater—selling soft drinks. ..Columbia Pictures is thrilled with
Toronto film genius Ivan Reitman. His two films, “Stripes," and “Heavy
Metal," are now over the SI00 million mark (“Stripes” grossed $83
million, “Heavy Metal," $22 million) ...The imposing triumveratc of
Auerbach, Green wald and Katz is not Fun City's newest law firm. It’s the
former handles of Looey, Joey and Ha’, proprietors ol the world famed
Stage Deli.
for thaw
whoappivcmtc
the difference...
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My-dsYS)
ITS
fSittlrags
Beautiful
1791 Landmark House
with welcome that recalls
the graciousness of the
Antebellum South.
( uisine to delight the
connoisseur.
Buckhead
3109 Piedmont Rd. N.K.
Reservations 262-7379
Private party accommodations
lor groups ol 20 to 500
Jacket required.
Closed Sunday /Valet Parkinj
We Honor
TW Aatencaa Expreaa*
Don’t leave home wahom ■
JERROLD R. ROSENBERG
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE
THE OPENING OF HIS OFFICE
CORPORATE COMMONS
4651 ROSWELL ROAD, SUITE I-804
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30342
TELEPHONE (404) 255-2826
EAT IN CHINA!
WITHOUT LEAVING ATLANTA
The great foods of China are now in Atlanta. You
only have fp go as far as The Pyng Ho Restaurant
to enjoy a true dining experience
Pyng Ho's Famous Recipes Include:
PYNG HO BEEF
PHOENIX AND DRAGON
SHARK’S FIN SOUP
HAPPINESS CHICKEN
PEKING DUCK(Always Available)
Cocktails and exotic Drinks
, Always Available
Major Credit Cards and Reservations Accepted
PYNG HO RESTAURANT
1357 Clairmont Rd (at North Decatur Rd )
634-4477
LUNCH Mon — Fri. 11:30—2:30 P M
DINNER Mon —Fri. 3—10 PM
Sat 12—11 P.M
Sun. 12—10 P.M
Just Arrived!
18th & 19th Century English and Chinese
porcelains, plus furniture and objets d'art.
Over 8,000 square feet. Largest
selection of porcelain in the Southeast.
Atlanta Antiques Exchange
1185 Howell Mill Road, N.W., Atlanta (404) 351-0727
Open Monday thru Saturday 10:00—5:00
PAGE 13 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE January 15, 1982