Ilona's Project is 'Top Secret'

Hungarian-born Ilona Massey will be star and co-producer of a new television show.  It's name:  Top Secret




[Source:  People Today;  June 29, 1955]

I researched and found no evidence that this show was ever produced.

Betty Hutton Causes a Traffic Jam

Betty Hutton was in top frenzy when she appeared in an act at Sydney, Australia, stadium in a Charleston costume of the '20's.  Traffic became jammed on streets near the stadium.




[Source:  People Today; June 29, 1955]

Gloria and Ricardo Try Broadway

Gloria DeHaven and Ricardo Montalban both Hollywood stars, made the long leap to their first New York stage appearance in 'Seventh Heaven', latest Broadway hit.


[Source:  People Today; June 29, 1955]






While People Today calls this a Broadway hit, it closed after a mere 44 performances at the ANTA Playhouse.  

Martine Carol Shocks the Censors

Martine Carol as Lola Montez

Martine Carol, whose nude movie scenes have stirred censors' ire, is now playing the role of Lola Montez in a film story of the torrid romance between the dancer and Bavaria's King Ludwig I.  It is her last role in Europe before moving on to Hollywood productions.


[Source: People Today; June 29, 1955]

Martine Carol as Lola Montez

Martine Carol (16 May 1920 – 6 February 1967) was a French film actress who reached the height of her fame in the early 1950s.  At the time, her fame eclipsed that of Bridget Bardot.  She had a troubled personal life including 4 marriages, drug addiction, and failed suicide attempts (including throwing herself into the Seine river in Paris).  She died at age 46 of cardiac arrest in Monaco.  Another interesting footnote is her grave was robbed, the thieves thinking she was buried with jewels.  Currently she lies undisturbed in Cannes.

Martine Carol as Lola Montez

Lola Montez  (17 February 1821 – 17 January 1861) was a dancer, courtesan, and mistress of Ludwig I of Bavaria.  Ludwig made her Countess of Landsfeld.  During the German revolution of 1848, she fled to the United States and became a lecturer and entertainer.

Lola Montez

Burt Lancaster's Directorial Debut

Burt Lancaster's debut as a film director will be in The Kentuckian, which also stars him.  The film is a frontier adventure story, which will be released in August.


[Source:  People Today; June 29, 1955]