Vic Damone performs at the American Theater in Nurnberg, Germany, in December, 1951. (Roger Ruhlin/Stars and Stripes)
NURNBERG — Hollywood came to Nurnberg last night as crowds gathered outside the American Theater to watch arrivals at EUCOM's first movietown-type premiere.
A huge spotlight, mounted on a firetruck, covered the entrance of the theater as the 82d Army Band played far the occasion.
The occasion was the premiere showing of "Rich, Young and Pretty," which stars Vic Damone and Jane Powell. Damone is known here as Pfc Vito Farinola, of the 7729th Sp Sv Gp.
Brig Gen George W. Smythe, CG, 2d Constab Brig, attended the premiere with Brig Gen Ernest A. Bixby, CG, Nurnberg Military Post. Brig, Gen Charles H. Swartz, CG, Special Activities Division, whose organization staged the premiere, also was present:
After the movie, the audience was entertained by the star with songs for 25 minutes.
Damone was introduced to the theater audience by Sgt Allan Evans, of AFN Nurnberg. The singer was supported by a newly formed soldier quartet of instrumentalists composed .of Sgt John Janis, Co C, 485th Engr Bn; Pfc Emerson Davis, 17th Sp Sv Co; Pfc Cyrus Wooldrige, 173d Sp Sv Co, and Pfc James Bunn, 46th AAA (AW) Bn.
Damone told the theater audience the quartet had been brought together only two weeks ago through the 7th Army talent hunt, which plans to present a show in EUCOM next year.
"Rich, Young and Pretty," has a French-boy-meets-American-girl-in-Paris theme.
Prize gag is when Damone, a native of Brooklyn, playing the role of the French boy, tells Jane Powell, the American girl, in the course of an argument, "My mother told me all Americans are tourists.'"
