Actress Rhonda Fleming is interviewed on AFN Radio. (John Russ/Stars and Stripes)
Actress Rhonda Fleming is interviewed on AFN Radio. (John Russ/Stars and Stripes)
Janet Leigh is interviewed on AFN Radio. (John Russ/Stars and Stripes)
Hospital patients enjoy the ''Surprise Package'' show at Wiesbaden. (John Russ/Stars and Stripes)
Newlyweds Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner sample Sinatra's 34th birthday cake backstage at Wiesbaden. (John Russ/Stars and Stripes)
Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner sing ''Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered'' during the show at Wiesbaden. (John Russ/Stars and Stripes)
During a skit, Tony Curtis cringes as his wife, Janet Leigh lets out a scream — something she would become very famous for later in her career. (John Russ/Stars and Stripes)
WIESBADEN, Dec. 13 — Hollywood's "Surprise Package" of glamor girls, comedy and song made its EC debut last night before a crowd of 3,900 at the Camp Lindsey gymnasium.
The troupe, starring Rhonda Fleming, Janet Leigh, Ava Gardner, Frank Sinatra and Tony Curtis, gave the large audience an early Christmas treat with the two-hour show. Supporting these headliners were song writers Jimmy McHugh and Jimmy Van Heusen, jazz singer Viola Jefferson and a pair of young Broadway dancers, Anita Ellis and Vance Henry. John Haskell acted as master of ceremonies.
Music was supplied by the 686th AF Band, of Camp Lindsey, under the direction of WOJG Franklin J. Lockwood. Sharman Douglas, daughter of former U.S. Ambassador to Britain Lewis W. Douglas, also accompanied the troupe from England, where it had held its rehearsals.
Sinatra provided 30 minutes of songs, including a comical arrangement of "Old Man Crosby."
"The Voice" brought his bride, Ava Gardner, to the mike and together sang "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered," with supplementary lyrics portraying their recent courtship.
The show, minus Frankie and Ava, will put on three more performances in the Zone in addition to tonight's show at Furstenfeldbruck Air Base. Tomorrow afternoon. it will entertain Erding Air Depot personnel. It moves on to Neubiberg Air Base tomorrow night and then closes out at Rhine-Main Saturday evening.
