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Chicago Tribune, Saturday, December 26, 1964, s. 1A, p. 4, c. 1::

LOOKING AT HOLLYWOOD

By Hedda Hopper

HAIR STYLIST TO STARS FINISHES FIRST 30 YEARS

Hollywood, Dec. 25---Sidney Guilaroff has chalked up 30 years at Metro as top hair stylist. Joan Crawford got him into the studio, and his first assignment was Jean Harlow. Hes working now on both Tuesday Weld and Ann-Margret in "Cincinnati Kid". He goes to San Francisco to coiff Yvette Mimieux when she reads Persephone with the San Francisco Symphony in January. Sidney puts Yvette on his list of Most beautiful along with Natalie Wood and Irene Pappas. Yvette has a quality of mystery about her rare in American girls, he said. . . . . _______________________

Chicago Tribune, Tuesday, March 17, 1964, s. 1, p. 16, c. 2:

TOWER TICKER by Herb Lyon

. . . . Veteran Spencer Tracy is well enough again to assay a top role in an upcoming new flicker, "The Cincinnati Kid". . . . .

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Chicago Tribune, Thursday, April 2, 1964, s. 4, p. 10, c. 2:

LOOKING AT HOLLYWOOD By Hedda Hopper

. . . Spencer Tracy is well again and has agreed to go into "Cincinnati Kid" which Paddy Chayesfsky is writing. It won't go until September. . . . :

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Chicago Tribune, Saturday, November 14, 1964, p. 17, c. 7:

LOOKING AT HOLLYWOOD By Hedda Hopper

. . . . Steve McQueen's disappointed that Spencer Tracy isn't doing "Cincinnati Kid". One reason he took the job was to play opposite the champ. _______________________________

Chicago Tribune, Sunday, November 15, 1964, p. 13:

TOWER TICKER By Herb Lyon

That most delightful lady of the theater, Thelma Ritter, paid a quickie visit to her daughter, Monica Moran, starring in "Any Wednesday" at the Studebaker [and was thrilled at Monica's snappy thesping]. Mama Thelma starts work pronto in "The Cincinnati Kid" flicker, playing a lady card sharpie.

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New York Times, Thursday, December 8, 1964, p. 56:

DIRECTOR OUSTED IN FILM DISPUTE

Nude Scene Adds to Woes of The Cincinnati Kid

By Peter Bart

Special to the New York Times

Hollywood, Dec. 7Martin Ransohoff, the president of Filmways Inc., suspended production today of his new picture, The Cincinnati Kid, threw out all film from the first weeks shooting and signed up a new director, Norman Jewison.

The former director Sam Peckinpah, left the assignment in a controversy over the unscheduled filming of a nude scene.

The action came in a series of jolting changes affecting the movie, which deals with the rise of a youthful professional gambler. The cast includes Steve McQueen, Ann-Margaret, Tuesday Weld and Edward G. Robinson.

In trying to put The Cincinnati Kid before the cameras, Mr. Ransohoff and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer have run through nearly every possible difficulty that can arise in contemporary Hollywood.

Spencer Tracy, who had been signed for the film, decided two weeks ago that he did not agree with the way the script was evolving and bowed out. Mr. Tracys contract, like that of most top Hollywood stars today, gave him final script approval. He was replaced by Mr. Robinson.

The script itself, meanwhile, has gone through a number of literary hands that are costly to hire. Paddy Chayefsky worked on it. He was followed by Ring Lardner Jr. Last week Terry Southern and Charles Eastman were retained to do still another draft of the script, which is based on the novel by Richard Jessup.

The troubles between Mr. Ransohoff and Mr. Peckinpah the director, also were of a stormy nature.

On Friday night Mr. Peckinpah sent home the featured players and proceeded to shoot a nude scene that he had decided to write into the script. The nude performer was an extra and not Miss Weld or Ann-Margret. Asked by a studio official whether the nude scene was for the European version, Mr. Peckinpah was said to have replied, Its for my own version.

This morning, Mr. Ransohoff declared that Mr. Peckinpah would no longer direct the picture, which actually started production early last week. He also disclosed that production would be halted for a week while the new director had a chance to study the script.

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Chicago Tribune, Thursday, March 25, 1965:

LOOKING AT HOLLYWOOD By Hedda Hopper

Karl Malden is a member of the Magic Castle, the magicians fraternity in Hollywood, and promised to take me there for dinner. 'Its becoming a lost art so the experts started a private club where actors can learn an awful lot. Jonathan Winters is a regular, so am I' They voted Jay Ose, the greatest card dealer in the world, a lifelong membership this week and gave a party in his honor. He taught Joan Blondell and Karl how to shuffle and deal for "Cincinnati Kid", so they were both there to help celebrate.

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The network television premiere of the hit MGM film, The Cincinnati Kid, took place on "The CBS Friday Night Movies, on Friday, September 25, 1970, at 9 pm (EST); the ad in the New York Times reads: "Steve McQueen, a cool hand at poker and women, meets Ann-Margret, a girl who deals from the bottom of the deck."

The encore presentation took place on CBS, only the day changed: The CBS Thursday Night Movie, on February 11, 1971. Afterward, the film has appeared many times on TV.

The Midwest Premiere of the MGM movie, The Cincinnati Kid, had a holiday opening in Chicago at the aptly named Chicago theatre, on Thursday, Veterans' Day, November 11, 1965. The ad read: " In their everything wild, winner-take-all world, there was only one way to separate the men from the boys. . . " The film played until it closed on Christmas Eve '65 (it was followed by Disney's That Darn Cat). Another holiday opening happened when the film was sent out to the "nabes" on New Year's Eve, of '65. The World Premiere had taken place in New Orleans in late October.

Chicago Sun-Times, Tuesday, October 19, 1965, p. 48, c. 1:

KUPS COLUMN

. . . . New Hollywood feud: Steve McQueen and Ann-Margret, co-stars of The Cincinnati Kid. When McQueen announced he'd appear at the movies world premier in New Orleans, Ann-Margret bowed out. Then, when McQueen had to withdraw because of his mother's death, she suddenly became available and appeared. . . .

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Chicago Tribune, Wednesday, October 27, 1965, s. 4, p. 2, c. 1:

LOOKING AT HOLLYWOOD

By Hedda Hopper

FILM CAST RAISES FUNDS FOR HURRICANE VICTIMS

Hollywood, Oct. 26---With one exception, the cast of Cincinnati Kid: Karl Malden, Eddie Robinson, Ann-Margret, and Tuesday Weld did a fine job of helping raise money for hurricane victims in New Orleans. Steve McQueen had to bow out because of his mother's death, so Ann-Margret took his place. Karl Malden and Robinson knocked themselves out putting on a show. But Tuesday Weld caused quite a ruckus. She wouldn't go on stage when Gov. John J. McKeithen presented awards to the entertainers. She jumped out of the car during the motorcade viewed by 70,000 and a publicity man had to get her back into the automobile. In a clipping from New Orleans, one former fan is quoted as saying: Tuesday Weld acts like Monday's washlimp. Producer Marty Ransohoff has dropped his option on her services. Tuesday's 21. She'd better act her age or she'll be out of pictures. . . . .

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Chicago Tribune, Wednesday, November 4, 1964, s. 2, p. 1, c. 1:

LOOKING AT HOLLYWOOD

By Hedda Hopper

Crack Poker Players in Las Vegas, Reno, and Lake Tahoe had better keep their eyes open when Steve McQueen sits down to a game. He used to make his living at that, and is getting back in practice to play Cincinnati Kid with Spencer Tracy. They should have one whale of a time together. And this handed me the laugh of the day: Society Photographer Richard Avedon arrives here Friday to shoot Steve McQueen for a magazine cover. . . . _____________________________

New York Times, Friday, July 24, 1964:

TV STUDIOS TURN TO THEATER FILMS

Reply to Movie Competition With Bid for New Market

By Peter Bart [Special to the New York Times]

Hollywood, July 23---Independent television film companies here have decided to turn the tables on the major movie studios by producing pictures for theaters while the studios increase their production of films for television.

One television company, Filmways, is emerging as one of the most active movie producers in Hollywood. It has one picture ready for release, three about to go into production and two in the planning stages.

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The first television company to move into motion pictures in a significant way was Filmways, which was founded in 1952 to turn out commercials. Martin Ransohoff, Filmways aggressive 326-year-old chairman, admits that he is surprised at the swiftness of his companys Hollywood expansion.

Studio Busy With Plans

Filmways recently completed "The Americanization of Emily," with Julie Andrews and James Garner, and is about to start production of three films. These are "The Loved One," to be directed by Tony Richardson; "The Cincinnati Kid", with Spencer Tracy and Steve McQueen, and "The Sandpiper," with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

Mr. Ransohoff also is nailing down plans for another movie, "Ice Station Zebra," and recently signed Josh Logan to direct "Dont Rock the Boat," a film about political extremism with a screenplay by Gore Vidal.

Our aim is to produce films that are both interesting and commercial, Mr. Ransohoff remarked. We are looking for stories that have something unique to say. I wouldnt do a picture like "The Carpetbaggers."

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Chicago Tribune, Wednesday, February 17, 1965, s. 2, p. 3:

LOOKING AT HOLLYWOOD

by Hedda Hopper

Steve McQueen charmed the Stafford Somerfields of London's News of the World on the "Cincinnati Kid" set. They were doing a cock fight, but we didn't see the fight. Later Steve took us into his mile-long trailer, which could sleep and feed 25 people. Steve was delighted with the English press. They love a sportsman over there. Steve, who used to wear any old thing, told us about his line of western clothes which are the hit of Paris: "My raincoat is almost like Bond street. Even my wife looks handsome in it." . . .

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The hit MGM film, The Cincinnati Kid, opened on New York's Broadway at the Loew's Capitol, Broadway & 51st; and on the eastside at Loew's Tower East, on Wednesday, October 27, 1965; the film played several weeks.