Hollywood stars in Phl: Them were the days!

Did you know that the Philippines was a favorite destination of Hollywood stars in the ’50s and ’60s? Some of them came for a visit, for a concert and to shoot movies with Filipino actors.

Yes, them were the days, my friend!

Here are some of those big-time visitors (as listed by Funfare’s “other beauty expert” Celso de Guzman Caparas):

•  Johnny Mathis mounted a show at the Araneta Coliseum on Oct. 14 to 23, 1960, extended due to insistent public demand. It was the Big Dome’s Biggest Blockbuster of the Year.
• Diana Jergens teamed up with Leopoldo Salcedo in Escape to Paradise (1960) and Espionage Far East (1961). The former was directed by Eddie Romero, and the latter Romero, Ted Post, Romero and Gerry de Leon. (Romero and De Leon were later proclaimed National Artists for Film.)
• Brigid Bazlen stayed here for three days in December, 1961 as part of a Far East tour to drum up for her movie. Bazlen is fondly remembered for her provocative role as Salome in MGM’s King of Kings (1961).
• Paul Anka did a concert, billed as Top Showman of ’61, The One and Only, Paul Anka, in December 1961.
• James MacArthur came in March 1962 for the filming of To Be A Man. MacArthur was known at that time as Danny “Danno” Williams in the long-running TV series Hawaii Five-O.
• George Nader came in February, 1963 to shoot The Great Space Adventure with Fay Spain. 
• John Derek arrived in December, 1964. He produced, starred and directed The 26th Calvary (1965) with Ursula Andress, his wife at that time. The movie, based on the novel Quit for the Next, was released internationally as Once Before I Die. Among the Filipino actors in it were Greg Martin, Renato Robles, Nello Nayo, Fred Galang and Bessie Barredo.  Also in the cast was Rod Lauren (the same Rod Lauren Strunk, husband of Nida Blanca).
•  Matt Monro performed twice at the Big Dome in 1965, April 17 to 20 and Dec. 29. Pilita Corrales guested in both concerts. A day before his December concert, Monro and some local stars sang Christmas carols to then Pres. Ferdinand Marcos and other government officials and raised funds for Friendship, Inc., the charitable organization that took care of paroled prisoners.
• Glenn Ford was invited by Philippine Airlines and the Department of Tourism in May 1965. Aside from Manila, he also visited Bacolod, Cebu and Zamboanga. During the cocktail party tendered by then PAL president Benigno Toda, Jr. in Manila Polo Club, Ford met 1964 Miss International Gemma Cruz and Sampaguita stars Luis Gonzales, Paraluman, Blanca Gomez, Nori Dalisay and Sarah Calvin.
• Gregory Peck and his wife, Veronique, graced the formal reception of Jewel Ball for the benefit of St. Peregrine Society held at the Coral Ballroom of Manila Hilton on Dec. 7, 1968.

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