Arrivals & Departures

Cardinal Spellman and 500 U.S. Roman Catholics were off on the first large Holy Year pilgrimage to Rome. Just back from Rome was a happy Church Point, La. pastor, the Right Rev. Msgr. Clay A. Bienvenu, who boasted that because he bears a startling resemblance to Cardinal Spellman he was able to "crash the gates" at an important beatification ceremony.

Touring with her play, Diamond Lil, Mae West, fiftyish, collapsed on stage in Rochester from food poisoning. But next night she was back in greasepaint, to "give 'em all I've got."

The Duke and Duchess of Windsor were traveling high and fast. They spent two weeks hunting & fishing in Mexico, then, on their way to New Orleans' Mardi gras, they showed up in Houston.

Also in Houston, where he was named an honorary Texan, Lauritz Melchior took a verbal poke at Metropolitan Opera Manager Rudolph Bing. Had he and Bing yet worked out a new contract at the Met? Cracked Melchior: "I recently became a lone star, and this honorary citizenship in the Lone Star State confirms it."

Bouquets & Brickbats

Hearstling Igor ("Cholly Knickerbocker") Cassini, who is a natty dresser, named 1950's Worst Dressed Men of the World. Top of the list: Prince Aly Khan, for going to the races in yellow socks, orange shoes and a green tie. A close sec ond: Texas' Senator Tom Connolly (for looking "like a country bumpkin" while heading for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee). Runners-up: Manhattan Socialite Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt (for not buying a new hat "in the last twelve years"); Wrestler Gorgeous George (chiefly for his peroxide curls).

The play called Desire Caught by the Tail, written in 1941 during the Nazi occupation of Paris by famed Artist Pablo Picasso, 68, was given its first public reading in London. The script called for the appearance on stage of writhing, disembodied feet, and a frying pan full of sizzling potatoes. Most critics agreed that Picasso had better stick to his paintbrushes.

Artist Salvador Dali, 45, showed up in Manhattan with one of bis newest and oddest creations: a larger-than-life-sized, jewel-studded eye, with one ruby teardrop forming in the corner. The proper place for a lady to wear this surrealist bauble, he explained, was smack on her forehead, just above and between her real eyes.

Comedienne Carol Channihg, 29, admitted that a grave personal problem had grown out of her playing the role of bird-brained Lorelei Lee in Broadway's Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. People seemed to be convinced that she is a birdbrain offstage, too: "I won't say that people actually think I'm just two steps removed from outright idiocy, but they do seem to have adopted a protective attitude towards me . . ."

In Manhattan, Actor-Radio Commentator Robert Montgomery petitioned the court to revoke the U.S. citizenship of Gambler Frank Costello, charging he had obtained it fraudulently. "A cheap hammy stunt for publicity," Costello retorted. "The claims of my vast wealth and income are pure fiction. I am a man . . . with a modest income, and I live conservatively but comfortably . . .'

Hearts & Flowers

Prince Aly Khan, vacationing with wife Rita Hay worth and their families in Gstaad, Switzerland, made a fast turn on a ski slope, fell, broke his right leg in three places. Said the doctor: three months in bed.

After several tries at reconciliation, Cinemactress Wanda Hendrix, 21, finally filed suit for divorce in Hollywood against World War II Hero Audie ("most decorated soldier") Murphy, 25.

"Our married life has become most unhappy and almost unbearable," announced Mrs. Nancy Sinatra in Hollywood as she locked the door on Crooner Frank Sinatra. Meanwhile, Frankie was reported keeping company with currently unmarried Cinemactress Ava Gardner.

Engaged in Hollywood: Cinemactress Elizabeth Taylor, going on 18, and Conrad ("Nick") Hilton Jr., 23, son of Hotelman Conrad Hilton. Elizabeth's mother said that the young folks, who have been going steady for almost five months, will have a church wedding early in May.

It was a cruel blow for Elliott Roosevelt (recently divorced by Actress Faye Emerson) and his new girl friend, Cafe Songstress Gigi Durston. Nightclub Maestro Sherman Billingsley, miffed that the couple had turned down his offer of an engagement party, issued a firm order to his staff barring Elliott and Gigi from his Stork Club.

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