Valley News from Van Nuys, California • Page 40

VALLEY NEWS Van Ron Miller continues in Disney tradition By VERNON SCOTT Horatio Alger notwithstanding, it never hurts to marry the boss' daughter, especially in Hollywood which is shot through with nepotism. But such was not the case with Ron Miller, a USC gridiron star, who married Diane Disney, Walt Disney's beautiful daughter, when he was playing professional football (tight end) for the Los Angeles Rams. He joined the Disney organization in 1957 as, a second assistant director, as thankless a job as there is on a soundstage. The big guy 6 feet, 5, 230 pounds worked like a demon and has proved to be one of Walt's best judgment calls. Over the past 20 years Miller has worked as associate producer on 37 Disney television shows and some of the studio's biggest movies.

He became a full producer of films in 1967 and executive producer of "The Wonderful World of Disney." Today his title is executive vice president in charge of production and creative affairs. He is a member of the company's board of directors. Miller is the man who makes the decisions on all Disney movies and television shows. Much of the studio's future lies in his big capable, pass-catching hands. Among Miller's sterling accomplishments is the Disney deal with NBC.

"The Wonderful World of Disney" has a contract with the network through 1981. No matter what the ratings. While other shows'are renewed from season to season, the Disney series is assured of another five years on the air. In the event of cancellation, NBC would have to pay off the studio full. As the decision-maker who determines which scripts become movies or TV shows, Miller assigns producers to various projects, helps to finish scripts and keeps his eye peeled for new talent.

Thanks in large part to Miller, Disney is booming right along at a pace Walt envisioned before his death. As did his late father-in-law, Miller relies on intuition in selecting film projects and shares Walt's zeal for clean, wholesome entertainment. "Believe it or not, the rating on our pictures actually works against us," Miller said, taking a break from his office. "But we can't go any other way. We owe it to Walt, the company and the people who have been supporting us all these years.

"They expect a certain standard of entertainment and we can't let them down. When parents drop their kids off to see a Disney film, they know the sort of quality product we produce." The Millers have seven children and Ron is determined to make movies he wants his own children to see. They are sort of a barometer for him. If the Miller kids like a film, odds are that other kids will, too: Miller has picked up the tempo of production at the studio in recent years, striving for a move diversified program. He admits that four or five years ago some Disney productions were almost formula films-.

"We've got a busy schedule this year," he said. "We have five movies going. The Cat From Outer 'Blood 'Return to Witch "The North Avenue Irregulars' and 'Space Probe Dragon' is our big production forl.the Christmas holidays. This summer our new animated feature, "The is screening. We've already started on another feature cartoon, "The Fox arid the which will be completed three years from now.

"We're trying to build up the animation unitagain. It lapsed for a while. "On a percentage basis no studio can compare with our boxoffice record. We have our share of flops but we don't put all our eggs in one basket. This year's budget for movies is more than $30 Dragon' cost $9 million and The Rescuers' came in at $7 million." Miller is personable and clean-cut, the sort of guy who might be cast in a Disney movie.

Th studio hires All-America type performers who form something of a repertory company Dean Jones, Ken Barry, Fred MacMurray, Don Knottsand TimConway. "I think our actors reflect the kind of pictures we make," Miller said. "We've written parts specifically for several of them. "But we also like to cast outstanding dramatic stars too. Our movies have included some of the finest, Bette Davis, Helen Hayes, Eddie Ustinov and David Niven.

"It's all part of our program of quality and growth. We're trying to extend the principals and ideals that Walt stood for." Clip-clopin' doggers from Carolina Avery County Mountain Cloggers, North Carolina, do stomping of the audience each afternoon except their fancy stepping dance called clogging to down- Wednesdays in the Spillikin Comers area of Magic home bluegrass music to the hand clapping and foot Mountain in Valencia. Las Vegas ventures Maxim Hotel, Casino latest Vegas facility By VIC FIELD Xo city has a faster changing skyline than Las Vegas. This month, the city has added an additional towering facility to its fanciful panorama of hotels, the Maxim Hotel and Casino. The most grandiose addition to Vegas this year, the Maxim opened July 1.

The complex offers 17 stories of 450 rooms, atmospheric casino, three cocktail lounges, three restaurants and the stylish Allegro Lounge. The lounge works within the oluies-MOR framework with comfortable success. Currently appearing (the second act to work the room) are the melodic crooners of RB ballads, the Buck Ham Platters. Buck Ram and troups are but one of several surviving Platters groups. As with his contemporaries, who once sang in the famed quintet.

Buck maintains his own involvement in the form ot this revised and updated group. The fine nuances recalled on hits like "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and "Harbor Lights" may be missing, but the boys do come across with the necessary nostalgic vigor to make the show memorable. The Buck Ram Platters will be featured in the lounge through Sunday. Concert in review Joan Baez moves on By CAROL MARTINEZ Paul Fleisher began the concert by riding a unicv- de. doing a bicycle-horn serenade, is this anv way to begin a Joan Baex concert? 3t wa.v for Ms.

Baez as she opened Tuesday at the I'niversal Amphitheater for a two-night engagement. FJeisher is the horn player for Ms. Baez. During the first half of the show Ms. Baez presented songs she likes plus those the audience wanted to hear.

Ms. Baez showed her lighter side interspersing jokes and story-telling with her songs. Xo, she's not given up politics and her strong beliefs. She dedicated a song to the United Farm Workers union (UFW) and talked about the pending Aug. tdemonstrations against nuclear power.

She also talked about a favorite subject foronstage entertainers. Anita Bryant. Noting that, the energy that Is being channeled against Anita Bryant could have slopped the Vietnam War in six days," Ms. Baez praised Ms. Bryant for "uniting the pay community." She later sang a song she wrote after spending the evening in a gay bar in Santa Monica, Altar Boy and the Thief." In the second half the new Ms.

Baez look thefctage and. accompanied by a five piece band that had sort of a rwk sound, she sang mostly selections from her new album. "Blowin" A way." "The old things sJill have meaning. Ms. Baez was quick to note, but she has moved on musically.

Clearly evident is that her song wnlmg has really developed. She sang a song she wrote for Sic vie Wonder. "Miracles." Ms. Baez did Hod Stewart's also "Diamonds and 1 Closing the show with "Amazing Grace," thcaudi- ence joined an thesingingand In up matchesas light flickered on the stage. GLENN CAMPBELL Threatening boxoffice records at Riviera Hotel Vegas chips: The Circus Maximus Room of Caesar's Palace opens tonight with the unlikely, yet powerful, duo of comic Buddy Hackett.

and soul queen Tina Turner. Hackett is always a surprise as he deviates from the "child-star" image of Disney comedies into the salty-mouthed lounge comedian. His adult-flavored one liners maintain a steady stream of laughs, and offer a complete contrast to the soul writhing of the sultry Tina Turner. In his debut appearance in the Versailles Room of the Riviera country-pop star Glen Campbell is already threatening the hotel's boxoffice records. Campbell's musical-original hit repertoire is sparked by the current million seller "Southern Xights." and several promising new tunes.

With the "southern" glib of comic Lonnie Shorr. the Riviera is putting out a happy mixture of "down home" good times. Campbell and Shorrappearat the Riviera through Aug. 3. On stage: Casino Lounge of the Aladdin presents Frankie Carr and the Nov.

World's Greatest Circus Acts" at the Circus Circus--The Desert Inn's Crystal Room is currently "Casino de Paris 77" is the indefinite house production at the revue runs indefinitely at the Flamingo-Crooner Roubert Goulet headlines at the Frontier--The Golden Nugget, downtown, jiian.UiiJte flavor with Jerry Van Dyke and Command Performance through Sunday. Opening Tuesday is Balladeer Roger on Ice," nude ice skating revue, at the Landmark oJfers the musical revue "Fever's Las Vegas Hihon presents comic Bill Cosby through Sunday. Opening Tuesday is singer-actor John MGM Grand's Celebrity Room presents singer Helen Reddy. "Hallelujah Holh-wood" continues in the Ziegfield Sahara's Congo Room features singer Tony Benneiland the energetic dancing songstress, Joey dancer Ginger Rogers works out al Ihe Sand's Copa 3 ilh edition of Lido de Paris" is the house production at the TropJcana's Tiffany Theatre features Ihe "FoJios Tribute lo Elvis" is the attraction in the Fountain Union Plaza, downtown, debuts its new musical production "Merry-Go-Round." a satirical musical comedy. At Tahoe: The Cal-Neva Lodge offers "Paris Srandale" on an indefinite High Sierra Theatre of the Sahara Tahoe kicks in a two-week slay by impressionist Rich Tahoe presents the alJ-encompassing Sammy Davis Jr.

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