Flash

By Times staff and wire reports

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 30, 2000

Rights to unfinished Puzo novel are bought

Even in the afterlife, Mario Puzo is worth big money.

ReganBooks has paid in the high six figures for an unfinished historical novel by the author of The Godfather, the book's publisher said Wednesday.

Puzo, who died in 1999 at age 78, had worked for years on a novel about the ruthless Borgia family that reigned in Italy during the Renaissance. The manuscript will be completed by his longtime companion and assistant, Carol Gino.

The book, currently untitled, is expected to come out in the fall of 2001.

A two-time Oscar winner, Puzo wrote several novels and assorted Hollywood screenplays. Omerta, the third book of his Mafia trilogy, was published posthumously last summer.

Madonna concert draws 9-million fans on Internet

Madonna's first concert in Britain in seven years drew some 9-million fans who tuned in over the Internet.

Only about 2,800 people were able to see the concert in person Tuesday night. The fans crammed inside London's Brixton Academy for Madonna's performance featuring her latest album, Music.

The 42-year-old singer said she was warming up for a summer world tour.

According to Microsoft's MSN Web site, the Internet audience for Madonna's six-song, 29-minute performance was three times larger than an MSN Webcast of a Paul McCartney concert a year ago.

Public gets chance to question violinist

Violinist Joshua Bell, soloist with the Florida Orchestra this weekend, will participate in a question-and-answer session moderated by Susan Giles of WUSF-FM 89.7 and sign CDs at 1 p.m. Saturday at Borders Books and Music, 909 N Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa.

Lemmon wins award named for his idol

Jack Lemmon has won an award named after the actor he considers the best ever.

Lemmon received the 12th annual Spencer Tracy Award for dramatic achievement during ceremonies Tuesday at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Lemmon, a two-time Oscar winner, said he got to meet his idol when Tracy was shooting The Last Hurrah.

"He listened phenomenally with his eyes, face and body movements," Lemmon, 75, said. "He was trying to glean the meaning within the person."

Songwriter, performer Walter Bailes dies at 80

Walter Bailes, a member of the popular 1940s-era Grand Ole Opry duo The Bailes Brothers, died Monday. He was 80. He had suffered three heart attacks in the past year.

Walter Bailes, a West Virginia native, and his brother Johnny were the classic Bailes Brothers duo. Brothers Kyle and Homer also performed with the group over the years in varying combinations.

Walter wrote much of the group's material, including popular songs like Dust on the Bible and I Want to be Loved. During their run on the Grand Ole Opry from 1944 to 1946, they were among the show's most popular acts.

Kitty Wells, Flatt & Scruggs, and The Everly Brothers all recorded songs written by Walter Bailes. The Bailes Brothers left the Opry in 1946 and moved to Shreveport, La., where they helped launch the Louisiana Hayride radio show. They continued to occasionally perform throughout the 1950s.

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