Scrapbooks

POP stablemates from Manchester - Herman's Hermits and Freddie and the Dreamers, hit the dollar jackpot yesterday.
But what a twist ending to the day. Herman was offered 4,500,000 dollars (Ł1,607,000) to become a Hollywood film star.

Baffled

And he turned it down.
His reason - not sufficient assurance that the hard cash was there.
Negotiations were still continuing last night as two baffled American lawyers flew back to New York to report.
Freddie, who flew home to Manchester from New York yesterday, signed. And for 250,000 dollars (Ł82,100) he became an American TV star with every prospect of finally striking the biggest bonanza of all.
The offer to 18-year-old Peter Noone, otherwise Herman, was to make four major films over the next two-and-a-half years for mighty MGM.
Before pop he played "Len Fairclough's" son in TV's "Coronation Street."
The contract was there needing only four signatures - those of his agent, two managers and his own.
Herman and the group gave the thumbs-down by telephone from Stockholm, where they were appearing last night.
Said agent Danny Betesh: "Obviously it was a terrific temptation, but we insisted that the guarantee clause would have to be more firmly

stated.
"It is a genuine enough offer but we want to know the cash is definitely there."

Offers

Added co-manager Harvey Lisberg: "There have been film offers from two other major American film companies. One, from Warner Brothers, specifies two films and an option for a further three.
"With that sort of clause, which makes no allowance for Herman become a raving international success in films, we are not interested."
Freddie's TV deal gives him his own half-hour show, to be put out on a coast-to-coast hook-up.
Talks are going on to persuade British comedian Terry Thomas to play his father.
Filming of the series of 26 programmes will start next April. Eighteen will be on location in England, two in Paris, two in Rome, and four in America.
No title has yet been decided, but it will feature Freddie with the Dreamers in support in slapstick situation comedy.
Said Mr. Betesh: "The possibilities are unlimited. The sum accepted does not include income from repeats nor sales outside the American network.
At his home in Gatley, Cheshire, travel-weary Freddie the Dreamer said: "All I want to do now for a day or two is to sleep - to catch up on those hours I lost somewhere along the way."