The Moving picture world (December 1920)

December 18, 1920 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 835 Sam Spedon Dies Suddenly in Atlanta; Stricken with Heart Failure at Hotel Member of World Staff Was Famous Entertainer and Originator of Vitagraph's Publicity Department SAM M. SPEDON, who originated and has conducted the "Keeping in Personal Touch" department in Moving Picture World, died suddenly of heart failure on December 8 while representing this publication at the moving picture exposition in Atlanta. On Tuesday night, December 7, while the ball was in full sway, he was apparently in good health and danced with a number of the stars and visitors. He left the hall about 11 o'clock, going to the Ansley Hotel, where he had something to eat and chatted with old friends before retiring at 11:30. At 2:45 the following morning he summoned the hotel physician but was beyond help when the doctor arrived. Mr. Ezell of Select also arrived too late. Mr. Spedon had been a particularly active and popular figure at the exposition the telegraphic dispatch says. Services in A tlanta The body was taken to the funeral chapel of H. M. Patterson. Instructions from New York being delayed, and wishing to honor the man who had so long been their sincere friend, exhibitors and exchangemen at Atlanta held services for him at 3 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, made all necessary funeral arrangements and shipped the remains at 11:40 o'clock the following morning on the Washington express. The services were largely attended. Mr. Spedon was 65 years old. The funeral will be held at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon, December 11, at the undertaking parlors of Frank E. Campbell, Sixty sixth street and Broadway. Interment will be in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, North Tarrytown. Few if any men had more real friends than Sam Spedon. He had been with Moving Picture World since January, 1917, and it is no exaggeration to say that no one on this publication can recall having heard an unkind word said about him or any unkind criticism by him of anyone else. Warm-hearted, gentle, kindly and always radiating optimism, seeing only good in those with whom he came in contact, "Sam" for years has daily added to the great number of those who called him friend. Minor employes as well as presidents of picture companies welcomed him when he visited their offices. It has been said that he could not walk the main street of any city in the country without being greeted: "Hello, Sam." Died "In Harness" There is just one ray of sunshine in his sudden death. It is that "Sam," had he had the choice, would have preferred to die "in harness." The one big, overwhelming interest in 'his life, besides his love for his family, was the motion picture industry which he had seen — and helped — to grow from meagre beginnings to its present place as the fifth greatest industry in the country. Though his health had been noticeably failing during the last few months, "Sam" never for a moment considered retiring into private life, because that, he knew, would cost him the opportunity of "keeping in personal touch" with his friends. He leaves his wife, Bessie Nicholson Spedon, whom he married thirty-six years ago, and three daughters and a son, all of whom are married. There are three grandchildren. He lived at THE LATE SAM SPEDON