Motion Picture Herald (Sep-Oct 1942)

October 24, 1942 May Robson, 78, Was 58 Years 68 Jay Allen Dies; Long Active In Canada Jay J. Allen, one of the founders of the film industry in Canada and widely known philanthropist, died in Toronto Western Hospital, October 17th at the age of 53. He started his theatrical career in 1906 and developed one of the largest circuits in the Dominion, later extending his holdings to England, Russia and the United States. He became prominent as a film distributor, having the Paramount franchise for Canada and organizing Select Pictures, Ltd., in addition to companies handling early British features. Mr. Allen was a director of Columbia Pictures of Canada and of Premier Operating Company, operating 38 theatres in Ontario and Quebec in partnership with Famous Players. He was founder of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies and of the United Jewish Welfare Fund and served as governor of Mount Sinai Hospital. He also was a member of the board of Holy Blossom Temple. Mr. Allen was a native of Bradford, Pa., and moved to Brantford, Ont., in 1906. As a principal of the Allen Theatres, Ltd., he built theatres in Calgary, Regina, Moose Jaw and Toronto. Survivors are his wife, two sons, Raymond and Larry, the latter now serving with Royal Canadian Air Force, and three brothers, Jules, Herbert and Sol, all of whom are identified with the Allen Theatre and distributing enterprises. Thomas Haydock Milligan Thomas Haydock Milligan, 76, whose magic lantern slide processes were the forerunner of the motion picture and made him famous in the entertainment field in the early part of the century, died October 13th, at his home in Philadelphia after a three-year illness. He was the last of a famous Philadelphia triumvirate, who pioneered in the art of throwing pictures upon a screen — Casper W. Briggs and Frederick D. Langenheim. Mr. Milligan was the originator of the wet process slide_, and it was a process he kept secret. The process produced colors which could not be produced by the dry tint process. His wife, Mary, and three daughters survive. Isaac Marcus Isaac Marcus, 72, an early exhibitor in Harrisburg, Pa., died October 14th of a heart ailment at the Harrisburg Hospital. Mr. Marcus started in the business in 1909 shortly after moving to Harrisburg from Philadelphia. Mr. Marcus later established what is now the Star theatre and in 1913 built the National theatre. He acquired the Rialto theatre in 1922. Marie Tempest Dame Marie Tempest, 78, stage star for more than 55 years, died October 15th in her London, England, home after a brief illness. At the beginning of the present war she advocated keeping open theatres and last year, 56 years after her first appearance, toured Britain in "The First Mistress Fraser." The bare outline of her stage career fills five columns of "Who's Who in the Theatre." George Shuler George K. Shuler, 57, treasurer of New York State in 1922-23 and a retired major in the U. S. Marines, died October 16th at Veterans' Hospital, Bronx, N. Y. Following his retirement as State Treasurer, Mr. Shuler for several years was owner and publisher of Motion Picture Magazine and Motion Picture Classic. MOTION PICTURE HERALD JAY J. ALLEN Simon Ehrlich, Showman Simon Ehrlich, 64, for more than 40 years an outstanding figure in the theatre field of the south and general manager of the SaengerEhrlich Theatres, Shreveport, La., died at a Shreveport hospital on October 10th after an illness of four days. The company which he managed operates practically every house in Shreveport, including two large downtown theatres, the Strand and Majestic. A native of St. Louis, Mr. Ehrlich spent his early days there and in Little Rock. He spent a few years with railroads in the southwest and after taking part in amateur theatricals, became assistant manager of the Opera House at Tyler, Tex., before the turn of the centurv. In 1900, he was induced by his brothers, Toseph and Harry to move to Shreveport and j.qin them in operation of the Grand Opera House, a legitimate theatre on Texas street. Mr. Ehrlich had been a member of the Showman's League of America since his first attention was given shows in Tyler. Surviving only is a cousin, Mrs. Lawrence F. Kern of Shreveport. He was never married. Maurice Campbell Major Maurice Campbell, 74, former theatrical press agent, theatre and picture producer and film director for Famous Players, died in New York October 16th. He was prohibition administrator for eastern New York from 1927 to 1930. He was married to Henrietta Crossman, who starred in "Miss Nell," one of his productions. Nathan Abrams Nathan Abrams, 77, father of Leo Abrams, New York branch manager for National Screen Service, died in New York October 18th. Other survivors are a son, Sol Abrams of the Roosevelt theatre, Nassau, L. I., and a daughter Mrs. Rose Hode, wide of Hal Hode of Columbia. Art Bishell Art Bishell, long a film salesman, who two weeks ago was named ad sales manager for the Twentieth Century-Fox exchange in Seattle, died at his home in Seattle October 15th following a heart attack. An Actress May Robson, Australian-born stage and screen actress, died in her sleep October 20th, at her home in Beverly Hills, Cal. She was 78 years old. In spite of failing health, Miss Robson appeared in motion pictures until less than a year ago. Her last role was in "Joan of Paris," released this year by RKO. She went before the cameras for the last time this winter when she made a community chest short subject with Lionel Barrymore and Lew Ayres. For 58 years, Miss Robson was famous in England and America for her stage and screen characterizations. In 1934, she celebrated her 50th anniversary as an actress. She proclaimed that she was the only great-grandmother in the movies, following the birth of a daughter to her grandson in 1934. Frequently, she expressed her desire to "keep working right up to the final curtain," and also advocated that a person is as young as he feels, saying that she "always felt young." She was known in Hollywood and in the theatre as an "indefatigable trouper." Miss Robson was born in Melbourne, Australia, April 19th, 1865, the daughter of Capt. Henry Robison of the British Navy and Julia Robison. She was educated in Brussels, Paris and London. Shortly after her early marriage, at the age of 16, to E. H. Gore, British inventor, Miss Robson came to New York. Her first successful starring role on Broadway was in "The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary," in 1907. Since 1924, Miss Robson appeared in scores of films, and is remembered particularly by screen audiences for her roles in "If I Had a Million," "Reunion in Vienna," "Dinner at Eight," "Lady for a Day," "Grand Old Girl," "Anna Karenina," "A Star is Born" and "Four Daughters." Her more recent pictures included : "Playmates," "Million Dollar Baby," "Four Mothers," "Irene," "That's Right, You're Wrong," and "Nurse Edith Cavell." Surviving are her son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Gore ; her secretarycompanion, Lillian Harmer, who had been with the actress constantly since 1910; a grandson, Robson Gore of New York, and .two greatgrandchildren, Virginia May Robson Gore and Robson Gore, Jr. William R. Bowen William R. Bowen, employed by the Warner Theatre circuit in Philadelphia for many years as a motion picture projector operator, died October 12th at his home in Pennsauken, N. J., of a heart ailment. He was a trustee of Local 418, Motion Picture Operators Union of America, and employed at Harners' Princess theatre, Camden, N. J., at the time of his death. Cosmo Hamilton Cosmo Hamilton, 70, novelist and playwright, died at the home of his brother, Sir Philip • Gibbs, at Shanley Green in Surrey, England, October 14th. He legally took the name of his mother, Mrs. Helen Hamilton Gibbs, when he began his writing career. He was the author of more than 50 novels and 35 plays, many produced on Broadway and in films. C. E. Anderson C. E. Anderson, western manager for National Carbon Company, died from a heart attack at his home in Evanston, 111., October 16th. Willard Hart Willard Hart, owner of the Norka and Rialto theatres, Akron, Ohio, died October 18th at Saranac Lake. N. Y., after a long illness.