The Billboard 1923-03-10: Vol 35 Iss 10 (1923-03-10)

The Bi llboard MARCH 10, 1923 DEATHS In the Profession PRALDWIN—George B., known in this country as un actor and as the author of the play : d 1% Surprised”, died suddenly in M i, P. I., Febroary 28. Mr. Baldwin went to Manila last January with the T. Daniel Fran tock Company and remained in that he Frawley Company had terminated agement there, BALLSCHEIT—Julius E., 71, known as ‘*The Ratt kK King’, died a few days ago ut the home of his daughter, Mrs. Emma Braun, o in San Antonio, Tex. Mr. Ballscheit sold snakes to circuses, medicine shows, museums and other r and for many years was a wi r in this peculiar line, He also cured the hides for use in leather goods, such as belts, hat bands, watch fobs, purses, used for rheumatism. Mr. Balischeit was for many years a friend of Ool. Fred J. Owens, Chicago. BARATTE—Lawvence J., branch salesman of Associated Exhibitors in Salt Lake City, Utah, died in the Utah capital several weeks ago, i ing to a report received by W. B, Frank, al sales manager of Associated in St. Louis. Mr. Baratte, tho a young man, was one of the veterans of Associated’s sales organization. He was well known in the screen world. BELL—Mrs. R. C., mother of Jack Corda Bell, violinist, late of Pete Pate'’s *“*Syncopated Steppers’? Company, and of Mrs. K. Tietgens, died of pneumonia February 22. Her son and daughter were left an estate valued at &60-, 000, which was equally divided between them. Jack Bell is residing at 222 Stanley Boulevard, S. W., Ardmore, Ok. BENSON—William G, 34, well-known outdoor showman, died at the Finn Sanitarium, El Paso, Tex., January 27. The decessed was a member of the Peoria (Tll.) Lodge, No. 20, of the B, P. 0. Elks. The Elks of El Paso arranged the funeral in that city. Mr, Benson is survived by his widow. BERINGER—C. A., moving picture electrician, died suddenly at Deal, N, J., the night of February 27. Mr. Beringer had formerly heen en ed in the tobacco business with his father, T. H. Beringer, at Asbury Park, N. J., in which city he resides. His father survives, BERRIMAN—Mrs. Mary Frazier, wife of Judge John Berriman, of Chicago, Ill., ex-circus showman, died at the Seton Hospital, Cincinnati, O., February 28, after a twenty-four hours’ iliness. Death was due to double pneumonia and a paralytic stroke. Mrs. Berriman was *. ars old. Judge and Mrs. Berriman had in Ylorida all winter and had returned but recently. The Judge was with his when death came. Judge Berriman traveled with several of the very old circuses, sterting as a candy butcher and ticket seller. Lis wife never followed the white tops. The Berrimans were married in Cincinnati fortys ago. For the past twelve years Juege Berriman has been on the Board of Review in Chicago. He expects to retir: after serving two more years there. The funeral eld from the chapel of Henry Gildehaus pany, Cincinnati, March 2, with a requiem mass at St. Francis Church. Burial was in Spring Grove Cemetery, where her mother rests, BLOCH—Stephen J. veteran circus clown, died at Reading, Pa., February 28, following a three days’ illness of pneumonia. Mr, Bloch was a member of the original Four Lukens, aerialists, and later clowned with the Barnum & Bailey and Ringling Brothers’ circuses, DAVIS—Kobert A., brother of Emma Marie Davis (Mrs. Lawrence Russell), of the Paramount Players, died at Hopewell, Va., February 27. Mr. Davis was at one time connected with the Springer Opera House at Columbus, Ga., and had a wide acquamtance among theatrical people who frequented the South. His sister attended the funeral, which took place at Colume bus March 3. DAVIS—Webster, widely known in lyceum and chautauqua fielis, died at his home in Kansas Cit Mo., February 22. During the past two summers Mr. Davis had filled engagements on the independent chautauquas, working with the Coit-Alber Chautauqua ¥ His winter bookings were made by pi Mr. Davis was at one ity. He was Assistant or during the McKinley known as one of the ent political speakers of left a lasting » of the most iqua public, 66, a dis DE BELLEVILLE inguished fig or tingu figur Fz. rican and Europeaa Stages, died February at his home in New Y after fty y devotion to the theater His last a nce was with Maude I nin “The H ng Bird’, which closed Mr. De Belleville Lon r 79 he went to Aus appearance in Amer‘ in San Fran | ew York, in 1890, 6 1 Cohen in **Men 182 was a member of n D n ". playin H B T s rt VW m FH ( at 4 h h as + ‘ Ir + c in M I = ' . eine Betis poe Fy » . er Zz 1 at the I ral Church. A 1g ps r were BPDaniel Frohman, Dat acco William Morris, George Tyler, Miller, Francis Wilson, Frederic Warde, Claude Erlanger, H. Cooper Cliffe, Robert Fdeson, Herbert W. Alden and H. Montague Pope. Mr. De Belleville was a charter member of The Lambs, a member of The Players, Actors’ Order of Friendship, Actors’ Equity Association and honorary member of the Actors’ Fund of America. DENNISON-—-Leo, recently manager of the Paramount office in Detroit, Mich., died last week in Phoenix, Ariz., of tuberculosis, DIETRICH—The father of Rene Dietrich, of Wright and Dietrich, died recently im Washington, Db. C. ECKHARDT—<Anthony, father of Olyde FEckhardt, assistant general manager of the Fox Fi.m offices in Chicago, died at Alexian Brothers’ Hospital, Chicavo, recently, ENDY—Mrs. H. N., well known to carnival people, died in Pottstown, Pa last week, FENTELL—The father of Harry Fentell died February 22 at his home in Hamburg, N. Y. He was 76 years old, GARDNER—The brother of Dan Gardner died February 24 at Springfield, Mass, GORDON—Max, 52, proprietor of the Dolly Varden Theater, 1319 Central avenue, Cincinnati, O., died suddenly last week at the home of his niece, Jennie Hyman, 1425 Cutter street, Cincinnati. Heart disease caused his death, Mr. Gordon resided at 854 Blair avenue, where funeral services were conducted March 1, GOSSIN—J. Leslie, 78, veteran actor, who for five years was a guest at the Actors’ Fund Home, Staten Island, N. Y., died March 1 of pneumonia. Mr. Gossin had appeared in character roles for more than forty years, City Theater in Bridgeport. In 1896 Mr. Jennings went to Hartford, and with the late Colonel Edward M. Graves conducted the theater then known as Roberts Opera House, which name was later changed to the Hartford. Following the dgith of Colonel Graves, in 1905, Mr. Jennings became sole owner of that house and managed it successfully for some years. Mr. Jennings was the founder of the Bridgeport Lodge of Elks, had been an exalted ruler of that lodge and was g‘end esteemed loyal knight in the grand lodge in 1913 and 1914. Mr. Jennings had a very wide circle of friends and was familiarly known as “Pop'’. One son, Henry H, Jennings, Jr., of Hartford, survives. Funeral services were held at the Hartford Elks’ home, on Prospect street, March 1. Interment was in Bridgeport. JOHNS—Mrs. Sarah, who bad a great number of friends in the profession, died at her home, 479 Park Place, Brooklyn, N. Y., early last month, Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. John B. Hanson, Mrs. Estelle Grant and Mrs. Winsor McCay, wife of the cartoonist, KEYSER—Frank, well-known theatrica) bi!lposter, died March 1 at his home in Chicago of heart trouble. The deceased is survived by his widow, who took the body to Louisville, Ky., for burial. KING—Sandusky L., father of Karl L. King, the well-known bandleader, died February 24 at the home of his son in Fort Dodge, Ia., after an illness of ab ut ten years. The deceased had been in the employ of the International Harvester Company for twenty-e cht years. Resides the son mentioned he leives his widow, a sister, Mrs. M. M. Kester, of Xenia, 0., and a brother, Charles, of Sibina, O. Mr, King was 59 years old and formerly resided in Canton, 0. Interment was in Oakland Cemetery, Fort Dodge, February 27. LANGFORD—Mrs, Callie, 62, mother of Edward Langford, of the Gonzelle White Revue with the Cooper “‘Beauty Revue’’ Company, died at her home in Kansas City February 20. Gonzelle White is in private life Mrs, Edw. Langford. Surviving, besides the son men HARRY CORSON CLARKE been pe:formed at the Angelus Hospital, Harry Cerson Clarke was born in New London"’. Berger Stock, in Washington, D. C. Dollar Princess” in 1909. Theater, and Harold Gywnn, English-speaking countries. Broadway and the Strand in London, in the burial services, ARRY CORSON CLARKE, 60, one of America’s most traveled actors, passed H away suddenly at 1232 BD. First street, Long Beach, Calif., March 3. The veteran actor’s death came as the result of a fall while in his dressing room at the Shubert Theater, Cincinnati, during the week of January 7, death became generally known to the profession last Sunday, when a telegram to that effect was received at the Green Room Club, New York, A short time after Mr. Clarke suffered the fall he was advised by his physicians to leave the stage for a while. His injuries caused developments of a former trouble, a tumor, which necessitated an operation. Such an operation is said to have Los Angeles. by Mr. Clarke to friends fn New York were that he felt he had “‘hit the end of the trail and hardly able to make the grade.”’ grandfather was C, W. Clarke, stage manager of Barnum’s Museum in 1866. He becan his professional career in 1884, when he was in the cast of “The Lights of Later he appeared in a company headed by Maude Granger, and, after a few subsequent traveling engagements, entered the dramatic stock field, where he soon gained fame as a character comedian, were: Lyceum Theater Stock, Denver, Col.; Frawley Stock, San Francisco, and the In 1898 he was featured in *‘What Happened to Jones?” and *“‘What Did Thompson Do?" Wix, of Wickham”, and with Sam Bernard in “The Girl and the Wizard’’, at the Ca ino.“ He was prominently cast in George Edwardes’ London production of ‘‘The His last New York appearance was with Margaret Dale Owen, his wife, who survives him, in “The Rotters’, at the Thirty-ninth Street His final engagement was with the Shubert unit, ‘‘The Blushing Bride’’, in which he played a comic sketch, *“‘The Rear Platform’, with Gertrude Madge Mr. Clarke was for many years a member of the Actors’ Order of Friendship, and he is the third member of that organization to die this winter. his reputation as a widely-traveled actor by making four tours around the world with his own companies, playing the successes of New York and London in all *he He was known in the principal cities of Canada, ’ .stralia, India, the Malay Peninsula and South Africa almost as well as he was on Funeral services for Mr. Clarke had not been arranged at this writing, but as the Actors’ Order of Friendship seld a meeting at its New York headquarters March 4, to take action on his death, it is expected that this organization will take part News of his The last words telegraphed York City, the son of H,. G. Clarke. His Among his successful stock engagements He played in New York in ‘Mr. He gained Ilis widow, Mrs. Olive M. Gossin, an actress, and a daughter, Mrs. Carrie Gossin Williams, of W. Twelfth street, New York, survive. Funeral services were held March 2 at the Moravian Chapel, New Dorp, Staten Island. GRETH — The mother of Claude Greth, electrician at the Orpheum Theater, Reading, Pa., died recently She was well known to showfolks, especially in burlesque. HARGRAVE—Mrs. Sarah L., wife of the well-known circus and carnival showman, Harry J. Hargrave, dieq at her home in Portland, Me., February 21 of »eart failure, HILTON—Robert W., president of the Hilton-Hawley Co., of Cincinnati, 0., manufac. turers of printing and lithograpbing inks, died suddenly in Cincinnati. HOHN—F. F., 6. theatrical electrician, was found dead in his bed at a hotel in Kansas City February 20. HOLLEDG Mra. Ruth A., 80, mother of Mr Lioyd Jeffries, died at her home in Washeington, D. C., Fe lary 25 Interment was in a Washington cemetery February 28 ¥l., 71, for many years a n the Fast, died at his —Henry ger j 1 Proctor’: Theater and , r } 4 1 te me haf owner, with Herbert C, Parsons, in the Park tioned, are one other son, a drummer, of Kansas City, and a daughter, LENHARDT—(Gustav, 45, motion picture theater manager, died March 1 at nfs home in Brooklyn, N. Y. LILLEY—James, well-known musician, died February 22 at his home in Fairhaven, Mass. lie had assisted in the dedication of the New Bedford, Mass., opera house, now the New Bedford Theater. LOGAN—Mrs. John A., widow of General Logan, died at Washington, D. C., February 22. er death marks the passing of another platform character. Mrs. Logan had not done a great deal of lecturing in recent years, but twenty years ago she was very active on the chautauqua platform. She appeared on the Holbrook chautauqua programs in 1902 and was on many of the old lyceum courses under the management of the Chicago Lyceum Burean. MANSFIELD—Albert M., 73, who sang at the opening of the Metropolitan Opera House in 184, died March 4 at his home in New York City. Mr. Mansfield had appeared in opera companies. He was a member of the company headed by Camille Urso, which went on a concert tour around the world some years ee. MARTIN — Helen A., only daughter of Colonel I. M. Martin, manager of Chester Park, Cincinnati, 0., and president of the Orpheum Theater Company of that city, died euddenly in New York City March 3. Miss Martin, who was nineteen years old, had been attending echool*in the Kast. Influenza caused her death. Her body was sent to Cincinnati, where funeral services were eld early this week, Surviving Miss Martin are her parents, two brothers and two uncles, J. M. and Sol Martin, of Cincinnati, MASON Sidney L., 26, who had appeared In weveral Broadway productions and also in stock in the Weert, died last week at his home tn New York McCALLUM -Joln A.. who many years ago aypoared on the «tage in England, who was a protege of the London comedian, Johny ! O'Toole, and who had been employed by ... eral film studios on the Coast, died lat; month at Hollywood, Calif. Mr. McCallum had at one time been in the candy busines. o: Senta Cres and Westonville, Calif. In thon wo cities he staged man » S at someiaie. & y — shows and nme IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE oF C. 1. MCCONNELL, JR, Who Passed Away March 44 Ironton, Ohie. His Wife SOPHIE, McCORMACK—Dave, 59. who had toured this country. extensively lecturing on crime waves and white slavery, died in Toledo, 0., February 21. Mr. McCormack was known to many pre fessionals and was very popular among them His body was sent to Detroit and interred in a cemetery there, His widow survives. McLAUGHLIN—John, father of. Willard Mack the well-known actor and playwright, died at his home near Rosebud, Alta., Caneda Feb ruary 22. Mr. McLaughlin was 75 years old MELVILLE—Mrs. Belle Watson, kn wn to every one who has been attending the lL 1 ©. A. conventions for the last few years, ‘died at her home, 427 N, Kenilworth avenue Oak Park, Ill, February 24. Mrs. Melville had been one of the most prominent figures at the I. L. C. A, Conventions for many years, and tha fact that her platform endeavors were my rely the result of love of her work and not for mn oa of the remuneration made ber all the closer ves the many artistes whose work led them ; that particular groove of platform art. The Suncom oe pele in ge =f 28 from the First ongregational Church, Oak Park. rme was in Rosehill fete” “— interment MEYER — Bertha Annie, in v James H. Thorne, died at her ay, Calif., February 17, following an illness of eight years, which terminated in a paralytic stroke, ‘Bonnie’? Meyer, as she was professionally known, was the youngest daughter of the late Seriphim Meyer, former judge of the Court of Common Pleas, of Canton 0. She was born April 17, 1851, at Canton, and was educated at the Convent of Notre Dame Madison, Ind. Early in her career the deceased joined the repertoire company of Strebie and later went with J. ¢. Stutz. It was while playing with this company that Miss Meyer met and subsequently marr ed James H. Thorne, at Cambridge, 0., in September, 1873. Mrs. Thorne and ber husvnod played together for many years. They were with one of the first companies to tour une South following the Civil War. Amorg the notable old-time theaters in which they ap peared were: Dan Kelly's Front Street Theater, Baltimore, Md.; Woods’ Myseum, !'b lide! phia; Lathrop’s Theater, Bosta#, and the Th ater Royal, Ottawa, Qan. Shortly aft: ing with Webb Chamberlain's ‘Out in Company in January, 1907, Mr. and Mr 7 retired. September 15 would have teen the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding. Surviving are her husband, two sons, Mark and Frank Thorne: two sisters, Mrs. Laura Jones and Clementine Meyer; a daughter-in-law. Lizzetta Holdsworth, and one grandson, Frank Thorne, Jr. Funeral services were conducted wit! requiem high mass at St. John's Church, Fre-no, February 20. NOBLE—The aunt of Mrs. Billy Noble, of Noble and Brooks, died February 13, at Parkersburg, W. Va. OLIVER—George H., 68, retired actor, was found dead in his rooming house at 125 Scher merhorn street, Brooklyn, N. Y., March 3. Mr. Oliver played under the name of George Hutchinson. He had lived at the Brooklyn address for many years, Authorittes are searching for his relatives. PRINGLE—“Bill”, stage carpenter at the Garden Theater, Buffalo. N. Y., for the past eighteen years, died February 23 in a Buffalo hospital of a complication of diseases. He was widely known to the burlesque profession. RICHARDS—Mrs. Mary Ann, sister of Harry J. Harrington, female impersonator, died in her home at Niacara-on-the-Lake, Canada, last month. Mrs. Richards was 80 years old. ROHE—Harry, ‘tage carpenter at the Empress Theater, Cincinnati, and a member of Local Union Xo. 5, of the I. A, T. S. FE. & M P M. O., of that city, died at his home * ddenty of a complication of d’seases superinduced by pneumonia. Mr. Rohe was about 45 years of and was one of the first members of Local No. ° His widow ‘survives. ROHR—Edward, 58, who for twenty-seven years was identified with the Hoeffheimer amusement interests in Virginia, died Fe ruary 18 at his home in Norfolk, Va. Mr, Belr 's survived by his widow and two ¢l'itren Funeral services were conducted by the Norfols Lodge of Elks, of which Mr. Rohr wis * member. SCOTT—Mrs. John Hugh, 22, a talent rent er and musician, died at her home i" I ‘ berg, Kan., last week of double pron 4 Mrs. Scott was a graduate of the m' e St partment of Washington University ‘© Louis. . ; ’ SCOTT—Thomas, well-known solicitir § magazine and newspaper subscriptions, died in a hospital in East Moline, Ill, Febrnery a following a lingering illness, One brother, J. Scott, also a magazine subscription solbeitr survives, é. SEYMOUR—Frank, 44, formerly of Seymor and Hill and more recently of Seymour #" Healy, died in Montrose Hospital, Chicase February 21, of pneumonia following a *! fliness. Mr, Seymour was billed on Associttion Time when stricken with his last illness. Burial was in Glen Oak Cemetery, Chicago The funeral arrangements were ip charee the former wife of the deceased, Lish ~_ son, also a professional. A son born ty couple survives, SHELLEY—Mrs, Leonora Williamson, ‘~ died at her home in Kansas City, Mo., Fobrusre 22. of hemorrhages. Mrs, Shelley had been 7 since December 30, but was much improved ane hopes were held for ber recovery. Death cam very suddenly, Mrs. Shelley was born in wee oe phis, Tenn, November, 20, 1850. She marr the late Wm, F. Shelley in that city Aus “se 12, 1875, and settled down in Keokuk, Ia., wir" they lived almost continuously until 1886, whe" they moved to Kansas City. Mr. Shelley i“ in July, 1013. He was the son of Col. J. i. to