The Billboard 1924-01-05: Vol 36 Iss 1 (1924-01-05)

me ememan 106 The Billboard JANUARY 6, 1924 DEATHS O’LOUGHLIN—Peter, died at Perth, West Australia, recently, Deceased was exceedingly popular. PLUMB—George, father of Gladys Vance and In the Profession Billy Plumb, ane away December 20 at Goshen, Ind., from leakage of the heart and complications. EN OT AMBLER—C. M., veteran Anstralian motion picture exhibitor, passed away recently in Raymond Terrace, Australia. The business will be carried on by his daughters, ANSSEAU—aAlexander, father of Fernand Ansseau, famous Belgian tenor, died suddenly in Brussels, Belgium, last week. BELASCO—Keyna, eleven-year-old neice of David Belasco and daughter of Walter Belasco, actor, was killed almost instantly when struck by an automobile December 29, in San Francisco. BRADFORD—Barbara, aged 11, niede of Irene Castle, died at her home in Saranac Lake, Bm. Y., December 28, after a three days’ ill ness of meningitis. The girl was a familiar figure in otenne and was noted for her fearless horsemanship. The funeral was from the child’s former home in Brooklyn. CARLYLE—Nan (Mrs. Nancie Grant), late maneger of the Palladium, Aberdare, Englind, died December 2, She is survived by her husband and a daughter. 16 MEMORY OF MY BELOVED HUSBAND, JOHN A. CRESSVILLE (Cornet Soloist) Who entered “Life Eternal’ on Jan. 6, 1922 NELLIE CRESSVILLE, DECK—William V., 49, died at his residence, 226 Lorraine Pigce, Cincinnati, 0., December 23. Mr. Deck was secretary of the Cincinnati Fall Festival Association for many years and was traveling representative for the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company for the past four years and made a host of friends. Deceased is survived by his widow, Ann Deck. Funeral December 26, Requiem high mass was held at Church of Annunciation, Clifton, Cincinnati. IN FOND MEMORY OF NELSON S. DEAN My dear husband, and beloved father of Clif ford J. Dean, is sadly missed his wife, BILLIE DEAN, Died December 19, 1923. DRIVER—Lee, s well-known concessionaire, was burned to death December 18 in a fire that destroyed the Capitol Hotel, Houston, Tex. Mr. Driver bad been associated with Embree United Shows off and on for the past five years. He was better known on the Pacific Coast, having at various times been with Foley & Burk, A. Cc. Boucher, G. F. Albright and various other shows. E. H. Smith, of Thomasville, Ga., a relative of the deceased, took charge of the body, which was taken to Opelika, Ala., where it will rest beside the body of his father. Geo. H. Embree, I. L. Peyser, Oscar Markle, H. H. Davis, Roy Corbin, Dick Blakeny, Jos. A. Holland and Jas. A. Ke nnedy acted as pallbearers in taking the body to the train. DUFFIN—Charles R., 61, secretary and treasurer of the Terre Haute Trotting Association and one of the best-known starters and announcers of Middle West in the Grand Circuit races, prominent in politics and fraternal orders, died December 27 at Terre Haute, Ind. He was a member of Elks’ Lodge and Knights of Columbus and only recently made State deputy of the K. of ©. Surviving him are his widow, one son and sister. Burial was at Terre Haute. gy 67, died November 29 at her home in Aberdeen, Scotland. GALLAGHER—William, aged 89 years, for half a century known in the racing world as “Let "Er Go’’ Gallagher, died December 21 at his home in Davenport, Ia. GASNIER—Pierre, for years a strong man for one of the largest circuses, died recently in an isolated shack he called home in San Francisco, attended by his faithful Chinese servant, No relatives could be found. A modest funeral was provided by the municipality. GRANT—Solomon R., 80, former actor and veteral of the civil war and who was signally honored by General U. S. Grant in connection with his ability as a musician, died December 24 at his home, 700 Summit avenue, Syracuse, N. Y. Mr. Grant was on the vaudeville stage with the War-Time Fiddlers until five years ago, when forced to retire thru illness. Burial at Oakwood Cemetery. Deceased is survived by two daughters, a brother, two nephews and a niece. GRESHAM—Mrs. Martha Ford, daughter of the late John P. Ford, owner of Ford’s Theater in Washington, UD. C., where President Lincoln Was assassinated, died F ay night, December 28, at her home in Mt. Vernon, N. Y. In early life Mrs. Gresham had been a member of stock companies of her father and Augustin Daly, and for the past twenty-five years had resided in Mt. Vernon, often taking a prominent part in amateur theatricals there as coach. Her husband, the late Herbert Gresham, stage director for Klaw & Erlanger, died three years a7o. HALL—Peter, manager of the Plaza Theater, Lansing, Mich., died Sunday night, December 23, a few minutes after being shot by one of two men who robbed him of the day’s re ceipts. Hall, a young man, js survived by his a e Plaza is owned by his uncle, W. . Hal HART—Anugnst, died at San Diego, Calif., recently. He toured Australia last year. HAYES—Frank, 48, veteran actor, died of pneumonia December 28 at Hollywood, Calif. Deceased had been member of La Salle Stock Company, Chicago, and supported Laurette Taylor in the legitimste. HOFFMAN—Mrs. Irene, known professionally as Irene Waldron, died in Miami, Fla., Decemebr 24, following an operation. Before retiring from circus life Mrs. Hoffman was an attraction with Ringling Bros.’ Circus, known as one of the two women in America born without arms. JOHNSON—Dr. H. R., president of the Long Beach Amusement League and who had been ill for several weeks, died at Los Angeles, Calif., in Leving Memory of My Husband, PARK B. PRENTISS December 20. He was one by members of the league December 22. Dr. Johnson also operated the racing derby on the pier. Deceased is survived by his widow. KALEY—Harold L., 34, of Astoria, died suddenly December 29 at Utica, N. LEE—Mrs. Leona (Jack), died at the Wil Who passed away January 2. 1923, JESS PRENTISS. Ore., a liams Hospital, Lebanon, Ind., December 22 POTTER—James, about 50 years of age, wellafter a short illness. Deceased is survived by known entertainer, died suddenly at his home her husband, Jack Lee; three daughters and in Fort Ann, near Glens Falls, New York, retwo sons. Mrs. Lee was well known in the cently. He and his wife were widely known show world. as ** LEMKER—Mrs, Olga, 26, died at her residence, 937 Seton avenue, Cincinnati, O., after a brief illness. She was a daughter of the late Peter Breugmann, who was a member of was a graduate of the Ithaca Conservatory of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Surviving Musie. Mrs. Potter was Grace Northaway of her are her husband, her moiher, two brothers the Ithaca Conservatory of Music. Deceased 1s and two sisters. survived by his widow and six children. LEVERE—Mrs. Rose Wice, of New York City, ROHRS—George H., a member of the Gayety former actreca, lawyer and for thi Fears Hee orheate Or tra e Columbia — Burlesque tor of the First Spiritualist Church of New reccngend rheswe, © lied at the General York, died December 28 in Leonia, N. J. ml 25. altel = 7 rire * aa z ember 0. ohrs was LEWIS—Clunn, so, general y looked upon as found in a dying con on at Twentieth and the last of the puppet showmen in En-land, Brooklyn avenue sxe two hours before death died recently. As owner of Middleten’s Qocurred, Jan as leks nan, leader of the Gayety Marionettes, decea‘ed had toured the villages 7), ro tgs ic ype and other friends knew of of England. for many ycars, ich iad . , no trouble in which Rohrs might have been in LEWIS—Joseph, $1, dramatist and actor, died volved which world cause his murder, Mrs. ecembe ij > ome his te “ u Woking, png at, Soe late = ution —— a — tohrs was visiting in Sabetha, Kan., at the tion with the late Walter Avondale and Henry “™® of Mr. Rohrs’ de ath, Falconer, Mr. Lewis dramatized sever.i of ROSS—John, 72, Indian showman, known as Miss Braddon’s novels and toured the versions ‘‘Rattlesake Jack’’, died suddenly November 25 in the fitups of Devon and Cornwall. He had at Delair, N. J. For many years he had travbeen manager of the Public Hall in Woking eled with carnivals, for twenty-five years. He is survived by two and dogs and for : sons and four daughters. big circuses, Burial oan in New Camden CemOTHIAN—Charies, 65, son of the late Napier etery, Camden, N, J. Members of Butcher Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars, had charge Lothian, who was long connected with the old ‘ . and provided q military funeral, At the grave ider that name appeared on the platform in songs and stories for the last twelve years. Of late years Mr. Potter represented the Swarthm ore Chautauqua. He The Potters” and ur house in Kansas City, Mo Hospital in that city PD Boston Theater, and brother of Thomas B. ALEXANDER GUSTAVE EIFFEL LEXANDER GUSTAVE EIFFEL, 91, famed constructor of the tower which bears his name, died December 27, in Paris, of cerebral congestion. Eiffel had worked regularly in his lab oratory until last summer, when the first symptoms of the cerebral trouble appeared. Altho Eiffel was known to America principally for the tower which, despite the progress in engineering during the last 25 years remains the highest structure in the world, he was renowned in Europe for the last sixty years as one of the most brilliant engineers of the century. Some of the biggest bridges and viaducts in France owe their existence to his engineering genius, and the great railway bridge of Porto, with its 160-meter span, was his work. In recent years Eiffel had been interested in meteorological study and aviation. The history of the construction of the Eiffel Tower is perhaps the greatest engineering romance. When Eiffel proposed the construction of the tower 300 meters high for the Paris Exposition of 1889, he called down on his head almost universal ridicule. He persisted, however, and finally obtained a subsidy of 1,500,000 francs for the task, and three years later was able to hoist the French flag on the highest of all structures. Lothian, general manager of the Colonial, Tre“tans’* was sounded and a salute fired. The mont and Hollis theaters in Bost on, died Decasket was draped in an American flag. cember 23 at Port Washington, Island. ST. CLAIR—<Arthur, died December 4 at the Mr. Lothian was born in San isco and General Hospital, Wolverhampton, Eng., fol theater all his lowing an op He appeared his had been connected with the ration. Deceased is survived by life, both as actor and maneger. widow, son and daughter. in the latter capacity with a number of SKELTON—Harry E., 60, single, of Skelton Charles Frohman and William Harris attracand Magee, song and dance team, on December tions. His widow, Jane Kenark, has plaved 25 when entering a subway station in New leading roles in many New England stock comYork, slipped on an orange peel, fell thirteen panies and for many summers was identiticd steps and was instantly killed, his skull being with the Peaks Is!and Stock Company. In adfractured when he struck the landing. He is dition to the widow the deceased is survived Survived by three sisters and a brother, by two sons, Robert and Joseph, both actors. SMITH—Mrs. Catherine Carroll, mother of Katherine Carroll Smith, entertainer, Funeral services lyceum and passed away at were held at his home in Long Island qua chantanthe family MAC CURDY—James Kryle, well-known plavLome in Omro, Wis., December &, Mrs, Smith wright, passed away suddenly at his home, 1510 Was the mother of seven daughters, six of McCadden Place Halls wood, Calif., recently. ® hom survive her, and all were with her when she passed away. STERLING—Plizabeth, The deceased was Eastern theatrical well Known in local and circles and had resided in well-known member of California for se » pla Page and Sterling, variety dance and song he wrote were a Man’, “A team, and former concert ginger, died in De Little Girl in a Big City”, “Pedro, the Italian’, troit, Mich., December 12, after a lngering and “The Broken Hearts of Broadway’’. illness. Deceased sided in Northville, Mich. MAXSON—F ather of Norman A, Maxson, viounder the family name of Lillian Girardin, ‘ linist, who was a member of theater orchestras in and around Chicago for many gears, died December 25 at his residence, 333 N. Fifth 7; ¥ In ~~ Remembrance of My Dear Husband, concert te nor = soloist at WREN, ch, New Yor} K, § d December Who departed this life October 5, 1923. 29 at his res in that eity, oe ‘ rs. Peaceful be thy rest, dear hus»and, M derson, 8. €., it is sweet to breathe thy name, In life we loved you, dear; In death we do tho same, The moon and the stars are shining On a lone and silent grave, Beneath lies the one we loved, But whom we could not save, Though wo all will still linger na and playing ina egiment Band during the nwar. He made his concert debut soloist at the Calvary Brick Presbyterian churches, rooklyn. His h h-Ameri« in 1903, and had been Methodist and New York, and Plymouth Church, wife, Nevada Vanderveer, is a contralto concert At the spot where you are taid, singer, and Miller gave a recital with her OcAnd will come and scatter flowers tober 20 at Acolian Hall, New York. On the grave that Christ has made, MULLEN—\rs. Lillion Herbert, vandeville Gone, but not forgotten by his wife, actress, died of a cerebral nom rrhage at the ANNIE E. WREN, Olympia Theater, West Somer ill, Mass., De cember 27, § ifter she had f 1 ber vanude ville act there. She was stricken during the latter part of her performan-e and cont'rued despite the dizziness which gradually overcame her. NEWMAN—Pred. 67, lessee WEDGE—Charles W., physica] training dlrector, sy ol at Love ield and Fort Crock. ett during the ar and executive secretacy of . war camp ounmantte work at Houston following Palace, the of the i" : hice 7 armistice, died at his home at 1110 Brazos ae Ens. or Fs ms Tt = at his home gtreet Hous ton, Tex., December 27. Mr. Wedge er as re attack « rronchitis, was for the past several years both special NUTTER—J. H., owner of the Star Theater, agent and press agent for DeKreko Pros.’ Shows Norfolk, Va., died December 25 at his residence, 4 having to leave the middle of last season account of failing hea'th. Mr. Wedge was born tn Michigan and reared and educated in Superior, Wis. In spite of failing health be took great Thirtyfourth street and Colonial terment was in Boston. Mr. known by the colored avenue, InNutter was well citizens of Norfolk. interest in athletics. He was one of the few men in America elected to honorary membership in the American Legion, before the Minneapolis convention ruled against the practice. Surviving him are his mother, two sisters and two brothers Funeral] services were in charge of the Elks, of which Mr, Wedge was a member Bu-ial in Elks’ Rest at Glenwood Cemetery. WETTERMAN—Charies, 34 years old, veteran circus musician, died December 23 at Bethesda Hospital, Cincinnati, from injuries sustained the previous evening when struck by an automobile after leaving a street car in Lockland, a Cinecinnat) suburb, He was unmarried Funeral services were held December 26 at the resjdence of a nephew, Ivan L. Edwards, 672 El. liott avenue, Ar:lington Heights, Cincinnati, with interment in the Reading Cemetery. He is survived by four sisters, Mrs. Mary Edwards, Cincinnati; Mra. Elizabeth Jacobs, Mrs. John Dougherty and Margaret Wetterman, all residing at Hamilton, 0. WITZELL—Theodore, 55, part owner of Witzell’s Hotel, College Doint, N, Y¥., and Pointview Kecreation Park, died at College Point December 30. He is survived by his widow and a brother, MARRIAGES In the Profession BALMF-PALMER—Jack Balme, Royal, Windsor, England, were married November 29 at Windsor. BARBER-FARNU M—Maurice Darber, manager of the Cinema Finance (« Dorothy Farnum, a member of the o staff of the Warner Pros.’ Studio, were married recently at Santa Barbara, Calif. They will make their home in Los Angeles. BETTS-THAME—Edgar Retts and Ida Thame, of Theater and HUasidee Palmer general mpany, and scenar) of Burwood, Australie. were married November 14 at Sydney ‘he bridegroo “4 is manager of the new Rond The ster, Sydn BRADFORD-DEAVE Fee, me n MH. head of the sch @ practical Bradford, ol of aeronautics in Peoria, IL, aviator and owner of several plan 8, and Mrs, Edith Miner Deaver were married December 23 at Bloomington, I BREWER-MecCALLON—LeRoy Brewer, director of the orchestra in the Billings Theater at Norman, Ok., and a student in the University of Oklahoma there, and Mrs. Fe>n Cobb Me(Callon, also a talented musician, were married re cently at Norman, Ok CONTENTI-FEXTON—John Content! and Marjorie Fexton were married early last week in New York City. Mrs, Contenti was to have been a chorus girl in Andre Charlot’s Revue, opening January 9, but met ber husband on her arrival in New York on the Aquitania recently. The couple sailed for Havana December 26. DUDLEY-BARNETT—Sherman H Dudley and Desdemona Barnett were united in marriage Thanksgiving night. Mr. Dudley is a ploneer colored comedian, theatrical magnate and sportsHe is also eastern manager of the T. O. Miss Barnett has for years been Mr Dudley's chief business ald GAGE-COOK—Cyrus Durey May Cook were married December 9 at Great Bend, Pa. Mr. Gage is te “gal representative of n@li Rrothers and im & Bailey Shows. a AR RIS-WALKER— fies w vard Harris, of Jas. Dutton’s Indoor Circus, and Anna Walker were married a Cupid has been busy around the Dutton « — this making the second mar riage within week. Hor DES NSENN] TT—Max Albee Molden, of Barre, Vt.. and Mercedes Martyn Sennett, niece of Mack Sennett, were married December 11 at the home of Mr. Sennett in Los Angeles. The bride was given in marriage by Mr, Sennett. Mabel Normand was bridesmaid, and F. Richard Jones attended the groom Among those present at the reception that followed were Norma Talmadge, Joseph Schenck, Mrs. Catherine Sennett, grandmother of the bride, and about oe others. OrS-TAPT—Frank Koops and Hazel Taft, of the Sate od team of Koops and Taft, now ap aring in vaudeville, were united in marriage cember 24 at Detroit, Mich Mr. and Mrs. Koops will continue thelr vaudeville contracts under the team name of Koops and Taft. MAJOR-FURNESS—David Moss Major, connected with a large film concern in Kansas City, and Miss Laura Major, of Columbia, Mo., were married in Kansas City December 22 and left for Murphysboro, I1!., on their honeymoon McCORMACK-MURPHY—James McCormack, brother of John McCormack mar-ied Miss Ger trude Murphy, of the Abbey Theater, Dublin, in the Church of the Blessed Sacrament, New York, on December 27. Mr. McCormack was tn Europe with the famous tenor, whose confiden tial business associate he is, where he met his bride. The ceremony was performed by the Rev, Father Shanley of St. Benedict's Church, a friend of the McCormack family During the erg John McCormack reverted to the enstom of his childhood, acting as altar boy. The couple have gone to Atlantic City for their honeymoon, and will afterwards live in New York. MILLER-KENNEDY—Van Miller, a theatrical man, and Mrs. Steve Kennedy were married at Dayton, 0., November 17, according to the admission of one of the poincipals, verifying persittent rumors. Mr. Miller ts the son of irrank Miller, manager of the Kinsey company. Mrs. Kennedy will later tour with her husband. MOORE-HILI—Isaae Moore and Jennie Fill, members of Viola Wilson's ‘‘Randana Girls’’ “omoany, were married December 15 at Chicago. after the last performance at the Grand OWEN. THOMPSON—Lillian Owen, one of the foremost puppeteers in America, was married December 23 to Willlam W. Thompson, head of the art department of the Portland (Me.) High Bchool. Miss Owen was formerly associated with Tony Sarg, but lately bas been giving puppet shows of her own. One of her groups gfined considerable fame in the “Greenwich Village Follies’ Iter large family of marionets attended the wedding, NAYMONTERORERTS — Donglas Raymond, concessionaire, and Faith Roberta, nonprofessional, of Greenfield, Ind., were married at Bir mingham, Ala., October 26. Both will be with L. J. Neth Shows next season, RITTLEY-DOUGL as tary Rittley and Gertrude Douglas, of Raleigh, N. C., were married recently. Mr. Rittley is with Jas. Dutton's Indoor Circus ROBINSON-YAZEL—J. F. Robinson season with Doe Barker in the 10-in-l Show Gage and Frances the pact