Variety (Sep 1935)

Wednesday, September 25, 1935 OUTDOORS VARlETr 79 OBITUARIES DE WOLF HOPPER .I>e..-.Wfilt. HcPRer,. .77, jtpr. more. than half a century one of the foremost cbihedlana of the Ameri- can Btage, died in Kansas. City, Sept. 22, shortly following a radio broadcast. He Insisted upon ap- pearing -with-, the Kajtsas City Rhythnl Orchestra against the - ad-. vice of his physician, and was re- moved to te hosplta,! from the. studio. He h^d been in poor health for (5ome time past. ^JJe-had been on the .jpx2srst?!i..il}?_.pj?^§*_.y?*r: _ r He was born In'New Tork City In' 185^ and made his stage debut In 'Our Boys' in New Haven In 1878 and later was-toured In 'A Hundred Wives.' He appeared at the Madi- ison- Sq\iare theatre, N. Y., then un- - der the management of Oustave and .Daniel Frohman, in 'Hazel Klrke,' which rah for nearly three years, and in 'May lossom.' David Belasco's flrst stage success., Belasco' was then stage manager for the Frohmans. But his singing voice, attracted at- tention and he was drafted for such roles as Dick Deadeye in 'Pina- fore,' Kp-Kb in 'Mikado' and in other. Gilbert and Sullivan operetttis. In between he played with the ' McCail opera company In the current operas bouffe, Opposite Mathilde Cotrelley or with Digby and Laura Joyce Bell. Hopper's teaming with thei latter two in 'The Black Hussar' is still pleasantly, re- membered by, the old timers.' With opera bouffe on the wanej the McCall company lost impor- tance and in the late '80's he struck out for. stardom with his first ven- ture 'Castles in the Air' In which he toured until 'Wang' gave him a more w6rthy vehicle. This ran for a long season at the then new Broadway theatre, with Delia Fox almost sharing the honors with him. This was followed by 'Dr. Syntax,' which was scarcely a success, and then 'El Capltaine,' written for him by John Phillip Sousa, then still heading the Ui S. Marine band. Af- ter touring the. country with this he took It to London with Jessie Mackey as his soubrette, and the late Frank Wilstach as his press agent. This ran for more than a year. His own favorite role was Old Bill In 'The Better 'Ole.' Later he toured In 'The Charlatan' and other pieces Including 'Mr. .Pickwick' and/wreht into the Weber and Fields Music Hall stock for a couple- of years. This marked the apex of his career. He was still in demand for Gilbert and Sullivan re- vivals and played in numerous dramatic offerings, but he was nq longer the outstianding attraction he-had been. Recently he has given more of his time to radio, where he made the most advantageous use of a voice which once led his ad- mirers to urge a trial for grand opera. Since 1886 his name has been as- sociated with the baseball poem, 'Casey at the Bat,' which lent itself to his style of delivery. He la re- ported recently to have calculated that he had recited the poem in public more than 10,000 times. It was demanded whatever he ap- peared; He grew thoroughly sick of it but could not escape' the associa- tion, It was first Introduced at a baseball night at Wallack's theatre in New York; He was first married to Helen Gardener and later to Ida Mosher, Edna Wallace, .Nella Bergen, Ella Furry (now in films as Hedda Hop- per), and Lillian Giaser. The later Is now rissldent In Oaidand, Calif. LIN BONNER Lin Bonner, • 51, member of VAniETT staff for several, years and more recently news editor of Daily Varietv in Hollywood, died there Sept. 19 of pneumonia following an bperatlon. Funeral services were held Sept. 21 in Los Angeles. Interment pri- vate. . A native of New Orleans, Bonner knew the smell of printer's ink frorh the age of 13 when he delivered lunches to the mechanical and news crews at the old Picayune. At 16 he was hired as a reporter and from then on he worked oh leading dailies through' the coiinfry in edi- torial and executive capacities. Bonner tui-ned to the picture In- dustry in its swaddling period and served for a time as director of publicity in New York for Vita-, graph. He was associated with other compjinles during his long rtinnectlOn with the Ihdu.stry. He enjoyed.'unusual success as a writer of fiction, being a contributor :to. .I<lJhierty, Ply-ca'a-Jieiectivo • maga- zine and . other publications. He was also on the copy desk of Liberty. Deceased had been with. VAmETT 6,-t various times and was resuming his desk on Daily Variety when stricken. is widow, Nan Olsen Bonner, and three sisters, jresidlhg in New Orl^ndy survive. ^ .Additional details -will be found elsewhere In this issue.; LEW GRAHAM Lew Graham, 73, one of the last of the old time circus announcers, died Sept.. 21 in Middletbwn. He quit the business when circuses started tb replace the announcers with public address systems; For 35 ,years his voice had been able to fill the biggest top the Ringllng out- fit could raise and he retired In disgust at tiie intrusion bf the ma- chine age. He found there was still a demand for voices in ridlo and turned his attention tb that medium. Graham hot only njade the ring announciementa but did considerable work a.t clubs and other gatherings in town's the circus played. He was originally a printer, but left town when a circus came along. He was one of the old timers who .ipridea himself upon his careful dresising. He is survived by his widow. FRANK M. PIERCE Frank M. Pierce, 60, died at De- catur, Ala., last week, a recluse and a wanderer who roamed up and down the Tennessee river In his houseboat. Little was known of him, but let- ters and photographic records in his possession showed that he was once bandmaster in Al G. Fields' Minstrels, director of the Chicago Symphonic Orchestra in 1903, di- rector of the band for the Ringllng Circus foir a number of years, di- rector of .the Chicago Concert and Dance Orchestra, as well as being in vaudeville with his wife, billed as 'Mr. and Mrs. F. Marion Pierce, novelty and musical artists.' An- other old picture In his possession shows his band known as the 'Hi'- lahd Laddies' traveling in private riallway cars. All efforts to locate his relatives were futile and burial was at De- catur. SAM BLOOM Mrs. Sani Bloom, 80, pioneer pic- ture-house operator in Toronto, died at her home in that city Mon- day (16) after an Illness of six weeks. Operated a circuit of 10 Toronto nabes known as B & F Theatres,, now a subsidiary of Famous Playi^rs Canadian and, up until a few weeks ago, was active in their management. Surviving are her husband and backer, and four sons; Sam, general manager of the B & F chain; Leo, manager of the Century, Toronto; Sheppard, in the bond business, Los Angeles; Ira, a New York high school teacher. Interment at Goel Tzedec cemetery. REID MacARTHUR JAYNES Reid" MacArthur, 41, known to vaudeville as a musical leader, died at Columbus hospital,- Wilkinsburg, Pa., Aug. 30 after a three-month illiicss. Cause of death attributed to complications that ensued after he broke his hip. He was for ten years, until his demise, leader at the DaviS; theiatre, Pittsburgh, Pa. When starting in the profession he was known as the youngest leader in the. field. His wife, five children a brother survive. PHILIP LEVY Philip Levy, 63, died In a hospital in Allent.bwn, Pa., after an opera- tion. He wa:s manager of the Lyric theatre there for 11 years, from 1921 to 1927, and from 1930 to his death. In the interim he had been ma^nager of a dozen theatres con-.- trolled by the late Nathan Appell, of the old firm of Appell & Nealy, of York, Harrlsburg and Lebanon. Intctment In Bay side, .L. I. For many years Iicvy toured the country with Appell, In stock com- panies. WALTER N. CAMPBELL Walter N. Campbell, 33, produc- tion manager for KOA, Denver, died In a Denver hospltajf J^fept. 19 following an operation, ' Ife had been on leave of absence due to 111 health for several weeks. Born in Shelbyville, Tenn.^ graduated from Lipscomb college in Nash- ville, where he entered radio. Man- aged WLAC, Nashville, two years; opened WAPI, Birmingham, man- aged It lor two years, moved to ,Denver..ftnji. Joined. KOA In 1931. Funeral services were held at Denver and NasbvUIe. with burial NA9bvUle.. He. Is survived hy his wife, Mrs. Mary Campbell, and two daughters, Betsy Ann and Dorothy Lee, and two sisters. David Liuidau, , veteran char- acter actor of the stage and screen, died Sept 20 in Hollywood after a Ungerlnff-UlBesat-—■ i- Deceased turned to Alms four years after he had gone to the Coast to appear In 'Street Scene.' He remained In pictures up to a year ago, when illness forced him to retire. He had been on the stage more than 30 years. His -widow survives^ WINN SHAW Winn Shaw, i6, who has beien in Vaudeville for the past 30 years, died In Crown Heights hospital, Brooklyn, Sept 18, of ulcers of the stomach. He Is survived by his widow and their daughter, his mother and two; sisters. He was teamed with Joe .Morris (now Morris and £vans) In 'The Mosquito Trust,' one of the best known ot standard coniedy acts of its day. AMY 8HERWI Amy Sherwln, 81, once prominent slnjger,. died In a London nursing home Sept 20. She wais pennileBS. Born in Tasmania, She made her debut In Melbourne, coming to America in 1880. Flye years later she made her London debut with con- siderable success. She refused to admit the ending of her career, spending her savings in an en- deavor to keep up her former estate. ANDY WILLIAMS Andy Williams, 46, for moi-e than 25 years In vaude," died Sept. 13 in Los Angieles of third degree burns. Act, known as Dunham and Wil- liams, toured vaude circuits this country and abroad, later switched to Williams aiid Clark, blackfalce comedy. Widow, Agatha Williams, sur- vives. Services In L, A., Sept. 18; burial In Washington, D. C. WALTER BENTLEY Walter Bientley, 60, one of the old- est vaudeville agents and man- aging director of a chain of picture houses, died in London, Sept 11, from sudden heart attack. During the past . 10 years he has concen- trated on building picture houses,, also conducting a policy of pic- tures and variety. Survived by widow, son and two daughters. ROBERT CAPRON^ Robert Ca,pron, an American actor appearing in the Rolls revues, Melbourne, Australia, was drowned Sept. 23 while attempting to rescue a dog. James w. Fleming James W. Fleming, 68 former Ohio State fair manager died Sept. 13 at iMagnetic Springs, O. Funeral ' services and burial in Columbus. HARRY BURTON Harry Burton, 28, film laboratory technician, died ; by his, own hand (poison). Sept 19 in Hollywood. Mrs. Abe Frahkle, 69, wife of tlie president and manager of Riverview park and Des Moines theaters, died in Des Mollies Sept 17, .following a long illness. Mrs. Frankle was a.sso- ciated. with her husband in the amusement park enterprise at one time. Father of Fred Weber, in charge of operations of the Mutual Broad- casting System, in New York Sept. 20. Burial will be in Detroit. Mother, of Jules and William Stein of the Music Corporiatlon of America, died in Chicago oh Sept. 17. Mother of Henry Shapiro, midwe.st. vaude agent, .died in Chicago on Sept 18. Donald Burke, 33, fjtudlo property man, died Sept. 17 In Loa Anf^clr.'.s. About Time Westervllle, O., Sept. 24. This village shortly will hold a fair for the first time in 38 years. The fair board "borrowed" , a • four-acre tract, and the citizen- ry Is turning out to make it ready for the event. Merchants are whacking away with scythes, sickles and axes tb clear the land. The last fair was in 1897. RINGLING HITS SNAG Can't Eveo. Adyflrt.i§«;.!ta.CpJurnbu^^^ Ga.^ Showing Dates Montgomery, Sept. 24. . Information given here today states Ringllng Biros.-Barnum aind Bailey circus—scheduled to play In Columbus, Ga., Oct. 16—will be forced, to show Qutside ofif^thei city limits. Advance men here for the circus outfit say the! (jeorgla city has . an ordinance which prohibits pi^rcus or carnival appearing in the city ,,a week before or a Week after the; Miiscogee County Fair Is scheduled ;tQ be staged.. The circus will also be jarevented from posting in the city limits,, and cannot insert news- paper ads a week before the circus is slated tb play. Fraiik Mahery, advance man for Cole Bros., said today this show would appear in Columbus Sept. 25, and. that he and his crew had not had any trbuble with their posting and newspaper work. Muscogee County Fair is slated to open Oct. 7—with Rubin and Ciierry listed for the midway. News From the Dailies (Cpntinued from page 78) earned $500 a week as a song writer. Lucille Stedman, actress, declar- ing she was broke after paying' $30 fine last week for being intoxicated, asked for a public defender to plead her case on hit-and-run charges. Mother of" Helen Gahagan brought to Los Angeles hospital from Utah, whei-e. her car was wrecked and she suffered sei'ious injury while driving to N. Y. after visit here v/lth .her daughter. L. A. court ruled against.Dan Templin, who sued Warners for title to the story, 'Water,, Giver bf Life.' Mrs. Mildred Egglestoh in Renb to obtain divorce from George Eggles- toh, editor of Life. L., A. jury awarded Thomas Ince, Jr., $3,000 damages for injuries re- ceived when his car was struck by motor coach. Josephine Mendes, actress, grant-' ed divorce in L. A. Purpose of John, Barrymore's iHirrled trip tb Coast said to be for reconciliation with estranged wife, Dolores Costello, following split with protege, Elaine Barrle. San Diego authorities hold Velma Zachary, former film actress, for shooting her father. She will plead delense of her mother. Beth Milton, former actress, an- nounced she would institute divorce proceedings against Charles Belden, Jr., film wrltvi'. Engagemeni of Jacqueline' Weils, film player, to Waltei' Brooks, gl'andsbn of 'E. 'T. Stotesbury, an- nounced in Hollywood. Jack Dempsey to dispose of his Coas.t real estate holdings and per- manently make his -home !n the east. Amons. the properties listed are the JJarbara hotel and an Interr est in the Playa Ensenada in Mex- ico. Charles Chaplin upheld by Dis- trict Court of Appeals in his admin- istration of the $200,000 trust fund he created for his two .sons. Ruling set aside decision of L.A. Superinr Court, which siistained Llta Grey Chaplin's right to direct invest- ments from thie fund. Foreign Club., of TIa Juaha re- opened with working staff of 200. Presidential edict against gambling will be respected, operators an- nounced; Suit for $9,750 fijod in L.A. by Edgar Seymour against John Hlx, cartoonist, claiming that amount due for Introducing artl.st to pros- pective clients. Claims $10,000 due liim, but only $260 paid. L.A. court ordered Sam Co.^low to pay hl.s ex-^ylfe $2,011 Ih back alimony.; Scores of bookies .set up bu.slness following fuMng legalising 'wire belting.' HABE STARKE CLAWED SECOND TIME; SERIOUS El Centre, Cal., Sept 24. Attacked by the same tiger that set upon her in Bangor, Me., eight years agb, Mabel Starke, clfcus aii^ imal worker, was in a serious coh^ dltion today following an arm in« fection when the cat clawed her last Saturday (21) in Phoenix, Ariz, She was unable to leave her compartment 'wheiti Barnes Circus arrivied here, being removed to the Los Angeles hospital. The Maine Incident hospital her for seven months. Cedar Rapids, la., Sept. John P. Mullen, president of the Iowa State Fair, thinks Representa- tive Gus Alsech, of LeMars, may have i>eeh looking through double- thick lenses when he declared that a midway dancer at the fair this year appeared in the latest nudist cos- tume. He insists She wasn't entirely de- void of clpthing, . flimsy as It may have been. Next year, Muilen said, the inspection crew would be more rigorous. Anyway, records this year. CIRCUS ROUTES " Week of Sept, 23 Cole Bros. «^nluinliuH; 26, L'V, VjilfloCa. 27, Carneys Take It Again Akroii, iSept 24. City council this week passed an ordinance fixing higher fees and taking carnivals out of ttie special low fee section oif their own and putting them into the high-fee cir- cus division. Formerly carnivals could be li- censed at $1^ for the first day and; $5 for each succeeding day. Now they must pay a sliding rate of $100 to $300 for the first day, with re- duced fees on each additional day. Theatres are not affected by thev new ordinance. Where's the Profit? Iowa Falls, la., Sept. 24. It will be a long remember for the Hagenback - Wallace - aggregation when they recall this town for the carcass of a female elephant, injured internally, went to a rendering works and tiie skull and other, museum pieces to a local museum; The circus drew plenty, but the animal whlcli died during- a per- formance sets back the outfit some $10,000. Shrine Rodeo I*- Indianapolis, Sept. 24, Colbnel W. T. Johns.Qp. is bring- ing his rodeo to town Thursday (24) for four night ^nd two matinee per- formances at the Indiana State Fair Grounds. Seats are being sold by, Murat Temple, Shrine, at one buck each. Same show was here last year and took away about $8,000. Ringling Record Kansas City, Sept. 24, Record crowd of 22,670 attended the night performance of the. Ring- ling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey show here; In addition to a city record Fr.ink Eradeh, publicity di- rector for the circus, sild he thought it a record tor a single performance for the show. Nearly rained out for the matinee the record night attendance gave, the outfit a nice day's business. Winter Cocanut Detrott, Sept. 24. Eastwood Park closed one of its most successful seasons Sunday (22). Cocoahut Pal * dance spot a^ the Park, has decided to stay open- all winter because of extra good, business. 'Girl.4 of 1936' is helng featured this week, with Milt Ber- nle brk. Balto. Angle Baltimore, Sept. 24, For the first time In hlatoi-y a theatre In Baltimore which caters to the white population here is also making an effort to entice colored patronage. Mlni-k.v;.s Palace, burlesque houae wMch -fi.s reopened last week after sunimc; .sliimliPr, Is the ploneeK- Thoatrf! ha.s taken ad space In local >Jepro newspaper.