Variety (Mar 1936)

Wednesday, March 4, 1936 OUTDOORS VARIETY 79 OBITUARIES FRANK H. KELLS Frank H, Kells, 70, died <Feb. 25, in Memorial hospital^ Albany, fol* lowing the amputation of one' leg. Kells had been a theatre manager more than a' half century. His first house was the Hudson (N. Y.) Opera house where he re- mained for 18 years during the hey- day of road shows. He moved to North Adams, Mass., where for 35 years he managed the. Empire and Richmond theatres. Four years ago he. went to,. Scotia, N. Y., and. oper- ated, the, Rltz, Later Kell$ man- aged the Capitol, Regent and Fol- . lies'In Albany. after a four days' illness of .pneu-* monla at Bucyrus, O.. He had been fulfilling his first managerial assignment at Schlne's new theater, in Bucyrus, which opened recently. Burial was in Zanesville, Here and There (Continued from page 56) his lot with Hollywood transcrip- tion house. Owen Crump and Cliff Howell split up the. duties. Arthur Hayes, of Radio Sales, put in three days last week at WKRC, Cincinnati. ERNESTO GARGANO rnesto Gar , 53. died Feb. 28 In New Orleans following, a month's illness at Baptist hospital.. He was born in;'Naples, Italy, and "came tb< America as a boy. At One time he conducted the' orchestra at the old j French- Opera- house, before it burned. In New Orleans ne • pro- moted the New. Orleans Grand Opera company and . directed- sev- eral of Its outstanding productions. He leaves three sons and two sis- ters. His body was sent to Philadelphia for interment. WILLIAM J. GANE William J. Garie', 5.7, died in Phila- delphia, Feb. 16, after, a brief ill- ness. . He vjas manager of the Manhat- tan theatre (the old Standard) in New York and credited with being the first manager to play vaudeville with pictures. In 1916 he opened a theatre In Paris to show Ameri- can pictures but was halted in this enterprise by the outbreak of the war. • Recently he had been employed in the Pennsylvania state ta.x bu- reau, handling the new amusement tax. COUNTESS MARIA ClBOTTI Counters Maria Virginia Milesl .Paris Cibotti, 86, once noted lyric soprano,, died Monday (24) of last . week at her Philadelphia home, , where she had lived for more than ' 60 years. She had been in 111 health jor several years, but was well known on both Opera and concert •. stages many years ago. The Countess was the daughter of 'Count Lulgi Leppoldo Paris, who was exiled from Italy for his sup- port of Garibaldi in the Italian free- dom movement. ANTONIO SCOTTI Antonio Scottl, 71, operatic bari- tone, died In Naples Feb. 27. He retired about four years ago. Al- though born in Naples, he had never "sung in that city, though his ap- pearances included practically every other amusement center. He was for a long time one of the leading lights of Metropolitan opera. Intended for the priesthood, he made his operatic debut in 1889 in Malta, and made steady progress until , he was recognized as in . the first flight of International stars. JOSEPH FINSTON Joseph Finston, 3G, short-subject film producer, died March 1 in Mo- norovia, Calif.,- sanitarium after three months' illness. Deceased resigned three years ago as music contractor at Paramount studio to make group shorts in the East called Featurettes. . Funeral services and burial in Los Angeles March 3. He Is survived by a brother, Nat, Paramount music director, and a sister, Mrs. Nat Shil- kret. MME. LIZETTE Mrs. Elizabeth Snowden Mcln- tyre, 89, professionally known to the circus as Mine. Llzette, aerialist and equestrienn.-, died in Columbus, Ohio, February 29. One of the dancers in the original production of 'The. Black Crook,'.she later traveled with the W. W. Cole and the Forepaugh shows. She mar- ried Thomas W. Mclntyre, tumbler and clown, retiring when he died, about 15 years ago. CALDWELL H. BROWN, JR. Caldwell -H. Brown, Jr., only son Caldwell H. Brown, Zanesville, theater owner, died recehty . DAWSON Sam M, Dawson, 79, former the- atrical executive',- and recently a guest of the Percy G. Williams home, died at Isiip, L. I,, March 2. He had long been with the Bar- hum & Bailey Show and was with Eugene Torijplcins for a tinie. ( Hje had been publicity man for thje Bijou theatre, Pittsburgh, and man- ager of the Olympic, Cincinnati. Interment in. Lynchburg, Va. KHJ (Los Angeles) 'Calling All Cars' cast on tour through southern California and Arizona. IS D. CROWL Morris D. Crowl, 65, former presi- dent of the Stark County Agricyl;- tural Society, almost, a quarter of k_ century .active, as a director and Other< capacities In tht, promotion of the 'annual Stark -county- fair, died at his home In Canton, O., > 25, following a heart attack. •Surviving him are his widow and two sons. HARRY KNOWLES Harry Knowles, 68, who had/been with the Jenkins Music Co. for al- most 30 years, died in Kansas City," Feb. 29. An assistant to E. Grant Ege, general manager of the Jenkins firm, Knowles largely"' concerned himself with the buying of music for the company's jobbing division. COLETTE AND.RI Colette Andris (Pauline Toutey, privately) the first nude dancer to use the balloon which later gen- erally superseded the fan, died Feb. 17 in Paris, after an illness of sev- eral months. A university graduate, she was an author as well as a dancer, and pub- lished three hovels. E. G. KENDREW E. G. Kendrew, one of the oldest American colony members in Paris, died. Saturday (29) at the American hospital, Neullly, outside of Paris. He was a veteran journalist and at- tached to the. British Embassy in the French capital. Kendrew was for many years Variety correspondent in Paris. IKE KELLY M. j. Kelly, known as 'Big Mike' among New York stage hands, died of tuberculosis about two weeks ago. He was a master carpenter and as such, was connected with George White for 12 years, being in charge back stage for the producer's vari- ous 'Scandals' and other musicals. HARRY ENGLISH Harry English, 54, former widely known theatrical executive, Identi- fied for more than 20 years with varied theatrical enterprises, died Feb. 22 at his home in Newark, O., following a lingering illness. RUTH CLARKE Ruth Clarke; for many years in vaudeville and on the Columbia wheel, died in New York, February 25, of cancer. She is survived'by her husband. Charles, and a son and a daughter. GEORGE LASK George Lask, 71, stage manager of the Florodora sextet, died March 1, in San Francisco. He managed the Tivoll, Frisco, and also sponsored popular-priced operas. SPARKS BERRY Sparks Berry, 69, for many, years manager of the Pilgrimage Play, Hollywood outdoor spectacle; died in Los Angeles, Feb. 28. His widow survives. Mother, 80, of Fred Slegel, owner of Palomar theatre, Oceansid.e, Cul., died there Feb. 27. Credit or Else Bridgeport, Mar. 3. Company operating amusements at city-owned Pleasure Beach park has asked for extension of credit on $11,000 rent and other bills, ,. ".' Decision to operate park thifc#ea- fion said to be .dependent oh fifty's attitude toward extension. Geor Fischer, KFWB (Holly- wood) announcer, .plays himself in Warner's 'Voice of Life.' His first pic. break. Kenny Baker optioned for another six months by.. Jack Benny's Jellb sponsors. CHI WANTS AN AGENT Asks for Local Rep. of Dallas Cen- tennial Chicago, March 3, Plenty of yelps heard around town over the lack of a local office for the Texas Centennial Exposi-. tion to be held in Dallas this sum;- mer. Agencies, advertisers, showmen and. other would-be participants in the Texas doings this sum- mer are beginning to pass, up arty further .consideration of the Fair due to the inability to secure any. information locally* Harold Bock- now aided and abetted in his Hollywood NBC pub- licity chores by Frances Scully, late of 20th-Fox studios. 'Charles W. Phelan has been apr pointed the- publicity committee Cor coming advertising convention in Boston this June under auspices of Boston Advertising Club. Gale Pafle, NBC warbler in Chlr cago, taking respite on Coast, and looking toward Hollywood studios. Chet Mittendorf, KFWB (Holly- wood) commercial manager, stalked into office of auto agency to sell a contract and came off at receiv- ing end of a sale—with a new car. Igor Gorin, Metro contract op- eratic singer, on .air with...Grace Moore's (Vick's) Open House for third time! He sings each week on Campbell Hollywood Hotel program. Although under contract to M'-G-M for several months, he now is being set for first film. Don Shumate, previously on the 'Magic Kitchen' at KMOX, St. Louis, now a member of the sales staff of KMA, Shenandoah (la.). 'Hawtry of the Royal Mounted' being presented by WGY, Schenec- tady. Matinee Players. Frank Oli- ver is author and also doing char- acter. Robert Riesling has title part, with Allen Warburton (Warren Munson), Alex Mantha, Barbara McWade, Naomi Williams and Mathilda Sentner in support. Marc Williams, cowboy chanter, is now doing two- 7:30 a', ra. stints and a Friday evening broadcast over WGY, Schenectady, in addition to four 10:05 blocks. Ep Hoyt, managing editor of the Portland Oregonian, oh the air .each Sunday-afternoon. When his present contract with Ford for the Sunday afternoon pro- grams, .'originating at WJR and fed to CBS, expires in May, Man- zanafes' orchestra will move on to Dallas for a few weeks at the TexaB Centennial, then to San Diego fair and finally to Hollywood, Converting Lake Boats Into Show Boat-Hotels Buffalo, March 3. A number of Great Lakes pass- enger boats will be hauled to .con- venient harbors this summer, and transformed into floating hotels with show boat feature's;, 'Tionesta^ • of the Gi-eat Lakes Transit fleet Is scheduled by pro-, .meters to be anchored in West Niagara River off Grand, Island. Other lakes boats are being re- modeled for similar purpose, to .be- come hostelries at Long Beach, Cal- ifornia, arid Marblehead, Mass. Local project, under sponsorship of Ship Hotels, Inc., calls- for Mem- orial Day opening with accommo- dations for over 700 guests. ' Bull Biz Big Mexico City* March 3. After steadily losing public favor to films for many years, bull fighting here: has come baok with a, re- sounding box office bang. Management, of the hlggest local ring figured that mediocre' mat- adors had much to do in keeping the mob away.- Heavy purse bait was tossed out arfd has .brought sur- prisingly good results. Bills Next Week (Continued from page 65) Rombna Ted Pike Harriet Lee Gene Zem'say' Ore- . 20tli Century Tavern Wlnstead 3 , Casper & Roth Porothy Smith Dave Fox ' • Barney Zeeman Ore Harry Adar Ore Walton Boor Mickey Alpert Kathryn Rnnd Yvette Bugel Marjorle Barrett Humbert. 3 Consuelo Flpwerton Myrna Smith Farum Bros 2 Mystics Frederico & Rankin Milton Kellem «'n, Weber'H Hofbrau (Camden) Fred Gruber.' Flsa Hart Gregory Qulnn mil Btlger Ore Jack Justin Ore Yorktown Tavern Jack Adcock "Ore- LOS ANGELES Lauri* York Erskine, ex of the Detroit News» writing a 'Renfrew of the Mounted' series for WJR, De- troit Dick Richarde, pres. of WJR, re- ported to be stepping out as head of Detroit Lions pro eleven, which lie owns, in favor of K. T. Keller, auto exec. CKLW, Windsor-Detroit, running a 60-second trailer at Fox theatre weekly in a contra-deal. Featuring dance bands, etc., of station. Russ Hall, saxophonist and cellist with WWJ ork, seriously ill In a Detroit hospital. Reid Kilpatrick, announcer for WHIO, Dayton, back in Detroit. Eugenia Krokoa, harpist of De- troit Symph; added to JImmie Hlg- gins' dance ork at WWJ, the first dance harpist in town. June, Joan and Jerry, girls trio formerly on NBC, now singing at the Powatan nite club, Detroit. Terry O'Toole, master-of-cerc- monies of Yankee web's Irish Echoes program, has made the front page of his home town newspaper, in Ballymena, County Antrim, Ireland. Winifred Lee Wiiliamt, femme an- nouncer on the WJIM, Lansing, Arbaugh Musical Clock stanza, back from Neyir York where she got an eyeful of new women's styles.' Beverly WWshlre Viola Von Larry Lee Ore 111 more Bowl 3 Radio Rogues Fred Scott Marie Hollis Bob Cutter Trudy Wood Foresome Dolores & Andre Jlmnjy Grler <>r«* Fritz & J Hubert Cafe Clement Billy Gray Martha Raye Audrey Rochlln 3 Roberts. Bros Ray Bradford Ore Archie Robbing Jerry Bergln Cafe -de Farce ' Kathlyn Bessette Al Geeco Ethel & Lewis Carolyn Dyne Patsy I>a Marr Ted Dawson Ore Cafe La Maze Park Ave Boys Stan Clair Oro Clover Club Anlwa Boys Club fertile Eleanor Thatcher Sol Hop! Hawaiian 4 King Sis Nick Stuart Ore Cocoanot Unite Veloz & Yolanfla Hoffman R & Gerad Shep Fields Eddie' LeBaron Famous Door Louis Prima Oro Al Mack Marcell Inn. Warner Sis Donald Cook Ore Omar's Dome Jimmy Blttlck Ore June Marlowe Haftone Sis Red-Smith Bernlce Lyriri G & Nancy Lyon Pttlnmur Bob Eberle Kay Weber Dorsey 3 Hudsr>n-Met7.«cer Gls Bobble Harrison 3 Kitselanos Mary Jane Andes . Jimmy Dorsey Ore' Paris Inn Slnglrir Waiteri Paul McLaln Hugo Marchettl Pe»«» Cohtrelll oro Lollta & Ardo Tiiora Mcitthalson Sylvia & Bec,lna Jack Black) n Henry Mohnet Plrrone'* George Hall Dolores nay John Undhort Ore Caroline Mason Les Lyman Mherry't« Ben Carter Gyi'sy Glen Mary Lane Paul Kaln Ore Derina Carter Allan 2 Three Mttle Pigs Leslie Shiockner Maxlne Oden ' hnu Slnjter Ore Paul Roberts Smaroff Girls Sunnlo Evans Murlal Parker Topsy'e Bob Leahy Leona Klce George Redman Or< Marjorle Sparks Clco Brown Marjorle & L,. Mc Geo. Redman Ore Ginger Welden ' Independent Burlesque Week of March 8 'They're Off—Gayeiy, Baltimore. •N'lfe'ht Birds'—Troc. Philadelphia. "GlnKcr Snai»K'—Republic, N. Y. C. .'Vanity Fair'—Werba's. rooklyn. •Ann Corio and Her GlrlH In Ulue — Hudson. I'nlon City, N. 'J. 'Smart Set'.—Variety. PiltHburffh. 'XoveltW-s of 1 »3G' — Howard, Bo 'IIlRh Jinks' — Empire, Ncwnrk. •Jdlly Girls'— Gayoty, Washln»;ton.. 'FlylnK High'—Lyric Allentown. Pa.. Mon. and TueM.: New Kftm. Mahanoy City, Pa.. Wed.; Ma.ie.«ilc. AVIlll(>m.<«r">i - ii Pa., ThurH.; Orpheuin, Iloarlinx. I'n., J'rl, and Sat. Open Up Or We Shut Down, S.D. Expo Tops Plea San Diego, March. j3. City council. has turned deaf. to request, of 51 of 55 directbrs of CalifoVnia Pacific International Ex- position that fair be given a break on a fer/ games of chance, Unless city dads decide to liberalize town's gaming laws and permit few. dice and \Vheel.. games for the yokels, it'll be curtains. ' Fair> on its reopening, has been a 100%; bust so far, and there's every indication of a foldup before sum- mer unless drastic blue Jaws are relaxed. Council takes attitude that If granting fair the gambling;, privilege it-will have to. throw the town wide open as matter" of fairness. 'Hannibal' as Outdoor Summer Spec in K Y. Hollywood, March. 3. . Fred Goldsmith has acquired 'The Life of Hannibal,' by W. P. Lipi- comb, and will produce it as a sum- mer outdoor spectacle in New York. Later, producer plans to bring it here to Hollywood Bowl. Wants Charles Blckfbrd for title role. Vancouver's Big Time Vancouver, B. C., March 3. Most ambitious 'long term' cele- bration in western American his- tory since the San Francisco Ex- position—and modern times allow much greater scope In attractions today-^Vancouv^r's Golden Jubilee plan';: are now neaping maturity. Starting May 24, Queen Victoria's birthday, now Empire Day, the festivities will npt wind up until Labor Day and the close of the an- nual Canada Pacific Exhibition. Between those dates tourists, are. expected to flock here and with support promised by federal and provincial authorities, ..western cities and towns, Pacific coast cities, China, Japan, Hawaii, transporta- tion interests and national indus- tries, success of the Jubilee seems assure I. Unofficially the Jubilee celebration doesn't get. under; way until July 1 (Dominion Pa*), but the flags will he; out; on the May -24 date,' Busy in Dixie * . . Charlotte, ]Jf. C., March .3. American Legion" Century of Progress Exposition is in progress at Winston-Salem, and a Shtlne Circus will open at Charleston this week. Using a warehouse at Winston- Salem, exposition is selecting a Miss Winston-Salem, prompting a mar- riage in a cage of lions, staging a baby show, and otherwise missing no bets. McCoy Rumbaing Detroit, March 3. As a goodwill gesture by Ford Motors to native tangorand-rumba countries, Jose Manzanares' orches- tra will go to Hollywood +he mid- dle of this summer to make a se*- ries of 'shorts at Metro. Because practically all of the tango and rumba numbers as now played in the U. S. are 'offensive' to the laftdfl of their origin, Manzanares will play the melodies In their 'real' or native manner in the series. - Shorts will then he shipped by Ford for exhibition in Latin and South America. Virginia Pilot Lynchburg,' March 3. T. Gilbert Wood, of Roanoke, was elected president of the Virginia state fair association at the annual meeting in Richmond. 'Henry S.- Hotchklss was chosen vice-pres- ident and treasurer; Charles A. •Sorhma, secretary and general man- ager, and Clarence T. Rlddick,. as- sistant general manager. Thirty-first annual Sept. 28-Oct. 3.