Variety (Apr 1939)

54 VARIETY Wednesday, April 5, 1939 SAM PECHNEB Last rites for Sam Pechner, 56, San Francisco theatre man, who died of a heart attack on a train March 30 while returning from a conference with Los Angeles film executives, were held In San Fran- cisco, Sunday (4). . Pechner was manager of the War- fleld theatre, Frisco, for the past three years. He had been with Fox- West Coast and Its predecessor. West Coast Theatres, for nearly 20 years, and had also held executive posts in several .Paramount-Publlx theatres before joining Fox-West Coast Widow; a son,' Warren, manager of a Palo Alto theatre; and a daugh- ter, Boma, 20, who eloped last, sum- mer with Harry Sinclair, Jr., son of the oil magnate, survive. BOBACE WBIGBT Horace Wright, 62, once a leading tenor for Milton Abom's Gilbert and Sullivan opera company, and who for 20 years trouped with his wife In an UrHEMOBUlf HERMAN WHTTMAIN APBIL 4, less Always remembered by hit hoit of frienda In Philadtlphia years played in t))e second violin secUon of the New York Philhar- monic Symphony, died at the home of bis daughter In Brooklyn March 31. Although retiring In 1930. he still carried on mUch of his former duties at home. A son also survives. JOSEPH DONATELLA Joseph Donatella, 26, dancer and accordionist, ■ who appeared in George White's 'Scandals' 111 1932 and who had also toured the major circuits with his parents, Petro and Rosa Donatella, In their act, 'Carni- val of Venice,' died March 31 at his home in Englewood, N. J. Surviving are his widow, three sisters and parents. ABTHUR SNEAD Arthur Snead, 72, onie of Pitts- burgh's best-known property men, died at his home in that city last week after a long Illness. Snead was first associated with the old Kenyon theatre on the northslde and later worked at the Pitt, Alvln I and Nixon during the legit hey-days of all' three. He retired several years ago. act tagged The Somewhat DlSerent Singers,' died March 27 at hia home In Livingston, N. J. An auto salesman for the last 10 years, he was an Englishman by birth and came to America when a small boy. At 18 he made his stage debut and In 1909, while appearing in light opera with the Abom troupe, he married Renee Dietrich, the com- pany's prima. He and hia wife were among the first performers to enter- lain &e A. E. F. In recent years he had sung at Intervals for radio. Surviving, besides his widow, Is a alster. LESTEB HCTCHEON Lester Hutcheon, 40, connected with the Shea theatrical enterprises for the last 10 years, died at the Mercy hospital, Pittsburgh, Simday afternoon (2) of. a blood stream In- fection after a lingering Illness. At the time of his death,' Hutcheon was manager of the Shea houses In Dover, O, and N^ Philadelphia, O. Hutcheon had previously been treasurer of' Shea's Fulton, Pitts- burgh, and In 1934 was made man- ager of the 'Orpheum In nearby Mc- Kees 9ooks, Pa. Ttoia there he was transferred to the Ohio towns as twin-city manager. Funeral services were - held In Pittsburgh yesterday (Tuesday) and burial was In Amster-- ,dBm,N.Y. Widow purvlves. JSDWABD EVEBBTT ROSE ward Everett Rose^' 76, who dramatized many prominent novels of the past .quarter century, died in Community hospital, Fremont, Wis., April 2. No relation to Edward E. Rose, the English playwright He was a mem- ber of the Lambs. Among his adap- ' tations were 'J'anlce Meredith,' "Pen^ rod,' 'Cappy Ricks,' The Rosary' and 'David Harum.' He leaves his widow, Dorothy Startto,n, an actress. ■ CHARLES SPOEBLEIN Charles Spoerleln, 75, dean of Cin- cinnati sta.i^ehands. died March 28 in Betbesda hospital, Clncy, after a len^y illness. He came to this country from Germany when he was 13, joined the John Robinson Circus and later settled in Clncy for loiig service as property man at the Pike, Robinson's and Grand Opera houses. In recent years he worked the summer runs of onera at the Cincin- nati Zoological Gardens. Survived by widow, two sons and five daugh- ters. DAVID HOWELL David Howell, 66, former film ex- porter, died March 29 in Los An- geles. In early silent days he ac- quired foreign sales rights to the output of studios. He imported the German film, "Passion,' to the XT. S^ which later resulted in Paramount signing Pola Negri, star of the film. He abandoned picture business for ranching several years ego. . Widow, two daughters and a son survive. LEW PEABL Lew Pearl, 64, old-time singing comedian, was found dead In bed March 27 in a Detroit hoteL Burial was In Chicago, March 29. For the past nine years with the 'Old Timers,' current at Club Com' modore, Detroit, Pearl had also toured for years with an act kno'wn as Pearl Bros, and Bums. CHABLES F. HIGGINS Charles F. Hlgglns, 56, for years an advance agent for Al G. Fields lAlnstrels, died March 26 In a Co^ lumbus (O.) hospital after a brief illness. He also had been advertis- ing manager for the old High street theatre, Columbus, and a theatre billposter there for years. Widow and sister survive. HABBT ENGLISH Harry English, 76,. vaudeville and legit player, died Monday (3) in an Englewood, N. J., hoqpital. After leaving vaude ha played with Ethel Barrymore'8 company at In Fond'Memory of My Balov^ Brother IRVING EDWABDS Vlw DM April 4, U3S ELMER GROSSO HENBT BOEWIG Henry Boewlg, 80, librarian, arr ranger, and who for more than 43 . 1 the Empire theatre, New 'York Sev' eral years ago he was named West Coast office manager for the NVA. Widow survives. CABL F. KAVFMANN Carl F. Kaufmann, S6, composer, opera singer and 'cellist, died at his home In Boston, April 3. — He toured the United States late In the 19th century and for several- years sang with the Metropolitan Opera. DOBOTHT KINGDON Dorothy Klngdon (Roche), 45, early film player and lately on Fed- eral Theatre rolls, died March 31 In Los Angeles. She appeared in many stage plays before going to the Coast CL'TDE HILLAB Clyde Millar, 75, oldtime vaude- villian, died in Chicago, March 29, He was of IMlUar Bros. team. Brother survives. Burial In Chi cago. ZOE MAITHEWS Zoe Matthews, 68, former vauder, died In Chicago March 31. Burial in Chi. GEOBGE JOHNSON George Johnson, 35, died In Los Angeles April 3. He was connected with film pro duction. For some years he had been in charge of the drapery de- partment at Republic. Father of Laurence Olivier, The Rev. Gerard Kerr Olivier, 69, died in West Worthing, England, April 1, Son Is currently touring with KathS' rine Cornell in her new play, 'No Time for Comedy.' Mother, 84, of A. K. (Rosey) Rows well, poet-phUosopher on KDKA, Pittsburgh, and also baseball com- mentator on that station and WWSW, died at her home In Pittsburgh, Mon- day (3) of pneumonia. Jack Snyder, about 60, doorman for the Paramount theatee. New York, for years, died March SO In New York. H. N. Tatea, 12 years In the HKO studio cutting department, died Apru 1 in Hollywood. ARMSTRONG MAKES NIGHT FALL ON DAY By JACK PULASKI It took 12 rounds for Hank Arm- strong, slugging colored light and welterweight champion, to batter down Davey Day, Chicago conten- der for the latter tlUe, at Madison Square Garden Friday (31). The Coast whizz was a one to five selec- tion to cop, but there were times when the layers of such odds, if any, must have been uneasy. Day put up a courageous batUe and dropped more from exhaustion than from a body blow that terminated the melee. After the match, It was stated that the win may be costly for the double champ. His hands were bunged up, but it was later said there will be no postponement of a London ap- pearance for which he has a chimk of coin guaranteed. X-rays showfed a bone chip on one finger on the left hand, and a digit on his right mlt was puffed up. In light of the Injuries It was sur- prising that the little guy could use those maulers the way he did in the concluding session. Armstrong seem- ed determined to end It just then, for a cut over his left lamp, which' required two stitches to close, had been leaking steadily since the eighth round. The referee kept peer- ing at it between roimds and It's figured he warned that the fight could be stopped because of the cut. In which. event Armstrong's title would have i)assed. There had been stories around that Armstrong would loan' the title to Davey and re-win It after returning from Blighty. The way the dopesters had It was not com- plimentary to British ring officials. It was pointed out that over there an accidental low blow could be the signal for the referee to 6top the fight and declare the other fellow the winner. Armstrong and his manager said that was a lot of hooey, and the lat ter said that Davey would lose the sight of day about the seventh round. About that time the Chicago lad was doing pretty well for him- self. He started out scrapping a la tile' champ's - style, staying in close and getting rocked about, yet still registering 'a goodly share of fte punches. The pace was much too fast for the contender, however, and his han- dlers ordered him -ta stay away and fight at longer range. Davey landed uppercuts and short rights that dam- aged the little colored'champ's-map. The milling became exciting and Day impressed as a thoroughbred mittman. His comer became Jubi- lant and had visions of their boy winning.. But it was not In the cards. It is true that Day mauled Henry almost as much as Lou Ambers, who delivered enough uppercuts to slit the inside of the chaitip's lips and placed him on the retired list for several months. Day hit the wildcat more than did Bamey Ross, hid stablemate, but the latter did stay the limit, either because Armstrong was too tired to finish him, or did not care to drop the game Barney. Fights will switch to the Hippo- drome this week, as the Garden will be tenanted for the month with the Ringllhg, Bamum & Bailey circus. There will be other cards in May .and during the summer fight shows at $3 top, Including tax, will be staged for the World's Fair crowds. The arena wlU also again offer girls' Softball games. Hip's card Thurs- day (6) will be topped by Walter (Popeye) Woods and Paul Mahoney, new middleweight from Buffalo. Radio es Open House Week <Continued from'page 30) productions In' windows, radio sales- rooms and lobbies. KSFO has also placed similar displays, although to a much smaller extent Dealers were found to be highly responsive, glad to g^t art which would focus attention on radio entertainment KGO and KPO have also taken over several empty stores In choice downtown locations and dressing them with special radio displays. Moving units, continuous slide pro- jectors depicting broadcast scenes, both on black and white and on col- ored film, are being employed in addition to stills. Two hundred two-sided -window cards In 14 by 22 frames, plugging the KGO baseball broadcasts and the KPO and KGO newscasts, will be placed In radio stores serviced by the Leo J. Mey- berg Company throughout Northern California. Meyberg field men have already placed some 300 window cards on KPO and KGO. programs with dealers in their territory. Dealers Reported Hard To Stir Up in Seattle SeatUe, AprU 4. Local radio stations expect to go to town in a big way during the Open House campaign week of April 17. All the outlets will cooperate but so far no definite schedule of events has been lined up. KIRO, CBS outlet expects to use Its sustaining, programs, ■ 'Dear- KIRO,' "The Feminine Side' and The Program-Director's Program' as ve- hicles to sell radio to radio listeners. KOMO-KJR (NBC) calling In entire staff to line up something outstand- ing. KOL and KVI, Seattle-Tacoma, are In a trance to bring up Ideas. KMO, Tacoma, will tie Into the seven-day celebration with special layouts for the dialers. All the local stations and the two In Tacoma plan station and net puffs with all lis- teners asked to visit studios to get better acquainted. Local set dealers so far not en- thused, but attempt Is being made by radio exes to get them to see the point and to play ball on this oc- casion. This is .one spot where the radio' retailers apparently seem to think they can get along without ra- dio tie-ups and they play up to newspapers Instead. Pitt Symph's 350G Drive Pittsburgh, AprU 4. Pittsburgh Symphony will launch a drive late this month to raise $350,000 for maintenance of the or- ganization during the next two years. Fritz Reiner ends his first season as permanent conductor of Symph this weekend and although no an- nouncement to that effect has been made yet, it's understood he'll re- turn next faU. Boston Just Organizing; WORL Invites Clubmen Boston, AprU 4. The open house campaign Is tar from organized at present John Shepard, 3d, states the dealers here have not been notified—and that John Holman of WBZ will line up members of the Massachusetts Broadcasters Assa WORL, Boston,>^ is Inviting '1920 Club' members to -visit, studio dur- ing week of April 17. Special day for- radio editors- and' invitation . to attend broadcasts they have' not been able to witness In the past In- vitations to listeners to watch broadcasting of Three-Star Revue' (musical program) during that week. Other plans indefinite. ' WEEI, Boston, will start plugging It two days In advance, thVough an- nouncements, Fans will be invited to visit the studio—watch broadcasts In performance, and be greeted by the artists. In person. Tours of In-, spectlon will be lined up for those who want to glimpse 'backstage'; and it Is planned, tentatively, to hand out some kind of souvenir to each visl- tor.- St Louis Likes Idea, But Plans All in Abeyance St Louis, AprU 4. AU six local commercial stations wiU probably join In observing Ra- dio Open House Week starting Mon- day (17) and event will be baUyed over the ^Ir. Al S. Foster, gen. mgr. of WEW has already assigned Art Jones, program director to buUd up a program and conceive stunts. Ed- gar P, Shutz, gen. mgr. at WIL said the station yrould join in the idea but no concrete plans have been completed. At KWK, Ray E. Dady, station manager, said the Open House Week was a sweU Idea, good for the Industry and the station thought that NBC and Mutuai whose programs It carries, would pipe some Interesting facts to sup- plement KWK's efforts. In the absence of Merle S. Jones, gen. mgr. KMOX, local CBS ouUet, no plans are being made. Jones Is expected back from a biz trip to Chicago this week. Frank Eschen, program director at KSD and Bruce Barrlngton at KXOK also said these stations would participate In the plan and arrangements would be- made. Coincides with 50th Ann! Of Oklahoma Founding Oklahoma City, April 1 National Radio Open House Week coincides with' Oklahoma's 50th An- niversary Week. The whole week will be devoted to celebration of Oklahoma's 60 ..years of existence starting Monday, AprU 17th and end- ing Saturday, AprU 22d. WKY wUl kick off with ah NBC origination (Red) of the Oklahoma Municipal orchestra on Monday, carry a whole sheaf of special studio programs during the week and cU- max the affair o:i Saturday with two NBC originations. During the entire week, WKY Is holding Open' House for aU radio dealers as well as the public to stu- dio shows. Special invitations will be mailed to Oklahoma's radio dealers. Atlanta's Open House Is In 'State of Nebulosity* Atlanta, AprU 4. What, part local mills, WSB,' WAGA, WGST and WATL wUl play In radio's open house week April 17-23; Is, at this time, In state of nebulosl^. Nothing .tangible has been brought forth up to now with, regard to active participation, although managers of stations are expected to get together this week to work out some sort of co-operative program. Lambdin.Kay, general manager ot WSB and WAGA, Red and Blue NBC outlets, stated that his stations were planning some sqjrt of active participation in the activities of the week, but nothing definite had been worked out MARRIAGES Florence Rice to Robert WUcox, In Honolulu, March 30. Both are film players. Carrie Helen LaRue to George Dlmitre Christie, In Tucson, Ariz, March 30. He's a screen plaiyer. Miriam Young to Frank Jaffee, .of promotion department, Des Moines Register and Tribune, ~and newa editor , for Iowa Broadcasting Syi- tem In Bethany, Mo., March 18. Llbby Holman Reynolds to Ralph Holmes, In Washington, March 27. Bride is musical comedy singer and widow of Smith Reynolds, tobacco heir; he's a legit player, brother of Phillips Holmes and son of Taylor Holmes. Louise Pippin to Jack Ryan, In New York, AprU 1. He plays bull fiddle In Jimmy Dorsey's band; bride's non-pro. - Eva Holcomb to Ralph MuzziUo, in New York, AprU 1. He's trumpeter with. Jimmy Dorsey; bride's non-pro.' Patricia MiUer' to Bobby Buma Berman, In Santa Ana, CaL, AprO L He's nltiery m.c. Carole Lombard to Clark Gable In Kingman, Aflz., March 30. Both are film, players. Barbara Walsh to Smith Howard, In New York, AprU 1. Bride Is ra» dlo player; he's drummer In Enoch Light's, orchestra. BIRTHS Mr. and tSrs, Robert Buckner, son. In Hollywood, March 29. Father la writer at Warners. Mr. and Mrs. ChUl WUls, daughter. In Hollywood, March 28. Father la contract player at RKO. Mr. and Mrs. Robert McHale, son, in Sacramento, March 26. Father la theatre manager there. Mr. and Mrs. John' Blanco, son. In Clymer, Pa., March 28. Father's an exhibitor there. . Mr. and Mrs. Walberg Brown, daughter, in Cleveland, March 28. Father Is violinist and staff orches- tra leader at WGAR, Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Spector, son. In Philadelphia, March 29. Father Is drummer with^ob Golden's house band at WCAU; PhUly. Mr. and Mrs. Gile Steele, son, in Culver City, Cal., AprU 1. Father Is Paramount costume designer. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Israel, son, In New York, AprU 1. Father Is executive assistant to Barney Bala- ban, president of Paramount