Variety (May 1941)

78 P^fHETY Wednesday, May 7, 1941 OBITUARIES HOWARD E. JOHNSON Howard E. Johnson, S3, songwriter who penned the lyrics for such hits as 'When The Moon Comes Over the Mountain,' 'Ireland Must Be Heaven' and 'Where Do We Go From Here,' died May 1 in a New York hospital. Johnson, born in Waterbury, Conn., attended Torrington, Conn., high school and as piano accompanist dur- ing devotions played the hymns in ragtime. The jazzing was a source of much amusement to his class- mates, but went unappreciated by the principal. As a lad of 12 Johnson accom- panied a group of vaudeville per- formers at a Torrington theatre and did a good job without a previous glimpse of either the music or the artists. Urged to make pianoing a career, he went to Boston- after graduating from school, where he played in a theatre and wrote a few eongs before coming to New York. For several years under contract to Leo Feist, Johnson also wrote 'M-o-t-h-e-r' and the lyrics for the- musical comedy, 'Tangerine,' which starred Frank Cruihit and Julia Sanderson. He collaborated with Kate Smith and Harry Woods on 'When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain.' A member of ASCAP for 20 years, Johnson passed a year in Hollywood under contract to Metro. Other songs for which he wrote lyrics in- clude 'What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For?,' 'I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream,' 'Oh Those Sunday Drivers' and 'There's a Broken Heart for Every Light on Broadway.' Many of Johnson's songs were of a timely nature. After Lindbergh's flight to Paris, he brought out a number entitled 'Lindy' the Eagle of the U. S. A.' During the last war ■ he wrote many war songs, including •Just Like Washington Crossed the Delaware, General Pershing Will Cross the Rhine.' He also wrote 'if They Want Another War, Let Them Keep It Over There,' which was popularized by Eddie Cantor. He leaves his widow, the. former Edna Leader; his father, Charles, and a sister, Mabel, of Torrington. Burial was in Torrington. of Fay brothers to die within the past year. Deceased's first venture in the en- tertainment world was the forma- tion of an orchestra which he and his two brothers directed alternate- ly at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtucket for 17 years. . In 1914 they took over Hunts Mills, a Rhode Island amuse- ment park, and later organized-the Fay Amusement Co. and at vari- ous times operated the old Rialto theatre, the Majestic, Carlton and Fay's theatres in Providence, and another part of the chain in Penn- sylvania. At the time of his death. Fay was assistant treasurer of the C. and F. Theatre Co. He is survived by his brother, Edward M., dean of Provi- dence theatre men, widow, three sisters and a nephew, Al Clarke, manager of Majestic theatre. EDWIN S. POBTEB Edwin S. Porter, 71, retired film producer and an associate of the late Thomas A. Edison In the early days of the picture industry, died April 30 at his home in a New York hotel. For several years he. had been in failing health. Credited with originating the fea- ture picture and the horse opera, Porter foresaw the necessity of ere- ating and maintaining audience in- terest by making films which told a story. His "The Life of an Ameri' can Fireman' in 1899 was a step in that direction and he followed it in 1903 with the famous "The Great Train Robbery.' Born in Pittsburgh, Porter worked at many trades and served three years in the Navy as an electrician before he joined the Edison labora- tories. . He remained there for some 10 years and while head of the Edi son studio developed a number of elementary camera technics, in- cluding the closeup. Upon leaving Edison in 1909, Por ter formed his own company, the Rex, which was comparatively short lived. However, two years later he joined Adolph Zukor in organizing Famous Players. As a producer and director for Famous he turned out fome of the biggest boxoffice pic- tures of the day. . Among them were Tess of the Storm Country,' with Mary Pickford, which grossed more than $1,000,000 though, cost of the film was only $13,000. He also pro- duced 'The Dictator' with John Barrymore, 'Sold' with Pauline Fred- erick and 'Hearts Adrift' with Miss Pickford. Relinquishing his interest in Fa- -mous. Porter left-theJndustry when but 43. Though financially well oiT he could not remain idle and in 1917 returned to the field as head of the Simplex Projector Co., dealer in mo- tion picture and theatre equipment. Upon the firm's merger with the In- ternational Projector Corp. in 1925, Porter retired permanently. Surviving are his widow, Caroline; three brothers and a sister. Funeral services were held in New York Friday (2). CLEMENT O'LOGHLEN Clement O'Loghlen, 40, legit actor whose last appearance was in 'Not in Our Stars,' an Experimental Thea- tre (N. Y.) production, died May 2 in the Roosevelt hospital, N. Y„ after he had been stricken in a cab while rid- ing to his midtown home. Born in Ireland, he came to the United States some 20 years ago and in addition to appearing in legit had also been active in radio. Among the Broadway plays in which he had parts were 'The Road to -Rome,' Storm Over Patsy,' 'Father Malachy's Miracle,' 'Parnell,' 'Cynara' and Spring Meeting.' A metfiber of the Catholic Actors Guild and Actors Equity, O'Loghlen had played in the 'Cavalcade of America' and 'March' of Time' radio programs among others. He won much favorable comment for his per- formance in 'Not in Our Stars,' pre- sented at the Biltmorci N.Y., April 26. Surviving are his widow, Cathleen, an actress and writer; his mother, a sister and five brothers. - mond, who trouped in vaude as Rose and Buddy, and another son, Harry. STEPHEN S. TOWNSEND Stephen Sumner Townsend, 75, professor of voice at the Boston Uni- versity college of music for 10 years and professor-emeritus since last fall, died in Boston, April 30. He was a singer, teacher, composer and conductor, and was reputedly once the highest paid chorus master in the country. Townsend had conducted the Friends of Music chorus in New York for 10 yecrs and trained chorus groups for Karl Muck in Boston, Artur Bodanzky in New York, Leo- pold Stokowski in Philadelphia, Henri Rabaud and Ossip Gabrilo- witsch in Detroit. VICTORINE PREISSER Mrs. Victorine Preisser, 55, mother of June Preisser, Metro contract player, died of a heart attack May 5 at her home in Brentwood Heights, Cal. Before June went into pictures, the actress teamed with her sister, Cherry, in a vaude and musical comedy act. Mrs. Preisser started the girls on their stage career and long served as their manager. Cherry left the theatre several years ago when she married David Hopkins, son of Harry L. Hopkins. Also surviving are four sons and a brother. MAJOR EDWARD J. RICE Major Edward Jerome Rice, 78, died Monday (4) in New York. He was the last surviving charter mem- ber of the Treasurers Club (legit), which was formed in 1889. Deceased was treasurer of the Standard theatre, present site of Gimbel's department store, N. Y., later being employed by the Inter- borough Rapid Transit lines. He served in the Spanish American war and was a major. Burial services at the chapel of the Blessed Sacra- ment, West 71st street, N. Y., tomor- row (Thursday). JULIA CLAVSSEN Mme. Julia Claussen, 62, concert and operatic diva who for 15 years sang contralto and miezzo-soprano roles with the Metropolitan Opera Co., died May 1 at her home in Stockholm, according to word re- ceived in New York last week. Mme.- Claussen, who came to the United States in 1913, was a native of Stockholm and received her early musical training in Berlin. .Making her operatic debut at the Royal Op- era House, Stockholm, in 1903, she sang there for a decade. Before joining Met in 1917, Mme. Claussen appeared with the (Chicago Opera Co. for two seasons. Chiefly known as a singer of Wagnerian roles, she also had been seen on the concert stage of New York and Lon- don, and was appointed Royal Court Singer in 1923 by King Gustav of Sweden. She had been a music teacher in recent years. BERNARD E. FAT Funeral services were held yester- day (Tuesday) for Bernard E. Fay, 59, theatre operator, who died at his Providence, R. I, home Saturday (3). He was the second of the trio WILLIAM BBAHAM William Braham, 80, one-time tym- panist for the Boston Symphony or- chestra and member of a family famous in light opera and musical circles for more than a half century, died May 2 at the Briar Hill Welfare Home, Freehold, N. J. Born in New York, Braham served as tympanist in various orchestras and in 1895 started an 18-year asso elation as a musician in theatres con- trolled by Charles Frohman. Retir- ing in 1925, he had been a guest at Briar Hill for the past five years. Braham's father, Joseph, long wis musical director at Tony Pastor's, and one brother,. Harry, who conducted the Boston Museum or(Aiestra, mar ried Lillian Russell in 1879. 0£ his other brothers, John J. Braham, was orchestra conductor at the old Casino Roof Garden, and Albert and William were members of the Boston Sym- phony orchestra. EVA LLOTD Eva Lloyd, 69, who appeared in vaude some 50 years ago as a part- ner in an act known as the Lloyd Sisters, died April 29 at a New York hospital. The wife of Col. George E. Ellis, United States Army (retired), she had left the stage shortly after her marriage. With a younger sister, Ann, Mrs. Ellis did a dancing turn in such places as Koster & Bial's, Miner's' Bowery and Tony Pastor's from 1887 to 1893. Her brother, Charles, and Col. Ellis at one time played in an Irish comedy skit. Surviving besides her husband are two ■ children, Rose and Ray- ERNESTO DE MARIA T CAMPO Ernesto de Maria y Campo, Mex- ico City theatrical impresario and operator of the Teatro Virginia Fabregas, was killed when the car in which he was making a night trip April 28 to meet Encarnacion Lopez (Argentinita), the. Spanish dancer, at the port of Vera Cruz, crashed into a truck near here. He was 56. Surviving are a mother, widow and two brothers. Burial was in Mexico City. Three weeks before his death, De Maria C&mpo had won $17|000 (Mex) in the lottery. KITTE COLLINS Mrs. Maurice R. Jacobs, 60, who as Kitte Collins appeared in legit years ago, died May 5 in a New York hos- pital. A member of Actors Equity, Mrs. Jacobs had played leads in such plays as The Banshee' and The Sil- ver Tassle.* In recent years she had been active as a lecturer and teacher of English and,elocution. Surviving are her husband, a son, two sisters and a brother. Funeral services held in New York today (Wednesday). FRANK JEROME Frank Jerome, 57, veteran clown who was touring with the road com- pany of 'HeUzapoppin', died May 4 of a heart attack at his room in a Minneapolis hotel. Company had completed a four-day stand there the previous evening. Jerome did a straight jacket spe- cialty in the show. Brought forth as an individual who could effect an in- stant escape from the device, he would still be attempting to free him- self at curtain time. his family being advised through the 'Theatrical Managers and Agents Union, of which he was a member. He had been visiting army camps with the idea of playing tab shows in such spots. Last legit assignment was ahead of a 'Tobacco Road' company about two years ago. OLIVER MARSH Oliver Marsh, 49, veteran camerar man, died Monday (5) in Hollywood following a heart attack in the com- missary at Metro's studio where he had handled the camera since 1924. In pictures since 1911, he won the Academy Award in 1938 for his Technicolor photography on Metro's 'Sweethearts.' Marsh leaves a widow and three children. He was a brother, of Mae Marsh, film star of the silent era. CHARLES BURNS Charles Burns, 80, who, during the pre-picture era was an actor, man- ager, producer and playwright in Philadelphia, New York and At- lantic City, died at the Atlantic City hospital a week after the death of his wife. Among plays he wrote and produced were 'Klondyke Claim' and 'Bowery After Dark.' His last connection was with Colonial thea- tre, Bristol, Pa. CARRIE STANLEY BUBNS Mrs. Carrie Stanley Burns, 89, for^ mer actress, died in Atlantic City hospital from pneumonia. Mrs. Burns played in New York for years and toured the country in stock. Despite her advanced age, she played in community dramatics up to five years ago. MAX LEVIN Max Levin, 44, picture machine operator for the 20th-Fox exchange in Chicago, died suddenly of a tjeart attack in Chicago May 1. Levin had been special operator with the Fox exchange in Chicago for 20 years. Widow survives. Burial in Chi- cago. ABTHUR W. MILLER Arthur W. Miller, 53, v.p. and gen- eral manager of the Pathe Labora- tory, Bound Brook, N. J., died May 3 at his home in Cranford, N. J. For 38 years an employee of the firm. Miller leaves his widow, son, daughter and two sisters. BENJAMIN F. BLINN Benjamin Franklin Blinn, 69, stage and film actor, died April 28 in Hollywood. He had been a character player in films after a long career on the stage. LOU MILLER Lou Miller, 35, former musical comedy actress, died May 2 in Holly- wood after a lingering illness. Survived by her husband, William Ruhl, .film actor. SARAT LAHIRI Sarat Lahiri, 46, Hindu actor, com- poser and restaurateur, died May 2 in a New York hospital. He suf- fered a stroke the preceding day. Lahiri, born in Calcutta, had lec- tured occasionally on Hindu music at Town Hall, N. Y., in recent years. .Ia.l324 he. played-in The-Little Glay Cart,* a Neighborhood Playhouse (N. Y.) production and several others at the same theatre. Of late he had been in the restaurant busi- ness. Alice L. Mandel, 49, wife of Frank Mandel, member of the musical comedy producing team of Schwab & MandeU died May 1 at the Cedars of Lebanon 'Hospital, Hollywood. Surviving besides her husband are her parents, a son, Alfred, and a sister. E«a Metzel, 52, widow of the late George W. Metzel, Philadelphia rep- resentative of the Actors Fund, committed suicide in that city last Thursday (1) by slashing her wrists. Friends said she had been grieving since the death of her husband last Jan. 2. Harry .Lottman,. 68, father of George D., publicist, and Phil Lott- man, trade-paper editor, died in New York May 2 of a lingering illness. Mother of Walter G. Douglas, chairman of the board of the Muisic Publishers Protective Association, died in Powell, Wyo., April 26; Mrs. Rose Brice, 73, mother of Fanny Brice, died April 29 in Holly- wood. HUGH STRICKLAND Hugh Strickland, 55^ rodeo star and for years a champ cowboy rider, died May 2. in Los Angeles. He made several world tours as a cowboy performer and won more than $100,000 in prize money at various rodeos. WILLIAM REILLT William Reilly, around 60, veteran advance agent, died suddenly at Co- lumbia, North Carolina, Friday (2), Army 'Shows' Continued from page 71^ important thing credited to the of- ficial committee—and which actual- ly was done entirely through the personal enterprise of Rose—is a se- ries of 'medicine shows' scheduled to run from May 15 to July-1. Num- ber of name performers have been lined up by Rose to go out in units that will give half-hour shows on the tailboards of an Army truck. Soldiers will stand or sit on the grass around the truck and it will move to various locations to enter- tain the entire personnel. Perform- ers won't get paid, Another supposed activity of the Sherwood committee, is the prepara- tion by Leonard SlUman, Broadway producer, of a book of sketches of various lengths to be sent to the camps for use of home-grown talent. Printing and distribution are being paid for by the Army and Navy Civilian Committee, a group of wealthy people headed by Thomas J. Watson of International Business Machine. Sillman contributed his services. He has a song book under consideration next Sillman has also arranged an en- tertainment for officers and men of the Lakehurst (N. J.) Naval Air Station tomorrow (Thursday) night,- It's a dinner dance at $1.50 a head to be held at the 1,000-seat Sea Girt Inn, Sea Girt, N, J. Show consists of Eddie Cantor, Imogene Coca, Pert Kelton, Paul Gerrits, Haywood & Allen, June Carroll, line of eight gals and Tommy Tucker's orch. Everyone except the gals and the' orch is working cufto. Event came about by officers at the post writing to Ulio :or entertainment. He turned the letter over to Sherwood, who handed it over to Sillman.- There are about 200 Army posts, of which about 100 are large enough to be important. So far as can be determined, the only entertainment they are currently getting (aside from films, which they complain are old), is being provided by two in- dependent units, commercially-op- erated. Other units have been starting and folding sporadically and there have been occasional benefit shows by name performers, but nothing regular. Almost all the en- tertainment of any type has been confined to camps along the eastern seaboard, particularly around New York, with the west coast getting an occasional tidbit. As vague as the rest of the pro- gram is the standing of the War De- partment budget for recreation. Consensus is that there is none, al- though General Ulio was understood to have received some coin a few months ago when the War Depart- ment gave evidence of recognizing' the morale division's importance by removing it from the Adjutant Gen- eral's office and making it a full- fledged Army unit, reporting direct- ly to the Chief of SUff. MARRIAGES Vida Halliburton to Jack Woelz, in Yuma, Ariz., April 28. He's a film editor at 20th-Fox. Alice Paula Sterling to Joseph Sawyer Santley, in Beverly Hills, Cal., May 1. He's a newspaper re- porter and son of Joseph Santley, director at' Republic. Mary Brian to Jon Whitcomb, in Hollywood, May 4. Bride's the film actress; he's an artist. Rebecca Loitzker, secretary to gen- eral manager of WNBC, New Britain, Conn., to Herman Goodstine, engi- neer at station, April 27, at Winsted, Conn. William Seymour, Columt>ia- WBBM, Chicago announcer, to Mil- dred Day, non-pro, in Chicago, April 30. Marcella Edwards to Walter Mc- Gowan, in Santa Cruz, °Cal., May 2. Bride is an ex-'Vanities' showgirl; he's in the real estate business. Betty Mack, formerly In Charlie Chase comedies, to George Yohalem, Columbia unit production manager. May 2, in Yuma, Ariz. BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. William Wellman, son, in Hollywood, April 29. Father is Paramount director; mother is former Dorothy Coonan, screen ac- tress. Mr. End Mrs. Art Dedrick, daugh- ter, in Boston, April 28. Father is arranger-trombonist with Vaughn Monroe's orch. Mr. and Mrs. Abe Holtzman, daughter, April 19, New York. He's assistant manager Roseland ballroom, N. Y. . , Mr. and Mrs. John Gordon Thorpe, son, in Kansas City, Mo., April 27. Father is assistant manager of Or- pheum theatre, K. C. " 'Mr.' and'MrsrWilliam 'G'all,'' dau'gh'- ' ter, in Kansas City, Mo., May 1. Father is member of Midland Min- strel Ensemble via KMBC. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Bickel, son, in Pittsburgh, April 28. Father's with Baron Elliott band. Mr. and Mrs. Everett Neil, daugh- ter, in Pittsburgh, April 29. Father was until recently program director at KQV, Pitt. Mr. and Mrs. Keenan Wynn, son, April 27, in New York. Father is legit and radio actor, son of Ed Wynn; mother is the former Eve Abbott, actress. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew D. Wein- berger, son, in New York, April 30. Father Is attorney and band man- ager.