Variety (Jul 1941)

54 Wednesday, July 16, 1941 SAMUEL A. SCUBNEB Samuel Alexander Scribner, 82, died July 8 at hla home In Bronx- ville, N. Y. Further details In the vaudeville section. HUNTLET WBIOHT Huntley Wright, 71, veteran Brit- ish actor who apeared in scores of plays and musical comedies, died of- a heart attack July 10 at Bangor, Wales. During the past five years he had often acted In radio dramas. A member of a noted theatrical family, Wright was born in London the son of Frederick Wright, a man- ager and actor, and Jessie F. Wright, an actress. Several of his brothers and sisters were also connected with the theatre. After making his professional de- but in 'Fate and Fortune' at the Princess theatre, London, In 1891, Wright toured with several road companies and in 1896 went to South Africa where he apeared under the management of George Edwardes. He came to America in 1907 and had a role in The Dairymaids,' which ran at the old Criterion, N. Y., in that year. Upon returning to London, Wright was active in both legit and musical comedy until the World War , when he left the theatre to join the army. He held a captain's commission when discharged in 1919. Among the plays in which he appeared since the war were Too Young to Marry,' 'Madame Pompadour' and ' The Miracle at Verdun.' In recent years he ,played in one film, 'Look Up and Laugh.' WABBEN L. TRAVIS Warren L. Travis, 66, professional strong man who had been a weight litter at Coney Island, N. Y., for the past 20 years, died at the resort July 13 shortly after he finished his final Saturday performance for the World's Circus Sideshows. Travis, who first became a per- former at the old Hubert's Mxiseum on 14th St, N. Y., had also appeared high standard of programs.' He headed corporation until six years ago when illness forced him to with- draw. He's survived by widow, two sons and a daughter. ABNO EBDBICH Arno Erdrich, 38, former musician, who gave up musical career with Rudy Vallee's orchestra to take up law, died July 8 in Cleveland from a hemorrhage. Erdrich, a native of Bellevue, O., became leader of campus Scarlet Mask band while attending Ohio State U. After getting his law de- gree at Yale, he joined Vallee's Con- necticut. Yankees and played sax with them for several years. De- cided to quiTmusic in 1929 and be- came a member of law firm of Jones, Day, Cockley St Reavis in Cleve- land. PHILIPPE GAOBEET Philippe Gau'bert, 62, composer and long director of the Paris Opera, died recently in Paris according to advices reaching Vichy July; 9. Born in Cahors,' France, in 1879, Gaubert received his early mUsical training at the Paris Conservatory' and eventually was named conduc- tor of the Conservatory concerts in 1919. An accomplished flutist, he had composed several symphonic poems, a sonata for flute and piano and an orchestral rhapsody. He served in World War I and was dec- orated with the Croix de Guerre. ALICE CABMAN Alice Carman, 39,. former mu- sicomedy, vaude and burley finger, died at the Will Rogers hospital, Saranac Lake, N. Y., July 10, after a long illness. She had been an in- mate of the NVA and Will Rogers' sanatoriums for 16 years. . During her heyday Miss Carman had been a'feature in musical com- edy and. burlesque, and played the top vaudeville circuits as Carman and Wallace, Gilroy and Citrman and Alice Carman and her Bluebirds. IN MEMORY OF THE MINER BOYS TOM — ED — GEORGE ■Barney and Gertrude Gerard with the John G. . Robinson and Ringling circuses. In the days when Theodore Roosevelt was police com- missioner ol New York, Travis was one of the department's physical in- atructors. Among the many feats of strength Travis accomplished regularly was raising a 1,000-pound cannon. He tipped the scales at 220 and was five feet eight inches tall. Early in his career he was reported to have hoisted a platform supporting an up- right piano and a team of horses. He claimed to have eclipsed the weight- lifting records of other strong men such as Sandow and Arthur Saxon. I died July 6 in HoUywood. As a member of the old Keystone Com- pany he played in Charlie Chaplin's films and appeared with Mabel Nor mand, Ford Sterling, Charles Mur. ray. Hank Mann and other comics of that period. Later he joined the American Film Co., Santa Barbara, as actor-director. In his directorial career Cooley piloted starrers for Harry Pollard, Irving Cummings and Alma Rubens. As a legit player in his younger days, Cooley toured with The Bird of Paradise' for 12 years and subse- quently played leads iii his own repertoire company, with his wife, Gladys Kingsbury, as leading lady. In his youth Cooley was champion sprinter of the Pacific Coast and was called the world's best amateur boxer by James J. Corbett, then heavyweight champion. Surviving are his widow, a daugh ter, two brothers and 6 sister. IB VINE J. KiniNGEB, SB. Irvine J. Kittinger, Sr, 68, pioneer radio executive and former head of Buffalo Broadcasting Corp,, which operates WGR and WKBW, died July 12 in Buffalo after an eight- week illness. Kittinger, head of a Buffalo furni- ture .firm which bears his name, be- came interested in radio in the early 1920's and aided in welding Biilfalo's then four stations into one group lor, he pointed- out, "more efficient station operation' ahd 'a'-consistently^ CHARLES BALMEB Charles Balmer, 75, musician and composer of oldtime tunes such as The Skirt Dance,' and The Coli- seum Grand March,' died at his home in St Louis of pneumonia. Four daughters survive. MINNIE FABR^LL Minnie Farrell, former veteran vaudeville performer, who had been featured by Tony Pastor, died re- cently in New York. PAUL GOSSETT Paul Gossett, 45,' operator of a film theatre at Lyndon, Kas., com- mitted suicide by severing juglar vein July 7. Alonco, Jenks, 65, former flutist with Rochester Little Symphony and Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Is^ter organizer of Genese6 Valley Concert Band, died July 5 In Dansville, N. Y. Mrs. Charlotte Nelson, 82, mother of Al Nelson, general manager of KPO-ICGO, San Francisco, died in Chicago, July 7. Guy LIvingftone, 37, film projec- tionist at Paramount, died July 7 in Hollywood. Police called it suicide by monoxide.'- • ' • ' radio commentator; father is stage and radio actor. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Dane, daughter, June 19, in New York. Father is announcer at WOR, New York, Mr and Mrs. Rusty Gill, son, July 6. Father is singer on WLS; mother was Caroline DeZurik, former mem- ber of DeZurik Sisters vocal team. Radio Diagnosis ssCoDtlnaed from page 17;^^ foreign minister Von Ribbentrop; Field Marshal Keitel, Chief of the Supreme Command, Hcinrich Himmler, the Gestapo Head, and othiers.' NO. 2—ISTANBUL-TVRKEY—'TtiT- . key is keeping one eye on the war next door in Greece, and the other on developments in Berlin. 'There is much speculation as to the real motive of Josef Stalin in sending Premier Molotov to the German cai)ital to talk with Ifitler. It is agreed geTieraUy in AnlMra that /oT-reachtno results affecting the Balkans will come out of the meeting.' In order to define the gestalt.ot a' program it is first necessary to iso- late the program's primary audience so that the effect of the program on this group can be observed. ' News, however, is not a specific FBANK COOLLY Frank Lucius Cooley^^Jl^JoflBsJ^ idl^^A ■•--meFinmrmpiCnt^oflm »nd wdlo performer. Amencan^Broadway columnist and a BroadcasUng Corp. Survived by his mother, a brother "" in the Canadian Air Force and a sister attached to the Royal Air Force in England. 'JELLY ROLL' MOBTON Ferdinand 'Jelly Roll' Morton, 51, known tor years on Tin Pan Alley as a composer of popular Songs, died July. 10 in the. General hospital, tios Angeles. ; He '. had moved to Cali- fornia two months agol Most widely heard of his compo- sitions was 'Jelly Roll Blues.' Among his numerous other tunes are 'Mama Mita' and The Wolverine Blues. Surviving are his widow and two sisters. . THEO LINDENBEBG Theodore Llndenberg, Columbus theatre operator and inventor, died July 8 in that city. Held patents on the revolutionary Llndenberg sound and projection equipment, used in his. duo-audito rium Bexley theatre. Survived by wife, son and daugljter. NOBMAN ALLEN Norman Allen, 27, Vancouver pi anist, drowned at B'-ven Island, B, MARRIAGES Lilly Kinder, daughter of Maurice Kinder, film trade reporter, to Arthur PoUak, son of Adolph Pollak, film veteran, in New York, July 20 next. Muriel Robinson to Don Dawson, in Regina, Sask, June 28. He's traf- fic manager at CKCK, Regina. Carolyn Lelberman to Gerald Goldberg in Pittsburgh, July 4. She was with WB theatre department and is a sister-in-law of Harry Kal- mlne, Warner zone manager in Pitt district. Isabelle Stuart to William Dan- zigcr, in New York, July 12. Groom is on the Metrj publicity staff. New York. Kathryn Grayson to John Shelton, in Las Vegas, Nev., July 12. Bride and groom are screen players. Sylvia "Welnsteln to Max Miller July S, in Buffalo. He's violinist in Tone Camevale band. Marion Irvine to Francis Lederer, in Las Vegas, Nev., July 10. He's the stage and screen actor recently divorced by Margp. Elizabeth Reltell to Adolph Green, Jun^e 20, in New York. He's, of The Revuers; stft's a costume designer. Edith Van Buskirk to Carlton Warren, June. 28, at Kent, Conn. Groom is assistant program director of WOR, New York. Brenda Marshall to William Hol- den, in Las Vegas, Nev., July 12. Both are. film players. Kathryn Orayson to John Shelton, in Las Vegas, July 12. Both are screen players. Hazel Caley to Lieut. K. C. Waite, in Toronto, July 14. Bride is member of Caley Sisters ice-skating team; groom a member of the 75th Scottish Battalion. Hazel H. Hyatt to Carl Benton Reid, in Cleveland, July 12. Bride is associated with Cleveland Playhouse: he's a legit actor who recently ap- peared in 'The Little Foxes.' ' Katherine Deere Wiman to Dawson C. Glover, Iii Greenwich, Conn., July 11. Bride is an actress-daughter of Dwlght Deere Wiman, theatrical pro- ducer; he's circulation manager of GoU magazine. Arline Blackbufn to John J. Trimble, in Poundridge, - N. Y., July 12. Bride is a radio and stage actress. Alice Craig to Walter Herlihy, in New York, July 12. Bride is a mem- ber of the chorus of 'Pal Joey*; he's a radio announcer for the Yankee network. Carol Irwin to Paul Hollister, this week, in Reno. Bride is head of day- time radio at Young St Rubicam; he is v.p. of J. Stirling Getchell agency. BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Monter, son, in S^nta Monica, July 9. Mother was Anna Stewart, • film actress; father is a talent agent Mr. and Mrs. Bert Lahr; son, In Hollywood^ July 12. Father is stage and screen comedian; mother is for- mer Mildred Schroeder, of the stage. - Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Lingle, daugh- ter, June IS in Schenectady, N. Y. He's a member of WGY's transmit- ter engineering staff. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Kollmar, son, July 11, 1.1 New York. Mother program but. rather a type of pro- gram. The structure of news audi- ences vary accordiqg to contents of the program as well as availability of listener. The definition of the gestalt Is valid only for specific programs, not for types of programs. For example. Quiz Pro-ams, as a type, satisfy a number of psycho- logical desires, and the primary- au- dience for specific quiz shows prob- aWly varies in terms of the desires which each one gratifies. Studies show that there is a significant dif- ference between the audience of In- formation Please and that of Pro- fessor Quiz. One tends to reach a higher-Income and higher I Q. group than the other. The basic appeal of each is obviously differ- ent'. • 'Why People Llk* the Prof. Quiz Pro- irrain,' by Dr. HertK Herzoc." OfTlce of Radio Reiaaroh, Columbia Unlveralty. (To be continued next toeeic) Questions Out ^Sm Continued from pace musical fare with unprecedented vigor. Within the past two weeks three new variety packages, have been put together for network commercials. One's the'Lever Bros.' stanza on CBS Saturday mornings, the second, the Bob Burns-Campbell Soup combina- tion, and the third, Ballentine Ale's entry headed by Milton Berle and Charles Laughton. Agency buyers admit to the belief that a variety show Pleaded by a name comic has always been the surest way to gather a substantial audience from .the start but, they add, there aren't many of them with accounts that provide enough money to allow for such, programs. The advent of the' quiz'proved, an easy way out for the limited talent bank- roll, but now that the' qiiiz is in its last stages, state the agency men, the accounts in the lower moneyi brackets will have to resort either to dramatic shows of the non-big name calibre or to straight musical ses- sions. Too many programs of a given type is the sure harbinger of an eventual fall-off of that type, nature adjusting excesses of all kinds. The quiz programs have reached the reducto ad absurdum in recent months when the same questions be- gan more and more to be heard, when the method of presenting be- came increasingly complex. Al- though the C.A.B. ratings were rea- sonably good through the winter the public—not to mention the trade's— yawns began to grow like the brass in a Wagnerian overture. Cash Giveaways Off * Montreal, July 15. Five Quebec millers have appar- ently recovered from the fierce rivalry of the past season wherein each had a program whose chief ap- peal was its cash giveaway and each out-gave the others. Flour, firms will presumably fol- low the example of Oligivie in spon- soring entertainment Latter Nix TA Appeal sGontlnned from page I5 to pay the Government's 10% admis- sions tax. This is said to total be- tween $6,000 and |7,000. and was paid in escrow pending the Commission- er's final ruling. In its essence, the Commission- er's decision means that any charity benefit that pays part of i-a gross to TA inust pay the Government the admissions tax. This, naturally, also includes the annual' President's Birthday Balls and shows. Hearings on the matter have been held on and off here for six weeks, with . Jaffee, especially designated TA attorney, Alan Corelli, executive secretary of TA, and Frank GiUmore appearing. it's reported here that the Catho- lic Actors Guild, part of TA, has re- signed from that organization and notified TA that it did not want Jaffee to speak for it. TA's Inlerpreiatlon Claiming that he had not yet re- ceived the decision of the Commis- sioner of. Internal Revenue, attorney Henry Jaffee claims that the ruling can only mean a taxation on benefit tickets if TA exacts a percentage of a benefit's gross. Jaffee stated that a benefit's ad- missions can remain tax-free if it only pays TA a flat fee, same as it would pay a fiat fee for rental of a theatre, auditorium, etc. Radio-ASCAP ^Continued from pa^e 3; longer insures exclusivity to the So- ciety—providing the songsmith first places his rights under an employ- ment contract with the Ifilm studio— it's something else again. There are, of course, sundry , ifs, ands and buts from the ASCAP perspective, and the picture companies are not blind to the fact there's justification on both sides. Meantime they, the flimers, are stymied—and with a dwindling b.o. it's a costly stymie. The film men state they've been pa- tiently awaiting an accord between ASCAP and CBS-NBC, just as ASCAP and Mutual Broadcasting System entered into a pact. Meantime, also, as and when peace is finally reached, the^ music pub- lisher will be treated with perhaps a bit more respect from the film end which habitually complained Tin Pan Alley was .laying down on the plugging job. Hollywood vs. the east ha'5 always been a bitter subject, and many a studio changed writers and publishers when dissatisfaction cropped up anent the filmuslcal ex- ploitation of the score. Play Out of Town : Continued from page 52; JUMP WITH JOY. Bills Next Week Continued from pace 47 Stan Ruchfr 4 (Gay M'a) Torothy Neabltt Hot«l Ttb Avenno Httnif Saunders I4a lola- Bcorelt Havdii Betty Ronahoe Al Devin Erergrecn Cardeni Bevelers San\ Sweet AlU-e Sone Zelda Wicked Wllllee Hotel RooseTcIl .Tohnny ICaathue Royal Hawllana Hotel Ochenler Billy HInda Ore. Rita Seaman Buiiz flayer Jack CalhouD Hotel Wm reon (Continental Bar) Wanda Eaonrte Kennywood Park Harbia Holmes Ore Nancy Hutson (-romwell Sin Gene Babbitt reaches Revue Neur Pflim Gay Carllala Oro Bub Lewis Olane & Madeline Rhythm Rascals Sylvia Martin NIvon Cnfo Al Marlsco Oro Bob Carter .Carole & Sherod Kretlow OU ' ' His voice is inaudible beyond the 10th row. Like most revues, the action skips along the usual route, but falters in pace and never stays in high for long. Poor staging on the opening rfi'maif "31X5'OTIrCiffiSSiSu wmcn nieaea plenty 01 nelp. Nor did a late curtain (9:10 p.m.) and Ellington's typical Hollywood en- trance, plus a slow overture, help matters any. And. out front was about as classy an audience as has been in the Mayan for many years. Film stars were out it) finery and the usual count of first-nighters decked the pews. A Negro revue always whips up an appetite in this town since 'Run Li'l Chillun' had a long run in the same house. This one looked like a winner and was heavily ballyhooed, but the verdict was negative. Best of the specialists is a Negro trio billed as Pot, Pan and Skillet Their/ comedy dahce routines and deadpan gri^iaces should win them recognition after this one quits jumping. Best of the song numbers is 'I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good,' which has a head start with a catchy title. There may be one or two others on the popular side, but they'll have to build and grow—and they'd better hurry. This Dandridge kid looks like a comer and with the right kind of material and support should be heard from. The others are just so-so and lack standout qualities. Revue is a potpourri of song, dance and farce, but woefully weak on the comedy side. There's a touch of the spiritual, the forte of colored performers, and also a body grind. Production ...;mbers whip up the fevered enthusiasm of the race, but they occur too rarely. Mebbe the piece can be tightened and whipped into acceptable form, but the chances are against it. Ma- terial and cast are off the big time beam and 'the dook* can't carry the show by himself. [Jack Robbin: ^•publishes"the"score]; ' - Heln*.- Nut Boam Sherdlna Walker O Ted Blake Joe Klein - George Gngg livelyn NelUa Kay Bnlte Mllly Bradley Pat Burns Onsla Joe Vlllolla Oro John Con to •Ine Console Stu Braden Berry Anne fine* Howard Becker Ore TrelOD Billy Merle Oro June Collins rociit Clab H Middleman Ore Cy Landry Jackie Heller Manch GIs Anne LeVelle Shirley Heller SUy-Vno Fran Elchler Oro Vnton Gtill Art Taeello Kraric Natalo Mkt flandreito Villa Madrid Et/I Covato Oro Mark Lane Jon Tlo Kollette te Dean* }rat-cla Wayne Harriet Bront » .Terks West View Park Benny Burton Oro Betty Babe Riiodea Bee' KVte