Variety (Jul 1941)

46 Wednesday, July 30,^ 1941 OBITUARIES 1 EDDIE LEONABD Eddie Leonard, 70, was found dead July 29 in the Imperial hotel, New York. Death was said to have been from natural causes. I>etails oh page three. CHARLIE MIIRBAT Charlie Murray, 69, veteran stage and film comic, died in Los Angeles July 29 of pneumonia. Alter a stage career, where he teamed as Murray and Mack lor 21 years, he started in pictures with ths old Biograph company in 1912. He teamed up with George Sidney lor « series ol The Cohens and Kelly' comedies, starting in 1924 Ipr Uni- versal, which pnoved big moneymak- eiri 'lor the studio. He also made many comedies for Mack Sennett and In recent years played only occa- sionally in pictures. He was a familiar figure at all sporting events and circuses up to his recent illness. He leaves a widow and daughter. Rites and burial in Los Angeles July 31. WILLIAM PABKE William ■ Parke, 68, veteran legi- timate actor, who has also been a ftaga and film director, died Monday (2B) In New York of a heart attack. H« had a small but important part In 'Arsenic and Old Lace,' current Broadway comedy hit, at the time of his death. He had appeared In •very, performance of that play up to Saturday night (26). . , Parke had long been retired from the stage when olTered a role In 'Ar- senic' by Hoy/ard Lindsay, the play's co-produceK He had' played many years ago in 'II I Were King' with t. H. Sotheirn. - Another with whom h« performed was Holbrook Blinn. Ha had been company manager and stage director for Richard Mansfield and Arnold Daly. Widow and three sons by previous marriages survive. suffered from heart disease for sev- eral years, being given a leave of absence several months ago when his condition became worse. Wolff was advertising manager of ERPI and Western Electric from 1929 until last year, when he was made information manager to replace Her- bert Forster, who was transferred to the post of advertising chief. A widow, two daughters and a son survive. PENROSE TENNYSON Penrose Tennyson, '28, was killed in a flying accident, July 10, while serving as a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. He was a great-grandson of the poet. Lord Tennyson, and at the outbreak of war was the youngest film direc- tor in England. He had Worked on Metro's 'The Citadel' and 'A Yank at Oxford.' His last picture was 'Convoy.' In the Navy he had been in charge of the Admiralty Film Unit. Svirvived by widow. Nova Pil- beam, youthful actress, whom he married over a year ago. CAPT. DAVID BRODERICK Capt. David C. Broderick, 72, founder of the school police system and an actor before he joined the MiQHeapolis police department in 1907, died from a heart attack at his home in Minneapolis. Broderick started his acting career at IT and played with rep^ory and stock companies throughout the country, also appearing in burlesque ^nd. musical comedy.' He helped launch the late Harry Houdini and ona of his last appearances ih Minne- apolis was in the title role of "Yon Yonson.' After 30 years on the Min- nMPolis department he retired In fOBT and since then had been active In carrying on the work of the Min- neapolis Police Officers' federation, of which he was president for 18 v»ars. I A widow survives. OTTO FBEITAG Otto Freitag, 58, who sang with the Vienna and other European opera oqmpanies' for about 15 years, died July 26 at {he Giiardiola hotel, Mex- tap <£lty, follo^ying an attack of food poisoning. For the past several years ha traveled for Servel, Inc., of New York, ■ and was widely known throughout Latin America. He spoke |10 languages and many dialects. Burial was in Mexico City. Fraitag's father, John Peter Frel tag, was a famous athlete of the late 19th century, having,' among other feats, swum the English channel. A niece is married to Lou Handin, law- yer-pi'esident of the National Variety Artists. Two sons In Switzerland survive, one of them an actor. ALL'A'n FOUIEST Allan Forrest, who in the silent film days had been leading man for ' Mary Pickford, among many others, died in Detroit July 25. He had for- merly been married to Lottie Pick- ford ] Mary's sister, but that tmion endail in divorce. His third wife (urvives. Forrest, who had been r^etired from acting of recent years, had also appeared opposite Mary Miles Mia ter. Norma and Constance Talmadge and with Jackie Coogan when the hitter was still a youngster. He left Hollywood more than Iff years ago lind had for the past eight years .as- sooiatcd with a commercial motion picture studio in Detroit. •W. A. WOLFF W, A. Wolff, 58, veteran with Western Electric and Electrical Re- aearoh Products) Inc., lA advertising- publicity work, died July 24 while on a vacation trip in Main*. He bad JAMES STEPHENSON James Stephenson, -'52, English stage actor who went tb Hollywood four years ago for picture work, died in Santa Monica, Cal., yesterday (Tuesday) following a heart attack. He was under contract at Warners and was preparing to start work In 'Kings Row.' Death came on his fifth wedding anniversary. Deceased turned to the stage - in England in his 30s and last year won Academy mention for best support- ing performance in 'The Letter.' A year-old son survives besides his widow. « FBEDERIC W. HUBD Frederic W. Hurd, 67, retired ma- gician, died July 25 at Fort Wayne, Ind., after a long illness. He entered show bi^iness in 1891 in New York City with a small show, later being discovered by Harry Brunelle, book- ing agent of the Proctor theatre. New York, and obtained bookings in other houses of the Proctor circuit. He appeared throughout the United States and in many foreign coun- tries, retiring about IS years ago due to failing health resulting from trop- ical fever contracted while touring in South America. Widow, Elizabeth, survives. AVBELIA ARIMONDI Aurelia Arimondi, noted opera singer at the turn of the century, died in Chicago Monday (28). She had. been the widow of Vittorio Ari- mondi, famous Italian basso. Mme. Arimondi sang in all the top-notch continental opera houses, and appeared in the premiere per- fbrmance of Verdi's 'Falstaff,' with the composer present, almost 50 years ago. She came to the U. S. in 1910 with her husband, the latter having been engaged by the Chicago Opera Co. He passed away in 1928. During the last two decades she had taught voice. PUBNELL PBATT Purnell Pratt, 55, stage and screen actor, died July 25 in Hollywood. Native of California, he began his dramatic . career in the east and played in various stage productions by Cohan and Harris, Edgar Selwy and Al H. Woods. Entering pictures in 1927, deceased devoted the rest of his career to Alms. His most recent roles were in the 'Dr. Kildare' series at Metro. He was a member of the Lambs and the Masquers. Surviving Is his widow. TOMMY HAYNES Thomas Butler (Tommy) Haynes, 42, died in St. Joseph's hospital, Memphis, July 23, of injuries s'us tained when his car collided with i truck near Turrell, Ark. He was l salesman for Columbia Pictures, had been associated with Memphis ex changes for 17 years, 14 with Colum bia. Leaves his widow, two daughters, his parents and a sister, all of Mem- phis. Burial was 'in Memphis. CALVIN M. FRANKLIN Calvin 1^. Franklin 54, vice-presi- dent of the Columbia Concerts Corp., affiliate of CBS, died July 23 in Philadelphia after a long illness. He had been involved in an auto acci- dent about a year ago, and never recovered from that mishap. Surviving are his widow, the for- mer Katherine Meisle, Metropolitan' Opera contralto, whom he married In 1918, and his mother, Mrs. Mary Franklin of Philadelphia. JACK BUCHANAN Jack Buchanan, 24, six-feet, four- inch contortionist, suicided by gas July 25 In his apartment next to the Cat and Fiddle, Cincinnati cafe, where he was playing. He left sev- eral notes. Body was found by Benny Rafalo, m.c. at the nltery. One of the notes disclosed that he recently failed to end his life by drowning in a bath- tub. BOBEBT O. TUCKER Robert G. Tucker, drama editor of The Indianapolis Star for 27 years, died at his Indianapolis home re- cently of an intestinal ailment after an illness of only a few days. Tucker, considered an authority on the Indiana political scene, had writ- ten a column on politics for the Cin- cinnati (O.) Enquirer for many years. He had been the Hoosier correspon- dent for that paper for 37 years. JANE VERONA Jane Verona, concert and opera singer, died July 19 in Wayne, Mich. Her real name was Mrs. Jane Philip English. Miss Verona had appeared in the leading cities of Europe, and for six years sang leading' coloratura roles at the Chicago Civic Opera. In re- cent years she taught voice in De- troit. TINA CORDINI Tina CordinI, 35,' 'of Cordini and Tina, vaude team, died July 21 after a four-rweek illness. She and Clorindo (Clarence) Cor- dini, her husband and partner, had been together as a song and dance duo for the past 16 years. Surviving,' besides her widower, are her mother, four sisters and Ave brothers. J.4iMES G. GIES James G. Gies, merchandising manager of station WNAX. Yank- ton, S. D., died July 20, in Yankton from complications following an ap- pendectomy. Funeral was held in Bloomfield, Neb., his home. Associated with WNAX since 1938, Gies won the Varibtt Farm Service Award in 1939. HOWARD JONES Howard Jones, 56, U. of Southern California football coach, who func- tioned as technical advisor of many football films, died in North Holly- wood, Cal., July 26. Leaves widow, two children and brother Tad Jones, also a grid mentor. ESTHA AISTON Estha Williams Alston,. 82, former legit actress, died July 22 in Holly- wood. Beginning her career in San Francisco in the early 1880's, she played in touring stock companies for years. Surviving is a daughter. ELMA GILLETT Elma GlUett Elton, 67) known In light opera and pictures as* Elma Gil- lett, died July 23 in Hollywood. As a screen actress she appeared in several of Mary P:'i'cford's early films. BEX BOSSELLI Rex Rosselll, 65, for almost 50 years a producer and promotion man with leading circuses, and, of late, with the Cole Bros. Circus, in a similar capacity, died in East St. Louis, 111., July 21. JACK SHEBMAN Jack Sherman, 32, Orpheum Thea- tre publicist, in Los Angeles, died there July 26. He hat] appeared in vaude and radio before turning press agent. HOBACE SHELDON Horace Sheldon, about 62, died in Whetstone, Middlesex, England, July 9. He was one of the best known musical directors, and had been at the Palladium, London, for 14 years. WILLIAM MAXWELL William Maxwell, 72, former music publisher in Scotland, and New York, died July 24 in Los An- geles. Son, 21, of Williarh Lando, owner of Lando-Grand ° theatre In Pitts- burgh, died last week of injuries sustained in an automobile-truck collision on the Pennsylvania Turn- pike near Somerset, Pa. Young Lando's bride of only a few days, also 21, w.as seriously injured In the crash. Mother of Mrs. Walt Framer (Nan Grayson of radio) died at her home in Pittsbtirgh last week after a short illness. Miss Grayson Is on staff of Pitt station WWSW, where her hus- band is special events announcer and stunt program developer. Mrs. Nathan Sobel, '70, mother of Bernard Sobel, writer and publicist, died Saturday (26) at her son's home in New York after a long illness. A daughter and i^nother son also sur- vive. Horter McVeigh, 21, professional golfer and son-of Blake McVeigh, as- sistant publicity director at the Para- mount studio, died July 23 in a motor crash near Detroit. . Roy Gulon, 54, father of Gene Raymond, film actor, and Robert Marlowe, composer, died July 25 in Los Angeles following a heart at- tack. Eddie Leonard SsContlnued from page 3 ^^^ height as a single Leonard com- manded $1,000 weekly, while his minstrel acts got as high as $2,500 a week. Leonard, born Lemuel Gordon Toney in Virginia, became a per- former by accident. His antbition was to be a baseball player and after knocking around in the minor leagues got his first major chance in the early 1890's from the late John J. McGraw, then managing the famous Baltimore Orioles. How- ever, in his first' game as center- fielder for McGraw, Leonard struck out three times in succession and McGraw thumbed him off the field. He had a natural flair for singing and Mr/Tiraw suggested that he stick around and entertain the players. It was while giving a clubhouse concert one day that Leonard came to the attention of George Primrose (& West), the minstrel man, who had wandered in. Primrose hired Leon- ard on the spot after hearing him sing 'Just Because She Made Them Goo Goo Eyes.' Leonard was an immediate hit and soon, became as famous in minstrels as Primrose Sc West themselves. Some song.s became closely identi- fied with the blackface performer, notably 'Ida, Sweet as Apple Cider' and 'Holy Boly Eyes.' Leonard was a terrific vogue for many years, then started to decline in the early 1920s. Just before the complete debacle of vaudeville, where he made his most money, Leonard tried a comeback. He showed at RKO's 86th St. theatre, playing three days for $100, but his voice and fire was gone and few dates eventuated. Schaefer-Reisman ; Continued from page 3; of his committee be brought to peak efficiency. Whitney intends spending most of his time in Argentina,'Brazil, Chile and Peru, the largest of the South American countries, rather than try- ing to go through them all and get- ting only a cursory view of any of them. L. Francis Altstock Whitney's as- sistant, will be in charge of the film program in the U. S. while.his chief is away, although a possibility ex- ists that Altstock will go to S.A., too. In that case, Kenneth Mac- gowan will take over. Former 20th- Fox producer is now in. charge of 16mm-documentary-making for the Rockefellerites. MARRIAGES Elizabeth Robb to Ben Alexander, July 23 in Beverly Hills. He's NBC commentator; she's script girl on Chase Sc Sanborn airshow. Margaret M. McGillicuddy to Francis H. Duffy In Worcester, Mass., July 26. He is owner and operator of Lincoln Park (Mass.) amusement resort. Kay Welsh to Jack Meyers, July 26, in Buffalo. He's drummer in Tone Sarnevale band. Virginia Blair to Edgar Caldwell in Las Vegas, Nev., July 25. Both are screen players. Helen Morgan to Lloyd Johnson, in Miami, July 28. -She's the nltery singer, he's a California business- man. Judy Garland to David Rose, in Las Vegas, Nev., July 28. Bride is film player; he's music director of Don Lee Coast network. Betty Benz td Bob Milliken, In Covington, Ky., July 28. She's a Pittsburgh cafe dancer; he's with Lang Thompson band. iRuth Morse to Harry Maizlish, July 1, In Los Angeles. He's mana- ger of station KFWB, Los Angeles. Bills Next Week ;Con(Jnued from page 42= Ccsn Manana Gla Club MayfBlr Rnnny Weeks Oro Boriile Bennett O Qeorffe LIbby Rev Julln Barbour Dr Uarcufl Pitta &. Kenee Done Abbott dull Vnnll)' Fulr Kal NIrn Oro Stella Ray Afay Dennlnff Alire Turner Cocoiinul Grove Mickey Alport Oro Don HIco Ore Wnlly Wonder Rev WUy Pnlne Marianne Krancle Mala >(: Hnrl Amapola Lopez Gellenil ft Leonardo VHi & (Carroll Hassan. 2it (Melody I.nDnice) MarJorlA Oau-eleon Jlerb Lewis Crawford IIoum Ray C'nIIInK Ore Miriam ^«linson Crawfordettes Carole Hall mil Malioney Oypsy Nina Ralph James Fox A Honnds Milton Coorffe Oro Hl-Hnt Pele 'Herman Oro Lucille rirey Frank Potty ilotel Brndford (Circus Room) Florence Hallmnn Runkls « Lambert- llotel^Rsex Ernest Murray Oro mily Kelly Jack Manning Al I.ewla victor Donate Allele- Corev • Rlla Ileudersoa .lane Whiiicn Ann Conrad llotrl liardner rturi Khnw livalyn Harvey Hotel Nlieratoa (Sky (iarden) Don Dudley Ore Hnlel Statler <CHfe Rouse) Saivy Cavlcchio Oro Ilotel Westmlnstet (Root Garden) .TImmy McHale Ore Harry Drake Rev Itonf Garden Qls Alice 0'l.eary 3 Chorda Hal Freed Noll Sherman Gls Hotel RItz Carletoa (Rita Root) Dick Gasparre' Ore ■lean Sablon Marcia Sl Uunsett Marian Burroughs Intemntlonal Casino Henri Jobcrt Oro Tile Cave Ralph Porraa Oro .luck Klaher Taniara Porlva Jerry & Lillian Cullla & Corral rhll Barry PITTSBUBGH Anahoras« Hugh Morton Ore Maynurd Deane Arlington Phil Cavezza Oro Balconailea John Fontaine Oro Bill Green'i Clydo Kniffitt Ore Jnnet I^re Herb Roll re r Boo|le-\TooKl« Club Donn: Sherrnan - Maxle Simon Harry <:oinornda Buddy BInlne Tubby Mlllor Hefffflo Dvorak Cork nnd Ilodla Lloyd Kux Colonlnl Benny Burton Ore 3 YachtHinen Eddie PeytoD'fl Betty Benann Al t Shamberg Rftndy MrOllnlock Marlon Muller Kvercrc«Ds Revelers Kay Burke Kay Vulitnra Nancy Grey Hotel Turk PHI Ken Ha (ley Ore .Tnlinny >[UchelI lUrry Walton Hotel Henry (Hllvflf Crllf) Stan Rucher i (Gay 90'fi) Torothy No:ibIll Hotel 71h AventM MetB Saunders Ida lola Everett Hnvdn Belly Donaboo Al Dovln ErerKreen Gardenii Revelers Sam Sweet Alice Sone X.elda Wicked Wllllea Hotel RooaereU Johnny Kaalliue Royul Hawllans Hotel \Xm renn (Continental Bar) Wanda Kacorls Kennjrwooil Park Rny Hcrbeck Oro Ray Olaon Ouy McCoinas GdorRo Van Benny Stabler i Sidneys Krk-, the Great Ne\r Penn Gay Carlisle Oro . Lorraine & LaMarr Sue Stevens Buddy Birch Jimmy WlUtama Nixon Cafa AI Ma risen Oro Bob Carter Kden Sis Hon Rliardo Co Kence & Root Nut HnuHa Sherdlna. Walker O Ted BInko George GroKK Kvelyn Nellli* Palmer & Harper (.leorpe Georgette Oh Bis nobby Annls Oro Stu Braden rines Howard Becker Oro Mae Hiirrltf Trelon Billy Merle Ore June Collins Bernard Yacht Clnb H Middleman Ore Nan Blakstone Jay Jadon Park. & <Mlftord MBn4:h Gla Shirley Hellor Sky-Vne Fran Hllchler Oro l.'nlon Grill Art Ya(rt*llo Kraixk Nutale .Mike Sandrello Villa Madrid ElyJ Crtvato Oro Mark Lane >rwood Blondes J'eter HiKBlna Key Taylor ■1 Antoinettes U'est View Park Al Kaveltn Ore Vivian Blaine Flying Beehees Rone Sullivan Avalons 6 RoinanolTs BIRTHS Mr. . and Mrs. Jack Gregory, daughter, July 20, at Nashville. Father is saxophonist at station WSM, Nashville. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Sistrom, daughter. In Hollywood, July 24. Fa- ther is a producer at Paramount. Mr. and Mrs. David Nowinson, daughter, July 24, in Hollywood. Fa- ther is radio writer. Mr. and Mrs. Joy Storm, son, July 23, in Hollywood. Father is special events director there for NB(j. Mr. and Mrs. Jake Soltz, daughter, in Pittsburgh, July 22. Father owns Rhumba. theatre, Pitt. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Warrington, daughter,, in Pittsburgh, July 7. Father is assistant manager of WB's Stanley. Mr. and Mrs. Russell E. OfThaus, son, in Boston, July 13. Father is studio manager at 'WCOP, Boston, in addition to handling 'Farmer Russ' programs. Mr. and Mrs. 'Wilfred Roberts, son, July 17, in New York.* Father is production head of NBC. Mr. and Mrs. Sonny Burke, twin sons, in New York, July 25. Father is arranger for the' Charlie Spivak orchestra and former bandleader. Mr. and Mrs. Homer S. Mosley, son, July 22, in 'Wichita, Kans. Mos- ley is owner of Trocadero, 'Wichita dancery.