Variety (Aug 1941)

S4 Wednesday, August 6, 1941 OBITUARIES 1 MABGAEET LONG (Macrle Cteire) Margaret Long, 75, known to cir- cus fans of long past as Maggie Claire, died Tuesday (20) in the Burtha M. Fisher Home for Aged, Detroit. She performed with the original Barnum Circus in the 70's, touring Europe as well as this coun- try. She was also with the Cole Circus and Sells Bros. Her career began at the age of ten and ended 35 years later. She was crippled in a fall from a flying ring. She married Harry K Long, 'also a circus performer, in 1879 and they organized their own small show, which was killed by bad weather, after which they came to Detroit to live in retirement. Long died in 1931. Mrs. Long is survived by her daughter, Mrs. Louise McCloskey, and tour grandchildren. MAI WELLS Mai Wells, 79, stage actress of the last century and in pictures for nearly 20 years, died Aug. 1 in gen- eral hospital, Los Angeles. She ap- peared in David'Belasco plays and toured this country 'and Europe in 'First Born.' Came of a theatrical family, her ' father Sam Wells, being one of the earliest Coast singers, and her mother having played with Edwin Booth. She was both a dramatic actress and singer, and dancer. Rites, were conducted by the Troupers in Hollywood Aug. 4. MABJOBIE WBIGHT DALLAS , Marjorie Wright Pallas, 38, ac- tress, died last Friday at her home In Webster, N. Y. She attended the Denishawn School in Los Angeles, spent three years on the stage with the Duncan Sisters and played in •No, No,, Nanette,' "The Desert Song' and other shows. She leaves her husband, Harold R. Dallas Webster, and her mother, Mrs. Daisy Tyler of Rochester. MOE STBEIMBB ' Moe Streimer, United Artists •peci'al homeoRice representative, died July 31 in Kew York after a long Illness. He had joined UA, when the company was first or- ganized in 1919, as manager of the N.Y. exchange. From this post he moved up to become special h.o. representative in 1936, covering the New York territory. Funeral services were held Aug. 1. GBACE LAMBEET. Grace Lambert, 41, sister of Ed- ward J. Lambert, vaude comedian and songwriter, died Aug. 3, after a abort illness in ' Farksville, N. Y. Though not a performer herseU, she traveled with her brother for years and had a wide circle of friends In the trade. Funeral services were held In New York Monday (4). Surviving is his sister, Mrs. Grace Buckbee. WILLIAM BOVNER William Rovner, 37, operator of the Laurel,, Laurel Spring, N. J., died at his home at Camden, N. J., Aug. 4, following a heart attack. He was a member of a family which'has operated theatres in South Jersey for many years. ' i He is survived by his widow and a five-month-old son. ROBERT GREENSTONE Robert Greenstone, projectionist at Little theatre, Rochester, N. Y., for the last 10 years, died of a heart at- tack July 25 during heat wave. He leaves his wife, two sisters and a brother. He is a nephew of the late Ju1e.s Greenstone, owner of the Empire theatre for many years. CLARENCE E. SMITH Clarence E. Smith, 70, president of Midland Theatres, Inc., Newark, O., died Aug. 2 at Marietta. He was also a southeastern Ohio oil arid gas producer. A son, Herbert U., former Wash- ington County representative in the Ohio Legislature, survives. JOSEPH W. THOMAS Joseph W. Thomas, 72, retired Chi- cago and Coast exhibitor died Aug. 1 in Los Angeles. Mother, 86, of Crane Wilbur, former film actor and now producer of 'Big Town' radio show, died Aug. 2 in Los Angeles. Georce A^ Baoshaw, 47, manager of Nortown theatre, Detroit, died last week of heart attack. Started in film field in 1914 as salesman for Casino Feature Film Co. Survived by widow. Mother, 69, of Jerry Hoffman, film studio publicist, and Joe Hoffman, film writer, died July 25 in Holly- wood. John Grellc, 75, life member of Musicians Local 47, died July 26 on Catalina Island. Nix Red Slur ^Contlnncd from paic 3^ stand, but the hearing developed no alarming' evidence of un-American activities among the 40,000 motion picture workers. Th« hearing frequently backfired, when witnesses questioned about at- tending meetings suspected of hav- ing been initiated by Communists or commy sympathizers, testified they attended the session in com- pany with Jack B. Tenney, former head of the Studio Musicians, and chairman of the legislative commit- tee. One of these was James Bur- ford, leader in the Columbia Re- cording Corp. strike here. Asked if sters, testified as to believing Com- munists were present in the studio unions. Other than to charge that Jeff Kibre, former leader of the United Studio Technicians Guild's fight to oust Willie Bioff was a pinko, none of them had any con- crete evidence on which the com- mittee could proceed. Kibre Although it had been hinted that Kibre had been subpoenaed but could not be located, he wired a de- mand fromi San Francisco that he be permitted to appear before the committee. He denied having been subpoenaed or hiding out, and stated he had been engaged in the 'vital defense work' of getting the sardine season started in the north- west. Charles Backsy, who has been in- vestigating red activities since the days of A. Mitchell Palmer as U.S. attorney-general, was scheduled as the major witness, but like the others disclosed little of real value. He told of posing as a Communist in the writer colony at. Carmel, and claimed to have been initiated as a 'fellow traveler' by Ella Winter. He expressed the belief that Jeff Kibre was the 'No. 1 Communist' in the picture industry, but other than to state he had heard the Soviet money for the film writers was handled by Kibre, disclosed no real evidence. He told of erecting a huge star at his Carmel home to signal passing ships, but admitted that all of the signal- ing was done by himself. Asked about the messages, he replied they consisted of 'HeUo,' 'Goodbye,' 'We are holding a meeting.' MARRIAGES Jrfiriam McClure, secretary to na- tional sales manager Loren Stone, kiRO. SeatUe, to Joe McCoy, non- pro, on July 25 in Seattle. Helen Morgan to Lloyd Johnson, in Miami Beach, July 27. He's a Los Angeles auto salesman. Virginia Blaire Moore to Edgar Caldwell, In Las Vegas, Nev., July 26. She's a screen player. He's' a dancer. Donnasue Lohmeyer to John Boe in Kansas City, July 19. Bride is 'June Martin, the food scout' for sta- tion KMBC, groom is non-pro. Margai;et liewerth to Dr. Winfield E. Stumpf, Aug. 1, at New York. Bride is a radio writer. Helen Bartlett to Philip Stahl, scheduled for today (Wednesday) in Stockbridge, Mass. He is an an- nouncer at W^R, New York. Ruth M. Morse to Harry Maizlish, July 1, in Hollywood. He's manag- ing director of KFWB. Mary Helen Scapelliti to Dr.' M. Harvey Fand, Aug. 5, in Lockport, N. Y. Bride Is 'Story Hour Lady' over WBEN, Buffalo. Ruth Taub to Carl Esmond, in Las Vegas, Nev., Aug. .'2. Bride is a literary agenl; he's a stage and film actor. Rosalie Dickason to Gerald R. Spencer, recently in St. John, N. B He's associated with the Spencer cir- cuit in St. John. Joan Perry to Harry Cohn, in New, York, July 31. Bride is a Warner contract player; he's prez of Columbia Pictures. Saratoga In Chips ;Contlnned from pair 1: political reflexes from Albany, some SO miles distant. The trouble invariably stems from somebody beefing when 'not being taken care of.' They show press clippings that if 'such-and-such place can operate a casino, why can't we,' and thus action is forced, despite a general inclination to be 'Iil>eral.' That's the case rigKt now, as matter of fact; not every roadhouse and inji has the green light, but there's plenty of action around for them that wants it. Bad Catering An idea of the extent of being caught short was keynoted by the poor service at the topflight inns Sat- urday night. Captains explained that 'the season never gets rolling until the second or third week, and the opening weekend is usually light, which is why we only bring half crews up from New York.' Incidentally, the Saratoga approach on public catering adds to Saratoga's mystery, year after year. Firstly is the basic premise that the show and food are incidental to the gambling. If you're a known gambler, you're catered to; the house rarely presents the check and often throws in the bubbly, so long as they get you into the casino. On the other hand, the gastronomic Icheme of things is awry and doesn't add up. Charlie Manny will import Marcel LcMaze from Hollywood to handle the cui- sine—and LaMaze gets as much bill- ing on the signboards and ads as does Hildegarde, Georges and Jalna and the Ted Straeter and Oscar de la Rosa bands . Popnlatlon EzlreraM Also anomalous about Saratoga, of course, ' are the two extremes of things. Basically, it's a spa, and the vast majority are there for the waters, or are merchants, medicos and mendicants catering to those taking the cure. Comes August, the sporty crowd moves in. That's when society with a capital horseflesh takes over. That brings the Broadway element, the sports followers, and with it the bigger shows at the roadhouses. But the town isn't geared to take care of the de luxe bunch. The Gideon-Putnam takes reservations a year in advance for August, and the U. S. and Grand Union are more museum pieces than hostelries, but charge like the Wal- dorf. And the Gideon charges like two Waldorfs—$20 to $35 a day, and try and get in. The horsey set, of course, have their year-round es- tates, but they're a handful relative- ly. The rest of the town looks like a cross between Arverne with its dialectic, cheap hotels and the Luxor Baths with its neo-Llndy's type of trade. Top NItcrles • The two top night spots are Arrow- head an4 Piping Rock, where Monte Proser and Julie Podell have in- stalled their Copacabana Revue from New York, plus Emile Coleman's crack dansapation. Joe E. Lewis came in this weelc (4) and next week Adelaide Moff^tt replaces prez of WCAU, Philadelphia, with his protegee, Manie Sacks, record- ing chief of Columbia Records (both of whom thought that ASCAP 'made a lousy deal for itself); Rube Bloom, songsmith; Julian T. Abeles, the- atrical attorney; Jack Bertell, among sundry other agents; Jack Kirkland, squiring Haila Stoddard of thp Spa theatre troupe; Denis Dufor, associ- ated with Ted Hammerstein in op- eration of the Spa; Mike Nidorf, band booker. Phil Ober and Vivian Vance, in 'Mr. and Mrs. North' at the Spa last week (succeeded by C. Aubrey Smith, this week, in 'Old English'), plai^ to become Mr. and Mrs. Ober soon. - Arrowhead pulled a neat stunt by advertising its Hildegarde and sup- porting show on the first page of the official racing program. Riley's Lake House, management Tom Leonard, has Diosa Costellc^ Sammy Walsh, Columbus and Car* roll and Wally Stoefier, featuring Marvis Dinning. Alice Dawn heads the Newman's Lake House show with Bernie Col- lins band, Victor Montez's Latins and the Three Majors. Spivy was at the Bali for one night only (they didn't savvy her) with vet Al Shayne emceeing the Earl Lind- say revue that includes 16 girls, Freda Sullivan, Barba LeMarr (sic!) and Jack Sherr's orchestra. Tony DeMarco, who is going into the Arthur Murray type of resort ballroomology, has a classroom at the Spa theatre. ' Hammerstein-Dufor have a 'bar- gain' deal for the Spa, which is State-owned, paying only $1,000 tor the season. They plan doing an orig- inal, as a pre-Broadway tryout, at their season finale. Jack Diamond not only exploits Monte Proser's Piping Rock but also chaperones the Copacabana Revue. Bills Next Week ^'"tinned from page *1sSm Luclll* Grey Trank Petty Holal BrMdCord (CJr«uii Ro«in) Floi-onc* Hallnian RunkI* A Laniktrt Hotel Rkitx Erneat ^luri'ay Ore BMly Kolly Jack llnnnlnr Al T.ewls Vlrtor Donate Adeiii V.orrv Rtta Hpnderaon AHra Martin Joan Day Hotel Gardner Burt Shaw Kvalyn Harvey Hotel Blierttton (Sky (iarden) Don Dudley Ore Hotel Btatler . (t'afe Rotlse) Saivy Cavlc'Cblo Ore Hotel Weatmlaele* (Root Uardeo) Jimmy MoHale Or« Hurry Drake Rev Roof Garden Gle Alice O'Jjeary 3 rhord.H Hal Freed Noel Sherman Gla Hotel Rlli rarleloa (Bits Roof) Dick Raaparre Ore Dr Giovanni ' Marcia & Gunsett Marjan Burroui^ha Interoatlonai CaelM Henri Jolwrt Org The CaTo Ralph Porraa Oro J<,ck Flaher Tamara Dorlva Jerry & I.IIMan Cnllia & Corral Pull Barry prrrsBUBGH ADcliorase Hufth Morton Ore Maynard. Deana Arltncton Lodge Phil i^ave^/.a Ore HARBT bUSHET Harry Bushey, 55, stagehand and for many years business agent for the Omaha stagehands union, died suddenly on a street car around mid- night on Aug. 2 as he was returning Irom hia^work at the Orpheum the- atre. Bushey is survived by his wife and three brothers. Burial in Omaha. ' ADOLFO CABVSO Adolfo Caruso, retired United States Army officer and husband of the San Antonio singer, Josephine Lucchese, died at a San Antonio hos- pital, July 29. For the past five years ^he had been a manager for Skouras ^Theatres. B Besides the widow, he is survived W^y three sisters, Julia, Olga and Dora Caruso, of Rome, Italy. GEOBGE BBINDMOUB George Brindmour, 71, ]uiown for years in vaudeville as the 'Handcuff King,' died July 31 at his home in Los Angeles. He was a headliner on the big time a generation ago and later played character roles in pic- tures. Surviving is his widow, Helen Hil- Uard, who appeared in his act. WILLIAM MOLITOB WiUiam F. Molltor, 70, retired the- atre manager, died July 29 in HoUy- woodo Before going to the Coast 15 jrears ago, he had been associated with Artbvr ttanunerstein and John Cort ancl handled such plays as 'Peg O' Mjr Heart' and 'Friendly Enemies.' Federation for Political Unity at Fresno, Burford replied in the af- flrmatCve, stating he nvade the trip in a car with Jack Tenney and Sam Yorty, both then members of the legislature. Yorty at that time headed the Assembly red investiga- tion, now being championed by Tenney. Bombshell A real bombshell was hurled Into the hearing when the committee subpoenaed Herbert Sorrell, busi- ness representative of Moving P'ic- ture Painters, Local 644, and leader of the Walt Disney strike of Car- toonists. Sorrell charged that the committee was being used by Willie Qioff, Chicago labor hoodlum who had been ignored by the Cartoonists when he tried to chisel into the Dis- ney strike. He denied he was a Communist or had ever attended a Communist meeting, and frequently questioned the sincerity of the com- mittee. Sorrell said he had been ad- vised by Bioff stooges that he would be called before .the committee an^ charged with being a Communist because of his attack on Bioff, now under Federal indictment in connec- tion with the asserted extortion of $550,000 from four major film com- panies. Aubrey Blair, American Federa- tion "of Labor organizer; L. C. Helni, business representative of Studio Utility Employees, Local 724, and Lew C. G. Blix, formerly with the International Alliance' of Theatrical Stiage Employees, but now an or- ganizer for the 'dowiitown Team- BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Jack Dawn, daugh- ter, in Lod Angeles, Aug. 1. Father is head of Metro's make-up depart- ment. Mr. and ' ^rs. Murray Baker, daughter, July 31, in New York. He Is general professional manager for Bobbins Music' Mr. and Mrs. Frank T u 111 e , daughter, in Los Angeles, July 29, Father is film director; mother for- mer dancer. Mr. and Mrs. AUred R. Milton, daughter, In Hollywood, July 30. Father is superintendent of still photography at Universal. Mr. .ajnd Mrs. Hubert Scott, son, Aug. 1, in Indianapolis. Father is assistant manager of Loew's, In- dianapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell Ayres. daughter, in New York, July 24, Father is bandleader; mother former Georgia Jarvis, of legit Mr. and Mrs. Willie Horowitz, daughter, in New York, July 25. Father is with Mayfair music; mother is the former Molly Klinger, vaude and radio pianist. Mr. and Mrs. Michael Kraike, daughter, Aug. 2, in Los Angeles. Father is in the Paramount story de- partment. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Dannenbaum, son, Aug. 3, in Hollywood. Father Is publicist at 20th Century-Fox. Dr. and Mrs. S. S. Hockenberg, son, in Des Moine3,-*Jitly 31.' Mother is 'the former Dorotby^BOTke, Broad- way dancer and prodra^n rest it's the same lineup with Juani- ta Juarez and Patricia Romero (in place of Isa Reyes), Chandra-Kaly Dancers (3) and the Samba Sirens, six lookers. Frank Harti's samba band from the New York Copaca- bana also has been brought here. The Piping Rock is the most Gotham-looking spot at the spa. It's a blend of the Cdpa and the Stork, what with managing director Jack Entratter, Joe Lopez as maitre (sans the tape, as at the Stork); several Stork and Copa captains, plus ;the entire crew. Hildegarde at the Arrowhead—the traditionally the No. 1 room re- placing the Brook (since burnt down)—is drawing and clicking tig with a class crowd. It's qn even larger room than Piping Rock, but not as attractive, either from the standpoint of the customers' perspec- tive or in its general decor. How- ever, 'Charlie Manny has an unde- niably fashionable following. Georges and Jalna do their class ballroom- ology as an hors d'ouvre to Miss Hil- degarde's distinctive chansoning, and Ted Straeter, a Saratoga fixture, who has been long at Fefe Ferry's Monte Carlo in New York, gives out with sock syncopation. Hildegarde is be- ing held a third week, for the final two sessions another name is due in. Saratoga Chips Opening weekend visitors included E. Ray Goetz, who has a house here; Jock Whitney, who forgot about his Pan-American goodwUling in the ex- citement of a winning' entry; Liz Whitney, his divorced wife with an- other 'cafe society' party; Ike Levy, Bill UrccD'a Clyde Knl(ht Ore Janet l.cfl Herb Rohrer Moosle-Woosle Club Boor Sherman ■ Maxie Ulmon Hurry Comorada Buddy Blaine 'I'ubby Miller Reitsle Dvorak Cork and Bottle Lloyd Fox CulOBlal Benny Burton Ore 3 Tarhtsmen Eddie PejtOB'e Betty Benson Art Bhamberff Sandy MrCllntock Marlon Muller Kversreena Revelera Kay Burke Ray Valance Nancy Grey Hotel Flirt Pitt Ken Bailey Ore Johnny Mltrhel) Harry Walton Hotel UfatT (NUver tirlll) Stan Rucker 4 (Gay Wn) rorothy Neabltt Hotel Tth Avenae Uevs Satindera Ida lola .Kverelt Kardn Betly Donnhoe Al Devin ETercrecB Qardea* Revelera Sam Bweet Alice Sone Zelda Wlrked Wllllea Hotel KooHeTelt .Tohnny Kaalhua Royal Hanllana Hater Wm PeaB (ContlBcntal Bar) ' 'Wanda Eacorie KennywoAd Parli Ray Herbeck Oro Ray Olson Ouy McConiaa George Van Benny Stabler * aidneya Kric, the Great ;.' ^•J^»-'.TK:^•■ Gay rarllvie Ore Lorraine St LaMaiV Sue Stevena Buddy Birch Jimmy Wllllama Klxon Cafe AI Marleco Ore Bob Carter Ifden Sla Don RIcardo Co Renee St Root Nut RoDM Sherdlna Walker 0 Ted Blake Georfce GregR Bvelyn .Nellla Palmer St Harper George & Georgett*. Oneli Bobby Annis Ora Stu Bradan Fine* Howard Becker Oi% Mae Harris Treloa Billy Merle Oro June ('olllna Bernard Tacbt Club H Middleman Or Nan Blakstone Jay Jaeon Park St Clifford Manch Ola Shirley Heller Skr-Vne Fran Elchler Or. Union Orlll Art Yagello Frank Natale Mike Sandreito Villa Madrl<l Bi:<l Covato Ore Mark Lane H'lvood Blondea Peter HIgglna Key Taylor I Antoinettes West View Farli Al Kavelln Oro Vivian Blaine Flying Beeheep Rose Sullivan I 6 Avalons 6 Romanofla