Variety (Aug 1941)

46 Wednesday, August 20, 1941 I OBITUARIES 1 DAVID C. \VERNEB David C. Werner, 50, longtime cast- ing director, story editor and talent Bcout at Universal under the Carl Laemmle regime, died following ah operation at- Cedars of Lebanon hos- pital, Hollywood, Sunday (17). Werner was connected with Uni- versal n years, starting as eastern story editor and talent hunter. He went to Hollywood as casting direc- tor }n 1932 and remained there until the company passed to present own- ership. As talent scout he was cred- ited with sending Bette Davis west for a screen test, making the first t«9t, of Clark Gable lor films and maiiy others of today's prominents. Until stricken he was aide and casting director for Richard Rowland Productions, working on "Three Cheers for Miss Bishop.' Survived by widow and son. After lervlces at Groman's Mortuary to- Oay (20) remains are being sent to N, Y. for interment JAMES GBEIG James Greig, 46, salesman out of the St. Louis UA branch, died Thursday (14) in Barnes hospital, St. Louis, from injuries suffered July 28 when his automobile crashed into a A dolemn AnnlvenaiT Mass on Toes- ditr, AoKUBt Zeth, at 10 o'clock aJn., will be olTered at the Chorch ot the Bleucd Saciament, on Vitat 71at 0tt«et, Jaat off Broadway, New Tork City, tor m. JBRE 3. COHAN ma. HBLEy f. cohan MBS. JOSEPUINE CORAM NIBLO tree near Festus, Mo., 28 miles south of St. Louis. Grelg suffered a frac- tured right leg, pelvis and internal injuries. He was never conscious long enough to explain the accident. He was returning to St. Louis from • business trip to Jackson, .Mo., when the accident occurred. Greig was connected with the St. Louis UA branch for the last seven years; previously he worked for 20th-Fox both in St. Loo - and in llemphls. Survived by widow and 16-year- old son. JACK LABBIC Jack Larric, 63, playwright and newspaperman, died Monday .(16) in l^ew York after a long illness. He had also been a writer of many icenariOE produced in Hollywood. Among Larrlc's most notable plays were 'Denial,' presented on Broad- way in 1919; 'Sleepless Night,' 1921; The Basy Mark,' 1926, and 'Made in France,' 1930. Widow and sister survive. OTTO ROCKMAN Otto Rockman, 60, former Chicago nitery operator, died in Chicago Aug. 9. Rockman had been inter- ested in several key nite spots in Chicago in his time, and was a char- ter member of the famous old Com- edy Club, Chi show business group. Later got into politics and was on the Board of Assessors. Burial in Chicago. EDUARDO PASTOR Eduardo Pastor, 65, Spanish stage comedian who made a big rep in Mexico and Latin-America, died at his home in Mexico City. Pastor went to Mexico from Spain, where, with his late father, Isidore, he became a star at the turn of the century. In Mexico, he developed' into a comic tenor. Surviving are a widow and 10 children. Burial was in Mexico City. WILLIAM T. HODDER William T. Hodder, 70, president of the . Leona Theatre Corp., opera- tors of houses in and around Home- stead, Pa., died at Braddock General Hospital, Pittsburgh, last week after long illness. He leave his widow and two sons. JAMES WHITE James White, 72, of Amherst, N. S., who had played the comet in bands and on the stage for 51 years, died suddenly at his Amherst home of a heart attack. Surviving are the widow, three daughters and one son. JOHN COATES John Coates, 76, English operatic tenor, died Aug. 16, after a long ill- neM,< at his home in Northwood, Middlesex, England. For some 50 years he appeared in both grand and light opera. Bom in Bradford, England, Coates made his' debut as a singer while Btm a boy and in 1894 appeared in London for the first time as a mem- ber of the D'Oyly Carte Co. at the Eavoy theatre. He often appeared on the concert stage and won con- siderable acclaim for his rendition of old English songs and airs assocl' Cited with the Shakespearean era. He toured America upon two oc caaiont. FRANK O. MOULES Frank G. Moules, 37, of Halifax, N. S., who organized the Frank Moulea orchestra 16 years ago and had led it ever since, died sudden- ly at hia Halifax home. He had just finished a night's stand with his i orch at a summer hotel when he was I gtrlcken. Apparently, he had been V In good health. Moules' orch was the first to broad- cast over CHNS, Halifax, He took it all through Nova Scotia for engage* meats at hotels, night clubs, theatres, and dance halls, the outfit being one Of the busiest in the eastern prov- inces. LOmS B. BICH Louis B. Rich, 30, for the last five feats secretary-accountant for Hor- ace Heldt, and who also did a num- ber of arrangements for the orches- toa, died Aug. 16 at Mt. Sinai hos- pital, Milwaukee, after a six-month Illness, To theatre audiences Rich was known as a memory expert, ^cnd it was his remarkable profl- 'ciency In. this respect that first at- tracted Heidt's attention to him. Survived by his widow, Rose, his mother and brother. J. STDART BLACKTON J. Stuart Blackton, 66, pioneer film producer, died last week in Holly- wood of auto injuries. Fturther details in film department. HARVEY W. CHAPMAN Harvey Wood Chapman, 66, for- mer drama' critic on old Bridgeport Standard, died Aug. 15 in Bridgeport. Mrs. ElUibeth Fraser Lloyd, 71, mother of Harold Lloyd, died Aug. 17 at her home in Beverly Hills, Cal., after several months' illness. Other survivors are another son. Gay lord; two sisters, a brother and four grand- children. Her brother is William R. Fraser, general manager of the Har- old Lloyd Corp. BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Ernst Laemmle, daughter, in Hollywood, Aog. 11. Father is scenario assistant at Paramount. Mr. and Mrs. Al Grobe, daughter, Aug. 11, in New York. Father Is continuity director of station WINS, New York. Mr. and Mrs. James Dooley, son, in Steubenville, O. Father is an- nouncer at WSTV, Steubenville. Mr. and Mrs. Irwin Jacobs, son, in Pittsburgh, Aug. 10. Father's in M-G booking dept., Pittsburgh. Mr. and Mrs. Sam Rosen, daughter, in Hollywood, Aug. 14. Father is cameraman at Columbia. Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Streibert, son, Aug. 16, in Brooklyn. Father is v.p. of WOH, New York. Mr. and t/Lvsj John Kolbmann, son, Aug. 13, in Philadelphia. Father is sporUcaster on WHAT, Philly. Mr. and Mrs. Herb Welch, son, Aug. 10, in Columbus, O. He's an announcer with WBNS there. Mr. and Mrs. Wicklille Crider, daughter. In New York. Father is radio publicity director in New York office of J. Walter Thompson agency. Mr. and Mrs. Joe Lefkowitz, daughter, Aug. 14, Peterson, N. J. Father manages Clifton theatre, Clifton, N. J. MARRIAGES La Salle Gulkis to Neal Hopkins, Aug. 9, in West New York, N. J. He is a member of the scripting staff of NBC, New York. Fritzi Breger to Abe Schechter, July 15, in New York. He is NBC news and special events head. Mr. and Mrs. Jack Eichenberger in Portland, Ore., Aug. 4. Groom Is p.a. with KGW-KEX. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Tomlinson in Portland. Ore., Aug. 6. Groom is on the announcing staff of KGW- KEX. Eleanor Caretta to Joseph E. Mc Conville, Aug. 14, In N. Y. He's for- eign representative for Columbia Pictures and son of Joseph A. Mc- ConviUe, company's foreign manager. Dorothy Hughes to Allan Douglas, in Pittsburgh, ~Xug, 19. He's in M-G hooking department, Pitt exchange, and she% in the Inspection dept. Lu Anne Meredith to Hal Lynch, Aug. 16; in HoUywood. Bride is a dancer. Miriam Ryan to Jack Thomas, an- nouncer with KSO-KRNT, Des Moines, In Des Moines Aug. 13. Ellen Drew to Sy Bartlett, Aug 16, at Lake Tahoe, Cal. Bride is film player; he's screenwriter. Bess Johnson to Peter J. Fick, in Warrenton, Va., June 10. Bride is radio actress and script writer he's the widower of Donna Dame- rel, who played the, role *of Marge on the 'Myrt and Marge' radio show. Doris Rich to Ralph Stuart, in Beverly HUlSj Aug. 4. Bride is sta^e and radio actress; he's a writer and former actress and director. Lois January to William Gernaunt in Kansas City, Mo,, Aug. 13. Bride is the musical comedy performer; he's ^ociated with the Professor Quiz program.. Martha Remlinger to W. O. James, Aug. 8, in Columbus. He's manager of the Palace and Marion theatres, Marion, O. Eileen Creelman to Frederick Davenport, Aug. 16, in Marietta, O. She's film critic for the N. Y. Sun. Cynthia "Westlake to Rudy Islng, Aug. 16, in Beverly Hills, CaL She's a film player; he's the Metro cartoon producer. Minn. Indies jContlnned from pa^e *s to arouse Americans to their peril, and shouldn't it center American attention on this destructive and brutal force that is'running amuck over Europe? Bhetorlcal Qnestlons Carrying the offensive to Nye and Wheeler, the trailers also would ask if the two Senators don't think Americans should have and despise Hitlerism and the things for which it stands, and if Nye and Wheeler themselves approve what Hitler has done and is doing end the totali- tarian creed. Concluding trailers would ask patrons to register their own sentiments in the matter of questiormalres to be deposited at the boxofflce. Several Northwest Allied leaders have declared they don't believe the films have done nearly enough 'in putting the facts before the public, making men and women moviegoers realize what a complete Nazi victory would mean to the United States and stirring Ajnericans' consciousness to the sort' of a world which likely win prevail if Hitler triumphs.' One question in the proposed ques- tionnaire to patrons would ask if they think it wrong for the movies to show what the Nazis have done and are doing and what totalitarian- ism means, if the represehtatlons are truthful and in view of the fact that a majority of Americans believe that, if Hitler is victorious, the U. S. will be imperilled, that the fuehrer is bent on world conquest and that he is an enemy of truth, justice and liberty. Coughlin's Smear ^^^ Contlnned from page 4 ^^_ preme Court. Along with the repi- tition of the Nye charges, the pub- lication accuses Hollywood of 'inter- national interests of wide range and power—such as gun-running be- tween warring countries, oil conces- sions and munitions contracts—all were within gunshot of the investi- gators had the Government's law officers been permitted to open up the Hollywood situation.' In a following editorial, soma of the pique of the former radio priest, ni longer oh the airways, is reflected under the title, 'After the Smear, What?' in which the radio takes a belting. 'Father Coughlin receives letters from Individuals of influence and prominence who never were in his corner before,' the editorial declares in part. 'They admit his warning was wise and his information ac- curate at a time when they disbe- lieved, his facts and scoffed at bis counsel. 'Now that, his radio voice Is silenced by the powerful little monopoly that controls radio—and his activity in the church is re- strained while his detractors and the pre-war clerics are given full rein— the silent Father Coughlin is stronger today than before 'the smear.' The editorial was defending Charles Lindbergh and Senator Bur- ton Wheeler, with the N., Y. Times singled out for considerable abuse. L iter a ti Saga of Coney Island Nobody ever rocked that ancient cradle of carnival. Coney Island, quite so briskly as Oliver Pilat and Jo Ranson do in their resort history called 'Sodom by the Sea' (after the ministerial tagllne of the not so ele- gant '80s). The book has been pushed up into the best seller class by such tidbits as how Charles Mac- Arthur proposed marriage In the Old Mill, and how Heywbod' Broun was melted down to make hips for Mae West at the Eden Musee waxworks on Surf avenue. Showfolks are also keen on the history which combines a sound knowledge of the development of recreation with a host of Coney contes about performers and outdoor showmen, ranging from Mabel Talia- ferro and. Milton Berle to Skip Dundy aiid Fred Thompson" who built Luna Park. The book is also crowded with magnificent material on sideshow freaks; flat and gravity rides; the era of lawlessness in Coney in the' days of Thunderbolt Norton, John Y. McKane and the original Kenny Sutherland. Coney's bathing morals are well handled in a chapter , tagged, 'Sin in Suits.' Plenty pix material in 'Sodom by the Sea' (Doubleday-Doran; $3). F. P. A. Off N. T. Post Franklin P. Adams, who writes The Conning Tower column for the New York Post, severs his connec- tion with the paper effective Sept. 2, when his current six-week vacation ends. Parting is said to be amicable. Post's decision to drop the feature was for economy reasons. Ted Thackrey, editor of the paper, reached an agreement with Adams last week. Columnist had no con- tract with the Post. His column has appeared in the paper since 1938. It previously was carried by the N. Y. Herald Tribune and before that in the old N. Y, Tribune and the N. Y. World, having been started in the N. Y. Evening MaU. Adams' regular appearance on the 'Information Please' radio series for Lucky Strike is understood to earn him $750 a week from the program. 8o. Amer. 'Hearst' Dead Eight pages of obit and comment recorded the news of the death of Natalio Botana—known variously as the 'Hearst' and the 'Lord Beaver- brook' of South America—in his own Critlca. Publisher,' who was practically the sole owner of the leading B.A. atternooner, and of the new Balres Films studio, died Aug. 7 of injuries suffered In an automobile accident. He was 52. Eduardo Bedoya, director of Cri- tlca, ordered war news pushed to the background, ruled the front page 'With black, and included comments on Botana from all parts of the world. He was strongly pro-Yanqul and 100% pro-Democracy. Botana's deathbed gesture, in fact, was to make the 'V sign. 'Smart' Mag Bankrupt . John B. Ferris Pub. Corp., pub- lisber of the magazine 'Smart,' filed a voluntary petition of bankruptcy in N. Y. federal court yesterday (Tuesday), listing $20,700 in assets and $57,355 In liabilities. Assets con- sist of $18,000 due from newsstands and $2,500 for good will. Liabilities include $1,049 in taxes, $34,176 to W. P. Hall Printing Co. for prltlng the magazine, and $16,883 to Buckly Dunton & Co. for paper. 12.50 Worth of Glamor Olga Malcova, Bergdorf - Good- men's No. 1 glamor gal, has authored 'Wanted: Girl With Glamor,' which Duell, Sloan & Pearce will publish Aug. 21 ($2.50).- It's a practical guide to a recently well publicized (and paying) career —modeling. LITERATI OBITS William H. Levlngi, 68, former city editor of the Los Angeles Herald 8e Express, died Aug. B in Las Vegas, Nevada. He had been a newspaper man on the Coast for 47 years. Edwin Joha Klest, owner of KRLD, Dallas, and publisher of the Dallas Daily Times-Herald, died in Dallas last week, six weeks before hU 80th birthday. David H. Light, 48, editor of Pitts- burgh music world publication. Mu- sical Forecast, a monthly, and edi- tor and publisher of This Week in Pittsburgh, a weekly throwaway, died suddenly Aug. 11 at his home in Pittsburgh of a heart attack. He was also a member of the board of the Pittsburgh Opera Society. Ernest S. Simpson, 74, veteran newspaperman and long in charge of public relations for the International Harvester Company, died Aug. 14 at his home In Chicago. James W. Dean, 47, retired execu- tive of the Newspaper Enterprise As- sociation, and a founder of Acme News Pictures, died Aug. 14 in St. Petersbu«g; Fla., after a long Illness. JnllDs P. HolE, 85, v.p. of the Staats-Herold Corp., publishers of the New Yorker Staats-Zeitung, Ger- man language dally, died Aug. 13 at his home in Forest Hills, N. Y. Charles H. Taylor, 73, treasurer and director of the Boston Evening Globe, died Monday (18) at his Boston home after a long Illness. His newspaper career spanned 44 years. CHATTER (jene Markey sold his yarn, 'Good night, Galatea,' to Liberty. Rex Smtih, Newsweek editor, on the coast to inspect airplane fac- tories. Randolph Hancock has .been made editor of .the Jacksonville (N. C.) Record. Jesse Zunser now drama editor ot Cue mag, succeeding Oliver Claxton, resigned. Charles Coburn putting his col- legiate lectures on 'The Art of Act- ing' into book form. Dick Herbert, sports editor of the Rocky Mount (N. C.) Evening Tele- gram, has been made assistant direc- tor of sports publicity at N. C. State college, Raleigh. David G. Wittels, who recently re- signed as a member ot the Philly Record staff, has been hired as pub- licity director for the Independent Republican Campaign Committee in that city. Bills Next Week ; Continued from page 4 Hl-Hat Pete Herman Oro Lucille Qrey Frank Petty Hotel Bradrord (CIrcas Boom) Florence HallmaD RunkI* a Lambert Hotel Cases Brnest Murray Oro Billy Koll.v Jack Mnnnlna Al Lewie Victor Donato Adcle Corov Rita Henderson Hotel Uardoet Burt Bhaw Kvalyn Harvey -Hotel Shemtoa (Sky Garden) Don Dudley Oro Hotel Statlet (Cafe Rouse) Saivy Cavlcchlo Ore Hotel Weatmlnater (Root Garden) Jimmy McRale Oro Harry Drake Rev Root Garden Gla Vltta Gibson Mario & King Ibanez & Juanlta Hal Freed Noel Sherman Gla Hotel Bltx Carletoa (RIU Boot) Dick Rogers Oro Dr OJovannI Marcia & Qunntt Ruth Aarone Sandor Glancz Adrlenne International CaslM HonrI Jobort Oro The Cave Ralph Porraa Oro jACk Fisher Tamara Dorlva Jerry & Lillian Collta & Corral Phil Barry FITTSBUBOH Anohorege Hugh Morton Oro Maynard Deane Arlington Lode* Pbll Cavezza Oro Baloonodeo Buddy Carlson Oro Bill Green's B Hoagland Oro Don Burke Boogle-Woogte Clob Boog Sherman ■Maxle mmon Harry Comorada Buddy Blaine Tubby Miller Reggie Dvorak Cork and Bottio Lloyd Fox Colonial Eddie Weltz Oro Gerry Richards Eddie Peyton's Art Schamberg Ore Mildred Segal Eddie Peyton Sandy Mccllntooii Marlon MuUer Evergreena Rovolers Kay Burke Ray Valance Nancy Grey Hotel Vort Pitt Ken Bailey Oro Johnny Mitchell Uerry Walton Hotel Ueu7 (.SUver OrllU Stan Rucker 4 (Gay M's) Dorothy Nesbitt Hotel 7tfa ATonae Boss Saunders Ida lola Bverett Haydn Betty Donaho* Al Devin Bversreen «n»|tfM Revelers Sam Sweet Alice Bono Zelda Wicked Wliiles Hotel Booae*elt Johnny Kaalhue Royal Hawllana Hotel Wm Pewi (Coutliiental Bar) Wanda Esaorts Meny-Oo-Boiuid Benny Burton Oro Belly Harper Babe Rhodes Kennywood Park Del Courtney Ore Jack Milton Joe Martin Dick Dlldino 3 Dells Bob Moonan Faludys New Penn Ralph Allen Ore Leon & Dawn Buddy Birch Janet Lee Flash Davis Ida Jane Kizon Cnte Al Marlsco Oro Rob..Carter - - - Caryl Gould Mary Jano Brown BlancliAros Golden Pair N'ut Iloaso Sherdlna Walker O Ted Blake George Gregg Evelyn Nollls Arthur Lloyd ' Chuck Wilson Oasis Bobby Annia Oro Stu Bradcu Pines Howard Becker Ore Mae Hnrria TreloB Tachtsmen Nancy Gardner George Webber Yaebt Clnb H Middleman Oro Gordon & Sawyer Rollette & Dorothea Al Ferguson Manch Gla Shirley Heller Sky-Vao Teddy King Ore. Union Grill Art Tagello Frank Natale Mike Sandrelto Tllla Uadrid Btzl Covato Oro Mark Lane Cliff WInehlli 2 Co-Bds Peter HIgglns Key Taylor West View Park Buzz Ashton Ore Torrence & Vlctorls