Variety (Dec 1942)

46 Wednesday. December 16, 1942 OBITUARIES HELEN WESTLEY Helen WeMloy. C.I, veteran charac- ter actro>s i>f slasu and films, died at her home in MIddlebush. N. J.. Dec. 12. She had recently returned from the Coast because ot illness. Miss Westley was on the board of managers of the Theatre Guild in 1919, and before that organized the Washington Square Players, N. Y.. also appearing in their production ot 'Another Interior' In 1915. She ap- peared in many Theatre Guild pro- ductions. Some of the plays in which .'-he was featured were 'He Who Gets Slapped; 'The Adding Machine.' 'Caesar and Cleopatra." "The Guards- men,' 'Reunion in Vienna.' 'Green Grow the Lilacs,' 'Helena's Husband.' 'Sea Gull' and 'Lover's Luck.' She also appeared in the following films^ 'Death Takes a Holiday. 'Zaza.' 'Lillian Ru.ssoll.' "Sonny." "Million Dollar Baby." 'My Favorite Spy.' 'Hou.se of Rothschild." 'Rebecca ot Sunnybronk Farm" and "Keep Smil- ing." Miss Westley returned to the Broadway stage in 1939, taking the role of Grandma in 'Primrose Path' at the Biltmore. Surviving are a daughter and brother. BICHARD TUCKER Richard Tucker, 58, once a famil- iar figure on the Broadway stage and a film actor since 1914, died Dec. 3 in Hollywood after a lingering ill- ness. In his early legit days ho played in his native city. New York, with Nat Goodwin, John Drew, Mrs. Fiske, Henry E. Dixie and other stars of the prc-picture era. Moving to Hollywood 28 years ago he Joined the old Edison Company ana subsequently played leads and character roles in more than 100 features, some of them made by pro- duction outfits long since defunct. Among the later films in which he appeared were 'The Great Ziegfeld.' 'Diamond Jim,' 'Ring Around the Moon,' 'Shall We Dance' and 'Shad- ow of a Doubt.' ROBERT G. TAYLOR Robert G. Taylor, 56, manager of the St. Louis exchange for Mono- gram, died of heart disease at his home in University City, a suburb of St. Louis. Taylor went to St. Louis 30 years ago as a booker for pictures and worked there also for RKO and Universal. He formed his own book- ing agency, Chesterfield Pictures Corp., about 10 years ago, but sold the firm to become manai;er for Monogram in 1936. Mother, widow, daughter and ^is- ter survive. HENRY MILLER Henry G. Miller. 36. Pittsburgh musician, died in the Passavant hos- pital in that city last week after a long illness. At the time of his death, he was a pianist and arranger for Bernie Armstrong's staff orch at KDKA, having joined Armstrong after ifiore than two years with the Piccolo Pete dance band. Over the last 15 years he had been associated with several different Pittsburgh outfits. He leaves three brothers and five sisters. Burial was Saturday after- noon (12). with the pallbearers all KDKA staffmen. WALTER WOODS Walter Woods, 61, pioneer film writer and producer, died Dec. 7 in Glendale. Cal., following a long ill- ness. In early Hollywood days around 1920, Woods wrote screen- plays for Wally Reid, J. Warren Ker- rigan and other stars ot that period and was head of scenario and writ- ing departments for Paramount. Later he became a producer at that studio, retiring around 1924. Due to ill health, in recent years, he spent most of his time on his ranch near Palm Springs. EDWARD H. KELLER Edward H. Keller, 50. for the past six years treasurer of the National, Washington, died there Dec. 13 after a brief Illness. Starting at 12 as a water boy in the Park, Philadelphia, Keller went to Ford's. Baltimore, as assistant treasurer and returned to Philadelphia to become treasurer of the Garrick. Later he was treasurer at the Broad and Walnut St. theatres. He was a member of the Treasur- ers' Club of America. Survived by widow and brother. Harry B. Keller. LUCIEN ROY Lucien Roy, 38, died recently In an air crash near a western Canadian RCAF base. He wa.>! a newsreel man for Associated Screen News and was on an a.'^signmeiU at the time. Two RCAF men died in the crash. Roy was .stationed at Montreal for .-.cvei\ years before being transferred to Vancouver, B. C. 11 years ago. Surviving are his widow and four children in Vancouver and his niDllicr and two brolhcr."; in Mon- treal. Burial wa.- in Vancouver. CLYDE WE.STBROOK Clyde Weslbrook. former mayor of Cleveland. Miss., owner of theatre interests there and elsewhere in Miss, and a horse fancier, died Thursday 110) in Lewisburg, Tenn. West brook had been active in ex- hibitor circles in the Memphis ex- change area. He served three terms as mayor of Cleveland, being elected the last time without opposition. He resigned in October because of ill health. A daughter survives. from a wheel chair. He had been an invalid for five years. MELVIN H. FENNELL Melvin H. Pennell." 35, manager of the Cleve theatre, Columbus, O., un- til last July, died at his home In Columbus. Dec. 6. Widow and daughter survive. CORNELIUS D. TOMY Cornelius D. Tomy, 64. pioneer ra- dio announcer, died in Detroit Dec. 14. He was widely known for child programs, having read funny papers for 21 years over WRI as 'Uncle Ned.' Tomy also was publicity director for WJR. and a former newspaper owner and editor. He started in ra- dio in 1922 with founding of WCX, also serving at various times with WXYZ and WGHP. JOAQUIN BUSQUETS Joaquin Busquels, 67, dean of Mexican film players until 1936 when he became a radio play producer- actor, died at his home in Mexico City. Dec. 4. after a lingering illness. He was a pop player in the few silents Mexico made in the '20s and acted in the first talkers Mexico pro- duced. Burial was in Mexico City. Busquets" son. Narciso, 13, has started his pic career as an extra. JACK DOYLE Jack Doyle, 66, Broadway's official odds-maker, a reputation gained by his 'hobby" of quoting odds on im- portant sporting events, died of a heart attack in Jacksonville, Fla., Dec. 9. A sister. Mary Ursula Doyle, 69, music teacher, singer and organist, died of the same ailment the follow- ing day in Jersey City without knowing of her brother"s death. WADSWORTH HARRIS Wadsworth Harris, also known as Lewis Wadsworth Harris, 77, veteran stage actor who. in recent years, had been in minor roles at Coast studios, died recently in Los Angeles. He was a native of Calais. Me., and had been on the stage for SO years. For several years he played male leads for Mme. Modjeska on tour in classical repertoire. N. E. (NED) DANO N. E. (Ned) Dano, 63. operatic and vaude singer for 30 years, died in St. Charles, 111., Dec. 9. After graduating from the Milan Conservatory of Music, he appeared in grand opera in Italy and then toured throughout the United States with various opera companies. His widow and two sisters survive. FRED W. KERNER Fred W. Kerner, 61, pianist, teacher, and conductor in the Al- bany area for years, was found dead in his home Osc. 11. Several hours before a performance by the Alba- Del Opera Co. of "The Mocking Bird' was to be given. The show, scheduled to be conducted by Ker- ner, went on without him. FRANK WILLIAM SWICK Frank William Swiek, 57, stooge for the late Ted Healy, died at Veterans' Hospital, Bromc, N. Y., Dec. 10. A veteran in show biz, he was last employed as valet to Eddie Garr and Wilbur Evans in last sum- mer's operetta revivals at Carnegie Hall, N. Y. DONALD CAMPBELL Donald Campbell. 69, veteran dis- tributor ot U. S. films abroad, died in London Dec. 6. He started in the film biz In 1914 in a selling capacity with Warners. Surviving are widow, daughter, son and sister. LESTER CLARK Lester Clark. 35, former Fox West Coast theatre manager, died Dec. 10 in Pasadena, Cal., following a fall Franklin Bryant Washburn, 74. retired restaurant operator and father of Bryant Washburn ot the silent films, died at the home of another son. Herbert Washburn, in Glendale. St. Louis County. Surviv- ing also is his widow. Mother of Sidney Skolsky. Holly- wood columnist, died at her home in New York. Dec. 9. Bills Next Week Continued from page 40 , KemJevvouB CnuKir VVllli:iin:« Wendell Mu»i>n KHz CHrltno Jua Stem Ore Knniiin <irllle ^;n^vrh \- |ti>l»Mrs Sill i:.i> tii.iiiil CI.Hiil Mtilr U:ilpll .MM)i:ii>la Nhimii h.ll KiV l(ir.Hi (lie Shid'h i life hiM- Sinitli IOIf;iiiii L:inily I''r;iii Wiirr ri f t.»*linrnf. KliiKd Itnyilim Miko rtnv Otc SchiiiirB .Tom n < 'orio A I l 'i>li,.i SkI lioMi'ii Mill if I. iTill K.I.Ill' i:i:i(U rus.-;. I :ii ino I >r:irc I U-wson Genu? 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Sllvrr I.Hkp Inn M.'irio & Mnria M.iiHil Col 0«-o Reed Allco l.Ui-CN Ml(l:e> l''oi)illnnt O Bun Itiiy (iiinlena Kriiio McC;!'*- I>lxle l.ro Kitty llenillns Ore Urn trim \- Pnnny lliiliiM'N Ac .lean Town Tii\cro \jcT\ i^nrker Oro Cnice l-Mwnnlti S;iti<lrH l.iiiiU'll I .i-miy Ho.-s t;<-orKnili:i l,ee Kilith l>t'l;iiu*y SlVllM Club ll.'lti- lt:iUi-r Kitilu* hiiliiiiil \'liiccnt lti//o Ore Ihii.ilil Cntnier Alii'L- rurvell Tniim Aditntlc L'gr S.'illv LrtMiir Kiclinnl limit *,*Ollt Onliir)- Clob Kid li eiih A Moil iir KliMliin MIIU- IVil:i( in J Touch Vriiire Crlll lion M.>u:ii<( (; \\ oil I M.-i I'K-Ji Al i'hiKmii .M;ii> So\ illp t'liii M<ini> Don Ni( h'lliiji Ore ^Irlirr'n lloflintu (Ciitiuleii) l>:ii) Mm r.-iv \':i 'it'.-^i K:i\ in<Hi.l l*iko Jules l''liiri-o .(liiimv »^'I,i*nfV Yiirhl <'liib lliiny lli.lly TtDlM-rlii ('iiriioy .r^w ell Kll.i Hllii Ztmc Ann Tilly N:i( lludcr VivUir NelHOii Ore PITTSBURGH Alpine l..4HlKe Wally Su.errier Oic E(l\ilie Wi;iy 4 Kr.'inUs V«n KiiU SiyllNh SioiM>erR ArllnRtun I.wlire Pall AIlwcs Ore Helen ri.Btci* Bnleonnilm V.\xv\ Kckler Ore Itlil Oreen't Barun Kllloii Oro Marie Klrl: BuIm> Klioclea Bill Blekel nine HliUr Iod Lou I.uiky Ore Coriioll Cooper llougle-U'ooffle Club Cozy Ilnnlii UanclHK Ituiidy Book bhennnn (il:i(l>a M.iiton Club rrllle Jnrtt TeclE Ore NU>lly Piifile Rd'lie ShnfTnor, K:il|>li Springer Colonliil Jiintny Spiuilnv Or Cork Hnd liiiitle Nelxon M.'i lilr-s E(l<llft IVytiin's BdOle Pcylon Marion Muller ni Chib- Mnx T;ir£lil.T Pftt McCanley Mnda Colin Sully Rice Bddle K'rUMliin.'^kl Hotel Knr( I'lii Ken Badov Ore Johnny MKrIieli llolel Henry Dorothy Mnlihewa b^squlrea (Ctfiv M'hI Dorothy Neubltl Hotel 7lli Avrnoe Frank Andrlnl Arften(lnl:in!' ^^'ll^■ne Kinss Jettsif \\'lir;ilev lidrt lintel Rmtivvell Wo 1 A|e\ ni-hl.d I'fl** Inifocll.'i Morinnn Spenor John Tiiliiin llnl^l NtlienleT nillv lllnds Ore Toy IJnd Holel Win Prnn (Chntterhnx) Arthur n:ivi l itir. 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(;nleii(e & T^eonHrda TuiiL' Till Son (<'iinllncnlnl Knr) II . .> Cntl7one l.i iiiix (lOrdoD Dciio Belli - John rrli'z Merry-Go-Ronnd Huwdy Uaum Oro CuMeii I'air 4 tJUOi-llH AI l-VrKUfOn MunIo Dar liilly (4) KiHK tiroH Dale llnrkncsa Alire CierlMT New Hlllcrrnt Marly Schnnnm Ore Nile Court Ray l>unn Joey Klein Mu\ii' Simon Tiny Oonnnn Jerry Tncrcan Orehiinl Ino Benny Burton Or OaBlR I.ouiM<- fTninlKon ReHd'a Cure Rudy I'anl Ore Tontiny Meehan l';ilj<v i'.iw llillie Vnlair Sky-Vne Jimmy (iainble Ore Diclc RitSK Prof Jdvel Bqnlrrel Conp Dothory MnBon Dd Mnreo Price Kthel Mnoon 2 Moli.imedR Snow Edmonde Treinn Joey Reynolds Knipli DuHnrry (•one I'rhRn Whireii * Durkln Jai-k McCarthy Unlnn Crlll Sammy Waltere FrnnU Katole MIko Sandretto Victory l^onve VIclorv 8 Vllln Nndrld Ktzl rni-nio Oro Stnr fi Jrickson Mark t.ano :t Appleinns Lyonet ten Jftlinny C!:il1nfi Vnrht CInh n Mlddlemnn Or M:irlon Frances Fernnndo & Fnlr Belly Annie (Ma Buddy r.ppier SAN FRANCISCO Pulaee llolel (KuMe Koiim) Del ('uurlney Ore Shellii I'eari 61. FninjU llolel (Mnrul Koom) OPOi'Ke Olsen Ore .Murk Hoitklnfi Hotel (Peacock Court) K Dunham Dncrs Herble Holmes Ore Sir l-'ninclH Drnke Hotel (PerftlHn Koom) Chaney & Alvarez HerMhpv Miirdn Ore Dul Tuhnrin Carla & Pernnndo Ifernmnns Willlnme Tllo Oulz:.r H Hnches Dnrre Maddy Mndfon Ore Copncnbann Jo.i'tiiln Gniny Am:ii MIn Cnrli>ii \'nlnde7. Eni-i<iue Rnqiirl Itlnnrn F.vcalnnit- Kdunrdo Al Wftllfire Ore FlomliiKO The Vagabonds Ceo Bently Mary Gilbert While & Mannlnff l-'InniinKo Amorettoa Don I'errara Ore Mdo Clob nenee & C Ayora Three D'a Henry A Qtrard Ivan Fehnova (ils Rulnn<l Druyer'd Or Klebelleu Canine K'vvood Sweater Ola Benito Moreno Voll Krlston Peplta l>e Cordoba Huria<lo Brna Ore Hiuh Craven Dllly I.yonn Cferaldlne Uoaa The Uuiitfclts NlaiMy Mnile'H S<hnw & irf-e Sid Tomai k Tommy Mack M. Wetllnffion Pal Paee Dnrliip Ciioee Tufty son Clob IBflQuIre Qlrla II Fighting Words 11 Contlniwd from page I hbbI concerning the Italos b« out in view of U. 0. Attornay General Biddle's recent ruling classifying them as ■friendly' aliens in the U. 8. M, el T.'i Beef Hays ofTice, which insisted on deleting the words 'damn,' 'hell,' and 'bastard' from 'We Are the Marines' before the Production Code Au- thority seal was given or film shown. Is slated to hear the appeal filed by March of Time producer Louis de Rochemonl tomorrow (Thurs.), In protesting the cuts, Roy E. Larsen, president of Time, Inc., ot which M. O. T. is. a subsid. said. 'We believe a great many people, and especially the soldiers themselves, feel that to destroy the natural speech used under stress of battle conditions'is an unnecessary action resulting in an unrealistic portrayal ot American fighting men.' Larsen, like some other producers, feels that the purity code regulations British Code Although the production code is established so that British producers can avail themselves of the voluntary censoring at the source (prior to actual produc- tion), the same as all U. S. com- panies, the British have a cen- sorship board which has the- right to ban a picture outright if deemed unsuitable for the present-day public there. "This British Board of Film Censorship issues certificates also classifying pictures accord- ing to types of audience that will be allowed to witness its showing. Thus this board may give a certificate which bars children from the picture. Re- cently, the board banned all horror films, feeling that they were not the type of production to be seen by the British public In wartime. based on conditions prevailing In 1934, should be reviewed in the light of current wartime circumstances. Time execs squawked loudest over the trimming of "bastard." contention being that Col. W. T. Clement, who appears in the film and uses the de- leted word in a reehactment ot Ma- rine action In the Philippines, fought on Bataan and was merely using ty- pical fighting words. UA's Stcamup Controversy over 'Serve* was fur- ther highlighted by a protest to UA from the British producers asking that the film be withheld from pri- vate or public showing in America unless there were assurances that it would be uncensored. Publicity anent "Serve" was steam- rollered into international propor- tions wheh Brendan Bracken. British Minister of Information, speaking in the House of Commons, charged that American film censors were too maiden-auntlike to appreciate the adjectives in the picture. Bracken stated, however, that he was not giving any orders to the American press, censors or public. In rejecting the demand from Two Cities to cancel showings of 'Serve' in the U. S., Raftery called attention to the UA contract dated Aug. 7, 1942, giving UA absolute rights to reedit wholly, make cuts or elimina- tions, change the title of the film or dub in any artists voices deemed necessary. Two Cities had protested that it would not cash the cheque which UA had posted as a guarantee against U. S. distribution unless the picture remained uncensored. UA stated 'Serve' would preem at the Capitol, New York, Dec. 23, as scheduled. Some of the* adverse criticism of U. S. censorship methods expressed by Bracken would have been averted, it was pointed out on this side, if British producers followed the same procedure as U. S. pro- ducers—submitting scripts for pre- censoring by PCA officials. Ameri- can film heads have been trying to -persuade British producers to follow this procedure for the past four years, this being originally suggested because British film com- panies wanted to get more prod- uct on U. S. screens. Companies in Britain have no producers associa- tion and consequently follow a hit- or-miss policy in submitting their productions. British film companies are now getting around to a system of title registration, but this Is still reported none too efTective. MARRIAGES Roma Jean Elliott to Jimmy Coy, In New York City, Dec. 4. Groom Is WNEW news announcer. Jane Dealy to Woodrow Wirsig, Dec. 11, in New Vork. Bride Is a writer in the CBS newsroom; groom Is a shortwave newswriter with the same company. BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Sam Schwartz, daughter, Dec. 3, in N. Y. Father is manager of the Windsor theatre, N. Y.; mother was professionally Vir- g.nia Whitmore. Mr. and Mrs.^ Patric Knowle.<;, daughter, in Hollywood, Dec. 0. Mother was Enid Percival ot stage and screen. Father is film actor. Mr. and Mrs. Byron Morgan, daughter, Dec. 4, In New Brighton, Pa. Mother formerly was on staff of WJW, Akron, O. Mr. and Mrs. Jack Mitchell, son, in San Antonio, Dec. 4. Father is program director of KTSA, San An- tonio. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Peden, son. in Indianapolis, Dec. 7. Father is WIRE announcer. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Grief, daughter, Dec. 11. in New York, their first. He's with NBC press. Mr. and Mrs. Gene Rube&sa, daughter, Dec. 5, in New York City. Father is a WNEW announcer. Mr. and Mrs. Harry TakifT. .son, Dec. 12 in New York. He's aide to Jack Cohn, v.p. ot Columbia Pic- lures. Wife is the former Vivienne Crafts. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Waldner, daughter. Dec. 10, in New York. Father is a radio singer. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Clarke, son. Dec. 8. Mother is Peggy Taylor, adagio dancer, head of 'Kitchen Pirates.' Mr. and Mrsr David Barrist, son in Philadelphia, Dec. 5. Father is PhiUy indie exhlb. Pix Woo Shows Continued t^om page 1 office insurance inherent in stellar names. The cut in raw film stock further accentuates the need for realign- ment ot major production schedules with a view to turning out solid big- budgcters, since celluloid is consid- ered too valuable to divert to low- budget product. 20th-Fox jumped in early in sea- son, paying $300,000 for 'Moon Is Down," and has signed to buy "Eve of St. Mark' for a similar amount. Most major companies have been wary of war themea^ unless for immediate production, since a sudden turn in world events might well deflate the $300i«00 coin tieup. Questioned also, in some major company quarters, is advisability ot buying wholesale quantities of medi- ocre properties. By the same token there appears to be no limit to- the amount some producers are willing to pay for a click show. Both Para- mount and Metro as well as 20th- Fox were prepared to meet the $300,000 figure for 'Eve of St. Mark' though Par and 20th were aloof to the 1944 release clause. Mayer-Sctaenek Hnddles Louis B. Mayer, meantime has been in New York conferring with Nick Schenck on material for the Metro product lineup next season.. Mayer has been looking over some ot the Broadway legit productions with a view to purchase of the screen rights. Among those Metro is most in- terested in are 'The Pirate,' Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne starrer; Willow and I,' which Metro par- tially financed, and 'Without Love,' the'Katharine Hepburn-Philip Barry play at the St. James theatre. A decision on 'The Pirate' is expected this week. Mayer, accompanied by Strickling. planned to return to the Coast yes- terday (Tues.). 20th has been most prominent buyer of literary properties this season so far, some of these, how- ever, including the David O. Selz- nick deal, having been passed up by other majors. Studio owns half of 'Something for the Boys,' is back- ing 'Flare Path' and 'A Highland Fling.' and has Invested approxi- mately $17,000 for a 50% interest in 'The Russian People,' forthcoming Theatre Guild production scheduled to open Dec. 29. Joe Schenck also has a deal pend- ing to finance the new Jed Harris legit production, 'Tor'the Purple.'