Variety (Feb 1943)

46 Wednesdaj, February 17, 19iS OBITU A R I lis Ciiliiin situ!t>. iiii-liidiiig 'Peanut Vi'ikIdi-.' MRS. IIARRV IIOl'IMM Mrs. Il:irr.\ Il-.n: lii.i. liT. .vi.l > -. lln,' in:iLiiri:iii. <>i> > Nmlliv-. C";i'.. rii i»ir<» !•> N^'-» V ' Fi'li 11. FiirtlM'i- .li-liiS iii v.iiiiii'v .llv ti.ir.. M;illl:CA Tm'or.lii ;i il'ii:::i'lcl 11(1 Kiiipirp Phiyi'fs in ;i.v wiii.iw. son.'! | MRS. ilO\V.\RD Tlll.R.'iTON Mi-.->. Paulino M. Thiii-' 'i:. widow of How.iiii Tliiii-.-! 'i:. m.'- Kiciaii. died in Noitli .Adjiin^. M.i--. .,„,.. . „, , ,0 Uu-i'.s Klwlil lo. ilK- \Vi<>l. Fuilli.M dit:ul.. ... viK.dov.lio ..oi-i SooU-y .st;..U-<l hi.s <aiwi- in .J ! IHKH. Hi.< o.spcrioiKV :is u Uoupci- ! ill llii-oarly (l:iys consi.stpd o[ |)liiy.M)< j llic lii.bil in ihc rrpoi-lory oMupany's ' band as it p:ii'advd IIumukIi .sli'eets to pitblicizo llu- .-Imw KItW.VRO K|-HI.M.\ Rilu':.i'ii Ktihlin.i. (i'.l. (ornior thea- in.-i.-.:.;;.'.'. died FVI>: lU in Hainil- loii. O ■ ll<> hiiil Mi:..'.;i^cd ilii> 'Lyric and (in.iul iliiMir>-s. and in Iho .mIcuI era I inanunrjlfd 'talkers' in Hainilluii by ' plarin-.> actors l>ack to the .serpen to • IS.VP \ ■lu-p lo the cliaraclpr.s. J.\.*U;S I,. SKKI.KV , J:iinp- 1.. Spplpy. 7.!. vpti-ian : KIUVIX SILVERT ii.n.|>.-r aii.i clia.-ai-lpr ai-:o.. .I.P'I in Kdward Silvprt. 74. builder and N. Y. Ki'b. l.> alter a sla-.;p i-a.i-pr of ownpr of tlip Bruad .si. theatre, Naza- •:p:irly "ill .\i-ar.-. Ills last |-;iri \v:i> I ivili. I*a.. and former operator of the :.! I'.'-il. wlipi! Iip a|ipparp<l a ilitf ap- ' Royul tlipatrp there, died in'Naza- p,-a.<iMnpnl-niindi\' ml niai- in Klnier . rcth l-'eb. 12. Brit Biirhup at Blitz Escapees CMillnued from pat* 1 He-had rpli.-ed as a lilm exhibitor in !i27. JOHN W. COSSIDIXE, John W. Considine. Sr.. 8il. at one time co-owner nf one of Ampri.-a's, greatest vaudeville circuits, died i" Los Anueles Feb. 11. Further dPlails in vaudeville sec- tion. , JAMRS THOMAS POWERS James Thomas Powers. 80. onp of the besl-kiKiwn lc(!it comedians of the An>erica.i, Ibeaire a seneralion ago anti u staye veteran o( 55 years, died m New York Feb. 10. At his deathbed was his wife. Rachel Booth, also formerly well known as an ac- tress, who had played in many pro- ductions with him. Powers'stage career also included roles in ShaKe.spearean tragedies, j His last stage appearance was In less, when he played in a New York revival of 'Seven Keys to Baldpate' with the late George M. Cohan. Fol- lowing his retirement he wrote his own biography. 'Twinkle. Little Star," published in 1930. At one time in his career Powers was called 'the funniest man the American stage haa ever known.* His reputation as a comedian was gained by a natural ad libbing abil- ity which he used with telling re- sults in parts where he believed the lines did not do proper credit to the action. Powers started his stage career in 1878 at the age of 16 when he did a •ong-and-dance act in a'small vaude- ville theatre in Long Branch. N. J. After several years in variety he Joined the stock company at Aberle's Eighth St. theatre, in New York. He first attracted notice for his role of Chips in 'Dreams, or Fun in a Photographic Gallery' at the Bijou theatre. N. Y. Following three years on the American stage he went to London with Willie Edoiiin. There he played in 'A Bunch of Keys.' "Little Red Riding Hood' and the pantomime, 'Dick Whiltington.' at the Empire and Drury Lane theatres. Upon his return lo the U. S. he became a rec- ognized star as a result of his per- formances in 'The Tin Soldier' and 'Nadgy.' Then he started to make itage history. Beginning in 1891 he played the part of Dick Dasher in 'A Straight Tip,' which ran four years, a record at the time. In 1897 Powers became a member of the Augustin Daly Musical Com- edy Co. and was this company's leading comedian until 1902. It was during this time he created one of his most memorable roles, that of Wun-hi in the musical comedy, "The Geisha,' which ran at Daly's theatre. N. Y., 37 months. Powers played the same purl when the show was revived in 1931, His stage appearances during the past 15 years had not been frequent, consisting mostly of all-star revivals of some of his earlier successes. In 1031 he was .seen as Bob Acres in a revival of The Rivals.' -• THtf dtHTOSph'ere or "New York night life and the theatre during the Gay 'OOs. when Powers was at the peak of his career. Is notably de- scribed in his autobiography. the ba.<s lUldle in the <ircliestra for the overture; act as vidian .>r hero as ihe case may bp. anil rplui-n lo the pit lu play between the acts. Seelpy llrsl appeared on the N.Y'. staue in 1902. and was later as.soci- aled for a number of years with the ! Castle Square players in Boston, .Among the plays in which he ap- peared on Broadway were The Woman,' "The Lion and the Mouse," The Littlest Rebel,' "Dinner at Eight" and 'The Prisoner of Zenda. II. P. rSPIKE') MrKECHME H. IV ('Spike'I McKechnic, musi- cian and trouper with circuses, died then playing ! in Oklahoma City Feb. 10. He had toured the U. S. as a member of the Ringlinii Bros., Bnrnunt & Bailey band. ROBERT E. NELSON Robert E. Nelson, 46. former vaude- ville actor, died in Roosevelt hos- pital, N. Y., Feb. 14, six hours after h). marriage. During a reception, at ti e home of his bride, Irene Dopkins, following the wedding ceremony. Nelson was stricken with a heart at- tac'it. He had been a novelty dancer and monologisl, having played the Keith and Paniages circuits. Dur- ing the last war he appeared in pro- ductions staged overseas by the 27th division, including 'You Know Me, Al.' "Let's Beat It' and 'Puttmg It Over.' A brother survives. FRAN<"IS EMANNl'EL AARONS Francis EmannucI Aai-ons. 28. formerly assistant publicity head ol RKO's Sydney. Australia, branch, has been killed in action. Aarons wa:: a sergeant in the Aus- tralian army medical corps. MRS. JIMMT DURANTE Jean Olson Durante. S2, wife of Jimmy Durante, died in Los Aiigeles, Feb. 14, following an illness of two years. Durante was in' N. Y. pre- paring for a broadcast when he re- ceived word by telephone that his wife had died. He immediately left for the Coast by plane. During the past two years. Mrs. Durante's condition had became so critical that several times she was given transfusions. She had been at Palm Springs with her husband until a month ago, when tikey returned to Los Angeles. Mother survives. JERRV SOLOMON Jerry Solomon, 20. yeoman In the Navy and former member of 20th- Fox .<itudio ' publicity staff, died of pneumonia 'somewhere in th« Pa- ciHc." THOMAS Matthews Thomas Matthews, 79. for years stage manager at the old Russell, Dominion ahd Family theatre,<t and the Grand Opera House, all in Ot- tawa, died in that city Feb, 10. Mother, 81. of Ivor Novelln. Brit- ish actor and playwright, died Feb. 7 in London. Known professionally as Mme. Clara Novello Davies, sh« founded the Royal Welsh Ladies Choir, which won highest honors at the Chicago World's Fair of 1893. She was the widow of David Davies, also- a Welsh singer, who died In 1931, LAMBERT LARKING Lambert Larking, character aclor, died in Toronto Feb. 13 after a two- year illne.<is. His last engaAemenis were during 1939-40, when he ap- peared in Colborne-Jones produc- tions In a trans-Canada tour of 'Cnarles the King,' 'Tobias and the Angel' and Shaw's 'Geneva,' thf lat ter alsu having had a N. Y. Born In Sussex," England, the son [ actress, who- recently completed a of a gentleman usher in the court of' BENJAMIN YUDELVITZ Benjamin YudelviU. 46, for more than 25 years an operator of picture theatres in northea:itern Ohio, died recently in Cleveland. He had .<:tarled as an exhibitor In Medina, where he owned the Prin- cess, with George Villis as a partner. They operated this theatre until sell- ing to the Schine chain Ave years ago. Yudelvitz then became a Schine manager. Widow and three daughters sur- vive. VICTOR HARRIS Victor Harris, 73, composer and onetime as.sistant conductor of the Metropolitan Opera Co., died In N.Y. Feb. 15. He was conductor of the St. Cecelia Club from 1902 V> 1936. having developed the organization from a small ensemble of women's voices Into a national organization with clubs In every Stat*!. Widow, three daughters and two sons survive. JOHNNY WATSON Johnny Watson. 96, died In Bournemouth, England, recently. Fur 90 years a trouper, commencing a child in the circus, he was in turn, « clown, bareback rider and for years presented an act with per- forming dogs. He was engaged tor a London pantomime, but died in his sleep before the opening night. Father of Paul Reith, RKO office manager in Pittsburgh, and at Mrs. Grace Benitz, of Par office there, died in Pittsburgh last week. Elder, Reith, survived by widow and an- other son, Edward, had akio been employed at'the RKO exchange. Mother, 60. of Cpl. Fred Burleigh, died recently in Boston. Burleigh, former director of Pittsburgh Play- house and of South Shore . Players, Cohasset. Masii., i.s now with the army 'sohiewhere in the South Pa ciflc' Mary Elisabeth StokeN, over 80, died in N. Y. Thursday (11), She was the aunt of Jean Adair, of the tour Ing 'Arsenic and Old Lace.' but to rnanv in the profession, deceased was believed lo be the actress's mother. Jere O'Canner, 48. veteran ac count executive at KFWB, died In Los Angeles, Feb. 13, after a long Illness. DauKhter, 57. of the late Reginald de Koven. composer, died in N.Y, Feb. 12. She was Mrs. Ethel LeRoy di Koven Hudson. Mother. 72, of Mrs. Guy Lombardo, wife of the orchestra leader, died in Cleveland Feb. 11. BERTHA H, BURT Bertha H. Burt, 66, a veteran of j traveling stock companies, died re- brief run in j ccntly in Denver. She was the mother of Nellie Burt, also a stage Queen Victoria, Larking spent his early years in royal paldcc.<. this particularly fllting him for such flunkey roles as the major-domo in 'The Queen's Husband' and in 'Gen- eva.* He went on the London stage at the age of 10 in a production star- ring Cyril Maude. He later alter- nated between Broadway and Lon- don and was a.vo':Iated for a num- ber of years with the Cameron' 'Azplaxu popularized number of tour with a road .company of 'Lite With Father.' Besides her daughter, hei husband and two si.eters survive. DON AZPIAXU Don Azpiazu. 49, one of Cuba's leadi.ig orche.stra leader;, died from a heart attack in Havana Feb. 11. For years'he conducted hU orches- tra on tours of the U. S. and Europe. MARRIAGES Mary McCill, Jr., to Lieut. David Lramson, in Los Angeles, Feb. 13, Bride Is screen writer: groom is pub- lic relations officer at Fort MC' Arthur, and flim press agent, Patricia Marie Dorsey to Henry Lester Hooker. Jr.. in Richmond, Va, Feb. 4. Bride is daughter of Tommy Dorsey. Madeleine Stewart White to Al bert A. Cormier, in New York, Feb. 11. Bride Is eastern publicity rep for Mon.)gram pictures; groom was formerly general manager of WOR. N. Y. . Thelma Schnee to Paul Moss, in N.Y., Feb. 6. Bride is .stage actre.ss; groom, f?>rm6r ..screen writer ancl nght manager, is in the navy. Doris Eleanor Flanigan to Robert I Firestone, in Toledo, Feo. 13. Bride is daughter of E. Y. Flanigan. com n-.ercial manager of WSPD, Tojedo, Audrey Ridgwcll to Grant Gnr' doh, in Philadelphia, Feb. 13. Bride Is legit actress, presently in Claudia': groom la former stage manager, now In the. army. every question ended with a mild i curl of the lip—an unusual display of emotion' hereabouts. | Now it happened that I had .spoken to some of th^se folk in the States not long before I clippered e:i.st, so I repeat''d in good faith their protestations that they had been unable to get priorities or bad been kept away by -extremely urgent bu-siness. I got more laughs than Fred Allen with that oiie. If this feeling extends to the public— and the lads 1 spoke to swore it does —it might have a sharp effect on some. b.o. values. The rea.son I bring up the bomb- ngs is thai it's one of the first things ypii hear about despite Ihe fact Der Fiiehrer's minions haven't been over .since the spring of 1941.' (But are expected again soon). It's quite amusing to sit in a pub (saloon, back home I. and have the lads trample all over each other in their anxiety lo tell their own personal bomb story. They relet- to (hstt^era of frightfulne.ss in the same tones of unctiious reminiscence that we mifht speak of 'the good old days.' And who 'am I to spoil their fun'^ The BIng of BrIUIn Sam Browne, the Bing Cro.sby of Britain, and much the same likable sort of guy, showed me a cduple of scars on his neck received after the blitz during which, incidentally, he got not a scratch. . Some skylarking' soldiers pegged a few wild bullets couple of which struck Browne while he was on a train. For a while his voice was despaired of. but as It turned out his larynx was not harmed and the rest In 'bed did his voice as much good as the $20,000- verdict returned for him by a court did his bankbook. Browne's favorite yarn charac- teristically stars another, in this case Ben Lyon, so I'll have to add that Browne broadcast regularly on two or three programs a week everyone of the couple hundred nights the bombs fell. He says that after a broadcast, while explosions were rocking the BBC area, Lyon casually remarked thiat ha wanted a snack and he and Ben set out chatting as though they were ambling along Hollywood Blvd. (where Sam be- longs). Eric Spear, one of BBC's sharp- est young producers, told about the time a land mine almost sheared off his head (he was on the root) and landed in. front of the cottage in which his wife was unwisely look- ing out ot the window (flying glass is a great clanger In blasts). Fright- ened half out at his wits since his wife was' expecting, Spear picked himself up after the explosion had blown him some 20 feel and found that every window In his home had been shattered—except the one be- hind which his wife was sitting, John Abboit's Scare John Abbott, head of one of Tin Pan Alley's biggest Arms here (the Alley is Denmark street and it's al- ways open season on gags starting ...something's rotten on...') got down to work one morning and found a tremendous hole extending right under the building housing his outAt, Francis Day tc Hunter. They told hin\ a bomb had exploded and Abbott set workmen to shoring up the structure while he went up to his office. Eight weeks later the white-faced workmen dashed up: they had found the bomb still unex- ploded at the bottom of the ex- cavation. It was a nine-footer and Abbott lost no time getting clear. The tin bloaler was so big it had ripped an excavation large as most explosions. A couple of other lads who de- serve • lot ot credit professionally and personally are Dave Toff and Syd Green, of Southern Music's London staff. Neither one, to use their own expressions, missed a bombing, and If you want to savvy the real character of the British watch Toff when he say.s 'Did that bloody Hitler think he could make me leave my home?" Al the mo- ment they have the biggest .song in town, 'You Are My Sunshine,' wlilch is about 200.000 at this, writing and still .selling. The tune has a small flare in the States but there was quite a bit of resistance here because some ot the bandleaders felt it might be a little too hillybilly. Toff went around spotting 11 la ,th& soldiers camp.s. one ot the belter ways of starting a song- here. Then he found out about a short film in which the song had a part. He arranjjed a jhow- ing. got Gerardo, the hoiip.i i,ai,j. leader in the country, to .spc ;i g,,^ the song was in. Due lo the paper .sliorta^e Toff prints a smaller sheei n'.i.^.c size than in the Stales, but ,\ hisn't seemed to hurt sale.s. .1 have two items to clo.sc -A-iih One is that it strikes me as pleasant irony that 'Variety' keep.s it, Omdun represenUtive (the esteemed Joio) In the same hou.sp in which a British King once kept his mi.Mrp.>s i won't try to extend the .syniboiism. The other is a little grimmer. It's a sort of 'appointment . in Samara' note about the bombinijs. Lots ot people felt that Kin Johii.sn.i, Ui» Cafe de Paree bandleader, died unnece.s.sarily because he should have been home the nif>hi a b.)ii)b blasted the club. A bomb blasted his home the saitie night. |uSd*s Big Budgetl Ijss CoBtlnged from paisr I by USO, will likely be upped to an estimated $4,987,577. A breakdown of . the flgurcs contained in the re- port, which shows that USO contri. buttons overshot its goal of $32,000,- 000 by more than $500,000, discloses that Camp Shows was allotted $!,« 340,000 for the flrst six months of Ihe current Ascal year, with an'esti- mated $3,647,577 allocation for the remaining six months. Woald Double tt Lawrence Phillips, vice-president of CSI in.charge of the administra- tive setup, stated last week that, with the camp shows growing by such leaps and bounds, it would in all probability be necessary to double the '42-43 appropriation for the next Ascal year. The new budget requests for CSI have not been submitted as yc^ but will probably be turivPd in either next month or early in .April, Final decision or., the amount to be allotted rests with the War Rcl.et Control Board but in view of the morale-building role the show troupes are playing, there seems little doubt but that the amount will be forthcoming. Phillips pointed out there was no certainty that CSI would receive the full amount of the estimated S4.9B7,- 677 for the current Ascal .vcar, but that Camp Shows would probably be able to get by on less in view of a number ot administrative savings that have been effected. Bulk of the coin turned over to CSI will go toward salaries ot paid talent and for transportation, wilh the administrative expenses, repre- senting but a small amount, some- thing like 3.5% of the over-all CSI budgets. This, of course, is made possible by tho fact that many of the top execs, including Abe Lasl- forgel, CSI prez, are serving sans pay. Likewise nearly all of the top names In show biz have at one time or another volunteered their ser- vices. Whereas on the Arst winter's program, from Nov. 23, 1941, to May 16, 1942, there were but 24 shows on tour serving 300 posts, today there are 72 units reaching out Inio about 1,250 camps, naval bases, hospitals, ships and other military posts. Ths larger Red and White Circuit units are servicing 548 of these post^, wilh the smaller Blue tab units providing entertainment at 750 posts. ' BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Tyrrell, daughter. In Detroit, Feb. 8. Father Is saxman In Penn Resh orch. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur H. Rosson. son, in Hollywood, Feb, 10. M-)ther is former Odetta Bray, dancer; falher is cameraman at Paramount. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Brown, son. In Wesleyville, Pa., Feb. 3. Father, wlm manages Penn theatre there, it son of Ben Brown, sound chief f.ir WB in Pittsburgh district. Mr, and Mrs. Saul StpinfeW. daughter, in Pittsburgh. Jan. 13. Father manages New Granada the- atre, Pitt. Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Liglitn.an. Jr.. son. In Memphis Feb. 8. Fathei, who managed the Maico thcatie, Mpi"- phis, until his enlistmehl ■■• army. Is son of Mid-South rirci'li owner and former MPTOA pi p^'- dent. Mr. and Mrs. Clifford C. H.-iriK daughter. In Philadelphia, Feb. « Father Is technical supervisor at