Variety (Jul 1943)

54 Wednesday, July 7, 1943 OBITUARIES JACK EDWARDS Jack Edwards, 59,. formerly of •Varielv' staff in Hollywood and San Francisco died July 3 in Holly- wood following a long illness from a. heart .ailment. .' , . Edwards entered show, business from newspaper work in Milwaukee, Kansas City and New York; He joined .the Shubcrts to handle road -tour's and later went to Washington, D. G. as a house manager. After that' was New .'York exploiteer for Pathe and for Universal in Chi- cago. He then joined 'Variety' staff arid went to the Coast as a reporter. Shortly afterwards he opened the Frisco 'Variety' office and then re- turned to the Hollywood office. In 1929 he left 'Variety' to go with RKO as exploitation man, and later managed RKO theatre in Cincinnati. Several years later he returned to ♦Variety.' But. after a three year period he left to go with the No- tional Screen Service .and Fox WestrCoast Circuit , in Los Angeles. Widow, daughter and two brothers survive, two nieces,: Mrs.. Rex Btach, wife of the author, and Mis, Fred Slone, wife of the actor.' HENRY ROQUEMORE Henry Roquemore. 57, stage and screen actor and at one tirne pro- ducer of musical-corhedies/died June 30' at his home in Beverly: Hills. ' . Beginning his stage career in New' York,' Roquemore played in The Man on the Box,'. 'Stop^Thicf.'. '45 Minutes from Broadway' and other productions. Later he owned and operated stock- companies in 'Florida and the Midwest, Moving to Hollywood 21 years, ago, Roquemore became a f reelance dim player. At the time of his death he was working at Metro. in film theatre operation for many years and built Killbuck house sev- eral years ago. Widow survives; ; RUSSELL MURDOCK Russell Murdock, 46, actor and playwright, succumbed .to -.'heart' at- tack June 6 in New York. He was author of many plays arid owner of the Murdock Play. Bureau-of Kansas City arid .New York.. Many of his, plays'had been leased to stock com- panies throughout the country. He had also written fiction, radio scripts -and commercial films. MUrdock had a long military rec ord in World War. I arid was twice under Are" in the present war. . He was on board the S. S. Challenger enroute to-Iran for war. work, when ship was.torpedoed and .sunk. .He was later abroad transport also-tor- pedoed and sunk, Both incidents greatly, impaired his health. Survived by mother; Mrs. Sylvia Summers Pierce, son, daughter and step-father, Al Pierce, former, road show manager. . FOREST A. KELLY ' Forest A. Kelly. 53, manager of the Lincoln theatre. Massillon. O:, for 20 years, died m Chagrin Falls, O., June 26. A native of Akron, Kelly entered theatre business .;• following 1 . Jtis graduation ■ from - Butchel : .College there. ' He went to Massillon 30 years ago,' when he' opened the Lin- cbin. He retired several years, ago. Widow arid two daughters'survive. -Dwy'er, former '.Pittsburgh Aim salesman, died last week in that city. • Israel Lelberman, 42. who con- ducted the Jewish arid Polish hours over WSAY, died June 30 in Roch- ester. N. Y. He created the Jewish hour five .years.ago and -added, the Polish hour two. years ago.. . Francis Beard,. 33, blind, pianist and ; organist, died in Peeksklll; ■N.-Yi, July 4. He had appeared in concert .halls and on the radio.- Sur- vived .by sister.' :' Thomas .' Poe, .61, formerimotion picture theatre operator in.Findlay, O., died June 30 in Cleveland. Leaves widow.and two children. FRANK STAFFORD Frank (Deaver) Stafford, 61,. for many years in vaude, died June 28 in San Diego. Cal. Born in Urbana, :0.,. • Stafford showed pronounced ability as a whistler and imitator of bird notes He found a vehicle for his whistling in an act, 'A Hunter's Game,' iri which he appeared with his wife -—Mar-ie-Stone It was lnng a stand act in the two-a-day, and had marked success in England. Sixteen years, ago Stafford retired from vaudeville and up a to the time of his death was owner and man ager of. a San Diego apartment house. . Survived by widow, father arid brother. DR. R. J. TANNER Dr. Richard J. Tanner, 73, circus performer, who as 'Diamond Dick was noted for markmanship; feats, died in Norfolk, Neb,, July 2. . 'Tanner. had kept his 'Diamond Dick' identity secret since he left . the circuses; and had become a prac ticing physician; He^- was a -crOny of 'Calamity Jane' and 'Buffalo Bill 1 and Had been noted for his 'fanning' technique in shooting. He had also made the longest horseback ride on record—5,500 wiles from Lincoln Neb., to New York and back. He left the eircusin 1906 after.25 years, as a performer to take up the study ' of medicine, which he practiced tin til ibrec years ago, • RONALD COOPER Ronald Cooper, booth operator at the Hyway theatre,/Falrlawn; N. VJ.,- where an'explosion occurred in the cooling plant .last - week,' died last Wednesday <39) at the Barnert Me- morial hospital, Paterson, 1 N. J. Had he lived, , it is. : 'believed.; he would 1 have been blind as result; of in- juries sustained. : : Theatre is operated by St Fabian Lite rati ROBERT RHYNE GRAY Robert Rhyne, Gray, 27, mernber of the staff at radio station WSJS, Winston-Salem, known to the pub- lic as 'Dick' Gray, .died-in-Winston-- Sa'lem. N. C. June 27-. Gray was born in Gaston County, N; C. He had been with station WSJS for about four months. Survived , by widow, son and par- ents. AflTONE TRACK Antone Track) 95, violinist,, who had. appeared in orchestras of Victor Herbert and Walter Damrosch. died in New Milford, .Conn'.; June 30. His friends called him the 'Music Mas- ter,' after the character made fa- Survived by two sons arid three daughters. ',. AUGUST SELIG August Selig. 73. brother , of Wil- liam Selig. died in Rnckford. 111., July 3. He was associated with his brother iri the old. Selig' Polyscope company, pioneer music picture pro- ducers, which was established in Chicago in 1896. Survived by his widow, two sons, a brother and a-sister.. LEE SLOAN : Lee Sloan. 42, president of Show Folks. Inc.. died July i in Chicago. He was in various branches of show business in Chicago since 1919- and at time of his death operated the Gayway Arcade. Chicago. ■ » MARRIAGES ■ Lillian Greenberg to Pfc Joseph Fraum, in New York June -29/ Groom, formerly fllrn salesman for Columbia pix at N. Y.,. has been in armed services three years and-re- cently returned from overseas. . ■. Clementine Hall to Miles. Kastch- drcck in New York. : Bride is on Blue network continuity staff: groorn is music, critic of Brooklyn Eagle. Wanda Boal to Pvt. Harry Poppe. Jr.. in Los Angeles, July 1.. • Groom was a writer at Metro before join- ing the Army. . Donna ■ King to . .Lt. James Brewster King, USN.iri. Los ADgclcs, June 28. Bride -is member of. the King Sisters, singers. ' Elizabeth Meyer to Maj. Pare Lorehtz, June 27, at Mtl.Kisco, N. Y. Groom is the former film- writer- directpr-producer,' now -with . the U. S: army air forces;' she's the daughter of financier Eugene Meyer. Margot Stevenson to Sgt. Robert Russell, July 6, iri Washington. Bride . is a legit actress: he's ' a former. Screen writer . serving with the Strategic Services of the U. S. Army. .'..'• • • •' Grace Carol Mansfield to Ernie Neff, in Pittsburgh; June; 17. Bride is model and former singer' with Billy Hinds orch; groom is organist and announcer at WCAE.; Pitt. . Geraldine Lang to Sgt. Dave Wald, in Pittsburgh, June 26. Groom was. manager of Plaza, theatre (or WB in Pitt, before, going, into service.;' Ida Poison to Earl Horton. in Kan- sas City; July 3. Grooro is producer and writer at radio station, KCKN, and also 'Variety'"correspondent in Kansas City. 'Mary Sale tu Julin. Guud, in crly Hills, July.l. Bride is a daugh ter of the late Chic Sale; room is a screen actor, Shirley Page to Victor Moore in Chicago,'since Jan. 16. 1942. Bride is dancer; groom is the stage arid screen star-comedian. \ "Lou Dinning to Pvt. Eugene Betz at Camp Van Dorn. Miss., July . 5. Bride is member of the Dinning Sis- ters, radio singing trio.. • Betty Grable to Harry- James, July 5,. in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sec- ond marriage for both. Knopf Acquires Wm. Penn William Penn Publishing ...Corp.,. in a state of suspended animation since its reorganization in New York, has been acquired by . Alfred A. Knopf. Gives that, publisher a number of valuable copyrights and authors' contracts held by the old Philadel- phia house. William Penn Publishing Corp. was the new narhe of the Penn Pub- lishing Co., of Philly, which went bankrupt a year or more ago. Assets were acquired by a New York book remainder Arm, which, reorganized the publishing company with elabo- rate plans for its resumption. Never really got started, however, and more or less dormant until nbw. Knopf has been employing all sorts of: means to build up bis author list, including grants of fellowships and various contests. Acquisition of Ponri gives it a running start for the new book season. \ MAY WHITNEY HELMS Mrs.; May Whitney Helms; 70, composer of; -The' March of Free- dom.' .and "The Yankee March,' died irv New .York, July 5'-. As daughter iif Charles .Morse Whitney, noted: corporation lawyer and musician, she toured U. S. and Canada with the Mozart Sextet, musical 'group- made up of. her- parcnts. ; and ; Mrs, Helrris' three brothers, and sisters. She sang and played 'cello. Surviving :are ' husband and brother. Edward L. Cos9, 77, widely known violin and guitar maker, died at his home in Waterloo, la.. June 22. For 20 years he operated a factory in Waterloo.' lurnin out specially made guitars for cowboy bands. He also, won several old . fiddler's con- tests at the Iowa state fair. CLARE L..IIATTON Clare L. Hation, -74 y veteran actor, died at- his home in Denver, Colo., last, week. . '■. "' '' : Halton was; a member' of the O. D.. Wbod\yard Players; had appeared t Elilch.Gardens theatre arid, head- lined the old Dcnham (Denver) ■ Players. His only' child, Bradford Hation.' Is appearing on Broadway. He is survived also .by;'widow and Morris Sherman. 83. father; of Shavo.-Sherman, vaude mimic, died June 17 in New York/City..' 'Another son. Irving Sherman, operates: Cen- tral theatre. Pearl River. N.. Y. A daiightet- and two, other sons also survive. '■■' ., - - Mrs. Frank A. rockliiser, 67. who had .'been associated iW.th her fius-' band for .17. years,in the operation of DSiic'eland ' ballroom. Cedar Riipids. Ia,. died, June 21 in Cedar Rapids. Survived by husband and two sisters. Covlcl, Frltde Assets to Crown ' After some delay, assets of the de- funct' Covlci, Friede ■ publishing house have finally been disposed of. Acquired; by Crown Publishers,., which plant to, reissue many of the titles. Since the demise of Covlci, Friede, assets had been administered by Richard R. Smith - for the book printing firm which had the largest claims against the publishing house. nssie 'Hart, 45.. who for a number of years wak. a siriger. in St. Louis riileries. died last week in St! touis. Survived;by husbarid and a brother, Lou Sher. nitery pianist. : Carl Duncan, owner and operator of the Kilibuch thentre. al Killbuck^ O., died June 28 in Coshocton. O., after a. brief Illness. He had been BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. James Howard, daughter, in Hollywood. June' 26. Father Is cartoon gagman at Metro. . Mr. and Mrs. Mickey Ross., son. in Pittsburgh,- June 28. Father's a band * leader and has staff orch at WJAS. Pitt. Mr. and Mrs. Jack Burke..' daugh- ter, in Pittsburgh, June 25. Mother's the former Mabel Harold, nitery .dancer.... . .. . . s ; .' Mr.- and Mrs. Richard Christ, daughter, in New Hope. Pa., May 30; Mother's. former Eda Toldi, Pittsburgh-liftie theatre actress; Mr. and Mrs. Artie Shaw, son. in. Hollywood, June 30. Mother, is the daughter of Jerome Kern: composer. Father is;-the orch leader, now a c.p.o.; in the Navy. . Mr. and Mrs. Herb Wcstrate, son, in Holly wood,.July 2. Father; now in 'the Army, was head of Republic's still camera'department. •: Mr. arid Mrs. Ernest Anderson, twin daughters, in New York. June 21, Father .' . .with the D'Arcy-Ad- vertising Agency, r • '.'Mr/ and Mrs. Herbert Wiere. son. June 3d iri-Hollywood. Father of Wiere'Bros., comics. Mr. and .Mrs. Larry Payne/ a son. June 29; in .Detroit. Father : - an announcer at Station WJR. MiC and Mi's. Joseph .Lawler.. son, June 30, in Philadelphia. Father is WCAU ;building manager. Mr, and 'Mrs. Richard fleber. spn, July 1, in New York. : Father is di- rector of Radio Reports. 'Slush Piles' Dwindling -. Rapidly-dwindling 'slush piles- publishing term for heaps of un- solicited manuscripts—has mag pub- lishers worried; Many established rhag contributors have stopped writ- ing since the war began,; either be- cause serving in the armed forces or on especial war effort work., Mag editors : have . had to resort to: the 'slush, piles' for material. But. the slush - piles . .today are mere, thin trickles of. unsolicited story-material, because numerous would-be writers aren't scribbling--cither, today. . Formerly, the 'slush piles' were re- garded by top mags as .a nuisance.. They got all they needed, and more, from- agents. Unsolicited stuff . was read, after; a fashion, and occasion- ally a story was uncovered. Now the 'slush fund' is of real concern, with every piece read as avidly as if brought in by an agent. Even an unsolicited story written in long- hand^ will get more than a passing glance. 'People's Book Club Launched The long - planned Simon & Schuster - Sears. Roebuck - Consoli- dated Book Publishing Co. -book-a- month' club is Anally under way. Aside from its magnitude, the fact that the man in . the street, rather than; literary notables, will'be-polled for selections . makes it different. People's Book Club, as it will be called, has; engaged Dr. George •Gal- lup** opinion-flnding. organization to determine selections.' Gallup will check on wlTat's wanted iri book reading matter. -• ,- '■' . . ; TEerwise the Feoples HOoK"~clUb~ will operate like other organizations of its kind. Members must agree to take at' least' lour books a year, at $1.66 each, with i Afth book thrdwiv in as. a dividend. Under the three-way "partnership, Simon it Schuster will handle .the editorial and publishing end; Sears, Roebuck, the membership stiles and distribu- tion, and Consolidated the. printing- Last-named is an affiliate of. Cuneb Press, mag printers. Because, both Sears, Roebuck ' and Consolidated are located . in Chicago, headquar- ters will be there. Book-a-morith project is featured in. the new Scars catalogue, which goes to . 7,000,000 customers. Reunion - In : Algiers _. . John Giinther. has arrived in Al- ' gicrs on four-ply war • cor- • respondent's' assignment for CBS, Reader's Digest, NANA and Harp- er's. There he is doing a reunion with Quentin Reynolds, Collier's roving correspondent, who has de- serted Moscow for North Africa, en route to India. Frank Gervasi. also Collier's, is currently in Algiers, as is Lt. Col. Vincent Sheean, of the NAAF, him- self a former correspondent. Crawford Quits PM After' Row' .- Kenneth G. Crawford, formerly. Washington -editor for PM, has re- , signed' arid joined the staff of News- week, which has assigned him to Chungking. Chinai. Charged that PM ' has been falling for anti-administra- • lion propagandists, and • iri one yarn picked on Robert. Murphy, State De- partment envoy in;'North Africa. , Crawford was assigned to that area and sent back two stories which were the reverse of those previously' car- ried by :.the N. Y. afternoon tabloid. PM refused to print the Crawfor stories, and lie' wulkc.d out. : Prbv. Journal Strike'Looms ;. Providence Typographical Union No. 33, consisting of cornppsrtors at the ; Providence Journal Co.. voted fb go out on strike .Wednesday .(7) at .7; a.m., upon" the company's re« fuSal to. negotiate new contract. .If strike comes off it will be the first time in 114 years that the paper has been forced to; cease publication. U. S. Dept.-of Labor certified to the War Labor Board the strike issue this week. - hion maintains that no contract, exists because, the coi'npany violated- it when it granted pay raises to some members of the union, and not to - all.; Cornpany . maintains tlie move did not violate the contract, hence it is still in force; ; The' Journal Co. slated that politi- cal ihtcres.tr in the state are foment- ing the strike. The Intimate Touch. Random House's copy in the N. Y. Times last week advertising George Jcssefe 'So Help Me', was,a. literati departure/ especially that line in the ad which- read, 'Wherein the author lets down his hair as well as his suspenders.' RH's prcxy. Bennett Cerf, the ad himself. Baer Plugs-Wlnsor McKay Bugs Baer took the occasion of the Walt Disriey-Majoir de Seversky 'Victory Through Air Power' screen- ing, at the Banshees luncheon in New York last week, to- plug the late Winsor McKay. That Hearst car- toonist was credited by Baer, who used to be a quick-sketch artist him- self, with having created, the ani- mated cartoq'n via his 'Gertie, the Dinosaur,' one-time Hearst 1 newspa- per! strip. ' ; The. Banshees; which is key noted by- Hear'stmen, also saw the de Sev- ersky screcriing as fitting because Hearst had long plugged-the author of 'Victory Through Air, Power' and syndicated his colunmh. -Lockhart Vice Howard Jack Lockhart-, d.h leave of ab- sence from, managing editorship of Memphis Commercial Appeal, upped to assistant director of press division fqr Office' of; Ccnsorshi '. Washing- ton.. • '•.'■■ Takes spot held by N. R. Howard, who returned to editorship of Clove- land News. ; . * Jake Wilk's;Aide at.WB Ellingwood Kay, formerly associate editor of Cosmopolitan magazine, has been appointed eastern story editor at Warners tinder Jake Wiik. Kay succeeds Helen Herman, who left last week to be married,' 'Tokyo's' Blr Call The Capt. Ted Lawson book. '30 Seconds Over Tokib' (ghosted by Bob Considirie. who gets credit, as 'editor'), has 1 100.000. advance sales, although not slated for publication until July 12. This is in addition to, the Book-of-the-Monlh's 340,000 copies. Macy's order for . 2,500 copies and a Washington book store's order for 1,000 copies are. among the unusual, items surprising, Random- House, the publisher. Rose Ada Kid Congress Billy Rose adde.d. a new wrinkle to nitery .'advertising.'', with' h-is open letter in. the name of his Diamond Horseshoe to'-Congress^ which -ran.'in- yesterday's (Tuesday) New.In. a three-column ad he kidded Con- gress about the 'three-ringed circus it was. running on : fnpilol- HiU, •which offered unfair-'.competition to nitery ..operators like himself, be- cause it was, free. The. windup was a plea to' 'get off the stage" and give.shovv biz back to showmen. PM and Sinatra Editor, 'Variety': Literati last . week refers lb our recent ."illustrated story on Frank Sinatra as 'a. frank showmanship stunt, cooked up by 'George.Evans." p.a.' for the-swopri-singcr. who felt' that PM. especially if-given a radio., trailer by 'Sinatra, coiWd jump ' ls sales.'' ; . ...' Our story, on Sinatra, was/ not cooked lip by George Evans. Wc do our Own cooking here; sornctinies. with, gas, sometimes with 0. blow, torch... The Sinatra epic began as a . (Continued on. page 55)