Variety (Dec 1944)

CHATTER Broadway Lenny Kent, emcee-songsmlth, out cl scrvic*. • Loiclla Val-Mciy press agenting "Sing Out, Swe'bt Land." Mary Marcii. has joined Mike Todd's press departnieht, ' • ' Lewis Harmon handling press jor revival of '■Lilll^ Women." . ■ '■ Buddy Kiisse), general manager foi' Howard Lang, ill from the Coast. The Walter Winchells adbptihff a tlircc-monlh-old girl was wireservice news. • / The Bo.stonian (Hubtowh's New yorkcr) "profiles"'P'aul ;Whiteman .in ciirreiil issue. v ; Louie Lissner back in tow'a to manage ' dood Night Ladies," due oh Broadway soon; Clarence Taylor rnanager ot "Har- vey" t48th Street), . Trfmmy Kil- patriqk ■ the • p.a. Jack Robbins and Wially Downey have amicably split their Robbins Artists Bureau assets. Darryl F. Zanuck and Frank Fay talking a picture.deal for the comic's legit smash, "Harvey." John Peter Toohey agenting "The' Laic George Apley" ^Lyceuiri), Riibe Bernsfeih. back. ■ Jesse Lasky, is another-film pro- ducer who plans legit financing on a pre-pix production' arrangement. Ronald Bishop, William Sandy and ban Cullitan have joined "Othello" oh lour, they being replacements.; Quite a "oipe night" at the Players Saturday with Frank Fay, Fredric Mai-ch, Leo G'. Carroll, Jack Smart, €t al. Lt.'Col. Lynn Farnol, e.\-UA pub- ad chief, due to get out of service and return to civilian life this Svinter. . W;irner Bros, put up the entire $40;ooo (or the forthcoming Bernard Klawans Si 'Victor Payne-Jennings legit production. Conditions alter circumstances: now a .pack.of cigarets as a favor at a.dinner patty means more than the conventional seegar. ■ Jerry (music pub) 'Vogel's Thanks- eivirig fund this year hit new all- time high.. He servic«s inmates of : hospitals, asyiums. etc. Speaking of'a dull dinner, fulsome with gab. Moss. Hart cracked, "They should have first taken this out on: the road for two weeks.'■ Collier's mag^nay.do a piece on Jake 'Wilk's negotiations .(a i^cord, six years) until he snagged ."Life With Father" for Warner Bros.- . Joari McCracken and June Havoc to entertain at Banshees luncheon at Waldorf-Astoria tomorrow (14) when- James L. Kilgallen is euest of honor. Rube Bernstein back with "Star Time.",now on tour, Emmett Calla- han having gone to the Coast to • ready new vaude-revue, "Fun Time.". It had to happen: now there's a dance called The Umbriago, in honor of the Great Schnozzle: Mario & Floria Introduced it at the St. Regis.. J. C. and Dorris Stein (MCA) fete- Ing Capt., Norman Krasna and Moss Hart tonight (Wed.) after the "Dear Ruth" preem. MCA backed the play .100%. . /' Neil Agnew will -have a double- featured preem next month: the new Vanguard (Selznick) offices and the East 80th street manse which he's taken ovier. ■■^. A. L. Bernian handled the "Junior Miss" $400,000 sale to 20th-Fox. At- torney J. T. Abeles merely repre- sented the authors,. Joe Fields :and Jerome Chodorov, legally. Some 50 cases of iiuported and do- mestic chaimpagne took care of the flrstnighters ($24 per ducat) at the 7 Lively Arts" preem. Legit crlx \yere 50-50 on the "come formcU" sag- : gestion. .Among writers sponsoring Cynthia White's 26th annual Oreenwlcb Vil- lage ball. Webster Hall. Friday (15) are Joe Laurie, Jr., Dorothy Parker, Maxwell Bodenhelm and Mary Caro- lyn Davies. , Unlike the Larry Adler-Paul l)ra- per harmonica-dancer concert tour- ing,.as a team, JTohn Sebastian is do- ing a solo '^mouth-organ" virtuoso .tour uhdeir Haenael & Jones (Colum- bia Concerts) auspices. J. Robert Rubin, chairman o>f the amusement division of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, has named Spyros Skouras chairman of the committee for th* memorial luncheon to Wendell L. Wlllkle at da ^5)' Vork, niext Frl- the bottom up ' at her dad'i studio WBKB, . Showmen's League of . America held its annual memorial, services for deceased members last' week in the Sherman hotel. 'Dick Barstow, who ' produced .shows at the Palmer House, is tour- ing with Army production through .Wi."ic6n.sln to stir Up bbnd sales. When .Kitty Carlisle opened at the Mayfaii- Room Friday (8), she . was accompanied by Leo Kahn, who formerly worked 'with Hildegarde. ' "Porgy' and Bess." here for :a week's stand, cancelled its Wednes- day (6) matinee to give special per- lorniance at Vaughn General Hos- pital; ■' ;..'.■■' \- ■ Artie Shaw opened at the Chicago Friday (8) with 11.new men out of his 17. Roy Eldredge, the trumpeter, disbanded his orch .to join the Shaw aggregation.:. . Corp. Bob Eberle, erstwhile singer with Jii'nniy; Doi'sfey, and Sam Lutz, former manager of Henry Busse's orch, are. stationed at Gardiner Gen- eral Hospital here booking ehtertain- meut for di.sabled,vets.' : ; "Winged Victory" flacks got Mayor Ed Kelly to proclaim Tuesday (12) Winged Victory day, marking open- ing.atthe-Civic Opera House of the AAF show, also booking Fred Allen's (railer-pUig, "Wings Over Allen's Alley," Into 50 local theatres. '. It vi-as Theatre Guild weekend, with Lawrence Langner, Theresa Heilburn, Richard. Rogers, Oscar Hammerstein II and ■ Rouben Ma- mbulian all attending Chicaigo com- pany of "Oklahoma's" 500th per- formance and a midnight party Sat- urday ^9.) at the Blackstone. Holly wdod UNRRA, in town to discuss interna- tional fllm'relations^ Wllliimi. Dover, coordinator of USO-Camp Shows In the European war theatre, guested by film industry leaders at a testimonial dinner, London Ivy Benson, whose -girl , band .was popular radio feature, in hospital undergoing major operation., ■: Bernard Delfont's production of "Fledermaus". conies to Winter Gar- den theatre sometime iii March. Peter Dearing pacted rights of Christopher Earle thrillerj "Place in the Sun" for production iii February. James Bridie comedy, "It Depends What You Mean," has brokeiv 'ill records iat the Wistmihste.r theatre. Archie Shenbourn reopening Pal- ace, Camberwell, ' which was doodle bugged some months ago, as vaude- ville house: James L a v a 1V . optioned new comedy,' "See You Tomorrow" by- Eric 'L'Epine-Sniith, casting director for Warners. • . . Sir Arthur Pinero's old comedy, "The . Magistrate," revived at the Arts Theatre Club, now at the St.- Martin's replacing previous produc-. tion of "Bird in Hand." Andre Randal, Hugh French, Mari- anne Williams (daughter of late Marion Harris) and Terry Jones ofT to Paris for three months ..to enter- tain the Forces for ENSA. Gus McNaughton, who walks away with hew Max Catto comedy "Gather No Moss" now on a pre-LOndon tour, has had offer to star in hew Mabel .Constanduros opiis, ."Lido Ladd;" Pat Taylor, Arthur Riscoe and Dorcen Perchisron . sii?ned for Jack Hyltbn revival of '"Irene" set for eight weeks starting at Christmas at Palsfce, Manchester, prior to the West End.-' William :Mollison will direct. OBITU ARIES SYDNEY TOWELL ' Sydney Towell, 48, treasurer and vice-president of ,2dth-Foj{,' died in a N. Y. hospital, Dec. 9, froni. in- juries suffered when his auto struck a cliff and overturned after colliding with; another car on- Riverside Drive at ISOth St; Born in England, Tbwoll went to Canada 'while still ia' young- ster.. He. was a vpteran of the first World War, serving in Royal Cana- dian Air Force. ' , .^^ From work as accountant with several N. Y; ftrms, he biecanie in-- terested in the film business while Avorking with Touche, Nive'a '& Co., being assigned to the Fox Filnri Corp. account. In 1928, Towell became gerieral a.ssistant to William Fox, at that time head of Fox Film. A year later he was made;.comptroller of the company, and succeeded Charles E. Richardson as 'treasurer in 19.34. Towell was blecled a director and member, of the executive committee several. years ago. ; He was named treasurer anid vice-president of 20th- Fox . in. 1943, and also served' as Movietone News treasurer. 20th-Fox homeofHce was closed all day Tuesday for funeral services. High executives of company served as pallbearers.: . To\vcll lived in Bronxville. He is survived by his'AVidow, a daughter and' two sons. Ted Smith venhires forth as new ^^^"er of Cuban VlUage" on North Blackst9ne's Ed ; Fleming went under knife last week at Passavant hospital. : - , . Shubert In Chi last week oickering over purchase of some theatres-here; ' Ji^urance,, all premiums £.»?'»•« Palaban and Kalz' Christ- tL^''4*? .employees. Bainho?" J*?*"' daughter of John aaiaban, is learning television from William Prince had his tbnsils re- moved. Tony Sanloi'o's heW Aim . name is Alaii Faster. Gale Slorm to South Bend, Ind.', for Christmas. . ^ <3 Wynne Pickford divorced Bud Ernst in Reno. N; Peter Rathvon in town oh a Red Cross mission; Eleanor Parker divorced Lieut. Fred L. Losee, USI»f. Joseph Santley taking his first va- cation in two years; Kurt Krcuger. Swiss actor, became an American citizen.; Myra Cunard celebrating her 30th year as a film player. Eriist Lubitsch vacationing at Palm Springs for two: weeks, ; 2 Danny Desmond, film actor, in- ducfed'atTt;-MacArthur. Vern - Walker; elected commodore of Hollywood Ykcht' Club. Metro set a studio record of 375 Blood Bank donors ..in oiie day, ' Ne.d Depinet in. from New Yoric for production huddles at RKO. Lena Home to Tuskegee, Ala., to open, tour of southern hospitals.. Cliff Nazarro east on a stage tour, starting Dec. IS in Philadelphia. Santiago Reachi, Mexican.fllrri big- gie, conferring with RKO execs. John- Joseph returned to the Uni- ver.sal lot after homeoflice huddles. ; Mervyn LeRoy returned to work after a week out with tooth Infection. Fred Wilcox, Metro director; re- turned to work after a heart attack. Joan Barry's paterjiity suit against Charles Chaplin goes on trial this week, Lauren Bacall. new Warners star, to celebrate New: Year's Eve in New York. Veronica Lake granted her final divorce ^-decree from Maj. John Detlie. Ueut. Wayne Morris in town on furlough after downing seven Jap planes. • Glenn Ford returning to Columbia after medical discharge'- from the Marines,. Simohe Simon selling her Califor- nia home, to live permanently In New York. ' Tom Rockw.ell. prexy of General Amusement Corp., in Hollywood for the holidays. ; ' Gregory Peck and family golhg east for Christmas for the first time in three years. , Emily Klmbrough In tbwn to gan- der production .of her new story of youthful adventures. .. John Considine to Omaha to line up a new Boys Town picture story with Father Flanagan. . . Charles Starfett and Johnny Mack Brown hospitalized after a motor crash near: Sacramento. Tonya Rohde. currently - playing Tondelayo in "White Cargo," di- vorced Chester J.. Rohde; Charlotte Barrett Sutton filed a cross complaint, demanding separate maintenance, against' John- Sutton, Gnellsb actor. ..Pap's Hollywood restaurant, opened less than a month and damaged by a $10,000 fire last week, will reopen about .Ian. 15.; ' Irvine Berlin In town for Para- mount huddles before leaving to Jofh "This Is the Army"' troupe In the South'Pacific area! John Grierson.' Canadian film commissioner, and William Wells, of MARRIAGES Grace McDonald to Lieut. Ralph Green, Santa Barbara, Dec. 6; Bride is a .screen actress. ; Hope McKenzie to William Burton, in Las Vegas, Dec. 6. Bride is an actress; groom a theatricial manager. Isabel Lopez to Tom Alfred, Palm Springs, :Dec. 5. Bride is a (lancer; groom is exploitatibn man for Cb- lumbia pictures.' ; Barbara Hingle;4o Tex Harris, Tia Juana, Dec. 2. Bride is a model; gr<oom an assistant film director. Nancy Porter; to Milton Holmes, Las Vegas, Dec. 3. Bride is a illm actriess; groom S screen writer. Phyllis Anne Adams to Alexander Kirkland, Nevi; York; Dec. 12. Groom ^is . legit actor-manager aiid former *husband of Gypsy Rose Lee. June Horne ; to Jackie Cooper, HoUywoo.fl, Dec. 11. Bride is film actress; grooni also film actor, now serving in Ui S. Navy. . Rosalind Leane to Rick Vollaerts, •in Las Vegas, Nev., Dec. 9. Groom is chief writer on Frank Sinatra ra dio show. . BIRTHS Mr. nnd Mrs. Jofiriny'Cunfilngham, son. New 'York. Dec. 7. Fathier is in Warners'advertising department. ; Mr. and Mrs. Harry Burge,. son, Chicago, Dec. 1. Father is WGN an- nouncer, Mr.; and Mrs, David Hillmlan, «6n, LOs Angeles, Dec. 5. Fathet* is presi- dent of Hillman-Shayne-Breyer ad- vertising agency. ' Mr. and Mrs. Steve Condos, daugh. ter, Los Angeles, Dec. 4. Father is with dance team of Nick and Steve Condos. Naval Lieut, and Mrs. Aaron Dia- mond,, daiightelr,, New York, Nov. 20. Mother is the forrhere Irene Lee, one-time story editor for WB on coast and later Eastern rep for Samuel .Goldwyn. ; Mr. and; Mrs. Nestor Piava, son, HoUywniod, Dec. 3. Father is legit and film actor.; Mr. and Mrs. Lane Watson, diaugh ter, Hollywood, Dec. 3. Father is film player. . Lieut: and Mrs, Robert Sterling, daughter, Hollywood, Dec. 10. Moth er is Ann Sbthem, Him actresi;; father is former screen actor now in Army. .; Variety Bills Continued from: pace n ; XAIBO GREGAR . Laird Crtgar, 28, stage and screen actor, died D^c. 9 in Good. Samaritan hospital, Hollywood, following two heart attacks,. Actor bad been op-, crated ou; Friday. During recent weeks'he had dropped from 300 to 200' pounds in. weight before, sub- mitting to operation. Ciregar was born in Philadelphia and educated in England, eventually receiving scholarship to Pasadena Community Playhouse in 1936. In .1940 he assumed lead in leigit pro- duction of "Oscar Wilde." then inked, term contract. with 20th-Fox. He was featured in some 14. Alms, among which were "Blood and Sand," "Charlie's Aunt.^' "I Wake Up Screaming,". "Rings On Her Fingers," .'This Gun for. Hire." "Heaven Can Wait," "Holy Matri- !moriy," "The Lodger" and the un-; released ''Hangover Square," which he just completed. Survived by mother, four brothers and. an; aijnt; HOWARD HERRICK Howard Herrick, 73, one of the best' known theatrical, - advance agents, died In Washington,' D. C.,. Nov.. 7.; At time- of death hie' was advance agent for "The Cherry' Or- chiird." In addition to press ageitt- ing he had occasio;ially done news- paper work and for a time was Broadway reporter for the old Tele- gram, N. Y. During his career in the theatre Herrick had served as advance agent for Gertrude Coughlan, Weber and Fields, Nazimova, Bertha Kalich,' Walter Hampden, Otis ': Skinner, Ethel Barryniore and other legit stars. He had also done advance work .on roadshow films. He was a member of the Players Club and ' The Lambs, and was a member of the board of governors of the Association of 'theatrical Agents and Managers. Survivied by two sons and a daughter. '. > medical discharge • froin the Arrtiy last Spring. . ;. ; A few years ago .McPtiail wns;<le- scribed by Lawrence Tibbett as "one of the best young baritones I have heard.". Among the films in,which he appeared were "Sweethearts," •-'Babes in; Arms," VMaytime," "Born., to Dance," "Toy Wife" .ihd "Little Nellie Kelly." McPhail was niai- ried to Betty Jaynes', llln-i actress, in 1938 and divorced in i941. At that time, police said, he-took poisoii but was. saved by; emergency treatment. BOBEBT; JOYCE TASKER Robert: Joyce Tasker, 46, noveliist and, scireen.- writer, died Dec. 7 in Mexico-Ciity from an- overdose of sleeping tablefs. Tasker became a novelist in San; Quentin priison, where he'wrote ?'Grim'Haven'* whUe .serving Ave years for robbery. In Hollywood he wrote: the screen adaptation of his book as "Big House," and continued there as' a icreen Writer until 19.42,- when he nioved , to' Mexico' Cityi where he worked for various film producers. Surviving -is his widow^ Gladys Flores Tasker, granddaughter of a former .president of Costa Rica. MBS. EMILY COOPER ,•, Mrs. Emily Cooper. 61, legit char- acter actress and wife of Ashley Gpopef, an. actor, died last week in ■New.York.' Actress had appeared in dramatic stock, and legit productions for more than 29'years and had signed con-' tract to. appear in a new' production, "Bonanza," day before her death. Upon arrival home she became ill, and was riished to a hospital where she died the fDllbwing day. Husband survives. ■ GENE BTAN. . i Gene Ryan, 45, vaude and nilery performer,'died in New York, Dec. 11. Funeral arrangements ;were han- dled by National Variety Artists through the Will Rogers; Fund. Ryan in his-youth had appeared in a vaude act with his parents, Ryan and Baker, and, after death of his father and retirement of his mother, did-an act with divers part- ners biJt more recently had done a singing and dancing single. Mother survives.. ABCHIE OMBI Archie ODri,; 61, who had for- merly done a juggling act in. vaude for ; many years, succumbed ^ to a heart attack Dec. 7 in New Yorlf. '. .. Onri liad formerly, done juggling iact with family and later on. his own in. vaude and with circuses. Funeral arrangements were handled by Lou Handin, of the Na- tional Variety Artists, with burial by the Will Rogers Fund; Frank Victor Chas Carter Harold Qraee FreaUmen Mars Trio ' - -Korn Kobblers; SIR Schatz;Orc JUnaalaa VlUacr tennis aoldatelD Vtn. NIva. Henry B<!rmao n Walton. Daincer*. II Jacobmn Ore (ttarh aii» lloratea Ore Ernta Holat Ore Ttmt Fwtor'n Vpitm Steve-Uumiy Johnny & Geprfr Jerry Baker Roaa Leonard Thclnia Ncvlnn . HoKy Grot^n': Florell«;<illbei't Mara Klin Joe.De Carlo Ore Veraallle*. .Sunny Skvlnr '■■ ' Dwight h'lnka llene Wooda - Canlu Ellaivorlh & T'chllil Poter Birch . ;iiob Douffine Beltj- T.unlre M Bergere Ore Monchlto Ba /•nlbar Bill Roblnnon r.oiila .\r<nBtro'nc Jlnurlco noore XIrholasBroa l>rlta Rhylliih B<)ya Pfttora Sla CInuile Jltipklna Orr LEONARD CONN Leonard Conn, . 33,'; orchestra leader a'hd arranger, died from in- juries sustained in automobile acci- dent in Hollywood,;Dec. 10. Originally from Chicago^ Conn began his musical'career .Vith Carl HofTs band^ ;After two years tour- ing with Hotr, Henry :;Biisse and Franke Trambawv. . Conn Jbined musical staff of WBBH in Cfiicago where he did, orchestral arrange^ ments and set up music {nrbgrams. Later he .was featured- clarinetist with George Olseit, Iiouis Adrian, Wingy Mfinon* and "Dave Ros^ for period of three yean. ; : He Anally setUed ih HoUywood, returning to radio musical arrang- ing with CBS aitd.KMX, Two yeanf ago he' organized band. and played Los Angeleis area; then- was signed as featured Monday night band at FitUadlunn, where he would have celebrated first anniversary - Jan. . 3. DOUGLAS McFHAlt, Douglas McPhail, 30, singing film actor, ^ed Dec; 7 in General Hos- pital, Los Angelies, from the cfii'cct.s of poison. liad been ill and un- able to appear in pictures since his BOD CLESS George Roderick Cless, musician, died in St Vincent's hospital, N. Y., Friday (8). Details in orchestra section; ;' . Pfe. Bekcrt Squires; 25. former as- sistant film editor, died in action on the ;'German frontier while serving with the Ninth y. S. Infantry, ac- cording to ofHciai word received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Rbl>iert W. Squires, Los Angeles. Before join- ing the Army, he worked for Walt Disney. .; Fktker, 67, Of John Walsh, man- ager of Fulton theatre, Pittsburgh, died suddenly at his home in New- port, R, I., lasi^weelb ; J»ek LedDcs. 72; father of Sam Ledner,. Paramount dance-'super- visor, died Dec. 8 in HoUywood. ' MrsJ 'Bekcrt ^K-. 'SMttM. <a, wife ' «I the screen character actor, died pec. 7 in Gleiidale, Cti Joul Edwards to Head R«xy 'Vlctoisr' Show stage Shaw at the Boi^, If. Vi, in conjimcflon with (he praem-of 20th- Fos'a "Winged Wctory" ne»t, Wednesday (20>, -will feature Joan Edwards, Gil Maison, Jack Duraiit and tlte Nicholas Briis. ~ Latter daiice dud'-wiU double from the Cafe Zanzibar, Broadway, for one week, closiog at the nitei-y D^, 27, thien continuing at the Roxy. niiily Ecbstlne's orchfestra makee its first trip to the Coast next month.' for a Feb. 1 opting at the Planta- tion, Los Angeles. Date is for four weeks.