Variety (May 1946)

62 Wednesday, May 8, 194*5 OBITUARIES GUS HARDY Gus Hardy,. 72, veteran Chicago theatre man, died in Chicago, May 5, following a stroke in Union Depot, on April 27. Previous to his retirement' sev- eral years ago, . Hardy spent more than five decades in the manage- ment end of legit, opera and con- cert. From 1900 to 1920 he was business manager of the old Audi- torium Theatre,' moving from there to the Blackstonc. where he re- mained in the same capacity until his recent retirement from show biz. During his Chicago career, Hardy was responsible for naming the World Playhouse, and also spent a short time as manager of the Studebaker. Also produced several shows there. chieE among them. "What Price Glory"'-Hardy brought the Boston Grand Opera Co., under the direction of Henry Russell and featuring Pavlova, to Chi for- its initial appearance in the middle west. While still active, he sponsored funeral services for. Bert Lesion Taylor. Chi Trio.; columnist, and. Frank Bacon, who died at the ARTHUR VILLABS Arthur Villars, 69, legit actor, died April 30 at Fort Lee, N. J., where he had been rehearsing in. "Second Best Bed," which Ruth Chatterton and John Huntington are producing. He was born in Norwich, England, and made his stage debut there in 1890. After- appearing In produc- tions in that city and in London he came to the U. S. ■ ■'.'; Among American productions in winch he played were "Excuse Mo," "The Last Warning," "The Little Host," "The Man.From Mexico," "An Innocent Idea" and "Breakfast in Bod." He had also appeared in pro- ductions with the late Frank Kccnan and George Arliss. FREDERICK W. RICCOBONO Frederick W. Riccobono, 77, for- mer vaude and circus performer who had specialized in equestrian acts, died at Kingston, N. Y., April 29. "" Born in Hungary and having trained arid appeared in trained horse acts lie was brought to Amer- ica in 1907 by the late'Oscar Ham- nicrstein for appearances at la Iter's Victoria theatre, N. Y. Later he pcr- In Fond Remembrance W. H. STEIN May 14, 1943 Blackstone .while playing "LJpht- ning." Hardy's, earliest show biz venture was management of Ben Greet tours in Shakespearian reper- tory. Survived by niece aid sister-in- law. SIGMUND rOLLATSCHEK Sigmund Pollatschek, 75 violinist- trombonist and secretary of Musical Mutual Corp., formerly a union which owns the YOrkville Casino, N. Y., died in New York, April 30. Born in New York, he was long associated with Conrad's Society or- chestra and the Old Guard Band, both of which were: led by the late Henri Conrad, as well as with the band Conrad directed at the N. Y. Horse Shows. After Conrad's death in 1935, he led latter's musical or- ganizations for some time. In 1925 he was secretary of Musical Mutual Corp., and its predecessor, Musical Mutual Protective Union. He was a member of Local 802, American Fed- eration of Musicians, and was. instru- mental in attainment by the local of autonomy. Survived by his widow. SAM S. HANAUER Sam S. Hanauer, a showman for more than 45 years, died last week at Beaver Falls, Pa. A veteran ex- hibitor, Hanauer and his brother Ralph Hanauer. only last year with- drew from exhibition when they cold their Rialto and State theatres' in Beaver Falls to the Rialto The atre Corp., a Cook and Anderson en terprise. ■ Hanauer entered the amusement business in 1900 in the legit field and as early as 1902 showed his first film in what was then known as the Lyceum. He was also a civic leader in the Beaver Valley, was president of the First National Bank, served as county treasurer and Ave times had been elected to the'Beaver Falls city council. formed with Ringling, Barnum and Bailey and other circuses. He re- tired some years ago but continued to train horses for other circus per- formers. C. RUSSELL nALLIGAN C. Russell Halligan,. who for more than 20 years was associated with the Albany offices of RKO, Univer- sal and Columbia Pictures in sales capacities and who later worked as a special investigator assigned to the OPA: Office in Albany, died May 3 at his hime in Green Island. N. Y. A native of nearby Troy, Halligan in' his youth operated the Daisy theatre, Green Island. He got into the distribution end of motion pic- tures and eventually became Albany manager for RKO. Surviving are his widow, son and daughter. N BOB BOBBINS Albert Ratnow, for nearly 40 years a vaudeville and opera performer, known professionally as Bob Rob- bins, died after a heart attack while visiting performer friends at Na- tional Variety Artists clubhouse in New York, May 5, He had-come to the club to attend regular Sunday Clown Night show but was seized with a heart attack before the show went'on. Hie had been a member of the NVA for 25 years, On retirement from show biz, he bought an interest in a chain of drug stores which he had been operating up to his death. He of- ten yisited the club to see former cronies. SutVived by "a son. W. W. COLE W. W. Cole, 79, midwest circus owner died May 1 in Omaha. He had owned and operated Cole Bros. Circus. For 10 years in the early 1900's he managed the old Trocadero and Krug theatres that housed Stair and Havlin melodramas. He later be- came manager of the Orpheum the- atre, Lincoln, Neb. After th«u; he organized W, W. Coles dog and pony show that played every midwest hamlet for years., Later went to Omaha and built and managed Lake- view Park. Also at one time man- aged Lake Manawa, Council Bluffs. MRS. FRANK A. STEAD Mrs. Frank A. Stead, 42.. radio script writer, actress, and author of many short stories and poems, died May 6 at Rye, N. Y. Mrs. Stead, had come to this coun- try in 1920 from London, where she was born. An extensive traveler, her stories had been published in many magazines, including Collier's and Liberty. As an actress she per- lormcd in a series of Galsworthy plays in Buffalo in 1936. Survived by.husband, mother and two sons. JOHN NORMAN DEVAUL John Norman Devaul. til. former vaude musical director and perform- er, died May 4,'in Long Branch. N.J. Arf.orchestra leader and pianist in early vaudeville days. Devaul head- ed his own act,. The Blue Birds. He later became managing musical di- rector of the Keilh-Albee Circuit. Survived by widow and two sons. DANE CLAUDIUS Dane Claudius. 72, oldlimc vaude baiijoist. died April 2(i in Los An- geles. With his wife, as Claudius and Scarlet,. he was one of the origi- nators of community singing in theatres,.' In his stag* career ho was featured on the Kclth-Albee- Orpheum circuit and also, played in musicals of Charles Dillingham and Florenz Zeigfeld. Since his wife died in 1930 he had been playing occasionally in-pictures, band,, three sons, • mother and two sisters. MRS. JACOB H. LUBIN Mrs. Etta Lubin, 69, wife of Jacob H. Lubin, head of Loew vaude book- ing office, died May 5, in New York, after a heart attack. She's survived by her husband who still retains the title of the booking manager, al- though he has been, inactive for seven years because of ill health. A .daughter Olga; is the wife of Mar- vin. Schenck, Loew vice-president. The Lubins would have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary next November. NELSON W. MORTON Nelson Whitman Morton, .67. well known in Canadian show biz and for past 12 years manager of Cameo theatre, Morrisburg, Ont.. : died afr ter a stroke in theatre box office April 30: He was a descendent of Walt Whitman, parliamentarian and re- lation of Hon. W. S. Fielding and Sir Robert Borden. Survived by widow and son, Col. N: W. Morton. EDITH X. STRONG Edith Lemmerl Strong, 74. logit actress and widow of the late Fred Strong, actor who passed away in 1936, died in New York, May 5." She. made stage debut with first, husband. Lawrence Harilcy. during his starring engagements and was a member of Oliver Morosco slock companies in California for several years. Survived by a daughter. JOHN VIDENOFF John Videnoff, 24 actor arid war veteran, died May 5 in Los Angeles. Disabled soldier, playing that sort of role in "The Eve of St. Mark" at the Geller Workshop theatre, actu- ally died on the stage in the arms of his beloved, according to script. During the; war he contracted rheumatic fever, which developed into a heart condition. HAROLD J. LENGS Harold J. Lengs, 40, former circus agent who hai also been a newspa- per man, died May 6 in Akron, Ohio. . Lengs had once been associated with the Barnett Bros, and Wallace Bros, circuses. He had served as bu- reau mgr. for the Stamford Advo- cate in Conn. DAN SINGLER Dan Singler, 53, actor who had played in dramatic and musical tabs in the midwest and south for years, died at the. Veterans hospital, Saw- telle, Calif], last week. He was a guard at Warners' studio. His last stage job was-with Joe Marion musical stock at the town theatre, Oipaha, CHARLES P. SHOFFNER Charles P. SholTner. 76, radio broadcaster, died May 8. in Laurel Springs, N. Y. Shoffncr. formerly associated with Farm Journal as art editor, conducted a weekly radio program oh farm and gardening hints over WCAU for 22 years. PETER MARK Peter Mark, for the past 15 years an announcer on WTEL, Philadel- phia, died last April 30 in I hat city . He also conducted the Polish hour on the station. NINA STEWART Nina Stewart, showgirl ex-wife of Sergio de Carlo, died of overdose of sleeping piHs. in her W. 52d sheet, N. Y., apartment recently. Mrs. Ruth Iris Gibbons. 36, died recently in Houston. Texas. She was the wife of Fred R. Gibbons, former manager of the Texas the- atre there, and daughter of the late Will Horwitz, who was owner of the Texan, Uptown, his and Rilz the- atres in Houston. Leola B. Gray, 72. widow of Wil- liam B. Gray, theatrical producer, songwriter and motion picture pioneer, died recently in Indianap- olis. Her husband, along with Wil- liam Fox, organized oiie of the first film companies. .-.-Mrs. Ruth E. Shanahan, widow of Thomas Shanahan, who owned sev- eral theatres in Pittsburgh, died at her home in that city last week. Ida Edwards, 69, mother of Jimmy Edwards, Southern California theatre owner, died April 27 in Altadcna. Cal. Sam Rivkin, 73, father of Allen Rivkin, screen writer, and Norman Rivkin, publicist, died May 2 at his home in Beverly Hills. Mother, 80. of Robert M. Savini, prexy of Astor Pictures Corp., died in New York. May 1. Two other sons and three daughters survive her. House Reviews SS Continued from page 22 ss RKO, Boston with intro to "Oh, Baby," involving the whole band. Vocalists are Lfza Morrow, who docs "Shoo Fly Pie" and "You Won't' Be Satisfied" and Art Lund, who jloes "Blue Itios" and "My Blue Heaven." Gal is a looker and war bles with plenty of throaty case, and Lund, who'se got a lot of personal- ity and style, clicks with'the .bobby soxcrs in a big way. Band doesn't fool around on the stand, and looks awake and alert throughout, with Goodman easy as ever out front! . ..Specials are Larry. Storch, a high ly skillful impersonator, who wows with Hollywood sketches, and Lynn Shirley, whose hoofing is fast and agile.. All told, amounts to a top- ranking show in a familiar pattern nicely staged and routined. Elie. ildans, Bicwark Newark, May 2. Plnl Brito, "Guess Who." with Happy_ Felton tt Joe Ripley; Gantiei's Briclclaj/ers, Leonore Roberts. Sylviti Manon. & Co. (3); Joe Fecher's House Band (11); "Sono of Mexico" (Rep). Mrs. Leo JaiTe, wife of Columbia Pictures assistant treasurer, died in New York. May 3. Survived by lius- Like a page out of the oldtimc annals of vaudeville comes this band- less succession of acts. Sans even a master of ceremonies, the bill sets forth an-adagio team, a. dog act, a kid marvel; a star vocalist and a novelty. Only serious lack is a comedian. Happy Felton is the only one who makes serious' attempts, in that di- rection. His aim is a bit wide of the mark. The air quiz, show he .stages is only a slight twisteroo on the usual things—volunteers from the audi- ence, an interview with each; and ■then prizes for answers to questions that practically answer themselves The gag here is that the contestant must recognize, voices and bands from recordings. Preliminaries to the test are endless and far from runny. Joe Ripley is producer and aide. Phil Brito. bearing plenty of local renown from nitery jobs, radio and earlier engagements at the Adams is right at home here. He sparks his appearance with pleasant little gags that-work: Singing straight, Brito warbles through "Oh, What It Seemed to Be," "Don't Be a Baby, Baby" and "Gypsy." Then he dons a west- ern costume for "Sioux City Sue" introduces "Mama." Italian ditty with his own translation, and launches into a funny duct,."One-zy. Two-zy " with little Leonore Roberts.' Then off to'sock applause. On her own. Miss Roberts, 11 years old. puts forth a strong personality appeal and a surprisingly adult voice Her numbers, verging on the bumr school and too old for her years in- elude "Mama Says No," "I'm a Big Gn l Now" and "Lawyer, Doctor In- dian Chief." ', That ever reliable canine caper. The Bricklayers,, is put on without variation from its usual form, and as usual, measures up as prime vaudeville. Showing no mercy two huskies toss Sylvia Manon around the podium in adagio dance thai cl, cks. , B ,. a „ Hlpnodroane, Hallo Baltimore. May S. Smiley BurneUe, Fred Lowery & Dorothy Rae. Joey Bishop; 3 Cor- umis, Felice fttla House Orch '(12)- PmoccJiio" (RKO). . Entertaining layout plays' nicely enough, paced smoothly by Joey Bishop, smart working emcee who holds down a potent spot, on his own aS i. wc . u - Experienced comic is a satisfying switch from recently run of show-pacers recruited mostly from mteries, eschewing off-color gags and double entendre stuff com- pletely put of place for family trade attracted here. Scores with skillfully timed material and clowning, and lifts proceedings nicely. m?' 6 ^L openinff flash is provided by The Three Corwins, trio of femme aero workers, who atart off with good routine of tricks while chained together, and close strongly with fast tumbling and rope jumping. Bishop next, and very solid to a beg-off. after which Fred: Lowery, blind whistler, gives out in solo and in' accomp to vocals by Dorothy Rae Act has considerable appeal ana goes over neatly. na Smiley Burnette closes with tvni cal horse opera gagging and self, accomped vocals in which he nlava a guitar and accordion to maximum response. Gags are on the corny side, but made to order for him Garners plenty salvos. Biirm. MARRIAGES Jennifer Howard to Mortimer Halpern, New York, May 5. Couple are appearing in "The Merry Wives of Windsor" on tour; she's daughter of late Sidney Howard, playwright Vcrna Hcllmati to Sam Fields Los Angeles, May 1. Bride is a' film editor at PRC;; groom, former film cutter, is now a realtor. Calire Kire to Barnet Biro. New York, April 27. Bride is radio actress and writer; groom is legit actor re- cently released from service. Janet Stephenson to Capl. Larry Cadogan. Chicago, May 1. Bride is with booking department of Bala ban & Katz. Joan Roberts to Dr. John J. Don- Ian, New York, May 5. Bride is fea^ lured, player in the musical "Are You With It?" on Broadway. Shirley Strotz to William P. Mul- len. Bel-Air, Cal., May 3; Bride is the daughter-of Sidney Strotz, NBC v.p.: groom an eastern radio exec. Ellen Craft to Karl Krug,-'Pitts- burgh.. May 3. Groom is drama critic of Sun-Telegraph. ''•■■• Margaret Snyder to Paui Simon, Pittsburgh, May 2. Bride is assist- ant producer of "Sho-Biz-Quiz" pro- gram. Deborah Ruder to Harvard Cotlon, . New York, April 14. Bride is with Decca Records.. Joan Fontaine to William Dozier, Mexico City, May 2. Bride is screen sta\ groom is RKO exec. Muriel Angelus to Paul LaValle, N. Y.. April 28. She's stage and screen actress; he's musical com- poser and conductor, Stan Laurel to Ida Kitaeva Raphael. Yuma, Arizona, May .6. Groom is film comic. BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Mac-Lean, son, Hollywood, April 28, Father is a press agent. Mr. and Mrs. Wally Sherwin, son, Hollywood. April. 25. Father is a nitery emcee. Mr. and Mrs. Sidney G. Alexander, son. New YOrk, recently. Father is advertising manager for Columbia Pictures. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Kaiser, daughter, Pittsburgh, April 29. Father s chief engineer of WWSW, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Rudely, son, Hollywood, May 2. Parents are aim players; mother is known on the screen as Ann Loring. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy ■ McHenry, son. Hollywood, May 2. Father is a publicist. Mr. and Mrs. Louis J.. Riklin, daughter, San Antonio. May 3.. Fa- ther is' account exec, for WOAI there. Mi': and Mrs. William Holden, soil, Hollywood. May 2. Mother is Brenda Marshall/ screen player; father also screen player. Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Copeland. daughter, New York, April 27. Father is a radio, actor. " Mr. and Mrs. Danny Friendly, son. New York, May 6. Father is vaude booker for RKO. Bills Next Week Continued from page S3 CHICAGO Qllll'kllHWk lxnl,(>ll,> Johnson l.iy Xv\U r Cliurk l-'uaicr. 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