Variety (May 1946)

6t Wiedm—tlay, May 22, 1946 OBITUARIES BOOTH TARKINGTON Booth Tarklngton, 78, dean of American novelists and lor 30 years a frequent contributor to the Broad- way theatre, died at his home in Indianapolis May 19. He had been ill lor about two months, but mem- tiers of- the family succeeded in keeping the alarm from spreading. He died quietly in, bed.' Forty novels and twenty plays, many of the most successful written with" collaborators, came from Tark- ington's versatile pen in a career thai began with the publication of "The- Gentleman From Indiana", in 1899. "Monsieur Beaucaire," .later dramatized and then made into a silent movie starring Rudolph Val- entino, firmly established his fame a year later. Tarkinglon always loved the thea- tre, and one of the few regrets of his professional life was liis inabil- ity to achieve success as an individ- ual playwright comparable to that j he won as a novelist. His last pub- i lie appearance was made last March '■ al. the premiere of a dramatization ' of his Pulitzer Prize novel. "Alice ' Adams." by his secretary, Elizabeth Trotter, at the Indianapolis Civic. Theatre. His Arst play. 'The Man From Home." written . in collaboration with Harry Leon Wilson, appeared in . 1907. Others include "Cameo Kirby." 1908: .'•Springtime." 1909; "Foreign Exchanse.*' 1909: "Your Humble Servant," 1909: "If 1 Had Money," 1910: "The Man on Horse- back," 1911; "Mister Antonio." writ-j ten for the late Otis' Skinner. 1915: j "The Country -Cousin.". 1916: "Up ! From Nowhere," 1919;" "Clarence." ' 1919; "The Gibson Upright." 1920; "Poldekin." 1921: "The Wren." 1922; "Magnolia,' - 1922; "Twcedles." 1923; "The Intimate Strangers." 1923:1 "Rose Briar." 1924; "Hows Your' Health." 1930; "Aaron Burr." 1938. j Tsrkington in 1925 launched an ! attack on critics who had asserted j that he was a novelist and not a playwright, stating that he . never would write for the. stage again. But the lure of/the theatre was too strong for him to resist and he made two more attempts in the 30\s. Two of his novels. "The Magnifi- cent Ambersons" (1918) and "Alice Adams*' (1921) won the Pulitzer Prize. Both were made into dims, along with several of his "Penrod" stories.. "Seventeen."' "Clarence," "The Man From Home." "Claire Amber," "Presenting Lily Mars'* and many other works. . His last novel. "Image of Josephine." was published In 1945: He had another novel, about three-fourths completed at the time of his death. Tarkington become afflicted with eye trouble that threatened his.sight for 14 years. In 1930 he revealed, that he had been blind for several months. Surgery, however, finally restored his sight sufficiently to en- able him to go on with his work. "Tark,*' as he was known to his intimates, was born in Indianapolis, attended Purdue and Princeton and served one term in the Indiana state legislature. He divided his time in recent years between a winter homo in Indianapolis arid a summer place at Keni'.cbunkport, Maine. Survived by widow and three nephews. MRS. JEANNKTTK tV. F.MR1CH Mrs. Jeannelte Wallace Eiririch, member of the staff of the Molion .Picture Assn. and • its.' predecessor organization since 1931. died in Cam- bridge, Mass.. May 20. She had served as liaison be- tween the' motion picture 'industry and such national -women's organiza- tions as (he Daughters of the'Ameri- can Revoluiinn. General Federation or Women's Clubs. International Federation or Catholic Alumna. Bet- ter Films Councils and local club women. She worked with motion picture reviewing, groups and assisted com- mittees of these national organiza- tions in editing'their published ma- terial: was active "in promnlin-^ out- standing pictures and conducted courses on "The Historv and Art Of Motion Pictures" at Hunter College. She was faculty adviser to the Mo- tion Picture Club of Hunter; also conducted study courses for club women on film reviewing and gen- eral infoiinn'lion on motion pictures.' _ In 1941 she prepared a comprehen- «ive outline of "Molion Pictures in a Democracy" aflcr a study of 1.000 features and short subjects listed ) therein. This study was used at the investigation in Washington of Propaganda in Films and was placed in the Congressional Record. She is survived by two sons, the Rev. Richard S. M. Emrieh, recently elected Suffragan Bishop of Ihe Epis- copal Diocese of Michigan; Duncan Emrieh, chief of the Archives of American Folklore in the Library of Congress; and two sisters; Mrs. Wil- liam E. Leland of Berkeley. Calif, and Mrs. William E. Clarke of El Ccrrilo, Calif. Before joining the Motion Picture Association Mrs. Emrieh had been in the Neat East with' her husband, a missionary. Following his - death there she returned to the U. S. to lecture for Near East Relief, later going to Constantinople to continue work "with children of scattered families. She was associate secretary with the Federal Council. of Churches during 1926 to. 1931. a post she left io enter the Community Service de- partment of the Motion Picture Assn. ■ Funeral services were conducted May 17 at Riverside Chapel. N. Y;, with Lou Handin, prexy of NVA. of- ficiating. ~ . Survived by brother. OLIVER F. BINNEY Oliver F. Binney, 93, former vandc performer, died in New York last week. - He had been in showbiz for half a century until his reliremenl some years ago. He was husband of Lizzie B. Raymond, vaude and nutsicomedy actress and former wife of Sam Ber- nard. She died several years ago. : WILLIAM ROYCK William Royce, 65, composer who 'wrote?'* music, under the name of James Royce Shannon, was killed by a railroad train, May .19, in. Pontiac, Michigan. ... Best known of Royce's songs was his recently revived ''Irish Lullaby," from Chauncey Olcoil's "Shameen Dim," for which Royce wrote the entire score. Composer wrote sev- eral hundred songs, ranging from pops to sacred music. His death was declared to .be suicide' by Poniiae coroner. Survived by daughter, Dael Royce, of New York. LEE KOHLMAR Lee Kohlmar, 74, legit .actor and father of Fred Kohlmar, 20th-Fox producer, died May 15, in Holly- wood following a heart attack. In addition to his stage work, the elder Kohlmar was prohiiiient in , At onfi , ime he owncd tlle Lyrnpic CHARLES AI.PHIN . Charles Alphin, 74, former theatre | owner and stage producer, died May |'14 in Los Angeles following a long , illness. ■ •, j ,i i ■ u««: rime nc ownca me uymoic philanthropy and was often taken theatre in L. A. and aided the early away from his acting chores lo..ad- „, of Blossom Sceley. Lon minister to needy members of the C(la , Charlie Chase and Frank profession. For .a number or years i . he was Hollywood representative of ; c,,,.i,;„;„„ ...j. . the Jewish Theatrical Guild. \ Sl " V,Vmg are '" s " ldo " i " ,d DOMINICK T. M.YDKO Dominick T.'Madeo. 40. who pre- war, agented vaude and nitery talent, was found murdered Sunday (19) near New. Brunswick. N.J. Police., stated it looked like he was a "ride" victim. He had no po- lice record. Iii his earlier days he was asso- | ciated with the.New- York stage and [ is remembered widely for . his work | with David Warfleld In "The Music ! Master." Surviving,- in addition to : his son. are a sister. Emma Sichel of New York, a brother. Bern hard | Kohlmar of London, and a nephew, J Fritz Regcnstcin, at whose home he ' died. | Remains were'forwarded to New , York lor interment in Mount Judah ' Cemetery. WILLIAM PRYNNE ' William Prynne. director and sec- retary of Cinecolor. died in Holly-' | wood May .18, after a heart alUick ] during an inspection' of the Aim' plant. He had been with the company over 16 years. Leaves mother, and brother, both living in -England.' JOHN GARRETT UNIIERHIIX John' Garrett Underbill, 70. trans- lator of Spanish works: including plays of Jacinto Benavenle. died in Brooklyn, N. Y, May '15, He had. a brief stage career also, reputed to have been precipitated to gain j ALFRED SKF.A knowledge of stage technique Tor his ] Alfred Skea, 58. who had been a later writings. talent agent in New York and else- His first writing effort for Ihe the- where for 35 years, died in New aire was "Bonds of Interest." pro- York May 17. duced by the Theatre Guild in. 1919. He had operated his own agency He also translated "La Malquerida." and recently specialized in club date which served'as starring vehicle for j bookings. Nance ONcil as ' The Passion Flow- ; Survived by widow, three sons and er. Same actress appeared later in a daughter. "Field of Ermine*' and in 1926 Eve died May 18 in New York. Survived by three daughters, Wile of Jerry Franken, publicity- special events director of Ed Byron agency, died May 15 in New York. Mother of Rosemary Rice, actress, died at her home in Montclair, N. J., May 15. ' MARRIAGES Helen Cooke to Vincent DcMuille, New York. May 19. Groom is with Variety adv. dept. . Dorothy Babb to ■ Johnny Coy, New York, May 17. Bride is screen player; groom is dancer and flhn actor. .- ' Gerardine Noonan to Seymour Chotiner, Las Vegas, May 17. Bride is- a screen actress; grooin a Holly-, wood attorney. Flora Ann Morse to George Handy, Las Vegas, May 13. Bride and groom are composer-arrangers. . Rosemary Lostetter to John Wehger. Pittsburgh, May 18. Bride is in WB theatre dept. Arlene Francis to Martin Gabel, Patersbni N. J., May 14. Bride is legit and radio star; groom is exec with Walter Wanger productions. Nancy, Callahan to Sid Siegel, New York. May 17. Bride was in "MeNican Hayride." Daphne Manning to Jerry Parker, Albany. N. Y„ May 16. Both are Vnembers of "Skating Vanities." Le Gallienne starred in "Saturday Night.".also' his translations! Underbill reproduced "Bonds of GERARD E. PEMKAN Gerard E. Pelikan, 43. who had n wife"^ the star had X d Cl2 £ ™* stairs into basement of woo( j, 111 tl0 ">- Survived by son and ^ Jb^£^ country. MRS. DAVID NIVEN Mrs. David Niven. 28 wife of the nnRK »tv»iw.,„„ screen actor, died in St: Johns Hos- ' Dorif Pennin^n ! °, N • -.. pital, Santa Monica. Monday night : and wife of John F P^n ' ' P ' amSt (20) of brain lacerations. I an< ! wlfe ot Jonn F - Pennington..con- ; British-bor i fallen downslai j Tyrone Power's home Sunday (19) j and was rushed to hospital for im- ; _, [mediate treatment to which she re- | T LEE S. COLLINS )xponded until last evening when her . " e San ford Collins, BU. former : condition grew sleadily worse j ***** and fllm booker, died May is i The daughter ot William and Lady !»f "w.home in Santa Monica. Cal., Rolln; Mrs. Niven first met her hus-' owln 8 a heart'attack. banc* during an air raid in London ! ' in 1940,. when she was in WAAF I LILLIAN HARMER and he in Commandos. They mar- ! Lillian Warmer, III), screen charac- I ried August 15 that year. They have ' lri * "Ct'ess, died May 15 j„ Holly, two sons. David, three years and wood.. James, six months. Niven returned to this country last December and .-•he arrived three months ago with BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. • R. C. Maddux; daughter. New. York; May 19. Father is vcepee of WOR, N. Y. Mr. ' and Mrs. Al Turner, son, Pittsburgh. May 13. Father is e.s- bandleader, now managing Bach- elor's. Club, Pitt. Mr. and Mrs. Jack Parker, son.' Pittsburgh, May . 10. Mother is nitery organist. Lyda'Rodnok. Mr. and Mrs. Chris Velas. .son. Wheeling, W. Va. Father has the Stale theatre there. Mi-, and Mrs. Mel Rose, son. N. Y.. May 12. Father is prexy of Melrose Record Co. Mr. and Mrs. Alan Branjgan, son. Newark. N. J.. May 17. Father is Varu'i y' mugg in that city. Mr. and Mrs. Warren Cowan, daughter. Hollywood. May 12. Moth- er is a screen actress; father a pub- licist. Mr. and Mrs. Warren D, Butler, son. Salt Lake City. Mav 16th. Father is manager of the Lyric Theatre in that city. Mr. and Mrs. Alan Gordon, son. Hollywood. May 12. Mother is a j former model:, father a publicist. •Mr. and Mrs. Dayid Robeson, son. Hollywood. May 15. Father is story analyst at RKO. Mr. and Mrs. Peter O'Crotty. son, Hollywood, May 15. Mother is radio actress; father a screen writer. •Mr. Si Mrs. Kermit Biooingarden; son. New York, May 15. Mother was Virginia Kaye and was in "Kiss Them For Me." Father is' co-pro- ducer of "Deep Are The Roots." Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Kanauer. daughter, Baltimore. May IB. Father is drama-pix critic of Baltimore Sun. I UA Yens Exec ; Continued from pace .3 ; Samuel' Ecelestone, 72. former transportation dept. head for Harry Sherman, died May 18 .at his Los |.Angeles home. He had been with Sherman for 12 years but had been inactive for the past six months due lo poor health. Survived liv widow and a son. the two children. ERNIE VAX Ernie Van. 67. former vaude co- median and musician, died in New York May .16. i Van., who played sax and zither. ; uppcarcd in an act with his brother, i-Joe. for a number of years. AMor ' initial appearance at foiiy Pastor's llMMlrc. N. Y.. in 1897. they hail con- tinued in vaude until 1925 and dur- • ing that period had pUynd prac- ;it-ally every; known -.vaude circuit both here and abroad. When vaude dales became.' few; Van became a lecturer, for Dr. Cooncy's Incubators, an exhibit ct .Steeplechase Park. Coney Island. He was a: member and forme,- ! K.tker. 76, of Anna Cohen \ecpcc of National Variety ArtisU. :»inlaf!l publicist at Capitol theatre' rather of Claude Binyon. . Para- mount producer, di-ed Monday (20) in ■I.os Angeles aflcr a pneumonia at- tack. In addition to his son lie is survived by a 'widow and. daughter iii Chicago. Alice K. .Smith. 08, *ister of Frank Smith. Chi district RKO theatre manager, died recently in Rochester, of course, through his activities with the banking house. His acumen is highly regarded by major com- panies and indie producers who do their financing via Guaranty. Miss Pickford huddled With Abeel last ; week. - I Aim of the owners In naming • Abeel or a similar figure would be ho provide an administrator to "mind the store - ' while Raftery wor- ried about production deals and v.p. Grad. Sears, distribution chief, wor- I ried about sales. It would be the '■duly' of the executive assistant to jibe prCz to engineer the efficient ! and economical operation of the \. company. | UA/s cost or operation—estimated . at $70,000 a week—is reportedly, felt | by the owners to be excessive ror I the gross business done. They rea- son that Ihe addition of another top I exec; with responsibility only to the president and the board, might bring the costs down by careful at- tention lo details. . It has been pointed out, in this regard, thai UA has fewer high-salaried officials with wide powers than most other majors. With such a man conslantlv on. hand in New York, there'd be n'o hindrance to Raftery tending to deals on the Coast and Se:irs travel- ing as frequently as necessary. On the Upbeat — Continued from page SJ stand at Friars Club, Los Angeles, same date . .. Andy Kirk band starts four weeks at Swing Club, Oakland Calif., July 3, thence to Trianon, Sad Francisco, for month July 30 Garwood Van band will reopen Arrowhead Springs (Calif.) hotel recently returned to owners by' Navy, June 13 for six weeks with options ... Ted Steele band debuts June 11 at Palace hotel, San Fran- cisco . . . Jimmie Lunceford combo plays 20 one-niters along Pacific slope following current date at Orpheum, Los Angeles, then at Trianon, San Francisco, startini July 2 . . . Duke Ellington inked Tor week of July 23 at Orpheum San Diego, and for fortnight starting July 31 at Golden Gate, San Fran- cisco . . . Jimmy James' band starts month s stand at Trianon, Los An- geles. July 9 . . . Billy Yates' Pitt unit open an in- dellnite engagement May 28 at the Capitol City Club, AtlanU.. .Wilt Osborne orchestra opens two-week run at Bill /Green's Casino, Pitt Friday (24), opening outdoor dance season .there four "nights . later. Oasis in Pittsburgh now has the 4 Blazes at he Tropical Bar and Giis Dolfis small outfit for dancing in Ihe Starlight Room.. .Jose Nagara's rumba : baud into the Nixon Cafe Pittsburgh, alternating with the reg- ular Al Marsico outfit.. .Bill Bardo band to. open season at Kenny wood Park. Pittsburgh. . .Don Mctz" Club Casino in Pittsburgh now using three musical units, Humberta Moitinez and his. Latin Americans, the Blue Flames and Piccolo Pete band. Eddie Hey wood set for ten weeks at Trocadero, Hollywood, opening June 10 . . . Quig Guiglcy. trum- peter last with Bob Crosby, forming own crew on Coast. RCA-Victor signed Deep River Boys vocal group. . . . Milt Cross to do children's stories albums for Musicrafl. . . . Sarah Vaughn, vocal- ist Working with John Kirby combo, signed by same company . . ; Peter Frilch heads Musicrafl advertising division. Louis Prima flew into New York, lasl week from Boston to walch Iwo of his horses come in first and second al Belmont ; . . Mike Kurlan, ex- Decca Record Chi office head, joined Mercury Records oh Coast . . . Frank Dailey. owner of Mcadowbrook, commissioned a colonel on staff of . Gov. Jimmy Davis of Louisiana . ... "Married- for Life" radio program inspired a song by same title by Marion Taylor and Lou Schwartz ... Ralph Foul's rhumba band signed by Savoy Records ... AUentown Record Co. going into production of vinylile disks . . . Morey Fcld joined Buddy Morrow band on drums at Lincoln hotel, N. Y. Drain By British as Continued from page. I — inick made one picture in Holly- wood, "The Plough and the Stars," with RKO in 1937. Salaries at Abbey are low and I his caused several resignations last year, including Liam Redmond, who played N. Y, production of "Shadow and Substance"; actor-playwright Gerard Hcaly, and Eithiie Dunne. Another objection by players is that only the play wright'—never the players—gels billing. Only revivals are scheduled for Abbey production during absence of McCormick and Crowe, and thca- lie closes soon for four weeks. AbbeyMay Play N. T. Ireland's Abbey Players may be seen in New York next fall as a followup to presence: currently of London's Old Vic troupe, if Burgess Meredith can arrange it, Meredith, who will do "The Playboy of the Western World," in New York in October.''--hopes to make a trip to Ireland i before then in an effort to bring the Abbeyites over here t'J appear with him. "Playboy" production will It* under the aegis' of Theatre. Iec which .is likewise■'sponsor of the Old Vie-lour.' The J. M. Synge play has not been seen on Broadway since - revived by . the . Abbey com- pany in 1937. * . Meredith is slated to go to Ki'ff- land in 1947 to appear in and pro- duce a film, in'company with, his- wite, Paulcttc Godduwl, for Alex; ander Korda. „.