Variety (Jun 1947)

Wednesday, June 2S, 1947 OBITUARIES S . D. DUDLEY (Samuel H. Rous) . / «s«muel Holland Rous, 83, known JHmally as S. H. Dudley, ban- ?one o "he Hayden Quartet, first w?ll-known male quartet to make Srdtags. and author of the Victor Book of the Opera, died in a Los Angeles hospital, June 6. His wife, Sofia Romani, former operatic so- prano, died a day later. A double funeral was held on June 9. A native of Indiana, while in his teens he began touring with theatri- cal companies. He and his wife were members of the Emma Juch and Tavary operatic troupes that toured the U. S., Mexico and South America in jn he i896 S he was baritone of the Edison Male Quartet on Edison cyl- inders and as the Hayden Quartet on the pioneer Berliner (and, later, Victor) disks. Other members were the late John S. MacDonald' ("Harry Macdonough"), later manager of the Victor artist and repertoire dept., second tenor; the late William E Hooley, hass; and John Bielmg, first tenor, now living in retirement at Hempstead, U V The quartet's records had a world- wide vogue, and in 1902 -the four- some went to England, where it made hundreds of records for the 1Thomas Louden), 1920, "Just Sup- pose," 1920; "Only Thirty-eight," 1921; "The Turn in the Road" (with Louden), 1921; "Our Nell" (with Brian Hooker), 1922; "The French Doll," 1922; "The Jolly Roger," 1923; "Embers," 1925; "Fool's Bells," 1925; "White Magic," 1926; "Close Quar- ten," 1926; "Lost" (with G. A. Chamberlain), 1927; "Vermont," 1928; "The Big Pond" (with George Middleton), 1928; "Her,, Friend the King" (with Harrison Rhodes), 1929; "A Very Great Man" (with Jack Haussman), 1932; "No More Ladies," 1934, and "Merely Mur- der," 1937, a dramatization of the English novel by Georgette Heyer. He also revised the text of "Un- cle Tom's Cabin" for The Players revival in May, 1933, with Otis Skin- ner as Uncle Tom and Fay Bainter as Topsy. He also dramatized the novel "Cora Potts" by Ward Green. Marx was piano player on the job. Fields quit the business several years ago and since then bad been a furniture dealer. Surviving are his widow, a daughter and two sons. DAISY EVANS Daisy' Evans, 73, retired actress, and daughter of the late Frank Evans, died in N. Y. June 20. Born in New York City, she made her stage debut at the age of 7 with her father in support of Maude Granger and Emily Rigl in Bartley Campbell's "The Galley Slave" at Haverley's 14th Street theatre. ■ She subsequently played "Oliver Twist" and was a member of Rich- ard Mansfield's company before playing for three seasons with Blanche Bates in "The Darling of the Gods." • found on the floor by his wife upon her return from church. LYNN LAZZERONI Lynn Lazzeroni, 35, of the vaude roller-skating team of Lynn and Lazzeroni, died in Pittsburgh last ' week. Her husband and partner, George Lazzeroni, and two children survive. Fix to Russia? Continued from page l HARRY SCOTT Harry Scott, 68, comedian and member of vaude team of Scott & Whaley, died in London June 22. Further details in Vaudeville sec- tion. STONE, HAl, formerly known « Al Stone, formerly with Stone and lee, on June 15th in London, England. Brother of Harry Kaplan, New York City, and Etta Sitron, Deborah Meyer, Gertrude Buttwinitk, Either Berkson, louit Kap- lan, all of lot Angelei. The funeral services to be announced. European companies. On their re- turn, Rous became assistant man- ager of, Victor's artist and reper- toire division. Rous, who estimated that if he "had held on to Victor stock he was ' given in the early days of his asso- ciation with the company, he would have been worth $3,000,000, retired in 1919, and went to live in Southern France, after touring the world. He returned to this country shortly be- fore second World War and settled in Los Angeles. One of his favorite stories con- ■ cerned a publicity stunt pulled by ' the fledgling Victor Co. at the turn of the century. To introduce Eld- ridge R. Johnson's new Victor rec- ord, the company advertised that it would give a record of the S. H. Dudley's "Put Me off At Buffalo" to every talking machine owner send- ing in name on a postal card. A hundred thousand requests came in, and filling them nearly bankrupted the new firm. Eventually, though, the publicity paid off. An oddity in the career of Rous and his associate, Macdonald, was the fact that each unknowingly ap- propriated for recording purposes the name of an established per- former. When Macdonald began calling himself Harry Macdonough, there was a well-known comedian of that name, of whom Macdonald had never- heard. There was also a noted Negro comedian named S. H, Dudley. Considerable irritation re- «ulted when the Dudleys and Mac- donoughs received mail intended for the other. JIM TULLY Jim Tully, 56, whose fabulous' career ranged from hobo roustabout to author of best sellers, died in Hollywood June 22 after a three- year illness. Death climaxed a col- orful career that topped any Hora- tio Alger fable. He had been a screenwriter'many years. , Starting at old Goldwyn stu- dios in 1927. He also authored such best sellers as "Beggars of Life," "Shadows of Men," "Circus Parade," "Shanty Irish," "Jarnegan," "The Bruiser," "Emmett Lawler," his first novel. After hitting his stride, his friends numbered many showbiz people, as well as others in all walks of life, from hoboes to H. L. Mencken, Jack Dempsey, Al Lewin, Maxwell An- derson and the late Richard Ben- nett. Tully hit the literary jackpot with- out even elementary school educa- tion. He was a 'road kid," basing many of his yarns on his experi- ences, a prizefighter, circus roust- about and newspaper reporter. He also wrote verse, first of which ap- peared in Cleveland Plain Dealer In 1911. His "Beggars" was made into a picture, after he and Maxwell Anderson had dramatized it for Broadway as "Outside Looking In," which starred Charles Bickford and also introduced James Cagney to Broadway. Another of his novels, "Jarnegan," was dramatized as star- ring vehicle for. the late Richard Bennett. Survived by widow, Myrtle, secre- tary to Dr. Joel Pressman; daughter, Mrs. Trilby Beeman; son, Thomas Alton Tully. LOUIS FOELDES Louis Foeldes, Universal-Interna- tional's European general sales man- ager, died suddenly in Paris Thurs- day (19), according to word received at the company's homeoffice Mon- day (23). His age was 53. Foeldes, who held the sales post since August, 1945, started his film career in Hungary some 21 years ago. He had been with Universal in various capacities since 1938 when he was named supervisor for eastern Europe. His widow survives. PETER ANTONOPLOS Peter A. Antonoplos, veteran Pittsburgh theatre owner since 1914, died Friday night (20) at his home in that city after after a heart at- tack. One of the first houses An- tonoplos owned, more than 20 years ago, was the old Olympic, which successively became Million Dollar Grand and Warners. His two subur- ban houses have been operated by his two sons, whom he leaves along with widow and daughter. A. E. THOMAS Albert Ellworth Thomas, 74, play- wright, author and former newspa- perman, who had preferred to be known professionally as A. E. Thomas, "died in Wafeefield, R. I., June 18 - Of his many plays prob- ably the most successful was "Come Out of the Kitchen," produced in 1916 by the late Henry Miller as starring vehicle for Ruth Chatterton. » was cnair man of the Pulitzer Prize drama jury from 1926 to 1928. He wrote several novels, among them "Cynthia's Rebellion," and The Double Cross," and motion picture plays. He was a director o£ the Dramatists Guild of America ! ™ a member of the Players. » Thomas wrote and collaborated w. more than a score ' of plays. m*. Se „ inclu «ed "Her Husband's wife." 1910; "What the Doctor Or- dered," 1911; "The Divorce Fund," i " Llttle Bov Blue " < with Ed- ward Paulton), 1911; "The Rain- bow," 1912; "The Big Idea" (with Uayton Hamilton), 1914; "Come "Ut of the Kitchen," 1916; "Thirty io 8 i« S „' with Clayton Hamilton), ; ? he Little Missus," 1917, and in e Ambassador," 1917. .. r ? mo "8 other plays he wrote were the ^Matinee Hero" (with Leo to r» hSt * in) ' 1918; "David's Adven- l »'e. 1919; -The Champion" (with BIRNEY IMES Birney Tmes, 58, newspaper pub lisher and radio pioneer in Missis- sippi, died Wednesday (18), at his home in Columbus, Miss., following a heart attack. A former president of the Missis sippi Press Assn., he owned the Columbus Dispatch and was a part ner in the Starkville News and Ne- shoba Democrat at Philadelphia, Miss. He was associated with his son Birney Imes, Jr., in establishing s chain of four radio stations, WCBI at Columbus; WELO at Tupelo; WROX at Clarksdale; WLOX at Meridian. He served as assistant to former Secretary of State Hull at the 1940 meeting of Ministers of Foreign Af- fairs of the American Republics in Havana and was a press representa- tive to the World Security Confer- ence at San Francisco in 1945. Surviving, in addition to his son are his widow, two sisters and two brothers. Burial was at Columbus CHAUNCEY REEVES Chauncey Reeves, 72, retired min strel and father of Winnie and Fred die Lightner, died at his home in Greenport, L. I., June 18. Reeves had been a minstrel per- former for many years, appearing with Dumont. Primrose & West and Lew Dockstader minstrels. When that form of showbusiness waned he did a blackface single in vaudeville until his retirement. During the past war he had made spasmodic appearances at nearby army camps, hospitals and at char- ity affairs. Son and daughter survive him. SYDNEY SAMPLINER Sydney Sampliner, 49, former violinist and bandmaster, died June 18 in Cleveland. He was a member of the Cleveland Symphony Orch. As a composer, Sampliner, had several of his songs introduced by Guy Lombardo's orchestra. He later formed his own band. Later quit show business to engage in insur- ance field. Survived by widow and two brothers. J. J. Goodstein, 66, exhibitor and former exchange manager, died in Denver last week. Survived by wi- dow. S. J. Shaffran, 63, manager of the Pace, Chadron, Neb., died at his home there. Survived by five children'. ■. Mother, 84, of Jimmy McHugh, songwriter, died June 18 in Beverly Hills. Father of Sam Nelson, assistant di- rector at Columbia, died June 18 in Hollywood. Mother, 79, of Wanda Hale, assist- ant film critic of N. Y. Daily News, died at Larchmont, N. Y., June 18. ALFRED M. GILLETTE Alfred M. Gillette, 85, who created upside-down or ceiling walking act 50 years ago while with the Ringling Bros, circus died at Battle Creek, Mich.. June 14., Reputed as one of the top circus stars, he also appeared on vaude circuits in act known "as the Gillette Family. LOU COHEN Lou Cohen, 53, theatre owner, died June 15 in Detroit. Cohen owned and operated thea- tres in Detroit for 30 years and was president of Lou Cohen & Sons, operators of the Hollywood, Roxie, Paradise May fair, Rio and Capitol theatres in that city. MARRIAGES Gloria Lynn to Ray Pearl, Chi- cago, June 17. He's orch leader; bride is former vocalist and manager of band. Mary Alice Jones to Erich Von Stroheim, Jr., Fort Wayne, Ind., June 16: He's son of Erich Von Stroheim, actor. Mary Hartline to Harold Stokes, Evanston, 111., June 15. Bride is orch leader at ABC, featured on "Junior Junction" show; he's pro-' gram manager on same network. Dorothy O'Brien to Bud Cumbine, Hollywood, June 14. Bride is vocal- ist; he's drummer with Harry James band. Anita Warmbrandt to Benjamin Astor, New York, June 15. He's as- sociated with Columbia International Pictures. Helena Bliss to John Tyers, Los Angeles, June 29. Both are legit actors.. Ethel Shepard to Sig Frends, Hol- lywood, June 22. Bride is former radio singer. Francie Waite to Bill Lindsey, Phoenix, Ariz., June 14. . Couple, former KPHO staffers, are shifting to KYSC, Yuma, where he'll be pro- gram director. Helen Belas to Joe Worthy, Phoenix, Ariz., June 21. Groom in disk jockey on KTAR, NBC outlet. Kathleen Cassidy Fulmis to Rob- ert W. Reeve, Riverside, Calif. Groom is sound cutter and son of Arch Reeve, veteran film publicist. THOMAS A. CURRY Thomas A. Curry, 76, secretary to late David Belasco, died in New York, June 23. Curry also wrote two plays, "MrrWhistler" and "The Same Old Game," which Belasco bought under the title of "Just the Same As Now." Survived by widow and son. JOHN D. SPENCER John D. Spencer, 88, a pioneer in Utah's cultural movement, died June 16 in Salt Lake City. He was one of the organizers of the Home Opera Co., and the Evan Stephens Opera Co., and also an ac- tive participant in the old Salt Lake Dramatic Co, BEN FIELDS Peter Golden, 50, known in the trade as Ben Fields, and one of Pitts- burgh's earliest songpluggers, died there last week after a heart attack. Fields belonged to the old school of sheet music pushers and worked a quarter of a century ago for Joe 'Hillcr in Pittsburgh when Chicb UNO BRADLEY Charles A. Bradley, 65, died in Chicago June 20. He was a retired business man and former blackface comedian, known professionally as Uno Bradley. He tourned vaude for 25 years. Survived by widow. sical background. None of them has any social or political significance. None of them is in any way deroga- tory to the United States. There are no Tobacco Road' or 'Grapes of Wrath' type pictures among them." (It was reported from other sources that one of the films desired by the Reds is Metro's "Viva Villa," produced in 1934. Wallace Beery starrer, a biopic of Pancho Villa, de- picts the bandit leader's fight against the despotic government then ruling Mexico and the revolution that overthrew the despots, with U. S, aid, to set up Mexico's present dem- ocratic government.) Maas informed Napoli that he could not make all the films avail- able to the Russians, but offered to submit a list of 50 titles, from which the Soviets could make a choice. Napoli said he wasn't interested in such a deal, but only in the eight films in which the Russian govern- ment had indicated a specific inter- est. While negotiations haven't reached the question of price yet, that prom- ises to be another hurdle. For the four pix they bought in 1945, the Too Rah-Rah for U,S.? Bucharest, June 24. Motion Picture Export Assn. last week was ordered by the Rumanian government to cut a number of sequences from "Yan- kee Doodle Dandy" (WB), despite the fact the film has al- ready played to more than a million people in this country. Sequences ordered scissored are those which have been caus- ing pro-U.S. demonstrations at practically every performance. In some cases, audiences have been so demonstrative it has been necessary for projectionists to re-show a sequence before they could continue with the George M. Cohan biofilm. . CURT VON FURSCH Curt von Fursch, 59, musician, died of a heart ailment at his home in St. Louis. A member of the Muni- cipal Opera orch, von Fursch was formerly associated with the St. Louis Symph orch. His widow, a daughter and brother survive. WILLIAM STEVEO William Steveo, 56, assistant treas- urer of the Shubert, N. Y. ("Sweet- hearts"), died at his N. Y. home o' a heart attnek Jiror 22. He was BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Walter Sickles, son, Pittsburgh, June 12. Father runs a Pitt transcription .studio. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Cervone, son, Pittsburgh, June 6. Mother's former- ly of radio's singing Weston Sisters. Mr. and Mrs. William Beegle, son, Pittsburgh, June 13. Father's Pitt concert manager. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mason, daugh- ter, Pittsburgh, June 10. Parents are puppeteers. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Henderson, daughter, Pittsburgh, June 11. Moth- er's the former Bonnie Carter, nitery dancer. Mr. and Mrs. George Beban, Jr., son, Hollywood, June 18. Father is a screen actor. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Quirk, daugh- ter,. Los Angeles, June 19. Father is a Metro cameraman. Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Rapf, son, Los Angeles, June 22. Father is Columbia writer. Mr. and Mrs. Frank King, son, New York, June 23. Father is man- ager of the "Professor Quiz" pro- gram. Mr. and Mrs. Nat Frankel, son, June 17, New York. Mother is Patsy Abbott, cafe and vaude singer. Mr. and Mrs. Morty Reid, son, New York. June 17. Mother is former Mickey Seiden, dancer; he's' bandleader, currently at Nicky Blair's Carnival, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Jack Hooke, daugh- ter, in New York June 7. Father is with Mills Music in N..Y. Mr. and Mrs. Sam ; Brown, daugh- ter, Los Angeles, June 21. Father is assistant executive secretary of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Mr. and Mrs. John Howard, daugh- ter, Los Angeles, June 23. Father is western sales manager for Selznick Releasing Orffmiyptwt Russians are understood to have paid a fiat rate of about $6,000 each. That's approximately the rental that might be received from a single first-run in a foreign city such as Havana. Maas refused to discuss the price question. It is definitely understood, however, that the American compa- nies will not again make their films available at the 1945 figures, al- though they are admittedly anxious to get them on Russian screens. One foreign department exec stated: "The sums offered by the Soviet in the past have been so insignificant we would never consider them again. However, if the Russians are as hard put to it as they say for dollar ex- change, and- promise to give our films wide distribution, we'd rather give them to them for nothing than accept their inadequate offers." Pix which the Russians bought in 1945 were "This Is the Army" (WB); the Charles Boyer-Margaret Sulli- van starrer, "Appointment for Love" <U); and two Deanna Durbin pix, "His Brother's Sister" and "Spring Parade," both made by Universal. German Films Continued from page 4 Department policy in this matter and what is merely improvised in the field by General Lucius D. Clay. It was pointed out that Clay has made some decisions and that he can reverse them, himself, without any permission from Washington. As a result of this, Johnston may shift his European itinerary to get to Berlin sooner and stay there longer so as to talk over the situation with Clay and lay before him the indus- try's position. 2. It appears unlikely that the Motion Picture Export Assn. will move in promptly on July 1 to han- . die distribution in Germany. 3. A lot of what was discussed and what is planned for the future of German films is still not ready to be put into action. Much of this has not even been put on paper yet. In addition to Petersen, Pommer and Johnston, those present includ- ed: Francis Harmon, MPA veepee; Irwin Maas, MPEA vice prez; Allen Dulles, MPEA advisor; Brigadier General Robert McClure, former head of information control in the .U. S. sector of Germany; Brig. Gen. G. L. Eberle, deputy director of civil affairs; Henry Carlton, chief of the film and- theatre section of the War Department's reorientation branch, and Charles M.etz, Carlton'*