Variety (Mar 1948)

mmch 17* 1948 71 . EtijWBE ZOIXEE Riimer ZoUer, 66, one-time mSl director for station WCAE £ Pittsburgh ond a native of that 5^,v died Match 6 iii New York. fJUt was a tutor and accompanist if v«ai stars for more than three SeK, and was best known for hfa «soi:iation with Edward John- iSn, operaOc singer with whom he ?r rtdthe Far East, Europe and S. He returned to Pitts- huWin the ear^ 1930's and for « t&iught in hi* home town. After his graduation from mnsiwl conservatory, ZoUer went In'Europe for further study and *ade his N. Y. debut as accompan- ist for AUcc Vcrlet of the Paris Ooenu He also toured with Olive fr^$tad. ZoUer maintained a studio in Pads for a time and served as .organist and choir direc- tor of the Ameritan-British church In Leipsig. Still later he operated ■ studio in Hollywood for motion picture players. ' MiAiUOKIE PATTEBSON Marjorie Patterson, 61, writer and former actress, died in New Yorlc; March 12. Although she had ntade her home in Baltimore, she £ad been stricken ill while visiting friends in New York. Born in Baltimore, she had gone tbiDstt in 1910 and made her stage debut there. She later appeared In W Herbert Tree's production of "fbif Happy island," in London, liiijL>»Uio appeared at the New ^Bn«tr« there in "The Thief" and "Whft' >nd Superman." Upon re- • tlc^nt from the stage some years Idler ^ devoted her tlm^-to writ- executive board in 1935 and was elected treasurer in 1946. Surviving are his wife and a son. RUTH SCANLAN Rutli Scanlan, 52, wife of Walter Scanian, an ABC production man- ager, died Feb. 27 in New York. Mrs. Scanlan was active in show biz before marriage and toured a.s He was six times president of Omaha Musicians Local 70 (AFM) and served 26 terms as delegate to the national convention. CARL W. HIMM Carl W. Himm, 54, died in Chi- cago, March 12. He was film editor for Wilding Picture Productions there... He- leaves his wife, son and daughter. Tax Peace Spurs Prod. Continued from page 3 a ' dancer with road companies, in wood, eluding "The Red, Red Rose." She met her husband, at that time' a popular recording artist and star of light operas written by Victor' Herbert, while a member of one of his companies. Surviving are her husband, three daughters, her parents and a brother. Mrs. Martlia Berry Eyre, 81, mother of Wesley Barry, former film actor and now an assistant di- rector, died March 11 in Holly- HiistMBd, of Enid Markey (CobbK legit and film actress, died March 14 in New. York hospital, N. Y., after a long illness. Sister also survives. main in that country- for invest- ment by the majors. American iirms basicaiiy are to be permitted to remit only $17,000,000 yearly, plus an amount equal to whatever British-made films earn in this country each year. Majors, consequently, are ex- pected to groove the lion's share of their earnings into producing films in England. That situation appears extremely likely in view VERNON L, WALTER Vernon L. Walter, 53,'head of camera department at RltO, died.' March 14 at his Balboa Island home, Cai., after a heart attack. He entered industry as newsreel cameraman and later became pro- duction cameraman for Mack Sen- nett. Fox, Pathe, Warners and Co- lumbia. He joined RKO in 1930. He leaves his wife, daughter and a'brother. Alfred Lafayette, 62, prop maker for years at Paramount, died March 11 in Hollywood. be switched now. Bing Crosby an- nounced last year his intentions of doing a film in England, in associ- ation With Rank, which may lead to some fort of co-financing deal between Rank and Par. Warners recently finished re- vamping of its Teddington studios and is now renting space to indie British producers. Important an- nouncement of its own British pro- duction plans, thoughr is expected of the British, government's der j to come through this week. Mean- cision to permit American firms to keep money on all British-prO' duced films earned outside of Eng- land. Renewed activity by the V. S. producers in KniJland is also ex- pected to have a salutary effect on while, the Alfred Hitchcock-Sidney Bernstein Transatlantic Pictures unit has "Under Capricorn" slated to start lensing at the Teddington studios early'this summer. Film will be released by Warners. United Artists has been hud- the potentialities of films made by j dling for the last several week.s on IH I.OVIH6 MEMORY OF EDOm MILNE Wh* PawNl A<MV Mipreh It. 1t43 ChuMlf.. wmorlM were so bcaa- *BSH'«r« iilmiy* w By lieari; dear. " Yoinr Uviag Wife MONA MILNE BENJAMIN STERN Benjaniin.Stem, 84, hotel owner and formerly connected with film business,-died'in Miami Beach Fla., March lO: At the time of his death he was owner of the Hotel Ziegler, Fallsburgh, N. Y. « Bom in Poland, Stern formerly had been a picture distributor and also operated several film theatres in Brooklyn, N. Y. * His wife sur- vives.- ■ ' , JIMMY W. 0UNN Jimmy W. Dunn, 52, actor, died in Chicago, March 11. He began stage career in stock productions as a boy , and later was member of the vaude team of Dunn & Bemice. Prior to his retirement several years ago, he worked as a dancer- emcee. Sui-vived by daughter, mother and sister. iogi which included three novels, "A W«man's Man," "Fortunata" and "Oust of the Road." $he also BttlStAr«d a one-act play, "Pan in Amibtlsh," in which she appeared. ' JOSIE DE MOTT . Mrs. Josephine DeMott Robin- con; .SO, reputedly a topliner eq.uegtrienne with circuses at the turn:of the century, died at her home.to-Garden City, L. I., March ta, She had been known profes- tioMljly as Josie DeMott. After having spent the greater part of her career with top circuses, shff was forced into retirement after injuries in a fall in 1910. Hawever, she came out of - retire- meitt In 1936 to appear in BiBy Hose's :production of "Jumbo" at the Hippodrome, N. Y. HARRY FISHER Harry Fisher, 59, Cape Town theatre manager died there Feb. 11. His father was one of the founders of cinema sliows in Cape Town and from his earliest days Fisher was associated with show business. He was for many years manager of the old Cape Town Opera Hou.se. ■ - Wife and a daughter by previous marriage survive. • JOSEPH REITLER Joseph Beitler, 64, former pro- fessor and music critic and founder of the Opera Workshop of Hunter CoUege, N. Y., died in New York, Mairoh 13. Shortly Wore his death he had completed a book of music remin- iscentes, drawing upon his pers9nal friendships with such music greats as Oustaf Mahler, Richard Strauss, Bruno Walter, Elizabeth Schumann, Lotte Lehman ahd others. Surviving are his wife .and a brother.. ED FITZPATRICK Ed Fit/.patrick, 52, manager of Loew s Poll Theatre, Waterbury, Conn., died after a heart attack in that city, March 11, Before going to Waterbury in 1928. Fitzpatrick managed Poli Theatres in - Worcester, Meiiden and Bridgeport. He is survived by a son. . .„ OENE I»ENNIS m$. Gene Dennis Von Herberg, <1, who was well known as a stage PsycMc as Gene Dennis, died in Seattle, Wash., March 8. She be- cattie known as a mind-rcacler While stia in her teens. Her first ..HIP ">«tract was made in Kan- *M Citj/C ^ was the widow of Jf. C. Von ,«^^' Seattle theatre operator, WW died last December. The ia« ^^"^^ married in Paris in jiM5 and had five children. She «aa not been weU since the death .Wher husband. MRS. M. H. RICHARDSON Mr.s. Margaret Howes Richard- son, 71, co-toumder of the Cape Playhouse, Cape Cod summer the- astre. died in Dennis, Mass., March 12. She founded the Playhouse in 1927 in conjunction with Raymond Moore. Surviving are a. brother and sister. MARRIAGES Joyce Ankarana to Eddie Hile- man; Jr., Pittsburgh, March 7. He's the sOn of Pitt theatrical agent RaKna Zarova to Meredith Will- son, Los Angeles, March 13. She's an opera singer; he's a bandleader- composer. Lois Elliman to John Wilfred Findlay, Scarsdale, N. Y., March 13. Bride is a former nitery singer and was-assistant program director for the Red Cross in the southwest Pacific during the war. Elizabeth Peet Carlson to Alvin Josephy, Hollywood, March 13. He's a Metro, scenarist, formei author, and radio writer. Winifred Heidt to Eugene Con- ley, Chicago, March 9. Both are with the N. Y. City Center Opera Co. ■ Needra Huntington to John O'Dea, Las Vegas, March 12. She's a model; he's a screenwriter. Jane Froman "to John Curtis Burn, Miami, March HZ. Bride is the vaude^tery singer; he's the pilot who rescued her alter the Lis-, bon Clipper crash several yeaurs- ago. Pat Dunn to John Sherwood. Las Vegas, March 13. He's aii assistant director at Universal-International. Paula Schuham to Bpbby Brown March 20 in Chicago. He's the son of George Brown, head of Para- mount studio publicity-advertising on the: Coast. Lois Peters to Robert King Mun- roe, Edgewater, N. J., March 10. Bride is a freelance film writer. Mabel Wayne to Mickey Camp- bell, Las Vegas, Nev.,- March 14. Bride is the songwriter; he's Coast rep of Campbell-Porgie Music Ct>. BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Al Singer, daugh- ter, Pittsburgh, March 7. Father manages WB Plaza theatre. Mr. and" Mrs. Joe Dubinsky, daughter, Pittsburgh, March 2. Father's a nitery singer and AGVA rep. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Sheets, daugh- ter. Pi Usburgh, March 4. Father's wilh .M Marsico orch. Mr. and Mrs. Max Rabinovicb, son, Hollywood, March 5. Father is a concert pianist. Mr. arid Mrs. Harold Steinman, daughter. New York, March 9. Father is producer of "Skating Vanities;" mother is Caryl Gould, vaude and cafe singer.- Mr. and Mrs. Milton Sperling, daughter. Hollywood, March 8. Mother is daughter of Harry M, Warner, WB prexy; father is prez of U. S. Pictures. Mr. and Mrs. Rennie Renfrew, son. Burbank, Calif., March 11. Father IS owner-trainer of Daisy, JOSEPH S. CONNOLLY Joseph S; Connolly, 89, died in British firms at U, S. boxoffices. American companies will undoubt- edly make use of British stars, writers and technicians. Their performances in American films, even though these are turned out in England, should hypo their ac- ceptance by American audiences. Thu.<!, when they appear in British- produced films, .those pix should enjoy much greater earning power in; the U. S, This factor, in turn, will again increase the amount of money American companies will be able to remit from their Eng- lish earnings. While none of the mtijors has completed <its British production plans yet, it's believed each will attempt to make three or four films yearly in London. Only thing likely to stymie their.plans is ii.JFH*' GEORGE BALZER nf r Balzer, 71, treasurer of i '^^•^ Ameritan Federation iLn i'^'?"*' died at his home in ieaneck, N. j., March 11. tp^^^^ ^**'»^d Local 802's prede- lat^^" defunct, in 1896 and acttL elected a trustee. He Was tonomv"JTP'''?°'»2 for the au- ta&„°* ^«»«al 802, which ob- Behl5 «*Pwate charter in 1921. 'wcarae a member of Local 802 west for 40 years and managed many of the early-day theatres in Des Moines. He is survived by a si.ster and one grandson. MRS. HABBY JOLSON Mrs. Lillian Jolson, 58, former actress and wife of Harry Jolson, vaude performer and brother of Al .lolson, died of a heart ailment in Los Angeles, March 13. She had ap- peared in vaude and musicals prior to her marriage. Survived by husband.. HARRY F, MUNZELL Hari-y F. Munzell, 61, radio edi- tor of the Chi Herald-American, died after a heart .attackJa-^-OaJt' Park, 111., March 13. HFIiad been with the paper since 1917. Survived by wife and three daughters. - RANGVAL OLESON Ran'gval Oleson, 73, retired mu- sician, died in Omaha la.st week. the RKO film actor Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ephron, daughter, Hollywood, March 10. Pareht-- are playwrights and screen writer. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Small, daughter, Salt Lake City, March 10. Father is an announcer at KUTA. Mr. and Mrs. Irving Hamlin, daughter, Hollywood, March 6. Father is an indie publicist. •Mr. and Mrs. Armand Baum, daughter, Chicago, March 11. Father is Chi manager for Mood Music Co. \, . Mr. and Mrs. Horace MacMahon, daughter, Chicago, March 15. Par- ents are film-legit actors, mother Louise Campbell. rTSnd Mrs. Irwin Lewis, son, Bockville Center, L. I., March 12. Father is in the continuity depart- ment of .station WINS, New York Mr. and Mrs. Edward F. Flynn, daughter, Schenectady, N. Y J RKO'S Aussie Lab Indicating the way the U. S. majors may invest their hlocked funds in England, RKO recently bought a film laboratory in Australia. Another miuor plans to sink the money .into a costume dbmpany. • shortage of studio space. Com- panies with their own studios, con- sequently, such as Warners and Metro, will be in an extremely ad- yantageous position. Most of the majors had large-scale plans for British production before last Au- gust, but were forced to .shelve them when the 75% tax was first i imposed. Metro, for example, had an- nounced a slate of four films to be turned out at its Elstiee studios. Renovation on the studios had been completed last summer, after they had been bombed during the war. With the tax settlement, those plans are expected to be rushed through immediately. Ben Goetz, M-G production chief -in England, 'is current^ huddling with Louis B. -Mayer and other studio execs on the Coast, where definite plans for production will be finalized. First film on the Metro .slate will probably be "Young Queen Bess," starring Deborah Kerr. Also in the lineup is "Secret Garden," ,.wbich is to star Margaret O'Brien and Claude Jarman, Jr., if Metro is successful in getting English work permits for its moppet actors. 20th May Rent Space 20th-Fox, with no studios of its own, may rent space. Eastern stu- dio representative Joseph Mosko- witz returned last week from the possibility of producing five films a year in England during the next seven years. UA hoard two weeks ago, meanwhile, nkayed plans' for the Mary Pickford-Lester Cowan unit to turn out six films in Britain. Indie producer Ed- ward A. Golden announced on the Coast Monday (15) that he would lens ' Hollywood's Upbeat In Hollywood, meanwiiile. It was reported that deals for the Nas- 'sour studios^ iwhich bad been dor- mant for months; suddenly popped up with new energy; Other rental lots reported independent deals emerging from a liebulous state, with producers now demanding definite stage commitments. Gunther Lessing,; acting chair- man of the Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers execu- tive committee and general coun- sel for Walt Disney PraductiDns, hailed the lifting-.of tiie British tax as a promise of stabQi^ to the film industry after intonths of indeci- sion..- ■■ ■ Lester Cowan is going tn Eng- land in about two weeks to make preliminary arrangements for the Artists Alliance program of six films , for United Artists, release. Walter MacEwen, co-producer with Jesse L. Lasky of "The Miracle of Uie Bells'," heads for Britain ncx.t month to set up sales. ofBties- and . to". investigate the - possibility of making picturjes over ther^. ' Meanwhile, the local banks are viewing the British situation with the utmost'calm. Bernard Giannini, veepee in charge of film financing J'or the Bank of America, declared the compromise in Ixmdon makes no difference in Hollywood. • Britain's Helhiani 20tli Megotiatiotis for a iii0v^ produc- tion contrail Ite^eett Biit^- pro- ducer Mar^I ETciQmsiti and StOth- Pox are now in progK^ss- at- the 20th liomeoffice, with 20th' prexy Spyro^ Skouras,. 20th International chief Murray Silverstone and east-** ern studio representative Joseph Moskdwitz $it^g in ^on the Itud- dles,^'"' V', ■ Hellman flew in' from En^aiid I4st week]; bringing • .with Mm a print of his latest produetion, "This Was a Woman,'* ^'ilm wound up lensing in England in Decem- ber undeir HeUman's :^xcelsior Film Productions' b^ne* and is the last to be produced by him under his partial financing agree- Coast huddles with production i ^^i^h 20th, pendmg the inking chief Darryl F. Zanuck and it's be- » "^w contract. lieved that British production topped their agenda. Company now has a releasing deal for four films yearly from Sir Alexander Korda's London Film Productions, but is expected to produce more films in England, such as the recently- completed "Escape." RKO current- ly is planning another 50-50 deal with J. Arthur Rank, similar to the one dn "So Well Remembered," for "The Captain Was a Lady." Firm also may do a third under the same terms, with huddles on this possibility to be held on the Coast next month among Rank. RKO foreign sales veepee Phil Reisman and managing director in England Robert WUlfE. Hal Wallis, who temporarily shelved projected British produc- tion of "House of Mist" when the tax broke, is expected now to re- sume his plans. Paramount Brit- ish chief James E. Perkins an- nounced recently that Par has no plans for British production on its I own, leaving the Wallis slate the "Woman" is to be released m the U, S. by 20th, following release of Hellman's, "Meet Me At Dawn," which goes out Into genecal dis- =(ri(iution next month. March 11. Father is program man- j only ones to be released by Par. ag^r of WSNY there. These plans, too, are expected to British Aimy Bans Contltmed' from tnse I =ss; have until now live amicably to- gether in Palestine for some 1,000 years. , 3. The Mirfti of Jerusalem is vilified notwithstanding the fact that he will be returning to Pales- tine in the near future and that his attitude is,- if only noininally, friendly to Great Britain. "It is considered that the film is no longer applicable to conditions actually prevailing in Palestine," said the War Office. "The film was originally secured with the ap- proval of the Army to illusftrate to newly arrived soldiers the nature of the problem that would face them."