Variety (Nov 1948)

WcdMMibqr, Novcidber 10, 19M VICTOMA SCHOOtuS Victoria Schools, 25, cafe and legit singeir, was found dead Nov. 6, in N. Y., under mysterious cir- cumstances. Miss Schools, after complaining of illneiss, had taken two pills, believed to have caused her death. MiSs Schools first attracted at- tention in the George Abbott pro- duction, "Best Foot Forward," in 1941 and shortly afterward doubled into the Cotillion room of the Hotel Pierre, N. Y. She also ap- peared at the Persian room of the Plaza hotel, N. Y., and made a con- cert tour with the Sigmund Rom- berg orchestra. She was also solo- ist with the New York, Philhar- monic at Lewisohm Stadium, and sang with the Philadelphia Orches- Rubenstein Concert Co. with the help of her husband. Survived by husband and a son. JEROME CADY Jerome Cady, 40, screen writer, was found dead aboard his yacht near Avalon, Cal., Nov. 8. An over- dose of sleeping tablets was re- sponsiblet according to a prelimi^ nary investigation. Gady had been suffering with a heart ailment for some time. Cady had worked on many pic- tures including "Guadalcanal Di- ary," "Forever Amber," "Thunder in the Valley," "Call Northside 777," and many of the early Charlie REMEMBERING- November 7, 1945 LILLIAN Center Oct. 25. Surviving him are two sons and two daughters. George W. Weingert. Sr., 77, musician, died Nov. 3 in New Orv leans. He played violin at French Opera IJouse in his youth. Father, 58, of Robert Sully, screen actor, died in Pittsburgh, Oct. 28. Mother of H. E. McCrosky, Para- mount administration executive, died in Hollywoodi Nov. 8« trn; Louisville Opera Co.; and Pitts- burgh Civic Opera Co. Miss Schools started in show business at the age of IS when she was vocalist for the Rudy Vallee band. According to her mother, Mrs. Almira Schools, Miss Schools had been under a strain in recent months because of a fear .that she might be suffering from the pre- liminary stages of Infantile paraly- sis. Although this diagnosis proved incori'ect, she continued under a mental, straiji which was increased when she was struck by a; taxicab Ghan pictures. He was a former Los Angeles newspaperman. Survived by a widow and two sons. E. n. COOPER Edwin. H. Cooper, 67; lecturer and first World War hero who supervised a motion picture serial, was drowned Nov. 6 in Silver Lake near Harri'sville after falling from his motorboat. Cooper had been planning an adventure television show. As an officer with the signal corps, Cooper supervised the pro-: MARRIAGES Bobbie Barrett to Win Jolly, Chicago, Oct. 29. He's in WGN Public Relations. Mary Veronica, Hurley to Ver- non Francis Cook, Schehectady, N. Y. He's a disk jockey at WGY. Lois Halvorsen to Herbert Cun- niff, Chicago^ Nov. ,6. He's tele- vision production assistant of: WENR-TV. Gertrude M. Owens to: Michael O'Hehir, Dublin, Oct. 27. He's sports gabber for Radio Eireann. Marilyn McKay to Levis Green, Hollywood, Nov. 2. He's film agent for Music Corp. of America. Sue Metour to James Matthews, North Hollywood, Nov. 2. He's a CBS announcer, Adele Singer to Herbert Yates (no relation to the Republic Pic- tures' prez), Bronx, N. Y., Oct; 31. Bride is secretary to Myron Siegel, ad-pub chief of Century circuit..' Hatti Phillipi to Brian McDon- ald; Hollywood, last/ May, it was disclosed only last week. Bride is a featured skater with Vice Ca- pades;'^ groom is company man- ager. Dolores Barty to Allen Copeland, Nov. 5, at Santa Barbarar Cal. Groom: is member of the : Modern^ aires vocal group. Marie Torre to Harold Freed- man, Nov. 6, New York. Bride is drama editor of the N. Y. Wprld- Telegram; he's a producer wh ABC. about • 10 days ago. ruled out suicide. , Mrs. Schools EDGAR KENNEDY Edgar "Slow Burn" Kennedy, 58, died Nov. 9 at the Motion Picture Hospital, Hollywood, of throat can- rer after a three-month illness. The comic had been starred for the last 18 years in series of RKO short's, final one being "Contest Crazy," the 106th he had made; Kennedy entered show business in 1911 after an. amateur boxing career when ' Mack Sennett inked him as one of the original Keys- tone Kops. He went into vaudeville and roadshows after sound came in, returning to Hollywood to build his.: reputation as a "slow burn" comic. He had appeared in 500 films since 1911, including : some feature pictures. He died 36 hours before film duction of the serial, "Pershing's Crusaders," which had considerable distribution in the U.S. after the war eqded. ELIZABETH J. BALDWIN Elizabeth J. Baldwin, 77, veteran legit actress, died Nov. B in Fort I Wayne, Ind. She appeared with ' E. H. Stoddard in "The Bonnie i Briar Bush;"; witlr Henrietta Cross- I man in "As You Like It," and with Janet Beecher in "The Education of Mr. Pipp." In Fort Wayne she was influert-. tial in having an outdoor Shakesr pearean series, presented, and . was a pioneer in outdoor: theatre work there. She retired two years ago. JAMES R. COOLEY James R. Cooley, 68, vet stage and 'screen actor, died Nov. 5 in Hollywood. He had been an actor oldtimers were scheduled to give him a testimonial dinner at the California Country Club. Survived by his wife, Patricia AUwyn, former actress, a Son and daughter. MRS. Jl. A. PHYSIOC Mrs. Jessica Eskridge Thomas Physioc, 87, retired actress and wife of Joseph A. Physioc, scenic artist, died at her Long Island (N.Y.) home Nov. 7 after a long illness. As Virginia Thomas, she traveled with a road company through the South in 1883, being leading lady in such plays as "Fan- clion" and "Pearl of Savpy." Later with Physioc, then her fiance, she had her own musical company. . ■^ter their marriage, they went to N.Y., with Mrs. Physioc becom- ing leading soprano in the Brook- lyn Opera Co. After the birth of ner daughter, she retired from, the stage. Later she reorganized the for 25 years, being on N.Y. legit stage before going into pictures. Cooley played in many films with Mary Picktt,u'd but recently had done only minor roles. ALBERT BEJACH Albert Bejach, !78, former ihea- tre operator, died In Cincinnati. ; Oct. 1. For many years he had op- , crated the Capitol theatre in that , city, which he sold when retiring some years ago. Survived by wife and two. daugh- ters. Charles Ray Gorrell, 61, Toledo, O., musician for more than 36 i yearSf died Oct. 29. For years hfr I was pianist with the orcheistra at I Keith's there and later at Para- mount. In recent years he played with a Hungarian orche.stra in lo- cal bight clubs. ' Father, 65, of National Screen Service trea.surer Joseph A. Wolfe died at the Jersey City Medical BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs*. Jim.my Leonard, son, Cincinnati, Oct. ..24. Father is program director of WSAI In that city. : Mr. and Mrsr Joe May, daughter^ Rockaway, L. I., Oct. 27; Father is vaude and nitery comedian; moth- er is the former Margie Green, dancer; ■, .::■• . Mr. and Mrs. Don Haynes; daughter, Chicago, Oct. 27. Fath- er's a talent agent in Chi. Mr. and Mrs. William Dozier, daughter, Santa Monica, Nov. S. Mother is Joan Fontaine; father is a film producer. Mr. and Mrs. Pat Duggan, son, Hollywood, Nov. 5. Mother is Libbie Block, screen writer; father is veepee of Samuel Goldwyn Pro- ductions. Mr.' and Mrs. George Metcalf, son. New York, Nov. 5. Father is in the publicity dept. of Veterans Hospital Gamp Shows. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Dinsmore, .son; Buffalo, Oct. 14. Father is WBEN announcer. Mr. and Mrs. Lenny Litmani son, Pittsburgh, Nov. 2. Father owns the Copa Club there. Mr. ■ and Mrs. Hershey Cohen; son, Pittsburgh, Oct. 25. Father's with Maurice Spitalny orch. j Mr. and Mrs. John : Mayer, I daughter, Pittsburgh. Oct. 29.; Father's Penn theatre artist. i Mr. and Mrs. Danny Cohan, son, i Detroit, Sept 27. Father's with I Pittsburgh and Detroit Civic Light Opera companies. I Mr; and Mrs. Ken Martin r son, Pittsburgh, Oct. 31. Fathers with Piccolo Pete orch. I Dr. and Mrs. I. J. Littman, son,, Pittsburgh, Nov. 3. Mother for- merly: :of singing: radio . triOj the Sophisticated Ladies. ' Mr. and Mrs. Martin Leeds, son, Hollywood, Nov. 5. Father is busi-1 ness manager of KNX prograni de- i partment. . ■ ■,' ■ | Mr. and Mrs. Dick Mulcahy, .son, 1 Pasadena, Nov. 5. Father is writer-; producer at KECA. I Mr, and Mrs. Harry K. McWil-; liams,. daughter. White Plains,' N. Y., Nov. 6. Mother is opera' star Rosa Di Giulio; father i.s. ex-, ploitation manager for Golumbia, Pictures. Mr. and Mrs. Milton Goodman, son, Flushing. N. Y., Nov. 7. Mother is art director for Hershen- Garfield ad agency; father is Co- lumbia Pictures' assistant short i subject sales manager. j : Mr. and Mrs. Roy Lester, daugh-: ter, Nov. 5, New York. Mother: is Eileen : Darby, a photographer of Broadway legit shows; father heads the Graphic House photo firm. AdoAn' Miimi Takt War „^ ,,. , „" . . Miami Beach, Nov. 9. The Miami Beach and Miami niteries ar«° preparing for another talent war—one that may make the previous contest for performer acquisitions look like a prelim in a second-rate boxing bill. Bont» face optimism that Florida will have a record season is based on 2,000 additional rooms in 18 new luxury hotels. Apparently talent wars are ingrained in the Miami Beach spots. For several years in a row they've sworn off their habit of out- bidding each other for top names—but comes the approach to the season, they forget their resolutions and resume outbidding each other. This year there will be a new operation to add to the competi- tion. The .Colonial Inn, Hallendale, Fla., which closed midseason last year, has been taken over by Harold Minsky, of the burlesque clan. He's reported readying a type of show that Will repeat the Minsky operations in New York theatres. There are reports that the gambling lid nwy be lifted in the Dade county spots, which embraces Miami and Miami Beach. It's reported that gaming will not be permitted early in the season, but if business lags, there will be sneak operations. Big-Coin Bookings Continued from page 1 around Christmas for a two to three-week stay, with Joe E. Lewis and then Danny Thomas to follow. There'll be a line and a band, but no supporting acts. The casino, of course, will run. Froser Back in Florida . Clover Club, in downtown Miami, has been bidding for names also. Of those, featured last year, only Gracie Barrie has been set. Lou Walters returns to the Palm Island Latin Quarter: this year, after' a season's at)sence, and with him big lavish shows. Abbott and Costello are set for a mid-winter date. The plush productions featured before some. But then again, they've been saying it since 1945. Havana interests are definitely going after Miami tourists' dollars via wide-open town, starting Christ- mas. Additions to gambling and sports scene will be Montmartre. San Souci and Tropicana, added to Nacional Casino and Jockey Club as key local spots. All will feature wide-open gambling. Poli- ticos there figure Miami damp- down will come In time for them to reap tourist coih via word-of- mouth and advertising. Even with this threat, greater ' Miami, hotel, restaurant and nitery operators will be on hand. Olsen and John- don't seem worried despite possl- son will open the LQ Dec. 23 for! bility of reduction of hotel and three weeks with an entire show, j food costs in Cuba. Jimmy Vernon^ ex-La Martinique N. Y. bonifacj, will manage. Monte Proser returns to the scene after an absence of some years, to run the Rumba Casino on the site of the old Calsanova, in the hea^t of Miami Beach. He'll feature . top Latin : bands, plus a line. Plans to date do not include acts. SS ,CohUiiiiea from vace; V SSSbI D'Oyly Carte. The album—it's the only copy in this country at pres^ ent-*~was spedaUy ; requested!, by I the D'Oyly Carte executives who Kitty i Davis',' which ran as the had heard of the new recordings, Little Roumania last: year; is on the block, but, with several bid- ders, is due tO: be in competish again, with the Yiddish-show policy holding over; Club 22 has opened with a production-show, despite the small confines' of the stage. Other' moderate-budget rooms in the running will be the Paddock Club, Bill Jordan's Bar of Music, Mother Kelly's (a moneymaker last year), Park Avenue Club (au' What particularly concerned them was the news that Miss Fine had done some re-writing and modernizing on the traditional comic opera lyrics, and that Kaye had altered the tempo. of some of the melodies. Although "lax'' copy* right agreements in the U. S. al- low fresh treatment of the songs, and the D'Oyly Carte can take no action against such modernization. otier doufih-reaoerr Al^ can act against the market: Cellteit? Club fformer^^^^^ of the disks in this country, mous DM;Uh*?S"r^^^ fhe f"il "1°?*? "J^^ that's what It in^ helm, and the successful Five' O'clock Club, with Gene Baylos i Stanley Parker, for years a close installed. Spot, however, may be ' associate of the late Rupert D'Oyly sold by Sam Barken, with sub- Carte, and other executives of the sequent change in: policy. i organization held a special meet- Spots using entertainment in the , '"^ to listen to Kaye's records, low-budget class are Mardi Gras, I hearing The Judge's Song," Red Barn, Jungle Club, Havana-1P^^''^^'', commented:— ''It's very Madrid, Zissen's Bowery, Mad clever—but is it Gilbert and Room, Big Barn, Sky Club, and a' oullivan? Mrs. Kaye's insertion group which features small shows, ?! ^"'^h words as "Bronx, sodium for the neighborhood trade. i h'carbonate. subway, penicillin" Low Budgeters Swank Brook Club is in doubt at the moment. Change in ownerr ship is current, and if spot does open it will adhere to the one or shook him, too. Only for 1'. S. ■ • "Decca ■ e^ciecu^^^^ in New York anticipated that the Savoyards two top-names policy at big coin, ]./=»'"Pl«t«ly agree with and with one show to allow the r.^t^^lt'^^^t'"^"*."^ t"}* ^ones *«t casino to operate. There'll be an- I ''iP""? designed for sale in other spot near the shuttered't|>.«,y- S., not England. Kaye's Met on TV Continued from page ! Colonial Inn in Hallandale this ! ^^i^jl^ »n lyric and tempo year. Name will revolve around | traditional material are the the Chinese show policy to be fea- ^2',}^^ album's title', "Gil- tured, with Jerry Brooks operating; I * Sullivan and Danny Kaye. he recently sold interest in Slapsy Maxie's on the Coast. ■ : Hotel Patio will offer early-hour competish In 8-12 p.m. segment, with new hotels Delano, Sea- comber, Saxonyi Shcrry-Frontenac; Sorrento and Delmunico setting up smart intimc Indoor-outdoor spots with rhumba units. Most hotels are planning to book rhumba bands, which may .be a, , blow to the large nitery operations! «Wue is ready for for opera yet, since the Latins may be' Instru-! saV'ng it's a question now of tech- mental in drawing off many poten-1 nicians finding ways and means of tial customers. , doing it right. As for the Met, It all boils down to optimism by "We'll have to build a new audi- the cafe bonitaccs here. Where, torium, with technical improve- many had expected to pay less! nients included, to televise opera," money this year for talent, they're! he says- again following the leader, and Johnson believes that tele, like paying more than ever before be-' radio, will help rather than hurt cause of the shortage of top-draw; opera. "Nothing can compete with names. ■ a live show," he says. Radio broad- At any rate, the Miami Beach I casts, he says, developed millions Hotel Owners Assn. f275 hotelsJ! of listeners in the U. S., develop- reports reservations 20% ahead of ing them in quality as well as in says Johnson, "is the 8ubscril>er. He comes first." Un-telegenic sing- ers (femmes particularly) are an- other problem, Johnson admits. Johnson doesn't think tele tech- last year. Which figure, perhaps, is lending that optimistic tinge to the cafes' view. But the pessi- mistic, per,usual, say it might turn quantity. It has a tremendous ap- peal for his artists, too. "Tht; com- petitioi as to who should sing on the Saturday broadcasts is itn- into a scramble, with a foldo for' mense," says Johnson,