Variety (Jan 1949)

VedneBday, Januaty 19, 1949 WILLIE HOWARD WiiUe Hpward, 62, vet comedian, • died Jan. 14 in New York after a brief illness. (Furtlier details on page 2. FRANK SMFTHSON Frank Smithson, 88, veteran nroducer Who directed over 250 productions prior to his retirement 15 years ago, died in New- York, "^"smitlison, born in Ireland, made a reputation as an actor and pro- ducer in London before cominj^ to U S. in 1^88 to stage the musipal, "The Girl from Paris," at Herald Square, N. Y., where it ran three ■years.'' • In later years he had directed productions for Eddie Foy, Marie Dressier, James T. Powers and Southern radio broadcaster, died in Greensboro, N. C, Jan. 13. He became publisher of the Greensboro Record in 1924 and continued in that capacity until 1927 when the newspaper was sold to the Bryant and Thomason in- terests. Major Ridge then helped organize the North Carolina Broads casting Co., one of the pioneer stations .in North Carolina, which operated WBIG-CBS. He continued as head of the or- ganization until his death. Survived by wife and a sister;: NOSMO KING Nosmo King, 63, British stage and radio star,, whose family name was. Vernon Watson, died in Lon-. don, Jan. 13. He had arranged to attend the funeral of his long-time Joined his brother, the late Jacob ^avene, in Buffalo about 17 years ago. They operated the Academy here until about six months ago when he retired. HARRY HIRSII Harry Hirsh, 63, pioneer Phila- delphia exhibitor, died Jan. 10 in Atlantic City> where he made his home. Hirsh, who . was president of the Hirsh Amus. Co., operated Jour theatres in Philly. : ^ Survived by : a son and two daughters. . GILBERT L. BECKER Gilbert L. Becker, office man- ager for Metro in Detroit since 1930, died over the weekend fol- lowing a protracted illness. He joined the old Goldwyn company in 1922, in the booking department at Albany. Surviving.are his wife and two daughters. THE FAMILY OF THE LATE WLUE HOWARD :D««piy apprteiat* tht kind mcfsagti of condolence from th« ceuntloM friends of our b'roflier. EUGENE HOWARD others. He also directed produc- tions for the late Charles B. OilUnfham and the Shuberts. DuHng the early years of mo- tion pictures^ he produced and di- rected for the old Edison Co. and Mack Sennett, He was a life ffli6mber of The Lambs. Survived by two sons. ROBERT EVERETT ' Robert Everett, 74, who had been an authority in the produc- tion of Gilbert & Sullivan operet- tas, died in London, Jan. 16. ' Everett originally started out as : an actor with the D'Oyly Carte pipera' Co, in- 1893, appearing in itiany of Gilbert & Sullivan works. After a tour of the provinces, he went to London with the company^ Subsequently he became managing director of Daly's Theatre, Lon- don, where he produced "Maid of the Mountains," which had a three- H YEARS rASSED AWAY DAVID POWELL GOODMAN DM Jan. It. 1923 A lovlag on* from ni hat gent, A voice w« loved b itllUd; A place It vacant la our hoarit Which Mvtr will bt MIod. Year ton. Jack. JACK POWELL and FAMILY friend. Tommy Handley, top-rank- ing British comedian, who had died several days previously/ when death ovei-took him. King, had apparently been . in good health and had participated in a radio program tor British Broadcasting Corp. the night prior to his death. King began his career during the first World War as an • imper- sonator. He had appeared in three Command Performances. WILLIAM CUTTY William Cutty, 71, who for many years headed -the musical act known ; as' the' Six Musical Cuttys, died In New York, Jan. 11. The act comprised Cutty's brothers and sisters, who played a variety of mu- sical instrnmentSi and had been a standard on top - vkude. circuits both here and abroad. Following the decline of vaude, the act was disbanded and Cutty became musical director for road shows. Survived by wife;- «on* brother and sisten year run. Later he took over the Gaiety, London, retiring in 1925. In the 32 ygars as actor and pro- ducer he had built up an enviable reputation with London audiences. In 1913 he came to U. S. to play In "The Doll Girl." While here he also appeared in "Suzi" at the old Casino theatre, N. Y. JAZBO FULKERSON Ralph Fulkerson, 44, who under professional tag of Jazbo had been a clown with rodeo shows, was killed in an auto accident in Texas, Jan. 12. . Fulkerson became a rodeo rider when a youth, but eventually switched to the clown angle where- in he would tease; bulls and seek refuge in an especially constructed barrel. Animal's attempt to ferret him out of his refuge was a howl with many shows in which he aP' peared. • SAMMY WRIGHT Sammy Wright, 65, veteran vaude and burlesque comedian, died after a^neart attack in New York, Jan. Wright, ,who specialized in Jew- jsn and German dialect roles, had wen in burlesque the greater part 91 ms career, mostly on the old Columbia wheel. His last as- signment was with the George Mone-Etta Pillard-show- -in- 1930.- omce then he had made intermit- tent vaude appearances with differ- *i" Pjitners. More recently he had numbers at the Bowery Fol- hes nitery, N. Y., and for moun- tain resort spots in the summer. survived by a brother and sister. ALLEN ATWATER ieftr^?.Ai^?**''' company man- Stit "^-Medea" at Blackstone the- <''ed of a heart at- wc* there Jan. 14. Kattel*'' ^"'d handled tours of John r^*, Cornell, Maurice Evans. Sh^A^^,"^' Theatre and t>urviving a re his wife and son. MaWEDNEY RIDGE nSailer'*^i?MPi^8e, 65. former ••vwspaper pubjisher and pioneer HARRY LEAVITT Harry Leavitt; 69, veteran com pany manager and advance man for legit productions, died of heart ailment at his home in New York Jan. 12. . During his long tenure in show bu.siness he had worked as com pany manager and advance agent for A. H. Woods. William A; Brady and other proiUicers. More re- cently he had been a cashier at N. Y.'and Long Island race tracks. Survived by a brother, Leo- Le- WILLIAM U. BEYER William H. Beyer, 58, who for many years had toured vaude as a member of the American J3omedy Four, died at his home in Baldwin, L. I.; Jan.' 1.- After his retirement from show business in 1937 he had engaged , in commercial pursuits. Survived by wife. .; , ARTHUR WANZER Arthur Wanzer, screen actor and former vaudevillian, died recently in Hollywood. Before moving to Hollywood to appear in tworreel shorts for Pathe in 1930, he was. a member of the vaude team of, Ai>- thur wanzer and Maybelle Palmer. Study Haywoith Situation Contimied from page 1 { MRS. W. H. DONALDSON Mrs. William H. Donaldson, 84,, widow of the founder of The Bill- board; died, at ' the home of her daughter, Mrs. Marjorie Littleford at Ft. Thomas, Ky., Jan, 12. Until 1939 she had been Vice- president of the publication.. JOE GROSSMAN Joe Grossman, studio manager of the Elstree studios of the Asso- ciated British Pictures Corp. since 1927, died of a heart attack in Lon- don, Jan. 18. Mother of Richard F. Walsh, president of the International Al- liance of Theatrical Stage Em- ployees, died Jan. 11 in Brooklyn. Survived by tliree daughters and four other sons. Mother, 91, of Viola Roache, legit actress, and grandmother of Philippa Bevans, legit-radio ac- tress, died in Yorkshire, England, Jan. 11. .Mother, 90, of Lester Santley, of. Santley-Joy, Inc., music pub- lishers, died in New York, Jan. 13: Another son, Joseph H. Santley, and a daughter also survive her. Mother, 87, of Dr. Harry Martin, 20th-Fox studio physician; and mother-inrlaw of Louella Parsons, Hollywood columnist, died in Hol- lywood, Jan. 17.. . •- Son, 17. of Charles L. Glett, managing director of Morion Pic- jture Center, was killed accident- ally, "Jan. 10, in Berkeley, Cal. : DaufFliter, 7, of Jack Harris, exec with Walter Reade Theatres, died Jan. 12 in Atlantic City. Mother, 64. of Jack Gross, RKO producer, died Jan. 10: in Holly- wood, t IN MEMORIAM DOUGLAS GILBERT Sept,- 1-7tlr. 1889 ^ Jan. Vtrhr 1948 Father, 78, of Richard Wallace, film director, 'died in Hollywood; Jan. 16. manship of Motion Picture Assn. I of America prexy Eric Johnston.; However, it crops. up merely as' the latest in a series of escapades by name players that has kept Hollywood in a jam public rela-< tions-wise for nionths on ena. Actions of the stars; running the gamut from drunken-driving raps to marijuana raids to kicking a cop in the shins, and now Miss Hayworth's: open romance with a married man, have aroused public and exhibitor opinion to the point where upper-echelon industryltes have the subject foremost in their minds. National Allied, one of the nation's foremost exhib organiza- tions, recently adopted a proposal, labeled the Finncran plan, calling for. the Motion Picture Producers Assn. to suspend or expel erring players. Decision by the producers on steps to be taken is a difficult one, as ^no studio, wants- to eliminate from, its ranks a star whose name may be of considerable value. Likewise, there -are varied legal considerations and alwaysthe pos- sibility that the player will be picked up by an indie or non- MPPA member, so that the move will have accomplished little. However, with pressure growing from exhib organizations and threatening to hit the b.p., with women's organizations; c i vl c groups and religious bodies talk- inig boycott resolutions, the whole subject is certain for a careful going over at the Florida sessions. Among the problems to be met is the further muddying of the waters by the deliberate decision of RKO's new controlling stock- holder, Howard Hughes, to start Robert Mitchum in a film just a few days before his trial on the dope rap. On the Hay worth mat ter, Harry Cohn. prez of Columbia, which has the star under contract, said this week he wasn't certain what he would,.or could do about it. British Rap Possibly '.the harshest criticism of fhe!^ actress ca,me last week from England. The People,. popu- lar Sunday paper there, head- lined: "This Affair Is an In.sult to All Decent Women." It slated that "this is the last time that this newspaper will report in its col- umns details of the squalid love affair of film star Rita Hayworth and Prince Aly Khan ; , , because we believe the extravagant expedi-. tions of this Indian prince and hi^ 'friend' have bepome an insult to decent-minded women the world over." ■ Sheet then went on for a col- umn or more to recount the affair. This capitalizing on star behavior is a reflection of the exhib attitude in the U. S. While the theatre operators in their meetings adopt resolutions condemning 'the play- ers' activities, they almost invari- ably move to take advantage , of the publicity to book pix in which the players are starring. The films usually do well, too, which has led to a facetious corruption of that I fave industry line: "There's noth- I ing that a good picture won't I cure." New popular version of that gag now making the rounds, .since the success: of .Mitchum's "Blood on the Moon" and "Rachel and the Stranger," is: "Theres' no picture that a good marijuana raid'won't cure." producers to discipline players who overstep bounds of propriety. Rocky Mountain group also voted approval of National Allied'i resolution protesting forced per- centage terms by major distribs and asked all exhibs to give either a day's,,; night's or matinee's rer ceipts to the March of Dimes. More than 40 theatres in the area have agreed to do , so. Hold Un Report Washington, Jan. 18. Row among the members of the old House Un-American Activities Committee is holding up issuance of the committee's report to Con> gress. Report deals in part with the probe in the Hollywood Red situation in 1047 and 1948. Action of the Democratic lead- ership. last week in cleaning out all but one Democratic member of . the committee and nominating a clean, new slate of lawyers is ex- pected to assure future witnesses before the committee a fairer op- portunity to tell their stories. While no further investigation into Hollywood during the 81st Con- gress is indicated at this time, the: witnesses would ; obviously be handled differently, if there should be a renewed exploration of: th«' Coast situation. MARRIAGES Wanda Hendrix to Audie Mur- phy, Hollywood, Jan. 8. Both are film players. Mary Affleck "to Curiey Bradley, Chicago, Jan. 8. Bride is a pro- ducer at WGN, Chi; he's a radio ac- tor. , Mrs. Susan Bassett. to Jack Buchanan, Salisburvi Conn.; Jan; 14. He's the British legit actor. Virginia Cebelli to Kenneth Le Roy, Chicago, Jan. 11. Both are dancers in "Brigadoon;" current in Chi. Blythe Miller to Jack Grogan^ New York, Jan. 8. He's production manager and senior director for station WNEW, N. Y. Betty Jane Butler to Keenan Wynn, Tijuana, Mexico, Jan. 11. He's stage and screen actor and son of Ed Wynn, comedian. v Joanne Du Bois to Chappie; Lewis, Philadelphia, Jan. 19.' Bride, is a dancer; he's member of the vaude team . of Lewis & Van. Venetia E. Penna to Wally J. Beach, Springfield; Mass., Dec. 29*- Both are with Eugene Murphy Pro- ductions in that city. ;Dina Skouras to William H. Old- know, Hollywood, ■ Jan. 15. Bride is a niece of Spyros Skouras, prez of 20th-Fox; he's an exhibitor; Elaine Beagle to Billy Cosgrove, Pittsburgh, Jan. 10. He's with Phil Cavezza orch; bride with same out* fit as member of Reagle, SisterS; Florence Whitney Morse to Rich- ard Webb,- Hollywood, Jan. ■ . 15, Bride is a publicist; he's a film actor.'., Vera Strange to Robert Last- fogel, Chicago. Jan. 12. He is in the Chicago William Morris Agency,; Vivian Arborne Burke to Deni— son Cliit. Santa Barbara, Jan. 12* ' He's a film producer. ■ ^ Sara Lamport to Louis Azrael ! New York, Jan. 16. He's theatrical i columnist for the Baltimore News- I Post.'. "• Rosa Lind Davila to Raul Cortex, I Jr., San Antonio, Jan. 16. He's son of owner of KCOR &nd associated in the station. , Father, 79. of Al Tucker, band- leader, died in New York, Jan. 13. Father, 80. of dancer Tony de Marco, died in Buffalo Jan. 18. avitt, a clerk at the Lambs Club, N. Y. AL BLOCK Al Block, 51, screen writer, died of pneumonia Jan. 14 in Los An- geles. •.' ' Formerly a newispaperman, Block was the son of the late Bruno Lessing, columnist. In recent years he had been Metro's representative to the film industry's production code administrationi PHILIP LAVENTE Philip Lavene, 56, retired the- atre owner, died at Buffalo, N. Y., Jan. 12. ,, „ After managing theatres in .To- ronto for many years Lavene Heiman Row Ss continued from page I ;b position from the start has been that our racial policy would; be i changed only if . (1) the general policy is changed in .Washington by legislation, or (2). if business and civic groups will remove racial Restrictions. Therefore' the the- atre has been obliged to stop offer- ing legitimate attractions." National has been operating in recent months as a two-arday pic- ture house at roadshow prices. However, it is now understood to be readying a svfitch to a straight grind policy similar to that of the I other firstrun houses in midtown. I Mitchum Back to Work 1 Hollywood, .Tan. 18. I Howard Hughes, RICO topper, j put a definite resumption date on: i "Big Steal," Robert Mitchum , starrer, ordering it before cameras next Monday (24). Hughes said the studio had ex- pected the actor's trial on charges of conspiracy to possess marijuana would last two weeks, hence work was cancelled. Since Mitchum pleaded guilty, pic can resume, but it took several days to swing back Into production. Denver Wants 'Finnerau' Denver, Jan; 18, ' Directors of Allied Rocky Moun- tain Theatres, meeting here yes- I terday (Monday) , approved a reso^ I lution of National Allied regard- ing the "Finneran Plan." The na- j tional organization, at its coiiven- ition in New Orleans at tlje end I of November, supported Ihe Tm- ineran idea calling for Hollywood BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Robert Tunison, daughter, Aurora, 111.,. Jan. 4.- Father's director for Eddie Hub- ; bard's WIND disk show. I Mr. and Mrs. Bill Tusher, son, , Hollywood, Jan. 1. Father is' a radio publicist. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes Breeskinj, son,- Washington, D. C.-,- Jan.-12.- Father is a bandleader; mother is Dolores Dupont, former actress., ' Mr. and Mrs. Mark Hobson, daughter, Hollywood, Jan. 13. Father is a screen director. Mr. and Mrs. Billy Rizzo, daughi* ter, Pittsburgh, Jan. 7; Father's a musician. . Mr. and Mrs. Bund Mayer, daughter, Baltimore, Jan. 10. Mother's former Nannette Stein- hauser, daughter of Si Steinhauser, Pittsburgh Press radio- ed; father used to be a WB manager in Pitt. Mr. ; and Mrs. Philip Huston, daughter, New York, Jan. 15. Mother is former Diane Gardiner, British actress; fafhec is stage and screen actor. Mr. and Mrs. Fred M. Packard, son, Hollywood, Jan. 16. Mother ;is daughter of J. Arthur Rank, i British film exec; father is a Holly* wood film producer.