Variety (Jan 1949)

W#^]nc Mlay, January 26, 1949 63 OBITUARIES ] JOSEPH CAWTHOBN Joseph Cawthom. 81. veteran stsge and screen comic, died of a ftmke at his home in Beverly HlUs. Calif.. Jan. 21. Although In- fcUve for the last six yeara, Caw- thhrn appeared in more than 50 ffi since going to Hollywood n iMft Prior to that he was star in nWrous legit plays and musical ""Bom'^in New Yorlc, Cawthorn m,de his stage debut when he was four years old in a juvenile revue csJlea the "Pickaninny Minstrels." He was with Haverly's Minstrels a /ear later. At 9, he went to Eng- arid where he appeared in music halls for four years. . Back in the U. S., his interest in the legit stage gradually became concentrated on musical comedies; rawthom was starred in "The For- tune Teller." "Little Nugget," "The Singing Girl," "Girl From Utah," "Mother Goose," "Light Wines and Beer," "Sunny" and numerous ■others.. ■ • ■■ ■ ■ He went to Hollywood in 1926 and appeared in such films as •Taming of the Shrew," "Kiki," "Princess ■ an d the Plumber." "Tailor Made Man," "Smart Girl," "Page Miss Glory," "Cat and the graduated into radio from piano selling, going to KOA, Denver, in 1944, from WMAQ. Chicago, where he had a network quarter hour. Turner joined NBC in 1931, be- ing one of the first radio enter- tainers to give children's programs in charity hospitals of the Chicago area. He wrote several songs, among them "Keep a Light in Your Window Tonight" and "Cry- ing My Eyes Out for You." Aver- aging six shows weekly for 26 years, his longest was a marathon from 11:30 to 7:30 a.m., without repeat- ing a piano number: Survived by wife and three chil- dren. CHARLES E. BENSEE In rovlns HfrmoiT of a DcTAted HuHband iinil Father who left-tills cittth'Jun; tl, X94S. , LOTTIE WALTON DOROTHY OGOEN Fiddle," "Gold Diggers of 1935" and "Oner Rainy Afternoon." WILLIAM P. STARK William P. Stark, 77, one of first publishers of pop music, died Jan. 19 at his home in: Brentwood near Kankakee and Streator legit stock company in Salt Lake City, Wright moved to Hollywood several years ago to work in films. Among Wright's recent pictures were "Rose of the Yukon," "Air Hostess" and "Impact." Chatter Continued from page SI \ Hollywood one sister. BILLY RANKIN Billy Rankin, 64, died in Chicago Jan. 21. He was the producer of some of the first lavish nightclub productionSi such as the Midnight Frolics, Club Royale and the Friarjs Inn. Survived by widow and brother; St. Louis. Stark, who retired 12 years ago as head of the Stark Music Printing Co., founded the firm in 1898. It was the first west of the Mississippi river. He printed- the . first published tune, "Maple Leaf Rag," by Scott Joplin,, originator of ragtime mu- '.sic. He also published the cam- paign song, "You Gotta Quit Kick- in' My Dog Around," used by Mis- souri's Senator Champ Clark In his campaign for the Democratic pres- idential nomination in 1912. Stark's wife wrote the: song. Survived by. wife, son and daughter. NORA GREGOR Nora Gregor, former Austrian actress ana star of the Vienna Burg-Theatre, died Jan. 20 In San- tiago, Chile, where she was vaca- tioning from her home in Buenos Brought into prominence While in Hollywood, Cawthorn j Aires finally played the role of Herr by Max R7iIlhaVdt,"Miss^3re^^^^^^ Schumann in "Naughty Marietta," peared briefly . in some U. S. films, a part originally written for him | first in foreign versions of Holly- by Victor Herbert. ; wood product and in "But the Flesh During his career on the legit is Weak" after she learned Eng- ttage, he appeared In musicals pro-r ush. ^ duced by Kiaw and Erl.inger, i Surviving are her husband, Charles Frohman, Charles Dining- | Prince Ernst Von Starhemberg, ham, Al Woods and Oscar Ham-1 former Austrian vice-chancellcir, merstein. During the first World War, Cawthorn was forced to drop his German dialect, for which he was and a son." MIKE CONNORS Mike Connors, 57. Australian widely known. He was considered I vaude and radio actor, died in one of the outstanding German I Sydney, Jan. 17. He broke into LOUIS STEWART Louis Stewart, 61, Cincinnati ex- hibitor, died Jan. 21 in that city, i two weeks to guest-shdt on the He had been ill since June, when I Jack Benny riidio show, he sold the Parkland, Sayler Park, [ Sylvia Fine preceded Danny and the Ohio in Addyston. - . . i Kaye eafit, latter arriving this week Survived by wife, daughter and > with ex p.a. Ed DukolT for Kaye's Roxy opening Feb. 2 Some 14 comics: turned otit last Week ' for a birthday sui-prise" to KayeV.. v Rairioh (& Rehita), ex-dartiier, noW; bonifaceis of the Papagayoi Santa : Monica Mexican^type restau- rant, fareWellrpartjiBd: Lma Romay before hier departure oh " a American tour with: Xavier Cugat. : Mae and GharUe Einfeid selling their BeyhiUs manse ■furnished, excepting for .cert^iu choice pri- yate .pieciBSj. books,: etc., and will take 51.: beach: house here instead. Have ah aptv oh West 55th in Man-" hattan. ■ They're still talking ibout that ultra party staged by Mary and Jack Behriy lor 9& guests In hdhor of the Bill Pileys. Mike' Rdmahotf catered, and ; somebody:: cracked that all of Benny's capital: gains went into financing the cayiar-and- chanipagne shindig. Hotelier hands - across - the - isea stuff: boniface Hernando : Courts right of the. Bevhills feted hotelier Max Blouet, managing director of the Hotel George V, Paris, at a luncheph .here. Blduet is en. route east via hotel stopofls ih Phoenix, Tucson; New Orleans, etC:, audition- ing the U. S. scene. GEORGE A. FORTIN George A. Fortin, 71, died .Tan. 17 in Bradley, 111. He was one of the organizers of Majestic Amus. Co., which operates theatres in 111 Surviving is widow,: brother and sister. GILBERT L. BECKER Gilbert L. Becker, office man- ager for Metro in Detroit, died: there after a long illness. Survived by wife and two daughters. Mother, 69, of legit producer- director John G. Wilson, died Jan. 18 in Trenton. Daughter, another son; and three grandchildren also survive. ■■■ Mother, 82, of Herman Land- wehr, house manager of Capitol, N. Y., died in Spring VaUey, N. Y., Jan. 21. Mother of Mrs. Harry K. Mc- Williams, who is wife of Colum- bia Pictures' exploitation manager, died in New York, Jan. 21. . Mother, 80, of Phil. Leopold and Maurice Spitalny, orch ^leaders, died in Cleveland, Jan. 19. dialect comics of the U. S. stage. Cawthorn was a favorite comedian of numerous famed persons, in- cluding the late President Wood- Aussie show business 30 years ago In a singing duo with Freddy Witt, playing the old Fuller cir- cuit. Later, the act split with Con- row Wilson. : His first production ! nors marrying Queenie Paul, an without his dialect was "The Canary.". He co-starred for eight years with Julia Sanderson. • He is survived by his widow, the formeF Queenie Vassar, former , musical comedy star, and two step- sons. KATHERINE STEWART Katherine Stewart, 81, British actress who appeared in many U:S. legit hits in the early 1900's, died in N, Y., Jan. 24. Bom in Sand- wich, England, and playing with Wilson Barratt and Arthur Bou- chier there, sh« came to America with Lili Langtry's company. Later she went into Charles Frohman productions, appearing Jn support Of John Drew. Mt&s Stewart sub- sequently played with Olga Neth- ersole in a repertoire that included Sappho." Miss Stewart also appeared un- der George M. Cohan's manaRe- raent In "Genius and the Crowd," with Katharine Cornell in "Age of innocence,"- in support of Ina yaire in "Ode to Liberty," with Helen Hayes, and in "Tonight or Wever." One of her last engage- "^^nts was in "I Married an An- ffl. ,?*'"S forced to retire soon atterthat because of falling health, one was a member of Actors' ^^V«y^ Episcopal Actors' Guild and Attors' Fund of America. other vaude player, and touring the vaude -loops with his wife. In 1938, Connors joined the Aus- tralian Broadcasting Commission, non ^commercial operators, and conducted a breakfast air session. He is survived by wife, daughter and son. ALEXANDER SAVING Alexander Savine, 67, died of a heart attack Jan. 19 in Chicago. He was a composer of operas and syraphGnic poems, having collabo- rated with his wife in composing "The Girl From Sanjak." His other operas were "Xenia," and "The Diplomat." Savine had conducted the Geneva Philharmonic, the Festival of Grand Operas in Zurich, the London Symphony and many others. BIRTHS Mr. and. Mrs. Paul Brinkman, son, Los Angeles, Jan. 21. Mother is Jeanne . Grain, film actress; fath- Is a radio manufacturer. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Adler, son, Jan. 3 in Chicago: Mother assistant to Biggie Levin, radio producer. : Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Thompson, daughter; Hollywood, Jan. 17. ' Father Is a cameraman at Para- mount. Mr. and Mrs. Jain^s McGlone, daughter, in Chicafeo Jan. 20. Mother: was MariancT Siwek, for- mer midwest advertt^ing rep for Variety Mr. and" Mrs. MarvilkBitoyles, son, in San- Antonio,: Jan.,-re. ■ Fath-i er is program'director for KCOK there. Mr. and Mrs. fiud riizer. eraugh- ter, In Pittsburgh, Jan. 17. Father's on WWSW staff there. Mr. and Mrs. George Baren- bregge, son, in Pittsburgh, Jan. 21. Father's on KQV staff in Pitts- burgh. Mr. and Mrs. Frank W. Kelly, daughter, Buffalo, Jan. JO. Father is assistant station manager of WBEN, Buffalo. Mr. and Mrs. Max . Tishman, daughter, Jan. 23, N. Y. Mother is By Hal Cohen Jackie Heller on 16-day South American cruise to convalesce from recent illness. Johnny Harris back from West for the pro-grid champion Phila- delphia Eagles, began his floor show career this week as singing 'star at the Rendezvous in Hotel Senator. Abbott and Costello were on tel- evision from the Inaugural Ball in Washington last Thw^day night (20) at 9:30 p. m„ and were back in the Click here in time for their 11 o'clock show. A special plane and motorcycle police escort from the airport enabled the comedians to play both. . i'. Perth Theatre presenting Shakes- peare's "As You Like It" at Gate- way here. Avalanche of bookings at King's for five-weeks' season of "Annie. Get Your Gun," teeing.off Feb. 22. Flora Robson set for Edinburgh Jan. 31, with Company of Four, in Shaw's "Captain Brassbound's Ad- venture." New Terence Rattigan play, "Ad- venture Storjr," starring Gwen FfrangconrDavies; plays Lyceum here Feb. 7. ow By Gordon Irving.: Anne Crawford, EdinburgliTborn actress, guest, at Glasgow's Silver Jubilee Cinema Ball. Carl Rosa Opera: set: for four- weeks' season, here in: April, with.- Eugenia Zare$k« as guest star.' ^ Park theatre shuttered after giv- ing Glasgow eight years of drama in city's first intimate little theatre. John Casson, son of Sir Lewis Casson and Dame Sybil Thorndike, producing "Macbeth" at Citizens theatre. Douglas Byng and Barbara ("An- Coast after getting tour of "Ice Cycles" under way. Howard Crombie, Mon ogr am | nie Get Your Gun") Oakley feted salesman, will be laid up another i at New Year luncheon by Scottish month, with broken leg. | Critics' Circle. PHILIP SPERRY Philip Sperry, 48, who started . Helen Claire McAllister, local dancer, doubling long shots for June Haver in "Silver Lining." Irv Levison, former WB booker here and in Indianapolis, is scouts ing Film Row possibilities again. . Bernie Randall, ex-RKO booker, changed mind about going intO: dress business and is selling tele- vision sets. Shirley L an e (MacQuillan) played : Carousel for first home- town engagement since she started dancing professionally. William Wymetal, managing di- rector of outdoor opera company, has arrived in town to arrange repertoire for this summer. Chicago Charles Tucker, •'London agent, looking over talent here. Barbara Ann Scott on stage apr pearance at the Chicago, Feb. 4; . Glenda: Farrell in' town visiting •son, who's comedian of team McCarthy & Farrell.. Walt Disney and cast members of "So Dear to My Heart" cocktailed press at Blackstohe hotel last week. Dorothy Shay skedded for April 7 opening at Palmer House Empire Room; with Billy DeWolfe follow- ing May 6. Joey Bishop, comedian finishing Ruth"Gr>yrof'"the GVay"Frmif; If^lX'l^K^J^^.^Z^^'iJ^'^^t vaude act; father Is vaude agent. Mr. and Mrs. Buddy Friedlander son. New York, Jan. 21. Father is in 1916 as a newsreel Photographer.*" Vic MMcirn'.irr;*:;^^^^ anH ifltPi- hPP,im,> » npwqrptl ram- _Music contactman; mother BASILE IVANOFF dance?* rt?«^"?"',.r*\, Russian' television, died Jan. 20 in Swarth "dncer, died m Washington, Jan - •• only, two days after his mar and later became a newsreel cam. eraman with William Fox, died Jan. 24 in New York. At the time of his- death, he was sales man- ager of the Wabash Corp. - Sperry was instrumental in the develop- ment of low priced equipment for flash photography in inexpensive cameras. Survived by wife and son. was formerly secretary to Lou Schwartz, Mills office manager. DR. IMRE F. PATAI Dr. Imre F. Patai, 54, researcher in electron tubes for radio and Jmftf; Russia, he fled the sturti„"J revolution and first visited the U. S. as a member troupe horsemen's show Co1«M, ^^^.^^ «f Platoff's Don worirt f ^^°"^' he toured the in th. several years. Settling gfet HanH«®' ^ .l^^"' he was a dag- TMtIn w"" S- Balalaika restaS- SiiiSiy^^t'"^"" 'Of e*8ht years. JACK.TUKNEE 50 siLS ^"^T?Ry JacW Turner, '*"r ^°A' Denver, died toior L'^'i? 1^ a few hours Pnor fo his daily. }>roadcast, Hfe more. He won notice for his. work in electronics, being on the staff of Franklin Institute's Bartol Re- search Foundation. ■ Survived by his wife, Agi Jam- bor, a concert pianist. Plush Niterles ; Continued from page 1 ; side spot, takes big jump to Chez Paree, Feb. 18. - Honey Dreamers, currently at College Inn, being shadow e d nightly by Joey Gardner, liagle Lion talent scout. Lucia Perrigo, former publicist with Warners here, now handling special promotion for College Inn and Ambassador hotels. ' .Ana': Esmeralda, Spanish dancer, made British debut in 3,000-seater St. Andrews Halls, presenting tra- ditional ballet and bringing own- stage. Amsterdam the . By Den Berry Ballets de Paris playing Stadsschouwburg here. U. S. tour arranged for the Con- certgebouw Orchestra now post- poned. Dutch Intersates Film Produc- tion Co. planning English language version of Alexandre Dumas' "The Black Tulip." Composer Rudolf Nelson and singer Dora Paulsen off to Frank- furt for three-week cabaret stint in the Struwelpeter. First full-length all-Dutch film to be produced since the war preemed in City theatre here. Title is "Not In Vain" and story deals with the German: occupation. Singer Leo Fuld played to packed house in the Concertge- bouw Sunday (16). Also on the bill was hapmonica-player Max Geldray and the Jack de Vries orchestra. in should Ned Schu.vler, Beach- Vicnna Comber, Miami Beach, operator, Lillian Moore's solo ballet take over the Harem, and Harold i Konzerthaus big success. Minsliy, now with the Colonial i Society of iilm Friends im- Inn, Hallandale, Fla., operate the i PortedJ^rst Mex^^^^ rarnival Siifh AfnU arp in ihe Alice O.strowsky ol State Opera carnival. &ucn aeais are in me \ ^^^^^ Charles Cawthorn) off works; ! to San Francisco. Biggest worry to .cuiTent opera- r pepi Gloeckner - Kramer, , for tions is the possibility that Schuy- i many years a star of Volkstheatre, ler may attempt to run the Harem [ feted on 7.5th birthday. ALFRED MAXWELL SARGENT Alfred Maxwell Sargent, 68, stage and screen player, died re- cently in Kalamazoo, Mich., after a- brief illness. , it He played the captain in : the "Wizard of Oz" stage production that included Fred Stone, sang in several musical shows and made one picture. WILLIAM WRIGHT William- Wright, 37, film actor, died Jan. 19 in Ensenada, Mexico. Once ji member of Moroni Olsen s.i nave. with a multiple headliner policy. Should this occur, it's likely that a talent war of unprecedented dimensions will take place in New York. In the present cafe scene, Inti- meries are holding up best. Opera-, tions such as the Blue Angel, Le RubSn Bleu and the Bagatelle are on comparatively more solid ground. These .spots are operating virtually on a liquor business solely^ which is the most profit.^ Pabst-Kiba inked Volkstheatre actors Manfred Schuster and Erich Auer for film; "On the Verge of Life." la V. By Jerry Gaehan Zelda Theeman now handling the cocktail bookings fox Lou Schliefer's agency. : Danny Thomas bodked into the Latin Casino Jan., 31, and —. - - . will able, and they aren't handicapped headline Philly Sports Writers an- by the huge nut that larger spots nual dinner. . . i : Bosh Pntchara^'Star half-back I for the Freedom Train, South Africa By Joe Hanson "Apartment for Peggy" (20th) flop at the Colosseum, Cape Town. ' Joseph Seidelman, U-I exec; due this week from U. S. for confer- ences. "Oklahoma!" a sellout at His Majesty's, Johannesburg, since- its- opening; Dec 24. .. . . Southern Rhodesia Government shortly passing legislation to set up a State Broadcasting Corp. .Toyce van Geems, ballet dancer and teacher, found shot with her husband while on picnic. Suicide pact indicated. "The Glass Menagerie," by Ten- nessee Williams, produced in Cape Town by: Leonard Schach. Show very well received. MARRIAGES Nancy Dare - to Lorry Marshall, in Pittsburgh, Jan. 15. Bride's » dancer; he's a musician. . Phil Gray to Peggy Ford, In Omaha, Jan. 18. Gray is with Henry Bu.sse's band; bride is dancer. • Ruby DeLeon to Mel Ody, Den- ver, Colo., Jan. 20. Bride is xaera.-^ ber of dance team of DeLeon Sis* ters; he's & juggler. Martha Grayson to J. Edward Shugrue, St. Louis, Jan. 29i She's a Powers model; he's former: film producer, now national liirector