Variety (December 1950)

Wednesday, December 13, 1950 P^auEyrir 19 JOSEPH N. WEBER Joseph N. Weber, 86, former nresident of the American Federa- tion of Musicians, died in Beverly Hills X>ec, ^ t *• Details in the Music Secuon. PERLE DUDLEY Mrs. Perle Wilkinson, 88, former actress and administrator in sev- eral women’s correctional institu- tions, died in New York Dec. 6. Mrs Wilkinson, known profession- ally as Perle Dudley, was the wid- ow of Arthur Wilkinson, a baritone in many Gilbert & Sullivan operas, Mrs Wilkinson was born in Gree^castle, Ind. She. scored her first hit in a tour of Gharles Froh- man’s productiori, “Hazel Kirke.” She then became the piano accom- pianist for Emma .Eames at her first appearance in Boston, and later, for Sarah Bernhardt in a program of readings. In the 1890s, she was chorus mistress at the LvHc and Prince of Wales theatres in London, working under Sir Ar- thur Sullivan. After her husband died in 1894. she returned to this country, and was supervisor of music at Indi- anapolis public schools, and at the Ethical Cultui'e Schools in New York, until 1901. For more than theatre display frames, died in N. Y., Dec. 9. He was partnered for over 30 years in the firm of Fink & Rosenfeld. Wife and two sons survive. “Ready Money’* and other produc-1 tibns. In more recent years, he ap- ! peared in “My Lady Friends,” “The Humming Bird,” “You Can’t Take it With You” and “the‘Ghost | of Yankee Doodle.” Ober was a member of the Lambs for many years and a life I member of the Actors* Fund of i America. His wufe, actress Mabel ! Taliaferro, survives. Patrick P, Feltihan, 53, projec-. tionist, died in Chicago Dec. 2. He j leaves, wife and son. Donors to American dance in the past 15 years comprise: Lucia Chase ........... . ..,..., ;., .,......,.... ,. $2,000,000 GEORGE F. CALLAHAN George F. Callahan, 77, founder and retired president of the Elx- > hibitprs Service Co., Pittsburgh film trucking outfit, died at his ' home in that city Dec. 9. Callahan j Organized the .firm. in 1911 and served as its head until 1946, at I which time the business passed |.into the hands of his son, George : F. Callahan, Jr. I in addition, he leaves his wife; I four daughters, one of whom j Connie, is wife of Pat Kennedy, ' former vocalist with Ben Bernie’s band, Father-in-law of Russ Fachine, Chi head Of General Artists Corp., died in Chicago Dec. 6. Darwin C. Hawn, 75, former part owner of the Roda-Royal circus, died in Chicago pec. 5. Survived by a brother and sister. Ted Weisbarth, 47, still photog- rapher, was killed in a motor ac- ! cident pec; 2 in Texas while eii . route to his home in Hollywood. Thomas C. Smith, 58, writer and film actor, died Dec. 3 in Holly- wood. Marquis and Marquesa de Cuevas Lincoln Kirstein-Edward M. M. Worburg . ..... Philip Leidy .... Blevins Davis ........... Julius; Fleischmann ^ Dwight Deere Wiman .... !................... . .... * Herbert Herbert I^atharine Cornell ^ . ^Vinthrop Palmer ... ...., . ... ■. .. .... . i-.. ..... ,.. .. .. 2,000,000 250,000 250.000 200.000 150.000 100.000 75.000 50.000 40.000 Ballett Russe Foundation $5,115,000 ....... $ 100,000 Ballet Theatre Foundation ...,.........,.......,,... 50,000 Ballet Associates of America ................ 40.000 Ballet Society ; 50.000 .$5,355,000 Mother of Billy Leech, radio' singer, died at her home in Pitts-, ■ Nov. 29. . ; U. S. Ballet Angels Continued from pape X JAMES F. COYLE James F. Coyle, 52, on sales ; staff of WCAU for 23 years, died : in Philadedphia Nov. 8. i Last April, Coyle was appointed neede d for “Country | Century, N Y. But an estimated $800,000 of it was expended in HARRY MOSS (OEC. 18TH, 1947) Father, 68* of Dorothy Young, i dancer, died in Westhaven, Conn , I Nov. 13, ■ 20 years, she held administrative posts at the House of Refuge on Randalls Island, N. Y., and at .the Reformatory for Women at Fram- ingham, Mass. She included poach- ing the inmates in Gilbert & Sulli- van operas among her extracurri- cular duties. Surviving are a daughter and a brother. GEORGES MET AX A reorges Metaxa, 51, Rumanian- boi actor and singer, died 01 a heart ailment Dec. 8 in Mon- roe. La. Born in Bucharest, Metaxa ap- peared as a musical comedy singer in New York and London. He played in "Bitter Sweet” and “The Cat and the Fiddle” before going to Hollywood, where some of his screen roles were in “Secrets of a Secl'etary,” “Swing Time,” and “The Mask of Dimitrios.” . “Paris Calling,” “Hi Diddle Diddle” and “The Doctor Takes a Wife” were other films in which he had roles. Metaxa had served for a time as chief of the Cabinet of the Agri- cultural Ministry in his native country. He made his first stage appearance in 1926 at the Strand theatre, London, in “Hearts and Diamonds.” Later he Was seen in “The Blue Ma7Airka,*’ “Bow Wows,” “Will o’ the Wisp” and “Wake Up and Dream.” ^ In 1936 he married Mrs. Bymece Macfadden Muckerman, daughter of Bernarr Macfadden, publisher. CLARENCE B. GOSHORN ^ Clarence B. Goshom, 57, chair- man of the board' of .directors of Benton & Bowles, Inc., N. Y. ad- .vertising agency, died Dec. 10 at Bimini Island, the Bahamas, due to accidental drowning while on a yachting trip with Mrs. Goshorn and a group of friends. He had been attending the National Cof- fee Assn, convention in Boca Ra- ton, Fla. Be.Sides his Wife, he’s survived by two sons. In 1929 Goshorn entered the aij- vertising agency field with Erwin vVasey, Inc. where he was an. ac- count executive, and plans organ- izer. When Arthur Kudner, then president of Was,ey» left to set up an independent organization, Go- sliorn joined the Kudner aigency as account executive and super- visor. In 1937 he joined Benton u Bowles, Inc., as vice-president and account executive. In 1942 he became president of .the agency 1950 was elected chairman of the board of directors. • ' manager of commercial sales ; development for radio and televi- 1 siori at WCAU. His wife, a daugh- ' ter and two sons survive. » CEDRIC HART Cedric Hart, regional executive of the American Guild of Musical j Artists, died Dec. 5 in Hollywood after a week’s illness. He was a former orchestra lead- er and manager of operatic Stars and was one of the organizers of ! the Opera Guild of Southern Cali- fornia. Mother of Jeanie Baxter, radio ^ j'songstress, died at her home in Pittsburgh^ Nov. 28. i $75,000 ■ .- I Girl”). Tom Hood, 31, actor, was found ■ Legit angels go into a produc-Va brief eight-week season in 1944 bludgeoned to death Dec. 8 in his i tion expecting to make a killing,.! '' ^th Ballet International at the Hollywood apartment. . I or receive a certain retprn on their j International, N. V. investment, or at least get their j Julius Fleischmann, yeastmanu- coin back. In ballet, they know they j facturer and a legit angel, has won’t. Anyone who invests in put about $150,000 into the Ballet ballet is making a donation. .Russe de Monte Carlo since 1938. Under the best circumstahees j Blevins Davis, midwest industrial- (with the exception of a partly j ist, is paying the bills for the just- state-endowed Sadler’s Wells Bal- ‘ completed four-month tour of Bal- let), a ballet company can just pay ! let Theatre in Europe, estimated to its running expenses. It has to go i l^^ve cost him $200,000. outside for donors to finance the ! Lincoln Kirstein, Boston depart- new productions it must always n^ent store heir, and Edward M. have to keep artistically progres-• M. Warburg, banking house scion, sing and culturally in the swim. between them have laid out $250,-, that Shell Out Impulse ' ^^^5. first for /^erican , j Ballet, then for Ballet Carayan, The donors—although, of course,; ^nd now for the N. Y. City Ballet I Mother of Helen Raymond, legit , actress, died in New York, Dec, 1., Mother of Adolph Deutsch, com- poser, died Dec, 4 in Buffalo, MARRIAGES Peg Bruce to Charles Gilbin, I Pittsburgh, Nov. 11. Bride is music j librarian at KQV. „ u • r » — Alice Tenney to Art Sterman, having money—^ome from all- qo; Dwight Deere Wiman, legit Pittsburgh, Nov; 23. He’s on KQV ; strata, being titled folk, i producer, has donated $25,000 a staff there. [ American ^iristocracy, . lawyers, • year for four years now, or a $100,- manufacturers, poets, dancers,: ooo total, to Ballet Theatre. I even legit producers and actresses. | phiUp Leidy, Philadelphia social- Frances Eisenberg to Robert Howard, Cleveland, Dec. 10. He’s producer - announcer at WVKO, All seem actuated by pure love for i jte and attorney and former hus- Columbus, G. j the dance art, and all are seized! ban^of “e^^ Barbara Rush to Jeffrey Hunter, ; with the driving impulse to shell i tween 1936 and 1940 paid out an -KT 2^ Both -lA 1 i I JOSEPH DONCOURT Joseph Doricourt. 68, retired ! vaudeville actor and father of CBS-TV comedian Ken Murray, died Dec. 8 in North Hollywood. In addition to son. he is survived by wife and a daughter. Boulder City, Nev., Dec are screen players. Marlene Heider to Bill Yonan, j Chicago, Dec. 1. He’s a Chi ABC salesman. MRS. EDWARD LAPPE Ml'S. Edward Lappe, 81, midget performer, died in White Plains, ; jif Y. Dec. 12. j With her first husband, the late j Leopold Kahn, professionally known as “Admiral Dot,” she toured the U. S. and Europe. artistic sat- j estimated $250,000 for his then isfaction that borders on the re- ; wife’s Philadelphia Ballet Co. ligious, 1 Herbert Herbert, jewelry manufac- Leading U.»S. ballet angel is prob- turer, in one month in 1947 ex- Hilary Rodd to Robert Russell, I ?Connecticut watch and , pended $75,000 on Ballet for Los Angeles Dec 9. He’s a screen i York carpet heiress, Lucia i America. Winthrop Palmer, social- writer i Chase, who in the last 12 years . ite and poet, contribute^'"about I Angela Alves-Lico to Rod | poured an estimated $2,000,- $40,000 in 1941-42 for Dance Cameron, Las Vegas, Dec. 7. He’s i 009 into ballet* most of it for Bal- Players. And actress Katharine let Theatre. ; Cornell donated $50,000 ($25,000 Vieing with her for generosity ' each in 1946 and ’47) to Martha MRS. ERIC GORRICK Rita (Mrs. Eric) Gorrick, wife of Variety’s longtime representative IN MEMORIAM EDWARD B. MARKS Nov. 28th. 1865 - Doc. 17th, 1945 a film thesp. Nova Pilbeam to Alexander Hamilton Whyte, Nov. 30, London. Bride is a film-legit actress; he’s a reporter for British Broadcast- ing Co. Faye Emerson to Lyle G. ; “Skitch” Henderson, Cuernavaca, Mexico, Pec. 12. Bride is an ac- tress, currently spotted on her own N. Y. tele program; he’s a pianist- bandleader-disk jockey, currently t on radio and TV. [ Mrs; Elizabeth Harkness,. ta Rob- ei't Montgomery, Sag Harbor, L. 1., Dec. 9. He’s film actor and TV producer, ; Mildred Fenton to William ; Gdetze, San Francisco, Dec. p. ! Bride is head of the N. Y. radio- ■ TV production company bearing : her name; he's partnered in the ad firm of Elliott, Goetze & Boone. of donation has been the Marquis George de Cuevas and his wife (granddaughter of John D. Rocke- feller), who have also contributed about $2,000,000 to the classic toe art. Majority of it went into the Marquis.' current Grand Ballet, which dropped $150,000 alone in its recent four-week stand at the Graham’s modern dance group. In addition, there are various or- ganizations that have contributed to different productions of ballets, Ballet Russe Foundation expend- ing $100,000, Ballet Theatre Foun- dation $50,000, Ballet Associates of America $40,000 and Ballet So- ciety $50,000. 2IHIi’s College Frat Pic Continued from page 1 and correspondent in Australia, died in Sydney Nov. 28 after a long V iUness. They had only recently i celebrated their silver anniversary. IRVIN J. WAGNER Irvin J. Wagner, 51, former ' Olian Chi ad agency veepee, died : Dec. 3 in Los Angeles, l^e was a writer , for the late Ben Bernie’s radio shows.; Survived by wife and son. CHARLES A. DICKINSON , Charles Alvah Dickinson, play- i Wright and director of Piadua Hills Players for 18 years, died Dec., 3 in Claremont, Cal., after a heart attack. mies of our country,” ‘ Balfour de-1 frank with you. ‘Take Care of My manded that the project be Little Girl’ is indeed an exposition dropped. ! of the evils which are found under I SeveTal weeks later, Skouras ■ certain fraternities and sororities, Bunny Lane to William DeWire, wrote a reply in which he stated, l and practices of an un-American New York, Dec. 11. Bride is a | ^^^ong other things: “I belieye' character. It does not condemn sing^ im the Broadway revue that it would be in keeping with: the fraternities or sororities, but it ‘Pardon Our French. our system of fair play in Amer-| does expose the evils and practices ■■ ■ . . . . • ica, and with our treasured rights' such as segregation and intoler- BIRTHS I of free expression, for you and ance , . . It is un-American, we Mr and Mrs “Chip” Gipblla, your associates to withhold judg-.; think, to bar a girl from a sortrity ! daughter New York, Nov 24. He’s : ment upon this importartt picture.: because she belongs to a certain ! snortscas’ter at WG'NR. New Ro-! until you have seen it. Our Ameri-’ religious faith, or happens not to 1 chelle N. Y. ! can system has been perpetuated; dress as well as her sisters, or ' Mr.’ and Mrf: Bob Riggs, son,; by the right of freedom of expres-; comes from the wrong side of the^ Pittsburgh, Nov. 20. Father; was [ sion and this, of course, includes [ railroad tracks. Some of the things former trumpet player Avith Elliott the right of freedom o criticism.; that do occur are heartbreaking Lawrence prehv , ! Meanwhile, please be assured that l and wrong.” Mr. and Mrs. Sy Friedmam son, • the picture is being prepared in | Recently L. G. Balfour retorted New York, Dec. 5. Fathert is as-j cognizance of the facts in-! with his hidden threat that fra- ROBERT OBER Robert Ober, 68, an actor, who appeared, in many Broadway pro- ductions, died in New York Dec. 7. ■ His first appearance on the stage was Ayith Colonel Hopkins S/tock Go, in Au.gustU$ Thomas’ “In Missouri.” and later in, the farce My Friend from India.” He then spent a season wMth Robert Edison in “Soldiers of Fortune.” In the two years following he acted in The Little Grny Lady,” “Gallops.” Forty-Fivo ’’I'nntos from Broad- way,” “BrcAv.ster’s Millions,’/ ANNIBALE BETRONE Annibale Betrone, 66, Italian actor, died in Rome, Dec. 3,0. He had celebrated his 50th year in the theatre two days before his death. JULIUS HERNER Juilus Herner, 84, former con- cert cellist and intimate of _ Franz j Liszt and Johann BrahmS, died I pec. 7 at his home in Culver City. Wife of Haul E. Faust, secretary- treasurer of Feature Radio, Inc., I died Dec. 6 in Chicago, Husband, : three sons and two daughters i survive. i sistaht photo editor in NBC press i yQjygjj in the subject matter and department.^ , ; ! with a view to the greatest possi- ®hd Mrs. Ray.. Kavanaugh, j cprvirc to the Dublic includ- son. New York, Nov. 9. Father is service to tne pumic, inciua a musical director; mother is a ternity people might get even. He wrote to Skouras: “Quite frankly, I think you are former dancer. Mr. and Mrs. George Collie, daughter, San Antonio, Nov. 27. Father is merchahdising manager for WOAI and WOAI-TV there. Mr. and MrS« Robert Anderson, 1 . - 5 making a serious mistake. It : seems apparent that you have Isaac ^Fink, (66, manufacturer^of irtg your membership. The letter slapped as “an un- worthy anld unwarranted intima-1 joined the Comnrmnlsts in attack tion” that 20th was giving comfort ing the American College Fra- to the Redsf it pointed out that ternity System which has served the studio had produced “The Iron our country and our educational Curtain,” first purely anti-Commy j system for more than a century. daughter, Chicago, Dec. 1. Father I film and such other patriotic fea-1 “Your position will be brought is ABC Central Division research tures as “The Fighting Lady,” j to the attention of our member- manager.' ; “Mouse on 92nd Street,” “The Song , shin, which totals in excess of 5,- Mr. and Mrs. Ed Leahy, daugh- of Bernadette” and “Twelve i 000,000. and I can a.ssure you that ter, Chicago, Dec. 3. Father is 0.(;ilock High.” Skouras added i you will not be favorably re- that in making such films as; ceived . . . “Pinky,” “The Grapes of Wrath,”; “Your further sug^^estioii that “Gentleman’s Agreement,” and we wait until your attack on fra- others “which dealt with defects ternities is publicizerV is a suc»«es- in our American system.” 20th al4b tion that we lock the door after served the cause of Americani*:m, 'the he”'?'? i<! .stolen; in I Father is with Eagle Lion Classics' 1 Skouras then teed off with this: view of mten- * accounting* dept.i' ^ 1/ to .be,* .entirely »tiopjt WBKB stage manager. Mr. and Mrs. Dick Pettit, son, Santa Monica, Dec. 7. Father is publicity director for John GuedeJ I ProdUction.s. . . Mr. and Mrs. Pierce P. McCor- 1 mack, son, New York, Dec. 8. (. 4