Variety (October 1952)

PSiRiSff 63 Wednesday, October 22, 1952 OBITUARIES COL. NATHAN LEVINSON Col Nathan Levinson, 64, pio- neer in the development of talkers nnd head of Warners’ sound de- partment, died Oct. 18 at his Toluca r ike i Cal.) home. In association with the late Sam Warner, Col. T evinson brought the first sound tn the screen in the form of a musi- cal score for “Don Juan,” in 1926. A year later they were instru- mental in revolutionizing the film art bv introducing the spoken word J5 -The Jazz Singer.” Born in New York City, Col. T rvinson became a wireless teleg- rapher at the age of 14. At 18 lie was a civilian radio engineer with the Navy. He became a major in World War I and a colonel in 1940. He became affiliated with motion pictures in 1926 as western division manager of the Vitaphone Corp. and sound director for Warner Bros. A year later he received a special award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for “outstanding service to the industry and the Army.” He was also cited by the Army for helping DEWEY BLOOM Dewey Bloom, publicity director of Metro Pictures (Canada) for 20 years, died Oct. 17 in Toronto. Previously, he had been manager for the late Gertrude Lawrence in her U.K. and U.S. tours, and press- agent for Jane Cowl, Peggy Hop- kins Joyce and others. In 1924, Bloom joined the pub- licity staff of the Selwyns, later was with Associated Pictures Corp., N. Y., during , the building fanfare of the Roxy, and then held a top flack post at Pathe when its studios were on Long Island. Bloom was drumbeating the road- showing of “Trader Horn” in Can- ada when he met Henry Nathan- son, general manager of M-G in Canada, and took over the pub- licity of British-made films in 1927 when Nathanson secured certain franchises. He later became di- rector of publicity for all Metro and allied product in Canada. Survived by wife. RUSSELL C. CfoMER Russell C. Comer, 54 head of the ad agency which bears his name and MADY CHRISTIANS In Loving Memory - Herbert Kenwith form a motion picture unit for the Signal Corps. In 1942, Col. Levinson won an Academy Award for best sound recording in the Warner produc- tion, “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” For 20 years he represented Warners on the Research Council of the film industry and served for years as an officer and director of the Academy. Surviving are his wife, three sons and two grandchildren. CATHERINE C. CUSHING Mrs. Catherine .Chisholm Cush- ing, playwright-songwriter-libret- tist, died Oct. 19 in New York. Her comedy, “The Real Thing,” was produced on Broadway in 1911 and two years later May Irwin appeared in Mrs. Cushing’s farce, “Widow By Proxy.” In 1914 her comedy, “Jerry,” starring Billie Burke, was presented by Charles Frohman. During the same year, another of her comedies, “Kitty MacKay,” had a run of 273 per- formances on Broadway. She 'later wrote the book and lyrics for “Lassie,” a musicomedy version of “Kitty MacKay.” Among her other credits are “Pollyanna,” a play based On the Eleanor H. Porter novel of the same name, and “Glorianna,” for which she wrote book and lyrics to the Rudolf Friml score. She also wrote the books for two other musicomedies, “Mar- jolaine” and “Topsy and Eva.” Two of her plays, “The Master of the Inn” and “Edgar Allan Poe,” were produced in 1925. Mrs. Cushing wrote the lyrics for such tunes as “L’Amour, Toujours L’Amour” (music by Friml), “I Love You, Dear” and “When Brown Eyes Looked In Eyes of Blue.” Two brothers and two sisters survive. which he had owned for 27 years, collapsed in his office Oct. 17 and died shortly after in St. Luke’s Hospital, Kansas City. Comer was w.k. as creator of “Air Adventures of Jmmie Allen,” radio serial. He was engaged in a tele version of the show at the time of his death, via filming in Holly- wood. He had produced a number of other radio serials, including “Ad- ventures of Frank Farrell,” “Ann of the Air Lanes,” “Clem and Tina” and “Lady Skyhook.” Surviving are his wife, son and daughter. JULIA DEAN Julia Dean, 74, stage and screen actress, died Oct. 17 in Hollywood. On Broadway she starred for David Belasco and William A. Brady and appeared in such plays as “Bought and Paid For,” “Paid in Full,” IN MEMQRIAM In Loving Memory of Our Brother SAMUEL LIEBERT COMEDIAN Died Oct. 24. 1945 AT REST “Litle Grey Lady,” “Law of the Land” and “Woman on the Index.” Miss Dean retired from the stage 27 years ago but 10 years later began a screen career. Her first film was RKO’s “The Cat Peo- ple.” Other pictures included “The Emperor Waltz,” “Nightmare Alley,” “Out of the Blue,” and “You for Me,” still unreleased. She was forced to withdraw from 20th-Fox’s “Nearer My God To Thee” because of illness. ^ BASIL RADFORD Basil Radford, 55, British legit and screen actor, aied Oct. 20 in In Fond Memory of JACK GANSERT August, 1952 wmmmmmmmmmmmmmmamtm London after suffering a heart at- tack a week before. He had re- turned to the London stage two months ago to appear in “Affairs, of State.” Radford was noted for his char- acterizations of uppercrust Britons as exemplified by his role of the cricket enthusiast in Alfred Hitch- cock’s film, “The Lady Vanishes.” Among his other film credits are ‘Tight Little Island,” “Night Train,” “The Girl In The News,” The Galloping Major,” “Johnny In Th e Clouds,” “White Corridors,” Chance of a Lifetime,” “A Girl In A Million,” “The Winslow Boy,” Quartet” and “The Captive Heart.” Radford went on the stage in London in 1924 and had toured Australia, New Zealand, Canada ancl tlie U.S. Among his plays were 1 he Astonished Ostrich,” “Clut- li'i’?i Ucl &” “ B1 ind Goddess,’* “The ^ Into Falcon” and “Taking Things HUGO K. SCHAAF Hugo K. Schaaf, 52, company manager of the Theatre Guild’s touring company of “Oklahoma,” died of a heart attack Oct. 17 in Chicago. Show was moving from Joliet to Freeport, III., when he was stricken. He was taken off the train at Chi and died a few hours later in Henroiten Hospital. Schaaf had been in legit for 30 years. Early in his career he was house manager and general man- ager for Mark Klaw. Later he was company manager for Jed Harris, Sam Grisman and Anthony Brady Farrell. He also was manager of the touring company of “Carousel.’ Wife and daughter survive. MRS. A. H. BLANK Mrs. A. H. Blank, 70, wife of the president of Tri-States Thea- tre Corp., Des Moines, died in that city Oct. 15. t Mrs. Blank had been active in numerous civic groups, particular- ly at the Raymond Blank Memorial Hospital for Children which the parents gave to the city in 1943 as a memorial to their son, 33, who died in 1943 of a heart condition. They financed the building of an addition to the hospital in 1947. In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, a sister and three grandchildren. BERNARD J. McOWEN Bernard J. McOwen, playwright- producer-director and former, lead- ing man under David Belasco, died at his San Francisco home, Oct. 13 of a heart ailment. He had played opposite Ann Harding, Lenore Ulric, Ina Claire, Jane Cowl, Ethel Barrymore and other legit stars. McOwen authored seven Broad- way plays and directed and pro- duced many others. In addition, he had operated schools of drama in New York, Cleveland, San Fran- cisco and Oakland. • LAURA BURT Laura Burt, 80, retired legit actress, died Oct. 16 in New York. She appeared in “Fantasma," “Blue Jeans” *and “In Old Kentucky.” She also played in “The Chris- tian,” “The Palace of the King,’ “Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall” and "The Walls of Jericho.” In recent years, Miss Burt had played with Charles Coburn in the Mohawk Drama Festival at Union College, Schenectady, N.Y. She was the widow of Henry Stanford, English actor. FREDERICK FORRESTER Frederick Forrester (ne Freder- ick C. Forster), 80, retired legit actor, died Oct. 14 in New York. Among his Broadway credits were “Days Without End,” “The Animal Kingdom,” "The Last Mile” and “Dead End.” Forrester began his career with a Shakespearean road company and after World War I toured Aus- tralia and New Zealand in “White Cargo.” Two brothers and a sister sur- vive. CHARLES A. MIDELBURG Charles A. Midelburg, 72, Charleston, W. Va., exhib, died at his hojne there Sept. 29. He owned the Capitol Theatre. More than 30 years ago, Midelburg took over the old Plaza Opera House which he remodeled into the Capi- tol. In 1907, he was elected to the West Virginia House of Dele- gates and was re-elected in 1920. He also served two terms on the Charleston City Council. Surviving are his wife, one son and two daughters. ABRAHAM LEHR Abraham Lehr, 72, former vee- pee of Samuel Goldwyn Produc- tions, died Oct. 17 in Hollywood after a long illness. He entered the film industry as an executive in 1917, swinging over from the business world. He left Goldwyn 15 years ago, later becoming an agent. A son, daughter and brother survive. His wife, Ann, who con- ducted Hollywood Guild for Serv- icemen during World War II, died about a year ago. LEO M. WHELAN Leo M. Whelan, 76, vaude actor for 36 years, died Oct. 15 in Ar- lington, N.J. A native and long- time resident of Bridgeport, Conn., Whelan was first a variety single and then one of the “Four Happy Whelans” with other members of his family. . He played in several of the first silent films and during World War I was a K. of C. entertainer among the U.S. troops. After the war he did bits with the “Four Cohans.” ROBERT C. HARRIS Robert C. Harris, 66, former city editor and associate managing edi- tor of the Cincinnati Times-Star, died Oct. 12 in that city. Illness forced his retirement last year. In his early days as a reporter he was in amateur theatricals and later was pressagent for the Grand Opera House, under the Erlanger regime, and for Cincy’s former Chester Park. He had also been a nitery reviewer for the Times-Star. His mother survives. LEW LACEY Lew Lacey, 57, associate editor of the Housewives’ Protective League editorial and research de- partment, died Oct. „14 in San Francisco after a heart attack. As “Lewis Martin,” he had voiced the HPL and “Starlight Salute” programs on KCBS" for several years. He had worked for Texas stations and with KY’A, San JFrancisco. 9 Wife and two daughters survive. -» . . CHAS. N. EVANS Charles N. Evans, 35, manager of WING, Dayton, O., since Jan. 1, died Oct. 11 in Clearwater, Fla. He came to Dayton in 1943 from Pittsburgh, as an announcer and assistant production manager at WING. In 1948 he became mana- ger of WIZE, Springfield, O., a post he held until moving back to Day- ton. His wife, a son and his mother survive. HARRY GROVE Harry Grove, 36, radio and TV announcer, was killed Oct. 18 in a motor car accident near Jonesburg, Mo. He had been with KCMO, Kansas City, for six years, and for the last 18 months had been a tele commentator for WCPO, Cincin- nati. In World War II, he served as radio operator on a B-24 bomber in India and Burma. Surviving are his wife, a daugh- ter, his mother and two brothers. E. A. PRINZ E. A, Prinz, 80, father of Leroy and Edward Prinz, motion picture choreographers, died Oct. 19 in a Macon, Mo., hospital. He had con- ducted a dancing academy in St. Joseph, Mo., for 59 years when failing health forced him to retire in 1950. Prinz was a frequent visitor to Hollywood and had a wide ac- quaintance with film personalities. BERTA MORENA Berta Morena, 74, former Met- ropolitan Opera soprano, died Oct. 7 in Rottach, Germany. Nee Ber- tha Meyer, Miss Morena made her debut in 1898 at the Munich Opera and continued to sing there inter- mittently until 1924. She debuted at the Met in 1908, remaining un- til 1912. She was noted for her Wagner- ian roles. LON B. WORTH Lon B. Worth, 47, former radio announcer and musician, died Oct. 17 in Somerville, N. J. He was with the circulation department of the Crowell-Collier Publishing Co. at the time of his death. He was the brother of musicomedy actress Billie Worth. In addition to his sister, his mother, another sister and a broth- er survive. TOM RUSSELL Tom Russell, 81, who trouped in vaude for more than a half cen- tury, died Oct. 20 in Brooklyn after a long illness. He did a bur- lesque boxing routine as Russell & Glenroy and later teamed with his wife, Marie. Surviving besides his wife are a son and daughter. NIXON GRAY Nixon Gray, 72, music-hall comedian who- began his profes- fesional career as a light baritone singer, died in Cardiff, Wales, Oct. 2. His trademark was a black coat and canary yellow trousers. He had toured Australia, South Africa, Canada and the U. S. A., retiring in 1934. FREDERICK R. RYAN Frederick R. Ryan, 73, member of the board of directors of Re- public Pictures, died Oct. 15 in New York. He was prez of Asso- ciated Motion Picture Industries, an investment company. Surviving are his wife, three stepchildren and four sisters. DOMINICK BARRECA Dominick Barreca, 52, Warner staffer in Newark and former thea- tre manager for Loew, died Oct. 14 in Christ Hospital, Jersey City, after a six-month illness. Wife, two daughters and a son survive. HAROLD GODSOE Harold Godsoe, 48, film produc- tion manager, died Oct. 11 at Mo- tion Picture Country Hospital o» the Coast after a long illness. He was formerly associated with Ben Hecht and Charles Mac- Arthur. LEE WEBER Lee Weber, wife of Rex Weber, vaude and nitery ventriloquist, died Oct. 20 in Hollywood after a brief illness. She had assisted her husband in his act for many years. FRED SPENCER Fred Spencer (Bretherton), re- tired screen actor, died Oct. 13 in Hollywood. He played for Mack Sennett and other producers in silent films. Edward A. Cormier, 48, a for- mer vaude performer and profes- sional boxer, died of a heart attack Oct. 10 while vacationing at Bar Harbor, Me. Father, 70, of E. M. (Pete) Schloss, Jr., manager of station WWSW in Pittsburgh," died Oct. 14 at his home in New York. Father, 82, of Philip Scheuer, drama and film critic of the Los Angeles Times, died Oct. 16 in that city. James Henderson, 74, film pi- oneer in northeast England, died in Stockton-on-Tees, England, re- cently. Clarence J. Bullict, 69, former art and music critic of the Chicago Daily News, died Oct. 20 in Chi- cago. Ian Maekay, 54, scribe and dia- rist with the London News Chron- icle and frequent writer on vaude,. died in Morecombe, England, Oct. 3. Paul J, Deike, 70, retired film technician, died Oct. 14 in Holly- wood. George J, Gowan, 59, publicist, died Oct. 12 at the Motion Picture Country Home on the Coast. Sagar J. Mitchell, 85, cinema pioneer, died in Blackburn, Eng- land, Oct. 13. Matt Martell, 40, vaude violinist and comedian, died in Glasgow, Oct. 14. William P. Norton, a member of IATSE in St. Louis, died at his home there Oct. 10. Lloyd C. Priest, 53, film house manager, died Oct. 14 in Los An- geles. 9 % Mother of Alvin Kabaker, film agent, died. Oct. 15 in Hollywood. MARRIAGES Joan Dixon to Ted Briskin, Las Vegas, Oct. 17. She’s a screen actress; he’s an executive of the Revere Camera Co. and former husband of Betty Hutton. Beverly Barrett to Robert S. Os- borne, Jr., New York, Sept. 25. Bride is the daughter of Hughie Barrett, pianist-raconteur current- ly at the Roney Plaza, Miami Beach. Mrs. Mary Ellin Berlin Burden to Marvin Barrett, Esenada, Mex- ico, Oct. 14. Bride, daughter of songwriter Irving Berlin, is a re- searcher on Time; groom is ex- Time staffer; they met while he was on th? staff. Evelyn Bastone to Richard An- cona, New York, Oct. 19. Groom is the son of Gigi, Latin Quarter, N. Y., maitre l'hotel. Joyce Giraffa to Robert Heick- len, New York, Oct. 19. Groom is son of Manny Heicklen, manager of Vincent Lopez orch. Janet Glenn to Michael Keefe, Coventry, England, Oct. 4. Both are legit actors. Rosalind Appleton to Geoffrey Hugh R. Newbury, Edinburgh, Oct. 4. Bi'ids is Wanda Alpar, dancer at Windmill Theatre, London, and daughter of Sir Edward Appleton. BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Meyer Mishkin, daughter, Hollywood, Oct. 11. Fa- ther is a Hollywood talent agent. Mr. and Mrs. Joe Waxman, daughter, Coventry, England, re- cently. Mother is radio and vaude singer Margary Manners; father is revue proprietor. Mr. and Mrs. Roger Weldon, daughter, Bridlington, England, re- cently.. Mother is actress Pamela Marr, father is producer of the Pyramid Players, Bridlington. Mr. and Mrs. Dan Rochin, daughter, Los Angeles, Oct. 13. Mother is Gloria Carpenter, screen player; father is theatre manager. Mr. and Mrs. Jim Ameche, son, Oct. 14, Chicago. Father is a Chi radio-TV actor and brother of film thesp Don Ameche. Mr. and Mrs. .Torn Moore, daughter, Oct. 11, Chicago. Father is an engineer at WBKB there. Mr. and Mrs. Harry W. Davis, son, N.Y., Oct. 14. Mother is Re- gina Resnik, Met Opera soprano. Mr. and Mrs. Christy Walsh, Jr., son, Hollywood, Oct. 14. Father is a radio publicist. Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Benkwo- itz, son, Pittsburgh, Oct. 13. Moth- er is the daughter of Jake Soltz, Pitt theatre owner. Mr. and Mrs. Gino Conte, son, Hollywood, Oct. 13. Father, for- mer production manager for Pitts- burgh Playhouse, Is now with NBC- TV in Los Angeles. Mr. and Mrs. Mike Kancel, son, Pittsburgh, Oct. 11, Father, ex- “Ice Capades,” teaches* skating at the Gardens there. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Tragesser, son, Pittsburgh, Oct. 10. Father was former publicity director for KQV there. Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Sitomer, daughter, New York, Oct, 15. Moth- er is Charlotte Jablons, secretary to N. Y. Post columnist Earl Wil- son; father is with Ted Ashley As- sociates. Mr. and Mrs. Irving Fields, son, New York, Oct. 19. Father is orch leader. Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Jacks, son, Santa Monica, Cal., Oct. 18, Mother is the former Darrylin Zanuck; father is a producer at 20th-Fox. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Hippe, son, Hollywood, Oct. 11. Father is a makeup man at Warners. Mr. and Mrs. Larry Allen, son, Chicago, Sept. 25. Mother is singer Doris Drew; father is a comic. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Youngs, daughter, Glasgow, Oct. 11. Father is exploitation man with Para- mount in Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Mimmo. son, New York, Oct. 19. Father is a pantomime comic.