Variety (April 1953)

WethtestUyy Apgjl ^953 Pfismrt 63 Arthur fields Arthur Fields, 65, pop song- writer, former vaudevillian and nnetime radio And recording vo- calist died March 29 m Largo, Fla Fields was one of the 33 per- sons killed when a fire swept, the Littlefield nursing home in Largo. He had gone into the home after suffering a S H°^ € * Details in Music se ction. ROBERT. HARRISON Robert Harrison, 68, actor and iUvrptor died April 3 m N. Y. A. descendant of . President William Hehrv Harrison and Jefferson Davk y President of the Confed- eracy,’ he'started his thesp career, in stock companies in San Fran- co Los Angeles and Denver. He appeared with Nat Goodwin^Otis Skinner, Maude* Adams, Helen Haves Judith Anderson, Laurette Taylor, Eva Le Gallienne and Jose Ferrer and had played in produc- tions put on by Charles Frqhman, Gilbert Miller, .Arthur Hopkms, the Theatre Guild, Cheryl Craw-: We Regret to Announce fi the Death of HARRY RALTON Friday, April 3rd, 1953 * « Our Associate at * MILLS MUSIC, LTD., London * MILLS MUSIC, INC., New York’ “Seven Keys to Baidpate,” star- ring George M. Cohan, by produ- cer George C. Tyler, a friend of his family, Later he was in George S. Kaufman’s “The Detangled Wildwood/’. He also toured in nu- merous .productions. . His final stage role was in “What Price Glory?” in 1925. In between shows and also after 1925, he worked as a newspaper reporter in Washing- ton, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Wheeling. More recently in Washington, he appeared as a TV actor on local shows. He also played in several Government-made snort documen- tary films. throughout Canada, died at his home in Peterbbro; Ont, March 31. With the Dumbells, all-male.mu- sical revue which pre.ejnaed In a shack pear Vimy Ridge in 1917 and continued with fair regularity until 1929, Plunkett began as a fe- male impersonator and later took other parts. He was in charge of entertainment for Military Dis- trict No. 3 in Canada duping the first war. Surviving are his wife, daugh- ter,/ two sons; his brothers, Capt. Mert Plunkett, bandleader and or- ganizer of the Dumbells; A1 Plun- kett, singer and actor with show, and Sydney.. LAWSON J. RISSMILLER Lawson J. Rissmiller, 39 f a co- founder of Hank Lawson & His Bums, novelty orch which made numerous film shorts and appeared ford, Moss Hart, the Shuberts, Guthrie McClintic and Kermit Bloomgarten. Plays he appeared in included “The Merchant of Venice, in 1931, with Miss Adams and Skin- ner, and “Candle in the : Wind,” in 1941, and “Harriet,” in 1943, both with Miss Hayes; “The Complex,” “Nine Pine Street,” “The Honor of the Family,” “The Sqi#ealer/fc “Move On, Sister,” “Caught,” “The Ragged Edge,” “Tight Britches” and “According to Law.” His wife survives. IVAN LEBEDEFF Ivan Lebedeff, 58, Lithuania'n- born actor, died March 31 in Hollywood of a heart attack. He was primarily a film actor, having performed in that medium for about 25 years. In 1922 he made his picture bow in the UFA film, “King Frederick,” and later played in French pix. He*was brought to the U. S. in 1925 by D. W. Griffith to appear in “Sorrows of Satan.” Other films he appealed in here were “Bombshell,” “China Seas,” “The Golden Arrow,” “Love on the Run,” ‘Fair Warning,” “History Is Made at Night,” “Wise Girl,” “Passport to Alcartraz,” “Foreign Agent,” “Atlantic Flight,” “Goin’ to Town,” “Mission to Moscow,” “Around the World,” “Rhapsody in Blue” and “Are These Our Par- ents?” Lebedeff had written several screen plays and recently had a script accepted by producer-direc- tor Frank Capra. He had also written a novel, “Legion of Dis- honor,” published in 1940. .Wife, actress Vera Engels, sur- vives. FREDERICK W. BEETSON 1 . Freederick W. Beetson, 76, film industry leader, died March 31 in Santa Monica, Cal., after a long illness. For years he was executive vicepresident of the Association of Motion Picture Producers, serving in that capacity from 1928 to 1943, when he^ retired from active duty because of failing health' but con- tinued in an advisory capacity. His association with AMPP began in 1924 as that institution’s first sec- retary and treasurer. Beetson was one of the Sounders of CentraFCasting and was its pres- ident from its beginning in 1925 to 1934. He also served as treasurer for a number of years. He was one of the founders of the Motion Picture Relief Fund and functioned as its vice-chairman for six years. He was later made a life member. His wife and a son survive. MRS. ILONA THURY Mrs. Ilona Thury. nee Ilona Konyechni, former actress and nitery performer, died March 31 in N.Y. Born near Budapest, she at- tended dramatic school there and as a girl toured in Serbia and Rus- sia with a stock company. Around the turn of the century Mrs. Thury starred in a number of musical productions in Budapest. In 1905 she came to the U*S. and appeared on the Hungarian and German-language, stages in “The Merry Widow,” “The Gypsy Bar- on,” “The Marriage Market,” “Sari,” “Liliom” and “The Devil.” She also performed in niteries, having appeared in N.Y. at the Tokay restaurant and Zimmer- man’s Hungarie. She retired four years ago. A daughter, two sons and two ’grandchildren survive. MORLEY PLUNKETT Mofley Plunkett, 58, one of the Plunkett brothers who organized and toured revues during World War I abroad and after the war In Loving Memory of MAURICE ABRAHAMS BELLE and HERBERT in TV in the Philadelphia area, died April 2 in Oley, Pa. Rissmiller was known as “Gloomy” in the five-man group. In 1939 they made a film for War- ners, “Broadway Buckaroo,” with Red Skelton under the name of ■Colorado Cow Punchers. He was a graduate of the A. B. Marchs Shows and had worked with Stan- ley Grubb & His California Nifeht Hawks and, with Oliver Naylor in Philadelphia. Survived by his wife, two chil- dren and a sister. Corp., Paramount-Publix Corp., Comerford Theatres, Warner Bros, and Skouras-Fox Theatres. Brizee was appointed promotion and publicity director of WHAM in 1943, sales manager in 1947, and sales manager for WHAM-TV in 1949. Survived by his wife, seven chil- dren and parents. M „ MARY CHASE Mary Chase (Mrs. Mary Gruber), 49, talent agent and manager, died April 5 in Chicago of a heart at- tack. At the time of her death* she managed singers Josephine Prem- ice and Josh White, the latter for many years. She was in Chicago with Miss Premice, who is appear? ing at the Black Orchid nitery there. Miss Chase alscf brought] singer Eartha Kitt over from Eu- rope and fdr a number of years had appeared on the stage. Husband, son, daughter, two sis- ters, a brother and her mother sup-* vive. Further details on Page 2. helped build WFAA’s first *Dalla* transmitter in 1922. As chief en- gineer, .he installed ICFDM, Beau- mont, and later was general man- ager Qf KPRC, Houston* After a stint with NBC’s station relations department he became v.p.-geheral manager- KARK, Little Rock. In 1951 ill health caused his re- tirement. ’ i Survived by his wife and a brother. JOSEPH MANN Joseph:Mann, 85, former trum- I'pet player and music copyist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, died April 3 in Boston. Before his retirement in 1952 he had been associated with the orchestra for 50 years as a trumpet player fol- lowed by 11 more years as copyist. During his long tenure he had played under the leadership of every BSO maestro with the ex- ception of present batonist, Charles Munch. w Survived by five daughters. HARRY RALTON Harry Ralton, 43, songwriter and managing director of Mills Music, Ltd., in London, died April 3 in Lpndon of tubercular meningitis. He had also been connected with Arcadia Music and at one time had been a concert pianist. He wrote a number of tunes for Richard Tauber. His output included “I Remember the Cornfields,” “White Wedding” and “Sleepy Eyes.” Ralton was born in Germany and during World War II was interned in the Buchenwald concentration camp. After the war he settled in London. WILLIAM F. J. PIEL William F. J, Piel, 69, father of David Piel, WPIX, N. Y., TV pro- IN LOVING MEMORY OF,OUR BROTHER ' BERNARD MALTIN Who Passed Away ApirHQ, 1952 MCQUELINA and AARON MALTIN ducer, died April 6 in N. Y. He was president and chairman of the board of Piel Bros., Inc., Brooklyn brewery concern, and president of the Brewers Board of Trade. Wife, two daughters and three other sons survive. TRUMAN BRIZEE Truman Brizee, 48, sales man- ager • of WHAM-TV, Rochester, N.Y., died April 1 in that city after a long illness. Before joining WHAM in 1937 as a salesman, he spent nine years in the entertain- ment field as publicity, agent and manager for the Eastman Theatre ALBERT H. DOWLING Albert H, Dowling, 69, for many years continuity director and music commentator of WKBN, Youngs- town, O., died March 31 in South Side Hospital there after a three- week illness. He came to WKBN in 1938 as a staff announcer, having previously served as a drama and music critic in Erie, Pa. He was an organist and also had several piano selections published. Dowling had been commentator for the children’s concerts of the Youngstown Philharmonic Orch- estra, but his activities had been restricted by illness in recent years. A sister survives. ARTHUR PAGE Arthur C. Page, 64, formerly in charge of farm programs at WLS, Chicago, died April 4 in Geneva, 111. He had conducted “The Dinner Bell,” a farm program broadcast over WLS and the ABC network, and was- also editor of the Prairie Farmer. Wife and three sons survive. GEORGE E. ZIMMERMAN George Edmund Zimmerman, 62, radio industry pioneer, died March 28 in Little Rock, Ark. He OTTO K. MNDERSPACHER Otto K. Rinderspacher, 56, musi- cian, died March 19 in Hastings, Neb., after a long illness. In Vienna prior to World Way II he organized an ensemble of musicians from symphony groups and opera and directed them in concerts in Aus- tria and Italy. Later he led and accompanied the Hastings Civic Symphony and assisted in the Hastings College music department, earning that school’s first doctorate of music. CLYDE F. FRANKLIN Clyde F. Franklin, 72, retired legit actor, died April 3 in New- ark. p* He played hundreds of roles in his 40 years on the stage, 6ome in support of such stars as Jane Cowl, Grace George, Pauline Frederick and Nazimova. His Broadway productions included The War Song,” “This Man’s Town,” “The Up and Up,” “Prece- dent” (based on the Mooney-Bill- mgs case), “Lost Boy,” “When the Bough Breaks,” “Bloodstream,” Merry - Go - Round,” “Peace on Earth,” “Strangers at Home,” Hipper’s Holiday/? . “Geraniums in My Window/’ “Black Pit,” Slight Case of Murder;” “Lend Me Your Ears” “All Editions/’ Too Many Heroes,” “On Bor- rowed Time” and “Autumn Hill.” , Un retirement several years ago ne became associated with the Newark (O.) Auditorium Theatre, .biinaved by his Wife, the former musa Deall, former, actress, and a THOMAS M. CAHILL Thomas M. Cahill* 64, former a n d newspaperman, died in Mt. Alto Hospital, near Washing- 1??’ 3 * Starting as a profes- actor In hjs hometown of ^Bicothe, O.,. he was brought'to Broadway and given a bit part An OLIVER R. SHATTUCK Oliver R. Shattuck, 65, musician, died in Wolfeboro, N. H., March 31. He organized several bands in the area and designed the contro- versial New Hampshire float in the Eisenhower inauguration parade. He »Jiad served in the New Hamp- (Continued on page 611 marriages' Ruth Edith MacMillan to Her- bert Owen Bush, Jr., April 3, Prai- rie Village, Kans. Groom is an- nouncer for WDAF-TV, Kansas City. Yolande Molinari to Don Mc- Ginnis, Hollywood, recently. Bride is with Allied Capital casting office. May Ellen Le.vich and Morley Kaye, New York, March 28. He’s in the TV department of the Wil- liam Morris Agency. Doris Kay to Douglas Evans, Hollywood, April 5. He’s a char- acter actor. Carolyn Jones to Aaron Spelling, Los Angeles, April 5. She’s a screen actress; he’s h radio and TV producer-director. Joan Evans to Lynwood King, Chicago April 5. Bride is costumer for WNBQ; groom is a director at the TV station. Rene Leilani Kuhn to Douglas Wallace Bryant, N. Y., April 6. Bride and her mother, Irene Cor- bally Kuhn, are both writers. Santlra Smith to William Ray- mond "Goodheart, 3d, Champaign, 111., April 4. Groom’s father is ex- prexy of Official Fijms and former Music Corp. of America veepee. BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Charles Leeds, daughter, Hollywood, March 24. Father is general manager of Filmeffects. Mr. and Mrs. John Wayne Caler, son, Hollywood, March 30. Father is.a screen actor. Mr. and Mrs. Norman Brooks, daughter, Montreal, March 26. Father is a sirtger. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Novick, son, April 1, New York. Father is traffic manager of Guild Films, telepix firm. Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Sattler, son, Hollywood, March 28. Father is a film attorney at UI. Mr. and Mrs. George Stump, son, Kansas City, Kan. March 25. Father is program director of KCKN there. Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Vernon, daughter, Chicago, March 22. Father is sales manager of the ABC-TV Central Division. Mr. and Mrs. Jan Andree, daugh- ter, Pittsburgh, March 28. Father's a disk jockey on WPIT. Mr. and Mrs. Gene Gladstone, daughter. New York, March 26. Mother is the former Carnegie Tech and Pittsburgh Playhouse actress, Ruth Fisher. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Walton, daughter, Pittsburgh, March 27. Father is the son of Herb Walton, chief artist for Stanley-Warner Co. in Pitt. Mr. and Mrs. Dick Maser, daugh- ter, Pittsburgh, March 25. Father is with Tommy Carlyn orch. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kinander, daughter? N. Y>, March 31. Mother is Margaret Stern, a concert pian- ist; father is a voice coach. Mr.’and Mrs. AI Hollander, son, April 2, New York. Father is pro- duction facilities manager for the DuMont network; mother is with Goodson-Todman Productions. ra- dio-TV'packagers.. '