Variety (April 1955)

Wednesday, April 13, 1955 —— - // ' ^ THEDA BABA Theda Bara, the original "vamp” of the silent screen, died April 7 . in Hollywood after a long siege of cancer during which she had undergone four surgical oper- ations. Although, she kept her age a secret, she was known to he in her late dps. Born Theodosia Goodman in Cin- cinnati, the star opened her ca- reer at the Theatre Antoine in Paris: Her film debut was in "The Two Orphans” in 1915. Prominent among her stellar pic-, tures were "Sin,” "Cleopatra,” "Serpent, of the Nile” "Salome,” ‘The Vampire,” ‘The Vampire’s Re- venge,” "Camille," "Carmen,” "A Pool There Was” and other siren stories. Her last starring role was in "Kathleen Mavourneen,” in 1921, directed by her husband* Chafles J. Brabin, who survives. In 1925, she also appeared in Chadwick’s "Unchastened Woman,” and made several comedies for Hal Roach before retiring permanently. Other survivors are her mother, Pauline Louise Bara, and a sister, Lori Bara. AL PIANTADOSI A1 Piantadosi, 71, pop tune com- poser, died April 8 at his home in Encino, Cal. The composer of "I Didn’t Raise My Boy to Be a Sol- dier,” of World War I vintage, he had written more than 1,000 songs, IN LOVING MEMORY of RUBE BERNSTEIN (APRIL 13, 1354) Evor My Frlond EMMETT CALLAHAN some in collaboration with Irving Berlin. After working as a musician dur- ing the early 1900s in N.Y.’s China- town, under the billing, "Ragtime Al,” Piantadosi switched to com- posing and joined the staff of a music publishing firm. He theh served as an accompanist for vaude performers and toured the* U.S., Europe and Australia. Later he Worked with various publishers until 1930 when he moved to Cali- fornia. , . . His tune credits include ‘ Pal of My Cradle Days”. "The Curse of an Aching Heart,* "Baby Shoes,” "That’s How I Need You,” "In All My Dreams,” "I Dream of You,” "Dreamy Italian Waltz,” "Honey Man,” "Italian Bag,” "I’m Tired of Making Believe” and "My Mariuc- cia Taka da Steamboat.’- He also wrote the lyrics for several of his songs and in 1914 became a charter member of the American Society la Loving Memory of MAURICEABRAHAMS BELLE and HERBERT of Composers, Authors and Pub- lishers. Wife, a brother and two sisters survive. JACK O’CONNELL Jack O'Connell, 63, veteran To- ledo exhibitor and onetime vaude performer, died April 7 in that city. He is credited with being the first exhib to screen sound films in Toledo. At the time of his death he owned the Loop Theatre, To- ledo,* and the Paulding Theatre in Paulding, O. As a youth O’Connell trOuped ip Vaude under the name of Stan- ley O’Connell in a two-man dra- matic sketch but left this field to operate a Hoboken, N. J,, theatre jh the early 1920s. He came to Toledo in 1928 to produce a revue for auto tycoon John North Willys. Later he became a film salesman for Warners in .that area, O’Connell, who opened the Vita- Temple'Theatre in downtown To- ledo in the late ’20s,* pioneered in showing sound pix there. In subsequent years he also operated the Avalon, Ohio and Stratford Theatres, all in Toledo, and the Madrid Theatre, Port Clinton, O’.- He recently figured in trade news when he closed his Paulding The- atre in protest against a 3% local amusement tax, The bite was later rbpctilcd Surviving are his wife, his moth- er and a stepson. I. W. MCMAHAN I. W. McMahan, 79, pioneer Cincinnati exhibitor, died April 8 from a head injury suffered Jan. 14 when struck by an auto. For the past 25 years he headed a realty firm’ there. He managed the Opera House In his native Aurora, Ind., before opening his first film theatre in Covington* Ky., opposite Cincy, in 1904. The following year he and the late Jerome M. Jackson formed* a partnership Which- de- veloped a chain of picture houses in downtown ' Cincy and ■ nearby Ohio and Kentucky towns. As . operators of the Lyric,“Cincy, after its legit policy, McMahan and Jackson added vaude to pictures in the early - ’20s through the Pantages office in opposition to Albee’s vaude stands* Keith’s and the Palace, in the same city. Mc- Mahan and Jackson started the Cincinnati Film Exchange in 1906 and the Buckeye Film Co. in 1912. For Cincy’s first "talking picture” they synchronized a' phonograph with the film, ‘‘Neptune’s Daug- ter,” featuring Annette Kellerman. Survived by wife, four sons and four daughters. fi ~* CHARLES MARFORD Charles Marford, actor-producer and wartime director of the Byre Theatre, St. Andrews; Scotland, died April . 2 in -Newton Abbot, Devon, Eng. He'began his career as.an apprentice. to his uncle, a scenic artist in a London theatre, and later became a noted thesper and megge r. He played in the companies of such actor-managers as Robert Poel and Ben Greet. He also was stage manager for .two of the Eng- lish theatre’s femme managers, Elisabeth Bayliss, of the Old Vic, London, and Lena Ashwell. He toured throughout the British Isles and Ireland. During World War II, Marford was director of the Byre Theatre, St. Andrews, and kept the little theatre alive, producing plays dur- ing the difficult war<,years, even when left with a company of three —himself and two actresses. Survived by his wife, Molly Tapper, stage and radio actress. MURIEL AKED Muriel Aked, 67, veteran actress, died March 23 at Settle, Yorkshire, Eng. She made her first appear- ance at Liverpool, Eng-, in 1916 as the nurse in "Alice-Slt-by-the- Fire.” Seven years later she'was seen In London ♦ at Wyndham’s Theatre as the. woodcutter’s. wife in "The Rose and the Ring.” Throughout her noted career, Miss Aked took Important roles on the British legit stage, includ- ing Marya In the 1926 production of "Uncle Vanya;” Martha in "Rosmersholm” in 1926, and * the First Witch in a modern-dress pro- duction of "Macbeth” in 1928. Her last London appearance was in "Lace on Her Petticoat” at the Ambassadors Theatre, London, in 1950. EARL TtJRNO Earl Turno, 45, managing direc- tor of The Barclay Hotel, Toronto, died April 3 in Miami from a con- dition brought on by hypertension of past two years. He managed and operated four hotels in To- ronto and Hamilton, with The Bar- clay the chief stopping place and after-hours night club rendezvous for professionals during their To- ronto engagements. He was also a buyer of talent for Canadian niteries. Holding key jiosts in the Ca- nadian Hotel Proprietors Assn., Turno was chairman for 10 years of its labor relations committee and secretary-treasurer for five years. Survived by widow, two sons. sisters one of whom is Ruth Mug- debee, women’s editor for Hearst Boston papers. MRS MABEL H. LeBARON Mrs. ..Mabel Hollins LeBaron, wife pf producer William LeBaron, and a former* singer and composer, died April 8 in Beverly Hills, Cal. She turned to composing after 1 re- tiring as a performer. In the. course of her stage career she appeared in a number otj.Brbadw.ay produc- tions of yesteryear* ' Also surviving “besides her hus- band are a niece and nephew. PETER LASHER Peter .Lasher, 72, veteran ex- hibitor, died April ‘4 in Los An- geles, where he had been asso- ciated with Harry Popkin and Jack Y, Berman for the past 20 years. In exhibition fof -more than .40 years, he started the old Portal Theatre on L.A.’s Main Street. . - Surviving is his widow and two daughters. ROBERT ABLESON ‘ * Robert Ableson, 56, ; Paramount branch manager in Los Angeles for the last five years, died April 9 in Sawtelle, Cal., Veterans Hospital after a four-month illness. He started with Paramount more than 25 years ago as a salesman in Minneapolis. His wife and'son survive. IRVING GIBBS .. Jrving Gibbs, 79, member of the 20th-Fox studio police force for 25 years and known to thousands of employees as "Gibby,” died Ap- ril 5 in Hollywood after a long illness. In addition to, his police duties he often ‘played 'himself on the screen* His wife survives. ALFRED GERVAfS Alfred Gervais, 75, pioneer mo- tion picture exhibitor, died April 1 in Ottawa. At the'tprn of the century, he operated a travelling film theatre in central 'and northern Ontario and later opened one of Ottawa’s first filmers* He Is survived by 44 people in- cluding his wife,, sons, daughters, sister and grandchildren; RAYMOND B. CUNLIFFE Raymond B. Cunliffe, 63, treas- urer of the Music Operators of America hnd president of the Re- corded Music Service Assn.; died In Chicago April 10. Survived by wife and a daughter. AL KAYTON Alvin J. Kayton, 59, N who was a partner in the Kayton Spiero advertising agency, died April 4 of * heart attack v in- New York. Surviving are his Wife, two daugh- ters, a brother and three sisters. Karl Kirksmith, 70, former cellist with symphony orchestras, through- out the United States, died' April 9 in Seattle. A cellist since. 14, He also was a brother- to the Six Kirksmith Sisters, a vaude act popular in the early part of the century. Mrs. Bernice Dick, 38, of M-G exchange in Pittsburgh, was killed in an auto accident March 23 while on her way to work. Mrs. Marion Orris, of 20th-Fox staff, a passenger in the same car, was se- riously injured. Mrs. Al Morell, wife of Pitts- burgh musician, died in that city April 4 giving birth to a baby girl. Two other daughters survive in addition to her husband. Myer Jftrody, 59, former operator of the Wedge, North Philadelphia nitery, died April 9 in Philadelp- hia. He retired two years ago. His wife and two sons survive. FOSTER H. HATHAWAY -Foster H. Hathaway, 57, Ohio drtye-in operator, died April 5 of a heart ailment in Youngstown, O. At the time of his death he was running the Sky-Hi Drive-In The- atre in Coitsville, O., and the Mid- Way Drive-In near. Conneaut, O. Born In Cleveland, Hathaway began his film career in the 1920s as a salesman for the old Film Booking Office Co. Later he Worked for Warners In a similar capacity out of its Cleveland branch. He went to Struthers, O., in 1937 and opened the Ritz, hir- first theatre. His mother survives. JOSEPH MUGGLEBEE Joseph Mugglebee, 66, vet vaudevillian, died April 7 follow- ing a long illness at his home in Salem, Mass. Active in USO shows during World War II, he had been seml-retired for several years. Survived by a brother and three Isadora Saminsky, former Phila- delphia dancer known profession- ally as F. George Cooper, died April 1, In Phoenix, Ariz. Brother survives. Howard J. Ridgway, 68, retired motion picture operator, died April 8 in Philadelphia. His wife and son survive. Father of Lyle Harding, manager or SW’s Sheridan Square Theatre In Pittsburgh, died April 3 in that city. Mother pf Martin Gosch died Monday night (11) in Philadelphia. He’s a video producer and ex- Variety mugg in Philly. George Sheldon, 88, composer of musical comedies, died March 28 at Colwyn Bay, Wales. He also authored a number of plays. Mother, *74, of talent agent Al- vin G. Manuel, died April 6 in Hollywood. 79 —; — —— — ■ .".V ■ »« . »■■ , 1 -' ■T-1—-' - M .' Zanuck on (1) Stars (2) Pre-Sell Continued from pass 3 type of innovation that wouldn’t require additional expenses in the theatre booth.; (2.) The company expects to put between 12 and 14 pix into w&tK between now and. the end of the v$dr. .., r . v . (3.) There are now over, 21,000 theatres, in the world equipped for Cinemascope and the medium, "has thus become the fixed motion pic- ture standard .” There should be 30 ? 000 installations worldwide by the^end'of 1955, (4.) 20th*s main purpose in. en- tering tv was to help broaden the film audience and help exhibit via the national plugging of 20th’s cur- rent and upcoming releases. (See separate story). 'Vital Subject Matter Zanuck stressed the need for Hollywood to develop new screen personalities but at the same time said he saw a new trend in the business, i.e. a new emphasis on' subject matter. "Audiences today, in most areas, are more interested in what's In a film'than in. anything: else,” he said. "We’ve seen .a ten- dency of late for subject matter to be boxoffice without any stars in the picture at all. That’s why we are more interested than ever in plays and books.” v The 20th exed said that the studio naturally wouldn’t miss out onf casting a star if it could get him, but it would no longer hold up shooting on a property' if it couldn’t. Abroad, too; he held, "the so-called ‘star* doesn't have the importance he’s had to date. They're more interested there,; in movement and pace,” Zanuck digs closed that '20th was currently negotiating for three plays and was ready to launch a very ambi- tious production program. , "Looking back over my-years of picture making. I’m amazed to find how many films were successful without star names, in them,” he said. "We know now that a top star can’t ‘make’ a bad picture. On the other hand, a good picture can do without a top star.” He re- called that he had, at times, made the mistake of waiting for a certain player and had then suited the role to the star: "In doing so, I may-have dissipated the value of the property,” he opined. “I’ll try and avoid doing that in the future.” Improved C’Scope Zanuck said he expected to see an improved version of Cinema- Scope by mid-summer, adding he doubted that 20th would be ready to produce in the new and better method before October. Involved, he said, was a camera development and a “new and exciting feature” equalling in importance the advent of Cinemascope per se. He ac- knowledged that CinemaScope on wide-gaugd filnj played a part in 20th’s plans. "I doubt that it will be necessary for us to make roadshow versions under'this new system,” he ob- served. "However, we may have two versions. Frankly, we’d prefer one version that everyone can use. It all depends on whether the sin- gle version lives up in quality to what the competiton has to offer. Zanuck said the new C’Scope angle involved sound almost as much as vision but wouldn’t elaborate. "It is essential for us to-make radical CinemaScope improvements as we go along,” Zanuck main- tained. He said that, as in the. past, any new aspect of C’Scope would be offered also to the other studios to take or leave as they Wish. Zanuck said 20th’s policy of send- ing out C’Scope sound and projec- tion experts to the field had paid dividends and also that European resentment ‘ against CinemaScope (due to the lack of tv competition) was being overcome. "We have now more requests for CinemaScope lenses ‘and cameras in Europe than we can ever hope to fill,” he noted. In Germany alone, producers for 36 features have asked for 20th licenses. The company has a man in Germany how. "We try to en- courage only the most important undertakings,” Zanuck said. He added that 20th was anxious to encourage local C’Scope produc- tion as much as possible as a means of overcoming exhib reluctance to invest in the system. Zanuck said 20th was partner in a number of foreign coproduction deals "in a minor way” and had interests in only three or four major produc- tions. He disclosed that 20th had taken on a number of 2-D releases for foreign release "if we were^in- terested in some personalities in those pictures/! 0 -■ i ‘Crocket!’ Dales t*. 1 *■ • Continued from pace 3 s a picture if they find they can turn a profit with said picture. The exhibs* gripe was that Dis- ney was trying to subordinate them to television as’ purveyors of acregh entertainment to,the public. Not so, answered Samuels.. He claims tlflb tv-ing "Crockett” in black and white and in three in - stallments -served To stimulate interest in seeing the film, in color and. widescreen. "Crockett”. is being withheld from N.Y., Chicago and L.A. the- atres to avoid a clash with Disney’s new cartoon feature, "Lady and the Tramp.” Latter opens early summer in these three towns and Samuels wants to hold back on "Crockett” until the "Tramp” runs are underway about five weeks. Buena Vista, Walt Disney dis- tribution subsid. Is packaging a’two- reel short with its "Davy Crockett” feature. The combo release is set for early summer. The short is "Arizona Sheep- dog,” a documentary in Tech- nicolor. MARRIAGES Arlene Judge to Edward Cooper Heard, Las Vegas, April 9, Bride is the former film actress^ . Roberta Peters to . Bertram Fields, New York, April 10. Bride’s a Metopera star soprano, he’s a hotel exec* Eva Jacoby to Alvan Milgram, Philadelphia, April 3. He’s son of Nat Milgram, De Luxe Theatre, Buying and Booking Service and DeLuxe Premiums. Elspeth Hunter to Kenneth Mac- Rae, Edinburgh, April 4. He’s a radio and concert singer. Joan Elaine Landsman to How- ard- Honigblum, San Antonio, April 2. Bride is daughter of Albert H. Landsman, head of * Statewide Drive-In Theatre^ in that city. . Janine Guyon to Georges Gue- tary, three months ago in the south of France, just announced. Bride’s a French tv producer; he’s a French singed. Gladys Tepman to pr. Edward Noyitch, New York, April 3. Bride is secretary tcLagent Frank Sennes. BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Larry Williams, son, Burbank, Cal., April 4. Mother is vocalist on the tv program, "Help Thy Neighbor,” produced by heir father, Hal Styles. . Mr. and Mrs* Russell Johnson, son. North Hollywood, April 3. Mother is drama coach Kay John- son; father is an actor. Mr. ‘ and Mrs. George Peppard, son, Pittsburgh, April 4. Father’s a Playhouse actoi*. Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Pudlo, son, Pittsburgh, April 4. Mother’s Arabella, of vaude and niteries. Mr. and Mrs. David Finkel II, daughter, Pittsburgh, April 6, Mother’s the daughter of Mike Shapiro, Pitt theatre owner. Mr. and Mrs. Roy Scherer, daughter, Pittsburgh, April 4. Fa- ther’s on the J. P. Harris Theatre staff. Mr. and Mrs. Lou Teicher, son, New York, March 27. Father is with CBS Radio Network Program Dept. Mr. and Mrs. Steve Davis, daughter, 'Albany, March 22. Father is new head of the station promotion unit at Young & Rubi- cam agency in N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Mel Ballerino, daughter, Hollywood, April 6. Father is casting director at Metro. Mr. and Mrs. David Brinkley, son, Washington, recently. Father is NBC news commentator. Mr. and Mrs. Jay Royen, son, Washington March 29. Father is director of publicity for WRC- NBC in Washington.- Mr. and Mrs. Pat Landon, son, Philadelphia, April 3. Father is WPTZ newscaster. Mr. and Mrs. Clark D. Race, son, Albany, March 25. Father is a WOKO announcer-dee jay. Mr. and Mrs. Sam Eddy, son, Kansas City, Mo., April 6. Father is one of the three brothers operat- ing Eddy’s night spot in-K. C. Mr. and Mrs. George Hunting- ton, daughter, Freeport, L. I., April 9. Father is manager of sales de- velopment at ABC Radio. Mr. and Mrs. Alan Neuman, son, I?ew York, March 26. Father’s an NBC producer-director.