Variety (June 1955)

4 Wednesday, June 29, 1955 63 OBITUARIES borrah minevitch Borrah Minevitch, who started as an harmonica player and developed into a film and telepix producer, died in Paris, where he was a long- time resident, June 25, exactly three weeks after his marriage to Lucille Watson-Little, ex-wife of Deems Taylor. He was 52. Be- sides the widow, five sisters, a brother, a daughter Lydia by his recently divorced first wife (ex- actress Betty Henry) survive. Details on P. 2. WYLLIS COOPER Wyllis Cooper, 56, writer, di- rector and producer for. films, ra- dio and tv, died June 22 in High Bridge, N. J,, after a long illness. Cooper, who Was with NBC in Chicago in 1990, originated the “Lights Out" radio seines. He was a film scripter from 1936-1940 turning out scenarios for Universal and 20th-Foxi He co-authored the screenplay, “Mr. Moto Takes a Chance,” with Norman Foster, and scripted “Son of Frankenstein” for Universal. In 1940; Cooper moved into, tv with the “Escape” series' and in 1951 directed and produced “Stage 13” for CBS. He had also been manager of the radio department Charles P. Hammond Jun* 30, 1950 ’ of the Compton Advertising Co. in N, Y. for a short time. In Whrld War II, he was a special consult- ant to the Secretary of War and wrote and directed the “Army Hour” for radio. He later virote scripts for Radio Free Europe. Wife and a brother survive. THAYER RIDGWAY Thayer Ridgway, 50, exec veepee of Brooke, Smith French & Dor- rance Inc., ad agency, died June 23 in N.Y. Starting, his career with the old . World in N. Y. in 1924, he later was sales manager of the Don Lee Broadcasting Sys- tem and from 1930-1933 was ad manager for Fox West Coast Thea- tres. He also handled freelance assignments for radio and films. Ridgway had been an account exec for McCann-Erickson and later veepee in charge of new busi- ness and account supervisor at Lennen & Mitchell. He then founded Ridgway, Ferry & Yocum, of which he'was president. In 1948, - he joined Brooke, Smith, French & Dorranceas exec veepee IN LOVING MEMORY OF LYNN RIGGS Stephen, Lucy end Nethen Kroll If- the N. Y. division. He was elect- ed exec. V. P.‘ and creative director of the firm this year. Wife and a son by a former mar- riage survive. FRED RICKEY Fred Rickey, 34, tv producer, died June 24 in .New York of a heart attack. For * the past 11 weeks, he had been working on the production of NBC-TV’s “Wide Wide World,” a 9u-minute spectac- ular aired by the net last Monday (27) night. Barry Wood, executive producer of. the show, took over the production reins following Rickey’s death. Rickey, who last year - received Long Island U‘s first annual award for “advancing the standards of television,” had been executive producer in charge of color tv for CBS for six years. He worked on the first. CBS color tv show, “La Valse,” with choreographer George Balanchine. He also supervised certain scenes in the first “Cine- rama” 'production and produced “Omnibus” on tv. Wife, a son, a daughter and his parents survive. ' CHARLES ADLER Charles Adler, 60, one of the Yacht Club Boys, noted vaude and cafe act of the Prohibition era, died June 22 in New York of a heart attack. Quartet comprised Adler, Chic Endor, George Kelly and Billy Mann, and at one time a top nitery act. Their fame wasn’t confined to New York. They were at one time bought for a one-niter in Europe for $10,000. In one of the Euro- pean engagements they attracted AURANIA ROUVEROL Mrs. Aurania Rouveroi, 69, play- wright and radio writer, died June 23 in Palo Alto, Cal. A 1909 Stan- ford graduate, she wrote a number of Broadway plays, among which were “The Great American Fam- ily,” “Growing Pains,” “Young April,” , “It Never Rains” and “Skidding/" In 1930a Mrs. Rouveroi went to Hollywood and wrote the Andy Hardy film and radio series. She also screenplayed the Joan. Craw- ford starrer, “Dance, Fool, Dance.” She returned to Stanford in 1943 as artist in residence for the speech and drama department. Surviving are a son, and a.daugh- ter, 4 Jean Rouveroi Butler, former radio actress. the then Prince of Wales for sev- eral nights in a row. The others of the trio are reportedly well off as a result of their top earnings in the low income-tax! 1 era. Billy Mann is now a prosperous stockbroker. Burial was from the Riverside Memorial Chapel, Friday (24), KITTY LEE Kitty Lee Martin, 89, known pro- fessionally as Kitty Lee, died June 22 in. Prescott* Ariz. Widow ; of songwriter Powder River Jackson Lee, composes, of “Red River Val- ley,^ “Old Faithful ” and “Let *er Buck,” \Miss Lee and her husband traveled for 10 years with the Buf- falo Bill show near the turn of the century ?s a husband-and-wife team (equestrians), and spent an- other decade doing their turn in vaude circuits. They also worked . state and country fairs and appeared in. rodeos throughout the West. Miss Lee moved .to Prescott in 1949, three years after her husband was killed in a car- accident. CARROLL LOVEDAY William C. Loveday, 58, pop songwriter who composed under the name of Carroll Loveday, died June 19 in New York. Bom in Salem, Mass., he studied piano as a youth and later turned to writing music ana lyrics for vaude acts. A prolific . songsmith, Loveday authored mere than a score of tunes including “That’s My Desire” which served to catapult Frankie Laine to fame when he waxed the number some years ago as a re- vival. Among Loveday's other bet- ter known songs are “The Shrine of St. Cecilia” and “I Had Trouble With You Before.” His wife survives. PHILIP H. SAPIRO Philip H. Sapiro, 73, San Fran- cisco’s municipal bandmaster for' more than 35 years, died of a kid- ney infection June 23 in that city. Born in. New York, he grew up and received his musical education in the west. Shortly after World War I, Sa- piro was named leader of the S.F* municipal hand. He also Was char- ter president of the A'FM’s Mu- sical Fund Assn. Surviving are his wife, two sons, two sisters and two brothers, EDWARD A. LAMB Edward A. Lamb, 65, RKO’s Seattle branch manager, died June 23-in that city. He joined Pathe in 1924 as a booker and salesman, and later went to RKO when the two organizations merged. He was named manager of R&O’s Port- land exchange in 1929 and the fol- lowing year was appointed to the same post in the Seattle area. ■ Surviving are his wife and a brother. AMON CARTER SR. Ampn Carter Sr., 75, noted news- paper and radio exec in the south- west, died in Fort Worth on June 23. He had been in ill health since suffering two heart attacks in 1953. He was head of Carter Publications Inc., which operated WBAP, AM- FM-TV and the Fort Worth Star- TGl6^$n) Survivors include his wife, a son, Amon Carter Jr., a daughter, and a half brother. „ LAURENCE HIRSCH Laurence Hirsch, 62, former stockbroker and a member of the American -Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, died June 23 in New York. He had* been active with his brother, the late Louis Hirsch, songwriter, in turn- ln 8 9*R tunes for musiedmedies. Wife, a son, a stepson and two daughters survive, WILLY BURKHARD Willy Burkhard, 55, Swiss com- poser, died June 18 In Zurich of 99^P licatio ns following an appen- dicitis operation. Burkhard, who made his first visit to the U.S. last April, had almost 105 'published works to his credit. These includ- ed an opera, “The Black Spider ” He was best known for his choral works. , .Wife, * son and a daughter sur- vive. Wife, 59, of Budd Rogers,, mo- tion picture producer^, representa- tive, died June 22* in New York, Also surviving, are a aon, daugh- ter and two brotfieics,', Rogers has been prominent iff the picture busk ness for years, being a board mem- ber of Universal since 1933 and long time distributor of reissue films via his Realart company. Hy Tufkin, 40, sports writer and author, died June 24 in New York after a long illness. He had written a number of books on sports, in- cluding “Radio and TV Baseball Handbook,” and was on the staff of the N.Y, Daily News. F. E. (Teddy) Doran, 67, promi- nent in Manchester, Eng., theatri- cal circles for almost 50 years, died recently in that city. At One time he wrote drama notices for .the Manchester Guardian and also was a legit director. Stanley W. Smith, 43, former publicity chief for the Edinburgh International Festival and onetime staff writer with .the Edinburgh Scotsman, died June 16 in Dun- dee, Scot. - v' Harry Rupp, 64, with UI ex- change in Pittsburgh for 40 years, died of cancer June 22. He was chief inspector at the time of: his death. Grace O’Hara, 50, singer who ap- peared in Chicago, New York and Philly cafes and theatres for the last 25 years, died June 23 in Darby, Pa. Her mother, three sisters and a brother survive. — K 'T— r; Borrah Minevitch Mother, of George L. Weltner, Paramount Pictures’ v.p, in charge of worldwide distribution, ■ died Junfe 26 in Woodriiere, N. Y. Two sisters also survive, Wife of Michel Mok, legit press- agent, died June 26 in N.Y. Surviv- ing besides her husband, 'are two sons and a daughter. Sister of A1 Kelly, comedian, died in New Haven, June 22, after a long illness. Carlo Manzo, 40, onetime actor who trouped with Singers Midgets, died June 21 in Yonkers, N.Y. His parents and two brothers survive. MARRIAGES Selma Sherles to Sam Lerner, Philadelphia, June 25. He’s owner of Celebrity Room. Elaine Levine to Ernest Gold- stein,. Philadelphia, June 25. He’s first violinist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Carolyn "Knight to * Charles V; Weedman, Sacramento, .June 25. Bride is a daughter of California’s Governor Knight and a member of Columbia Pictures story depart- ment. Joanne Gilbert to Danny Arnold, Los Angeles, June 24. Bride’s an actress; he’s a screen writer. Charlene Lance to Ralph Clark, Las Vegas, June 26. Bride is a dancer; he’s a trumpet player. Deborah Garfunkel to Robert W. Bloch, New York, June 23. He’s with the Dine & Kalmus publicity firm. i Betty Randolph Bean to Bruce Lee Hubert, June 25, New Haven. Bride is press director of the N.Y. Philharmonic Barbara Silver to Jacob H. Deutschmann, Pittsburgh, June 26. Bride’s the daughter -of M. A. Sil- ver, SW Theatres zone manager. Winona Morrison to Felton Pin- ner Jr., Cody, Wyo., June 25. He’s the son of SW maintenance chief in Pitt. Janet Ravioli to Art Newman, Pittsburgh, June 26, He’s the son of Danny Newman* head artist for SW circuit. Joan Marlow to John Galbraith, Nottingham,JEng., June 16. He’s a Canadian singer- Marie McDonald to Harry Karl, Yuma, Ariz., June 14. Bride’s a film actress, formerly we‘d to Karl. Annabelle K. Pinkham to Sgt. George L. Miller, Burlington, Vt, June 18. Bride was “Miss Ver- mont” in 1954 Miss America Pageant. Genevieve E. Brunelle to Donald M. Daley, Burlington, Vt., June 16. Bride is comptroller for tv station WMVT and radio station WCAX in that city. Barbara Muriel Greene to Rich- ard A/ Greenberg, New York, June 25. Bride is daughter of David J. Greene, RKO Theatres board member. Carmen de Lavallade to Geoffrey Holder, Westport, Conn., June 26. Both are dancers. Continued from page 2 particularly during the bullish spring-to-autumh tourist season. When he suddenly became ill, Mrs, Minevitch, an artist, and also longtime resident in France, de- cided to drive him to the American Hospital from Mereville where they were still, technically, honey- mooning and trying td dodge friends and wellwishers. He ar- rived at the hospital unconscious, and never recovered. The only in- timate who knew of their where- abouts was RCA president Frank M. Folsom, on business in Paris, with whom they had a dinner en- gagement Saturday night. . Minevitch was a Continental personality of stature. Anybody and everybody in the lively arts— press, broadcasting, show biz, etc. —had a friend at court in the ex- harmonica player turned vidpix and feature film producer. He was almost literally a combination Grover Whalen and male Elsa Maxwell as host and greeter to show biz. personalities from the Broadways and Hollywoods of the world. When the longtime romance with Miss Little { who had been married to critic-composer-author Deems Tayldr, was consummated, the town of Mereville once again became a crossroads of personali- ties from Hollywood, Broadway and the European capitals, only this time it was in the mairie(City Hall). Usually the same group con- verged on the Moulin de Mine- vitch, but this time about 40 of 'the Minevitches’ more intimate friends first came to the Mayor’s office for the wedding ceremony, later repairing to the farm for the reception. Personal Favorite A personal favorite with the townsfolk, the mayor charmingly made a speech, after officiating at the ceremony, as did the local. Croix de Guerre prefet that “we hope Mr. Minevitch, in his new- found happiness, will continue to keep benevolent thoughts in mind for his Mereville neighbors.” This referred to the two galas, among other pecuniary benefits, that Minevitch had donated upon the occasion, first, of his “Jour de Fetd” film, starring . Jacques Tati, and later with Tati’s second film, “Mr, Hulot’s Holiday.” Proceeds went for the local firehouse and kindred civic improvements. it was almost kidding-on-the- squaire that “one day they’ll re- name Mereville into Minevitch- ville,” The wedding was the consum- mation of considerable timetabling and not a little technical difficul- ties. Firstly, the Saturday, June 4, date was sentimentally geared to the fact that the writer, editor of Variety, is usually abroad around June 3 (a - personal sentimental journey), and he had been desig- nated as best man for the groom. Mrs. John Levee, French bride of the son of Hollywood agent M. C. Levee, stood up for Miss Little. Two of the Levee boys are long- time Paris residents; M. C. (Mike) Levee Jr. is with Dave (MCA in Paris) Stein’s 10%ery. John Levee and his wife are artists, as is Miss Little, who, had a one-woman show in New York at the Ward Eggle- ston Gallery last year. Minevitch’s first wife was Betty Henry, one of the original Ton- delayos in “White Cargo,” and they have a 23-year-old daughter Lydia, residing in Hollywood, her- self recently divorced. Miss Lit- tle’s marriage from Taylor was an- nulled and thus, after a longtime romance, the path had been cleared for their marriage. Sentimental Journey The sentimenal journey by the two-score sophisticates Jfrom Paris to the Mereville city hall, and fi- nally the Minevitch “moulin,” had deep significance to his intimates, because of the general back- ground. A memorable scene in a somewhat nondescript combination bistro-poolroom, grandiosely called the Cafe de la Paix, was staged ad lib by people like Lewis Mile- stone, U. S. Embassy Information Officer Bill Richards, Art Buch- waild, Paramount Pictures’ conti- nental bossman John B. Nathan, MCA’s Dave Stein, Jack Forrester, Sheldon Reynolds, Harry Novak, Bob Taussig and others, who grabbed the billiard sticks and formed a canopy, in West Point sword fashion, under which the bride and groom-to-be marched from the. bistro to the malrie across the street. _ Among. Minevitch’s ventures was the taking over a 16th. century cafe called Au France Pinot on the lie de St. Louis.. This is. historic ter- ritory in Paris and it was quite a diplomatic coup, for an etranger to open a cafe right on the Qua! de Bourbon. In the building above lived Deanna Durbin and her French producer-husband, Charles David. Ostensibly MinOvitch’ want- ed a studio iii that building for Miss Little, because of the favor- able light. He wound up buying the bistro and the apartment. This was in addition to nis penthouse at 2 rue Spontini in the Etoile sec- tor, with the Arc de Triomphe as a dramatic natural backdrop, and Where the Minevitch parties were as much a part of the Paris scene as the Eiffel -Tower. That Bistro The Minevitch bistro was a col- lection of “caves,” historic “ou- bliettes” into which the forgotten political prisoners who opposed Robespierre were thrown, to meet a dire fate as the sewers of Paris rose. Minevitch, with his charac- teristic * eager and youthful ap- proach, discovered that several of the caves led—In 1 secret passage-c .fashion—right to the Porte de Ba- stille. On a second and third lower- level cave he had just completed an unique intimate cabaret layout. It bid fair to become a new Paris sensation with its mirrors, its his- toric primitiveness, and yet replete with table telephones and the most advanced hi-fi equipment. Even as a bistro, Minevitch Was operating it on an unique money standard. It was perhaps a bit dearer than the Ritz Bar or the Ho- tel George V Bar, literally in or- der to keep the urihep away; but for the intimates he had a catch- aS-catch-can barter standard that was 5 almost ridiculous. This ven- ture was to him another new toy, just as his hi-fidelity systems all over France—-here, ‘itl the pent- house, ahd at the farm—gave an ultramodern mid-20th century key- note (literally) to the French back- grounds he gloved. Minevitch’s . professional inter- ests were diversified. Of course he owned the Harmonica Rascals, bearing his name, and which of late has been giving Johnny Puleo sub-featured billing'. * He hasn’t toured with the Rascals for some 20 years. Perhaps next to Sophie Tucker, it is the oldest consecu- tively booked act in the William Morris Agency. Minevitch owned harmonica factories, and had lat- terly been concentrating op film and ty production. Between shipping man Bob Taussig and his wife and the Charles Torems (he is with Cou- dert Bros., the international law firm here), Mrs. Minevitch’s af- fairs are being handled during the inital shock period. Five sisters and a brother, Joe, in Boston, be- sides the widow and daughter Ly- dia, survive. Latter flew to Paris early this week. BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. Eddie Arnold, daughter,' Sunderland, Eng., June 13. Father is a stage and radio impressionist. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pierce, daughter, Philadelphia, May 25. Mother is ice skating star Marie McClenahan. Mr. and Mrs. Nat Tushinsky, daughter, Log Angeles, June 19. Father is associated with the Su- perScope filming system. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Donovan, son. New York, June 22. Mother is actress Marie Phillips: father is a CBS-TV director. , Mr. and Mrs. Edward Devenney, daughter, Philadelphia, June 16. Father’s in WFIL-TV film dep’t. Mr. and Mrs., Ben Starr, son, Hollywood, June 22. Father is a CBS writer; mother is the former Gloria June Kaplan, publicity sec- retary. Mr. and Mrs. Chris Page, daugh- ter, Lincoln, Eng,, June 20. Mother is revue and concert singer Joan Turner. ' Mr. and Mrs. Bob Ross, daugh- ter, Manhasset, L.I., June 22. Mother is tv artist Mary Lou For- ster; father is a singer. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mortimer, son, Newark, N.J., June 25. Father is program production manager at ABC-TV. Mr. and Mrs. Donald S. Rugoff, son, New York, June 23. Father’s an executive with Rugoff & Becker circuit.