Variety (February 1957)

Wednesday, February 1957 63 GENE BUCKo Gene Buck, 71, veteran song« writer and president of the Amer¬ ican Society of Composers, Au¬ thors & Publishers from 1924 to 1941, died at the North Shore Hos¬ pital, Manhasset, L.I., Feb. 24 after .a two-week illness. Services are 'Jbeing held at St. Paitrick’s Cathe¬ dral;’ N. Y., tomorrow (Thurs.) morning. Details in the Music Section. . " B. P. j^iiuLBERG Benjamin P. Schulberg, 65, died in his sleep at his home in Key ^ Blscayne, Fla., Feb. 25. Survived | by wife, two sons and a daughter. Details in film section. one of the top performers in her field. There are no survivors. FRANCES CREEL Frances Creel, 43, actress daugh¬ ter of the late Blanche Bates Creel, died Feb. 18 in San Fran¬ cisco. She made her 1932 stage debut in a bit in “Berkeley Square” in San Francisco, played a support¬ ing role in “Jezebel” on Broadway ^ in 1934 and abandoned the' stage | shdrtly before her first marriage in 1940. Her actress mother died in 1941 and her father, George Creel, who directed U.S. propaganda and news services in World War I, died in 1953. Her second marriage was annulled almost a year ago. i She leaves a brother. j IRENE McK. ORPIN Mrs. Irene McKinney Orpin, 52, daughter of the late Robert W. McKinney, early Los Angeies film theatre chain operator, died Feb. 20 in L.A. Survived by widower. MARY E. GOUGH Mrs. Mary E. Gough, 88, actress, died Feb. 21 in Monrovia, Cal. A professional for 50 years, she toured the Orpheum circuit' as a concert pianist, ballet dancer and actress, and also had her own show. JACK LYNCH Jack Lynch, 61, nit^ry operator in Philadelphia and New York, died Feb. 19 in Philadelphia. Details in vaude section. MAXINE BROWN Maxine Brown, 59, who died ; Dec. 28, 1956 following burns in tliex Brass Rail. Cafe at Alameda, Cal., is belatedly identified as the onetime Broadway musical comedy Singer-dancer. She operated the restaurant- with her husband, Clar¬ ence Willard, known in yesteryear vaudeville as “The Man Who Grew.” Willard^s hands were seri¬ ously burned in an attempt to save his wife. Born in Denver, Maxirve Brown’s professional credits were extensive, dating back to early Shubert and Selwyn productions. She was in “Odds and Ends of 1918,” was leading lady to, among oth-ers, Donald Brian and Joe Laurie Jr., appeared in Peggy Wood-starring and Marie Saxon-starring produc¬ tions, also in “The Right Girl,” also in Bide Dudley’s “Sue, Dear,” and many other shows. Hitting radio in its emdy phases, she was one of the "Sweethearts of the Air” in the loudspeaker era. Prior to her marriage with Willard, the actress was Mrs. George H. IMaines from 1921 to 1935. He is tJm veteran publicist, now resident in Miami, and long connected with Jimmy Durante, among others. MARGUERITE SYLVA ; Marguerite Sylva, 81, former, opera singer, died Feb. 21 in Glen¬ dale, Calif;, as result of auto acci- ! dent in a car she received a year ; ago when she was a guest on the tv. show, “This Is Your Life.” She began her career in London when she was 20. Oscar Hammer- stein brought her to the U.S. to ap¬ pear at the Manhattan Opera House. Later she sang^ opposite Enrico Caruso and other opera notables throughout the U.S. and Europe. She performe'd her best known role, “Carmen,” 600 times. Tw'o daughters survive. ISADORE STEIN Isadore Stein, 72, father of com¬ poser-producer Jule Styne and or¬ chestra leader Maurry Styne, died Feb. 25 in Chicago. Also surviving is a daughter, Clair Bregman, mother of arrang¬ er-conductor Buddy Bregman. Indie Niteries Big In Florida , Continued from pAgo % ; Kirk. The Fontainebleau has been i member of the goings-on. Worthy experiencing in-and-out weeks, al- • of note is that calypso, a hot thing though purveying acts who’ve had 1 hereabout last summer, is not on plenty of tv exposure, which in it- the “let’s go” agenda of the win- self, might be the answer. The list has had Peter Lind Hayes & Mary Healy, Louis Armstrong, The Rltz Bros, the aforementioned Jerry Lewis—who hit a whopping $70,000 gross for the 500-seater LaRonde—Jimmy Durante & Co., and currently Tony Martin, with Liberace coming up. Overall, the. same pattern of big first shows, spotty weeknight midnight ses¬ sions, has obtained. terites. The season-peak is expected to continue on into April and Easter period, with bookings held by all to same budgets as obtain now. Those of the big three not set for the late period are dickering for high-figure attractions: Eden Roc has set Vic Damone to follow Lena Horne, with Billy Daniels also pacted; Buddy Hackett has been Ralph Nichols, 79, former man¬ ager of the Aborn Opera Co., died Jan. 27 in New York, as result of auto accident. Since 1934, Nichols had been with Skouras Theatres. Two sons survive. MARY GILDEA Mary Gildea, 70, an actress for more than 50 years, died Feb. 19 in a Rockland (N.Y.) hospital. She made her stage debut in 1903 in the chorus of “The Governor’s Son” at the 14th Street Theatre. This was the first of a series of George M. Cohan production in u hich she appeared as a dancer. Others included “Running for Of¬ fice.” “Little Johnny Jones” and “Tae Yankee Prince.”'’ .^he switched to comedy roles in “Tne Torchbearers” and had done comedy since. Her legit credits include “Button, Button,” “Philip Goes Forth,” “Reunion in Vienna” and “To Be Continued.” Her last Broadway appearance was in “The Desk Set.” A sister survives. MIDORI NISHIZAKI Midori Nishizaki, 45, protagonist of a modem school of Japanese dancing, died Feb. 18 in Tokyo. Also known for her radio and tv work, she founded her own terp school several years ago and de¬ veloped a modern version of danc¬ ing incoi'poratihg the features of the traditional Japanese dance and ballet. She took honors at the first Na¬ tional Folk Music and Dance Fes¬ tival held in France in 1953. DAVE RAFAEL Dave Rafael, 77, for 30 years a vaudeville performer, died Feb. 21 in San Jose, Cal. He was a ventril¬ oquist who used 10 life-sized dum¬ mies and employed 10 voices. In San Francisco he headlined shows at the Pantages and the old Or¬ pheum, He also operated several saloons on Frisco’s Barbary Coast. /He leaves his wife, Beulah Ken¬ nedy Rafael, also an ex-vaude per¬ former; a stepson, sister and brother. ERNEST SYMMONS Ernest Frederick Symmons, film pioneer, died recently in Beverley, Yorkshire, Eng. He was proprie¬ tor of the Playhouse cinema, Bev¬ erley’s first film house, which he opened with his partner, Leslie Holderness, in 1911. Also a producer, he made many newsreels with a local slant as well as sound films, mostly musicals. MARTA TOKEN Marta Toren, 30, Swedish film and legit actress, died Feb, 19 in Stockholm. She -had been appear¬ ing in a J. B. Priestley play, “Mr, Kettle and Mrs. Moon,” at Stock¬ holm’s Alle Theatre. She came to the U.S. in 1947 and within four years made 11 films, including “Casibah,” “Rogues Regi¬ ment,” “Illegal Entry,” “Sword in the Desert,” “One Way Street” and “Deported.’ She returned to Eu¬ rope in 1951 and made films in Spain and Italy, including “The Paris Ekpress,” “House of Ricordi” and “Maddelena,” for which she received a medal last year at the Edinburgh Film Festival. Husband, screenwriter Leonardo Bercovici, and daughter survive. GENE O’bAiEN Eugene O’Brien, 56, former newspaperman and later head of the photo publicity dept, of War¬ ner Bros., died in Burbank, Feb. 25, O’Brien, who was photo as¬ signment editor of the N.Y. Times, at one time was also associated with the publicity departments of Columbia and Universal. He had been ivith the Hollywood office of Young & Rubicam since 1950. Survived by widow and sister. R. D, Yowcll, 46, theatre man¬ ager and booking agent, died of a heart ailment Feb. 15 in Dallas. At the time of his death he was booker fdV Tower Pictures. Arthur Earnshaw, 65^ cinema pioneer, died Feb. 7 in Hudders¬ field, Eng. He was general man¬ ager and director of the Princess Cinema, Huddersfield. Harriet S. Whittier, 94, retired singer and onetime soloist with the Boston. Symphony orchestra, died Feb. 13 in Washington, D. C, added to the Fontainebleau list; Strongest bastion in the fight for j the Americana is bidding high. All the cafegoer’s buck has been the looking forward to the biggest Eden Roc. Its lineup got off to a ^ early-spring season in history-^ record-breaking start when Bela-i and with It, insurance of patronage fonte racked up a plus—$125,000 ! via continued heavy reservations gross for his two stanzas. Georgia | from the night club tour operators. Gibbs and . Jack Carter held up • Zanuck on Costs ■ ■ Continued from pafje 6 , T u • -o .4 ■ Zanuck said he knew that this had package groups. ^Johnnie Ray and been considered from time to time. Jean Carroll, then iena Horne, I As for reported Government op- i,cf I position to mergers, Zanuck opined that this was “foolish.” He added tliat he didn’t see how this would deprive tue Government of taxes in any way. Zanuck said that, being an indie freed, him of a lot of desk worli “but I’m busier than ever, I’vs become a picture-maker again,” h< declared. Reed D. Yowell, 46, film booker for Tower Pictures, Dallas, died Feb. 15 in that city. His wife, son, daughter and brother survive. Father of Johnny Puleo, panto¬ mime comedian and harmonica player, died Jan. 27 in Washing¬ ton, D.C. Wayne Steffner, 41, executive producer of ABC-TV’s “You Asked for It,” died Feb. 23 in Hollywood. He was formerly with CBS. Mother, 73, of Lilian Arnold, New York talent agent, died Feb. 6 in Boston. Edwin Booth Grossman, 69, grandson of Edwin Booth, 19th Century Shakespearean actor,, died Feb. 17 in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Hector Mateos, 56, Mexican actor who had appeared in 35 films, died Feb. 13 in Mexico City. Angela Velasco, 45, actress, died of cancer Feb. 11 in Barcelona. A niece survives. Ernest H. Thompson, onetime Hollywood scripter, died Feb. 18 in Fayetteville, N.C. ALF THOMAS • Alf Thomas, 78, Welsh comedian, died Feb. 1 in Swansea, South Wales. Long a vaude comedian, he made his first appearance at Swansea in 1897. He was seen fre¬ quently on the former Leon Vint Circuit, later touring London and English vauderies as a solo com¬ edian.. A son, Ivor Thomas, Is a mu¬ sical director and arranger. HARRY SOTHERN Harry Sothern, 73, actor and nephew of the late E. H. Sothern, Shakespearean actor, died Feb. 22 in New York, Sothern came to the U.S. from England in 1903 and three years later joined his uncle’s company in Chicago. He made his debut in “The Merchant of Venice.” He ap¬ peared with his uncle in numerous productions and for nine years was production manager of the Soth¬ ern and (Julia) Marlowe Co. He appeared in supporting roles with Otis Skinner, Robert Mantell, Walter Hampden, Laurette Taylor and Jane Cowl. His legit credits include “Lean Harvest,” “The Lady of the Lamp,” “Bridle Wise,” “Ber¬ keley Square” and “Swan Song,” among others. DR. CHARLES W. McCARTY Dr. Charles W. McCarty, ^ 81, pioneer Oklahoma film exhibitor, died Feb. 17 in Longmont, Colo. McCarty built the Majestic Theatre in Tulsa about 1909 and operated it for several years. It was on the stage of the Majestic that Will Rogers appeared in his first professional engagement. His wife and sister survive. JUAN BARRABES Juan Barrabes, 57, retired zar¬ zuela (operetta) singer, died of a heart attack Feb. 13 in Barcelona. At one time he was a member of the Sagi Barba, Emilio Vendrell and Marcos Redondo companies. Surviving are his wife and two sisters. LA TORTAJADA Consuelo T. Hernandez, 90, one¬ time flamenco dancer known pro¬ fessionally as La Tortajada, died Feb. 7 in Granada, Spain. Before retiring in 1911, she was rated as Mrs. Ethel Sothern, 75. stage and screen actress, died Feb. 20 in Hollywood. Henry Drimer, 72, Yiddish play¬ wright and journalist, died Feb. 20 in New York after a long illness. Salvatore Cibelli, 67, a former violinist and vaudeville actor, died Feb. 17 in New York. okay, with Milton Berle and then Joe E. Lewis continuing the pull- pace. Currently Nat King Cole is packing the Cafe Pompeii, which houses over 750 when the back section is opened for nitery tour- are on the followup list. Alan Gale’s Windfall For the rest, Alan Gale has kept his-frantic following, as evidenced by the healthy season he is having at the Versailles. In his case, he does one show nightly at a $6.50 food & beverage tariff to insure the profits in his 550-seater. The Sans Souci has had only one winner thus far, in Myron Cohen; booking of the garment-centre his¬ torian calls for three times out, with two gone and an April date coming up. The Monte Carlo is making it again this year, thanks to luring back of such staples as Lillian Roth, the Kean sisters, Jackie Miles, et al. The Nautilus Hotel’s Driftwood room, once one of the best showcases for middle- budget acts in the area, has had the worst season of all, result of what seems a muddled booking policy and feuding, between management and concession men that led to lopoff in advertising expenditure to the point where an Alan King played the room with no one in town knowing he was around. Olsen & Johnson and their Hellzapoppin’ Club (ex-Ciro’s) are finding the going heavy, although they’ve begun to pick up some¬ what in recent nights. The rest of the hotel-run is devoted to new- show-night policy, comprising an extensive route of one-nighters for acts in the area; budgets allow for payment of $75 up for performers, depending on reputation. This BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs. John ' Phillip* daughter, Hollywood, Feb. 17" Father is an actor. Mr, and Mrs. Lenny Gale, son Hollywood, Feb. 16. Father is i nitery-tv comic; mother is formei dancer Karleen Millard. Mr, and Mrs. Rov Lewis, daugh ter, Pittsburgh, Feb. 17. Father’, an announcer at WEDO; mother ii Elayne Foreman, a band vocalist. Mr. and Mrs. Van Nomikos, daughter, Chicago, last w’eek Father is v.p. of Allied Theatres o Illinois. Mr. and Mrs, Joseph Sargent, daughter, Los Angeles, Feb. 20 Mother is actress Mary Carver; fa ther *is an actor. Mr. and Mrs. James O’Brier. son, Los Angeles, Feb. 18. Fathei is a sound editor at Universal-In¬ ternational. Mr, and Mrs. Doug Morrison daughter, Hollywood, Feb. 14. Fa ther is a staff director at telesta lion KTTV. Mr, and Mrs. Parley Baer, daughter, Burbank. Cal., Feb. 18, segment however, are more in-; Father is radio-tv the.'ip just elect- terested in for-free entertainment j ed Hollywood AFTRA prexy provided their guests, although | mother is Ernestine Clark, circu: some inns take newspaper dis- ; performer, • '“'idaSt “sanYa Monic?, aj Feb! ■ DeUdo Etcetera I ad,.ess'uia‘Bar''on The DeUdo, wilh-Pupi Campos , Memo Benassi, 71, Italian legit and film actor, died Feb. 24 in Bologna, Italy, after a long illness. MARRIAGES Sally Gold to Howard Nagel Chicago, Feb. 22. Bride’s a booker for MGM in Chi. Dinah Washington to Eddie Chamblee, Washington, Feb. 22. Bride is a Mercury Records and nitery chantoosey; he’s a former Lionel Hampton Orch player, now under contract to Mercury. Lee Sharorl to James G. Wilson, Dallas, Jan. 25. Bride is an actress and exotic dancer, Donna Jo Gribble to Steve G. Miller Jr,, Hollywood, Feb. 24. Both are players in “The Drunk¬ ard” cast. Onriette Lebron to Phil King, Beverly Hills, Cal., Feb. 23. Both are CBS-TV publicists. Lawrette Wright t<r -Capfr. -Peiei’„ Williams of the t Royal Marines, London, Feb. 23. Bvide is daughter of music publish^ Lawrence Wright. Beryl Braithwaite tp John Hauf, Toronto, Feb. 22. Bride is' a CBS- T'V player; groom, former “Lone Ranger,” is currently starring in tv • production of “Last of the Mohi¬ cans.” Judith Ann Ross to George War¬ ren George., Beverly Hills, Feb, 24. He’s son of cartoonist Rube Gold¬ berg and an indie pix producer. orch, is doing well. II s the only dtiughter Chicago, Feb. 14 game of its kind around, uilh . i-'atiiQp j.r; y p division manager plenty of the Latin dance addicts - — . _ . on hand to beat up a hip-swing storm. The bar-lounge adjuncts of the big three, are consistent moneymakers. Harry’s American Bar in the Eden Roc is a jam- packed spot nightly, featuring •Buddy Greco and his aides, as well as Chuy Reyes and his music for entertainment and dancing. The Boom-Boom Room in the Fon¬ tainebleau is a .long, low-ceilinged cellar which ‘ attracts the mambo- maniacs, as does the Americana’s big nitery adjunct. The^ strip circuit is flourishing bn the late hour deals. They need only a few men-seeking-fernmes to jack up their takes, what with the big tabs assessed; the guys on the make, seeking company of the un- drapers, go for the wine-party routine. Franklin Still At It Probably the most consistent small club in the area is Murray Franklin’s, opposite thev- Roney Plaza. The all^igbter -where Roberta Shei^bocl got the “big \discovery” ti^atment last year lias been attfaCffng show, biz, name.s-in- the-news personalities and the average pub crawler looking for a late spot to go. Comic Don Rickies, who just closed, built himself a huge following for his insult-lined wack-session.s. Boni¬ face Franklin, a canny talent buy¬ er, knows everyone in town and gets into the act himself. He’s brought in Irwin Corey and Leon Fields to buttress Dick Havilland, his current conver.sallon-piece | “:\Ty Fair Lady, manager of Balaban & Katz-Great Statc.s Theat'os Mr. and Mrs Harvey Bretol, son, Dallas, rccentlv. Father is nroj-.^c- t'onist at Melba Theatre I hero. Mr, and Mrs Bill Jackson, .‘-on, San Antonio, recently. Father is chief engineer of KENS in that city. Mr. and Mrs. Stuart L. Daniels, daughter, their second. Feb. )3, Stamford, Conn. He is publicity- advertising director for Prcntice- Hall Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Guillermo Lacy, daughter, Mexico City, Feb, 12. Mother is daughter of Carlos Nie- ■bla, Metro’s Mexico manager. Mr, and Mrs. Don Knotts, son, Englewood, N.J., Feb. 18. Father is in “No Time For Sergeants,” Mr, and Mrs. Geoffrey Holder, son. New York, Feb. 19. Mother is dancer Carmen de Lavallade; father is premiere danseur with the Metropolitan Opera Co. ... and Mrs. Alfred R. Stern, (' 'hter, Feb. 19, in New York, Father is director of international operations for NBC. Mr, and Mrs. Andy Ross, daugh¬ ter. New Rochelle, Fel>. 23. Father is ABC art director. Mr. and Mrs. Joe Franklin, son. New York, Feb. 21. Father is em¬ cee of “Memory Lane” on WABC- TV. New York. Mr. and Mrs. Ben Aslan, daughter, Feb. 22, White Plains, N, Y, Father is a theatrical at¬ torney. Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Adler, daughter, Feb. 22, N.Y. Mother is Dolores' Parker, a model; father assistant stage manager with