Variety (September 1957)

OBITUARIES. JEAN SIBELIUS | Jean Sibelius, | ot Finland's. -hest known composer, died Sept. 20 at his home in. Jarvenpas, near Helsinki, after a long illness. Born in Tavastehus, he began | his. musical education when. he was. nine years old studying the piano. He later became more interested jin the violin: and declared that it was his life’s tragedy that he had not become .a celebrated violinist. In 1885, he gave’ up his violin studies and went to the University | Lakeland until 18 months ago.‘ of Heisingfors to study law. This jasted one year, when he left to enter the Helsingfors Conservatory, later going on-to Berlin to , continue his musie studies. Sibelius returned to Finland in 1892, after a period of study under Karl Goldmark and Robert Fuchs in Viehna where he met Johannes Brahms. Within five years; the Finnish govertiment voted ‘him an annual pension for 10 years so that: he might devote himself entirely to composing, He composed numerous symphonies, tone poems and incidental. music for plays. He also composed many songs and short piano pieces. The very popular “Finlandia” was said to have accomplished more than 1,000 pamphlets and speeches . could have done to promote. Finnish‘ independence. His wife and three daughters ‘survive. | . SAMUEL M. WELLER Samuel M. Weller, 81, veteran. legit publicist and manager, died Sept. 22 in New York. — A newspaper mar before turning } to the theatre, Weller was editor of the New York Review during ‘the 25. years this theatrical weekly was published by the Shuberts. Weller had numerous clients including the ¢ Lunts, Maurice Evans, en and Walter Husucer Henry Miller. Among the plays he represented either on Broadway or nationally, were “Life With Father,’ “Oklahoma,” “Guys and Dolls, aa “Taming of Shrew’. and “‘Man and Superman.” -He remained active in later years as personal Rae. his daughter, dancer Carola. Two other daughters and two sisters also survive, DAVE FERGUSON Dave Ferguson, 77, former vaude = .monologist and executive secretary ‘of the Jewish Theatrical Guild for { 24 years, died Sept. 23 York, of a heart ailment.Details in Vaude. ~~ JULIETTE DAY Mrs, Juliette Day Whitney, for-{. mer actress-singer on the Broad-| way stage from the early 1900s to _the *30s, known profess:onatly as ‘ Juliete Day, died Sept. 18 at Hunt I. ness. ington " nipeared on ‘Broadway in} {later began writing for the stage.. numerous productions u Joseph. W. 65, -projec-| He served two years as president of “The Yellow Jacket,” “Lysistrata,” | tionist at the Warner Theatre,; ASCAP, and its at present vice“No! No! Nanette," “The Bride,” | Youngstown, , died president and a director in the “Pride, ow and “Scrambled Wives.” Her husband and a sister: sur vive, LOUIS MARIE Marie, 57, internal audi Lguis tor with the J, Arthur Rank the atre setup in Ireland, died Sept, 2 in Dublin. He was a famed ter in the Irish War. ef Independence and spent some time in the U, S. as liaison officer between the Irish. Republican y and American} supporters after World anet I. After leaving tHe Irish Army in 1946 he entered theatre mianagement, being appointed to Rank’s audit staff five years ago. is wife, ,two sons and two daughters survive. MRS, ROSE. KOCH Mrs, Rose Koch, 73, a member ~~ ‘Wednesday, -September..25, -1957. NAT KARSON September’ 27, 1954 if in Newt IN: MEMORIAM. fMlose Oumble yieptember 27, 1947 ‘THE STAFF OF W F WARNER'S MUSIC cos. ' ung’ for " Sept. 19 of 2 heart attack i in that. Down: stairs,” “Bluebeard’s Benth Wife” |: | Survived jand: a son. Borba, . died Sept, 17 in San Fran“B| cisco, Father, 70, of Ray ‘Robinson, articles editor of Pageant. mag and New York. oo. Bessie spines. "yiotinist’ “and music professor, | ste: recently in Francisco.’ The youngest’ of the Floradoras, she joined the sextet in 1902 at the age of 18. She toured “her ‘retirement the country until Helensburgh, Scot around 1910. Son survives. "Hugh Kortschak, 74 violinist and * enema JAMES U. MeCORMICK James U. McCormick, 83, motion] pictiire pioneer, died "Sept: 9 in Lakeland, Fla: Long an Prhibitor in the Carolinas and Flori da, he operated the Roxy Theatre in Surviving are his wife and two daughters. . . ALICE N, GORHAM Mrs. Alice N. Gorham, 55, ad: verti -publicity director — for United stroit “Theatres, died Sept. 18 in Detroit, three weeks after the death of her fusband, ‘A winner of the Quigley ‘ Award for Showmanship, the Detroit Advertising Woman, of the . Year Award and other honors, Mrs. Gor-. ham originated the “New Faces... Going Places” idea-which annually promotes new actors actresses in the Detroit Free Press and other papers. + former professor at.the Yale School . Mother, 80, Of M Mrs. Darryl F, Zanuck died Sept. 19 in Hollywood. W Talent Squeeze Continued from page 1 erack at any big name, are settling nonetheless for off-the-beaten path stars, such as Van Johnson’s debuting of the “Club. Oasis” musical series; Tyrone Power for the and which is designed primarily to Cantor as the guest Headliner (a booking probably inspired by his bum). Dean EMILE x SAVINT Emile ‘N Savint, 65, executive; [| find near. enough names to go @iround, They even .got a nix from | Betty Hutton, whom everybody | biz facets and still prefers the spéc area in which to move around in \tv. (Further evidence of offbeat bookings on musical segs: Rose v.p. of Astor Pictures, died Sept. 18 in Atianta after a brief illness.|mary. Clooney’s lineup of Edward Brother of the late Robert Savini,| Everett Horton, William . Bendix, founder and longtime president of|Charies Laughton, Boris Karloff.) the company, he was in charge of} The real big names figured as Pee eae seat erm Activities, He} “naturals” for the 23 music-variety Suviving din aul wife son and segments now have their own ’ shows. Either because of network two daughters,| éxclusivities or the fact that they're Alfred Neugebauer, 69, veteran |DUrdened down with their weekactor and member of Vienna’s. Burg ‘Theatre, died of a stroke. Sept. 16 in the Austrian capital. One of the last of the bons vivants, he recently -appeared in Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town” at the Academy Theatre, Vienna. John B. Haire, 23, business manager of “My Fur Lady,” touring professionalized McGill U. revusical, was killed in-an auto accident Sept: 12 near Ottawa. Survived by his mother. Wife, 67, of Her Herman Wobber, 20th-Fox western division mana can't be bought for love or money as guesters, save for some isolated jinstances prediicated chiefly on trade deals. or friendship. many offbeat guests are being signjed that formats-are being changed to allow for integrated sketches so that the producers can get maximum mileage from their appearances. This, it’s believed, will at least bring a lot of comedy writers {back into the medium, One, of the major talent agents ety performers confesses that, not and live or filmed dramatic shows ruled the tv roost, he couldn't get to first base at the. ‘networks. Today he’s being dined, wined ‘and teacher | and former gonductor of romanced as never beforein. the e s chesame or tra, died Sept, 21 in Jamaica, New hopes that he'll spring & 2 or leaves a daughter, Mrs, Joan Wob-: ber Nai : J. Ceeil Prouty, 71, a music a& Alfred E. Seidel Sr., .60, head .of a concert and entertainment book-. ing agency in Roselle, N, J., died Harbach Tribute: Continued from page 2 . a “Gianina Mia,” “Indian with Oscar Hammierstein 2d on “Desert Song” and “Rose Marie,” and worked with Jerome Kern on such productions as “Roberta” and “The Cat and the Fiddle.” ~ Harbach was born in Salt Lake City Aug. 18, 1873. In 1901 he went to. Columbia U., and a short time Sept. 20 in Roselle, after a brief ill. organization. He recently com ‘Chicago, died Sept. 19 in that city. ed by wife, three daughters Manhattan and a home in Mamaro neck, NAY, J : i 0’Seas Soundtracks == Continued from page 1 — cians which followed the rise of video, first, because of the radio switch tu phonograph music almost entirely and, second, because tele vision programs used “canned” (and often iniported) tracks for Harold Ellis Worthington, 57, member of Paramount prop dept. for 31 years, died. Sept, 19 in ‘HoHywood. Wife, son and. daughter survive. Frank H. Hammerman, 63, own-. er of the Boulevard Theatre, Philadelphia, died Sept. 21 of a heart atfack in the ‘theatre. His wife survives. Mether, 67, of Norman Brokaw, William Morris agent, died Sept. 16 in Holiywood. e. ming has been a major migraine for the musicians’ union chief. This ‘situation, more than anything else, caused Petrillo’s recent grief. Harry Borba, 58, San Francisco freelance writer, died Sept 12 in: of Music, died: Sept. 1 19 in. Honolulu. | Standard Oil 75th anni spec. “Big: Record”, which preemed last week, spotlight top disk faves, had Eddie: forthcoming .song cavalcade Vik al-. Martin's first major 7 cial ‘or -editorial;. and (2) he will i*thave no voice in the editorial pol-. she’s too successful in other show | to-week show preparations, they | ‘It’s reached a point.‘where -so with an enviable portfolio of vari-, too long ago when situation comedy. Closer, 7 “Every Little Movement,” Hi call” and “Who?” He -collabed| W. eity. His wif e e survives. : pleted a new play, “Bugles In April,” which is being considered! Rebert E. Curley, 5%, formerly for Broadway production. He and: press. agent for the Chez Paree,| virco Harbach have an apartment in 73 ‘Loew's me as one of the new, Joseph | R. Vogel directorate team. How. serious the Paley interest jmay have en, it is now cold. ‘Whether or not the CBS situation ‘was an element, as reported, since it’s difficult to disassociate one from the other, Jock .Whitney is now the lone new “fresh money.” (Incidentally, the Paley-CBS hookup had even rumored Ed Murrow as the new editor; just as General ‘David Sarnoff’s ‘reported interest. supposedly enyisioned a press-net| work affiliation with NBC-RCA). By the same token, while the details haye yet to be announced this week, neither J. H. Whitney & Co. nor his Corinthian Broadcast‘ing Corp., with its four independent television stations, will be tied to the Trib. “It is stressed that this is an individual Whitney investment, exac y im the same idiom as his in ent with David O. Selznick in “Gone. With the Wind” and in Technicolor. It is also stressed that (1) Whit ney. has. no “control,” either finan icy” while he remains Ambassador jto Great Britain for the next three years, _ Overseas Expansion However, it is known that Am| bassador Jock Whitney has decided ideas on the Trib’s expansion of its overseas operations through additional editions. The Paris edition of the N.Y. Herald Tribune is highly. profitable. Two, it is the oldest successful American corporation, not only in France but in Europe. Three, as a daily reader of the Trib, Ambassador Whitney has views ‘for “local” editions to be printed in Frankfurt (for middie-Europe) and in Rome (for the Latin ‘countries), in addition td the Paris edition. He also has expressed himself ‘on. the South American and Latin American markets, and envisions editions of the N.Y. Herald ‘Tribune to be published in Mexico City and in Rio de Janeiro. ‘is underscored by the fact that three generations ago the grand fathers. of both Ambassador Whit-. ney and of voung (32) Ogden R. (Brownie) Reid, Yale '49 and Whitelaw (Whitey) Reid were ‘closely related. Both John Hay and Whitelaw Reid were also once ambassadors-to the Court of St. James. John Hay, secretary to ‘President Lincoln, later Secretary of State, was also once a reporter and editorial writer. For a time during Whitelaw Reid’s extended honeymoon abroad. Hay held down the post of editor-in-chief for his], ‘life-long friend. The Trib’s own story on its fur ture operations has yet tq be printed. It’s fighting. shy of that, at the moment. | One, it hinges on whether it will jump from a 5e daily to a dime. This would not necessarily force the Times to ditto, since it wants to hold the line at a nickel.and, in fact, its circulation manager, Nate Goldstein, has been doing a successfully intensive job with home deliveries, intended to discourage the pyramiding costs by “route” operators, and encourage § the {neighborhood newsstands to sery ice the door deliveries. The question then is whether | Reid, if the Trib's price remains at 5c, ean continue his black ink. When he took over the Trib in 1954 it was $750, 000 a year in the red, and in nine months he put it: in the. black and produced a “sixfigure profit” within two years. Radio Stimulates News The Trib ordered a Gallup pol whichhas concluded that while: ad expert news. coverage, (2) hearing : news first on the radio helps sell: newspapers, because it creates an j The Whitney-Reid relationiship-. Jock Whitney’ s N.Y. Trib Investment Continued from page 1 Trib’s peak, hut still far behind ithe Times’ 24,900,000 ad lineage. Manpewer. ~ Recent personnet changes see. Arthur Twining Hadley 2d, as News Development editor, taken from Newsweek, where he was associate ed, developer and specialist on its “Periscope” section. He’s the man behind the innovation of “reader briefings” that appear on top of stories, giving the back-. Rround and significance of the story, in the Newsweek manner. Peter Braestrup, from Time, will be’ Hadiey’s aide. Both will develop special series and “reports,” part of the idea of “coverage indepth.” Terry Ferrer, education editor from Newsweek, now ditto on the Trib, expanding its coverage of the education field on a daily basis. Willfam J. Miller, editorial writer for-Life, new chief editorial writer. He was top Cleveland Press staffer and war correspondent before joining Life. He added cartoonist Shoemaker and by beefing up the “op ed” page (opposite editorial) plans to make it a powerful doubletruck. Charles Ventura, longtime society editor on the N. Y. World-Tele-gram & Sun, shifted to the Trib, as ditto. The bulldog and “the “green sheet” editions will be dropped; 1215 newsmen will be added, in addition to the 50 editorial ‘staffers added since 1955. MARRIAGES Nancy Fingak to Lou Mauro, Pittsburgh, in July bunt just announced. Bride’s a singer; he's with Al Marsico orch at New Nixon e, Mia Steiner to Ken Chernin, Aug. 17, Lake George, N. Y. He’s promotion supervisor for Triangle -Stations. Jacqueline Louise May ‘to “Paul Scrensen, Coral Gables, Fla., Sept 12, Bride is a stage-ty actress; he’s a stage-screen-tv actor. Jacqueline Jones to Howard Hunter, Richmond, Va., Sept. 7. Bride was an apprentice at the Barter Theatre of Virginia; he was a summer resident director. Darleen Vogt to Gordon Shaw, Fairbanks, Alaska, Aug. 23. He is a disk jockey on KFRB; she was a contestant for the 1957 “Miss Alaska” beauty crown, Dori Simmons to Merrill Pye, Las Vegas, Sept. 7. Bride is an actress; he’s a Metro art director. ‘Susan Beaumont to Arthur Solo mon, London, Sept. 21. Bride's a screen actress; he’s appearing at the Prince of Wales Theatre. Rhea Walker to Kenneth Harlan, Hollywood, Sept. 20. Bride is an actress; groom, a former silent screem Star, is an agent. Maria Corbett to Jerry Goldberg, Dobbs Ferry, N. Y., Sept, 12. Bride is an actress; he’s a press agent. Lois Callfer to Paul Schreibman, Beverly Hills, Sept. 22. Bride is a tv actress. Lili. Palmer to Carlos Thompson, Zurich, Switzerland, Sept. 21. Both ere actors. Prisciia Nolan to Lew Black, Kiamesha Lake, N.Y., Sept. 23. Both are partnered in the cafe team of Black & Nolan. BIRTHS Mr. and Mrs, Donald O’Connor, daughter, Santa Monica, Cal., Sept. 20, Father is an actor. Mr. and Mrs. Richmen Lewin daughter, Lufkin, Tex., Sept. 9. i Father is v.p. and "general manager of KTRE, KTRE-TV there. Mr. and Mrs. Wes Parker, daugh ji ter, Pittsburgh, Sept..10, Father's ;@ bandleader and bailroom man (1) radio has. established itself ini Mr. ‘and Mrs. Jay Polan, daughter, Pittsburgh, Sept. 16. Father's on "WCAE staff. Mi. and Mrs. Arthur Diskin, son, background and mood program interest in details. Viz., the success : Pittsburgh, Sept. 15. Mother’s Betof both news. weeklies (Time andj ty Diskin, a tv announcer. Newsweek), ditto. the U. S. News | Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Dell, son, & World "Report and the Wall; London, Sept. 23. Mother is Gloria /Street Journal, This whetting of ; Dell, dancer; father is a member news appetites, especially for de-| of the Goofers, A comedy act. tails and “in depth” interpreta-; Mr. and Mrs, James J. Larkin, , tions, will be the Trib’s function. | daughter, New Rochelle, N. Y., The ‘Trib apparently intends to , 5ept. 18. Mother is actress Nola veer away from its “popular” and ' :Fainbanks; father is entertainment “tabloidized” features and revert: ‘world sales officer for BOAC. to its time-honored tradition as a Sit and Mrs. oh ae. Bea Sone staunch Republican sheet. The ‘gaughter of TPA veepee Leon Times has had a flexible political . "Fromkess. P policy in recent yea Mr. and: Mrs. Joseph V. Perry, with the Hollywood and. New York -of the Floradora Sextet in the! Examiner sports writer and father locals, oca early 1900's, died Sept. 14 in Sanlot Sacramento ty personality Dean. Conte “ Lineage-wise the 12 200.000 lines ‘daughter, Santa Monica, Cal., Sept. lof advertising in 1956 has been the i20. Father is actor.