Variety (July 1958)

63 Wednesday, July 23, 1958 OBITUARIES FRANKLIN PANGBORN Franklin Pangborn, 65, legit, film and tv comedian, died July 20 in Santa Monica, Calif.; lie started his legit career with Mildred Holland,, appearing with her in stock. Later he joined Jes¬ sie Bonstelle, appearing with her for a number, of years. One of his early stage successes was with Nazimova in “The Marionettes.” He. was with. Pauline Frederick in i “Joseph and his Brethren,” and 1 played in “Ben Hur.” He worked for almost every ma¬ jor Hollywood studio. Most famil¬ iar as a harassed store or hotel clerk, he was usually found in his films in a state of trembling dis¬ array brought on by the antics. of customers and guests. His films include “The Bank Dick” and “Never Give a . Sucker an Even Break,” with W: C. Fields, “My Man Godfrey,” “Stage DoOr,” “George Washington Slept Here,” “Horn Blows.,at Midnight;” “You Came Along,” “Calendar Girl” and “The Story of Mankind.” . MERT WERTHEIMER Mert Wertheimer, 74, . operator of the Riverside Hotel, Reno, died of leukemia July 20 after two years :• of illness at.the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital^ Los Angeles. He was a familiar figure in the casino indus¬ try, having started his casino, ca- . reer around Detroit in the early 1920s. From! there, he moved to Florida and established several top : spots including the Royal. Palms, Miami Beach. He then went' into Nevada where he helped establish Danny Fisher,” “The Red Mill,” “The King and I” and ‘‘Kismet.” . His wife, actress Janet Medlin, a daughter and two brothers sur¬ vive. ' .;; MARTIN L. STRAUS Martin • L. Straus,. 63, former president and chairman of the board of Eversharp, Inc., under whose guidance “The $64 ; Ques¬ tion” became a national expres¬ sion, died July 17 in New York. : He became president and chair¬ man or- the Eversharp board in 1940. He resigned in 1949. ; After World War I, Straus en¬ tered the advertising field, serving as an account executive for H. W. Kastor & Sons. Soon after joining Eversharp he originated the pro¬ gram, “Take' It. or Leave It,”. one of radioes earliest quiz shows in 19.40. In his promotion activities in its behalf, he. was believed to have been responsible for intro¬ ducing the phrase “the $64 ques¬ tion.” . Son.daughter and two sisters survive. ' SAXE COMMINS . Saxe Commins, 66, a senior edi¬ tor and former editor-in-chief ^ of Random House, book publishers, died July 17 in Princeton, N. J. He had been the editor and friend of Eugene. O’Neill and Wil¬ liam Faulkner, as well as of Irwin Shaw and Budd Schulberg. He had edited “The Public Papers and Ad¬ dresses, of Franklin D. Roosevelt” and “Major Speeches of Adlai E. Stevenson.” He was also editor for the state as the bigtime center of the greenfelts. Wertheimer, in bis early days in Nevada, worked for. state control of . the industry, which he felt would give gambling social accep¬ tance, not only in Nevada, but throughout the country. . With state regulation, all association of Ne¬ vada gambling with crooked ap¬ paratus disappeared. Wertheimer was also in the fore* front of making Nevada a centre for name talent. He hired top names for the Riverside Hotel, in which he was associated with his late brother, Lou, who died May 19. Recently, they ; sold the hotel for $4,000,000, but continued to op¬ erate the casino. Survived by his wife, Bertha;' . , RATAN DRVI Mrs. Francis Bitter, known as Ratan Devi, singer of Hindu and Kashmiri: folk songs, died of ,a. . heart ailment July 14 in Boston. The wife of the associate, dean of science at M.I.T., she gave her first public performance, In London: in 1915. She later appeared in thea- • tres and universities . throughout England and the U.S; Bom in England, she studied, under Cecil Sharp, international authority on English folk songs. Mrs. Bitter undertook her career as a singer of Indian songs follow¬ ing her marriage to Dr. Ananda Coomaraswamy, then a writer and collector of Indian' art; and later curator of Oriental art at the Bos¬ ton Museum of Fine Arts,. He died eight years ago. She was married to the M.I.T. dean in New York in 1929. Surviving are her husband, a; daughter by her former marriage, and two sisters. ’ " y'\, MILTON STERN • Milton Stern, 48, stage manager of the Ballet.de Paris at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles; died July -19 in that city, -After graduating from New York University, he entered the broker¬ age business. However, he then J * oined the Chorus of “The Student ‘rince” and later became an aide to the late Harry Kaufman, a mu- sicomedy producer for. the Shu- berts. He was stage director in N. Y. for Olsen and Johnson’s “Hellzapoppin” and “Sons O’ Fun”; for the Eddie Cantor and Nat Karr son production of “Nellie Bly”; “Kiss Me Kate/’ “Sweethearts,” “Plain and Fancy,” “A Stone for Sinclair Lewis, Jamel Michener, Sherwood Anderson, Gertrude Stein, Robinson Jeffers and for American editions of Aldous.Hux¬ ley; Stephen Spender, W. H. Auden and John Strachey. . His wife, Dorothy. Berliner, a concert pianist, son, daughter, two brothers and three sisters survive. EVA LOWE Mrs. Eva Whitford LOvette Lowe, 80, former opera singer who per¬ formed under David Belasco’s di¬ rection around the turn of the cen¬ tury, died: July 14 in Washington after a long illness. The former Eva Whitford, she sang with sev¬ eral opera companies and in¬ structed in music at Baylor U., where she met-her first husband, Dr. Thomas S. Lovette. Together with him. she estab¬ lished and directed the; Lovette School of Music, the Lovette Choral Club and the Lovette Fine Arts Club in Washington. After Lov- ette’s death in the early 1920s, she married Charles Coppes Lowe, public relations and advertising man. She continued to teach mu¬ sic until seven years ago. ; FRANK A. ARNOLD Frank Atkinson Arnold, 91, radio advertising pioneer, died July. 16 in Roslyn, Pa. A few years ago he was honored by the Radio Pioneers Club as the man who originated the term “broadcast ; advertising.” In 1917 he was in charge of radio for the Frank Seaman advertising agency in New York; In 1926, $oon after the NBC was organized, he became director of development. Later he was veepee in charge of: radio for Edwin Bird Wilson, Inc., and later a radio, consultant. His books include “Broadcast; Advertis¬ ing,” “The Fourth Dimension” and “Do You Want tp Get into Radio.” Three sons and two daughters survive. G. O' HORNBERGER Gustav O. Hornberger, 85; known in music circles as Professor Horn- berger, a conductor and music, teach er t died July 16 in Stony Brook, L. L He ' organized the Aeonian Sym¬ phony Orchestra in 1923 and con¬ tinued, to direct it until 1948. Born and educated in Europe, he ap¬ peared as solo cellist with some of the leading orchestras in Europe. He came to the. U:S. in 1896. Later he became cellist with the New York . Symphony Orchestra and also with the Philharmonic Society. He was chairnian of the board of the latter when the two were merged into the N.Y. Phil- . harmonic-Symphony, now the N.Y. Philharmonic. He retired in 1954. Three sons survive. MAXIM SCHAPIRO Maxim Schapiro, 59, a concert ' pianist, suffered a heart attack while playing Mozart’s “Coronation Concerto” at the Carmel, Cal., Bach Festival July 19 and died a few moments after he walked off¬ stage. A native of Russia, Schapiro migrated to . Japan after the. Bol¬ shevik revolution .and lived there for years before World War II. He came to San Francisco in 1939 when he made his. U.S. debut. He returned from his sixth European postwar tour July 6. Surviving is his wife, ’cellist Jane Eddy. ... ELEANORE WALTON Mrs. Eleanore C. Walton, 93, mo¬ tion picture censor . for Kansas City, Mo., for 15 years,; died; July 13 in Durham, N.C, Long active in club and civic work, she was a board member of the Whrnen’s City Club and chairman of. its mo¬ tion picture committee. That led to her appointment in 1933 as city censor, a position which she ac¬ tively held until she left the city in 1948 to live with a son in Durham. Her son survives. " MARY CROUCH V Mrs. Ralph Ford Crouch, 66, onetime concert pianist and music teacher, died July 16 in Hyattsville 4 Md. The former Mary Izant, she started her musical career at age 15 in Warren, O., and once toured Keith’s circuit as piano soloist She coached George Gershwin and taught him methods of composition at beginning of his career. ; . Her husband, a former AP finan¬ cial writer, died several years ago. She is survived by a brother. COL. LEONARD R. SMITH Col. Leonard R. Smith, 69, for¬ mer director and actor, died July 9 in San Antonio. While he had been a member _bf the Armed Forces for some 37 years, in his youth he rode in the 101 Wild West Show arid did trick riding for Wil¬ liam S. Hart in silent films. He also worked in the old Mack Sen-, nett comedies, both as a director and An actor. Surviving are his wife' and a brother. FRANKLIN W. BIKER Franklin W. Riker, 82,. choral singer and coinposer, died July 15 in Statesville, N.C. After World War L he performed as a tenor in the choirs of several churches and synagogues in New York. He also sang at thf Metropolitan Opera and taught singing in N.Y. and Philadelphia. He also composed mainly sacred works, many of which have been publicized. His wife and two daughters sur¬ vive.; EYVIND LAHOLM Eyvind Laholni. 64, American oneratic tenor, died July 19 In New York. A voice teacher in. recent years, he made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 1939 after 14 years of singing leading roles in European opera houses. His first role at the Met, where he sang for two years, was as Sieg- mund in Wagner’s “Die Walkuere.” His daughter, and three brothers survive. BART E. GRADY Bart E. Grady, 84, former Keith’s orch leader; and house manager, died July 14 in West Medford, Mass. Starting as a pianist in the silent film era, he played In the B. F. Keith Theatre,- Boston, in 1895. He became Keith’s orch leader in 1904 and house manager in *911: Later, he was manager of the Keith houses in New England. Surviving are his wife, -two daughters arid two sons. MICHAEL NEALE ' Miss Michael Neale, 36, former dancer at New York’s Latin Quar¬ ter and the Desert inn, Las Vegas, died of a respiratory ailment July 17 in Las Vegas. She wrote a weekly theatrical gossip column for the Las Vegas Sun at the time of her death. Surviving are her husband. Bob Griffin, ; Las Vegas sheriff’s detec¬ tive; father, brother and a sister. CLARENCE McNULTY Clarerice McNulty, 67, musician, died July 15 in Philadelphia. He played percussion in symphony and theatre orchestras for over 50 years. ■ Son, two brothers and five sisters survive. ROGER L. THAXTER Roger L. Thaxter, 45, vice presi¬ dent of Magrie-TronicSi : Inc., a New York recorded music service. for. the last, four years; died July 17 In Greenwich, Conn., after a long Illness. Prior to Magne- Tronics, {he: was sales promotion manager pf the Musak Corp. His wife, soil and daughter sur¬ vive. . NORMAN E; KESTER Norman Edmond Kester, 71, re¬ tired vaudeville, showboat and circus performer, died July 18 in New. Roads, La. He teamed with his wife, Elizabeth Britton Kester, as “The Jack And Jill of Vaiide* ville.” He operated a . restaurant at the time of his death. His wife, a brother and a sister survive. Georgene Faulkner, 85, known as. Chicago’s “Story Lady,” died July 19 in Evanston, 111. Miss Faliikner, who retired in 1952, was children’s editor of “The Chicago Tribune from 1911-19. She made the first children’s phonograph records, and was the . first to tell children’s: stories over the radio. Miss Alice Nichols, .62, pianist and voice teacher, died July 17 in New York, after brief illness. Some of the operatic singers she coached included Frederick Jagel, Edward Johnson, Paul Althouse and Helen Jepson. Her brother and sister survive. • Sister, 59 IMrs; Lois M. Cald¬ well), of Joel McCrea, and actor’s 3-year-old grandniece, Jeanette Ann McNair, were killed July 18 in a head-on auto accident near Agoura, Cal. Becky Barfield, 34, singer for¬ merly with Spade Cooley; died of a liver ailment July 15 in Holly¬ wood. Her husband, guitar player Cameron Hill, survives. • Wife, 53, of Dan Parker, colum¬ nist and sports editor of the New York .Daily Mirror, died July 20 in Bronxville, N, Y., after a brief ill¬ ness. V; Middleton T. Flanagan, 69, for¬ mer exhibitor who operated thea¬ tres in Longview, Tex., died re¬ cently In Dallas. . Wife of Harry A. Burke, mana¬ ger of the Walter Reade Commu¬ nity. Theatre; in Saratoga, N. Y., died there 1 recently. Father, 85, of Margaret Herrick, exec director of Academy of Mo¬ tion Picture Arts k Sciences, died July 16 In Hollywood. Mr*; Ebba J, (Bess) Little, 81, secretary to Mary Pickford for ’35 years, died July 17 in Hollywood. Widow, 89, of Oscar Eagle, an actor arid musicomedy director, died July 15 in New York. r Mother of Helen King, radio-tv graphologist, died July 20 in Eliz¬ abeth, N, J. Ragna Wettergren, 92, actress, died recently In Oslo. Bourbon St. ai,— ' Continued from put l ass dance before a Judge in order to dispute, Grosch’s charges of in¬ decency and lewdness. Miss Christine was arrested at the 500 Club. The paddy wagons also rolled at a number of other niteries the past weekend. Grosch led a staff of 12 •f the DA.’s investigators in raids on six Bourbon St. spots, resulting in the arrest of 44 persons. Thirty- eight of those arrested were femme entertainers. . . Spots raided included the Blue Note, the Gunga Den, Mardi Gras Lounge,, the Flamingo Club, Chez Paree arid Guys and Dolls. Grosch said the scanties worn by the dancers had shrunk in size un¬ til they had reached the vanishing point. Those arrested were booked un¬ der a city ordinance relative to ’“obscenity, lewdness and indecency and. grossly scandalous conduct.” Grosch said he intends to continue * the'raids until the strip is stopped.- Lily Christine was booked on a charge of lewd and indecent ex¬ posure. Her costume was confis¬ cated. Leon Prima, operator of the 500 Club, said the “Cat Girl” Intends to file suit Ss soon as pos¬ sible in order to dispute the charge that her dance Is indecent. She insisted that her costume was the same one she wore in New York spots. She stressed that she was not a stripper who just walks about the stage taking off her clothes. ' . Without the stripper, funseekers feel that Bourbon St., like .the old gray, mare, “ain’t what it used to be.” MARRIAGES Marlyn Costello to L. Daniel Danneribaum, Berne, Switzerland, July 12. Bride is first cellist with Philadelphia Orchestra, he’s step¬ son of Stuart F. Louchheim, presi¬ dent of the Philly Academy of Mu¬ sic. Eris Horwin to Don Moore, Hol¬ lywood, July 20. Widow of writer- producer Jerry Horwin sang under the name of Eris Parker; groom is in tv programming dept, of Mc- Cahn-Erickson’s Hollywood office, supervising “Studio One” and Other television shows; formerly story editor, of CBS, RKO and WB in N. Y, Mrs. Wanda L. King to William L. Doudna, Madison, Wise., July 11. He’s arts and entertainment editor of The Wisconsin State Journal. Christine Karner to Merle De- buskey, Baltimore, July 20. Bride is a dancer; he’s a legit pressagerit. BIRTHS ..Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Leighton, ;son, Chicago, July 15. Father is. an announcer on WAAF in that city. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hartman, son, Hollywood, July 4. Father is a 2Qth-Fox sound editor. Mr. and Mrs. Spike Jones, daughter,' Hollywood, July 14. Mother is singer Helen Grayco; fa* ther’s a bandleader. Mr. and Mrs. John Finley, daugh¬ ter, Chicago, July 10. Father is account exec with Fred Njles com¬ mercial film studio in that city. Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Campbell, daughter, Pittsburgh, July 6. Fa¬ ther’s Pitt Playhouse technical di¬ rector, mother is former Veronica Limbacher, of community theatre boxoffice staff. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Foster, daugh¬ ter, Santa Monica, Cal., July 7. Father is. film choreographer. Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Voit, daughter, New York, July 8. Fa¬ ther is v.p. and managing director of the Savoy-Hilton Hotel (nee Savoy-Plaza), N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Brewster, son. North Hollywood, July 16. Mother is dress designer Joan Tev- lin, daughter of film exee C. J. Tevliri. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gray, son, Hollywood, July 12. Mother is. actress Laura Anders; father’s an, associate director at CBS-TV. • Mr. and IMrs. William Worming- tori, son, Kansas City, Mo., July 11. Father is production manager of. WDAF-TV. Mr., and Mrs. Sidney L. Bern¬ stein, daughter, London, July 17. Father is chairman of Granada Theatres Ltd., Transatlantic Pic¬ tures Corp. and Granada-TV Net¬ work. Mr. and Mrs. David Hughes, daughter, Londori, July 18. Father is a pop tv, disk and vaude singer; mother is an ex-dancer. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Sherman, daughter, Inglewood, Cal., July 16. Father is an assistant director. Mr. and Mrs. Joel Preston, daughter. Los Angeles, July 19. Fa¬ ther is Columbia Pictures flack. Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Hayden, daughter. Santa Monica, Calif., July 19: Mother is actress Eva Marie Saint; father is a tv director. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Russell, son, Jamaica, New York, July 15. Fa¬ ther is in current Jones . Beach pro¬ duction of “Song of Norway.” Mr. and Mrs. Eli Wallach, daugh¬ ter. New York, July 13. Mother is actress Anne Jackson; father is an actor. Mr: and Mrs. George Mitton, daughter. New York, July -4. Mother is opera singer Ewan Har- brecht. Mr. and Mrs. Martin- Hoffman, son. New York, July 21. Mother is Ann Reisman, formerly of Decca Records pub 1 i city department; father is assistant to Martin. Salkin, Decca’s publicity boss. ‘Culture’ Marooned Continued from pace 1 — legislation — against any future subsidy to the center. “This is ridiculous,” Fulbright declared. “There are few civilized nations in the world which do not subsidize the arts in one way or another.” Fulbright doesn’t expect the cul¬ tural center to require much an¬ nual appropriation because it will have a boxoffice take, unlike the National Art Gallery which re¬ quires annual Federal funds of $1,500,000. Fulbright and Rep. Frank Thompson (R-NJ) are opposed to Budget’s desire to write-into the law a stipulation forbidding Fed¬ eral funds for the center’s opera¬ tion. While the bill has passed the Senate on the consent calendar, it will take real pushing on the House side to get it out of Committee in the last ^frantic days of Congress,