Variety (October 1958)

79 BILL E. BURTON Bill E. Burton, 54, vtfho entered show business as a musician and became one of the top personal managers of name bands and vo¬ calists, died Oct. 3 in his West Hollywood home. He had been ill for six weeks, and death came as a result of a heart attack. Instrumental in guiding Jimmy Dorsey to the top, Burton was the driving force behind the rise of Dick Haymes, Helen O’Connell, and most recently the Mary Kaye Trio. At times during his life he managed the Andrews Sisters and the Boswell Sisters. At the time of his death, he helmed careers of vocalists Helen Forrest and Buth Olay, conductor-arranger Jerry Fielding, the Kings Four, as well as the Mary Kaye Trio. Born in New York City, Burton wasn’t out of his teens before he was playing violin with cabaret bands. He entered the manage¬ ment field while vaudeville flour¬ ished and toured with the acts he guided, then set his eye on top orchestras. . Known for having a biting sense of humor with an underlying ten¬ derness and an especially vital in¬ terest in his clients, Burton took time off from his management ca¬ projected and are still running, are' “Breakfast in Hollywood" (with Tom Breneman) and “Queen For a Day.” While abroad he sold the foreign rights to “Queen” in a .half dozen countries. He served in the first world war and in the last one was a dollar-a-year man for the Treasury, Surviving are his wife,' a son, Raymond Morgan, Jr., associated with him in the agency, and a brother. EVERETT KEMP . Charles Everett Kemp, 84, the original “Uncle Ezra” of radio and veteran of chautauquas, motion pictures, radio and television, died of a heart attack Oct. 1 in Kansas City. His acting career spanned 60 years, and he was active on KCMO-TV until his death. A native of . Shelbyville, Ill., Kemp received dramatic training at McPherson (Kans.) College and in Chicago. He played the Chau¬ tauqua circuits and became a star for the Redpath-Horner Company, which earned him a listing in “Who’s Who.’’ He also made some short films with Mr. and Mrs. Sid¬ ney Drew.. , In 1928 Ted Malone originated the show, “Happy Hollow,” with GEORGE BLAKE October 7, 1955 reer in the early 1950s to direct KPHO-TV in Phoenix, Ariz. He was a major contributing factor to success of the station which, at the time, was Arizona’s only tv outlet. A brother, Nat -Burton, died in 1945 following a career as a suc¬ cessful composer, two of his most notable creations being “White Cliffs of Dover” and “Don’t Let Your Love Go Wrong.” Survivors include his wife, ac¬ tress Margo Woode; a son, daugh¬ ter, brother and four sisters. VICTOR W. NIXON Victor W. Nixon, 70, theatre operator, mindreader and astrol¬ oger known professionally as Nix¬ on, The Great, died of cancer Sept. 26 in Toronto. A native of Reading, Eng., he started his thea¬ trical career in 1906 at the Frere Hall Theatre, Karachi, India. Later he toured the world ‘with his own show under the name of Carl Rozello. At various times Nixon was lessee and manager of the Opera House, Calcutta; Shintomiza Thea¬ tre, Tokyo, and a number of houses in England including the Pavillion RAYMOND B. EGAN Nov. 14. 1890 Oct. 13, 1952 Till We Meet Again in Newbury. He was also consid¬ ered a top mentalist with his one- man presentation, “Miracles in Mentalism” and was credited with many royal command perform¬ ances. Founder of the Wessex Magical Assn, in Bournemouth, Eng., Nixon came to Toronto three years ago. His last tv appearance in the U.S. was as a mystery guest on "What’s My Line.” At his death he was the world’s youngest living veteran of the Boer War. Surviving are his wife, the former Irene Lewis, stage comed¬ ienne and partner in her husband's onetime theatre operations and acts; son, daughter and a brother. His son, Geoffrey, is a magician- actor-producer whose stage name is Vic Perry, activity centered around the fic¬ titious character, “Uncle Ezra.” Kemp was originally cast in the role and played it for over 10 years. As late as a few months ago he did a an early morning disk jockey stint on KCMO. Survived by a son. WILLIAM J. GRIFFIN JR. William J, Griffin Jr., 54, execu¬ tive vice president of Kudner Ad¬ vertising Agency, died Oct. 3 in New York. After graduating from Dart¬ mouth in 1925, lie joined Erwin, Wasey & Co. after five years, he went to LordL & Thomas, where he worked closely with George Wash¬ ington Hill on the Lucky Strike account. He joined J. Walter Thompson in 1939, as a vice presi¬ dent, senior group head and a board member. He went to*Kudner in 1956. Among the slogans he introduced were “My. Beer is Rheingold the Dry Beer,” “The Golden Throat” (for RCA) and played a major role in introducing “With men who know tobacco best, it’s Luckies two to one” as well as the auctioneer’s chant that which accompanied the slogan. His wife, three sons and a broth¬ er survive. WILLIAM HORSLEY I William Horsley, 87, film pio¬ neer and a figure in the industry since 1911, died Oct. 2 in Holly¬ wood. In retirement since 1946 when he sold Hollywood Film En¬ terprises (originally Horsley Film Laboratories), he entered the pix biz in Bayonne, N.J., in 1907, in association with his brother David. In 1911, the brothers farmed the Nestor Film Co., one of sevejral firms which later merged to form Universal Pictures. Horsley in 1914 and 'IS designed and super-, vised construction of Universal City, where U has headquartered to this day. I Horsley’s Nestor company be¬ fore the Universal combine spear¬ headed an association of indie pro¬ ducers which waged an early-day patent war against the majors. Between 1918 and 1924, Horsley built and operated several indie studios, and later founded his film, lab. Surviving are his wife and; son. RAYMOND R. MORGAN Raymond R. Morgan, 63, head of the Hollywood ad agency bear¬ ing his name, died there Oct. 3 after a heart seizure at Mt. Sinai hospital. He had been under ob¬ servation for a week after a pre¬ vious heart attack and was mak¬ ing good progress Until the time of his death. One of the foremost advertising rnen on Coast since he launched his career in Frisco 38 years ago, Morgan won acclaim as a wizard of merchandising. He moved into radio early and among his proper¬ ties were “Chandu the Magician,” Strange As It Seems,” “Charlie Chan” and “Heart’s Desire.” which launched Ben Alexander m radio. Other projects which he first „ GERTRUDE JENNINGS * Gertrude Jennings, 81, play¬ wright, who wrote comedies for some of Britain’s leading stage stars, died Sept 28 in Fittleworth, England. She began her career as an act¬ ress, appearing in the UJ5L under, the name of Gertrude Heniques,. Her mother was Madeline Hen- riques, an American actress. Her father -L. J. Jennings, was an editor on The New York Times and later a British member of Parliament. She wrote' her first jilay, “Between the Soup and the Savory,” in 1910 and her last ; "Happy Memories,” in 1935. LAWRENCE BOLTON Lawrence J. Bolton, 60, who dur¬ ing his ST^years in the theatre was *$Ba®S3r an actor, stage manager, producer and writer, died Sept. 28 in East Orange, N.J. His last appearance was in the off-Broadway produc¬ tion of “Comic Strip,” which closed recently. During his career he held vari¬ ous posts in more than 30 Broad¬ way productions. He was also general manager of the Central City (Colorado) Opera House Assn, for eight seasons starting in 1944. In 1943, he wrote a new book for “Die Fledermaus,” pro¬ duced on Broadway,"and in 1945 organized a troupe which played “Rosalinda” in the Wagner Festival in Bayreuth, Germany, Two sisters survive. CLAIRE BENDER Claire Bender, 53, said by friends to have been a leading German actress before coming to Chicago seven years ago, died Sept. 28 when fire swept her Chi apartment. Because of language difficulties, she had been working as a clerk for an insurance firm, but was much in demand for readings be¬ fore groups in Chi’s German com¬ munity. Her father, the late Paul Bender, was a noted basso who had appeared several times with the Metropolitan Opera. . Survivors are unknown. geles. Following her husband’* death in 1947, she continued cou¬ ple’s 65-year joint career as im¬ presarios until her retirement in 1951. W. Charles Mueller, 75, a charter member of the Chicago Motion Pic¬ ture Operators Local 110, died Sept. 25 in that city. He had been working for a nabe theatre until its recent shutdown. Survived by wife, three sons and two daughters. - Mrs. Elizabeth Stewart Moody, 65, night club and theatre owner, was killed by a tractor Sept. 29 on her farm near Conroe, Tex. She was owner of the Union Theatre and the Chinese Duck night club in the 1940s in Houstop. William H. Miller, 47, partner with his brother Dale,, in Miller’s Grove Drive-In Theatre near Troy, O., died Sept. 30 in Troy. His wife, two sons, two brothers and a sister survive. Alexander Raab, Hungarian con¬ cert pianist ’who toured Europe be¬ tween World Wars I and II, died Oct. 2 in Berkeley, Cal., where he t had been teaching the past 20 years. Wife survives. I MARRIAGES [ Rose Sharp to Lou Praeger, Lon¬ don, Sept. 29. He’s a bandleader and emcee of Associated-Rediffu¬ sion’s “Palais Party;” she is his secretary. Mary Patricia Kelly to Bill Steinbach, Pittsburgh, Oct. 4. He’s a Washington, D.C., ‘reporter for Westinghouse Broadcasting. Anne O’Dell to Mike Olah, Pitts¬ burgh, Sept. 26. Bride’s on WWSW staff. Mary Lou Starr to Joseph T. McCarthy, Pittsburgh, Sept. 15. Bride’s the daughter of Lou Starr, nitery dancer and teacher. Margie Kelly to Gerry Corrivean, Glasgqw, Sept. 13. Bride is an ice- show skater. Catherine Callaghan to Colin Davidovitz, at Glasgow, Sept. 20. He is Transmission Engineer at Southern Television, England. Marion Mahoney to Joseph F. Johnston Jr., White Plains, N.Y, Sept. 27. Bride is secretary to CBS-TV daytime program veep Oscar Katz; he’s with CBS per¬ sonnel dept. Judith Paige to Jack Ryland, New York, Oct. 6. Both are actors. BIRTHS PATRICK FARRELL Patrick Farrell, 49, managing director of Capitol and Allied Theatres, Dublin and Cork, died Sept. 27 in Dublin. An accountant by profession, he entered show business when his father, former Lord Mayor of Dublin, acquired the Capitol Theatre, a former Paramount house. He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters. A brother, Peter Farrell, is general manager of the circuit: 1 TED MORELAND Ted Moreland, 56, theatrical journalist, died Sept. 13 in New castle, Eng. He was also a lyric and script writer, and for some years penned a pillar, “On Tyne, Tees and Wear,” for the now’-de- funct Performer, official weekly of the British Variety Artistes Feder¬ ation. Survived by his wife and a son. ——-— BERT YORKE Beil Yorke, veteran vaudeville comedian, who w T as Fred Allen’s first yaude partner, was found dead Sent. 30 in a Manhattan film house. He also was teamed in a comedy act with Ed Lord, playing the lead¬ ing vaude houses throughout the country including numerous stands at the Palace on Broadway. . Frederick K. Rockett, 75. film pioneer who headed his own in¬ dustrial film for 33 years, died of heart attack Oct. 2 in Holy-wood. His wife a!nd daughter survive. Yorke Sherwood, 85, vet come¬ dian, died Sept. 27 in Hollywood. For years he appeared with Mack Sennett and other comedy pro¬ ducers. Ruth Viola Meyers, 57, dancer with the Will King Coast shows in the 1920s, died in San Francisco Sept. 28. Sister of the late Thomas Wolfe, novelist, died Sept, 29 in Asher- ville, N.C. Her husband and brother survive. BERT E. GRAETZ Bert E. Graetz, 71. retired divi¬ sional sales manager of Motion Picture Advertising Service Co., Inc.; Dallas, died Oct. 3 in that city of a heart attack. Survived by his wife, son and niece. -- ' JOSEPH L. ARMSTRONG Joseph L. Armstrong, 81, music publisher, died Oct. 2 in Philadel¬ phia.^ He was with Theodore Presser Co. from 1932 until his re¬ tirement in 1949. Wife, two sons and three daugh¬ ters survive. ARTHUR J. DALY Arthur J. Daly 70, a former actor and composer, died Oct. 1 in New Rochelle, New York. He had ap¬ peared in vaudeville and stock. Daly was also a singer and wrote songs for the stage, including some for George M. Cohan and Rudy Yallee. KAL KIRBY Kal Kirby, 53, conductor and orchestra representative associated with the late Mark Warnow and more recently with Raymond Scott's “Hit Parade” orch, died Oct. 7 in New York. His wife survives. Wife, 45, of Monte Sideman, 21 Club, N.Y., executive, died Oct. 3 in New York.after a long illness. She was the sister of Mac, Bob and Pete Kriendler and the late Jack, wht), with Charles A. Berns, founded the original Jack & Charlie’s 21 Club. Mrs. Helen Pulaski Innes, 81, a leader in Philadelphia music circles for years, died Oct 4 in that city.' As local manager for many per¬ formers, she brought to Philly such artists as Heifetz,-Gluck, Zimbalist, Paderewski and Krelsler. She also was manager of the N.Y. Symphony Orchestra before it merged with- the N.Y. Philharmonic, Edward Adolphe, 48, Houston public relations counselor and freelance magazine writer, died of a coronary thrombosis Sept. 29 in Houston,' Tex. He was a reporter on the N. Y. Herald -Tribune .and night editor of Newsweek in Wash¬ ington during the ’30s. Mrs. Minetta S. Behymer, 93, widow of pioneer impresario L. E. Behymer, died Oct. 2 in Los An¬ . Lydia Cornell, 91, sister of the late Peter C. Cornell, Buffalo legit ! theatre manager, and aunt of j actress Katherine Cornell, died re-I cently in Coburg, Ont. . Albert (Al) Strauss, 32, former staffer of WPTR and WTRI-TV, Albany, died Sept. 27 in that city after a long illness. His parents and two sisters survive. Velda Mae Nixon, 31, former model and wife of actor A 7 lan Nixon,- died of burns sustained in home gas explosion Sept. 39 in Hollywood. Daniel Webster Witmer, editor of the Old Kansas City Gazette- Globe for 19 years, died in South San Fra'"cisco. Cal., Sept. 27. He was 91. Wffe, two sons and daugh¬ ter survive. . Mother, of Morris G~ff. the Abner of the former radio comedy team of “Lum ’n’ Abner,” died Oct. 5 in M ma. Arka’ “as. Mr. and Mrs. Liam Hood, son, Edinburgh, Sept. 17. Mother is a former scenic designer; father's a tv producer and actor. Mr. and Mrs. Arch Lustberg, son, Washington, Sept. 23. Father is drama and speech instructor at Catholic U. Mr. and Mrs. Albc-n William Barkley Truitt, son, Washington, Sept. 24. Mother is Alison Wood, actress with Arena Stage. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Carey, daughter, Chicago, Sept. 25. Father is an accountant for NBC in that city. Mr. and Mrs. Jim Gates, daugh¬ ter, Burbank. Cal., Sept. 25. Mother is former actress Beverly Kidd; father is KTTV (Holly wood J strff d'reetor. ?Ir, and Mrs. Ranald MacDou- gall. son, Hollywood, Sept. 29. Mother is .actress Nanette Fabray; father is a writer-director. Mr. and Mrs. Stan Jarvis, twin son and daughter, Glasgow, Sept. 29. Father is assistant house man¬ ager at Emp're Theatre, Glasgow. Mr. and Mrs. Marty Portnoy, daughter, Philadelphia, Sept. 30. Father is"a bandleader. Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Gathrid, daughter, Phladelpliia, Oct. 2. Father is a tv producer with N.W. Ayer. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ferrie, son. Son Antonio, recently. Father is news editor there with KITE. Mr. and Mrs. John Scuppo, daughter. New York. Oct. 1. Father is manager of field exploitation, NBC, Mr and Mrs. David Simonton, son, New York, Sept. 29. Mother is singer Kathy Linden. Mr and Mrs. Paul-Knopf, son, New York, Oct. 5. Father is jazz ccmposer-pianist. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Butterfield, son. New York, Sept. 26. Father is NBC newsfilm tralfic manager and coordinator. Father, 68. of film attorney Sey¬ mour Simon died Sept. 29 in i Chicago. Douglas Hamilton, film director, died Sept. 27 in Carnoustie, Scot-; land. Father, 76, of Bob Goldwater of NBC Press, died Sept. 27 in White Plains, N.Y. Anne Frank Continued ffrom page 1 -- long work by Frierich Duerrenmat entitled “An Evening .in Autumn.” Second prize was taken by Yugo¬ slavia with “The Bird” by Alex Obrenovic. In original music, Japan’s NHK took first award for Toru Takemitsu’s “Three Images.” Second prize went to France. for the radio ballet “The Strange Ad¬ venture -of Gulliver at Lilliput.” Two American musical entries did not finish in the money. These w'ere “Great and Marching Words” by Christopher LiEarge and Wil¬ liam L. Fowler, and the cantata, “Trail of Life” by Paul A. Pisk. American member of the juries was Ruby Mercer, representing the Broadcasting Foundation of Amer¬ ica which sponsored American par¬ ticipation this year along with the Nat’l Assn, of Educatidnal Broad¬ casters. The American delegate to the~General Assembly of the Italia Prize is Seymour Siegel, WNYC’s director and veep of BFA. In the lead for the $7,000 tv documentary is Italy's "“Isle of Favignana.” The American entry from WBNS, Columbus, O., is based on the life of C'-ristopher Columbus, and was penned by Gene McPherson, Phst® Book Continued from page 2 - — American Theatre Roof Garden, the ballet rehearsal at the Met, Ethel Barrymore in “Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines.” David Be- lasco in his study with his shirt- tails hang'ng out, Broadway in all its glory day and night, Mrs. Les¬ lie Carter in “Du Barry,” the Casi¬ no Theatre’s stage’door, Lillian Russell at Proctor’s 23d St. Thea¬ tre/Sarah Bernhardt in her . plush suite at the Hoffman House, the bill -room of the Charles Frohman theatres, the magic supply shop of Martinka & Co. on 6tn Avenue where the brothers Martinka sold their ‘Talking Skull” trick and the disappearing card cannister and dozens of other shots of yester- ‘ year’s greasepaint luminaries. Miss Mayer chose wisely from the vast collection for inclusion in “Once Upon a City” and coinci¬ dentally with publication of the book on occasion of Byron’s 80th birthday, the Museum of the City of Hew York this week opened a special exhibition of the photog¬ rapher’s work. More than 150 photographs in the book will be on view from yesterday (Tues.) through Jan. 4. Byron is still in business as a professional photog¬ rapher, the fourth generation in the family which began in England more than 100 years ago. The Mayer book is painstakingly documented and a splendid picture and text book for future Gotham historians, not to say anything of the endless driight it will afford the oldsters who knew Baghdad- By-the-Subway when. Rans.