Variety (March 1959)

63 MAXWELL ANDERSON Maxwell Anderson, 70, Pulitzer Prize dramatist-poet and co¬ founder of the Playwrights Co., Broadway production firm, died Feb. 28 in Stamford (Conn.) Hos¬ pital. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1933 for “Both Your Houses” and was a two-time winner of the N.Y. Drama Critics Circle Award with “Winterset” in 1935 and “High Tor” in 1936. The 33rd production of an And¬ erson play is slated for Broadway next season by Guthrie McClintic. The property, a comedy, is titled “Madonna and Child.” The play¬ wright was last represented in New York earlier this season by the off-Broadway production of “The Golden Six.” Prior to that he was represented on Broadway last season by “The Day the Money Stopped,” adapted from Brendhan Gill’s novel. Anderson began his playwright- ing career in 1923 with "White Desert,” written while employed as an editorial writer for the old N.Y. World. The play was a flop, but the following year the author collaborated with Laurence Stal¬ *NAT WOLFF Nat Wolff, 59, veepee in the pro¬ gramming sector at Young & RUbicam, died March 3, at Roose¬ velt Hospital in New York. He suffered a coronary occlusion. (See separate story in the television sec¬ tion.) * MACE GORDON Mack Gordon, 54, vet lyricist of numerous pop song standards, died Feb. 28 in New York after a short illness. A few months ago, on Nov., 3, Gordon’s principal collaborator' on Hollywood film scores, Harry Revel, also .died in New York. Born in Warsaw as Morris Gitt- ler, Gordon came to the U. S. when he was a boy and attended schools In Brooklyn and in The Bronx. As a youngster, he joined a ministrel show as a boy soprano and re¬ mained with the troupe for several years. Later he became a vaude comedian and singer. While on a vaude tour, Gordon met Revel and formed the song¬ writing partnership which was to produce a prolific number of hits, starting, with the score of the “Ziegfeld Follies” of 1931. lings on the successful “What Price Glory?” His subsequent produced plays, : turned out at the rate of about one a season, included “Night Over Taos,” “Key Largo,” “Eve of St. Mark,” “Joan of Lorraine,” “Anne of the Thousand Days,” “Elizabeth the Queen,” “Mary of Scotland” and “Journey to Jerusalem.” Others were “The Wingless Vic¬ tory,” “The Masque of Kings,” “The Star Wagon,” “Candle in the Wind,” “Storm Operation,” “Bare¬ foot in Athens,” “Valley Forge” and “Bad Seed,” the latter adapted from the novel by William March. He also collaborated with Kurt Weill on two musicals, “Knicker¬ bocker Holiday” and “Lost in the Stars,” the latter based on. Alan Paton’s novel. “Cry the Beloved Country.” Anderson, who wrote many of his plays in blank verse, was con¬ sidered shy and often avoided at¬ tending his own opening night per¬ formances. In 1946, he lashed out I In Memoriam #rauman (Tht Little Giant of Show Biz) You'll never be forgotten, Sid. Arthur S. Wenzel at the N.Y. critics for their pans of. his play, “Truc.kline Cafe.” In newspaper ads, he referred to the aislesitters as the “Jukes family of journalism.” He was a graduate of North Da¬ kota Univ., where he played on the football team. He later taught English at Stanford Univ. while earning an M.A. He joined the New Republic staff in 1918, going from there to The N.Y. Evening Globe as an editorial writer and later to The World. He was also a founder of the poetry magazine. The Measure. Andersdn also collaborated on a number of screenplays, including “All Quiet on the Western Front/’ "Rain/? "Death Takes a Holiday” and "So Red the Rose.” Spryivors include his. third.wife, three sons, a daughter, two step¬ children, three brothers and three sisters. Gordon and Revel soon moved to Hollywood, where they wrote the music for all of the Shirley Temple starrers in the 1930s. Gordon wrote the words for such hits as “Did You Ever See A Dream Walking,” "Stay As Sweet As You Are,” "With My Eyes Wide Open I’m Dreaming,” “The Loveliness of You,” "Down Argentine Way,” “Lookie, Lookie, Lookie, Here Comes Cookie,” “Take A Number from One to 10,” “Down Argentine Way,” “Mam’selle” “There Will Never Be Another You” and "Wil- helmina,” among others, to music by Revel and other collaborators, including Ray Henderson, Jimmy Monaco, Jimmy Van Heusen and Harry Warren. Gordon remained in Hollywood for about 25 years and became a film producer in addition to writ¬ ing songs. His two marriages ended in di¬ vorce. He is survived by two sons and a daughter. J. THEODORE REED J. Theodore Reed, 72, veteran film director and producer, died Feb. 22 in San Diego, Calif. President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1933-34, he entered films in. 1918 as a scenario editor for Douglas Fairbanks, becoming a . director two years later. He was production manager for Fairbanks from 1923 to 1928. He also was production manager for Mary Pick- ford in 1922. After leaving Fairbanks, Reed was director of sound for United Artists from 1929-31. From 1928 to 1930, he was chairman of tech¬ nical branch of the Academy, was chairman of the conciliation com¬ mittee and on the executive com¬ mittee before being elected Acad¬ emy prexy. Later, he directed and produced for Paramount and at Columbia : before retiring in 1942. His wife, three sons and a daugh¬ ter survive, ERIC BLORE Eric Blore, 71, veteran film actor, died in Hollywood of a heart at¬ tack. March X He had been alljng since 1958 when he suffered a stroke. ' Blore was bora in London, where P’KkiE^ty he left college to go Into the in¬ surance business and soon left that for acting. He scored impressive¬ ly in Hollywood following a stage career in New York and London. In Hollywood, he was generally cast in butler and valet roles. His first stage role was in Lon¬ don as a chorus boy at 32 shillings weekly. After that he toured the provinces and later Australia. He added to his income by writing lyrics for songs 1 ^nd working in music halls as a-ringer. He made his bigtime stage bow at the Casino, London, *ih a revue “All the Winners.” LSt'tlr he performed there in a variety of shows to which he also wrote lyrics. On Broadway, he appeared in “The Ghost Train,” “Just Fancy,” “Here’s Howe,” “Angela,” and others. His,major effort was in “The Gay Divorce” with Fred Astaire. He went to Hollywood for the filming of that picture by RKO. He appeared in 60 films up to 1955. Survived by his wife, the former Clara Mackin, who was an actress. JOSEPH M. WHITE Josfeph M. White, 67, “Silver Masked Tenor,” died Feb. 28 in New York. He was one of the first radio performers to use a promo¬ tional gimmick, namely the don¬ ning of a silver mask, during his appearance as soloist with the Goodrich Silvertown Orch over WEAF, N.Y., now WRCA. Pro¬ gram was sponsored by B. F. Goodrich. Rubber Co. Masked Routine was continued long after he signed off with the show. On July 4, 1922 White was the first singer before a mike in the U.S. to be heard in England with the program originating from the old WJZ (now WABC) studio in Newark. Born in N.Y., he was a boy soprano with a church choir and in 1915 was signed to a Colum¬ bia recording deal. He toured with Neil O’Brien’s Minstrels after World War I. White retired from radio after suffering serious injuries in an auto accident. He continued, how¬ ever, as a vocal coach until last year. He wrote many ballads, sev¬ eral of them among the songs he recorded for Victor. Survivors are wife, two daugh¬ ter^ and three sons. came a radio and teevee per¬ former as part of the permanent panel on “Life Begins at 80,” died March 2 in New York. She started with the radio version in 1947 and remained with it for nine years working also on the televersion. She was known for her sharp wit on these shows. She was born in Baltimore in 1865 and came to New York in 1893. Her first appearance was in “La Falote” opposite the late Sir Guy Standing at the old Casino theatre. She also appeared in Gilbert & Sullivan shows. She studied in Germany for several years as preparation for concert work. TYLER MASON Tyler Mason, 62, former agent and vaude performer, died of Par¬ kinson’s disease Feb. 25 in Phila¬ delphia. He started his theatrical career in a dance with his brother, Eddie Smith. Later he worked as a single, doing a blackface comedy turn and trouped in top houses both in the U. S. and abroad. More recently Mason was asso¬ ciated with his brother who now operates the Eddie Smith agency. After leaving the percentery field. Mason moved to Libert, Tex., where he became ill. Surviving are his actress-wife, Grace Johnson, and a son. EARL McEVOY Earl McEvoy, 45, former film producer-director, died Feb. 26 in Norwalk, Conn. He went to Hollywood in 1940 and ^directed for Metro 12 years. Later he joined Columbia for three years and became an indie pro¬ ducer-director in 1955 as well as directing-producing at the Pasa¬ dena Playhouse. Among his films were “Lust for Gold,” “Cargo to Capetown” and “The Killer That Stalked New York/’ His wife, son, three. daughters and mother survive. GRIFF WILLIAMS Griffith E. Williams III (Griff Williams), 50, vet bandleader, and pianist whose career spanned two decades, died Feb. 23 of a heart attack in Evanston, Ill. He had been an exec with a Chicago publishing firm since he left the music biz in 1953. He played occasional club- dates and benefits since then, however (and was skedded for a Shriner affair over the weekend), and two years ago fronted a Chi teleshow for 26 weeks on WBKB. Fresh out of Stanford U., Wil¬ liams joined the old Anson Weeks orch, and in 1933 formed his Own band. An early appearance of the unit was at Frisco’s Mark Hopkins hotel. He gained his success chiefly in Chi ballrooms and hotels, notably via a 39-week tenure in 1943 in the Palmer House Empire Room. The band also played at New York’s Waldorf- Astoria. Survived by his wife, son and three daughters. JULIUS STEGER Julius Steger, former actor and film executive, died Feb. 25 in Vienna, Austria. From 1920-23, he headed the Fox Film Corporation’s New York stu- . dios, producing such silent films as j “Does It Pay?” “No Mother to j Guide Her” and “Where Are My 1 Parents?” As an actor, he appeared j in the Broadway and touring legit ; production Galsworthy’s “Justice.” Contracted HAROLD H. BROWN JR. Harold H. Brown Jr., 45, presi¬ dent of United Detroit Theatres, a 14-house chain with four of the theatres downtown deluxers, died of a heart attack Feb. 22 in Holly¬ wood. He was on the Coast pre¬ viewing upcoming product with ABC-Paramount toppers. Brown became head of the UDT chain in 1952 succeeding Earl J. Hudson when the latter left to head the western division of the ABC. Prior to becoming president. Brown had served as buyer for the chain, as film booker and manager of several of the circuit’s theatres. He entered the biz as an usher at the Michigan Theatre, the chain's flagship. His wife and daughter survive. Continued from page 2 city was masked-off to 1,500 capa¬ city. Local press was good as regards the femme star and newcomer Rollmrn but only $1,808 was in the till at $4.50. Miss MacDon¬ ald reportedly was guaranteed $1,000 plus 2C% over $7,500. Re¬ portedly there were no AGMA bonds posted. There is a question also about the AFM bond for the 25 musicians recruited by batoneer Robert Armbruster from the Phil¬ adelphia union. Olver and p.a. Ar¬ thur Brillant state that the ATP AM bond was posted at the last minute for them. Foley wanted the next week’s Baltimore date with Rise Stevens in Mies MacDonald’s place but that is academic thinking as Miss Stev¬ ens is committed to the Met. Armbruster. like Miss MacDon¬ ald, came east at own expense. She is currently exploring her legal position. Paradoxically, her Hollywood lawyers handled this deal, sans any agent, but she says that henceforth she will make sure she has professional agency repre¬ sentation. ELI M, OROWITZ Eli M. Orowitz, 62, exchange exec, died Feb. 25 in Los Angeles. He was a native Philadelphian. In 1924 he originated “Emo’s WIP Movie Broadcast,” in which he answered question’s about film stars. In 1929 he was national.ex¬ ploitation director for RKO. Three years later he was appointed ad¬ vertising-publicity director for the old Radio-Keith-Orpheum Corp. He was theatre manager for Sayar Amusement Co., South Jer¬ sey chain, before he moved to California five years ago, when his daughter Virginia King began a pic career. Besides daughter, son Michael Landon, also in films ahd tv, and wife survive. GEORGIANA CARHART Georgians Gerhart, 93, a former concert and opera singer who be- Edith Head SSS Continued from page 2 —^ that she writes in the vein of say- something-nice or say-nothing. Such a book is studded wich anecdotes, all of them set in the fitting room, and seems to disprove the old adage about no one being a hero to his valet. Miss Head’s position, of course, is not that of a valet, but she does deal with her celebrated clients on a similarly intimate level, and intimacy has bred only a friendly tolerance. The ordinary reader is likely to feel that Miss Head'has neglected her own story. Personal problems are only hinted at; there is left the impression that a struggle to get and maintain the position Miss Head holds is the story that is skimped. Despite, however, that its primary appeal will be to the female, it is cleanly and simply, written, and will probably have a brisk sale in the reprint and mag¬ azine market when its hardcover potential is exhausted. Potoe. Eddie Jaekson Continued from page 2 ——; Jimmy got singer Sonny King to take my place. Before I came back I went to/the Doc and he said, ‘you’re 100Cc okay.’ But Jimmy still had King in the act. What I ■was doing he was doing. This was at the Desert Inn, Las Vegas, the early part of l?st July. “Jimmy avoide •. me. I felt 1 wasn’t wanted any more. I got. nothin’ against Jimmy — I’ll die lovin’ the guy. But When we came to Vegas it got so he wouldn’t talk to me. I was with the act for 43 years and this was the toughest engagement I ever had. I cried like a kid. You don’t take 43 years and throw it out the window.” Meantime, Jackson has signed with General Artists Corp. to rep¬ resent hjm as a single. He did a five-day break-in about a month ago at the Hesperia Inn in Apple Valley, Cal.—singing the old songs. “What else can I do?’*he asked. MARRIAGES Ann Veronica Waggett to Alex¬ ander Gibson, London, Feb. 21. Bride’s a ballet dancer; he’s con¬ ductor-elect of Scottish National Orch. Chiemi Eri to Ken Takakura, Tokyo, Feb. 16. Bride is one of Japan's top songstresses; he’s an actor. Elizabeth Freeman to Michael Hastings, London, Feb. 21. He's a playwright. Vaughan Bellaver to Max Alien- tuck, Feb. 26, N.Y. Bride is the casting director for Broadway pro¬ ducer Kcrmit Bloomgarden and the daughter of film-legit actor Harry Bellaver; he is B.oomgar- den’s general manager. Marilyn Morrison to Red Doff, Juarez, Mexico, Sept. 18. He’s a film producer. Lorrie Collins to Stewart Car- nell, Las Vegas, Jan. 4. Bride’s a singer; he’s a personal manager. Katharine Randle to Joe Keifer, Memphis. Feb. 28. Bride is UA office booker; he’s a Malco theatre 1 staffer. Caroline Burke to Erwin D. Swann, New York, Feb. 25. She’s a former program producer at NBC; he’s an advertising executive. Florence Kurland to Frank S. Williams, March 1, N. Y. Bride is with the Brandt & Brandt play agency. BIRTHS . Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Sarnoff, daughter, New York, Feb. 28. Father is NBC board chairman, Mr. and Mrs. Stan Fox, daughter, Vancouver, recently. Father’s film topper with Canadian Broadcasting Corp. there. Mr. and Mrs. Sal Mayo, daughter. New York, recently. Father is a member of the Four Voices. Mr. and Mrs. Alan Millar, daugh¬ ter, Vancouv' 1 ” Feb. 22. Father’s an emcee with Canadian Broadcast¬ ing Corp.; mother’s a tv-singer. Mr. and Mrs. Bill Brant, son, Pittsburgh. F» o. 24. Father free¬ lances in Pitt radm and tv. Mr. and Mrs. Jim Spence, son, Pittsburgh, Feb. 25. Father pro¬ duces Jay Michael “Bandstand” on Ch. 4. Mr. and Mrs. Ken Tobey, daugh¬ ter, Hollywood, Feb. 20. Mother’s former chirp Penny Phrker; father’s an actor. Mr. and Mrs. Everett Green- baum, daughter, Hollywood, Feb. 24. Father’s a tv writer. Mr. and Mrs. Dick Lee, son, Philadelphia, Feb. 20. He’s the recording vocalist and Jersey cafe i owne r. Mr. and Mrs. George Cohn, son, St. Louis, Feh. 26. Father is a salesman for Columbia Pictures there. Ivir. and Mrs. Robert H. Justman, son, Hollywood, Feb. 25. Father’s an assistant director. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Untermeyer, son, San Francisco, Feb. 16. Father is v.p. of Bandolier Films. Mr. and Mrs. Dave Godwin, daugter, Houston,, recently. Father is a disk jockey and announcer on KXYZ in that city. Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Lee Lewis, son, Ferriday, La., Feb. 27. Father is a rock ’n’ roll singer. Mr. and Mrs. Mayer (Mike) Levinton, daughter, New York, Feb. 17. Father is a member of WOR’s, N.Y., advertising-promotion depart¬ ment. Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Stern, daughter, Feb. 27, N.Y. Father is thfe head writer of the Steve Allen television show; mother is legit- tv-film actress Gloria Stroock; grandparents are costumer James E. Stroock and designer Bianca •S', neck. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Lynch, daughter, Feb. 26, N.Y. Father is treasurer of the Bijou Theatre, N.Y.