Variety (December 1960)

960 PjfiiRIEfY 63 JAMES .OFF , actor, pro- screenwriter, dothurn, Switzer- j.. jeen under treat- n ^od disease at Prof. Sve .in’s clinic in Solo- tbi Be u 1 St. Petersburg (now Lem ,i Russia, he received a busin ; education and later earneL^' i aw degree. But later he lUiuWa H hi the St. Petersburg Dra¬ matic School started a career on th a stage when he was forej^ .ce from Russia during the JE jlution. In 1922, ^Lee Shubert signed Ratoff and other members of the east of “Revue Russe,” a Paris pro¬ duction, for a U.S tour. He later appeared in 32 Shubert shows. Plays in which he appeared include “Blossom Time,” “Tenth Avenue,” “Castles in the Air” and “Wonder Boy.” He later appeared in numerous films including, "Six Million,” “‘Let’s Fall in Love,” “George White's Scandals,” “For Sale,” “All About Eve,” “Once More with Feeling” and “Exodus.” Among the screenplays, Ratoff had written for were “Top of the Town,” “You Can’t Have Every¬ thing” and “This Woman is Mine.” He directed “Lancer Spy,” “Wife, Husband and Friend,” “Daytime Wife,” “The Great Profile,” “Adam Had Four Sons,” “Something to Shout About,” “Song of Russia,” “Irish Eyes Are Smiling,” “Where Do. We Go From Here.” “Paris Underground,” “Black Magic” and “Operation X.” He produced and directed “The Heat’s On,” “O. Henry’s he was its top agent in the cafe dept, until his resignation in 1955. Greenhut moved into the person¬ al management field, and at the time of his death was handling a list that included Carol Haney, Peggy Cass, Jane Morgan, Carol Lawrence, Julia Meade, Ron Huss- man and Peter Gerinaro. He was a member of the newly formed Con¬ ference Of Personal Managers East. Greenhut was one of the better liked men in the field. He had been asked by many performers, already established, to handle their careers. However, in recent years, he had pared his list feeling that he would do an injustice to clients he was already handling, through an ex¬ panded roster. He is survived by his wife, the former Mary Harris, who was his secretary a few years ago; a son by that marriage and a son by a former marriage which ended in divorce. A sister also survives. House” and “The Sun Also Rises.” VIVIAN VAN DAMM Vivian Van Damm, 71, theatre impresario, died Dec. 14 in London. His name is linked with the .Wind¬ mill Theatre there which proudly claimed that, throughout the war, “we never closed.” Van Damm started as a garage hand and entered the film business for peanuts, before managing the Granada Circuit. In 1932 Mrs. Laura Henderson hired him to start a non-stop revue at the. Wind¬ mill, a burlesque theatre that launched many stars. In 1944 Mrs. Henderson died, leaving Van Damm the lease of the Windmill. He kept the theatre going quietly, but suc¬ cessfully ever since. Survived by wife and three Full! daughters, Nona, Betty (wife of JOHN CHARLES THOMAS John Charles Thomas, 68 , a top- liner on concert stage and radio for 45 years, died of intestinal cancer Dec. 14 in Apple Valley, Cal, Prior to moving to the desert resort six years ago, Thomas, re¬ tired from appearing profession¬ ally, had taught voice in Los An¬ geles. Until illness forced him to retire from all activity in 1959, Thomas was a director of Apple Valley radio station KAVR and had organ¬ ized a group of 25 residents into the Apple Valley Romanies Chorus. Surviving is his widow, the’ fo r - mer Dorothy May Kaehler, his wife of 46 years. film producer Danny Angel) and Sheila, who in recent years has been running the theatre for her father. EDWARD W. BUTCHER Edward W. Butcher, 68 , film pioneer and Metro studio manager for 10 years: prior to his retire¬ ment in 1949, died of a heart at¬ tack Dec. 11 in Hollywood. Enter¬ ing the film biz in 1917 as produc- directing at the American Acad -1 emy of Dramatic Arts, and its executive director in 1953-54, died Dec. 15 in New York City. He joined the American Acad¬ emy in 1932. He also had taught at the Theatre Wing and at Cornell University. His pupils included Kirk Douglas, Anne Bancroft and Jennifer Jones. He produced and directed radio show s and appeared on tv as a speech specialist. He was the author of “The Actor Creates,” a text on acting, pub¬ lished in 1939. His wife, two sons, daughter, two brothers and a sister survive. bral hemorrhage. She and her hus¬ band, Dick, had operated the pri¬ vate club for two years and were* the featured performers. This month they issued their first “90th Floor” label album, featuring Kiz’ vocals, with Dick at the piano. Survived by her husband, daugh¬ ter, mother, a brother and a sister. ville, 72, former musicomedy act¬ ress and widow of Albert de Cour- ville, a prominent-. London thea¬ trical producer, .died Dec. 11 in Washington, D.C. Two sisters sur¬ vive. Hngh M. Nellis, 85. veteran trom¬ bonist who played for yeafs in Mil¬ waukee bands and theatre pit orchs, died Dec. 12 in Milwaukee. Sur¬ viving are his wife, son, two daugh¬ ters and two sisters. RALPH BERGER Ralph Berger, 56, head of Desilu art dept., died of a heart attack Dec. 12 in Hollywood. He had been an art director since 1925, when he started at Universal. He later worked with Harry Sherman Pro¬ ductions, RKO, Bing Crosby Enter¬ prises, Four Star Playhouse and Fine Arts. Joining Desilu in 1952, Berger was supervising art director on such series as “I Love Lucy,” “Our JJjf 5 I orchestras for many years and was I Wyatt Earp, T>he Untouchables | i eader and contractor for Park, Land others, and won an Emmy this | whilom leg it house, and Lyrie bur- lyear for the latter senes. ilesque theatre. He played the trom- Hjs wife andrtwo sons, Richard i b° ne j n recent years he ran a and Stephen, both art directors ; barbershop, survive. 1 - - ALVIN SOKOLSKY Alvin Sokolsky, 34^ executive producer for the Burt Claster En¬ terprises, producers of Romper Room Inc., died in the plane crash j Mrs. Eugenie Morgenstern May, over Brooklyn Friday (16). Before : 80, a patroness of music and a cinr- joining Claster five years ago, he I ter member of the Metropolitan was a producer at WBAL-TV, Bal-.! Opera Guild in New York, died timore. He was married Nov. 20 to j Dec. 12 in East Orange, N.J. Her the former Ruth Katzer of Beech-: son and daughter survive. hurst, N. Y., and had been living; - in New York since his marriage, j Father, 64, of Marijane Maricle, A native of Baltimore, he at- i appearing in “Bye Bye Birdie” on tended Baltimore City College and Broadwav, was killed Dec. 7 in an New York U His survivors, in ad- 3U to accident Dec. 7 near Sinton, dition to Mrs. Sokolsky, include a Tex. brother, three sisters. j _ - i Hiram Ben Bear, 68 , retired GUS MEYERS SR. |20th-Fox set dresser, was killed in Gus Meyers Sr., 85, longtime, pit : a n auto accident Dec. 12 near At- bandleader, died Dec. 10 in Bridge- ; water. Cal. His wife, Ella, also port, Conn. He led Poli Circuit died in same accident Son and daughter survive. DR. HEINRICH JONEN Dr. Heinrich Jonen, 59, German film producer, died in Neuhaus, West Germany, Dec. 1 after a short illness. A veteran of 25 years in Son Gus Jr., violin-maestro, fol¬ lowed in father’s footsteps and now has a steamship music business. BERYL HARRISON Beryl Harrison, 60, veteran ac¬ tress, died Nov. 20 in London. She the West German film industry, he j was the wife of manager and au- formed his own Meteor Produc- j thor, Stanley Brightman, and sis- tions at Wiesbaden’s Unter den ; ter of Phyllis Monkman. Eichen Studios in 1948, and spe- J Among her stage appearances cialized in making light, clean (were those in “LPliom.” “Battling films. Mother, 69, of Rollie Bester, ra¬ dio and tv casting director at the Ted Bates agency, died Dec. 8 in New York. Margaret M. Smith, 79, silent screen character actress, died Dec. 9 in Hollywood. Daughter sur¬ vives. Edward Ellis, music sales rep, died Dec. 8 in London. He’d been with the Lawrence Wright music company for several years. ‘Stem von Rio” (Star from Rio), “Hochzeitsnacht im Paradies” (Wedding Night in Paradise) and “Heidelberger Romanze” (Heidel¬ berg Romance) were among his most popular musicals. He also „ M . ,, ,, _ . „ 41 _. Dave Westwood, 79. vet singer, Butler,” “Aren’t Men Beats,” ‘ The died rece > nlly in Glasgow, Scotland. First Gentleman.’ Her last an- He was the father o{ C olin Day , Cicely Cou. t- s i n g in g c hurch minister. pearance was with Cicely neidge in “Gay’s The Word,” in 1951. - HERBERT M. ROSS Herbert M. Ross, 75, whisky mag- was co-producer of such timely J . nate and friend of many show biz postwar projects as “Bismarck” stars, died recently in Cove, near and “Stresemann.” Glasgow, Scotland. He made his - i fortune in the whisky trade and HAROLD STERN 1 during his lifetime gave a large Harold Stern, 69, orchestra con- ! part of it to educational and chari- ductor and violinist, died Dec. 10 in | table bodies. Palm Springs. Calif., after a long j A bachelor, he lived at the Firth illness. He conducted the Man- ’ of Clyde resort of Cove,, Dumbar¬ ton non^n ™ ir- u „ = hittan Beach and the Brighton tonshire, where he entertained “ v v f Z Clara Kimball Beach S vmDhonv Orchestras in many stage performers Brook!vn. New York, from 1918-45. visits to Scotland. Ronald Knights, 44. film sales¬ man for Paramount, died recently, in London. Survived by his wife. Young in N.Y., he went to Holly- E*.* a ? d • P '°' : He^also’hadlplayed'firet I violTn°and : duced 14 indie films prior to join-: condll( . t< . d th p crch estra at the Bev- ' erly Hills Hotel in Calif, and con- MARRIAGES Jackie Collins (known profes¬ sionally as Lynne Curtis) to Wal¬ lace Austin, London, Dec. 13. Bride is the actress-sister of Joan Col¬ lins; he is a fashion tycoon. Lesley Lowe to Fred Israel, du"rin« Philadelphia, Dec. 18. Bride is I daughter of Herman and Florence • Lowe, former Washington corre- M4RGARET FELCH ' spondents for Variety. Florence Margaret Felch, 74, who went; Lowe is with Metropolitan Broad- ing Fox Films in 1925 as studio DiXvUh RKOf„°r £™r a .n « 1 - a , r .STt'he 1 namtowHotel^c^ f^'.the^stagVlo song' p|upgin g : j casting Corp. in New York, and Returning to Fox, Butcher pra-! ^j 1 ^ h ^ as j an ^ ] , ^ e s : ^|^' a a'lenglhy^ess. Fo/more tha" ! Mary Alic He ls^survived_ by two daughters!, Reirdck Mush^hi Chicago She’?^" ^ ec * sash's s tour manager who helped popular- : studio manager in 1936, and re- j brothers and two sls,ers - band, the toured jn light opera, ize concert tours by headliners, m | mained until he joined Metro in' -- - ' ' ‘ - the variety field, died Dec. 19 of ‘1939 a heart ailment in Brooklyn, N.Y. j wife, son. and four daughters He had been confined to his home survive. for several months following an i * • _ earlier heart attack. | FLORENCE GUISE Squires developed the variety: Mrs. Elizabeth Cattell Guise, 93 . C . 0 n i C ? A 1 ^ ’ nto b * g . busm * ss ’ He ! a former actress-singer, known pro- started this phase of entertainment> fessionally as Florence Guise, died with tours by songwTiter Sigmund Dec . I0 in New York, after a long IluSD f a ? Romberg, then did tours by Paul iu Jie < 5 S s cessful _ Whiteman, Phil Spitalny. Duke, she’aDneareH in ^innrirtincr mine in ' vh ich she played 1 I:e part of Islington and Jarmilla Novotna,: in nume rous piavs in^Y Chicago Christina Delasalle, the wife among others. His major accom-: ^eSiel n s ck'^m S: of tbe headmaster of a plishment, however, was catapult- ; fhrmmhmif TT ^ 1 b °y s ’ school. She also appeared VERA CLOUZOT Vera Clouzot. French actress wife of. Henri Georges Clouzot. film director, died Dec. 15 in her Paris hotel room. She had been suffering from a heart condition for many years. She played roles in many of her husband’s films including his suc- horror filiji “Diabolique.” Survived by a son and three £ daughters. a former showgirl; he’s the comedian. Beulah Watts to James McCiana- han, Albuquerque, Dec. 11. He’s bass player with the Pee Wee King band. Jenna Coy to Dick Pearce in Houston. Dec. 18. Bride is a singer. jug Victor Borge to ! companies; toys’ school. She also s was once . “Wa^es of Fear.” lowing throughthese tours. Borgc’s L ° uisvil l, e ' K>'* 1 Her husband survives. junkets were among the most lu- °P e ' a , a " d . ■■ lbc -A 130 ™ En S llsh -, . Gland m Chicago. . ARCHIE CUNNINGHAM -2, 189 °t an 5 I Archie Cunningham, 59, veteran spanned 45 jeais. She P Ia >ed ragtime pianist, died of cancer Dec. Shakespearean repertory with Otis 3 in Toronto. His “Archie's Morn- Skinnei and was in N.\. produc-; j ng Melodies” ran from 1930 to tions of Two Little Brides with : 1943 on radio station CKCL in To- crative in the field. Squires, born in Philadelphia, started in show business as a song¬ writer and publisher. He entered the agency field afterwards. W’hile with the Rockwell-O’Keefe Agency - (now General Artists Corp.) lie; «J am cs, T. Powers arid “Mary’s ronto. He was credited with know- helped develop the late Glenn Mil-.; Lamb with Richard Carle. In ing some 25.000 songs, lor. Ha later worked for the Wil- J” 8 ;, she appeared in “The Silver j Cunningham also had a “Stump liam Morris Agency and Music j Box - ; Archie” program on which Iisten- Corp. of America.' lie subsequent- i t -— r • ers supplied titles of tunes for him ly entered the personal manage-. HENRY CLIVE : to sing and play. At v ment and concert tour field and! Henry Clive. 79. who toured the he worked in niteries. I AL TAXIER; ; 1; A1 Taxier, 55. longtime Boston I night club manager, died Dec. 16 in j Chelsea, Mass. He had a long career j mrv 1 ' in show business, managing among * Mr. and Airs, ilobe Morrison, manv spots, the old Theatrical son. their third. Dec. 16, in Nyaek, Club, Rio Casino, and in more re- N Y. Father is Legit Editor of cent years, the Bradford Roof. He . Variety. helped many new acts gnd young 1 an d Airs. Bill Stev.art, performers during his niany years daughter, London, Dec. 11. Alother in the field. actress Anthea Askey, daughter ' Surviving is his wife. ,of comedian Arthur Askey; father -- i is a tv producer. TOAIAIY JACOBS Air. and Airs. Doug Alorris, Tommy Jacobs. 81, pioneer daughter. Hollywood, Dec. 8. Aloth- Southern California restaurateur, er, Dottfe, is a skater on “Holiday died of a heart attack Dec. 12 in on Ice” jshows; father is lighting Santa Aionica. Among other spots, . director for CBS-TV Hollywood, he operated the old Ship Cafe in Air. and Mrs. Irv Klein, daugh- Venice, gathering place for mo¬ tion picture and sports celebs. Son. sister and brother survive. ROBERT K. ANDERSON Robert K. Anderson, a Alinne- to sing and play. At various times f c P t 01 n„ violin " showed the inherent possibilities'of world as a young man as a magi- _„_ building variety artists into con- °i an billed as “Clive the Illusion- and two daughters. cert attractions. ist -” and later was known for his j - Survived by his wife and two : paintings of beautiful .show'] EDWARD R. GOLDEN sons, Irving and Arthur, who op- femmes, died of lung cancer Dec.; Edward R. Golden, 53, operator crate Stage Door Attractions, Dal- 12 in Hollywood. of the Golden Theatre Service, a las, one of the major pop and clas- : Clive, whose real name w T as booking and consulting agency in sir concert agencies in the south-, Henry Clive O’Hara, appeared for; Kansas City, died of a heart at- west.. Funeral services are sehed- some years in silent films in the-tack Dec. 16 in K.C. following a .. . uled for today (Wed.) at the River- east before Hollywood became a (short illness. Prior to establisllxng Revue Productions, died of cancer Irving, \ Texas, side Chapel, Brooklyn. film center. For more than 35 years ' ” ~ ’ ’ * * - - -*■ rT -". TT - - 5 »*«**—~-*- ; he; was one of the top artists on ter. Dec. 11, Baltimore, Md.’ Father is a theatrical booking agent in that city. Air. and Airs. Terence Little, daughter, Dec. 15, Manhasset, L.I. Alother is dancer Alaureen Hop¬ kins; father is a legit stage man¬ ager. Air. and Mrs. Norm Levinson, daughter. Dec. 6, Dallas, Texas. Father is general manager of Trans-Texas Theatres. Air. and Mrs. Alort Hock, daugh¬ ter, New York, Dec. 13. Father is JOHN N. GREENHUT John N. Greenhut," 46, veteran Personal manager, died of a heart attack Dec. 15 in New York. A scion of the family that once con¬ trolled the American Safety Razor Go. and Gr.eenhut’s Dept. Store in New York, he eschewed commerce ito go into show business. As an independent agent, he went to Alusic Corp. of America, where ist since 1950 and conductor of Surviving are his wife, two sons var , ious and , st - PauI ' Id two daughters instrumental and vocal groups, • died Dec. 10 of a brain tumor m Alinneapolis. \ His wife and a four-year-old-son : survive. - ‘ assistant ad manager of Paramount WALT WALEY Pictures. Walt AValey, 55, cast director for ! Air.-. and Airs. Vic Norvick in _ - - - ' r recently, a son. film center. For more than 35 years i the Golden Service, he operated the • Dec. 15 in Hollywood. He previ- Alother is the former Sugy Free- ‘ r Vogue Theatre, an art house in ously was with 20th-Fox. ' .man, daughter of Jess Freeman midtown K.C., for several years. I Wife and two daughters survive. ' of N.Y. Variety staff. A native of Pittsburgh, Golden I i Mr - and Mrs. Art Pickens, the American Weekly. He \vent to Hollywood in 1929 as art director for Charles Chaplin and appeared as a heavy In the comic’s “City Lights.” Daughter and two brothers sur¬ vive. came to K.C. 17 years ago as ai Edward G. Vollmaii, 80, retired salesman for Metro. j secretary-manager of San Joaquin, Surviving are his wife, two ] Cal., County Fair and once man- daughters, a brother and a sister. ARISTIDE D’ANGELO Aristide d’Angelo. 58, an instruc¬ tor in voice, speech, acting and died Dec." 13 in that city of a cere- KIZ HARP Kiz Harp. 29, a singer and co- owner of The 90th. Floor, Dallas, ager of the old Savor Theatre in San Francisco, died Dec. 11 in Stockton, Cal. Wife and two daughters survive. Mrs. Edith Kelly Gould de Cour- daughter, Chicago, Dec. 9. Father Is veep in charge of programming at Walter Scbwimmer Productions. Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Waggener, twin son and daughter. San Diego, Cal., recently. Grandfather is Jack Kerrigan, broadcast pinoncer and program director of WHO-TV, Des Mofnes.