Variety (May 1928)

Wednesday, May 23, 1928 OUT DO OR S VARIETY 65 OBITUARY HARRIETE UNDERHILL Harriete UndfJfhill, picture critic of the New Yofk "Herfild Tribune," died May 18 in her apartment In the Whl0y hotel.'New York, after a long illness. Before the present "Herald" and •'Tribune" combined Miss Underhill had worked for the old "Tribune," ber connection with the paper dating back 20 years. Miss Underhill was born in Troy, N. y. Later the -family moved to Passaic, N. J., where Miss Under- hill was married to Joseph Scanlon when she was 16. Later they were divorced. Prior to taking uP writing as pro- fession, Miss Underhill was on the stage. Her first appearance was In the "Floradora" sextette and then later with Blanche Bates in "The Darling of th6 Gods." Miss Under- bill later toured, with a Shakes- pearean company and when she was in Mexico City married an Eng- .lishman, who died shortly after, Miss Underhill broke into news- paper work under her father, Lo- renzo Underhill, who at° that time senting "The Best People." Upon his return, he remained on the coast, appearing under the Henry Duffy bfinner as the Rev. Davidson in "Rain." NATHAN APPELL Nathan Appell, 59, veteran theat- rical owner and operator, died May 24 at his home In Tprk, Pa., of heart disease. Appell's condition was aggravated by asthma. To al- leviate the latter he spent.last win- ter in Arizona. Appell was one of the best known theatre men in Pennsylvania, hav- ing been active in both ownership and operation of a string of houses. He was the head of the Nathan Ap- pel Amusement Enterprises, which operated all the theatres in York aiid houses in Hanover, Red Lion, Reading and Lancaster, Pa. He wais an •Elk and a 32nd degree Mason. He is survived by a son, Louis J. Appell, general .manager of the Ap- pell enterprises; his mother' and a sister, both of Harrisburg. Appell was 18 when he launched PIre Eater and Torture Board Man," fell dead while walking in Coney Island. Body was taken to the morgue, arid If no relatives appear fi-eaks of Coney Island plan to conduct funeral services. EDDI^ GILLrON Eddie Gillion, for 28 years man- ager for P. j. Roach at Glenwood Our deepest, heartfelt cympathy :ln the death of our dearest friend HERB WIEDOEFT Richard Edwards and Mother owned and published "The New York Sportsman." In 1919 she was severely injured in an auto accident and from that time on her health was never the flame. It became so bad that Miss Underhill, In 1920, went to the Ad- irondacks, where her condition be- came greatly improved. She re- turned and resumed her work on the "Tribune." : In recent years Miss Underhill had done considerable screen writ- ing. One of her latest scenarios is now nwurked for production by Uni- versal. * Her third husband was Gardner Youngman from whom shie was di- vorced and who now lives In Washr ington. The father of William Le Baron, production head of FBO, died May ,18 at the family home In YonkerS, N. Y. Mr. Le Baron was at his father's MEMORTAM MEGRUE In loving memory of STELLA COOPER MEGRUEl mother of KOI COOPSR HEGRUB May 20, 1927 bedside when he passed away, hav- ing come on to New York from the West Coast oh a business trip. His father was suddenly stricken ill after Le Baron had left New York for Chicago to attend the FBO con- vention In that city. He hastened back and arrived Friday morning. HAROLD SALTER Harolds l-Hal".. Salter dled_ in Angeles following an illness that dates back to an attack of the in- fluenza,. suffered while starring, on the road in "What Price Glory?" Salter was stricken in Syracuse, N. Y^, during the season of 1925-26^ while playing the Louis Wolheim role at th,© Wietlng. He managed to fill the role for th(? split week eneagerhent here, but was forced .out the next week. Recently Mr. Salter has been de- voting himself to pictures, appear- ing In support of Ken Maynard in .several Westerns produced under the supervision of Harry J. Brown. The dead actor appeared in stock at the Empire, Syracuse, for four seasons. He was a resident of Wil- llamstown, Mass. His father for years filled a chair at Williams, Col- lege, and was well known In the East as an organist. His mother, Mary Turner Salter, Is a noted com- ^iTOTsw.-^Her'^wef k 7 "The^ Cry - of- Rachel," Is a favorite concert num- ber of Mme". Ernestine Schumann- Heinck. His experience was long and varied, and Included vaudeville as Well as the legitimate, stock and pictures. For some time, Mr. Salter appeared with Frank Wilcox In the vaudeville playlet, "S-s-s-ssh!" After he closed his tour in "What Price Glory?", Mr. Salter went to Australia to head a company pre his theatrical career by organizing a. theatrical company to present three plays at. pop prices. He as- sumed nianagement of the Grand Opera House, Harrisburg, two years ago; built the Lyceum in that city, which later became known as the Orpheum and which was followed by the Majestic. During that period he operated a chain of theatres in Allentown, Heading, Pottsville, Leb- anon, Norristown and Carlisle. Aside from his operative activ- ities, Appell also piut out touring companies which included the King Dramatic Co. and the Helen Grayce Co, Some 26 years ago he . opened the Highland Park stock in York. He also operated in stocks in New England for a number of years. For a timc he was associated with Wil- mer & Vincent In theatre operations in Harrisburg and Reading. HAL McLEAN Hal McLean, 33, saxophonist, with Walt Roesner's stage band at the Capitol, New York, died of pneu- monia May 15 after an Illness of folir days. Prior to joining the Cap- itol orchestra he was with Paul Whiteman's Band. He is survived by a wife and child. Burial In his home town, Kan- sas City. SLIM HENDERSON Slim Henderson, 31, died May 11 in Harlem Hospital of pneumonia. He was one of the pioneers of his particular style of entertaining and had been , seen In both vaude and with colored musicals. - He and John Mason were invariably teamed together. His widow, Rosie Henderson, blues singer, who records for Okeh, survives. She is In the London "Show 'Boat"^ Park, Batavla,. 111., and for the last five years producer and comedian at the State and Congress theatre, Chicago, died May 17 In Mercy Hos- pital, Chicago. Body was taken to Batavia for buria,!. Gillion leaves a. widow and two sons. BERNARD MOCK Bernard Mock, eighteen, musician, a member of a Chinese 6rc)lestra touring the west, died In Mercy hos- pital, Davenport, la,, April 13. Mock was stricken two weeks before when the orchestra played. the Capitol. His parents, in San Francisco, sur- vive. Bobbie Barr^ veteran doorman and ticket-taker of the Colonial, Boston, died ireceritly. Bobbie's "Good Evening," was one of the hall marks of the house, and he numbered thousands among his ac- quaintances. Served every summer for years as ticket taker on Nan- tasket Beach excursion boat line, winters at the theatre. One of best known men in this linei in the city. His ipassing was generally mourned by newspaper critics and theatre- goers of city. John Birmingham, leader of a Jazz band and one of the pioneers of this type of orchestration In London, died in a. Kensington hospital, Lon- don, May 7, from injuries received in a fall from the balcony of his MAY 25, 1924 IN MEMORY OF My Wonderful Ond THEODORE Dorothy Terriss (DOLLY MORSE) TOOTS DAVIS Toots Davis, 41, comedian, died May 9 In Harlem Hospital ot pneumonia. He had worked for some years as the vaude partner of Eddie Stafferd and :was best known In Bad bnt loving memory TONY FERNANDEZ Who died May 22, 1927 Hla Wife Jennie Fernandez (Fernandez and May) for his creative dances. It was Davis who originated the "Over the To<p" step. He was with the Whit- ney and Tutt shows some seasons ago as a Comic and dancer. His widow, also on the stage, survives. Iffterment in-Woodlawn-oemetery..-. PERCY COLSTON Percy Colston died In Harlem Hospital May 11, of pneumonia. He was a singer with the Tutt and Whitney shows for several seasons and had appeared in Vaude and mu- sicals. PAUL GRIGSBY Paul Grlgsby, known In side iBhows as "The World's Champion home. Deceased was the aon of a Scottish regimental iMindmaster, and was only 35. He was also an army bandmaster at the early stages of his career, and his band of British musicians, which he gathered together were popular fea- tures of the Coliseum, Alhambra and different halls. George Goldsmith, 69, husband of UIirah Burkfaairt Goldsmith, actressr died of heart disease In Los Angeles May 11. Mr. Goldsmith (non-pro) was past exalted ruler of Los An- geles Lodge 99, B. P. O. E. At the time ot his death Mrs. Goldsmith was in New York, Mame Ponce, eolored, former owner Oriental Cafe, Chicago, and Ponce's Inn at Robbins, lU.. died re- cently in .Ohicagp. Wife of John D. O'Hara, actor, died May IS in San Francisco. Nicholas McKeon, old time circus man, died May 8 at Bridgeport, Conn. Jack Speidal, 60» orchestra leader, died in Fairfield, Conn., May 7, fol- lowing an operation. -^jrho^mo.thejr^f^.Pete^l|mat^ manager of Erlanger's Kew York, died at Iter home in Chickopee Falls, la. Circus Man Held on Abduction Charge Pittsfleld, Mass., May 22. Joseph Novak and Edward Bir- mingham, employees of Solls-Floto circus, Tj^pre. arrested hero last week charged with the abduction of a l4-year'-old girl. When the police.found the young- ster with . the men, she saici they had asked, her in Albany, whore the show played the previous day, if .she v^ould like to Join the outfit. She agrees! to go as far as rittslleld. if they paid her fare, back to Albany, She averrCsd. They agreed and she^ accornpahicijl them here. The girl: ■v\\is detained as a ma- terial witness against the men and also iarraigned in juvenile court. CARNIVALS (Week Cpmmencing May 21 When • Not Otherwise Indicated) Alabama Am. Co., Beaver Dam, Ky. ' Barlow's Big CUy, I'rbana, 111. Beo Am. Co..'Memphis, .Tonn. Blstdny'3 Attractions, Flen!;solaer, N, T. Bright Way, Weston, W. Va, BuUard' Bros., Krebs, Okla. Burdlck'e All-Te.>:as, Honoy Island, Tex. California Shows, Cohoes, N. Y,i 2S, Schenectady; Capital Am, Co., Independence, WIb. . . Colenian.Bros., .Hartford, Conn. Harry Copping Shows, Olea!1^ n; T. Cor«y Greater, 24-Juno U, Shenandoah, Pa. J. L. Cronln, ClrclevlUe. O. Crounse United, Athol, Mass.; 28,. Koerie, N. H,; Franklin. Delmar Quality,. Gle'nllora, Tex. Dddson's World's Fair. Kokomo, Ind. Fl & B. Am, Go., Louisa, Va. John-Francis, Clovls, N. M. W. A.. Gibbs, .Cedarvalo, Kan. ■ Heinz Bros., Clinton, la. Hill's Greater, 20, SiifColIc, Va. Howey.Am. Co., Bedford, Pa. laler Greater, Manhattan, Klin. . Jones Am. Co., Peru, Ind. ' Joyland Expo., St. Anthony, Idaho. K. F. Ketchum'B, Weston, W. Va. . Abner K.. Kline, Iloseburg, • Ore. J. W. Laughlln, Herman, Mo; Levltt-Brown-Hugglns, Olympla, Wash. Llppa Aril. Co., Saginaw, Mich. McMahon Shows, Havelock, Neb. Ralph R. MMJer. Homer. le. Mississippi Valley Show^, Cotton Valley, La.- Monarch Expo,, West Havoretraw, N. T. C. W. NJilll, PlneUnd, Tex. Nelson Bros., Goodland, Kan. Facinc States, Taklma, Wash.; 28, Sun-, nyside; 4, Lewlston, Idaho. -. ■ - . J. J. Page, Logan, W. Va. ■ PolUe Greater, Cleveland, Tonn. Powers Am. Co., Marshall, Mich. Nat Reiss Shows, Irvlngton, N. J, Kuhin & -Cherry Shows, Charleston, "JV- Va. Walter Savldge, Norfolk, Neb.; 28, Al- bion; 2, O'Neill. Geo. T. Scott, Cherryvale, Kan. Sheesley Greater, Conemanigh, Pa. . Snapp Bros., West Frankfort, 111. T. J. TIdwell, Rocky Ford, Colo. United Am, Co., SheHlold, Pa. W. B. J. Shows, McComb, O. David A. Wise,.Richmond, Ind. Woll Greater, Iowa City, la.; 28, Daven- port. CIRCUS ROUTES Downie Bros. May 23, Freeport, L. I.; 24, Hicks- vllle; 25, Farmihgdale; 26, Baby- Ion; 28, Bay Shore; 29, Patchogue; 30, Southampton; 31, Sag Harbor; June ^1, Riverhead; 2, Greenport, Long Island. COLUMBIA FABK'S ZOO A permanent wild animal feature has been decided upon for Colum- bia Park, New Jersey, Park will have a new Item, to be known as Zoological Garden. W. J. Hanley has been engaged as general man- ager of the zoo. Before the summer Is. out the park will have 35 cages. Including lions, tigers, etc. George Black Goes Ford George Black, for the past 14 years plalnclothesman on Ringling Bros.-iBarnum & Bailey lots, has severed connections with the circus. He goes with the Henry Ford IriforrnaflofT ^iif6au;"" " —^ ^- Gentry Broe. May 23, Renovo, Pa.; 24, Kane; 25, St, Marys; 26, l,ock Haven; 28, Cleiaxflejd; 29, Oil City; 30, Tltus- vUle; 31, Corry; June 1, Bradford, Pa,; 2, Dunkirk, N. Y.; 4, N, Tona- wanda; 6, Lockport; 6,. Albion;. 7, Canadaigua; 8, Geneva; 9, Osweg-o, NvY.: Police state he was suffering from ill health and fear of becoming insane. Ralph Bridgman, 36, stage elec- trician, died May 18 In Detroit. Bi:idgman was chief electrician at Keith's Temple for 11 years. The father of Mabel Drew (Gene Barnes and Mabel Drew, vaude) died suddenly in London. while tra- veling In search of l^ealth. Peter Ludwig Conde, 80, mualckin, committed eulclde •with a revolver at his home In Loa Angeles, May 2^., DEATHS ABROAD v. Levasseur, 58, manager-owner of Palace - Ci nema of^ Cburbevole, Buiburt^^of ' PartC^""""^^^^ Mme. Edmond Raitmi, 80, former owner of Casino music hall, Lyons, and mother of Antoine RasimI, died at Lyons, France. Marie Louise Maumy, dancer, died in a hospital at Nice, fVance, from wounds Inflicted by Armand Floria, boxer. Jules WertheirYi) composer, died at Warsaw, Poland, while conduct- ing his orchestra. WIDE OPEN GAMBLING AT CHARITY CIRCUS 12 stands, All Wheels, 3 With- out Merchandise^Under the Auspices of Women's Clubs Wide open g.-imblliig is the main feature at the Charity Circusi, Ice- land. Wheels work overtime and concessionaires ■ promote money play. The cii-cus is being run by Milton Holland," Philadolplua carnival op- erator, on a hook-up with the Fed- eration, of Women's- Clubs ojl New York .City. Purpose Is ta rais* funds to build 6. home for wayward women, whvre they can go after re- lease from Bedford Pvefonnatory and Welfare Island. When visited by a. Variety re- porter Thursday night, the wheels were humming and gettlncr a. lot of attention from minors. The .layout Includes 12 stands, all wheel op- erations, a few stocked with mer- chandise for. a flash, but. at least threo iriiniis any display to cover the gambling racket. Three classes of wheels are opX^ erating. • On the star wheel th^ player gets five to one on the. num- ber, 10 to 1 on the red, and 25 to 1 on the star. Some of them are op- erating on the up and up, while others are working the gimmick, occasionally with shiUs cashing on the star to stimulate play. Admis- sion is 50 cents and a 10-act circus program Is on a platform for the admission fee, split in two sections to give the Wheels plenty of chance to operate. Less than 200 were iii Thursday night, most going for the wheels. Two stands running legitimately and the play strictly for mercan- dise closed early through lack of patronage. ( , Holland' Is reported as giving the Federation of Women's Clubs the admission money and a small cut on the wheel Intake. The Charity Circus folds Saturday night, with the venture reported very badly In the box through Holland's inability to get any support, other than moral, from the clubw°bmen. The open gambling angle is said to have been responsible for, the clubwomen practically walking out on the promoter. John Ringling in Europe John Ringling isailed for ICurope lasi week, to be gone about six weeks. The trip principally con' corns a search for novelties for new season's Ringling-Barnum circus. The showman's trip abroad Ifl dated earlier this year than here- tofore. Last year ho made a 'slml« lar journey after the outfit got un- der canvas." The circus Is In charge of a num- ber of executives, Carl Hathaway, formerly In advance, being virtually In charge. The others are Fred Bradna, Fred •Worrall, Charles Hut- chinson and Frank Cook. Circus Lot Change Des Moines, la.. May 22.- For 30 years the old circus lot, 20th and Walnut streets, has ac- commodated the white tops, but is now to be turned into a realty de- velopment project.. ~ J. 'A7 Wagner, president / Circus Fans' Association, announces new grounds at First and Elm streets. The Robbins shows will be the first booked there. N. J. SUNDAY DATE i'or the first time In the history, of New Jersey, a circus may play In the state on a Sunday. Plans to this effect are on between. J. D, Newman, general agent of Sells- Floto, and Areola Park. June 24 the likely date. To get by the Sunday gag the circus will play under the auspices of a hospital. EVANS' GIBGUS STABTIN6 East Liverpool, O., May 22. J. J. Evans' circus. In winter quarters here. Is primed to start late this month. Early spots will be In ieastem BARNES-CARRUTHERS Fair Booking Att'n, liic. 121 No. Clark St.. Cblcaco HIGH-CLASS OUTDOOR NOVELTY ACTS WANTED AT ALL TIMES iMtthi Fair Booklnir Agency !■ Antetlcc