The Daily Alaska empire., 1931-05-15
HOME OF SEATTLE DETECTIVE BOMBED DURING NIGHT
Curtain Run DOlUn On Dauid BeldscO, Dean of
 Theatrical Producers

NEW YORK, May 15.-D avi d Belasco, Dean of American The atrical producers, died yesterday afternoon at AIS o'clock.
 No life has been more truly de- voted to the advancement of the American theatre than that oi David Belasco.
 His inherent love for his work and his infinite capacity for pains taking in every detail made him one of the most successful men in the theatrical world.
 To achieve that distinction, how ever, was not an easy task and in- volved on the part of MT. Belasco active participation in every phase of work connected with the stage So devoted was he to the Theatre that not once during his long ca reer did he ever consider retiring.
 That subject brought vigorous outburst from him when it was mentioned on the occasion of his 18th birthday anniversary.
 T shall retire when I am carried feet first out of the theatre" he said. T expect to be working hard and producing plays when those who say should retire have passed away Why, I've been on and off the stage ever since I was eight months old. My first appearance was with my mother in a mother and-infant part"
 Major Hon0rs
 MT. Belasco's major honors came from the artistic details with which his dramatic productions were em- bellished Constantly he was in pur- suit of every item that would make his plays realistic to the highest degree, especially from the scenic viewpoint. The attractions with which he was connected as pro- ducer. author, collaboration, adapter or manager, numbered more than 400 and included many successes of this and previous generations of theatre-goers.
 While b building his reputation along these lines, MT. Belasco at the same time was equally success full as a leader of a school of real istic acting, many of whose pupils became stars of their own account Among them were Mrs. Leslie Car ter, David Warfield, Blanche Bates, Lillian Gish, Milton Stills, Ina Claire and Jeanne Eagles.
 Of ancient Portuguese extraction, MT. Belasco was born at San Fran cisco. July 25, 1854. In his later life there was question as to the year of his birth, nearly all biog- raphical works giving the year 1859. It wasn't that Belasco was sensi- tive about his age-he never paid attention to it-but was rather proud of his ability to continue at the pace he followed in his work for one of his years.
 On each recurring anniversary of his birth, he would jocularly an- nounce upon entering his office: To-day I am 21," an indication of how old he felt. A few weeks be- fore that anniversary in 1929, some old friends insisted that he clear up the matter and Belasco asked his sister. She said he would be 75 on July 25 of that year.
 Born in San Francisco
 The early ancestors of MT. Belas- co were forced to flee to England before the Moors. His father was among those who later went to Vancouver, B. C., where he accumu- lated some wealth and was elected mayor. Later, when he met with reverses, he moved his family to San Francisco about the time of the California gold rush and that city became the birthplace of David.
 1llS idUlcI iWdo C0uN0tCA oU A]AAA coln College California, and about the time he was graduated mar ried Cecilia Loverish. Mrs.. Belasco died several years ago. Their daughter, Reina Victoria, was mar ried to Morris Gest, the theatrical producer, in 1911.
 MT. Belasco's predilection for the theatre asserted itself when he was only IA years old. At that age he became author of his first play, Jim Black, or the Regulators Revenge" He fitted up an empty coal bin at his home for a studio and shortly after obtained his first theatrical job-call boy at the Baldwin Theatre, San Francisco. He eventually became stage manager at