Obituaries - Aug. 29, 1998
Paul B. Green; Plant Physiology Expert
Paul B. Green, 67, an expert in plant physiology and development. A Stanford professor for the past 27 years, Green sidestepped current reliance on genetics to explain botanical change and pursued his view that repetitive basic patterns in plants rely on mechanical properties of the tissues involved. His field became known as plant morphogenesis. Green’s research earned him the Darbaker Prize and the Pelton Award from the Botanical Society of America, a Guggenheim Fellowship and membership in Belgian and Japanese science organizations. Born in Philadelphia, he earned degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton and then held a three-year fellowship at Harvard, doing research there and at the Swiss Federal Technical Institute. During that fellowship, he became the first person to measure pressure within a plant cell. Green taught at the University of Pennsylvania for 12 years before joining the Stanford faculty in 1971. On Aug. 18 in Stanford of pancreatic cancer.
Dorothy Manners; Hollywood Columnist for Hearst Papers
Dorothy Manners, 95, who followed Louella Parsons as Hollywood columnist for the Hearst newspaper empire. Born in Fort Worth, she moved to Los Angeles as a teenager and got jobs as a film extra working for Cecil B. De Mille. Under contract to Fox, she played leading lady opposite Buck Jones in “Snowdrift” and for Universal starred in “Two Bells for Pegasus.” Deciding she was a “lousy actress,” however, Manners set out to become a writer. She landed a job with the now-defunct Hollywood Citizen, then wrote entertainment features for The Times and then a gossip column for Motion Picture Magazine. In 1945, she became Parsons’ assistant and worked with the powerful columnist until Parsons retired in 1965. Manners took over the column, distributed by Hearst’s King Features Syndicate, for 12 years, until she retired in 1977. Manners was named entertainment columnist of the year by the California Women’s Press Club in 1966 and outstanding Hollywood columnist of 1972 by the Publicist Guild of America. She was married for 10 years to magazine editor Walter Ramsey and for 30 years to real estate businessman John Haskell. On Tuesday in Palm Springs.
Stanley Seiden; Southland Theater Impresario
Stanley Seiden, 76, theater impresario who headed James M. Nederlander Cos. West. Born in New York, Seiden began his career as a Broadway press agent, publicizing the Shuberts and the comedy team Olsen and Johnson and their “Hellzapoppin.” He went on to become a producer, overseeing more than 30 shows on Broadway. Seiden was president of the Nederlander West Coast organization from 1975 until a few months ago, in charge of operations at the Greek, Pantages, Wilshire and Henry Fonda theaters and the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera, now called Broadway/LA. During his tenure, he also started the San Diego Playgoers Series and supervised creation of the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa. Although the new venue brought jobs and business to the area, it also brought a lot of loud sound and complaints from neighbors. Typically, Seiden worked to smooth things over, commenting in The Times: “We’re doing our damnedest to get the problems straightened out. We want to be good neighbors.” Seiden was active in the American Corp. of the Arts, served on the board of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and was president of Hollywood Temple Beth El. On Thursday in Los Angeles of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Carmelita Wayne; Actress and Singer
Carmelita Wayne, 72, actress and singer who organized the docent system for the Pasadena Playhouse. Wayne studied acting at the playhouse’s College of Theatre Arts and went on to perform in more than 65 live and filmed productions. Most recently she acted with the Jill-More Brown Players repertory company. As a singer, Wayne performed with USO troupes during World War II and with several Southern California bands. In recent years she presented songs from the big band era at Barbara’s Steak House in Woodland Hills. An active volunteer, Wayne sang with and helped support the Society of Singers. She also donated her time to the Pasadena Playhouse Alumni & Associates and spearheaded its group of docents, who provide tours of the historic theater. Wayne was a licensed practitioner in Religious Science and helped with programs at its Founders’ Church in Los Angeles. On Aug. 18 in Panorama City.
