Muggs

Norma and the cats

by JACK LOFTUS

What sad news to hear about Norma. I will remember her high-pitched voice (did she have any other?), her uncanny knowledge that your Variety ID card was about to expire, and, natch, if you ever went up to the fourth floor you better have a damn good reason. I don’t recall how many cats (the animal kind) guarded that space, tho Norma was a terror if they got out and downstairs where the reporters lived and anything could happen. I miss Norma. I can hear her still…

A vital leak

by MORT BRYER

This happened, I estimate, about twenty years ago, plus. My point of reference is based on the year I moved from the Garden State, (NJ) to lovely, bucolic Connecticut, 1983, and before the big ball knocked down that noble, towering edifice on West 46th Street in early 1988, a period a.k.a. as “after the sale”.
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Norma Nannini

by PETER BESAS

Sadly we must add yet another obit to this webpage. It is for one of the longest-remaining Variety troopers, Norma Nannini, who passed away in New York on August 10th after a long illness. Norma had just turned 70.
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Lyle Stuart

by PETER BESAS

Lyle Stuart, born as Lionel Simon in Manhattan, probably the oldest surviving ex-mugg, died in Englewood, N.J. on June 24th, aged 83. Stuart served a stint on the old Variety in 1946 as a cub reporter. After leaving the company he published a book called “God Wears a Bowtie” a thinly-veiled novel which uses its author’s experiences on the paper as the armature for a first-person assault on Abel Green’s venality. At the time the book came out, it supposedly was read “under the desks” on West 46th Street.
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The last farewell

by IAN WATKINS

Roger’s funeral on Friday, May 5th was attended by over 80 people, including family, friends, neighbours and colleagues. The day was warm and sunny and the organist played “There’s No Business Like Show Business” as we left the chapel. Earlier we heard “Londonderry Air” (Danny Boy) and Dave Brubeck’s “How High The Moon”.

The wake took place at Roger’s local pub, The Minnis, on top of the cliff overlooking the beach at Minnis Bay near his home.

Ex-colleagues from Variety bidding their last farewell were:
Lee Simkins, former London office General Manager
Fabienne Lewis, Roger’s secretary/personal assistant
David Copeman, former London Ad Salesman
Zoe Hoenig, former London Office Assistant

My brother, Andrew, spoke a few words of thanks and talked about Roger as a father. I read some of the tributes that appear on Simesite and many guests asked for the Simesite website address so that they could read all of them.

Jean-Luc Renaud, Roger’s most recent business partner, read the tribute that he has posted on his site: www.dvd-intelligence.com