Patricia Bowman, Prima Ballerina at ABT
Patricia Bowman, a founding member of American Ballet Theater and the prima ballerina of the Radio City Music Hall ballet when the venue opened in 1932, died on March 18 at her home in Las Vegas.
Bowman was believed to be in her early to mid-90s. Bowman, a Washington native, was a protegee of Michael Fokine, who choreographed solos for her, which she performed on the vaudeville circuit and as a guest artist with ballet troupes.
She also appeared in the "Ziegfeld Follies of 1934," on Broadway in "Rhapsody" in 1944 and had her own CBS TV series in 1951.
Andrew J. Loyla, 68, NYCB's Principal Flutist
Andrew J. Loyla, the principal flutist of the New York City Ballet Orchestra for nearly 30 years, died on Sat., April 17 of cancer, at St. Agnes Hospital in White Plains, N.Y.
Loyla attended Juilliard on the G.I. Bill, becoming well-known in orchestral circles.
He played principal flute for the Joffrey, Royal, Royal Danish, Bolshoi, and Kirov Ballets.
Loyla was also on the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music in New York.
Loyla is survived by a sister, two children, a nephew, and four grandchildren.
Buddy Rogers, 94, Co-Starred With Clara Bow
Charles "Buddy" Rogers, who married Mary Pickford and co-starred with Clara Bow in the 1927 film "Wings," the first Oscar-winner for Best Picture, died Wed., April 21, at his home in California. He was 94.
For his leading role as an All-American airman in "Wings," Paramount Pictures gave Rogers $65 and three suits of clothes. A few months later, he was cast opposite Pickford in "My Best Girl." Smitten by America's Sweetheart, he had to wait 10 years before he was able to marry her, following her divorce from Douglas Fairbanks.
Rogers also became a bandleader who appeared on Broadway, and served in the Navy as a real-life flight training instructor during WWII.