Tulsa Daily World

Saturday August 23, 1941

TULSA SHOW MAN CLAIMED BY DEATH

Funeral Services at 2 P.M. Today

for Music Lover, Robert Boice Carson

The life of Robert Boice Carson, 67 years old, for more than 20 years the man who brought to Tulsans the finest entertainment the world knows, ended at 3:40 a.m. Friday in a Tulsa hospital. He had undergone an abdominal operation two days previously and had not rallied.

Funeral services for the widely-known Tulsa impressario and voice instructor, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday from the First Methodist church, with Dr. Golder Lawrence, pastor, officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park cemetery under the direction of the Guardian funeral home. The original plans set funeral time at 3 p.m., but it was changed to 2 p.m. The body will lie in state from 9 to 12 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, friends of the family, said.

Born in Rossville, Ind., Carson all his life was a music lover and devoted practitioner, having studied with the greatest teachers of his day in New York, France, England and Germany. His return to the United States from European study launched him into musical livelihood in Denver, Colo., and Chicago and after he came to Tulsa in 1915, he took active part in the development and leadership of the First Methodist church choir, and for over a decade was its leader. In recent years, however, failing health brought less active participation.

Known for productions

In Tulsa he was best known for the innumerable musical and dramatic productions he brought to the city. In recent years Mrs. Carson has also directed such efforts.

So active was Carson in promoting all things musical that during the World War he led rousing wartime songs, joined in singing by citizens, from a platform built downtown. Harry Kiskaddon furnished his vocal accompaniment with hand organ. Also active in the war song program was the late A.D. Young, Tulsa business man and trumpet player, a brother of Mrs. R. F. MacArthur.

Before coming to Tulsa, Carson went to Portland, Ore., where he met Miss Beatrice Williams, a public school music teacher. He later married her and they came to Tulsa, where he joined the fine arts faculty at old Henry Kendall college, now the University of Tulsa.

His first venture in bringing stupendous productions here came while he was at the university. A New York firm asked him to sponsor a concert by John McCormack, the Metropolitan opera tenor, for a $2,500 guarantee. Carson refused but the Apollo club men’s chorus accepted and the house was packed.

Thrills, Disappointment

Two years after coming here he began teaching independently and he and his wife maintained large voice studios. Association with the star-studded music and drama clique gave Carson his greatest thrills and darkest moments. Many times the Convention hall was filled to overflowing for a show he brought here; other times it was virtually deserted.

These setbacks never halted his quest for fine entertainment, however, and the greatest names in the music and theatrical world have visited here for performances. Most thrilling occasion in his memory was the night Tulsa laid over $19,000 in the cash box to hear the great Caruso. Other greats to be here were Galli-Curci and the Metropolitan opera quartet.

Active Pallbearers

His funeral will be attended by hundreds of friends. Active pallbearers will be Ray Hickerson, E. E. Clulow, Reuben Leekley, Leo Towers, T. L. Briggs and Fred C. Hansen. Honorary pallbearers will be Ralph Talbor, Robert Moody, Roscoe Adams, Ralph Kistler, E. D. Robinson, George Oscar Bowen, Joe Parker, Louis Sykes, Christ Economou, J. H. McBirney, W. O. Buck, Allan Pritchard, Fred T. Hildt, M. K. McBride, John Denny, J. A. Whitlow, Henry Lash, W. Z. Zollinger, Ben Connor, J. M. Chandler, Rex Justus, James Geilgood, Dr. C. W. Kerr, Ross Rayburn and John W. Donnelly.

His survivors include the widow, Mrs. Beatrice Carson, of the home, 1817 South Boston; two sons, Richard C. Carson, also of the home, and Robert Boice Carson, Jr., Tulsa; a daughter, Mrs. O. A. Douglas, Kerrville, Texas, and a sister, Miss Henrietta Carson, Canon City, Colo.

Music at the funeral will be furnished by Frances Wellmon Anderson, organist, accompanying the First Methodist church choir and vocal soloists will be Wayne Goble, Mrs. Leo Towers and Irene Holtz.

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