Press agent Bill Schelble dies

Former theatrical press agent Bill Schelble, who symbolized numerous shows in NY and on the highway, died of natural causes in Milwaukee on Jan. 9. He was 81. Schelble started his showbiz career as personal assistant to author-director Burt Shevelove, employment that involved focus on TV musical productions and also on Shevelove-helmed Broadway productions including "An Interesting Factor Happened in order to the Forum." Schelble grew to become a press agent in 1970, first representing shows staged at Lincoln subsequently Center Theater including productions of "Playboy from the Civilized World," "Twelfth Evening" and "A Streetcar Named Desire." Later he repped Broadway productions including "A Chorus Line" and "Amadeus." Frequently known as "Smilin' Broadway Bill" and well-known for his encyclopedic understanding of theater history, Schelble ended his career like a Tony Award nominator. Edward William Schelble was created in Milwaukee and was initially attracted towards the theater via a childhood encounter with Katharine Hepburn. He carried out in summer time stock within the Area, experiencing Geraldine Page, who urged the budding actor analyzed for 2 years at Marquette U. and gone to live in La, where he analyzed in the Pasadena Playhouse and managed to get into "Singin' while it is rainingInch like a background dancer. Throughout the Korean War he offered within the Military Stateside. Schelble moved to NY City in 1955 in further quest for an acting career but eventually grew to become a press agent. He's made it by two siblings and diverse nephews and nieces. Donations might be designed to Broadway Cares, 165 W. 46th St., Suite 1300, NY, NY 10036 (attention: Care Cards) or online at Broadwaycares.org in order to the Alzheimer's disease Assn., 620 S. 76th St., Suite 160, Milwaukee, WI 53214. Contact Variety Staff at news@variety.com