Al Kikume

Al Kikume
Kikume in Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla, 1952
Born
Elmer Kikumi Gozier

(1894-10-09)October 9, 1894
Kauaʻi County, Hawaii, U.S.
DiedMarch 27, 1972(1972-03-27) (aged 77)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other nameElmer Kikume
OccupationsActor, stuntman, musician, bandleader
Years active1933–1954
Spouse(s)Virgil Edna Smith
(m. circa 1911; died 1925[citation needed])
ChildrenBernard Kikume Gozier
(aka Bernie Gozier)

Al Kikume (born Elmer Kikumi Gozier; October 9, 1894 – March 27, 1972) was an American actor, musician, and bandleader of Hawaiian descent. He was a frequently featured musical performer—on radio, preceding silent film screenings, and at miscellaneous live events—during the 1920s and early thirties, as well as a familiar face among supporting actors in Hollywood jungle movies during the thirties, forties and fifties.

Early life and career

Kikume was born in Kauaʻi County, Hawaii. Known for his association with Honolulu's Royal Hawaiian Band, as well as revivals of the Broadway play, Bird of Paradise, Kikume's first credited screen appearance was as "Chief Mehevi" in John Ford's The Hurricane (1937).

Personal life and death

By no later than 1911, Kikume was married to Virgil Edna Smith, with whom he had one son, Bernard Kikume Gozier, aka Bernie Gozier. Gozier went on to have a substantial Hollywood career of his own, both as bit player and stuntman, appearing in at least one film, Green Dolphin Street, alongside his father.

Kikume died in Los Angeles on March 27, 1972.

Partial filmography

References

  1. ↑ "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPH5-YTJN : Sat Mar 09 10:22:34 UTC 2024), Entry for Bernard Kikume Gozier and Albert Kikume Gozier, 21 January 1912
  2. 1 2 "Alaska Is Cold, But Music Is Hot". The Cincinnati Post. September 11, 1943. p. 9.
  3. 1 2 "United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V4D7-DXF : Sat Feb 24 02:27:30 UTC 2024), Entry for Elmer Kikumi Gozier, 1942.
  4. ↑ "Radio Programs: Al Kikume – Hawaiian Orchestra". Oregon Journal. September 25, 1924. p. 25. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Hawaiian Players With Kline Known Well by Radio Fans". The Roeburg News-Review. May 19, 1925. p. 3. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  6. ↑ "On Calgary's Silent Stages: Queen's Hawaiians at Capitol Theatre All Next Week; 'Cold Steel' Is Booked for the Capitol Theatre". Calgary Herald. August 13, 1921 p. 12. Retrieved November 22, 2024. See also:
  7. ↑ "Entertain Clubmen" Albany Democrat-Herald. June 11, 1925. p. 2. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  8. 1 2 "Al Kikume Filmography". American Film Institute.
  9. ↑ "Sherman, Clay & Co.: Ukeleles – Kikume". The Oregon Daily Journal. November 8, 1926. p. 3. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  10. ↑ "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPH5-YTJN : Sat Mar 09 10:22:34 UTC 2024), Entry for Bernard Kikume Gozier and Albert Kikume Gozier, 21 January 1912.
  11. ↑ Freese, Gene Scott (2014). Hollywood Stunt Performers, 1910s-1970s: A Biographical Dictionary, 2d ed.. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 109. ISBN 978-0-7864-7643-5.
  12. ↑ Sorensen, Sterling (Nov 27, 1947). "Movies, Music, Shows in Madison: 'Green Dolphin Street'". The Madison Capital Times. p. 45. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  13. ↑ "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG64-KW58 : Fri Mar 08 17:17:16 UTC 2024), Entry for Elmer K Gozier, 27 March 1972.
  14. ↑ "Joyland Will Present 'Night in Honolulu'". The Grass Valley Union. March 3, 1932. p. 3. Retrieved November 22, 2024.