A Blog For Thelma Todd
Thelma Todd was a star of silent movies and later the talkies. She is remembered as much today for her mysterious death as she is for her films. In this blog, we take a look at Thelma Todd, her movies, and various commentaries.
Wheeler and Woolsey were famous as movie comedians. They also appeared in SUPERMAN comic books as a couple of bumbling magicians named "Hocus" and "Pocus".
The characters as drawn in the comics are similar to Wheeler and Woolsey and even appear to be wearing similar costumes. Their rabbit can be seen as similar to Bugs Bunny, who was in animated cartoons and had already done a Superman parody in 1943.
Description from the "Supermanica" site:
Hocus and Pocus
The professional names employed by a pair of likeable, ingenuous, gullible fellows, their real names are Doc and Flannelhead, who start out as street corner salesmen of magic books, only to have their lives transformed when a series of bizarre coincidences convinces them that they have somehow become gifted with magical powers (Act No. 83, Apr 1945: "Hocus and Pocus... Magicians by Accident!").
Doc, better known as Hocus, is the brains of the outfit; he is a wiry little fellow with a moustache, eyeglasses, and an ever-present derby hat "who speaks like a college professor but has the trusting simplicity of a child!" His companion, Flannelhead, better known as Pocus, a brawny, dim-witted fellow who murders the King's English whenever he speaks, "has the strength of an ox...and about the same I.Q.!" Together with their "mascot," a white rabbit named Moiton (Act No. 88, Sep 1945: "The Adventure of the Stingy Men!"), the pair inhabit a furnished room in Mrs. Flaherty's Boarding House, somewhere in Metropolis (Act No. 83, Apr 1945: "Hocus & Pocus... Magicians by Accident!"). Superman No. 45/1 refers to them as "that hilarious pair of cuckoo conjurers" (Mar/Apr 1947: "Lois Lane, Superwoman!"), and, because their magical feats work only through either coincidence or the surreptitious intervention of Superman, they are frequently described as "magicians by accident" (Act No. 97, Jun 1946: "The Magician'™s Convention!"; and others).
Action Comics #83 - first appearence of Hocus and Pocus.
Action Comics #97 - Superman makes it appear as if they can work magic.
"Lois Lane, Superwoman" was reprinted in the book SUPERMAN: FROM THE THIRTIES TO THE SEVENTIES. Here are a couple of pages that I scanned.
Wheeler and Woolsey frequently worked with Dorothy Lee.
They also worked with Thelma Todd,
Barbara Pepper,
And Lupe Velez.
Watch Wheeler and Woolsey with Dorothy Lee and Thelma Todd in a scene from HIPS, HIPS, HURRAY!
TARZAN AND THE CITY OF GOLD was one of the original Tarzan stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs, which was subsequently adapted to different media. It has been suggested by one of Burroughs' biographers that Thelma Todd may have been a souce of inspiration for the character of "Queen Nemone", who appears in this story. Burroughs lived in the Los Angeles area and was involved in the production Tarzan movies. He was acquainted with Thelma Todd around the time he wrote this book.
Edgar Rice Burroughs and Maureen O'Sullivan at a book signing at the May company in 1932.
From wikkipedia:
Tarzan and the City of Gold is a novel written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the sixteenth in his series of books about the title character Tarzan. The novel was originally serialized in the magazine Argosy from March through April 1932
After encountering and befriending Valthor, a warrior of the lost city of Athne (whom he rescues from a group of bandits known as shiftas), the City of Ivory and capital of the land of Thenar, Tarzan is captured by the insane yet beautiful queen Nemone of its hereditary enemy, Cathne, the City of Gold, capital of the land of Onthar. This novel is perhaps best known for two scenes; in the first, Tarzan is forced to fight Cathne's strongest man Phobeg in its arena. While an ordinary man might have been in trouble, Tarzan easily overpowers Phobeg. The second scene, in which Tarzan is forced to fight a lion, starts with the ape man being forced to run away from a hunting lion, Belthar, which will hunt him down and kill him. Tarzan at first believes he can outrun the beast (lions tire after the first 100 yards at top speed). This lion, however, is of a breed specifically selected for endurance, and ultimately Tarzan must turn to face him, though aware that without a knife he can do little but delay the inevitable. Fortunately his own lion ally, Jad-bal-ja, whom he had raised from a cub, arrives and intervenes, killing Belthar and saving Tarzan. Nemone, who believes her life is linked to that of her pet, kills herself when it dies.
Unusually for lost cities in the Tarzan series, which are typically visited but once, Cathne and Athne reappear in a later Tarzan adventure, Tarzan the Magnificent (The only other lost city Tarzan visits more than once is Opar).
In the cartoon series Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle, elements from this story was used in "Tarzan and the City of Gold," "Tarzan's Return to the City of Gold," and "Tarzan and the Soul Stealer." A big difference is that the City of Gold was renamed Zandor and had been at war with Athne. In all three episodes, Tarzan had to deal with Queen Nemone (voiced by Joan Gerber in the first two appearances, Hettie Lynn Hurtes in the third appearance) and Tomos (voiced by Alan Oppenheimer). Another difference is that Phobeg (voiced by Ted Cassidy in the first two appearances, Alan Oppenheimer in the third appearance) becomes Tarzan's ally in those episodes.
References
Bleiler, Everett (1948). The Checklist of Fantastic Literature. Chicago: Shasta Publishers. pp. 67.
Chalker, Jack L.; Mark Owings (1998). The Science-Fantasy Publishers: A Bibliographic History, 1923-1998. Westminster, MD and Baltimore: Mirage Press, Ltd.. pp. 133.
Ad in BLUEBOOK announcing the publication of the book.
The story was adapted into the Tarzan comic strip in 1934.The comic strip version had art by Rex Mason, his Queen Nemone was very similar to J. Allan St. John's version.
The Queen Nemone depicted by J. Allan St. John and Rex Mason resembles Thelma Todd somewhat, but it could be a sort of period look. J. Allan St. John was a classical artist and worked from live models. It is likely that his Nemone resembled the model he was using.
* * *
THE BIG SWINGERS by Robert W. Fenton
This was one of the older biographies of Edgar Rice Burroughs. In writing about the book TARZAN AND THE CITY OF GOLD, Fenton pointed out that this book differed from the past several Tarzan tales in that Tarzan was depicted as being attracted to a woman other than Jane, who was missing from this as well as several other adventures in this period. Burroughs himself had separated from his first wife and so it looked as if art might be imitating life.
Fenton felt that the "City Of Gold" might symbolize Hollywood, and that the queen of the city might represent a "movie queen". He felt that the name "Nemone" was derived from "Nemesis", who represented retribution in Greek mythology. And he suggested that Thelma Todd might have been one of the sources of inspiration for this character.
But the death of Thelma Todd could not be related to the end of the fictional Nemone, as Fenton might have thought. Thelma Todd was still alive when Burroughs' book was published. My brother Dale has remarked that this story has much the same plot as H. Rider Haggard's SHE, and that queen also meets her end in the final part of that story.
The character of Nemonde could be seen as a classical temptress, or a silent movie vamp, which would be much the same thing. Thelma Todd had been a silent movie vamp and in the thirties was still termed a vamp, even though that term was no longer considered fashionable. So the character could be said to resemble one that Thelma Todd might have played.
Burroughs frequently displayed disappointment or even disgust with his fellow man in the Tarzan stories. Tarzan was supposed to think that his animal friends were better in some ways than people, because they would never do some of the things that people do. So one more story where people - perhaps even Thelma Todd - might be viewed with a critical eye would not really be too surprising.
In 1932, the long-running Tarzan series with Johnny Weissmuller began with MGM's TARZAN THE APEMAN. Here we see Burroughs with Maureen O'Sullivan and Johnny Weissmuller.
Johnny Weissmuller, Thelma Todd, and Santa Monica life guard, 1935. Johnny Weissmuller was an Olympic swimmer prior to playing Tarzan in the movies. Thelma Todd lived near the Pacific ocean and we see pictures like this that associate her with swimming.
Lupe Velez was Johnny Weissmuller's second wife. Lupe Velez began her career at the Roach studio and worked with Laurel and Hardy. She was also in the movie PALOOKA with Thelma Todd.
Watch the cartoon version at the Big Cartoon Database:
A number of movie stars were the victims of extortion plots. Thelma Todd was one. Fay Wray was another.
Fay Wray, intended victim!
Los Angeles Examiner
July 15, 1928
Fay Wray, motion-picture actress, was the intended victim of a boldextortion plot, her mother was marked for death, and the suspected extortionist was captured, all within a the span of two hours yesterday.
The suspect was captured by Captain of Detectives Edward Slaughter and a squad of officers while in the act of recovering a packet of fake money at the rendezvous of the “pay-off.” He gave his name as Lyon I. Bernard, 35, of 521 South Cloverdale Street, and a friend of the Wray family.
To avoid arrest, he tried to “shoot it out” with his captors, but was overpowered.
Miss Wray is the bride of John Monk Saunders, scenarist and author. They returned from their honeymoon a few days ago.
EXTORTION MESSAGE
Miss Wray, who resides at 7919 Thelma avenue, was handed a message at her home shortly after noon yesterday by a special delivery postal messenger. On the envelope was inscribed:
“12:15 p.m. Saturday.
“Quiet is necessary to save dear old mother at once today, Saturday the fourteenth. Mum!”
The envelope contained the following grim message, crudely printed in pencil:
“Say the life of your mother is in great danger and only the payment by you of $2,000 will save her life. She is being watched constantly. Don’t be foolish or call the police. In fact, don’t tell a soul of this. Follow instructions and she will not be harmed.
CURRENCY DEMANDED
“Get money in assorted currency, wrapped in newspaper. Then get in your car and drive to a vacant lot at Sunset and Laurel Avenue.
“You will notice some tall weeds growing on the west side of Laurel avenue between the street and the sidewalk. Slow up as you pass these and throw money here. Then drive straight down Laurel to Santa Monica. Drive like hell!” As long as nothing happens to us your mother is safe. Don’t even tell your husband.
“If we are huntedgood-by Mother!”
The letter was unsigned.
Miss Wray immediately notified Captain of Detectives Edward Slaughter at Hollywood station. Time was scarce–less then an hour to work before the appointed “delivery” of the money.
POLICE AT SCENE
Captain Slaughter, with several detectives, hastened to the rendezvous. He stationed Detective Lieutenant Jackson in a house across from the vacant lot. Captain Slaughter and Detective Lieutenant Page concealed themselves near the lot on Sunset boulevard. Detective Lieutenant Dwight was posted 500 feet north of the lot.
Miss Wray, alone in her car, drove to the appointed spot. Driving slowly past the lot she tossed the decoy packet into the weeds and drove rapidly toward Santa Monica Boulevard.
The officers waited. Half a block from the vacant lot they espied a man,without a coat, nervously sitting in a parked automobile. For almost an hour the suspect “stalled.” He stepped from his car, paced slowly back and forth in front of the lot, scanning the weeds. Several times he got back in his car and drove around the block.
GETS DECOY PACKAGE
Finally the suspect returned to the lot. He again alighted from his car and advanced into the weeds. He picked up the decoy package and returned to his car.
As he was climbing into his car, the detectives rushed him. He drew the pistol–aimed–and it misfired. The gun was knocked from his his hand and he was arrested.
“I was broke,” Bernard told his captors. “I knew Miss Wray in her schooldays. I went to school with her brother and sister back in Bingham Canyon, Utah.
“I knew she deeply loved her mother, Mrs. Vina Wray. I knew Mrs. Wray lived at 1332 Sierra Bonita avenue. I thought I could get away with it.”
Bernard said he was married.
Miss Wray faced him in the station and asked him why he did it. Bernard broke down and wept. He is charged with suspicion of extortion.
Hollywood's unsolved mysteries. This isn't a very good copy, but I'll go ahead and post it, maybe a better copy will turn up eventually.
Much of this is standard stuff, about the same as you see in other accounts, although I'm not familiar with, Ross Alexander who they say was shot four months after marrying Anna Nagel. They might have made a bigger deal of that in England ( this is an English publication ) than they did here, Anna Nagel was English.
Born as Dorothy Jean LeVake, Jean Darling's name was legally changed to Jean Darling when she was 5 months old, a few days after her mother and father split. She began in movies at six months old as a freelance baby. She got her break in 1926 when she passed her screen test and was accepted for a part in Hal Roach's OUR GANG series. Darling appeared in 46 silents and 6 talkies with Our Gang" during this period.
. Darling appeared in 46 silents and 6 talkies with Our Gang" during this period.
She continued to appear in films after leaving the gang, including an appearance in Laurel & Hardy's adaptation of Babes in Toyland (uncredited) and as the young Jane in Jane Eyre, both in 1934. A round of stage and radio shows followed. Stage shows involved up to seven performances a day. It was a punishing schedule for a fourteen-year-old, and that was not taking into account her educational studies. Darling began to study singing, and in 1940 she was given a scholarship by the New York Municipal Opera Association. She turned down an offer to play alongside Mickey Rooney in one of the MGMAndy Hardy movies.[citation needed]
Instead, she went on Broadway, making her debut in the musical Count Me In in 1942. Darling's stage career hit a real high when she landed the role of Carrie Pipperidge in the original Broadway production of Carousel in 1945. She appeared in 850 consecutive performances.[1]
Her role as Carrie helped her with parts for radio and TV in the 1950s and Jean hosted her own television show for NBC in New York City, A Date with Jean Darling. Her daily TV show for women, The Singing Knit-Witch, was aired on KHJ-TV in Hollywood.
Personal life
Jean Darling married Reuben Bowen (aka Kajar the Magician); they had one son, Roy.
Reuben Bowen died of cancer August 22, 1980. She has remained a widow, having never remarried.
Jean has outlived every original Our Gang member.
Later years
Since 1974, Darling has been living in Dublin, Ireland, where she has written mystery stories and has had over 50 short stories published in the Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine and Whispers.
As "Aunty Poppy", she reads stories, which she wrote herself, on RTÉ radio and TV. She has also written plays for radio and has worked as a journalist.
And she's a member of the "Our Gang" group on yahoo today.
How do we know she's the real McCoy, or at least, the real Jean Darling?
"You've gotta be kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am me. How do I
know?
My cat and dog both recognized me!!!!!!!!!"
-Jean
Darling
"Yes I am the real Jean Darling!!
I
pinched myself to make sure and it HURT!"
-Jean Darling
Jean Darling on other child stars who thought they had missed out on something as a result of their careers:
"When I was a little girl I knew Dickie Moore and Jackie Cooper. I was
always sorry for them as they never got over the fact that their
“childhood had been stolen” which is absolutely ridiculous.
From
hangnails to stubbed toes and unwanted rain, all has been blamed on this
--- a handy way to shirk responsibility for one’s actions. Sadly, many of
the child “stars” have chosen to be “victims”.
Although Jackie has had a
wonderful career he never was able to reach the height of acclaim he
garnered as a child star. And it’s the trying to recapture this childhood
adulation that is long gone with the stretching of the legs that sours
memories.
From being a 6 months old freelance baby I worked in
films, Vaudeville radio and stage plays --- have worked ALL my life from
then till now and am pleased to report my childhood WAS NOT STOLEN ---
just different and it has given me a wondrous archive of memories with
which to write
my own books."
Our Gang in 1929: Joe Cobb, Allen "Farina" Hoskins, Harry Spear, Jean Darling, Mary Ann Jackson, Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins, and Pete the Pup.
Jean Darling on OUR GANG:
"Roach did 3 kid comedies in 1919.They were not successful because of
being banned for allowing a black child to play with white ones. So, the idea
was abandoned. Harold Lloyd, who was in partnership with Roach, objected to
his producing kid comedies and stealing Sunshine Sammy,this led to their
break up. Sadly these first films were lost when the film safe combusted in
28 or
29 and a great many of Lloyd's films and negatives were also lost. The
film safe was a cinder block house on the lawn outside the executive
offices.It had a safe door on one side. I have a photo of me backed by the
safe in which you can see this door. You can imagine the flap when Lloyd, who
was retrieving his old films, discovered this terrible loss
In 22
Roach had an idea, a black servent, maid or handy man would explain a
black
child, this was a success and so OUR GANG was born."
Our Gang, 1930
(L to R) Pete the pup, Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins, Jean Darling, Mary Ann Jackson, Allen "Farina" Hoskins, Harry Spear, Joe Cobb, Norman "Chubby" Chaney.
"Just thought you might like to know that there was no racial
anything on the Roach lot and as far as I was concerned Farina was just a bit
darker than I was. His mother was wonderful and much loved by me because she
cuddled me and listened to me as though what said was important unlike Mamma
who was always more interested in how I looked and how well I minded Mr.
McGowan.
The only one in Allen's family I didn't like was his sister and that
had nothing to do with color --- she had sharp little teeth that were
always sunk into the nearest person and usually that was me! To me all the
flap about any kind of difference is nonsense. Either a person is nice or
not
--- it is the heart that counts."
Jean Darling's furry little friends:
Thelma Todd and Pete the Pup in publicity still.
"Pete was supposedly killed by "someone" throwing some chopped beef filled
with ground glass over the"fence". As Petey was never loose except on
the set it has always seemed rather far fetched to me. Petey
was the dearest sweetest dog in the world and when I was punished
with a switch Mamma kept in her handbag, he would come over and comfort
me.
Another animal who was my friend was Josephine, a
little monkey. Tony her owner was an organ grinder who
loved Josephine to bits. He was a happy jolly man. They
often worked at fairs and on Hollywood Blvd. Josephine was in many
Hal Roach movies besides the GANG."
Josephine the monkey as Mickey Mouse in BABES IN TOYLAND
Jean Darling as "Curly Locks" in BABES IN TOYLAND.
Oliver Hardy with Jean Darling
Laurel and Hardy and the gang.
Jean Darling had a little to say about Thelma Todd:
"When I knew Thelma her favourite song was BYE-BYE BLACKBIRD!
She used to pull my curls and say, you're so pretty --- don't grow up like me!"
And I never knew what Thelma meant until long after she died.
I thought she meant to be more careful with whom I dated. And not think being pretty was the most important thing.
In the beginning Thelma had depended on her looks and it wasn't until she was older that she became a good actress as well as beautiful. She was always saying how important it was to know your trade and it worried her that so much of her career was in rushing from one bit part to another."
Jean did her part to contribute to the war effort during the second World War:
"I was the first everhospital unit (alone). Special Services gave me
travel orders to return to Naples
after Eddie Foy Jr, John Garfield and
the rest of the unit opted to go home. We left the States
Feb. 14,
1944, we were supposed to be overseas for six months. they all went home
in April.
As far as I was concerned it was nuts to
perform for troops in the war zone, they had enough to
contend
with. I asked to go back to Naples to sing in the hospitals where a
pretty girl from home could do more good. It was a very sad time with
Cassino and the Anzio Beach Head where more were wounded than
the hospitals could deal with. I stayed on till Sept. going from
ward
to ward and comforting those on stretchers that over
flowed into the arena at Bagnoli, the stadium built for the
Olympics.
I am mentioned in the obituary of James FC Hyde, Jr. a
soldier I visited every day until he was sent home. He felt my
visits were instrumental in saving his life. Jim went on to work
for six Presidents.
If you are interested, find someone who has my
book BUTTERCAKES AND BANANA OIL, my time overseas is
written there."
Jean Darling went on to further success in many fields.
Jean Darling in the Broadway hit CAROUSEL, 1945
Them horses ain't the only ones that's got legs, ya know!
We have seen before how other books about the movies have many mistakes in them. Jean Darling says the books about OUR GANG also have their share of mistakes:
"I think the nice Leonard ( Maltin ) let Bann do the GANG book. As Bann claimed to be the end-all know-all about the GANG, Leonard naturally let him take care of the information in the book.The
most charming facet of Dick Bann's character is that when you say that something in the book about you is wrong, he gets furious and insists that you don't know what you are talking about. In the second edition of the GANG BOOK called LITTLE RASCALS he still says I was in BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN and was in Vaudeville with Peggy Eames, Harry Spear and Scooter Lowery. Both are WRONG. And he also says that I am touring Ireland as an Irish character called Aunty Poppy. WRONG!!!!! I am Aunty Poppy, I chose the name because the California Poppy is my State flower. I wrote and read the stories on RTE radio and television for 8 years beginning in February 1980. As for touring, I road two miles to RTE on my motorcycle! When I told him about the errors he said he has proof that everything he writes is right! Just how ridiculous is that? Like I don't know how I lived my own life."
Somebody else in the Our Gang group said that the mistakes were repeated from other sources. That's often the way it is.
And here is a message from Jean Darling about my blog:
"Dear Benny
Just to let you know errors have been copied in your blog and I'm sure you
wish it to be correct.
The photo with Mary Pickford Is NOT me it is Shirley Jean Rickhert now
deceased.
She followed me in the GANG and left after 3 or 4 comedies.
My name was legally changed to my mother's middle name, Darling, when I was
5 months old, a few days after she and my father split.
My husband, Reuben Bowen aka Kajar the Magician, died of cancer August 22,
1980.
I have remained a widow, having never remarried.
I would appreciate your making these changes and I thank you for taking all
the trouble to blog me.
Bye for now,
Jean Darling"
I have made the corrections she wished. - Benny Drinnon
)
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Our Gang club on yahoo: