Thursday, April 26, 2012

Dorothy Granger





Dorothy Granger was one of  Thelma Todd's friends and costars at the Roach studio.


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    
Dorothy Granger


Born
Dorothy Karolyn Granger
November 21, 1912(1912-11-21)
New London, Ohio U.S.
DiedJanuary 4, 1995(1995-01-04) (aged 82)
Los Angeles, California U.S.
Years active1929-1961
SpouseJohn Hilder (? - ?)
Dorothy Granger (November 21, 1912—January 4, 1995) was an American actress best known for her roles in short subject comedies in Hollywood.

Career

There is some confusion as to the year of Granger's birth. The Social Security Death Index lists it as 1911 as does her death certificate; most biographies say 1912, although at least one site lists the year as 1914. Nineteen twelve is the most likely. Granger, with her parents, two brothers, Richard and James, and their grandmother, Clara (Wilcox) Granger, moved to Los Angeles during the late 1920s.
Granger got her start in the entertainment industry when she won a beauty contest at the age of 13 at Silver Beach Summer Resort near Houston. Her budding figure and confident stage presence were perfect for studios that made comedy shorts. In 1930 her father took her to producer Hal Roach, who was then testing talent for his upcoming comedy series, The Boy Friends. Granger’s natural comedy timing got her the job immediately and she was placed under contract to Hal Roach Studios. She became a charter member of the two-reel-comedy community, appearing opposite many major comedians at Roach, Mack Sennett, Educational Pictures, Columbia Pictures, and RKO Radio Pictures. Among her famous credits are Hog Wild with Laurel & Hardy, The Dentist with W.C. Fields, Punch Drunks and Termites of 1938 with The Three Stooges. Granger also appeared with Andy Clyde, Charley Chase, Edgar Kennedy, Harry Langdon, Gus Schilling & Richard Lane, and Joe DeRita, as well as on live television with Abbott & Costello. Granger is best remembered as the sarcastic, suspicious wife in Leon Errol’s series of two-reelers for RKO.
Granger also appeared in occasional feature films, including North to the Klondike, Sunset in El Dorado, and Dick Tracy vs. Cueball.

Later years

Granger worked on a variety of television shows through the 1950s, including The Abbott and Costello Show, I Married Joan, Father Knows Best, Topper, Lassie, Death Valley Days and Wells Fargo. Her last television performance was a live show on Face The Facts in 1961. Granger left show business in 1963, calling it an “ulcer factory.”
Granger made her last public appearance in 1993 for the Screen Actors Guild’s 60th anniversary celebration. She was an honored guest at the celebration because she was one of SAG’s first members. In later years she helped her husband run an upholstery shop in Los Angeles.

Granger (center) with Moe Howard (left) and Curly Howard (right) in a lobby card for 1934's Punch Drunks

Death

Granger died of cancer on January 4, 1995 in Los Angeles, California.

Partial filmography

External links


   




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When Dorothy Granger was interviewed by Leonard Maltin, she had this to say about Thelma Todd:  "She had a terriffic sense of humor, she always laughing, always breaking up. The only time I did get the giggles, I was doing a picture with Charley Chase called LOOSER THAN LOOSE with Dell Henderson, Thelma, and myself. Something tickled Thelma and me; we started laughing and we couldn't stop. She and Zasu used to look at each other and start to laugh. They'd have to do fifteen, twenty takes."




Thelma Todd and Dorothy Granger



Dorothy Granger and Charley Chase





Christmas









Dorothy Granger as jungle girl "Tarkana" in  THROUGH THIN AND THICKET, OR WHO'S ZOO IN AFRICA




Dorothy Granger gives the Tarkana call!



How to get through thin and thicket, or perhaps other places.



Bye-bye!


Filmography

Actress (256 titles)
1961Dondi
Woman in Grape Hat (uncredited)
1957Death Valley Days (TV series)
Mrs. Isabel
California's First Schoolmarm(1957)… Mrs. Isabel
1957Raintree County
Madame Gaubert (uncredited)
1957The Jack Benny Program (TV series)
Reunion Guest
Mary Has May Co. Reunion(1957)… Reunion Guest
1956The Desperados Are in Town
Molly, Saloon Girl
1955Lassie (TV series)
Grace, Higgy's mother
The Clown(1955)… Grace, Higgy's mother
1955Cameo Theatre (TV series)
The Grown Ones(1955)
1955New York Confidential
Lupo's Secretary (uncredited)
1954I Married Joan (TV series)
1954The Mickey Rooney Show (TV series)
Irma Sanders
The Seance(1954)… Irma Sanders
1953So Big
Mabel(uncredited)
1953Oh, Say Can You Sue (short)
Alice, Andy's Sweetheart
1953The Abbott and Costello Show (TV series)
Arguing Wife / Bit / Miss Smith--Nurse / …
Little Old Lady(1953)… Woman
Bingo(1953)… Bit
The Wrestling Match(1953)… Arguing Wife
Life Insurance(1953)… Miss Smith--Nurse
1952One Minute to Zero
First Nurse (uncredited)
1951Westward the Women
Rejected Woman (uncredited)
1951Racket Squad (TV series)
Molly Wyatt
The Case of the Vain Woman(1951)… Molly Wyatt
1949Wha' Happen? (short)
Commissioner's Wife
1949Mighty Joe Young
Nightclub Patron (uncredited)
1949Miss Mink of 1949
Mrs. Maureen O'Mulvaney
1948The Paleface
Attendant at Bathhouse (uncredited)
1948Sealed Verdict
Edna Brown (Red Cross date)
1948The Strange Mrs. Crane
Jeanette Woods
1948Michael O'Halloran
Ward Nurse (as Dorothy Grainger)
1948The Walls of Jericho
Gossip (uncredited)
1948Pardon My Lamb Chop (short)
Mrs. Schilling
1948Crabbin' in the Cabin (short)
1948A-Hunting They Did Go (short)
1947Wedlock Deadlock (short)
Ruby, Dick's Wife
1947Should Husbands Marry? (short)
Wife of Boss
1947Louisiana
1947The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Wrong Mrs. Follinsbee (uncredited)
1947Killer Dill
Millie Gardner
1947Blondes Away (short)
Mrs. Errol
1947Two Jills and a Jack (short)
1947The Good Bad Egg (short)
Florabelle Priggle
1947Backlash
O'Neil's Secretary (uncredited)
1947The Devil Thumbs a Ride
Pearl (uncredited)
1947Hot Heir (short)
1946Slappily Married (short)
Honey
1946Black Angel
Woman (uncredited)
1946Shadows Over Chinatown
Joan Mercer
1946The Runaround
Hotel Desk Clerk/Switchboard Operator (uncredited)
1946Deadline at Dawn
Ticket Girl (scenes deleted)
1946Two Years Before the Mast
Girl in the Golden Lion (uncredited)
1946Maid Trouble (short)
Mrs. Errol
1945Adventure
Cashier (uncredited)
1945Girls of the Big House
Woman clerk (uncredited)
1945Marshal of Laredo
Suzanne (uncredited)
1945Sunset in El Dorado
Maisie - Switchboard Operator
1945On Stage Everybody
Marlow (uncredited)
1945The Southerner
Party Girl (uncredited)
1945Here Come the Co-eds
Woman in Ballroom (uncredited)
1945The Jade Mask
Stella Graham
1945Under Western Skies
Maybelle
1944Practically Yours
The Sponge Cake Lady (uncredited)
1944One Body Too Many
Mona Rutherford
1944In Society
Hysterical Woman (uncredited)
1944Her Primitive Man
Hatcheck Girl (uncredited)
1944Knickerbocker Holiday
Barmaid (uncredited)
1944Shine on Harvest Moon
Mitzie Menegue (uncredited)
1944Lady in the Dark
Autograph Hunter (uncredited)
1944Chip Off the Old Block
Cab Driver (uncredited)
1943True to Life
Dance Extra (uncredited)
1943Sweet Rosie O'Grady
Flora - Singer (uncredited)
1943Fired Wife
Divorcee (uncredited)
1943A Lady Takes a Chance
Hot Dog Girl (uncredited)
1943Cowboy in Manhattan
Tommy (as Dorothy Grainger)
1943Gem-Jams (short)
Frances Brown, the Buyer
1943Hi'ya, Chum
Babe Fredericks (uncredited)
1943The Amazing Mrs. Holliday
Maid (uncredited)
1942Star Spangled Rhythm
Officer (uncredited)
1942My Heart Belongs to Daddy
Yvonne (uncredited)
1942Rough on Rents (short)
Renter's Wife
1942Dear! Deer! (short)
Woman from Atlantic City
1942The Old Homestead
Moll (uncredited)
1942Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen
Apartment Tenant (uncredited)
1942In Old California
Girl in First Saloon (uncredited)
1942Take a Letter, Darling
Switchboard Operator (uncredited)
1942Pardon My Stripes
Peaches
1942North to the Klondike
Mayme Cassidy
1942The Bugle Sounds
Woman with Cake (uncredited)
1942Home Work (short)
1942USS VD: Ship of Shame
Bar Woman toasting 'Chicken' (uncredited)
1941Who's a Dummy? (short)
1941Honky Tonk
Pearl - Saloon Girl (uncredited)
1941Man-I-Cured (short)
Maizie, mistaken for Betty
1941Unfinished Business
Woman (uncredited)
1941The Lady from Cheyenne
Myrtle (uncredited)
1941City of Missing Girls
Showgirl (uncredited)
1941Back Street
Minor Role (uncredited)
1940When the Daltons Rode
Nancy (as Dorothy Grainger)
1940New Moon
Bridesmaid (uncredited)
1940The Hidden Master (short)
Mrs. Jones (uncredited)
1939When Tomorrow Comes
Waitress (uncredited)
1939Blue Montana Skies
Mrs. Millie Potter
1939The Family Next Door
Heavy Girl (uncredited)
1938Major Difficulties (short)
1938Letter of Introduction
Woman at Barry's Party (uncredited)
1938The Shopworn Angel
Dancer (uncredited)
1938Termites of 1938 (short)
Mrs. Mabel Sturgeon (uncredited)
1937Prescription for Romance
Cashier (uncredited)
1937He Done His Duty (short)
Confidence Girl
1937The Sheik Steps Out
Bit (uncredited)
1937The Road Back
French Girl (uncredited)
1936Camille
Woman in Theater Box (uncredited)
1936Romeo and Juliet(uncredited)
1936Show Boat
New Year's Eve Cutie (uncredited)
1936The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
Fill-in Receptionist (uncredited)
1935His Marriage Mix-up (short)
1935Diamond Jim
Chorine (uncredited)
1935Manhattan Butterfly
Nina Malone (as Dorothy Grainger)
1935Alibi Bye Bye (short)
Dolly
1935Pickled Peppers (short)
1935Wig-Wag (short)
Dorothy
1935Naughty Marietta(uncredited)
1935Vanessa: Her Love Story
Herries Servant (uncredited)
1935Hunger Pains (short)
1935La veuve joyeuse
Maxim's Girl (uncredited)
1934I've Been Around
Girl
1934Fate's Fathead (short)
Fanny McGinnis
1934Perfectly Mismated (short)
1934Kentucky Kernels
Ethel - Baxter's Secretary (uncredited)
1934The Merry Widow
Maxim Girl (uncredited)
1934It's the Cats (short)
1934The Age of Innocence
Ship's Passenger (uncredited)
1934Punch Drunks (short)
Girl
1934Petting Preferred (short)
1934I'll Tell the World
Brown's Girlfriend - the Dancer
1934No More Bridge! (short)
1934Next Week-end (short)
1934Mixed Nuts (short)
Chorine who packs a punch
1934Roast-Beef and Movies (short)
Bit Role (uncredited)
1934Hips, Hips, Hooray!
Miss Cole - Stenographer (uncredited)
1934In the Devildog House (short)
Jennie
1934Nana
Undetermined Role (uncredited)
1934Ten Baby Fingers (short)
1933Marriage on Approval
Hortense Bailey
1933He Couldn't Take It
Grace Clarice
1933Hold Your Temper (short)
1933King for a Night
Dora
1933Only Yesterday
Sally (uncredited)
1933Love, Honor and Oh Baby!
Mrs. Brown
1933Sailors Beware! (short)
1933Daddy Knows Best (short)
Poloni's Girlfriend
1933A Merchant of Menace (short)
1933Sweet Cookie (short)
1933He Learned About Women(uncredited)
1933Easy on the Eyes (short)
Nora's Friend
1933The Gay Nighties (short)
Mrs. Beezley (as Dorothy Grainger)
1933Reckless Decision
Hortense
1933Second Hand Wife
Bit (uncredited)
1932Frisco Jenny
Hortense, Pickpocket (uncredited)
1932Jitters the Butler (short)
Mrs. McPhinn
1932Doubling in the Quickies (short)
Miss Devere - Paragon Leading Actress (uncredited)
1932The Dentist (short)
Miss Peppitone - Patient
1932The Sign of the Cross
Bit Part (uncredited)
1932Merry-Go-Round
Kippie - Party Girl (uncredited)
1932Madison Sq. Garden
Vita-Life Rejuvenator Demonstrator (uncredited)
1932False Impressions (short)
Gertie
1932Courting Trouble (short)
Charlie's Pal's Girlfriend
1932Ma's Pride and Joy (short)
Gay Devere
1932The Giddy Age (short)
Mabel aka Champagne
1932Young Onions (short)
Dorothy
1932His Royal Shyness (short)
Queen
1932Neighbor Trouble (short)
Mrs. Knox - Neighbor
1932Hatta Marri (short)
Hatta Marri
1932The Candid Camera (short)
Mrs. Townes
1932Divorce a la Mode (short)
May King
1932Lighthouse Love (short)
Nanette
1932Listening In (short)
Betty Wilson
1932The Flirty Sleepwalker (short)
Mrs. Denton
1932Heavens! My Husband! (short)
Mrs. Ed Martin
1932Lady! Please! (short)
Mrs. Solino
1932The Beast of the City
Drunken Girl Singing at Party (uncredited)
1932A Woman Commands
Party Girl (uncredited)
1932Shopping with Wifie (short)
Mrs. Ed Martin
1932Keep Laughing (short)
1931The Pottsville Palooka (short)
Mazie De Voe
1931Under 18
Penthouse Party Guest (uncredited)
1931Half Holiday (short)
Lillian - Andy's Date
1931The All-American Kickback (short)
Fake Wife
1931One Good Turn (short)
A Community Player (uncredited)
1931One Quiet Night (short)
1931The Tip-Off
Hatcheck Girl (uncredited)
1931Honeymoon Trio (short)
1931Politics
Newlywed (uncredited)
1931Goldie
Nanette, Girl in Cafe (uncredited)
1931Let's Do Things (short)
Lead Nightclub Dancer (uncredited)
1931Spuk um Mitternacht (short) (uncredited)
1931Love Fever (short)
Dorothy
1931The Pip from Pittsburg (short)
Dot
1931Behind Office Doors
Girl in Duneen's Apartment (uncredited)
1931Thundering Tenors (short)
Dorothy Dillon
1931The Primrose Path
Rita Johnson
1930Ladies Last (short)
Dorothy
1930Looser Than Loose (short)
Maisie Johnson
1930Bigger and Better (short)
Dorothy
1930Dollar Dizzy (short)
Woman Who Drops Her Pearls
1930Doctor's Orders (short)
Dorothy
1930The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case (short)
Young Relative (uncredited)
1930The King (short)
Lady in Waiting (uncredited)
1930Hog Wild (short)
Tillie - the Hardy's Maid (uncredited)
1930Una cana al aire (short)
1930Noche de duendes
Young Woman (uncredited)
1930Radiomanía (short)
1929Dance Hall
Dancer (uncredited)
1929The Sophomore
Co-Ed (uncredited)
1929Words and Music
Bit Part (uncredited)




Soundtrack (3 titles)
1945Under Western Skies(performer: "All You Kids")
1939Blue Montana Skies(performer: "The Old Geezer" 1939 - uncredited)
1932The Fighting Fool(performer: "Under the Western Skies")
Self (2 titles)
1974Omnibus (TV series documentary)
Herself
1952The Colgate Comedy Hour (TV series)
Herself - Actress
Episode #3.13(1952)… Herself - Actress
Archive Footage (7 titles)
1966R.C.M.P. and the Treasure of Genghis Khan (TV movie)
Skagway Kate
1955One Spooky Night (short)
1953Merry Mirthquakes
Mrs. Errol (segment "Lord Epping Returns")
1951Footlight Varieties
Vivian Errol (segment "He Forgot To Remember")
1949Make Mine Laughs
Edited from Beware of Redheads (1945)
1949Down Memory Lane
Dental patient
1948Variety Time
Dorothy Errol (footage from 'Hired Husband')

1945Under Western Skies(performer: "All You Kids")
1939Blue Montana Skies(performer: "The Old Geezer" 1939 - uncredited)
1932The Fighting Fool(performer: "Under the Western Skies")
1974Omnibus (TV series documentary)
Herself
1952The Colgate Comedy Hour (TV series)
Herself - Actress
Episode #3.13(1952)… Herself - Actress
1966R.C.M.P. and the Treasure of Genghis Khan (TV movie)
Skagway Kate
1955One Spooky Night (short)
1953Merry Mirthquakes
Mrs. Errol (segment "Lord Epping Returns")
1951Footlight Varieties
Vivian Errol (segment "He Forgot To Remember")
1949Make Mine Laughs
Edited from Beware of Redheads (1945)
1949Down Memory Lane
Dental patient
1948Variety Time
Dorothy Errol (footage from 'Hired Husband')

 


Alternate Names:

Dorothy Grainger

Height:

5' 4" (1.63 m)

Did You Know?

Trivia:

She won a beauty contest in Texas at age 13.
She played the wife of Leon Errol in a long-running two-reeler series for RKO.
Her last public appearance was in 1993 when the Screen Actors Guild honored its character members who had been issued SAG cards when SAG was founded sixty years earlier.
Once considered for the role of Belle Watling in "Gone With the Wind" by then-director George Cukor, but Cukor was replaced and the part went to actress Ona Munson

 


Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Dawn Star

Thelma Todd at the dawn of her career. Her film career began in the New York area. Afterwards she would go to Hollywood.



THE PARAMOUNT JUNIOR STARS OF 1926

These were the "Fascinating Youth" introduced in the feature of that name. Of the young hopefuls, Buddy Roger achieved the greatest fame in the movies. Thelma Todd was the next most successful and the others trailed somewhere behind them..





Caption from the back of the photo above.





PARAMOUNT'S ASTORIA STUDIO




Paramount still had a studio in New York at the time. Some Broadway stars tried making films there.


EARLY PUBLICITY PHOTOS OF THELMA TODD



An early glamour shot.




Thelma Todd having her hair done at Paramount's acting school.


Thelma Todd's hair.








They had faces then-

And frequently hats, as well.
 
 
 
And they had fun,
 
 
so the studio publicity told us.
 



 The studio decided to cut Thelma Todd's hair, which was going along with a fad they had at the time.




One-Girl Band







 
RUBBER HEELS

With Ed Wynn
 
 
 
 Thelma Todd:
 
 
Before and after the Hollywood treatment.
 
 
 
Silent Hollywood.com Thelma Todd Page: