From Laurel and Hardy Central
Signing autographs on the set of PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES.
A
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.
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Laurel And Hardy Signing Autographs
From Laurel and Hardy Central
Signing autographs on the set of PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES.
A
Autographed
A
Enscribed to "Fred, a true friend with or without his iron." This appears to have been a golf reference.
A
Enscribed to "Fred, a true friend with or without his iron." This appears to have been a golf reference.
A
Autographed Thelma Todd Picture
Thelma Todd and Gallant. "To Cathryn/With kind regards/Thelma/Todd". Sepia, 8x10.
A
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Another Mailer
This mailer has Thelma Todd's name written on the bottom of it. That writing resembles the printed signature that represents her autographs, but someone else may have written it.
A
Thelma Todd Autographed Photo And Mailer
First National sent out this autographed photo of Thelma Todd in this mailer, which had her autograph printed on it. The movie star photos supplied by the studios in this period were usually signed by people like secretaries, so the signature on the photo may not actually be by Thelma Todd either.
A
Sunday, November 26, 2017
Thelma Todd Autograph
Posted by Jax Linton in the Thelma Todd Fans group on facebook:
From my grandmother Adrienne(Godin) Lister's autograph book Lawrence MA in 1921. It was from Lawrence High School. They were neighbors and school chums.
This reads, "When you are married,
And stand over the tub,
Don't forget your friend far away,
And please remember me
with every rub.
Thelma Todd
Feb. 16, 1921 Class ( of ) '23"
* * *
I would interpret the part about standing over the tub to being a reference to giving a baby a bath, but they also used to wash clothes by hand in a washtub. I remember seeing an old woman washing clothes in a tub with a scrub board when I was small, but I think that must have been an archaic practice in these parts even then.
A
Saturday, November 25, 2017
Thelma Todd And Ruth Etting Photo
Thelma Todd and Ruth Etting in a publicity photo for HIPS, HIPS HOORAY ( 1934 ), an RKO production starring Wheeler and Woolsey. Thelma Todd and Ruth Etting were both in the movie, but did not appear together in any scene in the film.
*Ruth Etting starred in a series of musical short subjects for RKO. Like many of the stars she is considered to have had underworld connections, mainly because of her husband, Moe Snyder.
Ruth Etting:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0262190/
A
OLLY OF THE MOVIES - FAMOUS FUNNIES #70
Olly's friend Irma.
Celebrities were worried about kidnapping in the thirties because of the Lindbergh kidnapping case. Thelma Todd was one of a number of movie stars who was the target of kidnap threats in this period.
A
Friday, November 24, 2017
Thursday, November 23, 2017
Happy Thanksgiving
An early publicity picture of Thelma Todd with beans because of the association of beans with Boston. She wasn't from Boston anyway ( she was from Lawrence ), but they didn't let that stop them.
She has about the same look here as in this autographed picture which I posted recently. They both would have been taken during the same period.
A
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Monday, November 20, 2017
Happy Thanksgiving
From Shirley Temple!
Shirley Temple rides atop a float promoting for her televisions series, Shirley Temple's Storybook, in the 1959 Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.
A
Happy Thanksgiving
From Thelma Todd and friends!
Thelma Todd, Loretta Young, Jack Ford, and Doris Dawson star in a historical reenactment for First National around the time that Thelma Todd and Loretta Young made SEVEN FOOTPRINTS TO SATAN.
Thelma Todd, Loretta Young, Jack Ford, and Doris Dawson star in a historical reenactment for First National around the time that Thelma Todd and Loretta Young made SEVEN FOOTPRINTS TO SATAN.
A
THE PAJAMA PARTY Photo
Thelma Todd has fallen in a bathtub in this publicity photo for THE PAJAMA PARTY.
A
THE PAJAMA PARTY
Trivia by Adam Tuney on facebook:
"The Pajama Party" is a 1931 Thelma Todd/ZaSu Pitts short also starring a future Disney legend in one of his first credited onscreen roles! The character of Jimmy, Thelma's singin' romantic interest, is played by the young Donald Novis, who 11 years later in 1942 would sing the academy award-nominated theme for "Bambi" called "Love Is A Song That Never Ends." Enjoy the picture!
A
Sunday, November 19, 2017
Autographed Thelma Todd Photo
A photograph from the early part of Thelma Todd's career, autographed to someone who seems to have been the same type.
Signature reads, "To 'D', With fondest regards, from one blonde 'huzzy' to another (I'll get that fox yet! ) Fondly, Thelma". "Hussy" ( spelled huzzy ) is intended to be humorous and evidently the letter was written to another woman with a similar look. "Fox" I would interpret as meaning a man that Thelma Todd was interested in. The implication is that the recipient knew what she was talking about and it is likely that this is referring to something that was mentioned in previous correspondence.
A
Thelma Todd Article In LE FILM Article February 1936
T
Le Film Magazine from France, February 1936. The entire magazine is printed in French. Simone Simon of Ladies in Love graces the front cover.Katharine DeMille is on the back cover. There are 36 pages in all.There is A 5 page tribute to Thelma Todd, there are14 photos of Thelma.The Article is called The Final TVTragedy of Thelma Todd.
A
Le Film Magazine from France, February 1936. The entire magazine is printed in French. Simone Simon of Ladies in Love graces the front cover.Katharine DeMille is on the back cover. There are 36 pages in all.There is A 5 page tribute to Thelma Todd, there are14 photos of Thelma.The Article is called The Final TVTragedy of Thelma Todd.
A
Saturday, November 18, 2017
OLLY OF THE MOVIES - FAMOUS FUNNIES #69
O
A
"Louella" may have been named after Louella Parsons, a gossip columnist who wrote about the affairs of the stars. Her interest in that subject might also be the reason for the reference to making love*.
*I remember someone questioning the use of the expression "make love" on a television show which pretended to be a series of two-reel comedies from the era of Laurel and Hardy. The term was in use in movies then, but it wasn't meant to be a reference to sex.
A
Thursday, November 16, 2017
Thelma Todd And Irvin S. Cobb Item
Irvin S. Cobb was a noted writer who is supposed to be best remembered as the author of FISHEAD. He was also in the movies and made some two-reel comedies for Hal Roach. It appears that he likes Thelma Todd.
Posted by James L. Neibaur on facebook. Neibaur is the author of a book on the Thelma Todd series which will be available next year.
A
SHOW BUSINESS Photo
SHOW BUSINESS ( 1932 ) was a Zasu Pitts and Thelma Todd comedy. In this photo, Anita Garvin and Thelma Todd appear to be having a tug of war over an article of clothing that Thelma Todd seems to need more than Anita Garvin.
Posted by James L. Neibaur on facebook. Neibaur is writing a book on the Thelma Todd series which will be on sale next year.
A
THE ANIMATED MARX BROTHERS
A new book about the Marx Brothers in animated from is now available.
Reblogged from http://www.bearmanormedia.com/the-animated-marx-brothers-hardcover-edition-by-matthew-hahn?search=Animated%20marx%20brothers
"A treasure trove for Marxists of all stripes." -Joe Adamson
The Animated Marx Brothers To many people, The Marx Brothers always seemed cartoonish. Small wonder that film animators plucked their personas from their first appearances in The Cocoanuts (1929) and Animal Crackers (1930) and caricatured them in countless animated appearances in theatrical cartoons. Their animated likenesses have since been wisecracking in television cartoons, direct-to-video movies, fan films, commercials, flip books, avatars, emoji, a slot machine, and two TV pilots so rare they were once thought not to exist.
At last, Marx Brothers fans can rejoice. Matthew Hahn’s search for every animated appearance of a Marx brother has trailed longer than Groucho’s coattails. His discoveries include the backstories of the studios, moviemakers, and stars, rare test drawings from the Smithsonian Institution National Portrait Gallery, abandoned projects, connections, coincidences, and apocrypha.
Through the reels of Silly Symphonies, Looney Tunes, and Merrie Melodies, to their comic clashes with Heckle & Jeckle, Oswald Rabbit, Krazy Kat, Pooch the Pup, Buddy, Cubby, Willie Whopper, Flip the Frog, and Popeye, journey back through the most detailed analyses ever compiled of animated Marx Brothers appearances. The author also draws from appearances in You Bet Your Life (1950), Quick Draw McGraw(1959), The Simpsons (1989), Tiny Toon Adventures (1990), and Animaniacs (1993), among many others.
Featured contributions include Walt Disney, Ub Iwerks, Walter Lantz, Rudold Ising, Hugh Harman, Shamus Culhane, Joe Grant, Tex Avery, Bob Clampett, Friz Freleng, T. Hee, Robert McKimson, Bob Godfre, Bill Hanna, Joe Barbera, Michael Maltese, Daws Butler, Dayton Allen; Pat Harrington, Jr.; Frank Felker, Frank Ferrante, Dan Castellanata, Laurel & Hardy, Joe E. Brown, Greta Garbo, Frank Nelson, and Jerry Colonna.
Illustrated. Foreword by Joe Adamson, an authority on The Marx Brothers and animation. Epilogue contains a never-before-published Groucho anecdote. Index. Bibliography.
About the author: Matthew Hahn is an award-winning filmmaker, whose research for this subject took more than thirty years.
"Just when I thought I knew everything about The Marx Brothers, Hahn’s book is a complete and detailed guide to the rare and unexplored world of Marx animation. From famous Warner Bros. shorts to TV commercials, theatrical releases, print ads, promos and unreleased gems and on and on, this is the first companion that perfectly lays out every aspect of anything ever drawn of The Marx Brothers. Concise and nicely written, it made me want to search high and low for these amazing treasures." -Mike Rowe, actor, comedian, and TV presenter
"The Marx Brothers arguably generated more laughter than any other comedy team. And Mr. Hahn's wonderful book is a potent reminder of their pop culture influence. Mickey Mouse and Popeye donned Groucho's greasepaint. Bugs Bunny was inspired by the Marx spirit. The Marx presence in animation perpetuates their legacy as does this brilliant contribution." - Frank Ferrante, Groucho Marx portrayer
"Matthew Hahn has written an authoritative guide to the appearances of our Brothers' likenesses in animated cartoons, from the dawn of the motion picture age to today. . . I can assure you that this deserves a place on your Marxian bookshelf. Includes a beautifully-written foreword by Joe Adamson himself!' - Noah Diamond, author, Gimme a Thrill: The Story of I'll Say She Is, The Lost Marx Brothers Musical and How It Was Found
"Matthew Hahn has written an authoritative guide to the appearances of our Brothers' likenesses in animated cartoons, from the dawn of the motion picture age to today. . . I can assure you that this deserves a place on your Marxian bookshelf. Includes a beautifully-written foreword by Joe Adamson himself!' - Noah Diamond, author, Gimme a Thrill: The Story of I'll Say She Is, The Lost Marx Brothers Musical and How It Was Found
A
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
ALL-AMERICAN TOOTHACHE Photos
Two photos that were posted by James L. Neibaur on facebook.
Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly in a scene from ALL-AMERICAN TOOTHACHE. The plot involves dentistry and Patsy has a toothache; Thelma is trying to get her to have the tooth pulled.
Cast photo. Johnny Arthur is pointing at his mouth, Thelma Todd looks concerned and Patsy Kelly looks dazed. Mickey Daniels has pulled a tooth and Duke York looks on.
A
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Tarzan, Jean
From "Captain Bijou" on facebook.
TARZAN AND JEAN - Johnny Weissmuller (1904-1984) issues forth his famous Tarzan yell for Jean Harlow (1911-1937) during break in the shooting Jean's 1933 MGM film opposite Clark Gable, HOLD YOUR MAN.
A
Monday, November 13, 2017
MAID IN HOLLYWOOD Photo
This behind the scenes photo was posted on facebook by author James Neibaur, who is working on a new book about the Thelma Todd series which will be out next year. On the left we see Thelma Todd in costume, looking at a magazine which has "book" in the title, possibly REDBOOK. In the middle is director Gus Meins and on the right is Thelma's costar in the series, Patsy Kelly.
A
Sunday, November 12, 2017
Thelma Todd ?
November 1939 magazine offered for sale on ebay as having Thelma Todd on the cover.
Looks like Mabel Todd to me.
A
