Tuesday, February 27, 2018

THE LOST LAUGH Fanzine









THE LOST LAUGH is a fanzine for comedians who were in some of the older movies, such as Wheeler and Woolsey, Harry Langdon, and Charley Chase. There is an article on the Thelma Todd and Zasu Pitts / Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly films in issue #6. I noticed that the author stated that the death of Thelma Todd was generally conceded to have been a mob hit. I have said something to that effect before myself. That does not mean that everything has been settled, it means that you are making an observation about what is commonly believed, rather than telling everyone else what to think. I thought I'd put that in, since we've had problems with that before.



https://thelostlaugh.com/magazine/



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Thelma Todd Theater To Open In Lawrence, Massacusetts



Posted by Joe Bella in the Thelma Todd fan group on facebook, Feb. 25, 2018

This is the marquee that will be installed over the entrance to the newly named Thelma Todd Theater at the Lawrence Heritage State Park. Thelma's photo and full name will be added on the marquee as well as LED lights according to the artist. When the marquee is installed, we will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony and also show some Thelma Todd shorts in the theater...all are welcome.




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Sunday, February 25, 2018

New Book



This is another message that author James L. Neibaur posted in the "Thelma Todd Fans" group on facebook about his new book. I was able to help him with the book and am looking forward to it's publication.

AND....DONE! I am completely finished with any and all aspects of my 24th book, "The Hal Roach Films of Thelma Todd, ZaSu Pitts, and Patsy Kelly." Off it goes to the publisher (McFarland). Thanks to everyone who offered encouragement, advice, information, and support. It is truly appreciated. The film buffs on FB are always ready to help out projects that interest them. Next week I start putting together my 25th book project, "The Jean Harlow Films."



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Tuesday, February 20, 2018

THE SOILERS Photo





Author Neibaur also posted this in the Thelma Todd Fan Group on facebook:

Here is a neat shot from my upcoming book of Thelma and ZaSu filming a scene from THE SOILERS.


They have the camera under an umbrella, that might have been to protect the film from the heat of the sun.



Neibaur also posted this photo:

 Here is (essentially) what they are filming




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New Book




Yesterday, James L. Neibaur posted this message in the Thelma Todd Fan Group on facebook:

I finished work on my book THE HAL ROACH FILMS OF THELMA TODD - ZASU PITTS - PATSY KELLY which examines, film-by-film, the short comedies these ladies did together (Thelma-ZaSu, then Thelma-Patsy, then Pasty with Pert Kelton and, finally, Lyda Roberti). Each film is discussed with background info. This is not a biography. This book does not try to solve the mystery of Thelma's death. This is specifically about the films. Sending it off to the publisher this week.





This picture shows Thelma Todd in a costume she wore in THE SPOILERS: a photo of her in this costume was later used for a couple of magazine covers, something that I've put on this blog before.

The Photo Used On The Magazine Cover:
http://benny-drinnon.blogspot.com/2018/02/costume-on-magazine-cover.html

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Saturday, February 17, 2018

Ad For HOLLYWOOD EN REVISTA




Spanish language version of the same movie under a different name, along with Laurel and Hardy's PRESIDIARIOS, which is a Spanish language version of PARDON US.

Reblogged from http://nitrateville.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=13900









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Friday, February 16, 2018

WIR SCHALTEN UM AUF HOLLYWOOD



WIR SCHLATEN UM AUF HOLLYWOOD was a German movie that used scenes from THE MARCH OF TIME as well as THE HOLLYWOOD REVIEW OF 1929.


We switch to Hollywood

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movie data 
 original title Wir schalten um auf Hollywood We switch to Hollywood
production country  USA
original language German
Publishing year 1931 
 length  70 minutes
Stab Rod
direction  Frank Reicher
script Paul Morgan
production Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 
 camera Ray Binger, John Arnold , Irving Reis Ray Binger, John Arnold , Irving Rice
cut Adrienne Fazan Adrienne Fazan
occupation


Switching to Hollywood is a 1931 revue film. It was produced by MGM specifically for the German-speaking market and uses passages from The Hollywood Revue of 1929 and the fragmentary film The March of Time . Due to the completely own background story is expressly not a typical for the time version movies .

Action 

Paul Morgan comes to Hollywood as the inventor of the first acoustic-optical, wireless bodypack transmitter to send a reportage to Europe from here. Since he does not speak a word of English, he is glad to make the acquaintance of Grand Duke Karl Peter Friedrich to Weidlingau-Hadersbach, who is at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Extra. He becomes his constant companion. So both interview different celebrities and eavesdrop on some greats in their work in Culver City. With Nora Gregor and Adolphe Menjou Morgan plays a sketch, cavorting on the open air of the production company, has as Wild Westler a meeting with strange Indians and meets Oscar Straus know. He's in for a movie premiere, and in a clutter on the gala night, Buster Keaton makes the wireless transmitter unusable. The transmission is finished

Comments 

The film uses passages from The Hollywood Revue of 1929 and the unfinished 1930's musical The March of Time , including a performance by the Albertina Rasch Ballet. Some of the sequences used were rotated in the two-color Technicolor method. Joan Crawford speaks at the end of the story a few sentences in German. The German premiere was on 10 June 1931 in the Capitol Cinema in Berlin , the Austrian on 27 July 1931 in the Apollo Cinema in Vienna. [2]
Some scene were cut out by order of the film Oberprüfstelle Berlin from May 19, 1931 from the rental version, as they were in the assessment of the experts called in by the testing center were likely to violate the religious feelings of the audience. [3]

Reviews  

"An American production for the German market, shot in the MGM-Studios in Culver City and on their outdoor area. A star parade with some color parts in Technicolor and a few additional scenes from THE HOLLYWOOD REVUE OF 1929. Through the film leads the (1738 murdered by the Nazis) Viennese cabaret artist Paul Morgan in the form of working for an imaginary radio station reporter. A casual walk through Hollywood with the eyes of a European. The fascination for the new medium sound film becomes noticeable when suddenly even Joan Crawford and Buster Keaton try the German language ... " [4] "
"Enviable, the Lachorkan still have in front of him. [5]
"Heinrich George appears as a walking monument of anti- prohibition . Oscar Straus ostentatiously documents that his most charming creation is the Waltz Dream. And Joan Crawford finally gets Morgan to hear that he is 'a beautiful German man'. This is all very charming. With a loveable uninhibitedness that blends corporate advertising, sketch-laxity, and the eternal magic of gazing behind the scenes. Bright colors and running girl band - a magnificent parody, the audience instantly merriment triggers. " [6]

Literature 

Web links 

Individual proofs  

  1. Hochspringen from: Karlheinz Wendtland: Beloved Kintopp 1929-1945.
  2. Hochspringen Arnborn p. 119.
  3. Hochspringen Decision of the Film-Oberprüfstelle in the original (PDF, 198 kB)
  4. Hochspringen Program International Stummfilmtage - 21st Bonn Summer Cinema 2005
  5. Hochspringen Hans Feld, June 11, 1931, in: Program for November 6, 1998 to: When the pictures learned to sing. Krise und Goldenes Zeitalter des Musikfilms, 1925-38 - 11. Internationaler Filmhistorischer Kongress, Hamburg, 5.-8. Crisis and Golden Age of the Music Film, 1925-38 - 11th International Film Historic Congress, Hamburg, 5.-8. November 1998. [1] November 1998. [1]
  6. Hochspringen from: Filmkurier, June 11, 1931

Watch WIR SCHALTEN UM AUF HOLLYWOOD



THE MARCH OF TIME:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0021123/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_97



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Thursday, February 15, 2018

Spanish Alison Loyd Stamp






"Alison Loyd" was the stage name Thelma Todd used in Roland West's CORSAIR ( 1931 ), supposedly because the name Thelma Todd was associated with comedy. Although the movie was not considered a success and the Alison Loyd business was regarded as a joke by Hollywood, it seems that the use of the name Alison Loyd didn't completely end with the failure of the movie. It was still possible to get an "Alison Loyd" calendar for several years after that. 


An Alison Loyd stamp was also issued by Spain later in the 1930's, as part of a series of collectibles from a society of the blind. It was issued on the date printed on the stamp itself. Both sides of the stamp are shown below.

From Jorge Finkielman:







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ALL-AMERICAN TOOTHACHE Costumes reused




The waitress costumes worn by Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly in ALL-AMERICAN TOOTHACHE were used again in other movies. They were used in several Bowery Boys movies, including the one this photo is from, IN FAST COMPANY.




This girl is close enough in appearance to Thelma Todd that, if I didn't know better, I might think it was her.




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Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Happy Valentines Day

From

Betty Grable


Betty Hutton


Marilyn Monroe


Arlene Dahl






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Happy Valentines Day



From


                                                                         Jean Arthur


Anita Page


Sue Carol


Sally Rand


Toby Wing


Nancy Carroll


Jean Parker




Reblogged from http://www.vintag.es/2015/02/20-beautiful-vintage-valentine-pin-ups.html



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Happy Valentine's Day






From Our Gang! This photo was autographed by Tommy Bond and some of the other members of the gang!






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Autographed Tommy Bond Photos





 With Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer and Darla Hood in a publicity picture for Hal Roach's Our Gang.


With Noel Neill ( Lois Lane ) and Kirk Alyn ( Clark Kent ) in SUPERMAN ( 1948 ).


With Kirk Alyn as Superman in the first Superman serial.


A poster for an Our Gang comedy.






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ABIE'S IRISH ROSE Photo





Nancy Carroll, Bernard Gorcey, and Thelma Todd in a publicity photo for ABIE'S IRISH ROSE. Nancy Carroll and Bernard Gorcey were actually in the movie, while Thelma Todd seems to have only been in some of the publicity photos.

Bernard Gorcey was the father of Leo Gorcey, one of the original Dead End Kids who was the leader of later versions "The East Side Kids" and "The Bowery Boys". Bernard Gorcey appeared in many of those movies with his son.



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The Gas House Kids









They used Alfalfa Switzer in place of Jimmy Olsen in the cartoons, and Tommy Bond actually played Jimmy Olsen in the serials. In between, "Alfalfa" and "Butch" appeared together in a couple of "Gas House Kids" movies. These films can be seen as being linked both to the "Our Gang" series and to the "Dead End Kids" series as this series contained members from both groups.

THE GAS HOUSE KIDS IN HOLLYWOOD Photos

Reblogged from
https://monstermoviemusic.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-gas-house-kids-in-hollywood-albert.html


In the front seat is Benny ( "Butch" in "The Bowery Boys" ) Bartlett as "Orvie", and Rudy Wissler as "Scat". In the back are Tommy "Butch" Bond as "Chimp", and Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer as "Alfalfa".



Alfalfa still can't sing.


A poster for GAS HOUSE KIDS GO WEST.





Watch GAS HOUSE KIDS GO WEST:







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