Hollywood And The Occult

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The occult is a part of this story.

The aftermath of the first World War saw a rise on interest in the occult as people sought to communicate with lost loved ones. Harry Houdini exposed many fakers who only pretended to be able to communicate with the dead, but attempts to communicate with the dead would continue.

Massachusetts historically has been connected with witchcraft since the days of old Salem.

Many movie people were interested in the occult as they sought assistance to face an uncertain future. Thelma Todd was said to have consulted fortune tellers, astrologers, and numerologists.

 It doesn't seem to have helped.

Bette Davis was also said to be interested in numerology.

A page from SILVER SCREEN, Oct. 1932.

 Both Ida Lupino and her father Stanley were interested in the occult and claimed to be in communication with the spirits of the dead.

This interest in the occult doesn't seem to have helped any of them, although they may have thought that it did. Things like hard work had more to do with that than the unknown. 

Alison Loyd:

http://benny-drinnon.blogspot.com/2012/11/alison-loyd.html 

Houdin exposed fakers:

https://www.iue.edu/blogs/library/2020/10/12/harry-houdini-fake-news-fighting-pioneer/

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/06/obituaries/rose-mackenberg-overlooked.html

Thelma Todd and numerologists:

https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Life_and_Death_of_Thelma_Todd/LQsB66qPGmgC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Thelma+Todd+numerologists.&pg=PA62&printsec=frontcover

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Bibliography

Books about Thelma Todd. This list includes books that may deal with her only in part, but does not include books that have not yet been published.


Anger, Kenneth                              HOLLYWOOD  BABYLON



Austin, John                                    HOLLYWOOD'S UNSOLVED MYSTERIES ( 1970 )
-----------------                                 HOLLYWOOD'S UNSOLVED MYSTERIES ( 1990 )
-----------------                                 MORE OF HOLLYWOOD'S UNSOLVED MYSTERIES


Carr, William                                  HOLLYWOOD TRAGEDY



Donati, William                              THE LIFE AND DEATH OF THEMA TODD
-------------------                             LUCKY LUCIANO
-------------------                             IDA LUPINO


Edmonds, Andy                               HOT TODDY


Guiles, Fred Lawrence                       STAN: THE LIFE OF STAN LAUREL



Hammond, G. D.                              THELMA TODD IN THE 30's


Heiman, Jim                                      OUT WITH THE STARS



Jacobson, Laurie                               HOLLYWOOD HEARTBREAK
----------------------                              DISHING HOLLYWOOD


McCabe, John                                  MR. LAUREL AND MR. HARDY
--------------------                              LAUREL AND HARDY


Maltin, Leonard                                  MOVIE COMEDY TEAMS
-------------------                                THE GREAT MOVIE SHORT SUBJECTS


Munn, Michael                                 THE HOLLYWOOD MURDER CASEBOOK

            
Neibaur, James L                           THE HAL ROACH COMEDY SHORTS OF THELMA TODD,                                                                            ZASU PITTS, AND PATSY KELLY 

                                  
Neutzel, Charles                              WHODUNIT? HOLLYWOOD STYLE



Parish, James Robert                     THE FUNSTERS
---------------------------                    THE HOLLYWOOD BOOK OF SCANDALS


Skretvedt, Randy                              LAUREL AND HARDY


Vanderbuilt, Gloria                           BLACK KNIGHT, WHITE KNIGHT




Ward, Richard Lewis                           A HISTORY OF THE HAL ROACH STUDIO




Wolfe, Donald H                                   THE BLACK DAHLIA FILES


Wolf, Marvin and Katherine Mader   FALLEN ANGELS






I recomend the new biography by William Donati.

	"The Life and Death of Thelma Todd" [2011]  by William Donati Mcfarland & Co. pb [10/2011