MURDER AT MALIBU

MURDER AT MALIBU has turned up on ebay before. Here is a little about the book, which I've had on the blog for a while but hadn't published till now.

The description posted by the ebay seller says that Thelma Todd was murdered, a commonly held opinion which was not actually proven. There were also people in the investigation that claimed it was suicide, as this account says. Nothing was ever actually proven either way and the case remains controversial to this day. *

[HOLLYWOOD MYSTERY NOVELS]. O’HANLON, JAMES. Murder At Malibu. New York: Phoenix House, 1937. First Edition. A very scarce mystery novel which is a veiled rendering of the actual murder of Hollywood actress Thelma Todd, which had been declared a suicide due to pressure brought on officials. Very good copy in an excellent facsimile dust jacket.

This is the book the letter was about. We had previously posted this letter at
http://benny-drinnon.blogspot.com/2015/03/sam-fuller-letter-to-jimmy-starr.html


*The accident theory still has it's adherents and Donati states that it is the correct theory in his biography of Thelma Todd. I put a little about this book ( which I assisted with ) on the blog at
http://benny-drinnon.blogspot.com/2012/01/book-description-isbn-10-0786465182.html


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Sam Fuller Letter To Jimmy Star

A Sam Fuller letter that turned up on ebay.

Vintage, typed letter, 1 page, 8 1/2" x 11", February 5, 1938

to columnist Jimmy Starr (1910-1969)

Signed in pencil: "Sam Fuller"

Fuller sends Starr a book, "Murder at Malibu"  by James O'Hanlon, 

based on actress Thelma Todd.*

* Thelma Todd (1906-1935) was an American actress and comedienne, nicknamed 'Hot Toddy'. She appeared in 

some120 films between 1926 and 1935. On the morning of December 16, 1935 she was found dead in her car. 

Her death, at age 29, was determined to have been caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. But many have 

thought her death to be murder.

Sam Fuller (born Samuel Michael Fuller) was an American screenwriter and film director, known for

low-budget genre movies with controversial themes - Park Row (1952), Pickup on South Street (1953),

House of Bamboo (1955), Shock Corridor (1963). 

                                              *                            *                            *

Sam Fuller later made the movie THE NAKED KISS, which featured Patsy Kelly in the cast.


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Sam Fuller Letter To Jimmy Starr

Jimmy Starr was a Hollywood reporter who had covered the death of Thelma Todd in December 1935. Here is a letter that Sam Fuller wrote him about a book called MURDER AT MALIBU that was based on the death of Thelma Todd. I had not heard of this book before.

 

 

 

Ebay seller's description:

SAM FULLER

Vintage, typed letter, 1 page, 8 1/2" x 11", February 5, 1938

to columnist Jimmy Starr (1910-1969)

Signed in pencil: "Sam Fuller"

Fuller sends Starr a book, "Murder at Malibu"  by James O'Hanlon, 

based on actress Thelma Todd. *

Condition: minor signs of handling

* Thelma Todd (1906-1935) was an American actress and comedienne, nicknamed 'Hot Toddy'. She appeared in 

some120 films between 1926 and 1935. On the morning of December 16, 1935 she was found dead in her car. 

Her death, at age 29, was determined to have been caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. But many have 

thought her death to be murder.

 

Sam Fuller (born Samuel Michael Fuller) was an American screenwriter and film director, known for

low-budget genre movies with controversial themes - Park Row (1952), Pickup on South Street (1953),

House of Bamboo (1955), Shock Corridor (1963). 

Born: 1912, Worchester, Massachusetts; died: 1997, Los Angeles, California.

 

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