Nice to see Thelma Todd remembered! She was beautiful, talented, sexy, AND funny! A great combination, and a rare one it would seem! Harlow, Lombard, & Lucille Ball all owed a great deal to her.
Great tribute to a beautiful lady. Nice music, too. I also believe she was murdered by Luciano with Dicicco´s help, and the bastards got away with it thanks to the corrupt L.A. District Attorney. RIP Thelma - through your films, you´ll always be with us.
Very well done. She had talent and looks, but ultimately her untimely end reminds us that evil doesn't care who or what you are. She certainly deserved better.
Thelma was exquisite and funny--one of kind. Carole Lombard shared some of her characteristics. This may sound weird, but as I mentioned in another post, a controlled seance (no crazies) needs to be conducted at Thelma's former restaurant.--her spirit is obviously trying to tell the public about her demise after all these years....only then will one of Hollywood's greatest mysteries be solved...and Thelma's spirit can then rest.
I loved Thelma's performance in "The Bohemian Girl" with Laurel and Hardy .. I have never seen these photographs .. WOW. I just now put it together that she was in "Another Fine Mess", too .. And, "Chickens Come Home" .. I remember watching it and having a hard time taking my eyes off of her .. :-)
Thank you for this lovely tribute of the most talented and underrated comedienne of all time. What a collection of stills you have—I love the one at 0:44 showing her with long curls. Was that one of her first stills in silents? My mother knew Thelma as a young girl. They were from the same town in Massachusetts. You can hear Thelma's Boston accent! What an intelligent, beautiful, captivating woman she was... a pioneer...Harlow, Lombard and the screwball comediennes all copied her. RIP, Thelma.
Thank you for this lovely tribute of the most talented and underrated comedienne of all time. What a collection of stills you have—I love the one at 0:44 showing her with long curls. Was that one of her first stills in silents? My mother knew Thelma as a young girl. They were from the same town in Massachusetts. You can hear Thelma's Boston accent! What an intelligent, beautiful, captivating woman she was... a pioneer...Harlow, Lombard and the screwball comediennes all copied her. RIP, Thelma.
This is so beautiful, they really don't make them like Thelma anymore! Many thanks.
Love her with Groucho Marx in 'Monkey Business' and with Stan Laurel in 'Another Fine Mess' (and the catfight with Clara Bow in 'Call Her Savage' is great too!).
The truth is, the whole Luciano mob connection is so much BS., There has never been a shread of evidence that Lucky Luciano was ever IN California, much less having an affair with Thelma Todd.
Having an affair with Luciano is so much BS. Everything else? I'm not so sure. The fact is, proving the case on Thelma's death either way is somewhat difficult after almost 75 years. Wanting her restaurant to conceal his gambling business and his anger over refusal seems plausible and provided a motive for her killing. If Luciano was involved in Thelma's death, he didn't have to be in California personally to witness the killing.
It's true, solving a case after 75 years is difficult. However, the fact remains that Lucky Luciano was a very powerful and intelligent crime boss (as gangsters go). How important would it be to him to open a gambling casino above Thelma Todd's cafe, that would hold only a few slots and a blackjack table, at best.. And even if it were true, would that warrent murdering a highly visible movie star? No very likely.
Sad story. I read the biography on her. From what I saw, DiCicco had nothing to do with Thelma meeting Luciano, he even tried to avoid it. Thelma walked up to the two of them at a resturaunt and from then on, her husband had no say in the matter. She was killed because she threatened Luciano with info on his Hollywood racketeering because he wanted to put a gambling casino in her resturaunt and she wouldn't allow it. She then dug up the dirt on him and threatened to go to the cops.
There was dozen if not hundreds that got a bad deal in the Early Movie Bussness one of my grandmother sisters got some deals just to keep food in her place that would never happen today
The very little I've seen of Thelma on TV makes me wish we could see all the mvoies and shorts she appeared in. But, I suppose many are lost to history, thanks to Hollywood's improper storing methods. You can't blame Hollywood as they didn't know at the time the preservation methods would be harmful. But, what there is of Thelma, always and forever young, beautiful, sexy and immortal as a result.
Story is her roadside cafe on the Pacific Coast Hwy in Santa Monica was to become owned by the Mob. she didnt want that...I don't believe she killed herself, she had too much to live for..
She had too much to live for, as with a lot of these stars whose mysterious deaths are called ' suicide '...she stood up for she did not want, i.e. gambling, and ' they ' took care of her...as like Dorothy Kilgalen 30 years later.
Beautiful she was and beautiful she will always be. An angelic child of God who had a brief stay on Earth, leaving too soon but not by her own hand. And though long gone from our world, she remains in memory, never to be forgotten and always missed.
Another classic Hollywood Beauty, thanks for the video. A theory of her death was that Lucky Luciano wanted to operate gambling facilities above Thelma's "Seaside Cafe" and she refused. Therefore, he had her taken care of.
That's a possibility although I've always heard that mobsters/gangsters did not kill women and children. That their rule was men only. I think it's more likely that she was murdered by her boyfriend or was accidentally responsible for her death. I think they'd had words at the cafe, she was intoxicated, he left and locked the doors to her home where she couldn't get in. And either she tripped or was assaulted by someone unknown and was left in her car where she perished.
Luciano was a monster. I just wished there could've been true justice for Thelma in this world. But, where Luciano may be now, he may be wishing for mercy from his victims, never to receive it.
shit, i didn't mean luciano. he may have done it, but doubtful. i think really, it was her ex husband she was with that night, Pat DiCicco, who was married to Gloria Vanderbuilt after Thelma, he had a history of violence with women. I always confuse the two men. both being shady and all. Gloria Vanderbuilt wrote a book about him "The Dark Knight", where she says she believes he was responsible for Thelma's death. She's Anderson Cooper's mother.
I still believe Luciano may have been responsible. He wanted the restaurant that Thelma owned. He pressured her to sell and she refused, telling him she'd sell over her dead body. Luciano reportedly replied that her killing could be arranged. But, there were others just as unsavory including DiCicco.
Thelma Todd was a beautiful lady and a great comedic actress. I wish I could've known her. She died way too young at 30, officially listed as a suicide but there was enough evidence to point to her death as either being a murder or an accidental killing. She wasn't a suicide.
Thelma Todd began her career by winning a beauty contest. In 1925, she was crowned, Miss Massachusetts and went on to the "Miss America Pagent". Thelma was spotted by a Hollywood talent scout and began her career in film. Regarded as a capable film comedienne but also sucessful in dramas, Thelma's beauty and talent would no doubt have taken her right to the top if it hadn't been for her untimely death. Thank You Baz. Fondly, Hedda
She was a wonderful lady like a fairy from Avalon.
Marisee1 6 days ago
Nice to see Thelma Todd remembered! She was beautiful, talented, sexy, AND funny! A great combination, and a rare one it would seem! Harlow, Lombard, & Lucille Ball all owed a great deal to her.
legatofancier 4 months ago
Call me Crazy ,but Drew Barrymore resembles Thelma Todd,its eerie.I have to stop myself from Thinking Drew ,as Im watching this vid
BorderCityBandit 4 months ago
Beautiful, funny, great comic timing--what more could one want??
windstorm1000 6 months ago
Beautiful.
rockville34 8 months ago
BEAUTIFUL THELMA TODD! WOW!
hungerdunger1 9 months ago
Yes, Jean Harlow was scintillating and sexy and sweet. TCM is playing her movies this month.
lana1939 11 months ago
What a loss to every red blooded male who ever saw her.A rose picked far too early.
towton22 1 year ago
I didn't know that she died so young R.I.P
Lukasz21222 1 year ago
Great montage,she was exquisite as well as talented,another great actress whos life was ended to soon and tragically.She will never be forgotten.
mandydancerful 1 year ago
Great tribute to a beautiful lady. Nice music, too. I also believe she was murdered by Luciano with Dicicco´s help, and the bastards got away with it thanks to the corrupt L.A. District Attorney. RIP Thelma - through your films, you´ll always be with us.
mgf50 1 year ago
@mgf50 Yes. They pretty much wanted her restraunt and she said "Over my dead body!" and that douche said "That can be arranged."
One week later she's dead.
TwistedSister09 11 months ago
Thelma was funny and exquistitely beauty--only one other actress fits that bill: Carole Lombard.
windstorm1000 1 year ago
One of the nicest smiles of any actress.
windstorm1000 1 year ago
Very well done. She had talent and looks, but ultimately her untimely end reminds us that evil doesn't care who or what you are. She certainly deserved better.
nobody5368 1 year ago
So beautiful. We miss you girl!
jokertdk 1 year ago
Thelma was exquisite and funny--one of kind. Carole Lombard shared some of her characteristics. This may sound weird, but as I mentioned in another post, a controlled seance (no crazies) needs to be conducted at Thelma's former restaurant.--her spirit is obviously trying to tell the public about her demise after all these years....only then will one of Hollywood's greatest mysteries be solved...and Thelma's spirit can then rest.
windstorm1000 1 year ago
I loved Thelma's performance in "The Bohemian Girl" with Laurel and Hardy .. I have never seen these photographs .. WOW. I just now put it together that she was in "Another Fine Mess", too .. And, "Chickens Come Home" .. I remember watching it and having a hard time taking my eyes off of her .. :-)
SolutionsCodedSB 1 year ago
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Thank you for this lovely tribute of the most talented and underrated comedienne of all time. What a collection of stills you have—I love the one at 0:44 showing her with long curls. Was that one of her first stills in silents? My mother knew Thelma as a young girl. They were from the same town in Massachusetts. You can hear Thelma's Boston accent! What an intelligent, beautiful, captivating woman she was... a pioneer...Harlow, Lombard and the screwball comediennes all copied her. RIP, Thelma.
lana1939 1 year ago
Thank you for this lovely tribute of the most talented and underrated comedienne of all time. What a collection of stills you have—I love the one at 0:44 showing her with long curls. Was that one of her first stills in silents? My mother knew Thelma as a young girl. They were from the same town in Massachusetts. You can hear Thelma's Boston accent! What an intelligent, beautiful, captivating woman she was... a pioneer...Harlow, Lombard and the screwball comediennes all copied her. RIP, Thelma.
lana1939 1 year ago 5
@lana1939 Jean Harlow was awesome.
TwistedSister09 11 months ago
Thelma Todd's restaurant has been owned by a movie company for many years. People swear they have seen Thelma Todd's ghost.
hemming57 1 year ago
thanks a lot this
most beautiful woman period !
ArtiqMoon 1 year ago 3
forever xxxx
paola9643 1 year ago
This is so beautiful, they really don't make them like Thelma anymore! Many thanks.
Love her with Groucho Marx in 'Monkey Business' and with Stan Laurel in 'Another Fine Mess' (and the catfight with Clara Bow in 'Call Her Savage' is great too!).
andyrw100 2 years ago
Beautiful photos, great job putting it together! See Thelma with Zasu in "Ladies in a Turkish Bath." She was a terrific comedienne!
stevenvz 2 years ago 3
The truth is, the whole Luciano mob connection is so much BS., There has never been a shread of evidence that Lucky Luciano was ever IN California, much less having an affair with Thelma Todd.
MsJenny06 2 years ago
Having an affair with Luciano is so much BS. Everything else? I'm not so sure. The fact is, proving the case on Thelma's death either way is somewhat difficult after almost 75 years. Wanting her restaurant to conceal his gambling business and his anger over refusal seems plausible and provided a motive for her killing. If Luciano was involved in Thelma's death, he didn't have to be in California personally to witness the killing.
InfiniteCowboy 2 years ago
It's true, solving a case after 75 years is difficult. However, the fact remains that Lucky Luciano was a very powerful and intelligent crime boss (as gangsters go). How important would it be to him to open a gambling casino above Thelma Todd's cafe, that would hold only a few slots and a blackjack table, at best.. And even if it were true, would that warrent murdering a highly visible movie star? No very likely.
MsJenny06 2 years ago
Sad story. I read the biography on her. From what I saw, DiCicco had nothing to do with Thelma meeting Luciano, he even tried to avoid it. Thelma walked up to the two of them at a resturaunt and from then on, her husband had no say in the matter. She was killed because she threatened Luciano with info on his Hollywood racketeering because he wanted to put a gambling casino in her resturaunt and she wouldn't allow it. She then dug up the dirt on him and threatened to go to the cops.
EvilSpoofAuthor 2 years ago
There was dozen if not hundreds that got a bad deal in the Early Movie Bussness one of my grandmother sisters got some deals just to keep food in her place that would never happen today
RCvolunteer1978 2 years ago
she was my dad's cousin.
reeblite 2 years ago
The very little I've seen of Thelma on TV makes me wish we could see all the mvoies and shorts she appeared in. But, I suppose many are lost to history, thanks to Hollywood's improper storing methods. You can't blame Hollywood as they didn't know at the time the preservation methods would be harmful. But, what there is of Thelma, always and forever young, beautiful, sexy and immortal as a result.
InfiniteCowboy 2 years ago
Comment removed
reeblite 2 years ago
Comment removed
reeblite 2 years ago
by the way, he happened to be luciano's right hand man out in california.
reeblite 2 years ago
Story is her roadside cafe on the Pacific Coast Hwy in Santa Monica was to become owned by the Mob. she didnt want that...I don't believe she killed herself, she had too much to live for..
nicksacop 2 years ago 2
she was beautifull , and died before her time !
mickyboyblue 2 years ago
She had too much to live for, as with a lot of these stars whose mysterious deaths are called ' suicide '...she stood up for she did not want, i.e. gambling, and ' they ' took care of her...as like Dorothy Kilgalen 30 years later.
nicksacop 3 years ago
Beautiful she was and beautiful she will always be. An angelic child of God who had a brief stay on Earth, leaving too soon but not by her own hand. And though long gone from our world, she remains in memory, never to be forgotten and always missed.
InfiniteCowboy 3 years ago 2
Another classic Hollywood Beauty, thanks for the video. A theory of her death was that Lucky Luciano wanted to operate gambling facilities above Thelma's "Seaside Cafe" and she refused. Therefore, he had her taken care of.
niceguy63073 3 years ago
That's a possibility although I've always heard that mobsters/gangsters did not kill women and children. That their rule was men only. I think it's more likely that she was murdered by her boyfriend or was accidentally responsible for her death. I think they'd had words at the cafe, she was intoxicated, he left and locked the doors to her home where she couldn't get in. And either she tripped or was assaulted by someone unknown and was left in her car where she perished.
Madrocker1954 3 years ago
naw, they just beat them. she was badly beaten.
reeblite 2 years ago
Luciano was a monster. I just wished there could've been true justice for Thelma in this world. But, where Luciano may be now, he may be wishing for mercy from his victims, never to receive it.
InfiniteCowboy 2 years ago
shit, i didn't mean luciano. he may have done it, but doubtful. i think really, it was her ex husband she was with that night, Pat DiCicco, who was married to Gloria Vanderbuilt after Thelma, he had a history of violence with women. I always confuse the two men. both being shady and all. Gloria Vanderbuilt wrote a book about him "The Dark Knight", where she says she believes he was responsible for Thelma's death. She's Anderson Cooper's mother.
reeblite 2 years ago
I still believe Luciano may have been responsible. He wanted the restaurant that Thelma owned. He pressured her to sell and she refused, telling him she'd sell over her dead body. Luciano reportedly replied that her killing could be arranged. But, there were others just as unsavory including DiCicco.
InfiniteCowboy 2 years ago
dicicco was lucianos right hand man. they were connected at the hip.
reeblite 2 years ago
There's an only truth: she was killed by Lucky Luciano. Shame of you italians...
AlvaroMurcia 3 years ago
i am an italian and what do you mean by you italians you bigotted son of a bitch
mopable 2 years ago
Love...
TheSpindles 3 years ago
I live Thelma Todd especially with Charley Chase
TheSpindles 3 years ago
Thelma Todd was a beautiful lady and a great comedic actress. I wish I could've known her. She died way too young at 30, officially listed as a suicide but there was enough evidence to point to her death as either being a murder or an accidental killing. She wasn't a suicide.
Madrocker1954 3 years ago
im so glad there are other people out there that after all these years remember such a talent excisted
carinaxcx 3 years ago 13
Thelma Todd began her career by winning a beauty contest. In 1925, she was crowned, Miss Massachusetts and went on to the "Miss America Pagent". Thelma was spotted by a Hollywood talent scout and began her career in film. Regarded as a capable film comedienne but also sucessful in dramas, Thelma's beauty and talent would no doubt have taken her right to the top if it hadn't been for her untimely death. Thank You Baz. Fondly, Hedda
vt32943 4 years ago
was a classic and loved the way she acted with marx brothers especially groucho.
jkoncz 4 years ago
A talented,caring and beautiful lady that
sadly left us all too soon!
143AC 4 years ago 2
Beautiful tribute to a beautiful person.
Thelma's had a special place in my heart forever.
I noticed a few of my movie caps present which is cool because it's great to see they helped create this work of art. 5 stars? BAH..10 STARS!!
Thug8855 4 years ago
Did you know her?
saullouis 4 years ago
i just want to curl up with some chocolate and watch this all night. thankyou.
valadga 4 years ago
Beauty is not only seen but felt! like arms
reaching out from the Heart, she had her
moment before the mirror of camera,s and
rightly so. Thelma Todd was not that famous`
but surely qualified to have been so.
Beautiful images of a Legendary silent Star*
Thankyou Baz for giving her this tribute.
Pierre
globehunter2 4 years ago
Yes she is a very beautiful lady.
Very nice comments, although actually Thelma was very famous in her day and has a star on the Hollywood walk of fame to prove it.
She is also on the list of the 500 most influential women of the 20th century.
I don't think she ever made any silent movies, at least none that are available to watch in public domain.
One more tid-bit, Thelma hated the nickname "Hot Toddy", I think the concept of this name fits more now than in the 30's...
Thug8855 4 years ago 2
@Thug8855 She DID actually make several silent films, including "Nevada" with Gary Cooper and "Rubber Heels" with Ed Wynn.
SIMPFANN 1 year ago
Talent,charm,beauty,intelligence...and tragedy :C
She was really wonderful,especially in that movie with Buster Keaton.
theonewhitstyle 4 years ago