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July 20, 2006
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Thelma Todd at 100 The films? Too numerous to mention. The fans? Coming from as far as away as New York City, Baltimore and even Northern Ireland. The place? Downtown Manchester, New Hampshire, in auditoriums and restaurants all within walking distance of each other. What’s the occasion? It’s the Thelma Todd Celebration, an unusual four-day festival taking place in the Queen City from Thursday, July 27, to Sunday, July 30. The festival honors what would have been the 100th birthday of the legendary 1930s comedienne, who grew up in Lawrence, Mass. and went on to work with the Marx Brothers, Laurel & Hardy, and Buster Keaton before her untimely death in 1935. The mark the occasion, organizers have assembled four days of movie screenings and other events designed to celebrate not only the actress, but also the joy of early cinema being shown as it was intended — on the big screen and with an audience. The program includes two day-long marathons at UNH-Manchester featuring short comedy films from the 1920s and 1930s, and is highlighted by a gala 1933 Night at the Movies on Saturday, July 29, at Manchester’s historic Palace Theatre. The gala event at the Palace includes short subjects, newsreels, Thelma Todd tributes, and features a screening of her classical full-length musical starring Laurel and Hardy, The Devil's Brother (From 1933, of course.) “In many cases, we're showing prints of films that were immensely popular when first released, but are rarely screened today,” said organizer Dave Stevenson of Manchester. “The amazing thing is that they still work great under the right conditions, in a theater with a crowd of people all watching together. It's an eye-opening window into popular entertainment of the past.” All events are open to the public and are being held within walking distance of the Radisson Hotel in downtown Manchester, the official hotel of the Thelma Todd Festival for out-of-town guests. Admission is charged for the main screenings of the festival, including the Palace Theatre. Stevenson says a good number of cinema buffs are on their way to Manchester for the chance to see vintage films projected on the big screen. Among the festival's noted guests are members of Todd’s family (including at least one relative from northern Ireland, her family's ancestral home) as well as one of the few remaining cast members of the Little Rascals series. Jerry “Tucker” Schatz, now 80, is a living link to Todd's film legacy as well as the vanished era of early sound films in Hollywood. Tucker appeared with Todd in Sitting Pretty, (1933), a Paramount musical. Today, however, Tucker is best remembered for his many roles in the popular 'Little Rascals' films from 1931 to 1938. As the spoiled rich kid Percy in Hi Neighbor (1934), Tucker played a key part in what many critics feel is one of the best entries in the long series. Jealous of Percy's immaculate toy fire engine, the gang assembles their own homemade version from junk and then challenges the rich kid to a madcap race. “It’s a thrill to have Jerry and his wife Myra joining us in New Hampshire for the Thelma Todd celebration later this month,” Stevenson said. “They're very special people, and the fact that Jerry worked with Thelma gives us a wonderful personal connection to her career.” For a complete schedule of the Thelma Todd Festival, including films, events, and admission prices, visit Dave Stevenson's Web site, www.looserthanloose.com, or call 624-6094.. Comments? Thoughts? Discuss this article and more at hippoflea.com |
Thelma Todd Celebration Events Thursday, July 27: Shaskeen Irish Pub & Restaurant, 909 Elm St., Manchester. In honor of Todd's Irish heritage, a night of films in the Queen City's premier Irish pub. Starting at 9:30 p.m. in the back room, screenings of original 16mm prints of classic short comedies from the 1930s, including Laurel & Hardy, W.C. Fields, Buster Keaton, and the Three Stooges. Films run until closing. Free admission, all welcome! Friday, July 28: UNH-Manchester, 400 Commercial St., Manchester. Starting at 9 a.m., continuous screening of rare and vintage silent and early sound films in the third-floor auditorium. Films run until 9 p.m. with breaks for lunch and dinner. Highlights: 6 p.m. showing of rare glass cinema slides (used in early theaters to promote coming attractions); 7 p.m. "Thelma Todd & Walter Long," a presentation on Todd and actor Walter Long of Milford, N.H., frequent on-screen nemesis of Laurel & Hardy and other comedians of the era. Open to the public. Tickets at the door: $20 adult, $10 children for whole-day pass, $12 adult, $6 children for half-day pass. Under 10: Free! Friday, July 28: Taste of Europe, 827 Elm St., Manchester. Starting at 9:30 p.m., screenings of original 16mm prints of vintage silent and early sound comedies featuring W.C. Fields, Laurel & Hardy, Charley Chase, and others. Free admission, all welcome! Saturday, July 29: Bus tour of Thelma Todd-related sites in Lawrence, Mass. Bus departs promptly at 9 a.m. from Radisson Hotel, 700 Elm St., Manchester. Journey by comfortable motorcoach to significant places in the actress' early years in and around Lawrence, Mass. Sites include Todd's birthplace, homes, schools & churches, and her final resting place. Commentary provided by Todd expert and film scholar Dave Stevenson. Cost: $20 per person. Tour lasts until approximately 4 p.m., bus returns to Radisson Hotel in Manchester. Saturday, July 29: Gala "1933 Night at the Movies," 7 p.m. at historic Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester. Celebrate 100th anniversary of the birth of legendary film comedienne Thelma Todd with a program of shorts and features selected to recreate a night at the movies at the Depression-era peak of Todd's career. Program includes short subjects, cartoons, tributes to Todd and her work, displays of Todd memorabilia (including a selection of her costume dresses) and an old-fashioned theater raffle for a toy train. Feature presentation: The Devil's Brother (1933), classic musical farce starring Todd with Laurel & Hardy. Unreserved seating. Admission: $10 per person, $7 for seniors/children; tickets available at the door or through Palace box office, (603) 668-5588 or online at www.palacetheatre.org. Sunday, July 30: Radisson Hotel, 700 Elm St., Manchester Starting at 9 a.m., screenings of original 16mm prints of vintage and obscure silent and early sound comedies in the Frost / Hawthorne function room. Going-away screenings run until noon, when four-day Todd festival concludes. Free admission, all welcome! For details, visit www.looserthanloose.com or call (603) 624-6094
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