The Virginia Weidler Remembrance Society has succeeded on another exciting effort! The Los Angeles City Council has proclaimed March 21, 2017 as A Celebration of Virginia Weidler.

Here’s what they passed:

A Proclamation

WHEREAS, born in the Eagle Rock neighborhood of Los Angeles, California to recent immigrants Alfred and Margaret Weidler on March 21, 1927, Virginia Weidler rose to stardom by appearing in motion pictures from the age of four and became known for being Hollywood’s first true child character actor; and

WHEREAS, Virginia Weidler made her lasting mark by appearing in classic films such as The Women, All This, and Heaven Too, Young Tom Edison, and perhaps most memorably The Philadelphia Story while more than holding her own in scenes with the true greats of her time, including Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Cary Grant, James Stewart, Charles Boyer, Norma Shearer, Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Gary Cooper and John Barrymore; and

WHEREAS, the afore mentioned John Barrymore, after working with Virginia, identified her as “Hollywood’s Greatest Actress”; and

WHEREAS, Virginia Weidler further proved her mettle as a lead actress in films such as Girl Of The Ozarks, Bad Little Angel, and Born To Sing;and

WHEREAS, Virginia Weidler was voted Juvenile Actress of the year for 1940 by the motion picture exhibitors; and

WHEREAS, Virginia and her older brothers and sisters entertained Americans for decades on stage, screen, radio, television and recordings; and

WHEREAS, as she matured after a successful motion picture career, Virginia sought to display her talents on the stage, on radio, and finally on television before retiring to a private life as a wife and mother; and

WHEREAS, Virginia Weidler showed great patriotism and devotion to her country through her work with the child actor’s group, the Junior Division for Defense Savings, her volunteer work at the Hollywood Canteen, her appearances throughout the country to promote War Bonds, her visits to entertain the troops in places like Camp Reynolds and Camp Clipper, her radio and film appearances on behalf of the United States government and, later, as a selfless and devoted Navy wife; and

WHEREAS, Virginia Weidler was consistently remembered by her colleagues in the industry as one of the nicest people they ever met and as someone who was helpful to others in both personal and professional circumstances;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that by the adoption of this resolution by the City Council of the City of Los Angeles that Virginia Weidler is recognized for her career accomplishments as well as her contributions to her country, her city, and to all who knew her and that March 21, 2017 is designated as A Celebration of Virginia Weidler.

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GINNYFEST II -  Braided Boogaloo!

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!

Thanks to you and your efforts-and you know who you are-TCM gave us a Night of Ginny, some Pre-Winter Weidler on November 13, 2014.

We are now lobbying TCM for more regular doses of Weidler and a chance to make the juvenile slot for Summer Under The Stars (SUTS) in August.

Please contact TCM to thank them for this and suggest politely that they consider SUTS and her birthday (March 21) as well as unearthing some of her other films that are not being shown.

TCM’s contact information appears at the bottom of this page. 

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This is our original plea for Weidler night…

Since our inception, the Virginia Weidler Remembrance Society has been regularly lobbying Turner Classic Movies to get a birthday-or any other day-salute to Virginia. We think it’s wrong that she has been overlooked thus far. Our members write, phone and email TCM whenever possible. Danny Miller even talked with Robert Osborne about it when he interviewed him last year.

ginnyfan even turned poet in the effort:

Make Mine Weidler

Dear TCM:

I hope you don’t mind

You really can’t blame me

But your channel I changed

On that night filled with Mamie*

If you want my attention

My remote to sit idle-r

Just give me a night

Of the films made by Weidler

A night full of Ginny

That would be quite a treat

I can’t think of a film

That wouldn’t be neat

Her own she did hold

With Mickey and Judy

A night of her films

Would be real “rootie-tootie”**

 

To see her once more

Play Joan, Joan, Jake, Jake, Terry

Dinah, Tina and Luck

Just leave out Little Mary***

RO’s intros and outros

Would be just the touch

Talk to Rooney and Withers

Am I asking too much?

Try to coax Universal

Get back to the beginn-y

Get the earliest films

Of the gal we call Ginny

In the past you’ve saluted

The dog and the horsie

I would rather watch Weidler

Punch out Leo Gorcey

 A Night for Virginia

Is something I pine for

Let’s agree she’s a star

TCM should make time for

Notes:

*-At the time of composition, TCM had just featured an entire night of Mamie Van Doren films.

**- “rootie-tootie” rhyme credited to Dinah Lord, THE PHILADELPHIA STORY.

***-We love THE WOMEN at the VWRS, but TCM showed it almost monthly in 2013.