A writer whose work was key to young Virginia Weidler’s success leads off TIG.
Naturalist Gene Stratton-Porter (1863) was the author of LADDIE and FRECKLES, two novels about people living around the Limberlost Swamp area of Indiana. The characters in these books fit Virginia’s acting style like a glove. Even though she was not a child of a rural upbringing herself, she seemed to instinctively know these people even at the age of eight and nine. Unfortunately, the Stratton-Porter estate now controls the rights to these two films and is apparently uninterested in making them available to the public. There are later versions of both that are available. The remake of LADDIE took place only seven years later in 1942 and features the very capable Joan Carroll.
Harlan Briggs (1879) was a character actor who came to films from the stage when he was already well in to his fifties. He was probably more comfortable in rustic roles than urban ones and he played townsman Lem Dodd in BAD LITTLE ANGEL (1939). He’s seen here with Ian Hunter as Jim Creighton in the film. BTW, this film is currently on YouTube if anyone is interested.
Dutch born Charles Judels (1882) was a success in vaudeville and on Broadway-he was in the Ziegfeld Follies- long before he headed for Hollywood. He had a twenty year film career starting in 1929. In addition to playing Germans and other continental Europeans, he also played Italians and Spanish speaking characters. He made three appearances in films with Virginia Weidler, playing The Great Beldini in HENRY GOES ARIZONA (1939), the Hula Paradise Cafe owner in GOLD RUSH MAISIE (1940), and A. Bardosch, a night club owner in I’LL WAIT FOR YOU (1941), We are delaying his photo for a reason which will become obvious.
Buck Mack (1888) was born James McCarthy before taking the easier name. He appeared in 18 movies during an eight year career ending in 1942. He was virtually always uncredited. He was Frank Tyler, one of many prospectors in GOLD RUSH MAISIE (1940).
Paul F. Wiser (1899) was the sound engineer or recordist on LONG LOST FATHER (1934), a John Barrymore feature in which Ginny had a cameo. He also handled the sound for ANN VICKERS with Irene Dunne and HOORAY FOR LOVE with Ann Sothern in a rather short career. A photo of Barrymore in LLF stands in.
Finally, while putting together today’s TIG I discovered a TIGer who would slip through the cracks because we don’t know his birthday. Marek Windheim (1894) was born in Poland and came to Hollywood after a decade in the Metropolitan Opera! I wonder if Ginny’s mother, who was supposedly an opera singer in Germany ever sang a duet with him? He appeared in two Ginnyfilms, first as Homely, a night club waiter in THE LONE WOLF SPY HUNT (1939), then as B. Bardosch, night club owner in I’LL WAIT FOR YOU. The photo is of Charles Judels and Marek Windheim as the brothers Bardosch in that film.
