Thelma Todd's Tragic Death

Lucky Luciano



Steps that Todd went up to her home above the cafe



Todd's Cafe on the day of her death



Todd's Cafe as it appears today



Thelma Todd and Roland West

Thelma Todd was born in 1905 in Lawrence, MA. Although she aspired to be a teacher, Todd was drop dead gorgeous and entered beauty pageants along the way. She ended up winning Miss Massassachusets in 1925 and went on to compete for Miss America. Because of this, several talent scouts noticed her.

Paramount Studios offered Todd acting school and eventually over 100 films from 1926 to 1935. Todd’s looks, humor and strong screen presence made her the No. 1 choice for a female lead role in a comedy for some of the top names in the business, including Laurel and Hardy and the Marx Brothers. Indeed, two of her most popular features were shot with the latter comedy troupe, Monkey Business (1931) and Horse Feathers (1932).

Todd knew that acting wouldn't last forever, so she decided to partner up with director Roland West in a restaurant venture. They opened Thelma Todd's Sidewalk Cafe in Pacific Palisades, which catered to the Hollywood young elite and attracted a few gangsters.

"After Todd’s death, rumors abounded that mob boss Lucky Luciano wanted to use Todd’s establishment as a front for a gambling den. Allegedly, just days before she was discovered dead, Todd and Luciano met for lunch at the infamous Brown Derby. Luciano supposedly informed Todd of his interests in her restaurant. She told him to kiss off and that he could have her locale over her dead body.

"That can be arranged," Luciano coolly replied. She was dead in less than a week." (Information from Hollywood Crimes)

There were also rumors that she had a fight with her partner and lover, Roland West the night she died. They fought over her partying lifestyle and he left. When she returned to the house they shared above the restaurant she discovered that West had locked her out. She pounded on the door but he refused. Rumor has it that she climbed up the steps to the garage to escape the cold. She turned on the engine to stay warm, and some say she was so drunk that she passed out and died from the fumes.

Others believed that West followed her up to the garage and locked her in. Lucky Luciano never commented on his possible involvement. No one was found guilty of the possible crime and nothing was ever solved.

What do you think? Any ideas?

Leonardo DiCaprio and Shutter Island

Shutter Island comes out this week based on the Dennis Lahane novel. I have always loved Leo. I think he is one of the greatest actor of his generation. Although Leo remains fairly private now, he was once a little bit of a wild one. In case you don't remember, he got his start on "Growing Pains." Here are some fabulous pics of Leo and some trivia on the film coming out this Friday. Tell me what you think once you see it!

--Before settling on Mark Ruffalo for the role of Chuck Aule, Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese also considered Robert Downey Jr. and Josh Brolin.

--This was originally commissioned as a directing vehicle for Wolfgang Petersen. However, there were considerable modifications made to Dennis Lehane's novel in order to create a more action-driven blockbuster.

--Many parts were filmed in the old Massachusetts state mental hospital in Medfield, MA.

--Of the two actors who play the chief wardens of Shutter Island, Ted Levine portrayed serial killer Buffalo Bill in The Silence of the Lambs (1991) and John Carroll Lynch played a suspected serial killer in Zodiac (2007).

--Shortly (August 2009) before its original release in October 2009, the movie was pushed back to February 2010.

--In this film, Leonardo DiCaprio's character is seasick. Previously, DiCaprio starred in Titanic (1997), most of which is set on a ship.

--After involuntarily pushing back the release date of this film to February for financial reasons, they intentionally set the release date to the same day of The Silence of the Lambs (1991) in hope that it could walk home with several Oscars.

Death of Natalie Wood

I've always wondered about the circumstances surrounding the death of beautiful actress Natalie Wood. Her death always seemed a little suspicious to me. There were so many things unanswered.

"In the early morning hours of Nov. 29, 1981, Hollywood’s "princess" perished in the chilly waters off Catalina Island. Authorities believed Natalie Wood accidentally slipped into the water while attempting to transfer aboard a small dinghy attached to her 55-foot yacht." (Courtesy of Hollywood Crimes, Investigation Discovery)

Born Natasha Gurdin in 1938, Wood had a very successful movie career and was nominated for an Oscar at the young age of 17 for her work in "A Rebel Without a Cause." There were rumors about Wood's personal life, that she "got around." In 1957 she married Robert Wagner, and although they divorced, they would later decide to try again. They remarried.

While working on a film with Christopher Walken, Wood, Wagner, and Walken went out for drinks on Catalina Island. Here is the remaining story:

"Days after his wife’s death, spokespeople for Wagner stated his wife died from an accidental slip. He claimed she went to bed on the yacht, but became annoyed by the insistent banging of the dinghy against the yacht. Wood went out to try and stop the noise, slipped over the side railing of the boat into the ocean, and drowned in the chilly water.

The skipper, Dennis Davern, had a different tale.

Davern claimed Walken and Wagner were fighting with each other -- over Natalie Wood. Apparently, Wagner became incensed because he believed Walken wanted to sleep with his wife. Davern claimed that Wagner broke a wine bottle, held it up to Walken’s face, and screamed at the actor, "Go ahead and f*** her if you want to so badly!" The altercation upset Wood so much she hurriedly escaped to the dinghy to seek solace.

Who knows if either one of these stories is true?

Dr. Thomas Noguchi, the so-called coroner to the stars, was not certain, but he definitely had a theory. According to his book, Coroner, Noguchi learned some interesting information from a colleague who was not only a fellow coroner, but also happened to be moored near Wood’s yacht on the morning of her death. The friend hinted at something far less sinister, but possibly much more tragic.

Noguchi’s colleague believed Wood did indeed escape to the dinghy. She then slipped and fell into the water. Instead of being worried, however, she did not panic because she was only a couple of feet away from the yacht. Wood attempted to crawl up the side of the dinghy, but could not get inside due to the watered-down coat she had been wearing. Her coat probably weighed anywhere from 30-40 pounds -- quite a burden for a 100-pound woman in icy cold water with a .14 percent (or higher) blood alcohol level.

As Wood attempted to get into the dinghy, she must have realized it was drifting away from the yacht out into the open sea. This realization led to a more frightened state, as there were reports of a woman screaming for help.

Simultaneously, a thoughtless band of revelers were cranking up their stereo on a party boat, drowning out her pleas for help.

According to Noguchi’s friend, Wood realized no one was coming to save her, so she had to take action. She grabbed the 11-foot dinghy and steered it back toward the shore. She was possibly aware of a wind stream that could propel her and the boat to safety. Somehow, the diminutive woman did just that. Frightened, slightly intoxicated, shivering cold and weighed down with soaked clothes, Natalie Wood was determined to live.

She almost made it.

The dinghy was found early the next morning on the shore of Blue Cavern on the northern isthmus side of Catalina Island. Her body was found floating, in her red coat, less than 200 yards from shore. She was only minutes away from saving her own life.

No one knows for sure how Natalie Wood perished. No one is talking either.

Walken and Wagner refuse to comment on that night. The skipper is not considered the most reliable source.

Was it an accident? Was there foul play?"

What is your opinion on the death of Natalie Wood? Have a great day friends!

Anne Hathaway

My March In Style arrived and gorgeous Anne Hathaway was on the cover. I think she is such a classic beauty, and I absolutely loved her in "The Devil Wears Prada." Here are some of the shots of the In Style shots, and some fun trivia about "Prada." Hope you have a fantastic Friday friends!

--The book that Miranda asks Andy to retrieve for her twin daughters is Harry Potter Book 7. One of the prop books used in the movie sold in an on line auction for $586.00 and proceeds went to Dress for Success, a non-profit organization that assists more than 45,000 disadvantaged women each year as they transition into the workforce.

--A 'Runway' issue is displayed behind Emily's desk, next to the fax machine. It features a cover with three models. It is based on the real cover of VOGUE August 2004 issue, featuring Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough.

--Helen Mirren and Kim Basinger were considered for the role of Miranda Priestly.

--Gisele Bündchen agreed to be in the movie only if she didn't play a model. Stanley Tucci was one of the last actors cast. Daniel Sunjata had originally read for Tucci's part, rather unenthusiastically since he had just finished playing a similar character, but then read the Holt part and asked if he could audition for it. Simon Baker auditioned by sending a video of himself, wearing the same self-designed green jacket he has on when he and Andrea meet for the first time.

--The idea of having Miranda appear without any make-up in the scene where she opens up to Andrea and worries about the effect of her divorce's public disclosure on her daughters was Meryl Streep's idea.

--The recurrent need for Hermès scarves comes from the novel as in the novel it is Miranda's trademark that she always has a white Hermès scarf somewhere on her person.

--Anna Wintour, the formidable editor of Vogue (and the rumored inspiration for Miranda Priestly), was not invited to the premiere. She did however attend an advance screening for the press (dressed, head-to-toe, in Prada.)

--Emily Blunt was cast before Anne Hathaway. In several scenes, she is seen running about in the background - though never written or directed, she felt her character would always be busy and wanted to keep her alive in the film. Also, most of her wardrobe is from Vivienne Westwood.

--Anna Wintour, the powerful Vogue editor on whom Streep's character was widely believed to be based in the novel (Weisberger once worked as her assistant), reportedly warned major fashion designers who had been invited to make cameo appearances as themselves in the film that they would be banished from the magazine's pages if they did so. Wintour's spokespeople deny this claim; however, it is notable that Vogue and other major women's and fashion magazines have avoided reviewing or even mentioning the book in their pages.

Vintage Disneyland

Walt cutting the ribbon on Mr. Lincoln attraction



Main Street Disney before the park was done. Davy Crockett is walking down the block



Walt and his wife celebrating their anniversary in the Golden Horseshoe Saloon before the park opened

Hope you all had a great weekend and enjoyed the Superbowl--Go Saints! I visit Disneyland at least once a week, sometimes more, and there are few places I love more. I try to learn everything I can about the Magic Kingdom, including inside secrets (to come later in a future post). Here are some pics of Disneyland in the good old days. Check out the one of Main Street before it was finished, and the day the park closed in honor of JFK's death. Have a great night friends!

(All photos courtesy of Disney.com)