Thelma White
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Thelma White | |
---|---|
Woodland Hills, California , U.S. | |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1930–1948 |
Thelma White (born Thelma Wolpa; December 4, 1910 – January 11, 2005) was an American radio and film actress. White is best known for her role in the 1936 exploitation film Reefer Madness.
Early life and career
Born in
White's most famous role arrived in Tell Your Children (1936), better known today as
White continued to struggle through
Tell Your Children was found in a vault in 1972 and rechristened Reefer Madness by pro-marijuana activists and a young movie distributor that saw the movie as having great comedic appeal. The film gained a following on college campuses for its campy nature as well as its crazed depiction of marijuana use. White, who had starred with W. C. Fields and Jack Benny in her best years, somewhat was chagrined to be known for such a film. In 1987, she told the Los Angeles Times: "I'm ashamed to say that it's the only one of my films that's become a classic."[1]
Entertaining troops
During World War II, White joined United Servicemen Overseas, a government program that featured entertainment for troops serving overseas, and performed as the leader of an all female swing band named Thelma White and Her All Girl Orchestra. She and her band went to Alaska on several occasions with Rose Hobart and Carmen Miranda. She continued to make appearances in B-movies such as the film series with The Bowery Boys, and near the end of the war, she contracted a crippling disease while in the Aleutian Islands. White was bedridden for five years and was told she never would walk again. Although she partially recovered and appeared in a few late 1940s films, her acting career was essentially over.
Together with her band, she released her most famous hit, "Shoo Shoo Ya Mama", in January 1946.
White later worked as an agent, representing actors such as Robert Blake and James Coburn.
Death
White's third husband, Tony Millard, died in 1999. She had 3 children and died of
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1930 | A Night in a Dormitory | Thelma | |
1930 | Ride 'em Cowboy | Alternative title: Pathé Folly Comedies: Ride 'em Cowboy | |
1930 | Sixteen Sweeties | Alternative title: Pathé Melody Comedies: Sixteen Sweeties | |
1931 | One Way Out | Desperate for Permanent Wave | |
1931 | Hot Sands | Wife | |
1933 | Hey, Nanny Nanny | Mrs. Bond | |
1934 | Hips, Hips, Hooray! | Blonde | Uncredited |
1934 | What Price Jazz | ||
1934 | Susie's Affairs | Susie's Blonde Roommate | |
1935 | Never Too Late | Helen Lloyd | Alternative title: It's Never Too Late to Mend |
1936 | Reefer Madness | Mae | Alternative title: Tell Your Children |
1936 | Two in the Dark | Woman | Uncredited |
1936 | The Moon's Our Home | Salesgirl | |
1936 | Forgotten Faces | Nurse in park | |
1938 | Wanted by the Police | Lillian | |
1942 | Syncopation | Singer on Piano at Party | Uncredited |
1942 | A Man's World | Dancehall girl | Uncredited |
1942 | Pretty Dolly | Baby, Cigar Counter Clerk | |
1943 | Spy Train | Millie | |
1944 | Bowery Champs | Diane Gibson | |
1947 | Hectic Honeymoon | ||
1948 | Mary Lou | Eve Summers |
References
- ^ Woo, Elaine (2005-01-15). "Thelma White, at 94; starred in campy 'Reefer Madness'". boston.com. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
- ^ "Obituaries". BackStage. 2005-01-20. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
External links
- Thelma White at IMDb
- Thelma White at the Internet Broadway Database