Wheeler and woolsey book

Not only did he interview several folks who were associated with the famous comedy duo, but he also scored an enlightening interview with their leading lady, dorothy lee, who unfortunately passed away in 1999. With bert wheeler, robert woolsey, betty grable, hale hamilton. Ed watz is the author of the above book, wheeler and woolsey. Wheeler and woolsey and friends on tour thelma todd. During the depression years, the comedy team of bert wheeler and robert woolsey were second only to laurel and hardy at the box office.

Authors jamie brotherton and ted okudas new book, dorothy lee. Cleopatra is described in the book, though i make it clear upfront that i wasnt able to locate a. Bert wheeler was the clown of the team, and robert woolsey the straight man. Also, from edward watz, the same author of the columbia comedy shorts book, is the definitive wheeler and woolsey book, which i will also link to below. Bespectacled robert woolsey played a genially leering, cigarsmoking, fasttalking idea man who often got the pair in trouble. Bert and bob before i go in to the careers of bert and bob, i must give a personal history. There are lots of surreal gags along with several dance numbers populated with dancing girls in scanty costumes. If you are not familiar with the comedy duo of wheeler and woolsey, you are probably not alone. Wheeler and woolsey by edward watz, 9780786411412, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The life and films of the wheeler and woolsey girl. The characters as drawn in the comics are similar to wheeler and woolsey and even appear to be wearing similar costumes.

About the book during the depression years, the comedy team of bert wheeler and robert woolsey were second only to laurel and hardy at the box office. Producer hal roach sought to make a female comedy short duo as popular as his laurel and hardy pairing. The vaudeville comic duo and their films, 19291937. Wheeler and woolsey queered bright lights film journal. The downright peculiar pleasures of precode wheeler and woolsey. Problems and laughs begin when the villain spikes the lemon sodas they are selling. A fair enough comment, given that this was only their third film appearance, and they played in support of noncomedic stars in this very stiff and bloated early sound musical.

Fully detailed, one of the books a true classic comedy aficionado should have to own and treasure. And there are lovely guest stars galore such as lupe velez, betty grable, thelma todd anddorothy lee. Woolsey rko comedy classics collection is a terrific set, giving viewers the opportunity of watching the same team evolve from the early talkie musicalcomedy form, through racy precode comedies that also anticipate rkos great 30s musicals, and toward more streamline, standardized comedy hijinks as. This book is an informative biography filled with revealing insights on navigating the studio system during hollywoods golden age and the ephemeral nature of fame. This book is an absolute must for anyone interested in their films. See more ideas about thelma todd, silent comedy and comedy films.

The vaudeville comic duo and their films, 19271937, mcfarland. Wheeler and woolsey play two unemployed vaudevillians who get involved in helping an old lady save her moribund drug store. Wheeler and woolsey the clown princes of musical comedy presents over 100 rare and vintage images from the majority of their feature films. Wheeler and woolsey the clown princes of musical comedy presents over 100 rare and vintage images from the. Bert wheeler and robert woolsey made 21 feature films together and a couple separately between 1929 and 1937. Free shipping on due to covid19, orders may be delayed. For bob woolsey s birthday, we consolidate all of our previous posts on the films of the comedy team of wheeler and woolsey into one big monster post. Bert wheeler and robert woolsey made 21 feature films as a team between 1929 and 1937 becoming one of the most popular comedy teams during the depression era. Wheeler and woolsey were a famous comedy team in the 1930s, which is almost completely forgotten by society today. His definitive treatise on wheeler and woolsey much like his earlier volume on the columbia short subjects is.

As edward watz details in his exhaustive book on the duo, will hays. A wouldbe songwriter and a wouldbe inventor run a cigar stand and get mixed up in the murder of a song publisher. The vaudeville comic duo and their films, 19291937 mcfarland classics s. Bert wheeler and robert woolsey werent actually a vaudeville team but a vaudevillian and a musical comedy star who were teamed for the movies wheeler, born in 1895 in paterson, new jersey, started out as a teenager with the gus edwards company. For more on slapstick comedy please check out my new book. Wheeler and woolsey were famous as movie comedians.

Robert rollie sometimes spelled rolla or even raleigh was born on august 14, 1888, in carbondale, illinois to james monroe woolsey 18601920 and. He also notes that the movie had disappointing box office returns, so their next film, the decidedly postcode enforcement kentucky kernels, was fashioned for the audience out. This 4disc, 9film collection is sure to quench your comedy thirst. A new ninedvd set features the comedy team wheeler and woolsey. Her famous costars included the marx brothers, charley chase, buster keaton, harry langdon, joe e. Each of their over 20 comedies are analyzed in detail here. Bert wheeler 18951968 and robert woolsey 18881938 were the most recognized comedy team in the precode era, spawning myriad films and countless imitators. With bert wheeler, robert woolsey, dorothy lee, harry woods. Reviewed in the united states on january, 2017 this book is a full color treasure chest of vintage eye candy, packed from cover to cover with stunning images of the movie posters, lobby cards, pressbooks and trade ads, even vintage cigarette cards and autographs and other jaw. Wheeler and woolsey deserved a book about their screen antics and this magnificent effort by edward watz is the answer to everything we wanted to know about one of the unsung teams of the golden age of hollywood.

Woolsey has to take up much of the comedic weight lifting, and cant do much, especially with the outofplace bugs bunny finale. Back in my childhood days, i used to frequent a local librarys book sale. I owe my enjoyment of wheeler and woolsey to eds book, and i asked him recently to talk about the famous comedy duo, which made a lot of. They also appeared in superman comic books as a couple of bumbling magicians named hocus and pocus. Ribaldry before the code from left, robert woolsey, bert wheeler and dorothy lee in mark sandrichs hips, hips, hooray. Dipomaniacs is one of bert wheeler and robert woolsey s best precode comedies. In fact, id assumed id pretty much seen all of their films ive seen 15, and that seems like a lot, but im astounded to realize this morning. The film would be the last film the duo made, as robert woolsey died a year later. Bert wheeler and robert woolsey werent actually a vaudeville team. My favorite is the oompah dance routine performed by indian maidens direct from the rko casting office at the beginning of the movie. Alhough both wheeler and woolsey were veteran vaudevillians wheeler was sometimes referred to as the funniest man in america, they were not a vaudeville team. During the depression years, the comedy team of bert wheeler and robert.

Looked at all at once, rkos star comedy team of the 1930s was surprisingly prolific. The comedy world of wheeler and woolsey forces of geek. The vivacious dorothy lee usually played berts romantic interest. Eds written a lot on vintage comedy the past several decades, and later this year his newest. Okuda became one of dorothys close friends for the last 25 years of her life, and brotherton became another close friend in 1992 until dorothys death in 1999. Its a successful genre book logging more than 3,000 sales. Tim whelan, wheeler and woolsey collaborated on the book, and the veteran team of kalmar and ruby have furnished the songs. What ive always enjoyed about wheeler and woolsey s comedy is their collection of great routines, often involving complex wordplay and puns. Another book of eds i enjoy is the columbia comedy shorts, mcfarland that he coauthored with ted okuda. Bert wheeler and bob woolsey fan page public group facebook. The life and films of the wheeler and woolsey girl by jamie brotherton and ted okuda 20, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Even before i read this excellent book, i had acquired it. He moved on to a two act with his first wife betty, who later left him to join the stroud twins. Bert wheeler and robert woolsey in the old west, trying to set up their dental practice in a deserted town whose inhabitants have been targeted by bad guys and marauding indians.