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1-30 of 30
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Jeff Richards, born Richard Mansfield Taylor in Portland, Oregon, was a graduate of Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Washington. Upon graduation he was ready to embark on a career in professional baseball when he entered the Navy in June of 1943. During World War II, he served as a radio technician until his discharge in 1946.
After the war, he returned to baseball and immediately signed on with the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League. The Beavers farmed Jeff to the Salem Senators, but fate intervened and a torn ligament forced him into an extended leave-of-absence from the sport.
While recuperating, Jeff decided to try his hand at acting. During the war, he and a group of his fellow servicemen visited Paramount Movie Studios. While there a talent scout spotted Jeff in the crowd, called him aside, and told him to come and see him when he got his discharge. The agent remembered him and setup a screen test. Jeff was signed to a contract, but was not given any work.
After his time with Paramount, he was offered a contract by Warner Brothers Studios. In the meantime, however, Jeff was still playing baseball and also receiving offers from both the New York Yankees and the Dodgers, then still playing in Brooklyn. So Jeff had the chance to make a choice that many American boys dreamed of making--whether to be movie star or a professional baseball player.
Jeff signed with the contract with Warners and then enrolled at the University of Southern California to pursue a degree in business administration. Jeff attended USC on a full-time schedule and also joined the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Jeff organized a chapter five-piece band and played fraternity dances and club socials. He was still playing baseball, but his decision had been made--he was going to be an actor. Warners began using him in small, uncredited roles in such films as The Girl from Jones Beach, filmed in mid-1948, but not released until a year later, in mid-1949. In it he appears, with another young hopeful, Dale Robertson, as a pair of lifeguards, showing off their physiques wearing only minimal swimming attire in the Jones Beach sequence. Robertson's hairy chest was left intact, but Richards' trademark torso was forced to undergo complete waxing before he could appear in front of the cameras. On loan-out to Columbia he actually got to play baseball on screen in the William Bendix comedy Kill the Umpire (1950).
Next signing with MGM, Jeff was a member of MGM's Lucky Dozen--a group of young and upcoming stars of the 1950s. He was groomed for the rugged, John Wayne-type roles and the two actors has much in common-both were big men, athletically inclined, had similar personalities, and they were both members of Sigma Chi.
During the course of his film career, Jeff acted in over 40 films, playing with some of the biggest stars of the 1950s and 1960s. His most significant role was a one of the Pontipee brothers in MGM's Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954), co-starring Jane Powell and Howard Keel. He poured on the sex appeal as Buck Winston, the object of interest of just about every female member of the cast of the re-make of The Women (1939), now re-titled The Opposite Sex (1956). After leaving MGM, for two seasons, he successfully played the title role for 28 episodes of the TV series Jefferson Drum (1958). After retiring from acting in 1960, he returned to the big screen one last time as Kallen in Waco (1966), perhaps as a favor to or from his old friend from MGM, the star of the film, Howard Keel.
Jeff Richards died on July 28, 1989.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Skip Young was born on 14 March 1930 in San Francisco, California, USA. He was an actor, known for The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952), One Step Beyond (1959) and The Spider (1958). He was married to Carol A Whittaker and Beverly Ruth Trout. He died on 17 March 1993 in Victorville, California, USA.- Actor
- Writer
- Soundtrack
Ned Sparks proved himself a top character support whose style would be imitated for decades to come. Although less remembered now, he was an inimitable cinematic player back in 1930s Hollywood. The nasal-toned, deadpan comedian Sparks was born Edward A. Sparkman in Guelph, Canada, and was raised for a time in St. Thomas, Ontario. He attended the University of Toronto and, after a period of soul-searching, decided upon acting. He began, believe it or not, as a honky-tonk balladeer in Dawson Creek, Alaska. In 1907, he went to New York and developed his stone-faced reputation in comic outings. His first film in 1915 did not lead to other offers, particularly during a black-balling incident as a one of the founding members of Actors Equity. In 1922, his movie career headed full steam, but it was the advent of sound with Ned's cynical tones, raspy whines and sour disposition that sparked a comfortable film niche, making close to 100 films in all. Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933), Going Hollywood (1933), the Caterpillar in the all-star Alice in Wonderland (1933), the Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers version of Imitation of Life (1934) were just a few of his more noticeable roles. His cigar-chomping puss became so well-known at Warner Bros., in fact, that Walt Disney's short animated film Broken Toys (1935) had a Jack-in-the-Box character based exclusively on Ned's image. A few years later, when Disney made Mother Goose Goes Hollywood (1938), Ned's caricature played The Jester. In 1939, Tex Avery portrayed him as a hermit crab in Fresh Fish (1939). A radio favorite over the years, he performed alongside Bing Crosby quite frequently. His last disagreeable Hollywood role would be alongside James Stewart in Magic Town (1947). In 1957, he died of an intestinal blockage.- Director
- Writer
- Actor
Slapstick comedian known for his charming, white-painted face and clownish smile, mugged his way to being a very highly paid and popular actor. His career was marred by personal problems, and his fortune was lost to high spending. By the time he died, he'd already been hospitalized for a nervous breakdown and was penniless. He was 39 years old.- Ken Steadman was born on 26 June 1969 in Aberdeen, Washington, USA. He was an actor, known for Beach Babes from Beyond (1993), NYPD Blue (1993) and Mission of Mercy (1994). He died on 20 September 1996 in Victorville, California, USA.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Tiny, emotive Latino beauty who was 'discovered' singing and dancing in an act with her two sisters at the Los Angeles Hidalgo theatre. Theatrical impresario and star maker Gus Edwards recognised her talent and took her under his wing. She soon made her entrance on the vaudeville circuit in novelty numbers and skits, while at the same time being groomed for Hollywood. Having accompanied Edwards to MGM, she went on to perform two typically Mexican numbers in her screen debut in Mexicana (1929) which also featured Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra.
Her vivaciousness and fiery temperament so impressed John Barrymore that he cast her to appear with him as the gypsy dancer Fidelia in General Crack (1929). Eighteen-year old Armida was then offered a five-year contract with Warner Brothers. This had to be ratified in court, with her father Joaquin Vendrell (a Spanish-born magician, calling himself Arnold the Great) acting as guardian. For the remainder of her career in films, Armida was usually cast as 'specialty dancer' in south-of-the-border westerns and minor romances. In the musical La Conga Nights (1940) she famously warbled the traditional song La Cucaracha ('the cockroach'). While her singing and dancing kept her busy in films, it did not lead her becoming another Lupe Velez. One of her few leading roles was in The Girl from Monterrey (1943), a failed attempt by Poverty Row studio PRC at creating their own 'Mexican Spitfire'. Armida's one notable appearance on Broadway was in 'Nina Rosa' (1930-31), a Sigmund Romberg/Otto A. Harbach musical which ran for 137 performances.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Betty Brown was born on 10 January 1896 in Butler, Pennsylvania, USA. She was an actress, known for Our Relations (1936), That Sort (1916) and What Women Want (1920). She was married to Wayne Murray and Ted Healy. She died on 24 November 1975 in Victorville, California, USA.- Actor
- Stunts
- Additional Crew
Milan Smith was born on 27 April 1923 in Ree, South Dakota, USA. He was an actor, known for Stagecoach to Dancers' Rock (1962), Rawhide (1959) and Wagon Train (1957). He died on 2 May 2001 in Victorville, California, USA.- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Writer
There aren't many people who can claim that they did everything from record rock'n'roll songs to writing sleazy adult novels to editing and publishing their own horror magazine to acting in a few enjoyably offbeat low-budget pictures throughout the course of their lives. Well, Ron Haydock did all this during his sadly short, yet often colorful and eventful 37 years on this planet. Ron was born on April 17, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois. He was an avid fan of comic books, monster magazines, and creature feature fright flicks from an early age. He published his own fan magazines "Ape" and "Skybird" as well as wrote for other friends' magazines in his teen years. Haydock's life forever changed when he saw the film "The Girl Can't Help It," which inspired in Ron a lifelong love for rockabilly singer Gene Vincent. Ron formed his own band called the Boppers in 1958. The group cut several singles for the Cha Cha label in 1959 and appeared on the local TV variety show "Chicago Bandstand." Ron moved to California in 1960. Haydock was an editor on the "Graveyard Examiner" column for Forrest J. Ackerman's legendary "Famous Monsters of Filmland" horror magazine. In 1961 Ron launched his own horror magazine called "Fantastic Monsters of the Films" and even participated in a spin-off local radio show. In 1962 Haydock wrote the adult novels "The Flesh Peddlers" and "Scarlet Virgin" under the alias Don Sheppard. Ron made his film debut as heroic state trooper Officer Tracy in Ray Dennis Steckler's terrific psychos-on-the-loose knockout "The Thrill Killers." Haydock achieved his greatest enduring cult popularity with his portrayal of Lonnie Ford, a rock star who doubles as superhero Rat Pfink in Steckler's gloriously wacky and off-the-wall spoof "Rat Pfink a Boo Boo." The Haydock songs "You Is a Rat Fink," "Runnin' Wild," "I Stand Alone," and "Go Go Party" are all featured on the soundtrack to this picture. Ron's magazine folded in 1964. Haydock subsequently penned a bunch of gloriously lurid porno novels under the pseudonym Vin Saxon in order to keep himself afloat. Ron makes a brief appearance as Rat Pfink in Steckler's delightfully goofy comedic romp "The Lemon Grove Kids Meet the Monsters." Alas, Haydock sank into a deep depression in late 1966. He left California and moved back to Chicago in 1967, where he recorded nearly a dozen acoustic demos. Ron helped research the book "The Great Radio Heroes" for his friend Jim Harmon, plus wrote a couple of stories for "Creepy" magazine and scripted the backs for "Land of the Giants" trading cards. In 1971 Haydock portrayed a vicious sword-wielding psychopath in Steckler's deliciously cheesy horror flick "Blood Shack." In 1974 Ron served as associate editor and key contributing writer for the magazine "Monsters of the Movies," which only lasted for a few issues. Haydock subsequently edited a handful of one-shot magazines for E-Go Publications. Unfortunately, Ron suffered a severe mental breakdown in 1977. On August 13, 1977 Haydock was struck and killed by an eighteen-wheeler as he was walking on an exit ramp on Route 66. He was 37 years old. Ron Haydock was buried on the same exact day that Elvis Presley died.- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Producer
Win Opie was born on 16 February 1924 in Binghamton, New York, USA. He was a director and assistant director, known for ABC Stage 67 (1966), Pat Boone in Hollywood (1967) and Westinghouse Preview Theatre (1961). He was married to Miyoshi Umeki and Mary Powell. He died on 28 December 2010 in Victorville, California, USA.- Ashley Tropez died on 26 August 2022 in Victorville, California, USA.
- Marcia Manon was born on 28 October 1896 in Paris, France. She was an actress, known for Ladies Must Live (1921), The Lottery Man (1919) and Heaven on Earth (1927). She was married to J.L. Frothingham. She died on 12 April 1973 in Victorville, California, USA.
- Jane Barnes was born on 17 August 1915 in Mansfield, Massachusetts, USA. She was an actress, known for Man of the People (1937), Such Women Are Dangerous (1934) and Your Uncle Dudley (1935). She was married to Carlyle Moore Jr.. She died on 20 March 1998 in Victorville, California, USA.
- Actor
- Stunts
Carl Saxe was born on 5 August 1910 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He was an actor, known for What's Up, Doc? (1972), Peter Gunn (1958) and Combat Sergeant (1956). He died on 24 April 1999 in Victorville, California, USA.- Actor
- Composer
- Music Department
Tim Spencer was born on 13 July 1908 in Webb City, Missouri, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for South of Santa Fe (1942), Sons of the Pioneers (1942) and Inferno (1999). He was married to Velma Blanton and Mable McKibben. He died on 26 April 1974 in Victorville, California, USA.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Jerry Wallace was born on 15 December 1928 in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. He was an actor, known for Goodbye Charlie (1964), Bluebird (2013) and An American Rhapsody (2001). He was married to Reva Stone. He died on 5 May 2008 in Victorville, California, USA.- Eric Matthews was born on 20 September 1939 in the USA. He was an actor, known for Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964), Caged in Paradiso (1989) and Santa's Slay (2005). He died on 22 May 2000 in Victorville, California, USA.
- Composer
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Walter Greene was born on 23 January 1910 in Tarkio, Missouri, USA. He was a composer, known for 12 Monkeys (1995), 8 Mile (2002) and Why Girls Leave Home (1945). He died on 23 December 1983 in Victorville, California, USA.- Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Derek McEntire is an actor, known for Bad Excuse (2010), Eagleheart (2013) and NCIS (2014) Was born on August 30, 1988 in Apple Valley California. His love for acting and comedy came from when he started acting in high school and doing stand up comedy at local spots in his hometown. After opening for Last Comic Standing's Adam Hunter, He moved to Los Angeles to continue acting and comedy.- Animation Department
Marilyn Pierson was born on 5 October 1940. She is known for The Little Mermaid (1989), Tiny Toon Adventures (1990) and Super Friends (1973). She was married to Curtis Pierson. She died on 25 March 2016 in Victorville, California, USA.- Earl Bascom was born on 19 June 1906 in Vernal, Utah, USA. He was an actor, known for Take Willy with Ya (1989). He was married to E. Nadine Diffey. He died on 28 August 1995 in Victorville, California, USA.
- Additional Crew
- Producer
L. Steven Snyder was born on 29 March 1924 in Rochester, New York, USA. L. Steven was a producer, known for Rat Pfink and Boo Boo (1966), The Sadist (1963) and Without Warning (1980). L. Steven died on 8 December 2003 in Victorville, California, USA.- Ray Spinka was born on 2 March 1929 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA. He was an actor, known for Deadly Reactor (1989), Sorority House Massacre (1986) and Scrubs (2001). He died on 12 June 2019 in Victorville, California, USA.
- Robert Gordon was born on 3 March 1895 in Belleville, Kansas, USA. He was an actor, known for Dawn (1919), Tom Sawyer (1917) and A Yankee Princess (1919). He was married to Alma Francis, Cissie Cane and Ruby ?. He died on 26 October 1971 in Victorville, California, USA.
- Producer
- Director
- Editor
Scott Daves was born on 17 October 1974 in Athens, Georgia, USA. He was a producer and director, known for NWA/EWF: Gold Standard (2007), NWA/EWF: Knockdown Dragout (2007) and NWA/EWF: Meltdown 2K7 (2007). He died on 20 March 2015 in Victorville, California, USA.- Curtis James Dean was born on 14 December 1952 in Pontiac, Michigan, USA. He died on 8 February 1991 in Victorville, California, USA.
- Sam Janney was born on 12 January 1892 in New York City, New York, USA. Sam was a writer, known for Loose Ankles (1930) and Ladies at Play (1926). Sam died on 5 June 1929 in Victorville, California, USA.
- Geraldine Fender was born on 2 February 1923 in the USA. She died on 5 February 1998 in Victorville, California, USA.
- Doug Osborne died on 23 July 2012 in Victorville, California, USA.
- Camera and Electrical Department
Arvel Youngblood was born on 13 June 1918 in Burbank, California, USA. He is known for The Blues Brothers (1980), Fletch (1985) and Doctor Detroit (1983). He died on 20 March 2005 in Victorville, California, USA.