Glenda Farrell (June 30, 1904 – May 1, 1971)
Farrell began acting on stage as a child and continued with various theatre companies and on Broadway before signing with Warner Bros. A signature 1930s Warner Bros. star, Farrell appeared in films such as Little Caesar (1931), I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932), Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933) and Lady for a Day (1933). After leaving Warner Bros. in 1939, Farrell remained active in film, television and theatre throughout the rest of her career.
Early life
Farrell was born in Enid, Oklahoma. Her father, Charles Farrell, was a horse trader of Irish and Cherokee descent. Farrell's mother, Wilhelmina "Minnie" of German descent, was the driving force behind her daughter's theatre career. Farrell had two brothers, Dick and Gene. After her family moved to Wichita, Kansas, Farrell began acting on stage with a theatrical company at age seven, playing the role of Little Eva in the play Uncle Tom's Cabin. Farrell's mother, who had never achieved her own desire to be an actress, encouraged and supported her daughter's acting interests. Farrell received a formal education at the Mount Carmel Catholic Academy. They were paired as a comedy duo throughout the early 1930s in a series of five Warner Bros. movies: Havana Widows (1933), Kansas City Princess (1934), Traveling Saleslady (1935), We're in the Money (1935) and Miss Pacific Fleet (1935). Farrell and Blondell appeared together in a total of nine films.
thumb|Farrell and [[Barton MacLane as Torchy Blane and Steve McBride]]
In 1937, Farrell began starring as Torchy Blane, a fast-talking, wisecracking newspaper reporter. Warner Bros. had started to develop a film adaptation of "MacBride and Kennedy" stories by detective novelist Frederick Nebel. For the film version, Kennedy is changed to a woman named "Torchy" Blane and is in love with MacBride's character. Director Frank MacDonald immediately knew whom he wanted for the role of Torchy. Farrell had already proved that she could play hard-boiled reporters in Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933) and Hi, Nellie! (1934) and was quickly cast with Barton MacLane playing detective Steve McBride in the first film Smart Blonde (1937).
Smart Blonde was a surprise hit and became a popular second feature with moviegoers. Farrell continued to play Torchy in seven films opposite MacLane between 1937 and 1939. The Torchy series took Farrell's popularity to a new level. She was beloved by the moviegoing public and received a huge amount of fan mail for the series. Farrell based her portrayal of the Torchy character on real-life female journalists of the time, stating in her 1969 Time interview: "So before I undertook to do the first Torchy, I determined to create a real human being—and not an exaggerated comedy type. I met those [newswomen] who visited Hollywood and watched them work on visits to New York City. They were generally young, intelligent, refined, and attractive. By making Torchy true to life, I tried to create a character practically unique in movies." They were married from 1921 to 1929. Their son, actor Tommy Farrell, was born in 1921. Farrell was engaged to Jack Durant of the comedy duo "Mitchell and Durant" in 1931 but never married him. She later dated screenwriter Robert Riskin and actor Jack Randall.
In 1941, Farrell married Dr. Henry Ross, a major and Army Air Force flight surgeon. The couple met during a performance of the play Separate Rooms after Farrell sprained her ankle and was treated backstage by Ross. Ross was a staff surgeon at New York's Polyclinic Hospital and West Point graduate, who later served as chief of the public health section on General Eisenhower's staff.
Legacy
Comic book writer Jerry Siegel credits Farrell's portrayal of Torchy Blane as the inspiration for the fictional Daily Planet reporter and Superman's love interest, Lois Lane. Siegel also named June Farrell, one of the characters in his Funnyman comic book series, after Farrell.
On February 8, 1960, Farrell received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to motion pictures at 6524 Hollywood Boulevard.
Writer and director Garson Kanin said in a 1971 New York Times article: "There are players who create characters; some of the great ones, a single character. More rare are those who, like Glenda, created a type. She invented and developed that made‐tough, uncompromising, knowing, wisecracking, undefeatable blonde. Whether she was the Girl Friend of the star, a cynical secretary, a salesgirl, a worldweary wife, a madam, homesteader, or schoolteacher she was always, relentlessly The Type. She was widely imitated, and lived long enough to see her imitators imitated."
Films
thumb|Farrell in [[Stolen Heaven (1938 film)|Stolen Heaven (1938)]]
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1929
| Lucky Boy
|
| Uncredited
|-
| 1930
| The Lucky Break
|
| Short
|-
| 1931
| Little Caesar
| Olga Stassoff
|
|-
| rowspan="5"| 1932
| Scandal for Sale
| Stella
| Uncredited
|-
| Life Begins
| Florette Darien
|
|-
| Three on a Match
| Mrs. Black
|
|-
| I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang
| Marie Woods
|
|-
| The Match King
| Babe
|
|-
| rowspan="11"| 1933
| Mystery of the Wax Museum
| Florence Dempsey
|
|-
| Grand Slam
| Blondie
|
|-
| Girl Missing
| Kay Curtis
|
|-
| The Keyhole
| Dot
|
|-
| How to Break 90 #2: Position and Back Swing
| Golfer's Wife
| Short, uncredited
|-
| Gambling Ship
| Jeanne Sands
|
|-
| Mary Stevens, M.D.
| Glenda Carroll
|
|-
| Lady for a Day
| Missouri Martin
|
|-
| Bureau of Missing Persons
| Belle Howard Saunders
|
|-
| Havana Widows
| Sadie Appleby
|
|-
| Man's Castle
| Fay La Rue
|
|-
| rowspan="9"| 1934
| The Big Shakedown
| Lily "Lil" Duran
|
|-
| Hi Nellie!
| Gerry Krale
|
|-
| Dark Hazard
| Valerie "Val" Wilson
|
|-
| I've Got Your Number
| Bonnie
|
|-
| Heat Lightning
| Mrs. Tifton
|
|-
| Merry Wives of Reno
| Bunny Fitch
|
|-
| The Personality Kid
| Joan McCarty
|
|-
| Kansas City Princess
| Marie Callahan
|
|-
| The Secret Bride
| Hazel Normandie
|
|-
| rowspan="7"| 1935
| Gold Diggers of 1935
| Betty Hawes
|
|-
| Traveling Saleslady
| Claudette
|
|-
| Go into Your Dance
| Molly Howard
|
|-
| In Caliente
| Clara
|
|-
| We're in the Money
| Dixie Tilton
|
|-
| Little Big Shot
| Jean
|
|-
| Miss Pacific Fleet
| Mae O'Brien
|
|-
| rowspan="6"| 1936
| Snowed Under
| Daisy Lowell
|
|-
| The Law in Her Hands
| Dorothy "Dot" Davis
|
|-
| Nobody's Fool
| Ruby Miller
|
|-
| High Tension
| Edith McNeil
|
|-
| Here Comes Carter
| Verna Kennedy
|
|-
| Gold Diggers of 1937
| Genevieve Larkin
|
|-
| rowspan="8"| 1937
| Smart Blonde
| rowspan="2"| Torchy Blane
|
|-
| Fly-Away Baby
|
|-
| Dance Charlie Dance
| Fanny Morgan
|
|-
| You Live and Learn
| Mamie Wallis
|
|-
| Sunday Night at the Trocadero
| Herself
| Short
|-
| Breakfast for Two
| Carol Wallace
|
|-
| The Adventurous Blonde
| Torchy Blane
|
|-
| Hollywood Hotel
| Jonesy
|
|-
| rowspan="6"| 1938
| Blondes at Work
| Torchy Blane
|
|-
| Stolen Heaven
| Rita
|
|-
| Prison Break
| Jean Fenderson
|
|-
| The Road to Reno
| Sylvia Shane
|
|-
| Exposed
| Click Stewart
|
|-
| Torchy Gets Her Man
| rowspan="3"| Torchy Blane
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1939
| Torchy Blane in Chinatown
|
|-
| Torchy Runs for Mayor
|
|-
| 1941
| Johnny Eager
| Mae Blythe
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1942
| Twin Beds
| Sonya Cherupin
|
|-
| The Talk of the Town
| Regina Bush
|
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1943
| City Without Men
| Billie LaRue
|
|-
| A Night for Crime
| Susan Cooper
|
|-
| Klondike Kate
| Molly
|
|-
| 1944
| Ever Since Venus
| Babs Cartwright
|
|-
| 1947
| Heading for Heaven
| Nora Elkins
|
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1948
| I Love Trouble
| Hazel Bixby
|
|-
| Mary Lou
| Winnie Winford
|
|-
| Lulu Belle
| Molly Benson
|
|-
| 1952
| Apache War Smoke
| Fanny Webson
|
|-
| 1953
| Girls in the Night
| Alice Haynes
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1954
| Secret of the Incas
| Mrs. Winston
|
|-
| Susan Slept Here
| Maude Snodgrass
|
|-
| 1955
| The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing
| Mrs. Nesbit
|
|-
| 1959
| Middle of the Night
| Mrs. Mueller
|
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1964
| Kissin' Cousins
| Ma Tatum
|
|-
| The Disorderly Orderly
| Dr. Jean Howard
|
|-
| 1970
| Tiger by the Tail
| Sarah Harvey
| (final film role)
|-
|}
Television
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1949
| The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre
|
| Episode: "The Mirror and the Manicure"
|-
| 1949-58
| Studio One in Hollywood
| Various
| Episode: "June Moon"<br>Episode: "Miss Turner's Decision"<br>Episode: "The Other Place"<br>Episode: "The Edge of Truth"
|-
| 1950
| The Silver Theatre
|
| Episode: "Gaudy Lady"
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1951
| Prudential Family Playhouse
| Effie Flound
| Episode: "Ruggles of Red Gap"
|-
| Faith Baldwin Romance Theatre
|
| Episode: "Fountain of Youth"
|-
| Starlight Theatre
| Dorine
| Episode: "The Come-Back"
|-
| 1952
| Personal Appearance Theater
| Christopher Cross
| Episode: "Adventure of Christopher Cross"
|-
| 1952-53
| Armstrong Circle Theatre
| Serena Price
| Episode: "The Darkroom"<br>Episode: "The Straight and Narrow"
|-
| 1953
| Tales of Tomorrow
|
| Episode: "The Build-Box"
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1955
| Justice
|
| Episode: "House of Hatred"
|-
| The Elgin Hour
| Mrs. Dane
| Episode: "Crime in the Streets"
|-
| Goodyear Playhouse
| Mrs. Davis
| Episode: "The Expendable House"
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1956
| Front Row Center
| May Cooper
| Episode: "Uncle Barney"
|-
| The Alcoa Hour
| Eloise Schroeder
| Episode: "Doll Face"
|-
| The Kaiser Aluminum Hour
|
| Episode: "Cracker Money"
|-
| 1956-57
| Kraft Theatre
| Alma Wilkes / Stella Harvey / Momma
| Episode: "Home Is the Hero"<br>Episode: "The Man on Roller Skates"<br>Episode: "The Last Showdown"<br>Episode: "The Old Ticker"<br>Episode: "Polka"
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1957
| The 20th Century-Fox Hour
| Mae Swasey
| Episode: "The Marriage Broker"
|-
| The Sheriff of Cochise
| Sarah Avery
| Episode: "Federal Witness"
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1958
| Matinee Theatre
|
| Episode: "The Hickory Heart"
|-
| Cimarron City
| Maggie Arkins
| Episode: "A Respectable Girl"
|-
| rowspan="5"| 1959
| The Further Adventures of Ellery Queen
|
| Episode: "Confession of Murder"
|-
| General Electric Theater
| Mrs. Brady
| Episode: "Night Club"
|-
| The Bells of St. Mary's
|
| Television film
|-
| Buick-Electra Playhouse
|
| Episode: "The Killers"
|-
| Wagon Train
| Belle MacAbee
| Episode: "The Jess MacAbee Story"
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1960
| Play of the Week
| Rose Frobisher
| Episode: "A Palm Tree in a Rose Garden"
|-
| The Islanders
| Mrs. Dan King
| Episode: "The Widow from Richmond"
|-
| 1960-63
| The United States Steel Hour
| Various
| Episode: "Queen of the Orange Bowl"<br>Episode: "Summer Rhapsody"<br>Episode: "The Woman Across the Hall<br>Episode: "The Inner Panic"<br>Episode: "Moment of Rage"
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1961
| Our American Heritage
| Martha Bulloch Roosevelt
| Episode: "The Invincible Teddy"
|-
| A String of Beads
|
| Television film
|-
| Westinghouse Playhouse
| Laura
| Episode: "A Tale of Two Mothers"
|-
| Special for Women: The Glamour Trap
| Beauty Operator
| Television film
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1962
| Frontier Circus
| Ma Jukes
| Episode: "Mighty Like Rogues"
|-
| The Defenders
| Edna Holley
| Episode: "The Naked Heiress"
|-
| Route 66
| Laverne
| Episode: "Man Out of Time"
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1963
| Ben Casey
| Martha Morrison
| Episode: "A Cardinal Act of Mercy" part 1<br>Episode: "A Cardinal Act of Mercy" part 2<br>Won the Emmy Award for outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by an Actress
|-
| Rawhide
| Elizabeth Farragut
| Episode: "Incident at Farragut Pass"
|-
| Dr. Kildare
| Vera Dennis
| Episode: "The Exploiters"
|-
| The Fugitive
| Maggie Lambert
| Episode: "Fatso"
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1964
| Bonanza
| Lulabelle "Looney" Watkins
| Episode: "The Pure Truth"
|-
| The Bing Crosby Show
| Aunt Lulu
| Episode: "The Liberated Woman"
|-
| 1968
| Felony Squad
| Jeanette Anderson
| Episode: "The Deadly Innocents"
|-
| 1969
| Bewitched
| Hortense Rockeford
| Episode: "The Battle of Burning Oak"
|-
|}
Notes
References
- "Hollywood Gossip", The Daily Times-News (Burlington, North Carolina), March 29, 1934, p. 8.
- "Film and Drama", Press-Telegram (Long Beach, California), June 22, 1952, p. 31.
- "Studio and Stage", Los Angeles Times, May 29, 1925, p. A7.
- "Glenda Farrell Praised for Art in Best People", Los Angeles Times, October 4, 1925, p. 23.
- "Stage Star To Play In Films", Los Angeles Times, July 9, 1930, p. A12.
- 1930 United States Federal Census, April 15, 1930, Enumeration District 19-30, Sheet 15-A.
- "Glenda Farrell, Film Star, Dies at 66", The New York Times, May 2, 1971, p. 74. (Retrieved 2017-05-04.)
External links
- Glenda Farrell at Hollywood.com
- Literature on Glenda Farrell
- Glenda Farrell papers, 1929-1972 (bulk 1930s-1940s), held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
- Farrell, Glenda (1904–1971) in the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture