Carole Landis was born on New Year's Day in 1919 in Fairchild, Wisconsin under the name of Frances Lillian Mary Ridste. Her childhood was, for the most part, normal. Her father was of Norwegian descent and her mother was Polish. Her father, a railroad mechanic, left the family and Carole, her mother and an older brother and sister were left to fend for themselves.
Once she graduated from high school, Carole married Irving Wheeler, but the union lasted a month before the marriage was annulled because Carole was only 15 at the time. The couple remarried in August of 1934 and the two headed to California to start a new life.
For a while she worked as a dancer and singer, but it wasn't long before the glitter of show business drew Carole to Los Angeles. She won a studio contract with Warner Brother's, but was a bit player for the most part in such films as A STAR IS BORN, HOLLYWOOD HOTEL, A DAY AT THE RACES, and THE EMPEROR'S CANDLESTICKS, all in 1937. The following year started out much the same way with more bit roles. Carole's career was stalled.
By 1939, Carole was getting a little more into speaking roles, one liners as it were, and that year ended much like the previous two years, more bit roles, plus a divorce from Wheeler.
In 1940 she was cast as Loana in a Hal Roach production called ONE MILLION B.C.
By 1941, Carole's career was finally moving. She didn't star in big productions, but instead in what is known a B movies. B movies are productions made with lower budgets and and little publicity. Although Carole had a fine acting talent, good roles were snatched up by the established Hollywood stars of the day.
Her busiest year ever turned out to be 1942, with roles in six films such as MANILA CALLING, THE POWERS GIRLS, and A GENTLE MAN AT HEART. It seemed that any film never really attracted good reviews from the critics. When they did it was in reference to her natural beauty.
By the middle 40's her film career was beginning to short circuit. Her contract with 20th Century Fox had been canceled, failed marriages to Willis Hunt, Jr. and Thomas Wallace added on and her current marriage to Horace Schmidlapp on the skids, plus a battle with poor health spelled disaster for her professionally and personally. Her final two films were released in 1948, BRASS MONKEY and NOOSE.
On July 5, 1948, Carole committed suicide on an overdose of
Seconal in her Brentwood Heights, California home. She was only 29 and had made 49 motion
pictures, unfortunately, mostly forgettable ones. If only the Hollywood moguls had given her a good
chance, Carole could have been one of the brightest stars of Hollywood history.
Very nice Carole Landis pics are below
Carole Pic 1
Carole Pic 2
Carole Pic 3
Carole Pic 4
Carole Pic 5
Carole Pic 6
Click here to go to Ann Sothern
Thanks to Benny Sharp for phto no. 5.
© 1998 Denny C. Jackson dejackso@iglou.com
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