Hollywood is notorious for a lot of things. In the 1920s and 1930s, Hollywood was just as well known for its glitz and glam, as it was its mysterious deaths. The death of Thelma Todd may just be one of the most notorious events in Hollywood history.
Thelma Alice Todd was born on July 29th, 1906, in Lawrence, Massachusetts. She was a good student, and excelled in school. She intended on becoming a school teacher, and enrolled at the Lowell Normal School, now known as the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, and completed her teacher training.
Thelma was also known for being beautiful. As a teenager, she entered beauty pageants, and even won the title of Miss Massachusetts in 1925. She was flown to LA in order to represent her home state, and was spotted by Hollywood talent scouts.
Excited to pursue a career in film, she signed a one-year contract with Paramount. However, her contract held a clause that stipulated her weight at the time, and dictated that if she gained more than 3 pounds, or lost more than six, her contract would be terminated.
Despite this horrendous, and misogynistic, clause, she excelled at her craft, and took to the silver screen like a fish takes to water.
Thelma began her career in the silent film era, appearing as supporting roles in showcased her beauty, rather than her talent. As talkies began to dominate the scene, Thelma got the chance to spread her wings, and showcase her true talent.
She appeared in many slapstick comedy shorts with co-star ZaSu Pitts, and then Patsy Kelly. Thelma appeared as a savvy, independent woman, next to the ditzy antics of her co-stars.
She quickly became one of the most highly regarded actresses in Hollywood, and was known to play opposite to Wheeler and Woolsey, Buster Keaton, Joe E. Brown, and the Marx Brothers.
As her reputation skyrocketed, she was offered opportunities to expand her talents into dramatic filmmaking, appearing most notably in the original 1931 version of The Maltese Falcon.
All in all, Thelma Todd’s career culminated in her appearing in around 120 features, shorts, and silent films.
Thelma was also known as a social butterfly, and a bit of a party girl. She enjoyed making friends, and going to parties with Hollywood actors, actresses, producers, directors, and talent agents. However, Telma was a badass who took no shit. (Please excuse my language.)
She was outspoken about her experiences with Hollywood bigwigs, refusing to ‘entertain’ them for roles. She was often threatened with being blacklisted for her ‘brazen’ behaviour, though these threats were clearly never carried out.
In 1932, Thelma married Pasquale “Pat” DiCicco, a self-described “agent with underworld connections”. The marriage was not a happy one. It was “punctuated by frequent, loud arguments fuelled by alcohol”, and Thelma was often DiCicco’s punching bag.
In 1934, Thelma filed for divorce, citing “grievous mental and physical suffering”. The divorce was granted later that same year.
Thelma was clever and crafty. She decided on a new career venture in August of 1934 to boost her financial stability. At 17575 Pacific Coast Highway, Thelma opened Thelma Todd’s Sidewalk Café. The business was co-owned between herself, Roland West, and Jewel Carmen. With her status as a social butterfly, Thelma relied on her social network to fill the café, and increase it’s popularity. It worked.
The café drew in tourists, and Hollywood elite alike, creating a fun, vivacious atmosphere. It was an instant success, and Thelma was pleased as punch. She knew that her time as a Hollywood starlet was almost up, and felt secure that she’d be able to take care of herself in her post-Hollywood life.
Thelma lived in an apartment above the café, along with West and Carmen. This seemed unusual to some of her friends, though.
Thelma had been engaged in a very public affair with West, an affair that Carmen seemed completely unconcerned about. The two apartments were separated by “only a single drawing room”. It seemed the situation suited everyone involved. And if things got too cramped, well, West and Carmen could simply go home to their house on the hill, about 500 yards from the café.
On Saturday, December 14th, 1935, Thelma attended a party in her honour, hosted by entertainer Stanley Lupino, and his actress daughter Ida, at the popular Hollywood restaurant, the Trocadero. She seemed to be having a good time, sipping champagne, laughing, and dancing. At one point, she even bet her friends a free dinner that they wouldn’t visit her café the next day, as they’d never gone there before.
Roland West was not in attendance at this party, but he was staying at the apartments above the café. He asked Thelma to be home by 2:00 AM, or he’d lock the door on her. At around 1:50 AM, Thelma asked Sid Grauman to call West, and let him know that she was on her home shortly. He waited until 2:30 AM, and then locked the door when Thelma still hadn’t returned home.
Thelma stayed at the party until around 3:15 AM. Her chauffeur, Ernest Peters, dropped her off at the café somewhere between 3:00 AM and 4:20 AM, by his account. He also stated that Thelma was unusually quiet on the ride home.
On Sunday, the friends that Thelma had made the bet with arrived at the café to collect on their bet. They discovered that Thelma hadn’t been seen at the café that day, but still enjoyed their comped meal.
The following morning, Monday, December 16th, 1935, Thelma’s maid, Mae Whitehead, began her morning routine. This included readying Thelma’s Lincoln convertible, and bringing it down from the garage at the West/Carmen house, where it was kept, and bringing it to the café.
When Mae opened the garage door, she found Thelma Todd’s body slumped over the steering wheel, dead, with a broken nose and cracked ribs. Thelma was only 29 years old.
The L.A. Times described the scene colourfully, stating: “Coagulated blood marred the screen comedienne’s features and stained her mauve and silver evening gown and her expensive mink coat when she was found. Her blonde locks pathetically awry, in the front seat of her automobile in the garage of Roland West.”
An investigation into Thelma’s death was launched, and a grand jury was convened. Theories and speculation ran wild. What could have possibly happend to the Hollywood starlet?
The main theory was that Thelma found herself locked out of her apartment, and decided to walk to the West/Carmen house in order to sleep in her car. She opened the garage door, closed it, turned on her car to keep warm, and accidentally died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Autopsy surgeon Dr. A. F. Wagner determined that Thelma’s time of death to be around 5:00 AM on Sunday, December 15th, 1935, and testified as much to the grand jury. The New York Times quoted him as stating: “The autopsy showed monoxide poison, to the extent of 70% of total saturation, in her blood. There may have been other contributing causes, but that definitely was the major factor.”
It was these ‘other contributing causes’ that called the ‘accidental death’ theory into question. Of note were her broken bones. While it was deemed plausible that Thelma could have broken her nose by slumping forward onto the steering wheel of her car, this did not account for her broken ribs.
Thelma also knew her way around cars, and was a well-known car aficionado. She would have known the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, and never would have left the garage door closed after turning on her car.
How she arrived at the garage was also called into question. The house was a walk up a treacherous hill from the café, and yet her shows showed no sign of wear or damage from the walk. Her pantyhose were also fully intact, indicating that she hadn’t removed her shoes to make the walk easier.
Roland West also testified to the grand jury that Thelma’s behaviour, if the accident theory was to be believed, was rather odd. She could have woken him up to let her into the apartments, as she’d done before. Never once had she walked to the house, and sat in the garage upon being locked out.
Mrs. Martha Ford also reported to police that she’d heard from Thelma on Sunday afternoon at around 4:00PM, 11 hours after the alleged time of death.
Mrs. Ford stated that Thelma had phoned her, and said she was bringin a ‘surprise guest’ to the party Mrs. Ford was throwing that afternoon. Mrs. Ford also said that Thelma told her: “I went to a party last night and I’m still in my evening clothes. Do you mind?”
No phone records showed any calls coming from Thelma’s property that Sunday. Mrs. Ford stated that she was “positive beyond question” that the call came from Thelma. Could Thelma have found a phone somewhere else?
The autopsy also showed that peas and carrots were found in Thelma’s stomach at the time of her death, neither of which were served during the party at the Trocadero. This indicated that Thelma had gone out to eat after the party, before she was found in the garage.
Another factor which calls this theory into question were the contents of her handbag. Her handbag contained a coin purse, which, in turn, contained the key to the side door of her apartment. If Thelma had a way to get into her apartment all along, then why would she voluntarily trek to a garage up a hill?
Eventually, the grand jury came the the following conclusion: “The death of the deceased appears to be accidental… but we recommend further investigation to be made in this case by the proper authorities.”
The statement sparked mass speculation, with theories and gossip consuming headlines.
One theory was that Thelma intentionally committed suicide. It’s speculated that Thelma knew what she was going to do. Her chauffeur testified to the grand jury that not only was Thelma unusually quiet during the drive home, but she did not ask him to escort her to her apartment door, as was her habit. And with her knowledge of cars, she would have known what a running engine and an enclosed space would do.
However, this theory runs thin. Witnesses from the Trocadero party stated that she was in good spirits, and had left the party happy. She also did not exhibit any self-destructive behaviour prior to her death. Her café was successful, she’d just signed a new film contract, and the trunk of her car was filled with Christmas presents for her friends and family. She’d also told Ida Lupino that she was seeing a new man from San Francisco. Not exactly the makings of a potential suicidal person.
The most infamous of the theories behind the mysterious death of Thelma Todd were, and in a way still are, the murder theories.
One theory stipulated that Roland West was behind Thelma’s death. He was said to be a jealous man. Rumour stated that one of the reasons they opened the café together was so that they’d have more time with each other. If Thelma started seeing a man in San Francisco, West may not have taken it well.
In 1952, while on his deathbed, West allegedly admitted to being responsible for Thelma’s death. He told an actor friend of both his and Thelma’s that he’d accidentally locked her in the garage. However, his account was full of inconsistencies, and contradictions.
Another suspect in the murder theory was Roland West’s wife, silent film actress Jewel Carmen. While most would believe that was the jilted, scorned, jealous wife, the reality was that she didn’t care about the affair between Thelma and West. However, the Chicago Tribune reported that: “Carmen threatened to kill Todd for squandering money at the restaurant in which she, her husband, and Todd were business partners”. This theory also runs a little thin.
A third suspect in the murder theory was her ex-husband, Pat DiCicco. He was known to have a violent temper, and his second wife, Gloria Vanderbilt, described him as a “brute with a bad temper who would physically abuse her when he was drunk”.
Witnesses reported that Thelma had run into him the night of the Trocadero party, and that they had a heated discussion. However, she left the party in good spirits, and avoided him for the duration after their argument.
DiCicco also testified to the grand jury that he’d been unaware of her death, until an attorney had reached out to him to tell him that he’d been left one dollar in her will. A will which had been written while they were still married.
The most popular murder suspect in Thelma’s death was known gangster Lucky Luciano.
In early 1935, Thelma had received a string of letters that threatened her life if she didn’t pay $10,000. Each letter was signed by the “Ace of Hearts”. In August of 1935, a suspect in the letter writing campaign was arrested, and the letters stopped. Thelma was absolute convinced that “the whole ordeal was mob related”.
It was also rumoured that Thelma and Luciano were engaged in a romantic affair, where he treated her roughly. Thelma tried to break ties multiple times, but was always bullied and cajoled into seeing him again.
Luciano was also known to be heavy handed in his ‘business’ dealings. He demanded that Thelma allow him to set up an illegal casino on the third floor of her café, a demand she refused. Luciano was not a man to take ‘no’ for an answer.
Popular speculation states that Lucky Luciano put a hit out on Thelma Todd after the refusal of his business. She was dropped off at her café, then picked up by one of his associates. In wanting to keep as many people out of trouble as possible, she sent her chauffeur away.
After being picked up, she was taken somewhere to eat – accounting for the peas and carrots. After the meal, she was murdered, then placed in West’s garage to make it look like an accident. If she’d been treated roughly by Luciano before, it could account for her broken nose and cracked ribs.
Shortly after Thelma’s death, Luciano fled Los Angeles, never to return.
Though gossip worthy, these theories are only that – theories. There has never been any evidence to indicate that Thelma was murdered, though her injuries are suspect.
In the end, her death was officially ruled an accidental suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. But this official ruling doesn’t sit well either.
Through the glitz and glam, Hollywood is full of seedy, creepy secrets. And the truth behind the death of Thelma Todd may be one of the best kept secrets of all.
— — —
Like what you’re reading? Follow me on Twitter or Facebook for the latest updates!
Sources:
From the Archives: Body of Thelma Todd Found in Death Riddle – The Los Angeles Times
The Mysterious Death of Massachusetts Movie Star Thelma Todd – New England Historical Society
The Mysterious Death of Thelma Todd, Hollywood’s ‘Ice Cream Blonde’ – Lauren Zmirich – All That’s Interesting
The Mysterious Death of Old Hollywood Star Thelma Todd – Ula Ross – The Vintage Woman Magazine
BuzzFeed Unsolved: True Crime – The Tinseltown Murder of Thelma Todd
Thelma Todd Wikipedia page