The Complete Thelma Todd & Patsy Kelly Shorts Coming to DVD
Who said “comedy is not pretty?”
That old chesnut was proven wrong back in the 1930s when Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly starred in a popular series of short comedies for Hal Roach Studios (known informally as the “Lot of Fun”). Today, the boutique label ClassicFlix made the very happy announcement that they would release all 21 of the delightful duo’s two-reelers in a 3-DVD box set.
Even better, this is just the first release in their new “Silver Series” line. Who knows what other treasures will be offered in the future?
For fans of classic comedy, this is an essential purchase. Here’s the full press release from ClassicFlix on the upcoming set and on their new Silver Series line:
Silver Series Launches with Todd-Kelly Complete Collection
For the first time on any home video comes all 21 of Hal Roach’s two-reelers starring the comedy team of Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly.
The Complete Hal Roach Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly Comedy Collection is the inaugural release of our Silver Series line and will street on DVD this June 26th. The 3-disc set also contains as bonus features the three shorts Patsy Kelly filmed after the untilmely death of Thelma Todd.
Initial distribution for this set and all future ClassicFlix releases will be at ClassicFlix.com, Twilight Time and Amazon (pending future distribution agreements).
About the Silver Series line:
The ClassicFlix Silver Series line will focus on bringing lesser-known titles out of studio vaults at affordable prices. Discs will be pressed (not MOD) upon release, but may become MODs after depletion of initial pressing.
About the The Complete Hal Roach Thelma Todd and Patsy Kelly Comedy Collection:
For the first time on home video comes all 21 of Hal Roach’s two-reelers starring the lovely Thelma Todd and the pugnacious Patsy Kelly. These timeless shorts showcase the incredible comedic talents of an unsung duo who simply wanted to make audiences laugh… and succeeded!
In Hollywood, the laugh factory operated by Roach was known to one and all as “The Lot of Fun.” Established in 1915, the studio hosted many of the familiar names in comedy at one time or another: Harold Lloyd, Charley Chase and the popular and iconic team of Laurel and Hardy.
Determined to find the female equivalent of “The Boys,” Roach paired Thelma Todd (already under contract and a veteran of several Chase shorts) with comic actress ZaSu Pitts. Thelma and ZaSu appeared in 17 shorts between 1931 and 1933 that were very popular with moviegoers, but their fruitful partnership ended when Pitts and Roach failed to come to terms on a new contract.
After seeing comedienne Patsy Kelly in the stage production of Flying Colors, Roach agreed that she was the perfect replacement for ZaSu, and the new team of Todd-Kelly was soon putting out hilarious efforts like Babes in the Goods (1934), Maid in Hollywood (1934) and Top Flat (1935). All-American Toothache (1936) would be their final pairing as Todd’s tragic death brought an end to the girls’ entertaining partnership.
Though efforts were made to jump-start the franchise with Pert Kelton and Lyda Roberti, the writing was on the wall where Roach’s two-reelers were concerned as the producer soon transitioned solely to “streamliners” and feature films.
SHORTS:
1933
- Beauty and the Bus
- Backs to Nature
- Air Fright
1934
- Babes in the Goods
- Soup and Fish
- Maid in Hollywood
- I’ll Be Suing You
- Three Chumps Ahead
- One-Horse Farmers
- Opened by Mistake
- Done in Oil
- Bum Voyage
1935
- Treasure Blues
- Sing Sister Sing
- The Tin Man
- The Misses Stooge
- Slightly Static
- Twin Triplets
- Hot Money
- Top Flat
1936
- An All-American Toothache
BONUS FEATURES:
- Patsy Kelly and Pert Kelton Short Pan Handlers (1936)
- Patsy Kelly and Lyda Roberti Shorts At Sea Ashore and Hill-Tillies (both 1936)
