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Robert Woolsey
Robert Rollie Woolsey (August 14, 1888 – October 31, 1938) was an American stage and screen comedian and half of the 1930s comedy team Wheeler & Woolsey. Early life Robert Rollie (sometimes spelled Rolla or even Raleigh) was born on August 14, 1888, in Carbondale, Illinois to James Monroe Woolsey and Sarah Eunice Woolsey (née Noble), both also born in Illinois. Woolsey, who had brown eyes and hair with a slight and slender build tried to capitalize on his size, as a young adult, by becoming a jockey. After he fell from a horse and sustained a fractured leg, he quit racing and turned instead to the vaudeville stage. In 1925 he was featured as "Mortimer Pottle" in W. C. Fields's Broadway hit ''Poppy''. Wheeler and Woolsey Woolsey was teamed with comedy star Bert Wheeler in 1928, for the Broadway musical '' Rio Rita''. RKO Radio Pictures filmed the play in 1929, launching Wheeler and Woolsey as movie personalities. Twenty-one of the twenty-two films Woolsey made were with h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Carbondale, Illinois
Carbondale is a city in Jackson and Williamson Counties, Illinois, United States, within the Southern Illinois region informally known as "Little Egypt". The city developed from 1853 because of the stimulation of railroad construction into the area. Today the major roadways of Illinois Route 13 and U.S. Route 51 intersect in the city. The city is southeast of St. Louis, on the northern edge of the Shawnee National Forest. Carbondale is the home of the main campus of Southern Illinois University (SIU). As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 25,083, making it the most populous city in Southern Illinois outside the St. Louis Metro-East region. History In August 1853, Daniel Harmon Brush, John Asgill Conner, and Dr. William Richart bought a parcel of land between two proposed railroad station sites ( Makanda and De Soto) and two county seats ( Murphysboro and Marion). Brush named Carbondale for the large deposit of coal in the area. The first train through Carbondale ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hook, Line And Sinker (1930 Film)
''Hook, Line and Sinker'' is a 1930 American pre-Code slapstick comedy directed by Edward F. Cline from a screenplay by Ralph Spence and Tim Whelan. It was the third starring vehicle for the comedy team of Wheeler & Woolsey (Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey), and also featured Dorothy Lee. It would be one of the largest financial successes for RKO Pictures in 1930. Plot Two fast-talking insurance salesmen — Wilbur Boswell and J. Addington Ganzy — help penniless socialite Mary Marsh to turn a dilapidated hotel, which was willed to her, into a thriving success. They soon run into trouble, however, in the form of two sets of rival gangsters who want to break into the hotel safe; also, Mary's mother, Rebecca Marsh, wants her to marry wealthy lawyer John Blackwell, although Mary has fallen in love with Wilbur. And while she takes an instant dislike to Wilbur, Rebecca falls for Ganzy. Adding to the complications is the fact that Blackwell is actually in league with the gangste ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Rainmakers (film)
''The Rainmakers'' is a 1935 American comedy film directed by Fred Guiol from a screenplay by Grant Garrett and Leslie Goodwins, based on a story by Guiol and Albert Traynor. RKO Radio Pictures released the film on October 25, 1935, starring the comedy team of Wheeler & Woolsey (Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey) and Dorothy Lee. Plot Rainmakers Billy (Wheeler) and Roscoe ( Woolsey) take on a crooked businessman out to cash in on a drought. Cast *Bert Wheeler as Billy *Robert Woolsey as Roscoe * Dorothy Lee as Margie Spencer *Berton Churchill as Simon Parker *George Meeker as Orville Parker *Frederic Roland as Henry Spencer *Edgar Dearing as Kelly References External links * * * *''The Rainmakers''at ''TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or t ...'' (A version ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Nitwits
''The Nitwits'' is a 1935 American comedy film directed by George Stevens from a screenplay written by Fred Guiol and Al Boasberg, based on a story by Stuart Palmer. Released by RKO on June 7, 1935, the film stars the comedy duo of Wheeler & Woolsey (Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey), with featured roles being filled by Fred Keating, Betty Grable, Evelyn Brent and Erik Rhodes. Fred Keating replaced Lionel Atwill, who later played the villain in the 1946 remake, '' Genius at Work''. Plot Cigar-stand attendants Johnny ( Wheeler) and Newton ( Woolsey) get mixed up in a murder investigation at a radio station. Cast * Bert Wheeler as Johnny * Robert Woolsey as Newton * Fred Keating as William Darrell * Betty Grable as Mary Roberts * Evelyn Brent as Alice Lake * Erik Rhodes as George Clark * Hale Hamilton as Winfield Lake * Charles C. Wilson as Police Captain Jennings * Arthur Aylesworth as Lurch * Willie Best as Sleepy * Lew Kelly Lew Kelly (August 24, 1879 – June ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cockeyed Cavaliers
''Cockeyed Cavaliers'' is a 1934 American Pre-Code Hollywood, pre-Code comedy film starring the comedy duo of Wheeler & Woolsey. Directed by Mark Sandrich from a screenplay by Edward Kaufman (screenwriter), Edward Kaufman, Grant Garrett, Ralph Spence (screenwriter), Ralph Spence and Ben Holmes. Also featured in the cast were Dorothy Lee (actress), Dorothy Lee and Thelma Todd. Plot In medieval England, Bert and his friend, Bob are put into the stocks after Bert is caught stealing. A local young boy helps them escape. Bert, Bob and the young boy are chased by jailers through the countryside. It becomes apparent that the young boy is actually a young woman named Mary Ann. Mary Ann is attempting her own escape, from an arranged marriage to the Duke. Mary Ann reveals herself after they arrive at the Duke's castle. Bert falls in love with her. Mary Ann agrees to the wedding after Mary Ann's father is threatened by the Duke to get his daughter to marry him. Bob, meanwhile, has fallen fo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hips, Hips, Hooray!
''Hips, Hips, Hooray!'' is a 1934 American Pre-Code slapstick comedy starring Bert Wheeler, Robert Woolsey, Ruth Etting, Thelma Todd, and Dorothy Lee. During its initial theatrical run, it was preceded by the two-color Technicolor short ''Not Tonight, Josephine'', directed by Edward F. Cline. Plot Todd stars as Amelia Frisby, the owner of a beauty supply business. Andy Williams (Wheeler) and Dr. Bob Dudley (Woolsey) convince her to hire them as salesman to promote her new flavored lipstick. The film features Etting singing "Keep Romance Alive" and Bert Wheeler and Dorothy Lee singing "Keep on Doin' What You're Doin'" by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. Cast * Bert Wheeler as Andy Williams * Robert Woolsey as Dr. Bob Dudley * Dorothy Lee as Daisy Maxwell * Thelma Todd as Amelia Frisby * Ruth Etting as Herself * Phyllis Barry as Madame Irene * Matt Briggs as Det. Epstein * James P. Burtis as Detective Sweeney * Spencer Charters as Clark * George Meeker as Armand Beauchamp * Doris M ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kentucky Kernels
''Kentucky Kernels'' is a 1934 American comedy directed by George Stevens and starring the comedy duo of Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey. The screenplay was written by Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, and Fred Guiol, from a story by Kalmar and Ruby. Plot The Great Elmer and Company, two out-of-work magicians, help lovelorn Jerry Bronson adopt Spanky Milford, to distract him. When Bronson makes up and elopes, the pair are stuck with the little boy. But Spanky inherits a Kentucky fortune, so they head south to Banesville, where the Milfords and Wakefields are conducting a bitter feud. Cast * Bert Wheeler as Willie Doyle * Robert Woolsey as Elmer Dugan * Mary Carlisle as Gloria Wakefield * George 'Spanky' McFarland, 'Spanky' McFarland as Spanky * Noah Beery as Colonel Wakefield * Lucille La Verne, Lucille LaVerne as Aunt Hannah Milford * Margaret Dumont as Mrs. Baxter * Willie Best, Sleep 'n' Eat as Buckshot References 1934 comedy films 1934 films American comedy films Films dir ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Diplomaniacs
''Diplomaniacs'' is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film starring Wheeler and Woolsey. The film in noted for its absurdist political satire, somewhat in the manner of '' Million Dollar Legs'' or '' Duck Soup'', both of which were released within a year of ''Diplomaniacs''. Plot The film concerns the adventures of two men who have set up a failing business as barbers on an Indian reservation. When they are sent by the tribe as representatives to a peace conference in Europe, unbeknownst to them, they face constant threats from other attendees. In particular, several armaments manufacturers want to ensure that the peace conference is a failure, and do everything they can to sabotage it. Cast * Bert Wheeler as Willy Nilly * Robert Woolsey as Hercules Glub * Marjorie White as Dolores * Phyllis Barry as Fifi * Louis Calhern as Winklereid * Hugh Herbert as Chow-Chow, the China Man * Edgar Kennedy as Chairman of the Peace Conference * Richard Carle as Ship's Captain * William Irving a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Girl Crazy
''Girl Crazy'' is a 1930 musical by George Gershwin with lyrics by Ira Gershwin and book by Guy Bolton and John McGowan. Ethel Merman made her stage debut in the first production and co-lead Ginger Rogers became an overnight star. Rich in song, it follows the story of Danny Churchill who has been sent to fictional Custerville, Arizona, to manage his family's ranch. His father wants him there to focus on matters more serious than alcohol and women but Danny turns the place into a dude ranch, importing showgirls from Broadway and hiring Kate Forthergill (Merman's role) as entertainer. Visitors come from both Coasts and Danny falls in love with the local postmistress, Molly Gray (Rogers' role). Three subsequent film adaptations adjusted the plot. The most notable, in 1943, starred Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland, with the latter playing a combined Kate and Molly. Productions The musical opened at the Alvin Theatre on October 14, 1930 and closed on June 6, 1931 after 272 performan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hold 'Em Jail
''Hold 'Em Jail'' is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy film starring Wheeler and Woolsey. They play a couple of boobs who are wrongfully convicted for firearm possession and sent to prison, where they somehow end up playing on the warden's football team. Warden Edgar Kennedy is not above framing innocent people into prison and blackmailing them into playing on his football team in exchange for being eventually proven innocent. Wheeler and Woolsey are wise to the racket, but Kennedy has to treat them with kid gloves because his old maid sister (Oliver) is in love with one of them. Rare for the duo, the film is a straight comedy with no musical numbers. It is also noteworthy for giving Betty Grable her first substantial role after appearances as a Goldwyn Girl and in bit parts. The title is a pun on the then-popular college football cheer, "Hold 'em, Yale." Cast * Bert Wheeler as Curly Harris * Robert Woolsey as Spider Robbins * Edna May Oliver as Violet Jones * Robert Armstrong ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cracked Nuts (1931 Film)
''Cracked Nuts'' is a 1931 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Edward F. Cline, from an original screenplay written by Al Boasberg and Ralph Spence. The film stars the comedy duo Wheeler & Woolsey (Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey) as well as Dorothy Lee. It also features Boris Karloff in a small supporting role. The film was one of RKO's only financial successes of the year, with a profit of just over $150,000. Plot Wendell Graham (Bert Wheeler), while a millionaire through inheritance, is incredibly irresponsible. On a trans-Atlantic crossing, he meets the lovely Betty Harrington (Dorothy Lee), and her stuffy, over-protective aunt, Minnie Van Varden (Edna May Oliver). Wendell is definitely interested, and his interest is reciprocated by Betty; however, Aunt Minnie takes an instant dislike to the young man. On the same ship are several dissidents who are seeking financial support for their revolution back home in the fictional country of El Dorania. Wendell believes tha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
