In 1940, Jean Hersholt did a very cool thing – he bought nearly 50 acres of land through the Motion Picture Relief Fund, which he co-founded, and turned part of the property into the Motion Picture Country House. It was a place for those in the motion picture industry to retire and be cared for (if need be) when they had nowhere else to go. What’s so cool about it is that the people who lived there only paid based on their ability to pay – if they couldn’t afford to, they didn’t have to. Sadly, at the beginning of this year, the Motion Picture & Television Fund and Jeffrey Katzenberg (the current chairman) announced that the House would be closing due to financial difficulties. Some people suspect that the Fund invested with Bernie Madoff and lost a ton of money (as Katzenberg did), but the Fund has so far said that’s not true.
At any rate, it will be a great loss to the Hollywood community. People with film careers ranging from lighting and makeup to A-List actors and actresses have found a home there during their times of need – here are 10 of them.
1. Bud Abbott, of Abbott and Costello fame, of course.
2. Mary Astor, who was one of the biggest movie stars in the 1930s and is probably best known for her role in The Maltese Falcon opposite Humphrey Bogart. She died of respiratory failure at the House in 1987.
3. Norman Fell, AKA Mr. Roper! But you already knew that.
4. Curly Howard, the Stooge Jim Carrey is putting on 50 pounds to play in an upcoming movie. Toward the end of his life, Curly’s mental health deteriorated and he spent some time being cared for at the House. He was later transferred elsewhere as his needs were too extreme for the House. He was only 48 when he died of a cerebral hemorrhage.
5. DeForest Kelley, best-known for his role as Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the Star Trek empire.
6. Hattie McDaniel, who won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind.
7. Jean Parker, an actress who had parts in a lot of westerns over the years and also starred on Broadway.
8. Anne Ramsey, whom you likely know from The Goonies and Throw Mama From the Train.
9. Johnny Weissmuller, the sixth Tarzan. Although he was the sixth, he was probably the most well-known thanks to his distinctive Tarzan yell. After suffering a series of strokes, he stayed at the House for a few weeks before moving to Acapulco to live out his last few years. He died in 1984.
10. Norma Shearer, lest you think it’s just bit players and people who mismanaged their money who go to the Motion Picture Country House. Norma was not only one of the most celebrated actresses ever (she was nominated for six Best Actress Oscars over the course of her career), she was also considered the “Queen of MGM” when she married Irving Thalberg, a producer and executive at MGM. She died at the House in 1983 of pneumonia and Alzheimer’s complications.
Comments (15)
Comment
- subscribe /
- give a gift /
- terms of service /
- about /
- contact us /
- write for us /
- ad info /
- subscriber services /
- press /
- privacy policy /
- rss /
© 2012 Mental Floss Inc. All Rights Reserved. Mental Floss is a registered trademark owned by Felix Dennis. mentalfloss.com is a trademark owned by Felix Dennis.
Disclaimer: All submissions made to mental_floss become the property of Mental Floss Inc and may be used without further permission by the submitter and without compensation to the submitter. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not submit anything to mental_floss.
Sad tale. I wonder what’s going to happen to the property.
posted by Steve from San Diego on 10-7-2009 at 4:18 pm
You’d think that with all the money paid to A-List stars, that they could raise enough money to keep it open. Maybe they could tax themselves 1% through their union for operating funds, since most of them favor higher taxesanyway.
posted by Mark Dearborn on 10-7-2009 at 4:39 pm
@Mark D: I like the way you’re going.
posted by BDWG on 10-7-2009 at 6:53 pm
Yeah, how about some big stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mel Gibson ponying up some money.
posted by Antinous on 10-7-2009 at 7:54 pm
Some big star needs to step up to the plate here and support the house.
posted by Dorothy on 10-7-2009 at 8:01 pm
These are just a handful of the residents throughout the years…two more include actress Mae Clarke (probably best known for having a grapefruit shoved in her face by James Cagney in 1931′s “Public Enemy” and many other character roles) and Mabel King who is probably best known as “Mama” on “What’s Happening?!”
Unfortunately many in Hollywood (especially those who were not huge stars and had infrequent work) didn’t plan on retirement and/or illness. Heartbreaking that this institution is closing. I hope something can be done.
posted by Marty on 10-7-2009 at 8:29 pm
It’s not too late. For more info visit
http://www.savingthelivesofourown.org/
You can help by signing the petition at
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/keepthemptfhomeopen
Plus meet the residents whose lives are at risk and their supporters:
http://www.youtube.com/user/savinglivesofourown
posted by David on 10-7-2009 at 11:38 pm
typical blame the actors crap… FYI many stars, actors and crew have stepped up to donate. The MPTF is not accepting donations earmarked for saving the Hospital or Long Term Care facility. They’re vision for the property the Hospital is sitting on is one of high density independent living condos… for those who would like to inform themselves please visit http://savingthelivesofourown.org/
posted by -D on 10-8-2009 at 12:34 am
Wasn’t Johnny Weissmuller also quite famous for his swimming exploits?
posted by Bert on 10-8-2009 at 9:33 am
I bet that’s a place full of fascinating stories.
posted by Melissa on 10-8-2009 at 12:09 pm
Among those who lived and died there in recent memory Robert Quarry, Yvonne De Carlo, Carol Bruce.
Sounds like the place is no longer a charity.
posted by Joyce on 10-10-2009 at 10:18 am
Billie Dove !
Katzenberg was swindled and now he’s doing the same to sick people? I hope as a politcal power player that he’s a better person than that.
Sad. and if this is healthcare reform, the spirits of stars and others can’t be very happy.
posted by NR on 10-10-2009 at 12:58 pm
I hear Will Ferrell, Ashton Kutcher, and Oprah are stepping up and putting their money where it really counts. YouTube’s on standby for a new televangelist PSA on how “everyone” should be ponying up “their” share for aging Hollywood actors.
posted by fredsnothere on 10-10-2009 at 11:35 pm
Character actress, Madelyn Rhue lived at the Motion Picture Home for many years until her death on December 16, 2003 from pneumonia and Multiple Sclerosis.
Julius Harris ~ (Superfly)~ October 17, 2004~ Heart failure.
Donald O’Connor ~ (Singing in the Rain) September 27, 2003~Heart Failure
Jan Sterling ~ ( The High and the Mighty) March 26, 2004~ a series of strokes.
Richard Sylbert Oscar winning Production Designer~ Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf & China Town (6 nominations) March 23, 2002~ Cancer. Lifetime Achievement Award Art Director’s Guild of America.
Tom Falk ~ TV actor August 23, 2003
Vaughn Wilkins~ Shot the famous shot of Janet Leigh undressing for the shower in Psycho~ Lifetime Achievement Award Cinematographer’s Union ~ Died at the Motion Picture Home after 2003~ His widow Joan Carey who is in her 80s was recently asked to leave her home at MPTF. Her family moved her even though the couple had liquidated their assets to live at the home until their separate deaths. Joan was Lucille Ball’s stand in on I Love Lucy, a stand in on Cheers for 10 years, Taxi, Frasier, etc.
posted by Sharmagne Leland-St. John-Sylbert on 10-26-2009 at 11:53 pm
YOur information is wrong i am a relative of vaughn wilkins and that is c incorrect. infact most of the information you have up is completely incorrect. get your fact straight before you start posting
posted by stephanie on 8-12-2010 at 10:16 am