Alan Ladd…. ….the screen hero with the sad eyes September 3rd 1913 ----- January 29th 1964 “They” said he was too short to be a matinee idol…but on the silver screen he was ten feet tall! “They” said he was too blond and pretty to be a screen hero…….but he played one in the movies and made box office history! He single-handily turned Hollywood’s stereotypical villain from a pinstriped flashy gangster-type into a icy cold killer in a trench-coat. Later, his rugged roles won the admiration of men while his face and smile made female hearts flutter. But the light of that smile never really reached those sad green eyes and in 1964 while no one was watching the light finally went out. He was born Alan Walbridge Ladd, Jr. on September 3rd 1913 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. But there is no record of his birth or any record of the 1912 marriage of his parents, English-born Ina Raleigh and Alan Ladd, Sr because the courthouse in Hot Springs burned to the ground one night. When he was 4, Alan’s father died, leaving behind only a fuzzy memory and the next year the young boy and his mother moved to Oklahoma City. Their ramshackle apartment building had burned down while Alan and a friend were celebrating the Fourth of July playing with matches. In Oklahoma City, Ina met and married house painter James Beavers. The marriage lasted 15 years and Beavers was the only male role model Alan would have growing up. It wasn’t long before Beavers decided to move his new family west to California, working in towns along the way to finance the trip. But it wasn’t pretty. Alan worked carrying water and digging potatoes (he was 8 years old but looked 6) and fell behind several grades in school before they settled in the San Fernando Valley At 16, Alan entered Hollywood High School as a freshman. To combat his short stature he joined swimming and track teams to build up his physique. Alan became such a good swimmer he even considered joining the 1932 Olympic team when an injury changed his course. It was the first of a series of injuries and illnesses that would continue to plague him. But he did become the school’s star athlete and he reveled in his new found celebrity (later he even opened a hamburger stand using the hated school nickname “Tiny’s Patio”) The dream of being actor began after his English teacher persuaded him to join the cast of a high school play. Alan was 20 and a senior in High School when he met Marjorie Jane (Midge) Harrold. They married secretly 3 years later just weeks after Jim Beavers died of a sudden heart attack. Within months Midge was pregnant but she was still living at home with parents unaware of her marriage. Alan found work at a small local radio station and Midge moved in with him in the shabby apartment he shared with a friend. On October 22nd, 1937 she gave birth to a son. Alan, Jr. (“Laddie”) and Alan found another apartment for the three of them. A few weeks later, Ina Ladd returned and moved in with them. She had exhausted all the insurance money and was depressed and drinking heavily. On Thanksgiving Day, she committed suicide by swallowing a can of ant poison. By 1939 Alan was gaining a reputation on the radio with spots on popular drama shows…“Hollywood Hotel”; “Texaco Star Theater”; and “Lux Radio Theater”. His voice had an exceptional quality and they were now asking for him by name. After one such appearance, he received a call from a talent agency. The co-owner of the Sue Carol-Bruce Shield Agency wanted him to stop by. It would be a life altering visit. Sue Carol was a thrice married former actress with a young daughter and 10 years older then Alan. She immediately recognized that star quality and used her contacts at Paramount to wrangle a small part for him in Frank Lloyd’s “Rulers of the Sea” at $259 a week. More film parts followed but the illusive “Big Break” was still eluding him. But Sue kept the parts coming and also kept Alan under lock and key, both professionally and eventually privately. By late 1940, Midge realized she had lost her husband. She was the wife never mentioned in the publicity bios or press releases. Even many of Alan’s co-stars never knew he was a husband and father. Sue Carol had managed to make both Midge and Laddie disappear. On July 1941 Midge quietly filed for divorce and got custody of Alan Jr. and they both faded away from Alan’s life. Laddie reentered it at later, but Midge was gone for good. Then it happened! Alan got the role of Raven, the psychopathic killer-for-hire in Frank Tuttle’s “This Gun For Hire” and became a star overnight (his portrayal of the icy cold Raven has become a cinema film noir classic). Mission accomplished, on March 8th 1942 Sue Carol took time off from her job as Alan’s agent and got a divorce from hubby #3. One week later, Alan and Sue were married in Tijuana, Mexico. From now on, the roles kept coming and so did the audiences. Fan magazines clamored for him and autograph-seekers hounded him at every turn. Alan made a promise to himself never to disappoint his fans and he kept that promise throughout his career. Paramount raised his salary and the newlyweds settled into Sue’s home with her daughter Carol Lee. Laddie also was a frequent visitor but both children were expected to disappear when anyone came to call…especially the press. It was during the filming of “The Glass Key” that Alan met Bill Bendix. In fact, Bill accidentally knocked him out cold during a fight scene. Bendix was so upset the big fellow actually cried. But the two became fast friends and ,with the exception of one falling out (see Arabella’s Notes), remained so for the rest of Alan’s life. In August 1943 Sue found out she was pregnant. She was almost 40. In September Alan got his notice to report for military duty. He got a furlough to be at Sue’s side on April 21, 1944 when she delivered 6 lb. 11oz. Alana Sue Ladd.   By the end of 1943, Alan had received an honorable medical discharge after a series of illnesses. Fan magazines had never stopped covering him…“Modern Screen” had run 16 features in 12 issues in 1943 alone. But Alan never shed the anxiety that seemed to follow him…the feeling it would never last. It was the days of feast and only Alan worried about the threat of famine. His first film after discharge was “And Now Tomorrow” with Loretta Young followed quickly by “Salty O’Rourke”. He was now a landowner with a ranch in Hidden Valley he called “Alsulana Acres” and had been to the White House at Eleanor Roosevelt’s invitation. Then Sue found out she was pregnant again at 43. David Alan Ladd, 8 lbs 11oz was born on February 1st, 1947 and it almost killed his mother. In 1949 Sue and Alan built the new house in town on North Mapleton Drive and Magazines went wild with photo layouts and gushing articles on its beauty. But still no photos of Laddie or Carol Lee were included. Alan finally complained about the formula scripts and left Paramount for a more lucrative berth at Warner Bros. But he still owed Paramount a few more movies. In 1951 he began filming “Shane.” By accident rather then design, Alan Ladd was under the direction of George Stevens for “Shane” and, for once, his talents were given the outlet they deserved. With the exceptional insight of director Stevens, the flawless acting of Alan, and the outstanding supporting cast, a classic was born. “Shane” was, and still is, considered to be the finest western ever made. In 1954 at a preproduction meeting at Warner’s for “The McConnell Story”, Alan met June Allyson. They were both at the top of the popularity polls and the studio felt they would be box office dynamite. Both stars were married to spouses that controlled their careers and both were having trouble at home. The unusually somber Alan was captivated by June’s effervescences and June took delight in making him laugh. Soon they began spending all their free time on the set together. On the set In her autobiography “June Allyson by June Allyson” she writes “Alan Ladd and I fell in love while filming “The McConnell Story”. It was as if our lives had run on parallel courses.” Alan was happy and free from the illnesses and injuries that had been his curse. But both of them knew they could not free themselves and when the film wrapped, she went home to Dick Powell. “…a lot of laughter was now gone from my life. I realized I would not be the same without him.” Alan left home for awhile but eventually returned as lonely and accident prone as ever, using alcohol and sedatives to ease the pain. It was a recipe for disaster. Alan created Jaguar Productions so that he could control his film projects and soon even eyed television. Then, in 1957 Sam Goldwyn Jr. asked him to do “The Proud Rebel” and also wanted his son David to play the boy in the film (even if Alan declined the role). Alan accepted for the both of them. The movie was a box office hit and became a family classic. It would be the last “class” movie Alan would ever make. David and Alan By 1961, everything was collapsing around him, just as he always feared it would, like dominoes set end to end. His movies were no longer successful at the box office and he even walked out of “Horatio” (later titled “Duel of Champions”) in Italy. Unfortunately he walked back. When former co-star Gail Russell was found dead after an alcoholic binge, he was devastated but attended her funeral noticeably drunk. Soon Alan was leaning heavily on his two best friends (Bill Bendix and Van Heflin) for moral support. But things went from bad to worse. On November 2nd, 1962 Alan was found barely alive at his ranch with a gunshot wound near his heart. He explained later that he accidentally shot himself while checking for a prowler. Sue had been home at the Holmby Hills house at the time. Alan went back to Paramount in 1963 to do “The Carpetbaggers” and was given the star treatment on the lot. It exhilarated him for a time but after he finished his scenes the depression returned. He called Bill Bendix, on location in Chicago, in the wee hours of the morning several times to ask him to come home. But Bill was under contract and couldn’t leave the set. On January 29, 1964 Alan Ladd was found dead in bed at his Palm Springs retreat by his butler. His death was ruled “an accident due to a reaction to a combination of Depressant and Ethanol.” Three thousand people gathered outside the chapel at Forest Lawn where funeral services were to be held. The service was delayed for hours as fans walked by for their last look. Paramount make-up man Hal Lierley made sure they weren’t disappointed. Alan Ladd looked in death just like the great movie star they knew him to be in life. His promise to his fans was still unbroken. A bust of Alan Ladd put near the crypt by Sue Carol Ladd. The inscription : ALAN LADD SEPTEMBER 3, 1913 - JANUARY 29, 1964 I HOLD NO DREAM OF FORTUNE VAST, NOR SEEK UNDYING FAME. I DO NOT ASK WHEN LIFE IS PAST. THAT MANY KNOW MY NAME. AND I CAN LIVE MY LIFE ON EARTH CONTENTED TO THE END IF BUT A FEW SHALL KNOW MY NAME AND PROUDLY CALL ME FRIEND. Edgar A. Guest For more info on Alan Ladd see Arabella's Notes Filmography Alan Ladd appeared in 40 bit parts, often uncredited, until his role as “Babe” the dying soldier in “Joan of Paris” drew fan response. Joan of Paris 1942 This Gun for Hire 1942 The Glass Key 1942 Lucky Jordan 1942 China 1943 And Now Tomorrow 1944 Salty O’ Rourke 1945 The Blue Dahlia 1946 O.S.S. 1946 Two Years Before The Mast 1946 My Favorite Brunette 1947 Calcutta 1947 Wild Harvest 1947 Saigon 1948 Beyond Glory 1948 Whispering Smith 1948 The Great Gatsby 1949 Chicago Deadline 1949 Captain Carey USA 1950Branded 1951 Appointment with Danger 1951 Red Mountain 1952 The Iron Mistress 1952 Thunder in the East 1952 Botany Bay 1953 Desert Legion 1953 Shane 1953 Paratroopers 1953 Hell Below Zero 1954 Saskatchewan 1954 The Black Knight 1954 Drum Beat 1954 The McConnell Story 1955 Hell on Frisco Bay 1955 Santiago 1956 The Big Land 1957 Boy on a Dolphin 1957 The Deep Six 1956 The Proud Rebel 1958 The Man in the Net 1959 Guns of the Timberland 1960 All the Young Men 1960 One Foot in Hell 1960 Duel of Champions 1961 13 West Street 1962 The Carpetbaggers 1964