HWOF

Richard Thorpe on the set with Johnny Weismuller as Tarzan

Source: www.erbzine.com

Richard Thorpe (February 24, 1896 – May 1, 1991) was an American film director. Born Rollo Smolt Thorpe in Hutchinson, Kansas, he began his entertainment career performing in vaudeville and on the theatre stage. In 1921 he began in motion pictures as an actor and directed his first silent film in 1923. He went on to direct more than one hundred and eighty films. The first full length motion picture he directed for MGM was Last of the Pagans (1935) starring Ray Mala. After directing The Last Challenge in 1967, he retired from the film industry.

Thorpe is also known as the original director of The Wizard of Oz. He was fired after two weeks of shooting, because it was felt that his scenes did not have the right air of fantasy about them. Thorpe notoriously gave Judy Garland a blonde wig and cutesy “baby-doll” makeup that made her look like a girl in her late teens rather than an innocent Kansas farm girl of about thirteen. Both makeup and wig were discarded at the suggestion of George Cukor, who was brought in temporarily.

• Born: February 24, 1896
• Died: May 1, 1991 (Aged 95)
• Occupation: Director

Read more about Richard Thorpe at Wikipedia or at the Internet Movie Database

LAPD Yanks 24-Hour Work Permit from Expo Train Line
LAist - News from LA, 2010-01-27 23:29:36
For an already delayed project, this can't be good. The Los Angeles Police Commission has revoked a permit allowing the Expo Line Construction Authority to work on the rail line 24 hours a day, seven days a week, citing noise that is impacting neighborhood's quality of life. Via the LA ...