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Official Web Site And
Fan Club Member Page.
Everyone's Fan Email will be posted on this page: As A Big Thank You for thinking about my Great Uncle,
Lionel Atwill and Visiting this web site or: sending us an actually, correspondence.
Please Note: If you do not wish to publish your E-mail... Please Advise Us: DO NOT PUBLISH.
We are more than happy to respct any wishes or requests.
Would You Like To Contribute Something To This Page?
Please,
Feel Free To Send It Us: Something.
- Articles:
Lionel Atwill; Movies Gossip: etc..
- Personal Stories: Apparitions - Background
- etc;
- Any Lionel Atwill Pictures -Movie Stills: (jpeg, jpg)
- Multi Media Files: E-mail Request
- Classic Horror Movie Review - 1933 - 19 46
- Lionel Atwill - Any subject & question or
suggestion:
- Web Site Suggestions. Sure why not... New Site
Soon.
- Hey Everyone .... This is Your Page..... Send It
MCA - Unviersal Film's Ironic Zoo Keeper:
MCA/Universal Pictures finally premieres the
long awaited Murders in The Zoo in 1933, while Lionel
Atwill's pet Python mistress, Elsie, his half dozen bed trained Dobermans and his favorite foul mouth talking Macaw, name "Copulate," waits for their Zoo Keeper to return from his movie premiere.
Contributor: Bobby Kemper,Corydon, England
Murders In The Zoo:
Neat site. I just watched your great Uncle last
night "Murders In The Zoo" 1933 from Paramount studio's I didn't see this one mentioned at your website...Another
truly great film. Mr. Atwill is certainly one of the top 10 Character actors of all time and as you stated, should be
forever recognized for his offerings to filmdom, particularly The Horror genre...I'm not sure how many films I have that
he's in... But every performance has always been memorable.... Mike Battles IMDB:
Shame on you Cousin In Georgia .........
Comment: Hell yes, he deserves a star. I was down
there in December 2005 and saw too many for people that I didn't even know who they were. Long overdue! A Tinsel-Town - Shame
on you Cousin In Georgia ......... Anne Atwill in Georgia
Comment: "Hollywood Walk of Fame:"
Of course Lionel Atwill deserves a star on
the "Hollywood Walk of Fame." His character acting is part of the foundation of Hollywood. More highly recognized stars in
part owe their fame to the presence of Atwill in their films.... Christopher Templeton
Comment: Lionel Atwill:
Lionel Atwill certainly deserves a star
on "The Hollywood Walk of Fame." In fact, he deserves it more than many others who already have a star. I don't really know
if the sex scandal has anything to do with him not getting a star yet, but it shouldn't. He had a long and distinguished acting
career on stage and screen, and it should not be overshadowed by his legal troubles.... John Richard Nolan
Movie Trivia:
Lionel Atwill, a chain smoker, was dying of bronchial cancer but may not have known it yet
during the filming of this movie. Atwill, as the police chief, goes to the castle to question Larry Talbot. Talbot is sitting
in a wheel chair & you can hear Atwill coughing off to the right of the scene just before he enters the shot. Last Gasp Film Group http://www.lastgaspfilmgroup.com
Comment From: Catherine Ley
Hi there - You probably get loads of emails like mine, but I'll give this a shot! I'm related to apparently the
original Atwill family from Devon. I've found Lionel's birth but nothing on UK census' for 1891 and 1901 - was wondering who
his father was because as you say, it's not a common surname so I'm sure there's a link..... Best wishes: Catherine Ley
Comment: Lionel Atwill - Hollywood:
Lionel Atwill has long been neglected by Hollywood. He was a classic actor and performed in many genres. A star should
be put on Hollywood Blvd. for him:.... Peter J. Thayer
To family of the legendary Lionel Atwill:
I have
recently obtained a ton of original and rare autograph pictures from my Grandmother. They were handed down to me
in which I am currently making a special scrapbook of these photos.
My late Great Grandfather Julius Toth
did some electrical work for a company he owned years ago and did a llot of work for many of the celebrities. The
celebrities were also friends of my Great Grandfather. I am not sure which it was in this case because the signature
reads, "To Julius, best wishes, Lionel Atwill".
My grandmother was not sure who this
was (hard to read signature"and I started trying to match up the signature and type in words and came across your web page
finally after 2 days of researching this photo and signature and sure enough, I can match it perfectly with others that are
signed. However, no photo of this one I have is anywhere throughout my research. In this photo, he is
wearing a tux with a cigarette in his left hand and right hand is in pocket. He appears to be standing in front
of a wall or door with a possible pocket watch that is cameo.
After reading your website and learning
more about him, I too agree that he needs to be in the walk of fame in Hollywood and notably deserves the star. He
is going in my book that I have created for my personal Walk of Fame/Star celebrities. I have him with many actors
of his time and later...including Ronal Reagan when he was an actor, and James Cagney Jr., and Bing Crosby and too many others
to list.
You can put me down as a supporter and
fan of his work and what he so rightfully deserves. I too remember watching some of his movies on TV growing up. I
feel a personal connection with him because his photo has hung on our walls of my Great Grandfather, Grandmother and Mother's
walls for all these years and I am privileged to now have these pictures passed down to me.
I am also doing a biography next to each
photo. If you have anything more that is not written on your website about him, I would love to add it to mine. I
can tell you of a personal story Julius Toth had with him.
On Thanksgiving 1943, my grandmother
was a child (15 or 16 years old) and cooked sweet potatoes at Don White's house. At the time, he was Julius' supervisor. Dale
Evans and Roy Rodgers and many others were there for dinner. My grandma's sweet potatoes were awful, but everyone
ate them because she made them for everyone and it was her first time. All the men went hunting that day too! Lionel
Atwill was told to me to be present at this gathering. My grandma remembers all the details of this holiday very
well.
Any more information of his life that
is not on the web, would be greatly appreciated and held in the utmost privacy of family alone. These photos will
never be sold or published and that was given to me under only these circumstances because of their rarity and personal family
connection and promises that were made years and years ago and we in our family have upheld these oaths for many generations
now......Sincerely Yours, Jeannie Shafer Alvin, TX
Give this renowned Actor A Star On
The Hollywood Walk of FameWalk Of Fame:
Hollywood should be a shame of them selves by not having a "start" for Lionel Atwill.
I have four favorite actors that I call the "crazy four", George Zucco, Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi and of course
Lionel Atwill.
I travel to California once and awhile to visit my brother Mike who is a writer and some times producer and my
daughter Nicole who does stage and some TV at times.
When I am there I like to walk the star walks and I can not belive some of the star's that are on the walk who
shouldn't even be there. And yet so far I see none of Lionel Atwill.
I am 64 years old and I enjoy his movies and those of the 30's , 40's and some early 50's.
I truly hope that he gets his star.
Sincerely
Steven DiGaetano
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| Charlie Chan's Murder Cruise - 1940 Film Strip |
From: Charlie Chan's Web Site:
If you must read about Mr. Atwill's problems, his
case is summarized in Kenneth Anger's Hollywood Babylon II. The scandal is important in that his career was confined to Poverty
Row productions after his probation for a perjury charge....... ....
Mike De Shazo:
I Smell A 1940's Sex Scandal:
I mean no offense, but wasn't he involved
with some sort of "sex scandal" around 1940? Something to do with S & M ???? I'm not trying
to be "lurid"; just trying to remember something I heard many years ago, and wondering if it was true. He
was a GREAT actor!  Norm Vogel
I agree; he was indeed a GREAT character
actor. However, as Charlie Chan said, "Best place for skeleton is in family closet".
Thoughts on Kenneth Anger:
Hello:
I find the idea of a Lionel Atwill Fan
Club intriguing and am always the first to encourage interest in things dealing with Hollywood's colorful past. Indeed,
as the years go by, I think that Hollywood's Golden Era will assume more and more of a serious and important place in America's
colorful past.
My first real encounter with Lionel Atwill was
when I was a kid in grade school my uncle gave me a shoebox full of old 8mm movies that had belonged to his first wife's father.
I was hooked and started a collection of my own - including all sorts of 15 minute silent versions of old movies that had
fallen into the public domain. One of these was The Vampire Bat with Lionel Atwill and Fay Wray. It's shock value
was enough, in 1960, to scare the wits out of my younger cousin and get me into doo doo with our mothers. I still collect
old movies and today I have a 16mm sound print of The Vampire Bat, and a collection of hundreds of things dealing with the
Hollywood that was. I tell you this because that film is one of the first two things I think of when I hear the name
Lionel Atwill. The other thing, unfortunately, is that Kenneth Anger book. I wish the latter reference wasn't
something that always came to mind.
The reason I say that is because I have it on good
report - from a highly respected author-friend of mine - that Anger's books are truly beneath contempt. His lurid account
of Lionel Atwill's disastrous party has done more to play up ONE act in an otherwise respected person's life and let it overshadow
everything else the man did during his entire life. And what did he do? Really nothing that hundreds of other
Hollywood people haven't done before and since - almost daily. As you point out, the charges were mostly dropped but
the stories and innuendos have lived on and on and continue to live on largely because of Anger's trashy books which have
given the outrageously embellished stories a life of their own. Whatever you do, don't use the Anger books as "references"
or "source material" because they are not that. They are hard bound equivalents to tabloids so far down the pecking
order from the National Enquirer that the Enquirer looks like the Christian Science Monitor in comparison. Do your own
research - check out all of Anger's sources before you agree to continue to smear Atwill's reputation. You have a chance
to move the spotlight off of that tired old sex scandal and shine it on something more worthwhile. Do the old gentleman
a real service and help him put that party into footnotes rather than the introduction to his story. Then maybe his
star will be forthcoming on the Walk of Fame.
The Anger books were written by a publicity starved
has-been who wrote those books to further his own agenda and make money... and it worked. He pandered to the public's
love of gossip and scandal and gave them a full dose of just that. "Good news is bad news about somebody else"
is the rallying cry of the gossip and the yellow-sheet journalist. But the public loves reading it and they will spend
lots of money to get it. I know. I bought the books and read with relish every page. Since then, I have
learned that the books are nothing more than unreliable shit. I am sorry to see Anger being quoted on the first page
of your wonderful new site. The sex scandal was a (very colorful) part of his life and an important part of his story.
Once it ceases to be the MAIN part, I think his star on the street will be a reality.
Here is wishing you the best of luck with what
appears to be a very professional page. I am anxious to see how it develops. ....... Very sincerely, Bruce
Paddock A.K.A. Bruce Pantages
" I think Kenneth Anger is a impotent
and frustrated author, who has a very sick enjoyment of scandalizes any deceased celebrity, who's no longer
on this earth to defend themselves.
I seriously think that someone
should gather up all of those Trashy Yellow Journalism Hollywood Babylon Books, making sure we find and tie
Kenneth Anger to a post in the middle of his despicable tabloids and then set it all on fire. " .......
By; "Rather Not Say" in NY, NY.
" Lionel Alfred Atwill "
Celluloid; Villains and Hero
Lionel Anthony Atwill has made
it perfectly clear that he absolutely loathes the Glamorous Profession and wishes he could spit out the magical bright
lights of Hollywood. A Tinsel-Town - Shame on you Cousin......... A, Atwill, Pacific Palisades, CA
Secret of the Blue Room:
He was one of the great character actors,&
scene stealers of the golden age of movies.Would love Information on how to get copies of Three films which he appeared in,Secret
of the blue room,One more river,& the mad doctor of market street.And to finally answer the question he emphatically deserves
a star on the walk of fame. Please get back as soon as possible, thank you very much......... Samuel
Mastromauro
Comment Lionel Atwill :
Lionel Atwill was the "Lawrence Olivier of Horror/Macabre film genre." This great prolific actor - Lionel Atwill
(1885 - 1946) well deserves his STAR on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I vote "YES."..... Sincerely, ADAM HIGH.
Comment: Star on the Walk of Fame:
Yes he deserves a star on the walk of fame... Also I'm his niece if you want to know.....
Anka Atwill
Comment: Hell Yes:,
Lionel deserves a star. I was down there in December 2005 and
saw too many for people that I didn't even know who they were. Long overdue!..... . Bob Duncan
Lionel Awill
Fan:
Hello-
I wrote to you last week about being an Awill fan and wanting
to join your club. Anyway, the reason I'm writing you again is because I just dug out a copy of Atwill's will and was wondering
if you would like a copy, (that is if you don't already have one), as well as a copy of his death certificate? If so, I'd
be more than happy to send them to you. ...... Bob Duncan
Fan's E-mail To The Great Grandson of:
Lionel Atwill: 10-12-08
Dear Gregg: Terrific to hear from someone - let alone a direct relative of the late actor. I've been collecting
film autographs for about 30 years, with an emphasis on the horror personalities Lugosi, Karloff, the Chaneys,
as well as the wonderful supporting people, including Lionel Atwill, Geo. Zucco, Dwight Frye, John Carrradine et al.
I have signed photos as well as vintage autograph album clips and the like. I also have play bills and theatrical material
related to Lionel's initial theater work, plus lobby cards etc. pertaining to the him. I"m not even sure how to
"post" images, but I certainly like to share my immense holdings with fans. Perhaps I simply need to photograph
items and then post on the site as I would selling on eBAY? ... any advice is appreciated ... until then, my kindest
best wishes for the email and we'll stay in touch? Roger Hurlburt in South Florida.
Lionel Atwill's Home In Santa Monica CA:
DEAR FOLKS;
*MY NAME IS ROBERT "R.J." MORRIS, AND MY MOTHER, NATALIE C. MORRIS AND I STILL LIVE IN LIONEL ATWILL'S ORIGINAL
HOUSE ON "OCEAN AVENUE," IN SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA. I STILL KEEP THAT ADDRESS ON MY "LICENSES," ALTHOUGH I ALSO LIVE
IN MICHAEL WAYNE'S ESTATE IN ORANGE COUNTY CALIFORNIA, THAT JOHN WAYNE BUILT IN 1969.
*-THE HOUSE, (OCEAN AVENUE), HAS A LARGE BASEMENT, AND I REMEMBER ALL THE MEMORABILIA AND COSTUMES THAT WERE
KEPT THERE. THE HOUSE IS IN THE SAME CONDITION AND "STYLE" AS IT WAS WHEN IT WAS BUILT IN 1909. MY FATHER
BOUGHT IT FROM LIONELL ATWILL' WIDOW IN 1952, AND RENOVATED IT BACK TO HOW LIONELL HAD IT BEFORE THE "WAR." WE MOVED
INTO IT IN 1956. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ME TO MEET A FEW AVIDE "FANS" HERE SOMETIME FOR A REAL "PERSONAL TOUR," AND MY MOTHER
WOULD BE HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT THE HOUSE'S HISTORY.
RESPECTFULLY; R.J. MORRIS
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