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Celluloid Blondie1 9 3 8 - 1 9 4 1

It was the longest-running film series ever made. The Blondie film series success was due to the excellent casting of Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake, who blended well together. This also includes the writing and directing talent in which Columbia prided itself in.

Celluloid Blondie follows the film adventures of Chic Young’s comic strip characters, Blondie and Dagwood Bumstead, Baby Dumpling, Daisy, Mr. Dithers, Alvin Fuddle and later Cookie and the pups.

During the series’ 12-year run, Chic and his family made many visits to the Blondie film set and met the cast. Chic especially enjoyed the film ver-sion of his comic strip. He also liked the radio and TV series that followed.

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He felt they all helped to complement Blondie’s original humor. He did not have one particular favorite Blondie film. He enjoyed specific instances in a variety of the films. Dean Young, Chic’s son, who eventually took over his father’s comic strip, had this to say of the Blondie films: “I had, of course, watched both the films and the TV series. There are most definitely scenes and instances in the films that I particularly enjoyed. Although some of the sight gags in the movies and TV series may now be outdated, I feel they were funny and added another dimension to the Blondie story.”

A memorable theme song was used as the opening for Leave It To Blondie (1945), and would later be added to all 28 films after the series ended and they were sold into TV syndication by King Features.

It wasn’t until AMC (American Movie Classics) ran a Blondie marathon that the original opening credits for the first fourteen films (which featured an instrumental theme and a cartoon drawing of each character that dis-solved into a photo of a cast member, including Jonathan Hale and Danny Mummert) were seen on television.

Dagwood:Pretty face, funny hat…That’s what my Blondie is!

Blondie:Loveable feet, both flat…That’s what my Dagwood is!

Dagwood:Blondie’s not always right…I let her think she is!

Blondie:All of my thoughts are bright…Long as he thinks they’re his!

Dagwood: Life with us is…Blondie: Fun and crazy!Dagwood: Baby Dumpling…Blondie: Us and Daisy!

Both: What a family! Incredible…Dagwood: Bumsteadable! (laughs)

Blondie:Hurry you’ll miss your bus!

Dagwood:Watch out, you’ll burn your stew!

Both:Nothing’s too much for us…As long as with me there’s you!

Blondie: Dagwood and Blondie…Dagwood: Blondie and Dagwood…Both: Always with me there’s you!

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Blondie1938, B/W

Previewed at Pantages October 28, 1938

Cast:Penny Singleton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BlondieArthur Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dagwood BumsteadLarry Simms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baby Dumpling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DaisyJonathan Hale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. DithersDanny Mummert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alvin Fuddle

Supporting Cast:Gene Lockhart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C.P.HazlipAnn Doran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elsie HazlipDorothy Moore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dot MillerGordon Oliver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chester FraneyKathleen Lockhart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blondie’s MotherFay Helm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mrs. FuddleWillie Best . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PorterIan Wolfe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JudgeStanley Andrews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mr. Hicks

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Richard Fiske . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NelsonCharles Lane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Furniture SalesmanHal K. Lawson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .EddieWalter Soderling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. MorganHooper Atchley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . City EditorDick Curtis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bit ManIrving Bacon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MailmanJames Flavin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Radio CopEmory Parnell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Desk SergeantEdgar Dearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OfficerHarold Minjir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ClerkJosephine Whittell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bit WomanEugene Anderson, Jr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NewsboyDavid Newell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . First DraftsmanBud Jamison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TruckmanChuck Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Radio PolicemanJohnnie Rand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GardenerGeorge Humbert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fruit PeddlerBruce Sidney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Detective

Credits:Screenplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Richard FlournoyDirector of Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Henry Freulich A.S.CFilm Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gene HavlickArt Direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lionel BanksInterior Decorating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Babs JohnstoneMusical Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.W. StoloffAssociate Producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert SparksDirector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Frank R. StrayerGowns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kalloch

Blondie buys new furniture to surprise Dagwood for their 5th anni-versary. Meanwhile, Dagwood discovers he owes the bank $563.80 after loaning money to Dithers’ secretary, Elsie Watson, who skipped town. Need-ing money right away, Dagwood puts the Bumsteads’ furniture on collateral, but gets a chance to earn a $600 bonus if he can talk to C.P. Hazlip, a prospective client who is difficult to contact. While waiting for Hazlip at the Brinkley Hotel, Dagwood strikes up a friendship with Hazlip when they sneak a broken vacuum cleaner up to Hazlip’s suite, where Dagwood meets Hazlip’s daughter, whose name, by coincidence, is Elsie. Dagwood is delighted when he realizes Hazlip is the prospective client that he wanted to talk to all along.

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Mr. Hicks, the loan officer, stops by the Bumstead house looking for Dagwood, who tells Blondie about Elsie and the note, but doesn’t give her the entire story.

Dithers fires Dagwood when he hears rumors that Hazlip abandoned the project. Learning that Dagwood was fired, Hicks decides to take other measures.

Dagwood arrives home to find the furniture being taken away, while Blondie’s mother and sister Dot are visiting the Bumsteads. Matters get worse for Dagwood when Chester Franey, an old rival for Blondie’s affections, shows up and causes more trouble. A melee follows between Dagwood and Chester. Dagwood then takes off with Blondie’s mother’s car, who reports it stolen.

Dagwood goes to the Hazlips and asks them if they can help Dagwood explain to Blondie. On the way, Dagwood gets into an accident with a police car. Dagwood and the Hazlips are taken to the police station when the car is reported stolen.

Later in court, Dagwood and Hazlip are scolded by the judge. Blondie tells the judge she is to blame for everything. The judge, touched by Blondie’s speech, lets Dagwood and Hazlip go. As they leave, Hazlip discovers Dag-wood works for Dithers Construction Company and gives Dithers the deal.

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Dithers rehires Dagwood upon learning that Hazlip gave the deal to Dag-wood, but Blondie insists that Dagwood get a bonus. After some haggling, Dagwood gets his job back and the bonus.

The Bumsteads soon discover that Baby Dumpling is missing, but quickly find Baby Dumpling helping a man fix a lawnmower, with Dagwood vol-unteering to help.

This is the only time Blondie’s mother is shown in the series. Unflatter-ing portrayals of African-Americans, as well as other nationalities, were the norm during the era that the Blondie films were made. The Blondie films were no exception. This film, Blondie Has Servant Trouble and Blondie on a Budget featured African Americans in an unrealistic fashion. Thankfully, these por-trayals would not be allowed in today’s world.

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Blondie Meets the Boss1939, B/W

Running Time: 58 MinutesPreviewed in the projection room, Lincoln, Nebraska, March 4, 1939

Cast:Penny Singleton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BlondieArthur Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DagwoodLarry Simms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Baby Dumpling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DaisyJonathan Hale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. DithersDanny Mummert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alvin Fuddle

Supporting Cast:Dorothy Moore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dot MillerDon Beddoe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marvin WilliamsLinda Winters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FrancineStanley Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ollie ShawRichard Fiske . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NelsonInez Courtney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Betty Lou WoodIrving Bacon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MailmanJames Craig . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bitman

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Robert Sterling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BitmanEd Dearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . McGuireWilliam Davidson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elderly ManEd Gargan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BouncerGrady Sutton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Camera Store ClerkWallis Clark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PhilpotWalter Soderling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MorganSarah Edwards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SalesmanGeorge Chandler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LaundrymanEddie Acuff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PeddlerVirginia Dabney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WomanLew Kelly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Milkman #1 Cammie King . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MillieSally Payne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marvin’s WifeWalter Sande . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mailman #2Dick Durrell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .KirkMaurice Max . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ChickEugene Anderson, Jr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NewsboyDavid Newell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SandersJay Eaton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WilsonMary Jane Carey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MaryWesley Giraud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MessengerBarbara Kent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JitterbugSkinnay Ennis And His Band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Credits:Screenplay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Richard FlournoyDirectory of Photography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Henry FreulichFilm Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gene HavlickArt Direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lionel BanksMusical Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M.W. StoloffAssociate Producer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert SparksDirector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Frank R. StrayerDance Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eddie LarkinStory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kay Van Riper, Richard FlournoyGowns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kalloch

Music: “You Had It Coming to You,” by Skinnay Ennis and band, written by Sam Lerner and Ben Oakland

Look For: Mary Jane Carey makes her first appearance as Mary, Dither’s secretary. This is Dorothy Moore’s (1919-2005) second and final appear-ance in Blondie.

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The Bumsteads’ vacation is postponed when Dithers has to go out of town on business and needs Dagwood to mind the business. Angry, Dagwood quits his job, goes home and tells Blondie. Despite Dagwood’s objections, Blondie goes down to Dithers’ office to get Dagwood’s job back.

Dithers somehow manages to talk a reluctant Blondie into taking Dag-wood’s place at the office. Meanwhile, Blondie’s sister, Dot Miller, and her

boyfriend and dancing partner, Freddy Turner, arrive. Dagwood, furious when Dithers tells him that Blondie is taking his

place, hangs up on his boss and then storms out of the house. While fish-ing with Marvin, Dagwood discovers Marvin had invited two girls, Betty Lou Wood and Francine Rogers, a singer who works at the Garden Café. When Francine goes into the boat with Dagwood, she begins to fall and Dagwood catches her while Betty Lou snaps a picture of Dagwood grab-bing Francine.

The next morning, Blondie finds Francine’s camera in Dagwood’s fishing creel, with the initials F.R.

At work, Blondie takes the camera to a nearby camera shop to have the film developed and then has the film sent to Dithers’ office.

Glancing through the developed pictures from Francine’s camera, Blondie quickly explodes (bombardment newsreel) when she sees in one of them Dag-wood holding Francine in the boat.

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Dot and Freddy take Baby Dumpling and Daisy with them to the contest when Dagwood doesn’t show up. When Dagwood arrives home, he discovers the house is empty with a note on the desk from Dot saying they have Baby Dumpling and Daisy with them at the Garden Café. At the office, Blondie receives a telegram from Dithers telling her to go to the Garden Café to complete the deal. Inside, Dot and Freddy get into a fight when Freddy dis-covers Dot dancing with someone else.

Penny Singleton and Larry Simms pose playfully on the beach.

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Larry Simms catches up on his schoolwork between takes.