McGraw Charles - Charles McGraw: biography of a film noir tough guy

Charles McGraw

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGUING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

ISBN 13: 978-0-7864-3167-0

British Library cataloguing data are available

2008 Alan K. Rode. All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

On the cover: Charles McGraw (authors collection); background 2007 Shutterstock

For Millie

There are many people to thank for assisting and encouraging me with this book. If I am remiss in expressing my gratitude to any individual on these pages, please accept my sincerest apologies in advance.

The word interview is a generic term used to describe the varying degrees of communications I had with many different people about Charles McGraw. From a conversation behind a stage curtain at a film festival, an email response, a brief telephone call, a letter or an extended series of discussions, I am supremely appreciative and honored by everyone who took the time to communicate with me:

Julie Adams, Theodore Bikel, Jules Dassin, the late Richard Fleischer (one of the kindest gentleman in Hollywood, who gave me an extended interview and encouraged me over three years ago; he is sorely missed), Richard Erdman, John Ericson, Nicole Carter Forsythe (who considerately passed along her husband Johns comments), Betty Garrett, Gordon Gebert, Susan Gordon, Johnny Grant, Farley Granger, Barbara Hale, Earl Holliman, McGraws great friend Bobby Hoy, L.Q Jones (the one and only Sheriff!), Mickey Knox, Michael McGreevey, Dick Martin, Terry Minton, Lindsley Parsons Jr., Joseph Pevney, Paul Picerni, Stanley Rubin (may we all have many more dinners at Le Petit Four), Mark Schucart at the Los Angeles Department of Coroner, Jean Simmons, Jim Steranko, Warren Stevens, Joan Taylor, Peggy Webber and Jacqueline White.

Two women made hugely significant contributions to my effort to chronicle the life and times of Charles McGraw; this book wouldnt have been possible without them.

Jill Julia McGraw candidly shared her memories about her mother and father as well as growing up as a movie actors daughter in Hollywood. She also generously gave me several personal family photos, some of which are in this book. I sincerely hope that Jill finds the peace and contentment that has eluded her for so long.

Millie Black opened her home and heart to me and became one of my dearest friends. In addition to contributing many items from her personal collection of photographs, clippings and memorabilia for this book, she was a witty raconteur who loved to recount her life over seven decades in Hollywood and the years spent with Charles McGraw. She patiently answered all of my questions, some of which addressed memories unpleasant to recall. Despite her own personal challenges, Millie joyously brought to life a period of our popular culture that is rapidly becoming consigned solely to books and movies.

Many of the numerous documents reviewed for this book were made available to me by some distinguished archival institutions. My thanks to the following institutions and their estimable staffs:

Barbara Hall and staff at the Margaret Herrick Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. I am particularly indebted to Barbara for allowing me access to some of Richard Brooks papers on In Cold Blood before they had been reviewed and archived by the Academy.

Lauren Buisson and staff at the Special Collections department of the UCLA Library. Many thanks to Lauren for supporting my review of numerous RKO production files and script boxes.

Ned Comstock at the USC Film and Television Library. Like so many other film writers and historians, I owe a great debt to the unending enthusiasm and helpfulness of Ned, who always seemed to find what I asked for, and would send me surprises in the mail that I had long forgotten about.

The Louis B. Mayer Library at the American Film Institute that allowed me to review their unique collection of The Flash, the house organ newspaper of RKO Radio Studios.

The New York Public Library at Lincoln Center.

I am also most grateful to selected institutions in Akron, Ohio, McGraws boyhood home:

David Spurlock, Bill Luton and Norma Hill at the Akron Beacon Journal who provided important news clippings on McGraw from their archival morgue.

Sue Gutman, Records Technician for Akron Public Schools.

John V. Miller, Director of Archival Services at the University of Akron, selflessly dedicated himself to responding to my requests for McGraws college transcripts and provided me with various photosincluding several he arranged to have taken of McGraws boyhood houseand newspaper clippings about McGraws family.

I greatly appreciate the assistance of the Los Angeles Police Department, particularly Brenda Benton at L.A.P.D. Media Relations, for assisting me in my effort to contact retired L.A.P.D. officer Terry Minton, who willingly relived with me his memories of McGraws tragic death.

For those friends and colleagues who assisted me so many specific ways:

The late Michael Fitzgerald, who helped connect me with Jackie White Anderson and left lifes stage way too early.

Tom Weaver. Tom has interviewed and written about more vintage film people than anyone on Planet Earth. He was unceasingly supportive in providing contact information, editing acumen and humorous encouragement.

Gordon Gates, whose resourcefulness and assistance in tracking down McGraws television shows, including the entire 39 episodes of The Adventures of Falcon, was unparalleled.

My close friend and colleague at the Film Noir Foundation and Noir City Film Festival, Eddie Muller, The Czar of Noir, whose books and good work remain an inspiration. Eddie reviewed my original proposal for this book and provided me with insightful advice.

Lee Server, a great biographer and writer of popular culture who offered me his advice and unstinting encouragement.

Arthur Lyons, my friend, author of many fine books, and host of The Palm Springs Film Noir Festival, who regularly phoned to compare notes on our individual writing projects.

Claire and Donovan Brandt, and the rest of the gang at Eddie Brandts Saturday Matinee, who came up with nearly all of the obscure McGraw films while we became summer barbecue buddies.

Jim Steranko, who informed me I wasnt alone in my admiration of Charles McGraw. Our numerous communications developed into a friendship that resulted in the excellent foreword that Jim composed for this book.

The one and only James Ellroy for his kind consideration in contributing the back cover blurb for this book. For specific assistance and encouragement: Michael Hayde, Fred Rappaport, Karen Burroughs Hannsberry, Stone Wallace, Janine Basinger, Phillippe Garnier, Stephanie Madison (eternal thanks for refusing to allow me to procrastinate), Anita Carson, Hal Lane, John Hagner, Michael Hyatt, Matt Kennedy, Del Harvey (my supportive friend and colleague at Filmmonthly.com), Michael Barnum, Philip Crawford, Don Malcolm, Foster Hirsch, Scott Thompson and John ODowd.