EPISODE 99 - “GRANT WITHERS: CLASSIC CINEMA STAR OF THE MONTH” - 8/04/25
The name GRANT WITHERS is usually met with blank stares and shrugs these days, but back in the late 1920s and 1930s, he was a much-in-demand leading man who capitalized on his boyish good looks, athletic, 6-foot-3-inch frame, natural charisma, and effortless acting ability. And as dynamic as his screen persona was, his personal life was just as juicy! From a scandalous elopement with LORETTA YOUNG when she was barley 17 to financial struggles, missing wives, court dates, and deeply rooted emotional issues, Withers was once a bright light who quickly fell from grace. This week, we celebrate Withers as our Star of the Month.
SHOW NOTES:
Sources:
Serial Film Stars: A Biographical Dictionary (2013), by Buck Rainey;
Paramount Players Biography (June 1937);
Biography of Grant Withers, by Harry Brand, Director of Publicity, 20th Century Fox;
“Wife Names Two Women,” August 12, 1925, Variety;
“That Careless Heartbreaker,” June 7, 1929, San Francisco Examiner,
“Withers Wed; In Auto Crash,” January 27, 1930, Associated Press;
"Grant Withers is Sued for $55,000 Over Auto Crash,” March 25, 1930, Associated Press;
“Actor Victor in Suits Over Auto Crash,” September 1, 1931, Associated Press;
“Withers Wins Alimony Tilt,” February 8, 1930, Associated Press
“Withers, Ex-Wife Both Claim Victory in Alimony Case,” February 27, 1930, Associated Press;
“Grant Withers Operated on In Chicago,” January 26, 1931, International News Service;
“Grant Withers in Bankruptcy,: May 13, 1932, Associated Press;
‘Withers Must Pay For House Damages,’ August 24, 1932, Hollywood Citizen-News;
“Warrant for Actor Charges Son Neglected,” September 14, 1931, Associated Press;
“Bad Check Charged In Action Filed on Grant Withers,” September 25, 1931, Associated Press;
“Court Actions Name Two Screen Plays,” February 27, 1933;
“Grant Withers Puts Golf Clubs in Pawn,” March 4, 1933;
“Grant Withers Is Married in Jersey For Third Time,” December 13, 1933, Herald;
“Withers Will Resume His Career,” April 22, 1934, Examiner;
“Grant Withers Seeking News of Missing Wife,” May 10, 1949, Los Angeles Times;
“Missing Spouse of Actor Returns,” May 10, 1949, Los Angeles Times;
“Grant Withers Weds Actress," February 1, 1953, Los Angeles Times;
“Grant Withers, Actor, Kayoed by Medicine Dose,” September 23, 1954, Hollywood Citizen-News;
‘Grant Withers and Wife Start Trial Separation,” September 26, 1954, L.A. Examiner;
‘Withers Cruel, Estelita Says,’ December 1, 1954, L.A. Daily News;
“Actor Grant Withers Sued for Divorce,” December 1, 1954, Los Angeles Times;
“Estelita Tells Criticism, Divorces Grant Withers,” November 10, 1955, Los Angeles Times;
“Unhappy Pens Note, Gulps Pills,” March 28, 1959, Mirror-News;
“G. Withers Ends Career With Suicide,” March 28, 1959, Hollywood Citizen-News;
“Actor Grant Withers Found Dead in Home,” March 28, 1959, Los Angeles Times;
“Actor Grant Withers’ Funeral to be Tuesday," March 29, 1959, Los Angeles Times;
“Many Friends at Withers Services,” April 1, 1959, Hollywood Citizen-News;
Wikipedia.com;
TCM.com;
IBDB.com;
IMDBPro.com;
Movies Mentioned:
The Gentle Cyclone (1926);
In a Moment of Temptation (1927);
Tillie’s Punctured Romance (1928);
The Greyhound Limited (1929):
Sinner’s Holiday (1931);
Tiger Rose (1929);
The Second Floor Mystery (1930);
Too Young To Marry (1931);
Jungle Jim series (1937-38);
Mr. Wong series (1938-1940);
Tailspin Tommy (1934);
The Red Rider (1934);
Goin’ To Town (1935);
The Fighting Marines (1935);
In Old Oklahoma (1943);
My Darling Clementine (1946);
Tycoon (1947);
Fort Apache (1948);
Rio Grande (1950);
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