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In Remembrance: Frankie Thomas
Frankie Thomas, the 1930s juvenile actor who appeared in the classic
Boys Town (1938) and the Nancy Drew mystery series as
well as starring in the 1950s television series Tom Corbett, Space
Cadet, has passed away on May 11, 2006 in Sherman Oaks, CA. He was
85.
Born Frank M. Thomas on April 9, 1921 in New York City, Thomas
established himself on Broadway before he was in his teens.
Following his appearance in the drama Wednesday’s Child,
Thomas moved to Hollywood to star in the 1934 film adaptation of the
play being filmed at RKO Studios. Thomas’ parents, Frank M. Thomas
and Mona Bruns, both seasoned stage actors, made their film debuts
in the picture also, in small supporting roles.
Liking what they saw in the young actor, RKO studio heads cast
Thomas in the lead of the 1935 sentimental drama A Dog Of
Flanders. Two years later, Thomas appeared in the title role of
the 12-part adventure serial Tim Tyler’s Luck, based on the
comic strip by Lyman Young. Although the story had Thomas’ character
searching the African jungles to find his lost father, the film was
actually shot on the Universal Studios lot. In between his early
film assignments Thomas would return to New York and appear in plays
such as Remember The Day, Seen But Not Heard and
Your Loving Son.
Thomas’ busiest time in Hollywood came between 1938 and 1939,
bouncing from studio to studio. He appeared in the classic Boys
Town at MGM Studios, teamed with the Dead End Kids for two films
at Warner Brothers (Angels Wash Their Faces and On Dress
Parade, both 1939) and appeared twice with the Dead End Kids
knockoff troop Little Tough Guys for a pair of films at Universal (Little
Tough Guys in Society (1938) and Code Of The Streets
(1939)). Thomas also appeared in all four Nancy Drew mysteries
produced by Warner Brothers (Nancy Drew- Detective (1938),
Nancy Drew… Reporter, Nancy Drew… Trouble Shooter and
Nancy Drew And The Hidden Staircase (all 1939)) as Nancy’s
(Bonita Granville) loyal boyfriend Ted Nickerson.
Thomas also appeared in such films as the dramas One Foot In
Heaven (1941) and Always In My Heart (1942). In 1942,
Thomas appeared in what would be his last film, the comedy The
Major And The Minor. Soon afterwards he served in both the Navy
and the Coast Guard during World War II. Following the war, Thomas
relocated to New York City, working in radio and television. He
appeared in recurring roles in two early soap operas, One Man’s
Family and A Woman To Remember.
In 1950, Thomas was cast in the title role of the children’s
science-fiction adventure television series Tom Corbett, Space
Cadet. The show aired three 15-minute episodes a week and was a
success not only with children but with adults, too.
After the series ended in 1955, Thomas turned from acting to writing
for television and radio. He also became interested in bridge,
playing on a tournament circuit and teaching the card game for many
years. He also served as an editor of the American Bridge
Teachers’ Association Quarterly Magazine. Thomas also wrote
several novels and short story collections featuring Arthur Conan
Doyle’s classic Sherlock Holmes character. |
