If I mentioned radio and movie actress Virginia Christine, my reader would probably respond with who? However, if you watched television from 1965 into 1986, and I mentioned "Mrs. Olsen". Your response might be "Folger's Coffee"! This is the story of a young women who was a 3,000-years-old Egyptian Princess and sold coffee on television to millions of Americans.
Above, the "Princess Ananka", below, "Mrs. Olsen".
She was born Virginia Christine Ricketts, on March 5, 1920, in Stanton, Iowa, a city founded by Swedish immigrants in 1870. According to the 1920 census, the year Virginia was born, the population had reached 749. Her parents were George Allen Ricketts, who passed away at either 34, or 35, from pneumonia. Her mother was Helga Judith Ossian Ricketts. Both of her parents were singers on the "Chautauqua Circuit", a traveling tent and theater group that was competition to vaudeville. However, the "Chautauqua Circuit" was set up like a Christian Sunday School in many ways, and President Theodore Roosevelt, often referred to the circuit as "the most American thing in America".
After her father passed away, Virginia's last name would be changed to her mother's remarried name of Kraft. I found two different names and professions for Virginia's stepfather, both on the website, "Find A Grave". Should you look up Virginia Christine by name. The short biography states that her stepfather was a German farm laborer named Rudolf Kraft.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8668/virginia_christine
However, if you then look up Virginia's mother from the link on that same page. You find out that in 1933, Helga had married the Reverend John Theodore Kraft. So, I cannot confirm, which was true with any certainty, or if both were his professions.
I can confirm that the family moved to Des Moines, where Virgina attended "Elmwood Elementary School". They move once more to Mediapolis, and there, she attended "Mediapolis High School". Which is in a single building with the elementary, and middle school. At that time, the high school student aspired to become a concert pianist. However, when she was 17-years-old, Virginia won a national drama competition. I was unable to find out what happened to change her career goal from the piano to acting, but based upon her age, it happened in high school.
It should be noted that Virginia Kraft spoke fluently, English, Swedish, French, and German.
The family moved a third-time, but to Los Angeles, California, where Virginia Kraft entered the "University of California, Los Angeles". We do know, that she started appearing in radio dramas and comedies while attending "UCLA", and at some point she met actor Fritz Feld. He would become both her acting coach and husband, even though he was 20-years-older. Below, they're seen getting their marriage license in 1940. Virginia and Fritz would remain married until his death in 1993 and have two sons.
Fans of 1930's and 1940's comedies, should recognized Fritz Feld for his signature "Pop" sound he made with his hand over his mouth. Below, Fritz Feld with Lou Costello in 1948's, "Mexican Hayride".
Two-years after she became Virginia Feld, the young actress first appeared professionally on stage. She starred in a Los Angeles production of Norwegian playwright, Henrik Ibsen's, "Hedda Gabler". Virginia had gotten the role with the help of husband, who also arranged for talent scouts from the major Hollywood studios to be in the opening night audience. This resulted in a term-contract with "Warner Brothers", under the stage name of Virginia Christine, and the "B" feature film, "Truck Busters", released in New York City on January 28, 1943.
The following comma from the "Press Book" for ""Truck Busters":
STARLET PLAYS LEADING ROLE
From Hedda Gabler to Eadie Watkins is a long leap but it is just such radical adjustments that a girl must make if she would be, a movie star—that was what pretty, blonde Virginia Christine learned shortly after she had signed a term contract with Warner Bros.
Virginia was given the screen test that resulted in her getting the contract because she had scored a great success in a “little theatre” production of Ibsen’s “Hedda Gabler,” in which she played the title role. All her previous experience in dramatics had also been in the realm of the great stage classics.
Hardly was the ink dry on her film contract when Virginia was given a genuine lead in a picture —an unprecedented experience
for a screen newcomer in Hollywood.
She was cast as Eadie Watkins.’ And who is Eadie Watkins? About as far a cry from the moody Hedda Gabler as can be imagined. Eadie is a waitress in a cheap roadside restaurant catering mainly to truck drivers and she becomes involved, heroically and strenuously, in an exciting saga of gangsterdom. Action is the keynote of the picture and Virginia got plenty of it The picture is Warner Bros.’ “Truck Busters,’ now at the Strand Theatre, and Virginia shares the leads in it with Richard Travis, Charles Lang and Ruth Ford. Michael Ames and Frank Wilcox are featured.
Acting in it was, Virginia proclaims, an experience in every sense of that word. And now she knows why the end result of the art of cinematography is called a moving’ picture, with accent on the “moving.”
Above left to right, Richard Travis portraying "Casey Dorgan", Ruth Ford portraying "Peggy Doran", and Virginia Christine portraying "Eadie Watkins".
Some articles indicate that Virginia Christine's first motion picture was 1943's, "Edge of Darkness", also from "Warner Brothers", that starred Errol Flynn and Ann Sheridan as everyday Norwegian townspeople standing up to the Nazi's. This was actually her second motion picture, but because of the two leads, more noticeable.
Above center holding hands are Flynn and Sheridan. To Errol Flynn's left is Virginia Christine in the uncredited role of "Hulda". Another uncredited role in 1943's, "Mission to Moscow"was next, followed by having her scenes deleted, in Humphrey Bogart's, 1943's, "Action in the North Atlantic", and next, "Warner Brother's" let the actress go. She was picked up by "Universal Pictures", which would lead to portraying an Egyptian Princes, that happened to be dead for over 3,000-years, but first were two "B" Westerns.
The first was a three-hours and forty-five minute "Cliff-Hanger", with the young actress portraying as close a femme fatale as a "B" western would permit.
"Raiders of Ghost City", Chapter One of Thirteen, was released on June 25, 1944.
The following is modified from my article, "Lionel Atwill: The Legitimate Stage, Classic and Not So Classic Horror, and 'Sherlock Holmes", to be read at:
http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2024/04/lionel-atwill-legitimate-stage-classic.html
Set during the American Civil War, a group of Confederates led by "Alex Morel", portrayed by Lionel Atwill, are raiding all gold shipments out of Oro Grande, California, heading for Washington, D.C.
On the train to Oro Grande, "Secret Service Agent" "Captain Steve Clark", portrayed by Dennis Moore, and his partner "Idaho Jones", portrayed by Joe Sawyer, meet the lovely "Trina Dressard", portrayed by Virginia Christine.
Note: President Abraham Lincoln established the "Secret Service" after the Civil War, because of ex-Confederates counterfeiting money.
Later, in Oro Grande, "Captain Steve Clark", is recognized as a "Secret Service Agent", by "Alex Morel's" accomplice, "Trina Dressard", who is actually Prussian "Countess Elsa von Merck".
After escaping death from an uncoupled train car going off a cliff, "Steve Clark" introduces himself as a "Wells Fargo Agent" to "Cathy Haines", portrayed by Wanda McKay.
"Steve's" brother is murdered, having discovered that "Alex Morel" is not a confederate officer, but a Prussian spy. The stolen gold is being sent to Prussia to finance a war and also purchase Alaska from Russia.
Virginia Christine with a slight Prussian accent played a mean piano, but although her character was a singer. You don't really hear her sing.
The climax takes place in San Francisco, "Countess Elsa von Merck" has gone to a warehouse for the exporting of coffee as a front for the movement of the gold out of California for pick-up by other Prussian agents. At the warehouse, "Steve", added by the "San Francisco Secret Service Office", takes down "Erich von Rugen", the real name of Prussian agent,
"Alex Morel" and his gang.
Virginia Christine was next in a standard sixty-minute "B" western, 1944's, "The Old Texas Trail", starring Rod Cameron and Fuzzy Knight as his sidekick.
Above right standing, Rod Cameron, as "Jim Wiley", sitting on his right, Virginia Christine as "Queenie Leone", to her right is Fuzzy Knight as "H. Pinkerton 'Pinky' Pinkley".
"Universal Pictures" needed a new "Princess Ananka" for their fourth film about the living mummy "Kharis", and Virginia Christine was cast in the role.
THE MUMMY'S CURSE released December 22, 1944
This would be the last feature film of four, in the "Universal Pictures" horror series about their second Egyptian mummy, "Kharis"
The series had started four-years earlier with 1940's, "The Mummy's Hand", from a story idea by Griffin Jay, more on him later. In that first motion picture, "B" Cowboy actor, Tom Tyler was cast as Griffin Jay's character of "Kharis", an ancient "High Priest of Karnak". Who tried to bring his love, the "Princess Ananka", back to life, but as punishment was mummified, while still being alive, and cursed to forever protect her tomb. My article is "Tom Tyler: the 'B' Cowboy Star Who Became a Mummy, Captain Marvel, and a Classic John Wayne Bad Guy" at:
"Steve Banning", portrayed by big band singer, turned singing "B" movie cowboy, Dick Foran, leads an expedition to find the tomb of the "Princess Ananka". They do, but also the current "High Priest of the Egyptian God, Karnak, Andoheb", portrayed by George Zucco. Who, by giving "Kharis" a nine-tana-leaf serum, turns loose the living mummy. After some killings, "Kharis" will be destroyed, by an overturned brazier's flames, that was making more of the life giving tana-leaf serum. Foran is part of my article "John Wayne Was a Singing Cowboy: Singing Cowboys and Cowgirls in the Movies and on 1950's Television", at:
It would be two-years, before the studio decided to bring "Kharis" back, in 1942's, "The Mummy's Tomb", but portrayed by Lon Chaney. My article is "Lon Chaney, Jr. 'Of Mice and Werewolves" at:
The setting is Mapleton, Massachusetts, and the screenplay writers moved the story 30-years after the events of "The Mummy's Hand". The 30-years-older, "High Priest of Karnak, Andoheb", portrayed by George Zucco, is dying, but gives instructions to "Mehemet Bey", portrayed by Turhan Bey. He is to take "Kharis" to the United States and kill the "Banning Family". His instructions given, "Andoheb" passes the medallion of the high priests to "Mehemet", and dies.
Switch to Mapleton, Massachusetts, and we see the 30-years older, "Steve Banning", portrayed by Dick Foran. The mummy of the "Princess Ananka" and her treasures are in an exhibition room of the "Scripps Museum". "Memehet Bey" and "Kharis" arrive and "Steve Banning" and his sister are killed by the mummy. "Steve's" sister wasn't in Egypt, but she is a "Banning" and must die. So, too must "Steve's" son, "Dr. John Banning", portrayed by John Hubbard, who is engaged to be married to "Isobel Evans", portrayed by Elyse Knox. Meanwhile, the other participant in finding "Ananka", "Babe Hanson", portrayed by Wallace Ford, goes to the coroner and the sheriff with the fantastic story of a living mummy. They don't believe his tale, until "Babe' is killed by "Kharis". The mummy and "Memehet Bey", next, set their sights on the last family member, "Steve's" son, "John". While, "John" seeks help from Egyptian history "Professor Matthew Norman", portrayed by Frank Reicher. My article is "Frank Reicher: B4 'King Kong' 2 TV's 'Superman" from "Skull Island" with love at:
The climax comes as "Mehemet Bey" is killed by the sheriff. "Kharis", while attempting to kill "John Banning", is set on fire and burns with the second story of the "Banning House". The picture ends with "John" and "Isobel" being married, followed by his receipt of a draft notice. Which means, as this film took place 30-years after the first, that the Second World War was still going on in 1970, a miscue in the plot by Griffin Jay and his co-writer, Henry Sucher, who only wrote 8 screenplays between 1941 and 1945.
Another two-years passed, and the studio decided to bring back "Kharis" in "The Mummy's Ghost". The new movie premiered on June 30, 1944, written by Jay and Sucher. They seem to keep the events of the previous two movies, but only mentioned in passing. The location is still Mapleton, Massachusetts, "Kharis" is still there, but his religion seems to have changed.
The story opens back in Egypt, and unexplained, is that "High Priest Andoheb", portrayed by George Zucco is alive, but now he is the "High Priest of Arkham", not "Karnak". He speaks to "Yousef Bey", portrayed by John Carradine, and tells him that he needs to go to Mapleton, Massachusetts, locate "Kharis", who apparently has survived without having the tana-leaf serum, and return him and the body of the "Princess Ananka" to Egypt. Once again, the dying "Andoheb" passes the medallion of the, now, "High Priest's of Arkham" to, now, "Yousef Bey", and dies again as in the previous movie.
Switch to a collage lecture being given by teacher, "Professor Matthew Norman", portrayed again by Frank Reicher, another tie-in to the previous motion picture. In his class is a student, "Tom Hervey", portrayed by Robert Lowery. Whose girlfriend is of Egyptian descent, "Amina Mansori", portrayed by Ramsey Ames. "Professor Norman" is lecturing his class on the killings by "Kharis", again a tie-in to the previous storyline. Class over, "Tom" meets with "Amina", who is experiencing a clouded feeling every time the subject of Egypt is brought up to her.
The night, "Professor Norman" is continuing his research of "Kharis". At his home, he has a box containing tana-leaves and is making the serum that had kept the mummy alive as an experiment. What he doesn't know is that action has been felt by "Kharis", who the professor believed was destroyed in the fire at the "Banning" house.
"Kharis" now starts to walk to the professor's and as he passes "Amina's" house, she comes out in a trance just standing there. "Kharis" enters the professor's home, murders him, and his wife discovers his body. While, "Amina" now sees the returning "Kharis" is snapped out of her trance, faints, and wakes up with a strange birthmark on her arm. At the professor's home, both the sheriff and coroner recognize the mold upon "Norman's" neck and know that the thought destroyed mummy has returned.
Meanwhile, "Yousef Bey" has arrived in Mapleton, Massachusetts, and prepares the "Tana-leaves" to bring "Kharis" to him. This accomplished, later that night in the "Scripps Museum", after the watchman passes the darken Egyptian room, out of hiding emerges "Yousef Bey". Shortly, "Kharis" breaks into the museum, murders the watchman, goes to the exhibit, and stares at the mummy of his love, the "Princess Ananka". Everything is going as planned until "Kharis" lifts up the mummy of his beloved, and it turns to dust. It is obvious to "Yousef Bey" that her soul has passed on to a living person.
"Amina", whose dark black hair now has a prominent new white streak in it, plans to elope with "Tom" the following day. Having called to his God, "Amon-Ra", for help in locating the body that contains the soul of the "Princess Ananka". "Yousef Bey" sends "Kharis" in the direction of the "Norman" house. As "Kharis" passes "Amina's" house, she is awakened from a sound sleep and in a trance goes outside. Her hair has almost completely turned white and her complexion is aging. "Kharis" takes her to the old mill that "Yousef Bey" has been using. Having been alerted by "Amina's" guardian, the sheriff has gathered some men and are following a trail left by the mummy to the mill.
Inside the mill, "Yousef Bey" after informing "Amina" of her true identity, wants to make her his bride. "Kharis" is against this plan, as "Ananka" is his love, grabs the other and tosses"Yousef Bey" out of the mill's second story window to his death. Just then, "Tom" enters, but fails to stop "Kharis", who is now carrying his lost love. Outside, the sheriff and what is now a mob, watch as the mummy starts heading toward a swamp. There, he is trapped in the quick sand and holding the now 3,000-years-old, "Prince Ananka", the two sink into it mud until both are completely covered.
Above, Lon Chaney, and, Ramsay Ames, seen below as she sinks into the quicksand.
Which brings my reader to "THE MUMMY'S CURSE", and what the IMDb website describes as a:
Action - Drama - Fantasy - Horror - Romance - Thriller
As I mentioned, the first three films, "The Mummy's Hand", "The Mummy's Tomb", and "The Mummy's Ghost", had one writer in common for some form of continuity, Griffin Jay. He also wrote two other very good other horror entries, Bela Lugosi's, 1943, "The Return of the Vampire", and the Nina Foch (Charlton Heston's Egyptian mother in director Cecil B. DeMille's, 1956, "The Ten Commandments'), 1944's, "Cry of the Werewolf", if you've never seen it, find it.
However, Griffin Jay was not involved with this feature film, but seemed to be available if assigned to it.
Instead, there were three other "Universal Pictures" contract writers assigned to the screenplay. This was only Dwight V. Babcock's second feature film. His first film was the "Inner Sanctum"mystery, 1944's, "Dead Man's Eyes", starring Lon Chaney. He would write the most screenplays of the three contract writers, 47, between 1944 and 1969. They would include the story for 1945's, "The House of Dracula", and both 1946's mystery thrillers, "House of Horrors" and the "She-Wolf of London".
Screenplay writer, Bernard Schubert had been the third writer on director Tod Browning's, 1935, "Mark of the Vampire". He was also one of the writers for the "Inner Sanctum" mystery, 1945's, "The Frozen Ghost", starring Lon Chaney, Evelyn Ankers, and Milburn Stone. Schubert would write 25 other, non-horror-thriller screenplays between 1931 and 1958.
Leon Abrams between 1925 and 1953, only wrote 15-screenplays, and this was his only horror movie.
I bring this up, because this was the direct sequel to 1944's, "The Mummy's Ghost", but the three writers screenplay may have outdone the discrepancies in 1942's, "The Mummy's Tomb".
Lon Chaney portrayed "Kharis, the mummy" for his last time in an American film, see my above linked article on the actor.
Ramsay Ames apparently wasn't available to portray "Princess Ananka" and she was replaced with
Virginia Christine in a role she is remembered, over Ames, by fans of "Universal Horror".
The story opens with "The Southern Engineering Company" draining a local swamp for the public good. Please note the word "Southern" in the companies name, seeing that Massachusetts is located in the "North East" of the United States. Somehow, the swamp in Mapleton, Massachusetts, has been moved to Louisiana.
However, the story still uses the "Scripps Museum", but now moved from Mapleton to New York City. The audience sees the arrival at the swamp draining of two representatives, "Doctor Ilzor Zardad" or in some reviews, "Zandaab" , portrayed by Peter Coe, and "Doctor James Halsey", portrayed by Dennis Moore, of the museum. The two will meet with the head of the draining operation, "Major Pat Walsh", portrayed by Addison Richards.
"Pat Walsh" is having problems with the superstitious cajun workers he needs. They all believe the swamp area is haunted, ready for next problem with this sequel?
According to one of the workers, after learning the two scientists from the "Scripps Museum" are looking for two mummy's. The worker makes the comment that they did have a problem with a mummy, 25-years-ago!
So, did "The Mummy's Ghost" take place in 1944 minus 25 making it 1919, or 1970 minus 25 making it 1945? My reader can take their pick.
Forgetting the above, the following is the plot.
As the two scientists are discussing "Kharis" and the "Princess Ananka", word is received of a worker being murdered. "Dr. Halsey" believes the worker was murdered after discovering the body of "Kharis". Nice clues are the workers body has a knife in his back and a large impression of the mummy is in the dried mud.
Later that same evening, "Dr. Zardad (Zandaab)" meets with an Egyptian named "Ragheb", portrayed by Martin Kosleck, a follower of "Arkam". Who had learned that the doctor is a "High Priest of Arkham". "Ragheb" killed the worker and took the immobile body of "Kharis" to a deserted monastery.
"Dr. Zardad (Zandaab)" explains to "Ragheb" the history of "Kharis" and the "Princess Ananka". He next teaches his disciple how to brew the fluid of tana-leaves to make "Kharis" mobile and tied to their commands. He makes the mummy drink the fluid and---
The "Monastery Sacristan", portrayed by William Farnum, who was still there, witnessed the rebirth of "Kharis". As a result of the old sacristan is killed by the mummy.
The following day a bulldozer removes mud from the swamp and creates a small clearing, before the driver stops his work at the end of shift. After everyone working on clearing the swamp has gone home, or the local pub. Unseen, in the center of the newly created clearing, the hand of the
"Princess Ananka"digs itself out from beneath the surface and very slowly she works herself out. The sequence was shot with Virginia Christine and not a stunt double.
Walking aimlessly, "Princess Ananka" comes upon a pool in the Louisiana swamp and sees her reflection. She enters the water and washes the mud off her body.
After which, she continues to wander aimlessly calling out one name, "Kharis". In the small town, the local pub is owned and run by "Tante Berthe", portrayed by the uncredited Ann Codee, (also, the uncredited "Dr. Dupree" in George Pal's, 1953, version of H. G. Wells'. "War of the Worlds").
Above, a heated discussion over the superstitions of the locals about the haunted swamp is taking place. The locals thought the story of the two mummies from 25-years-ago was buried in thought, but now two scientists have arrived from New York City and are actually looking for them. "Cajun Joe", above left, portrayed by Kurt Katch, who laughs at these superstitions is about to become involved in them.
In the group of locals is a "Young Cajun Woman", portrayed by the uncredited Nina Bara (She will portray "Tonga", on televisions pioneering science fiction series, "Space Patrol", from 1950 through 1955).
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"Cajun Joe", fed up with the others, leaves the pub, and finds the "Princess Ananka".
He takes the girl, who has no memory about who she is, to the back door of the pub, which opens into the bedroom of "Tante Berthe", and gets her to take the young woman in.
A short time later, "Kharis" comes to the same backdoor entrance to "Tante Berthe's" bedroom.
"Kharis" enters, and kills "Tante Berthe", while the frightened "Prince Ananka" runs away.
Unconscious on the road, "Ananka" is found by "Dr. Halsey", and "Betty Walsh", portrayed by Kay Harding, the niece of "Pat Walsh".
"Ananka" is taken to "Betty Walsh's" tent, where she is treated by kindly "Dr. Cooper", portrayed by Holmes Herbert.
The young woman has amnesia about who she is, but strangely has a vast knowledge of ancient Egypt. Next, "Ragheb" appears and realizing that "Ananka" has no memory of who she is, he leaves, but not before "Ragheb" and "Dr. Halsey" have a small confrontation over who he is and his motives.
"Kharis" appears, kills "Dr. Cooper", and "Ananka" once again is able to get away, but this time "Dr. Halsey" and some of the workers go looking for her. Meanwhile, "Ananka" meets "Cajun Joe", but "Kharis" appears and kills him.
"Ananka" runs back to "Betty Walsh's" tent, enters it to hide from "Kharis". "Betty" does what she can to calm the other's nerves, but "Kharis" is now outside the tent.
"Kharis" enters the tent and takes "Ananka", leaving a shocked and untouched "Betty Walsh".
In the monastery, "Dr. Zarhad (Zandaab)" shows "Ragheb" the royal sarcophagus for "Princess Ananka". "Kharis" enters with the unconscious "Ananka".
The sarcophagus is opened and "Kharis", tenderly, places his love within it.
A little later, "Betty" goes to "Ragheb", for help and he takes her to the monastery, but both are confronted by "Dr. Zardad (Zandaab)". Who has already administered the tana-leaf serum to the unconscious "Princess Ananaka" and demands that the other kill "Betty".
"Ragheb's" response is to stab "Dr. Zardad (Zandaab)"in the back, killing him.
While the above was taking place, "Dr. Halsey" has found"Betty's" tent destroyed and her missing. He organizes a group of the workers and they had started to track her. As "Ragheb" stabs "Zardad (Zandaab)", "Halsey" and his group enter the monastery. "Halsey" and "Ragheb" start to fight, but "Kharis" realizes that "Ragheb" has betrayed him and starts to go for the other. "Ragheb" runs into a cell-like-room and locks himself in, but that doesn't stop the mummy. As "James Halsey" and "Betty Walsh" look on, "Kharis" brings the roof of the cell-room down upon himself and "Ragheb", burying both of them.
Next, the group approaches the room with the sarcophagus of the "Princess Ananka", and stare not at the beautiful young woman they knew, but a 3,000-years-old-mummy.
Virginia Christine had another 235 roles between movies and the new medium of television. Obviously, I am not going to speak to all 235, but instead select films and television roles that I feel may be of interest to my reader.
Immediately after "The Mummy's Curse", the 25-years-old-actress had the uncredited role of "Tanya", in Zolton Korda's, 1945, "Counter-Attack". The feature film starred Paul Muni, Marguerite Chapman, and Larry Parks. Virginia's role is not important, but what this film turned out to symbolize is important. The critics praised Korda's feature film and the cast. The screenplay was based upon a successful Broadway play translated from a Russian play. The story has a small group of Russian's trapped in a cave-in with a small group of Nazi's. The heroes are the Russians, who at the time the motion picture was made, were our Second World War allies.
The war ended, the Cold War started, and what is known as "The Second Red Scare" began. Somehow, the "House Committee on Un-American Activities" took a look at the "Counter-Attack". As a result, three of the writers, one actor, Larry Parks, and the "Production Supervisor" on the motion picture were Blacklisted, for "ALLEGED" Communist sympathies, because the screenplay was deemed pro-Russian and anti-American.
For those of my readers that do not understand what it was like in the United States during "The Second Red Scare", my article, that includes a movie I will be mentioning later, is "Invaders from Mars (1953), It Came from Outer Space (1953), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956): Reflections of the 'Second Red Scare" that panicked the United States at:
Virginia Christine found herself back in westerns. On September 7, 1945, she was the bad girl in one of "B" cowboy actor, Gordon Nance, aka: "Wild Bill" Elllot's movies, "Phantom of the Plains". In which he portrayed the popular Sunday newspaper comic strip hero, the "Red Ryder".
Above, Ian Keith portraying the bad guy, "Talbot Wilberforce Champneys - aka: Fancy Charlie", and Virginia Christine portraying the shorter named, "Celeste".
Trivia: portraying "Red Ryder's" Native American sidekick, "Little Beaver", was "Our Gang" alumnus, Bobby Blake. Who as Robert Blake, would co-star in Truman Capote's, 1967, "In Cold Blood", star in 1973's, "Electra Glide in Blue", and portray television's, "Baretta", 1975 - 1978. Below, our two heroes:
Four forgotten "B" films followed and then the fully credited role of a "Lady of the Streets", my reader can translate the role's profession for themselves, in the cult classic "House of Horrors", premiering in New York City, on February 22, 1946.
Martin Kosleck was back as a depressed sculptor who wants to commit suicide, but instead, he saves a deformed murderer called "The Creeper", portrayed by Rondo Hatton, from drowning. This was the first film featuring Hatton in the role. Sadly, he didn't need make-up, as he suffered from acromegaly. My article is "Rondo Hatton: The Tragic Life of 'THE CREEPER", for your reading at:
According to writers Tom Weaver, and brothers, Michael and John Brunas's, 2007,"Universal Horrors". Virginia Christine is quoted as saying the following about her role in an interview:
I needed the money (Laughs) - all actors need money!
She added that there was a cat that was to follow her character down the street. To get the cat to follow, the director had anchovies smeared on the back of her shoes. It worked and the scene was shot.
Martin Kosleck portrayed French author Alexander Dumas's, "Edmund Dantes", in the forgotten 1946, "The Wife of Monte Cristo", starring Lenore Aubert. She would be seen in both 1948's, "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein", and 1946's, "Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer".
"The Wife of Monte Cristo" is important to my reader, because it featured Fritz Feld portraying the villains spy, "Bonnett", and his wife, the uncredited Virginia Christine, portraying "Florine Michaud", seen below.
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A low budget and confusing film-noir murder mystery, 1946's, "The Inner Circle", followed with 5th-billed Virginia Christine portraying "Rhoda Roberts".
Above and below, Virginia Christine, Warren Douglas portraying "Johnny Strange", and Ricardo Cortez portraying "Duke York".
From a forgotten "B" film-noir to a classic that introduced Burt Lancaster.
ERNEST HEMINGWAY'S, "THE KILLERS" premiered in New York City on August 28, 1946
The motion picture was based upon a short a 1927 short story of Ernest Hemingway.
The motion picture was directed by the most prolific film-noir director of the 1940's, Robert Siodmak. My article is "Curt and Robert Siodmak: Horror and Film Noir" at:
Two of brother Curt's screenplays are 1941's, "The Wolf Man", and producer Val Lewton's, classic 1943, "I Walked With a Zombie".
This screenplay is credited to Anthony Veiller, who was nominated for the "Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay". His name is on the motion picture, but the actual screenplay was written by the
uncredited John Huston. Uncredited, only because Huston was under contract to "Warner Brothers" and that studio would not permit his name to appear on any "Universal Pictures" feature film. The uncredited Richard Brooks contributed to the finished screenplay also.
Burt Lancaster, in his first motion picture role, portrayed, "Pete Lund/Ole 'Swede' Anderson". He only got the part, because "Warner Brothers" hadn't used him yet, and refused to give Robert Siodmak, actor Wayne Morris. My article is "Burt Lancaster: Circus Acrobat Turned Actor" to be read at:
Ava Gardner portrayed "Kitty Collins". Gardner had appeared in 29-movies prior to this feature film, and of those, 21 were uncredited roles such as a "Passerby at Racetrack", "Girl in car lighting a cigarette", "Girl at Theatre Box Office", and "Perfume Girl".
Edmond O'Brien portrayed "Jim Reardon". This was only his 7th motion picture, his first had been the 1939's, version of French author Victor Hugo's, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", starring Charles Laughton, and only the second motion picture that Maureen FitzSimmons was billed as Maureen O'Hara.
Albert Dekker portrayed "Big Jim Colfax". Dekker, had the title role in the 1940 science fiction classic, "Dr. Cyclops". Dekker would follow this film-noir with a mini-epic historical film about how California became a state, 1947's, "California", starring Ray Milland and Barbara Stanwyck.
Sam Levene portrayed "Police Lieutenant Sam Lubinsky". Levene was just in director Lewis Milestone's hard hitting Second World War story, 1944's, "The Purple Heart", about an American bomber shot down over China and the crew captured by the Japanese.
Virginia Christine portrayed "Lilly Harmon Lubinsky, the Swede's former girlfriend, now Sam Lubinsky's wife". Christine actually auditioned for "Kitty Collins", a role she really wanted, but producer Mark Hellinger offered her the role of "Lilly". When you look at the motion picture, Virginia Christine was on-screen about as much as Ava Gardner.
Above, Sam Levene and Virginia Christine.
The Very Basic Film-Noir:
Two hitmen, "Al" portrayed by Charles McGraw, and "Max, portrayed by radio's original "Matt Dillion" on "Gunsmoke", and future televisions "Cannon", William Conrad, arrive in Brentwood, New Jersey, to kill "Pete Lund", a former boxer known as "The Swede". In a diner the two are confronted by "Lund's" friend, "Nick Adams", portrayed by Phil Brown, seated at the other end of the counter.
Note: "Nick Adams" appears in many of Ernest Hemmingway's stories and is considered himself, because of the many experiences the author transferred to the character.
After, "Nick" tells him of "The Killers", "The Swede", makes no attempt to flee from them and is shot dead in his own room. Next, insurance investigator, "Jim Reardon", is assigned to find out who is the beneficiary of a $2,500 life insurance policy, equal in value as of this writing to $40, 325, of a policy holder named "Lund", actually "Ole Anderson's",
"Reardon" starts to doggedly piece together who "The Swede" really was by interviewing his friends, and especially "Philadelphia Police Lieutenant, Sam Lubinsky".
The screenplay becomes a flashback.
The following quote is by James M. Tate, only published February 8th of this year, on the website, "Cult Film Freak", about this classic film-noir:
Little did Ernest Hemingway know, when he created the very short short-story THE KILLERS, that he was writing a first act of what would become two movies... the second a year after his death and beginning with the same-titled film noir introducing Burt Lancaster, who winds up telling young Nick Adams (Hemingway's autobiographical doppelganger) that he doesn't mind if two hit-men murder him...
"The Swede's" boxing career is cut short by an injury to his hand. "Sam" suggests that he join the police force, but his suggestion is rejected by the, now, ex-boxer.
"The Swede" receives an invite to the mansion of crime boss, "Big Jim Colfax", interested, he takes his girlfriend, "Lilly", to see what it's about.
There, he first sees "Kitty Collins", and this starts his downfall.
"The Swede" dumps "Lilly" for "Kitty", and "Sam" happily marries her. A while later, "Sam" sees "Kitty" wearing jewelry from a robbery and confronts "The Swede" over it. The two have a fight, after the former boxer confesses to the robbery. He's put on trial, and spends the next three-years in prison.
When "The Swede" comes out of prison he is reunited with "Big Jim Colfax", but also finds that "Kitty" is now with him. Along with "Dum-Dum Clarke", portrayed by Jack Lambert, and "Blinky Franklin", portrayed by Jeff Corey, seen below with Virginia Christine from an earlier sequence, "The Swede" is offered a payroll robbery job in Hackensack, New Jersey.
The robbery goes off without a hitch and the gang nets $254,912, equal as of this writing to $4,111,795. When their boarding house allegedly burns down, all the gang-members, except "The Swede", are told of a new rendezvous place. "Kitty" tells "The Swede" that he's being double crossed by the others, this incites him to take all the money at gunpoint and fleeing.
"Kitty" meets with "The Swede" in Atlantic City, and when he relaxed, takes the money and disappears with it. The story returns to the present with the funeral of "The Swede".
"Reardon" has been staking out the house where "The Swede" was killed. He sees "Dum-Dum" sneaking into the building, probably looking for a clue to where the other hid the money. The insurance investigator confronts "Dum-Dum", but he flees before an arrest can be made.
"Reardon" now confirms that the safe house never burned down, and believes "Colfax" and "Kitty" set "The Swede" up from the start. He goes to the one time crime boss, now a legitimate building contractor, but the other claims no knowledge of what happened to "Kitty". After the insurance investigator had lied to him about having enough evidence to arrest and convict "Kitty". A short time later, "Reardon" receives a phone call from "Kitty" suggesting they meet at a nightclub called the "Green Cat".
At the "Green Cat", "Reardon" meets with "Kitty", who admits to setting up "The Swede", and believing "Reardon" has evidence against her, agrees to give up "Big Jim Colfax". After "Kitty" excuses herself to go to the restroom, "Max" and "Al" arrive to kill "Jim Reardon", but instead, "The Killers" are themselves killed by "Reardon" and "Lubinsky". Who had anticipated this would happen, but when "Reardon" enters the ladies room looking for "Kitty". She had escaped through an open window.
Arriving at the "Colfax Mansion", they find that "Dum-Dum" and ""Big Jim Colfax" had a violent shoot out. "Dum-Dum" is dead, and "Colfax" is dying. He answers the question, of why he had "The Swede" killed? "Big Jim Colfax" was afraid the other members of the robbery would discover "The Swede" didn't have the money and realize they'd been double-crossed by him and "Kitty". Before he dies, "Kitty" begs "Colfax" to exonerate her, but he dies without saying one additional word.
On July 7, 1964, director Don Siegel's revised version of "The Killers", premiered in New York City. Siegel had cast Virginia Christine in the role of "Mrs. Watson, the blind secretary". The villain, "Jack Browning, a gangster, posing as a legitimate business man", was portrayed by Ronald Reagan, just before he retired to enter politics full-time. Lee Marvin portrayed "Charlie Storm, a professional killer" trying to figure out why the contract victim, "Johnny", portrayed by John Cassavetes, didn't even try to get away and seemed to have waited for him and his partner., "Lee", portrayed by Clu Gulager. Angie Dickinson portrayed "Shelia Farr, Johnny's, two-timing lover".
Below, Virginia Christine with Lee Marvin.
Seven "B" movies followed 1946's, "The Killers", the only motion picture version of any of his work that author Ernest Hemingway went on-record as liking. Now came a small uncredited role that would have a major impact on Virginia Christine's future motion work.
From 1948 into 1950, was a now forgotten television series entitled "Actor's Studio". In a 1949 episode, name also forgotten, was a stage actor name Marlon Brando. The following year, on July 20, 1950, New York City audiences saw the premier of a motion picture set in the paraplegic ward of a Veteran's hospital, entitled "The Men", starring Marlon Brando in his first on-screen role. The screenplay was written by pre-blacklisted Carl Foreman, the motion picture was directed by Fred Zinnemann and it was produced by Stanley Kramer.
Virginia Christine had an role described as "Patients wife at lecture". Her performance in the powerful wives and husband's sequence caught the eye of producer Stanley Kramer. She would be used in five more of his motion pictures. Before I look at them, that lecture scene resulted in "The Men" being banned in the United Kingdom. The following is found on the "Turner Classic Movie" website about the lecture sequence.
According to a June 28, 1950 Daily Variety news item, British censors banned The Men, citing a speech given to a group of wives and mothers by Everett Sloane's character in which he tells them that their paralyzed men May be unable to have children.
However, the website, "IMDb", shows a London, England, premiere of "The Men", on November 17, 1950.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042727/releaseinfo/?ref_=tt_ov_rdat
I will return to Virginia Christine's television performances, after I look at her other work for producer Stanley Kramer. "The Men" was immediately followed on November 16, 1950, by "Cyrano de Bergerac", that won actor Jose Ferrer the 1950, "Best Actor Academy Award".
Above, Jose Ferrer and 14th-billed, Virginia Christine, portraying "Sister Marthe".
On May 1, 1952, an American western, debated even as I write this, about being anti-Senator Joseph McCarthy, premiered in London England. Produced by Stanley Kramer, directed by Fred Zinneman, who denied the screenplay was anti-McCarthyism, written by Carl Foreman, who would be blacklisted during the film's production for having been a member of the "CPUSA Communist Party of the United States America", ten-years-earlier, but not since.
Above, immediately to Gary Cooper's "Will Kane's" left, and Thomas Mitchell's "Mayor Jonas Henderson's" right, is Virginia Christine in the uncredited role of "Mrs. Simpson". Behind Grace Kelly's "Amy Fowler", is Lon Chaney portraying "Martin Howe".
Next for Virginia Christine from Stanley Kramer, was the role of "Bruni, a Swedish country woman" in his June 28, 1955, medical drama, "Not as a Stranger". The cast was typically Kramer large, as the following poster tells my reader.
This was Stanley Kramer's first time as a director and his material was a major worldwide best selling novel from author Morton Thompson for over year, but his finished picture was panned by almost every critic that reviewed it. The following is from "The Philadelphia Inquirer", July 2, 1955, by their film critic, Mildred Martin.
perhaps the largest ready-made audience since ‘Gone With the Wind,” though “Whether this audience will be satisfied with the compressed, considerably altered version Kramer has given them remains to be seen….a disturbing lack of courage in the script which treads timidly in dealing with the seamier side of medicine…badly miscast in its two key roles….Mitchum is, bluntly, a shattering disappointment….Expressionless, ill at ease, Mitchum moves stolidly through a series of episodes which should certainly have revealed him as more than a robot. Equally at sea is Olivia de Havilland, bleached and with a Swedish accent that comes and goes….she even, following her husband’s infidelity, orders Luke from the house, a thing Thompson’s devoted doormat of a woman would never have dreamed of doing….far better than the stars are Charles Bickford…and Broderick Crawford….Lon Chaney is grotesque as Luke’s alcoholic father; Gloria Grahame a conventional movie siren…and Myron McCormick far too pleasant as the unethical, incompetent head of Greenville’s mismanaged hospital.
Speaking directly to actress Olivia de Haviland's "Swedish Accent", a target in almost every review of the motion picture I read. Virginia Christine had been given an additional role by Stanley Kramer, to try and teach de Haviland to sound Swedish.
There would be two more major motion pictures from producer Stanley Kramer that Virginia Christine had two strong supporting roles. The first had an all-star cast in a film dealing with the trial of the German Judges after the Second World War.
This movie is as strong today as it was on December 14, 1961, when the Abby Mann written, Stanley Kramer directed, three-hour-and-ten-minute feature film premiered in Berlin, Germany.
Portraying "Chief Judge Dan Haywood", was Spencer Tracy. "Haywood" is particularly interested in how respected jurist and legal scholar "defendant Ernst Janning", portrayed by Burt Lancaster, could sentence known innocent people to death?
One of the beautifully executed subplots is about where "Chief Judge Dan Haywood" is to stay at while the Nuremberg, Germany, war trials take place. The judge finds that his new quarters are someone's house and they have been required to leave. At the house he meets his butler, "Herr Halbestadt", portrayed by Ben Wright, and his housekeeper, "Mrs. Halbestadt", portrayed by Virginia Christine, seen below.
The "Halbestadt's" becomes writer Abby Mann's everyman, blinded to what was really happening. By believing in and following Hitler's claims the he will restore Germany to its pre-First World War status in the world. When asked, they admit to joining the "Nazi Party". Why, because everyone was doing it.
Below, the judge accidentally meets the owner of the house, Frau Bertholt", portrayed by Marlene Dietrich. She was forced out of her house, because her husband was a high German Army Officer.
There was one last motion picture produced and directed by StanleyKramer, that was very controversial in 1967, but dated today.
Premiering in New York City, on December 11, 1967 was:
This was one of the few motion pictures, of the time, to look at interracial marriage and was the last motion picture to star Spencer Tracy, he had passed away on June 10th, with Katherine Hepburn.
Tracy portrayed newspaper editor, "Matt Drayton", and Hepburn was his wife, "Christina Drayton". Their daughter "Joey Drayton", was portrayed by Katharine Hepburn's niece, Katharine Houghton.
"Matt" and "Christina's" 23-years-old daughter had gone on a vacation to Hawaii, and surprise, she met a man and became engaged after a ten-day romance. Surprise number two, he's a 37-years-old widower, and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner", that night? Surprise number three, "Dr. John Prentice" is African-American, portrayed by Sidney Poitier.
Reverse surprise, as "John's" parents first meet "Joey Drayton".
Above, Roy Glenn portraying "Mr. Prentice" and Beah Richards portraying "Mrs. Prentice".
The "Academy Award Winning Screenplay" was by William Rose, co-writer of the classic Sir Alec Guinness comedy, 1955, "The Lady Killers", and with his wife Tania Rose, Stanley Kramer's classic all-star comedian, 1963, "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World".
Rose's screenplay is described as a comedy - drama - romance, and does deal with both sets of parents facing an interracial marriage and its consequences. While their children see it through different loving eyes. As I stated the story is now very dated, but the issue is also seen through the eyes of "Christina Drayton's" racist employee, "Hillary St. George", portrayed by Virginia Christine. The screenplay contains a classic scene between Katharine Hepburn and Virginia Christine.
The following description was written by Tim Dirks, on the website, "filmsite.org", at:
the driveway scene in which art gallery owner Christina dismissed the derogatory, bigoted and disapproving comments of high-society employee Hilary St. George (Virginia Christine) after she had just met John Prentice; Christina gave her instructions that ended with her firing: ("You must try not to worry about it. Now I have some instructions for you. I want you to go straight back to the gallery. Start your motor. When you get to the gaIlery, tell Jennifer she will be Iooking after things temporarily. She's to give me a ring if there's anything she can't deaI with herseIf. Then go into the office and make out a check for cash for the sum of $5,000 dollars. Then carefully, but carefully, Hilary, remove absoluteIy everything that might subsequently remind me that you had ever been there, incIuding that yellow thing with the bIue bulbs which you have such an affection for. Then take the check for $5,000 which I feel you deserve, and get permanentIy Iost. It's not that I don't want to know you, Hilary, although I don't. It's just that I'm afraid we're not really the sort of people that you can afford to be associated with. Don't speak Hilary, just -- go")
I want to return to December 14, 1951, when Virginia Christine made her first television appearance on the United Kingdom - United States television series, "Mark Saber", starring Tom Conway, of producer Val Lewton's, 1942, "The Cat People", and 1943's, "I Walked with a Zombie", and taking over the role of "The Falcon", from his brother George Sanders, in the appropriately named, 1942, "The Falcon's Brother".
Virginia Christine portrayed 3rd-billed, "Ilga", in "The Case of the Invisible Death", Season One, Episode Eleven. This was start of her 182-guest-starring television appearances until the end of her career, with a few movies, besides the ones I have already mentioned, scattered in between.
Among those television programs was 6th-billing, the first credited role after the five regulars, in Season Two, Episode Twenty-three, February 20, 1954, "The Lady in Black", on "The Adventures of Superman".
For Jack Webb's television series, "Dragnet", Virginia Christine appeared in four episodes as four different characters, and was also in his motion picture, "Dragnet", that premiered in Chicago, Illinois, on August 18, 1954.
The movie starred producer Jack Webb portraying his television character of "Sergeant Joe Friday", and Ben Alexander, portraying his television partner of "Officer Frank Smith". Virginia Christine portrayed "Mrs. Caldwell", Richard Boone portrayed "Captain James E. Hamilton", Ann Robinson portrayed "Officer Grace Downey", Dennis Weaver portrayed "Captain R. A. Lohrman", and character actor Dub Taylor portrayed "Miller Starkie".
On December 4, 1954, Virginia Christine was first heard in a radio episode of "Gunsmoke", starring William Conrad, portraying the town Marshall of Dodge City, "Matt Dillon". The title of the episode was "Cholera", I could not locate her role. She became a regular supporting actress on the series and would be heard another 22-times, ending with "Ma's Justice", on May 7, 1961.
On the motion picture screen, Virginia Christine found herself in a science fiction motion picture, released on February 5, 1956. Like 1952's, "High Noon", the picture was considered an attack on McCarthyism, by critics and many reviewers, but like Fred Zinneman, director, Don Siegel, claimed otherwise.
There's no emotion. None. Just the pretense of it. The words, the gesture, the tone of voice, everything else is the same, but not the feeling.
When next "Miles" sees "Wilma", she tells him everything is now fine, but she too seems emotionless.
From dealing with alien seed pods, Virginia Christine found herself portraying the wife of Edward G. Robinson, portraying "Police Detective Rene Bressard", and sister to Kevin McCarthy's, "Stan Grayson", portraying "Mrs. Sue Bressard". Connie Russell portrayed McCarthy's girlfriend, "Gina". All four found themselves caught in Kevin McCarthy's:
Above, backseat, Kevin McCarthy and Connie Russell, front seat, Virginia Christine and Edward G. Robinson
In 1947, director and screenplay writer Maxwell Shane got backing to make the film-noir, "Fear in the Night", based upon the 1941 novel, "And So to Death" aka: "Nightmare" by Cornell Woolworth. This was Shane's May 11, 1956, updated remake. It should be noted that the idea to remake the film was due to the major United States interest in hypnotism, because of the "Bridey Murphy" controversy.
The following comes from the picture's "Pressbook":
A New Orleans jazz musician, "Stan Grayson", goes to bed and has a nightmare in which he murders someone in a room full of mirrors. He wakes up with some blood on his hands and a mark on his neck. He goes to his brother-in-law, Detective "Rene Bressard" with his story, but his brother-in-law dismisses the story and asks him not to tell his sister, as "Sue Bressard" is pregnant. However, both men now learn about a murder outside of New Orleans that seems to fit "Stan's" story. The question is raised, did "Stan" actually commit the murder and the nightmare wasn't a nightmare, but an actual murder?
Above, Kevin McCarthy produces for Virginia Christine and Edward G. Robinson, the key to the front door of the house with the mirrored room. Along with Connie Russell, the four open the front door and go into the house ---
Two episodes of televisions "Science Fiction Theatre" followed, starting with "The Human Experiment", June 22, 1956. Virginia Christine starred as biochemist, "Dr. Eleanor Ballard".
Fellow scientist, "Dr. Tom MacDougal", portrayed by Marshall Thompson, discovers that "Ballard's" experiments on bees and humans, has created a house full of patients that have the characteristics of a queen, worker and soldier bees.
Virginia Christine's second episode on "Science Fiction Theatre", was August 24, 1956, "The Throwback". This episode is about a geneticist who believes physical traits and memories can be passed along by a families genes. For science fiction fans, this episode had besides Virginia Christine,
Peter Hansen, producer George Pals, 1951, "When Worlds Collide", Ed Kemmer, televisions "Space Patrol", and Tristram Coffin, 1949's, "King of the Rocket Men", and 1955's, "The Creature with the Atom Brain".
Switching to a popular western television series, Virginia Christine appeared in "The Squatter", September 14, 1956, on "The Adventures of Jim Bowie". Five more television appearances followed and then Virginia Christine had the role of "Mrs. Lapham", in Walt Disney's, "Johnny Tremain", released June 19, 1957.
Virginia Christine had 44 television appearances that followed "Johnny Tremain", on western programs such as, "The Restless Gun", "Zane Grey Theatre", the forgotten "Buckskin" with its forgotten actors, and "Trackdown". Detective shows like "The Thin Man", "Mike Hammer", and "Peter Gun". Television covered the remainder of 1957 through all of 1959 for the actress.
1960 started with a role in an episode of Lee Marvin's television series, "M Squad", entitled, "The Twisted Way", shown on New Years Day. Don't blink, or you may miss Virginia Christine in the uncredited role of "Mrs. Philips" in the Elvis Presley wes8ern motion picture, 1960's, "Flaming Star". However between that movie and my previously mentioned 1961, "Judgement at Nuremberg", Virginia Christine, appeared in 12 television programs including "Shirley Temple's Storybook", "Maverick" and "Mister Ed".
Except for one low-budget 1962 motion picture, "Incident in an Alley", based upon a 1955, television script by Rod Sterling for the "U. S. Steel Hour". Virginia Christine appeared in 22 television episodes that included 8, on actor Dale Roberson's, "Tales of Wells Fargo", all bringing the actress to the motion picture "Four for Texas", released on December 18, 1963.
"4 For Texas" was the only the second-time both husband, 17th-billed, Fritz Feld, portraying, of course, "Fritz", and his wife, 13th-billed, Virginia Christine, portraying "Elya Carlson's (Anita Ekberg) maid, Brunhild", were together in a motion picture. However, the only pictures I could find of the couple were:
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Next for Virgina Christine was the 1964 motion picture, "One Man's Way", starring Don Murray, as "Dr. Norman Vincent Peale", she portrayed his mother, "Anna Peale", seen below.
She also appeared in several television programs and on February 28, 1965, appeared as "Wave Commander Peabody", on the one season television program, "Broadside", in the episode entitled, "Lieutenant Love, Sir", the Navy sitcom starred "The Beverly Hillbillies", Kathleen Nolan. Virginia Christine only did 3-more television programs in 1965, along with appearing in the Suzanne Pleshette movie, "A Rage to Live".
However, 1965 is remembered not for the above, but for the start of, depending upon the site, a 20, or 21-year run for "Folger's Coffee" as the matronly "Mrs. Olsen".
The link below, will take my reader to a 1965 commercial with Virginia Christine portraying "Mrs. Olsen".
The link below, will take my reader to a 1984 commercial with Virginia Christine portraying "Mrs. Olsen".
On April 10, 1966, Virginia Christine was in a low-low-low-low budget horror entry with an interesting title, "Billy the Kid vs Dracula". Unfortunately, the title is extremely better than the movie itself. Which is not even on a par with either "Universal Pictures", 1944, "House of Frankenstein" and 1945's, "House of Dracula" featuring John Carradine portraying "Baron Latos" aka: "Count Dracula".
The story has "Dracula" wanting to make "Billy the Kid's", here known as nice boy "William Bonney", portrayed by Chuck Courtney, girlfriend, "Elizabeth 'Betty' Bentley", portrayed by Melinda Casey, his bride.
Virginia Christine portrayed "Eva Oster", whose daughter "Lisa Oster", portrayed by Hannie Landman, in the second of her five movies, was the first victim of the count. "Eva" tells the townspeople the "James Underhill" is a vampire, but no one believes her and she take matters into her own hands.
On November 21, 1967, Virginia Christine was seen as "Mrs. Thorne", seen below with Roy Thinnes, portraying "David Vincent", in the episode, "Labyrinth" on the television series, "The Invaders".
In 1971, the Stanton, Iowa, water tower was remade into a giant coffee pot in honor of their Stanton born, Virginia Christine (Mrs. Olsen).
In 2015, the coffee pot tower was taken down, but the "Mrs. Olsen Coffee Pot", was moved to a park for tourists to see.
Virginia Christine continued appearing on different television programs and would provide several voices for the Joseph Barbera and William Hanna's, animated series, "Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo", between 1979 and 1983. Along with portraying "Mrs. Olsen" for "Folger's Coffee".
On November 18, 1993, Fritz Feld passed away, and three-years later, on July 24, 1996, his wife joined him.
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