Hot Toddy: The True Story of Hollywood's Most Sensational Murder

The author of this book has really gone off the deep end. Read it and you’ll find lots of little made up tales and very few facts about the actual death of Miss Todd. It’s my belief, after reading this book and many others about Miss Todd’s death that the LA DA got it right. She was drunk, she started the car in the closed garage and died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Face it people thats all their was to it…

I picked up this book because I wanted to learn more about Thelma Todd the actress. I really did enjoy it, but if I may...there were a few parts that dragged. I know Thelma and her death may have had ties to the world of gangsters BUT I didn't need to read about the whole feud between Luciano and Capone. It would have been better if all the little bios about Capone, Luciano, Nitti, etc were cut out and the book could focus more on Thelma. That may just be my opinion though.

Hot Toddy is yet another book about a scandal in old Hollywood. Because of this, it is bound to attract both fans of the era and those looking for all the juicy details of Thelma Todd's death. Andy Edmonds does an admirable job of giving plenty of information without causing her book to become trashy, so it satisfies both groups. Thelma Todd was a popular comedienne from the Hal Roach studios. She began in silents working as the comic foil for various films including a stint with Charley Chase. She graduated to co-starring parts in her own short series with Zasu Pitts and later Patsy Kelly. Her beauty made her a favorite with audiences, but her knack for comedy kept her from moving on into the dramatic parts she desired. Her affiliation with "Lucky" Luciano and other gang members did her in. Unfortunately for Todd, a series of previous Hollywood scandals complicated the investigation into her death. Justice was hardly served to those who deserved it. Evidence was destroyed or ignored, and the trial was laughable. Todd's death was ruled to be an accident, but everyone knew she was murdered. Edmonds works through the details of Todd's death and the story of her life to uncover the truth about her early end, and in doing so, celebrates the memory of a beautiful comedienne. She sometimes takes liberties when she manufactures dialogue between the subjects, but this makes for easier reading. There are times when the reading gets dry because Edmonds examines the business of the gangsters Todd knew in great detail, but the information proves to be helpful later. Overall, this is a good book and the best source of information about Thelma Todd.

When Thelma Todd was found dead in her garaged car on December 16, 1935 the authorities declared it a suicide. But many suspected this was a murder. Some of the suspects were: her business associate; her cafe treasurer; a gangster involved with gambling, drugs, and prostitution; and her former husband (p.8). The author became interested in this case, spent seven years researching old records, interviewing men who had inside knowledge of the underworld, and the personal letters of Thelma Todd. These were used to recreate the true story of this murder. Not all sources could be named (p.11). [This book provides a background to Raymond Chandler's stories.] Chapter One tells about finding her body, and the puzzling facts surrounding this death. Why would a popular and successful comedienne commit suicide? Hollywood considered itself above the law and had the cash to fix any problem. Thelma's body showed lacerations and contusions around her neck, cracked ribs, a broken nose, and a chipped front tooth. Partially digested food was found in her stomach, which contradicted the official explanation of the Medical Examiner (p.28). The Grand Jury heard numerous witnesses whose testimony held up under scrutiny (p.30). The testimony led to a story of mob involvement (p.47). But DA Buron Fitts wanted to squelch this (p.48). Pages 54-57 tell of Thelma's father, and the influences on her life. Thelma's mother dominated her, and pushed her to Hollywood (p.59). The author tells of Thelma's personality as a sexy virgin (pp.60-61). Thelma was named Miss Massachusetts of 1925 (p.66). A talent scout from a movie studio saw her, and signed her. The "good girl" from Lawrence became the sensuous, sexy, sultry blonde (p.68). Pages 76-77 explain how "public relations" worked in Lawrence [and elsewhere]. Chapter Six describes Hollywood in the 1920s; a boom town with a seamy reputation for sex and drugs (pp.82-84). Los Angeles was "wide open" and operated for the politically powerful rich. Hollywood boomed during the Great Depression (p.93). Prohibition empowered gangsters (p.97). Drug dealing brought organized crime to Hollywood (p.115). [This book teaches the history censored from the schoolbooks!] Thelma became dependent on diet pills (p.124). Her "sweet, bubbly personality" made her popular (p.126). Page 139 tells how business competition in restaurants worked. Thelma's career reached new heights when teamed with ZaSu Pitts. But Thelma seemed to have no real male friends (p.221). Thelma took tranquilizers to sleep, and amphetamines for energy (p.224). There are many people in show business who are found dead after taking pills and drinking alcohol. Victims of gangsters are often shot or knifed, violent bloody deaths. Andy Edmonds builds a case to place Thelma's death as a gangland slaying. The author explains why Roland West's deathbed confession was false (p.279). District Attorney Buron Fitts was rumored to be corrupt and inept (p.281). [Does this explain some of

As a longtime Los Angeles native I drove by the former restaurant-nightclub run by screen star Thelma Todd on Pacific Coast Highway many times. Little did I know about Todd's involvement with mobster Lucky Luciano and abounding speculation stemming therefrom until reading "Hot Toddy" and exploring Andy Edmonds' interesting hypothesis.The book is written in the form of a quasi-novel with dialogue between Todd and Luciano, as well as lengthy character sketches of both major players. They loom as fascinating characters for entirely different reasons, a fun loving film star and a ruthless, homicidal gangland boss who takes no prisoners. An interesting explanatory element of Edmonds' hypothesis is the involvement of corrupt Los Angeles District Attorney Buron Fitts, who was allegedly controlled by Luciano and other gangland elements. When the no nonsense Todd sought to reveal Luciano's machinations to the D.A. he supposedly expressed interest in what she had to say. Todd was killed a short time thereafter.Lonnie Anderson did a good job of playing Todd in the made for television movie "Hot Toddy" based on Edmonds' book. It closely follows the book.

I have read this book, and liked it. I have been a fan of Thelma Todd for many years and so I am familiar with many of the details of her life and of her mysterious death. Most of the information in this book is accurate as far as I know, but the story that Lucky Luciano was actually Thelma Todd's boyfriend was new to me. However, Lucky Luciano has been linked with the death of Thelma Todd before. I am aware that there has been some criticism of this book by people who do not believe that Lucky Luciano was actually involved. I once asked Hal Roach about this angle, but unfortunately he sent no reply concerning this, and all I really know is that people have said for years that Luciano was involved. Certainly there was evidence that Thelma Todd was murdered, and we know that her lawyer, A. Ronald Button, testified that Thelma Todd had told him that gangsters were attempting to force her into letting them take over part of her Sidewalk Cafe for a gambling casino. So there are historical records that back up Andy Edmond's story. I also found most of the details of Thelma Todd's career as recounted in this book to be accurate, although in one place it is stated that the movie she made with Ida Lupino's father had been made in Hollywood, while actually it was made in England. The filmography got that right, though. You seldom hear anything bad about Thelma's husband, Pat DiCicco, but this book tells it like it is. He was mixed up in the rackets and mistreated her. No wonder she divorced him. There has been some controversy about whether or not Thelma Todd was a dope addict, but the story that Andy Edmonds tells of her taking diet pills and then switching to straight amphetimines makes sense. I reccomend this book. Right now it's also the only book there is about Thelma Todd.