Summary
Michael Henry Todd Jr. (October 8, 1929 – May 5, 2002) was an American film producer. He was involved in innovations such as the movie format Smell-o-vision, and the production of a racially-integrated minstrel show for the 1964 World's Fair.
Mike Todd Jr. | |
|---|---|
 In 1958. | |
| Born | October 8, 1929 |
| Died | May 5, 2002 (aged 72) County Carlow, Ireland |
| Spouses | Sarah Jane Weaver
(m. 1953; died 1972)Susan McCarthy (m. 1972) |
| Children | 8 |
Early life edit
Todd was born to movie producer and cinema pioneer Mike Todd and his first wife, Bertha Freshman Todd.[1] He was also a stepson of Elizabeth Taylor even though he was older than his famous stepmother through his father's third marriage.[2]
Career edit
Todd was vice president of his father's company, Cinerama, and was responsible for filming the famous roller-coaster scene from the company's debut film, This is Cinerama (1952). He is also known for introducing the short-lived movie format Smell-o-vision, used in the 1960 film Scent of Mystery, which he produced. It was re-released as Holiday in Spain without smells.[3][4]
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 "Mae Barnes, Lola Falana, Louis Gossett Jr, America Be Seated, 1964 World's Fair", Ed Sullivan Show | |
| "Holiday in Spain (trailer)" |
Following in his father's footsteps of producing attractions for World's Fairs, Todd Jr. produced a racially integrated minstrel show for the 1964 New York World's Fair, called "America, Be Seated". It closed after two performances.[5]
Personal life and death edit
Todd was first married [1953–1972] to Sarah Jane Weaver, and they had six children: Cyrus, Susan, Sarah, Eliza Haselton, Daniel, and Oliver Todd. Later, then married [1972–2002] to Susan McCarthy, Todd had two more children: Del and James.[5]
In 1983, Todd and his wife Susan McCarthy wrote a biography of Todd Sr. called A Valuable Property: The Life Story of Michael Todd. (ISBN 0-87795-491-7)[5]
On May 5, 2002, Michael Todd died in Ireland of lung cancer, at the age of 72, with all of his children and his second wife surviving him.[5]
References edit
- ^ Cohn, Art (November 19, 1958). "The Nine Lives of Michael Todd: A Hustler, He Never Looked Back". Beaver Valley Times. p. 3. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
- ^ "Oliver Michael Todd in Conversation with Thomas Hauerslev". In 70 MM. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
- ^ Gross, Daniel A. (2017). "The Third Sense". Distillations. 2 (4): 6–7. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
- ^ "Scent of Mystery". Institute for Art and Olfaction. 15 August 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
- ^ a b c d Lewis, Paul (May 8, 2002). "Michael Todd Jr., 72, a Creator Of Smell-o-Vision for Movies". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 July 2017.