ZaSu Pitts

• Name — ZaSu Pitts • Born — 3 January 1894 • Birthplace — Parsons, Kansas, U.S. • Died — 7 June 1963 • Place of death — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Resting Place — Holy Cross Cemetery • Occupation — Actress • Years Active — 1917–1963 • Children — 2

ZaSu Pitts was born in Parsons, Kansas, the third of four children of Rulandus and Nelly (née Shay) Pitts. Her father, who had lost a leg while serving in the 76th New York Infantry in the Civil War, had settled the family in Kansas before ZaSu's birth. The names of her father's sisters, Eliza and Susan, were purportedly the basis for the name "ZaSu", i.e., to satisfy competing family interests. It has been (incorrectly) spelled as Zazu Pitts in some film credits and news articles. Although her name is commonly mispronounced or, or, in her 1963 book Candy Hits (pg. 15), published the year of her death, the actress gave the correct pronunciation as "Say Zoo", recounting that Mary Pickford had predicted "many will mispronounce it", and adding, "How right she was." In 1903, when Pitts was nine years old, her family moved to Santa Cruz, California, to seek a warmer climate and better job opportunities. Her childhood home at 208 Lincoln Street still stands. She attended Santa Cruz High School, where she participated in school theatricals.

• Illustration — Pitts, circa 1920 Pitts made her stage debut in 1914–15 doing school and local community theater in Santa Cruz. Going to Los Angeles in 1916, at the age of 22, she spent many months seeking work as a film extra. Finally, she was discovered by screenwriter Frances Marion, who cast Pitts as an orphan slavey (servant who does menial housework) in the silent film A Little Princess (1917), starring Mary Pickford. Pitts's popularity grew following a series of Universal one-reeler comedies, and earned her first feature-length lead in King Vidor's Better Times (1919). The following year she married her first husband, Tom Gallery, with whom she was paired in several films, including Heart of Twenty (1920), Bright Eyes, Patsy (both 1921) and A Daughter of Luxury (1922). • Illustration — David Butler and Pitts look lovingly at each other while Jack McDonald glares in a scene still for the 1919 silent drama Better Times Pitts enjoyed her greatest fame in the early 1930s, often starring in Hal Roach B movies and comedy short films, often cast with Thelma Todd as a pair of trouble-prone "working girls". She played secondary parts in many films. Her stock persona—a fretful, flustered, worried spinster—made her instantly recognizable and was often imitated in cartoons and other films. At Universal she co-starred in a series of feature-length comedies with Slim Summerville. Switching between comedy short films and features, by the advent of sound, she became a specialist in comedy roles.

Pitts played a tragic role in Erich von Stroheim's -hour epic Greed (1924). The surprise casting initially shocked Hollywood, but showed that Pitts could draw tears with her doleful demeanor, as well as laughs. Having been extensively edited prior to release—the final theatrical cut ran just over two hours—the movie failed initially at the box office, but has since been restored to over four hours and is considered one of the greatest films ever made. Based on her performance, von Stroheim labeled ZaSu Pitts "the greatest dramatic actress." He also featured her in his films The Honeymoon (1928), The Wedding March (1928), and Walking Down Broadway. Pitts's performance in Walking Down Broadway was dramatic, with her character showing a repressed romantic interest in her girlfriend; the studio reshot these scenes with Pitts, now playing the girlfriend's companion for laughs, and von Stroheim's directorial credit was removed from the film. The film was finally released in 1933, much changed, as Hello, Sister!. ZaSu Pitts was so recognizable in comedies that the public did not take her dramatic efforts seriously. In the classic war drama All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), Pitts was cast as the distraught mother of a young soldier, played by Lew Ayres, but at preview screenings her intense performance drew unintentional laughs. Her scenes were refilmed with Beryl Mercer. In 1936 RKO needed a replacement actress for its Hildegarde Withers series of murder mysteries; Edna May Oliver had left the studio and Helen Broderick succeeded Oliver in the role. Pitts was chosen to succeed Broderick. In theory, it was a good idea: Pitts seemed to fit the role of a prim, spinster schoolmistress. However, mystery fans did not accept the fluttery Pitts as a brainy sleuth who matched wits with the police, and after her two Withers films the series was abandoned.

Beginning in the 1930s, Pitts found work in radio. She appeared several times in the earliest Fibber McGee and Molly shows, playing a dizzy dame constantly looking for a husband. When Marian Jordan temporarily withdrew from Fibber McGee and Molly due to illness, Pitts made guest appearances opposite Jim Jordan as Fibber. Pitts also guested on variety shows, trading banter with Bing Crosby, Al Jolson, W.C. Fields, and Rudy Vallee, among others. She played Miss Mamie Wayne in the soap opera Big Sister, and was heard as Miss Pitts on The New Lum and Abner Show. In 1944, Pitts tackled Broadway, making her debut in the mystery Ramshackle Inn. The play, written expressly for her, did well, and she took the show on the road in later years. She was also a familiar attraction in summer stock theater, playing annually in the Norma Mitchell play Post Road.

Postwar films continued to give her the chance to play comic snoops and flighty relatives in such fare as Life with Father (1947), but in the 1950s, she started focusing on television. This culminated in her best-known series role, playing second banana to Gale Storm in ABC's The Gale Storm Show (1956) (also known as Oh, Susanna), in the role of Elvira Nugent ("Nugie"), the shipboard beautician. In 1961, Pitts was cast opposite Earle Hodgins in the episode "Lonesome's Gal" of the ABC sitcom Guestward, Ho!, set on a dude ranch in New Mexico. In 1962, she appeared in an episode of CBS's Perry Mason, "The Case of the Absent Artist". Her final role was as Gertie, the switchboard operator in the Stanley Kramer comedy epic It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963).

• Illustration — Pitts and husband John Woodall circa 1935 Pitts was married to actor Thomas Sarsfield Gallery from 1920 until their 1933 divorce. Gallery became a Los Angeles boxing promoter and later a TV executive. The couple had two children: • ZaSu Ann Gallery • Donald Michael "Sonny" Gallery (born Marvin Carville La Marr), whom they adopted and renamed after the 1926 death of Donald's biological mother (and Pitts's friend), actress Barbara La Marr. In 1933, Pitts married John Edward "Eddie" Woodall, with whom she remained until her death. Declining health dominated Pitts's later years, particularly after she was diagnosed with cancer in the mid-1950s. She continued to work, appearing on TV and making brief appearances in the films The Thrill of It All and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. She died in Hollywood on June 7, 1963, aged 69, and was interred at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City. Pitts wrote a book of candy recipes, Candy Hits, which was published posthumously in 1963.

• Silent • Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1917 — Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm — Undetermined role — Uncredited • 49–'17 — Party Guest — Uncredited • The — Becky • 1918 — A Modern Musketeer — A Kansas Belle — Uncredited • How Could You, Jean? — Oscar's Sweetheart — Lost film • The — Lost film • The — Lost film. Scenes deleted. • 1919 — A Lady's Name — Emily — Incomplete. Four of five reels survive at the Museum of Modern Art. • As the Sun Went Down — Sal Sue — Lost film • Men, Women, and Money — Katie Jones — Lost film • Better Times — Nancy Scroggs — A copy is held at the EYE Film Institute Netherlands. • The — Jennie Jones, The Jazz Kid • Poor Relations — Daisy Perkins — Lost film • 1920 — Bright Skies — Sally • Heart of Twenty — Katie Abbott • Seeing It Through — Betty Lawrence • 1921 — Patsy — Patsy • 1922 — Is Matrimony a Failure? — Mrs. Wilbur — Lost film • For the Defense — Jennie Dunn — A copy is held at the EYE Film Institute Netherlands • Youth to Youth — Emily — Lost film • A Daughter of Luxury — Mary Cosgrove — Lost film • 1923 — Mary of the Movies — Herself (cameo) — An incomplete copy is held at the Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision. • The Girl Who Came Back — Anastasia Muldoon — Lost film • Souls for Sale — Herself (cameo) • Three Wise Fools — Mickey — A copy is held at the Cinematheque Royale de Belgique. • Hollywood — Herself (cameo) — Lost film • Poor Men's Wives — Apple Annie — Lost film • Tea: With a Kick! — 'Brainy' Jones • West of the Water Tower — Dessie Arnhalt — Lost film • 1924 — Daughters of Today — Lorena • The Goldfish — Amelia Pugsley — An incomplete copy is held at the Library of Congress. • Triumph — A Factory Girl — Copies are held at the George Eastman Museum and the Library of Congress. • Changing Husbands — Delia — A copy is held at the Library of Congress. • The Legend of Hollywood — Mary Brown • Wine of Youth — Lucy — A copy is held at the George Eastman Museum. Scenes deleted. • The Fast Set — Mona — Lost film • Secrets of the Night — Celia Stebbins • Greed — Trina — The film is extant, but the original 42-reel version is lost. • Sunlight of Paris • 1925 — The — Polly Jordan — A copy is held at the Cinemateket-Svenska Filminstitutet. • The Re-Creation of Brian Kent — Judy — A copy is held at the Library of Congress. • Old Shoes • Pretty Ladies — Maggie Keenan — The film is extant, but the Technicolor sequences are lost. • A Woman's Faith — Blanche Odile • The Business of Love — Miss Wright — Lost film • Thunder Mountain — Mandy Coulter — Lost film • Lazybones — Ruth Fanning • Wages for Wives — Luella Logan — Lost film • The — Nancy — Lost film • 1926 — Mannequin — Annie Pogani • What Happened to Jones — Hilda • Monte Carlo — Hope Durant — A copy is held in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film library. • Early to Wed — Mrs. Dugan — Lost film • Sunny Side Up — Evelyn • Risky Business — Agnes Wheaton • Her Big Night — Gladys Smith — A copy is held at the UCLA Film and Television Archive. • 1927 — Casey at the Bat — Camille Gibson — A copy is held at the Library of Congress. • 1928 — Wife Savers — Germaine — Lost film • 13 Washington Square — Mathilde — Copies are held at the UCLA Film and Television Archive and the Library of Congress. • Buck Privates — Hulda — A copy is held at the George Eastman Museum. • The — Cecelia Schweisser • Sound • 1928 — Sins of the Fathers — Mother Spengler — Part-talkie • 1929 — The Dummy — Rose Gleason • The Squall — Lena • Twin Beds — Tillie • The Argyle Case — Mrs. Wyatt — Lost film. Only the sound for reels 3, 5, 7, and 9 survive, and possibly the soundtrack at the UCLA Film and Television Archive. • Her Private Life — Timmins • Oh, Yeah! — The Elk • Paris — Harriet — Lost film. Only the soundtrack survives. • The — Telephone Girl • This Thing Called Love — Clara Bertrand — Lost film. Only the two-color Multicolor sequence survives. • 1930 — No, No, Nanette — Pauline Hastings — An incomplete copy is held at the BFI National Archive. • Honey — Mayme • All Quiet on the Western Front — Frau Bäumer — Silent version trailer only; scenes deleted. • The — Ethel • The Little Accident — Monica • The Squealer — Bella • Monte Carlo — Bertha • War Nurse — Cushie • The Lottery Bride — Hilda • River's End — Louise • Sin Takes a Holiday — Annie • The Honeymoon — Caecilia — Lost film. Released only in Europe. • Free Love — Ada • Passion Flower — Mrs. Harney • 1931 — Finn and Hattie — Mrs. Haddock • Bad Sister — Minnie • Beyond Victory — Mademoiselle Fritzi • Seed — Jennie • A Woman of Experience — Katie • Their Mad Moment — Miss Dibbs • The Big Gamble — Nora Dugan • Penrod and Sam — Mrs. Bassett — Alternative title: The Adventures of Penrod and Sam • The — Liesl, the Maid • The Secret Witness — Bella • On the Loose — Zasu — Short film • 1932 — The Unexpected Father — Polly Perkins • Broken Lullaby — Anna, Holderlin's Maid • Steady Company — Dot • Shopworn — Aunt Dot • Destry Rides Again — Temperance Worker — Alternative title: Justice Rides Again • The Trial of Vivienne Ware — Gladys Fairweather • Strangers of the Evening — Sybil Smith • Westward Passage — Mrs. Truesdale • Is My Face Red? — Morning Gazette Telephone Operator • Make Me a Star — Mrs. Scudder • Roar of the Dragon — Gabby Woman • The Vanishing Frontier — Aunt Sylvia • Blondie of the Follies — Gertie • Back Street — Mrs. Dole • The — Nora Rafferty • Once in a Lifetime — Miss Leyton • Madison Square Garden — Florrie • They Just Had to Get Married — Molly Hull • 1933 — Out All Night — Bunny • Hello, Sister! — Millie • Professional Sweetheart — Elmerada de Leon • Her First Mate — Mary Horner • Love, Honor, and Oh Baby! — Connie Clark • Aggie Appleby, Maker of Men — Sybby 'Sib' • Meet the Baron — ZaSu • Mr. Skitch — Maddie Skitch • 1934 — The Meanest Gal in Town — Tillie Prescott • Two Alone — Esthey Roberts • Three on a Honeymoon — Alice Mudge • Sing and Like It — Annie Snodgrass • Love Birds — Araminta Tootle • Private Scandal — Miss Coates • Dames — Matilda Ounce Hemingway • Their Big Moment — Tillie Whim • Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch — Miss Hazy • The — Mirabelle • 1935 — Ruggles of Red Gap — Prunella Judson • Spring Tonic — Maggie Conklin • Going Highbrow — Mrs. Cora Upshaw • She Gets Her Man — Esmeralda • Hot Tip — Belle McGill • The Affair of Susan — Susan Todd — Alternative title: Alone Together • 1936 — 13 Hours by Air — Miss Harkins • Mad Holiday — Mrs. Kinney • The Plot Thickens — Hildegarde Withers • Sing Me a Love Song — Gwen Logan • 1937 — Wanted! — Winnie Oatfield • Merry Comes to Town — Winnie Oatfield • Forty Naughty Girls — Hildegarde Withers • 52nd Street — Letitia Rondell • 1939 — The — Dulcey Lee • Naughty but Nice — Aunt Penelope Hardwick • Mickey the Kid — Lilly Handy • Nurse Edith Cavell — Mme. Moulin • Eternally Yours — Mrs. Cary Bingham • 1940 — It All Came True — Miss Flint • No, No, Nanette — Pauline Hastings • 1941 — Broadway Limited — Myra • Niagara Falls — Emmy Sawyer • Week-End for Three — Anna • Miss Polly — Miss Pandora Polly • The Mexican Spitfire's Baby — Miss Emily Pepper • Uncle Joe — Julia Jordan - the Widow • 1942 — Mexican Spitfire at Sea — Miss Pepper • The — Geraldine • So's Your Aunt Emma — Aunt Emma Bates — Alternative title: Meet the Mob • Tish — Aggie Pilkington • 1943 — Let's Face It! — Cornelia Figeson • 1946 — Breakfast in Hollywood — Elvira Spriggens • 1947 — Life with Father — Cousin Cora Cartwright • 1950 — Francis — Nurse Valerie Humpert • 1952 — Denver and Rio Grande — Jane Dwyer • 1954 — Francis Joins the WACS — Lt. Valerie Humpert • 1957 — This Could Be the Night — Mrs. Katie Shea - Landlady • 1961 — Teenage Millionaire — Aunt Theodora • 1963 — The — Olivia — Released posthumously; filmed in 1962 • It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World — Gertie - Switchboard Operator — Released posthumously; filmed in 1962; final film role

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1949 — Lum and Abner — Miss Pitts — Episode: "Pilot" • 1954 — The — Miss Preen — Episode: "The Man Who Came to Dinner" • 1954 — The — self — Episode: "Charity Bazaar" • 1955 — Screen Directors Playhouse — Selma — Episode: "The Silent Partner" • 1956 — The — Miss Appleton — Episode: "Mr. Belvedere" • 1956–1960 — The — Elvira Nugent — 91 episodes • 1957 — Private Secretary — Aunt Martha — Episode: "Not Quite Paradise" • 1960 — The — Loretta Kimball — Episode: "Dimples" • 1961 — Guestward, Ho! — Episode: "Lonesome's Gal" • 1962 — Perry Mason — Daphne Whilom — Episode: "The Case of the Absent Artist" • 1963 — Burke's Law — Mrs. Bowie — Episode: "Who Killed Holly Howard?" Posthumous Air Date