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You are here: Home / News - Notes / Warner Baxter Day on TCM – Celebrating Baxter’s March 29 Birthday

Warner Baxter Day on TCM – Celebrating Baxter’s March 29 Birthday

March 29, 2013 By Cliff Aliperti 9 Comments

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Warner Baxter 1934 Wills Famous Film Stars tobacco cardWarner Baxter was born in Columbus, Ohio, March 29, 1889. Young Baxter progressed from office boy to stock company actor to the movies. Silent star Baxter became bigger in the talkies.

He won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 1930 for In Old Arizona (1929) where he became the first actor to play The Cisco Kid.

Towards the end of his career Baxter told journalist Bob Thomas, “It’s a thrill every time a new ‘Kid’ picture comes out. The Oscar I won as the original Cisco Kid has a place of honor in my house.”

In Old Arizona is not part of the 2013 Warner Baxter birthday celebration on Turner Classic Movies.

But never fear, TCM has scheduled a quality day of programming consisting of nine Baxter movies airing between 6:00 am and 7:30 pm EST.

Monday’s movies will be highlighted for most by what has turned out over time to be Baxter’s signature role, Julian Marsh in the classic Depression era musical 42nd Street (1933). A very nice runner-up airs immediately after when Baxter stars opposite Myrna Loy in Penthouse (1933).

The complete TCM schedule of Warner Baxter movies for March 29 follows with additional commentary and a couple of stories below that.

TCM Warner Baxter Birthday Schedule, 2013

Note: US schedule; All times EST

  • 6:00 am – The Squaw Man (1931) starring Warner Baxter, Lupe Velez, Charles Bickford, D: Cecil B. De Mille
  • Warner Baxter 1930s Danmarks Trading Card

  • 8:00 am – The Robin Hood of El Dorado (1936) starring Warner Baxter, Ann Loring, Margo, D: William A. Wellman
  • 9:30 am – 42nd Street (1933) starring Warner Baxter, Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, D: Lloyd Bacon
  • 11:15 am – Penthouse (1933) starring Warner Baxter, Myrna Loy, Charles Butterworth, D: W.S. Van Dyke II
  • 1:00 pm – Adam Had Four Sons (1941) starring Warner Baxter, Ingrid Bergman, Susan Hayward, D: Gregory Ratoff
  • 2:30 pm – Crime Doctor (1943) starring Warner Baxter, Margaret Lindsay, John Litel, D: Michael Gordon
  • 3:45 pm – Just Before Dawn (1946) starring Warner Baxter, Adele Roberts, Mona Barrie, D: William Castle
  • 5:00 pm – The Millerson Case (1947) starring Warner Baxter, Nancy Saunders, Clem Vebans, D: George Archainbaud
  • 6:15 pm – State Penitentiary (1950) starring Warner Baxter, Onslow Stevens, Karin Booth, D: Lew Landers

While not exactly Powell & Loy, it’s worth noting that Penthouse is the second of four movies co-starring Baxter & Loy. Each of those came out between 1930 and 1936.

Myrna Loy and Warner Baxter 1938 Polo L Tobacco Card from Chile

I recommend hanging around after Penthouse for Adam Had Four Sons (1941). I wrote about that one here.

In this space I’ll just say that the casting offers something for everyone with the past and future colliding in its space in 1941: Warner Baxter and Fay Wray are the old pros while Ingrid Bergman and Susan Hayward are the fresher faces. Hayward goes way over the top in a manner I’m sure her fans will love!

After that TCM moves to the original installment of Crime Doctor (1943), which I covered in detail here. This is the first of ten Crime Doctor entries Baxter would star in throughout the 1940s and it is followed by two additional entries that I’ll be catching for the first time: Just Before Dawn (1946) and The Millerson Case (1947).

Warner Baxter Philadelphia Record Newspaper Supplement photo dated August 27 1933

Neither of those two titles aired during TCM’s last Crime Doctor marathon and, unfortunately, they represent two of the three empty slots in my almost complete Crime Doctor Episode Guide.

I guess I’ll have to get on that now.

“It’s a very comfortable way to continue a long career,” Baxter told Thomas of his run as Dr. Robert Ordway. “When you are doing a familiar character, he practically becomes a friend of yours, and more important, a friend of the audience.”

TCM closes out Warner Baxter day by airing his final film, State Penitentiary (1950) at 6:15 pm EST. I know this one will be of interest to Laura of Laura’s Miscellaneous Musings as it’s directed by Lew Landers whose become a fast favorite over there (and over here!).

Seeing Double

Warner Baxter and Frank McGrath

Warner Baxter, left, is pictured with Frank McGrath, right, who is described in a 1938 newspaper caption as Baxter’s, “stand-in, bodyguard and constant companion.”

McGrath had been a movie stunt man, but besides standing in for Warner on the studio sets he also fishes and hunts with the actor. It was a paid gig, but the two were said to be the best of friends.

Stretching my gullibility, Baxter claims that he broke his leg in the mountains of Colorado a few years back and McGrath carried him on his back for four days until they reached help.

Sounds like Bax may be a Lew Landers fan too.

Sidebar: Warner Baxter, Visualizes Success

Warner Baxter reflected on a gloomy period of his career:

Warner Baxter 1933 Allens Trading Card“I visualized as clear and firm a picture as I could of myself, being what I wanted to be in the industry, doing the parts I wanted to do. I thought so hard, believing so intensely, I suddenly knew one day I was going to get what I wanted.”

Then came In Old Arizona.

“I know it sounds foolish,” Baxter said. “It does to me, too. But, when necessary, I still try ‘broadcasting’ those thought-waves and concentrating on the visualization, down to the smallest details, of the things I want.”

Baxter to journalist Relman Morin in 1936, a year he pulled down a salary of $284,384 placing him in the top ten of Hollywood earners.

Wonder if he had Napoleon Hill on his bookshelf?

Sources

  • Morin, Relman. “Baxter Prepares Thought-Waves To Aid His Career.” The Milwaukee Sentinel 28 Feb 1936: 20. Google News. Web. 28 Mar 2013.
  • Thomas, Bob. “Warner Baxter Has Long, Happy Career.” The Tuscaloosa 4 May 1949: 10. Google News. Web. 28 Mar 2013.
  • “Which Is Warner Baxter, Actor?” The Milwaukee Journal 3 Oct 1938: 1. Google News. Web. 28 Mar 2013.

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Filed Under: News - Notes Tagged With: schedules, TCM, Turner Classic Movies, Warner Baxter

← Edward Everett Horton 2013 Birthday Celebration on TCM April 2013 TCM Preview – A Look Inside My Now Playing Guide →

About Cliff

I write about old movies and movie stars from the 1920s to the 1950s. I also sell movie cards, still photos and other ephemera. Immortal Ephemera connects the stories with the collectibles. Read More…



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Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    March 29, 2013 at 12:09 pm

    Cliff, I admit I liked the CRIME DOCTOR movies before I ever saw IN OLD ARIZONA or 42nd STREET, but this morning I caught up with the latter, so there’s hope for me! Also, a great many people I’ve known have achieved their goals in part from picturing their goals and dreams; sure can’t hurt, right? Excellent article, as always!

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    • Cliff Aliperti says

      March 29, 2013 at 12:57 pm

      I’ll admit I was a little scared when I saw the headline of that story reference Baxter using “thought-waves,” but it turned out okay! Yup, I do the same, even if I’ve yet to earn a salary like Bax did!

      Hope you caught PENTHOUSE too, really good one!

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  2. Laura says

    March 31, 2013 at 7:33 pm

    Just a note to say I got a kick out of your mention — thank you! — and I’m really looking forward to checking out my recording of STATE PENITENTIARY! 🙂 🙂

    Great overview on the recent Warner Baxter day. He’s an actor for whom I’ve gained an appreciation on the last couple years. I haven’t seen a single CRIME DOCTOR film yet, but I’m hoarding a stash of them (grin) and really look forward to catching up on those too!

    Best wishes,
    Laura

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    • Cliff Aliperti says

      April 1, 2013 at 1:35 pm

      Thanks, Laura! I’ve got to watch STATE PENITENTIARY yet myself, hoping he doesn’t look too shaky.

      Knowing your love for B’s I really think you’re going to have a nice week or so with the CRIME DOCTOR once you get to him! The first one will remind you of THE MAN WHO LIVED TWICE (1936) if you’ve caught that one.

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      • Laura says

        April 1, 2013 at 5:08 pm

        I haven’t seen THE MAN WHO LIVED TWICE yet either, just looked it up on IMDb and made a note to keep a lookout for it. Thanks!

        I have a feeling I’m gonna like the CRIME DOCTOR movies. 🙂 I have just one FALCON film left in my stash, then need to buy the new Archive Falcon Vol. 2 set to see the last couple. Hoping to start in on either BOSTON BLACKIE or CRIME DOCTOR soon. I find these series movies are especially nice when I wrap up work in the late evening — not too demanding if I’m tired plus they’re short enough for me to fit in before I go to bed!

        Best wishes,
        Laura

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        • Cliff Aliperti says

          April 1, 2013 at 5:39 pm

          Laura,

          CRIME DOCTOR is a bit darker than BOSTON BLACKIE or THE LONE WOLF. Closer to THE WHISTLER in mood and tone. I haven’t done THE FALCON yet so I can’t compare that series at this time.

          Cliff

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          • Laura says

            April 2, 2013 at 5:36 pm

            I appreciate the CRIME DOCTOR feedback, that’s interesting. I started BOSTON BLACKIE late last night, I had it by the TV and was inspired by the discussion of series movies. 🙂 Really loved it and thought Chester Morris was especially good. His light attitude reminded me a little of bits of CASTLE I’ve seen when my kids watch it. Hope to finish up later today.

            I’ll be interested to know what you think of the FALCON series when you get to it!

            Best wishes,
            Laura

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  3. Judy says

    April 10, 2013 at 3:35 am

    Cliff, I’m somewhat belated in catching up with this posting, but, as a fan of Warner Baxter, really enjoyed your piece and the pictures you chose – that one with his stand-in is just uncanny. I wish we had been treated to this day of programming in the UK! I do love ‘Penthouse’ and would like to see the other films he made with Loy. I am also a big fan of ‘The Robin Hood of El Dorado’, and ’42nd Street’ is one of my favourites out of the (too-few) Baxter films I’ve seen so far, though I do also love ‘The Road to Glory’ and ‘The Prisoner of Shark Island’.

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    • Cliff Aliperti says

      April 10, 2013 at 5:14 pm

      Count me as a fan of The Prisoner of Shark Island, one I really need to pick up so I can watch again soon. He’s also good in another couple I don’t think we’ve mentioned yet, Slave Ship (1937) and Kidnapped (1938), the latter with Freddie Bartholomew.

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