Last week it was 56 years since showman and producer MIKE TODD (1909-1958) was killed in a plane crash and buried here at Beth Aaron Cemetery, part of Jewish Waldheim in Forest Park. Historically Jews were not allowed to be buried in Chicago but out here, outside the city limits. His parents were Polish immigrants. Todd was married to actress Joan Blondell during the 40s but married Elizabeth Taylor in the 50s. He was 47 and she was 24--younger than Todds son. He was the 3rd of Taylors husband--and the only one she did not divorce. He died in a crash of his plane named Lucky Liz. He had produced the Oscar-winning Best Picture of 1956, Around the World in 80 Days. In the 50s he acquired the Harris & Selwyn Theaters in the Loop where he showcased his new widescreen Todd-AO process. (The facades of these two theaters survive as part of the Goodman complex.) It was rumored that Liz Taylor had Todds $100,000 ring buried with him; in June 1977 grave robbers dug up his remains. They were reburied with a new marker indicating his original name: Avrom Hirsch Goldbogen. Reportedly Taylor came back to Forest Park a lot over the years to pay tribute at Todds gravesite.
Posted on: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 14:20:18 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015