Frankie Thomas
Biography: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Frank Marion Thomas Jr. (April 9, 1921 – May 11, 2006), credited as Frankie Thomas, was an American actor, author and bridge-strategy expert who played both lead and supporting roles on Broadway, in films, in post-World War II radio, and in early television. He was best known for his starring role in Tom Corbett, Space Cadet. He was only 11 when he accompanied his mother to a casting office, where he stood in the background while his mother asked about possible openings in new Broadway shows. The agent replied, "I have nothing that suits you, Mona, but I can use the boy." Thomas wound up in a small part in Carry Nation (1932), where Jimmy Stewart was cast as a constable. Thomas appeared in six other Broadway plays between 1932 and 1936, including Little Ol' Boy with Burgess Meredith, Thunder on the Left, Wednesday's Child, The First Legion, Remember the Day, in which he appeared with his father, and Seen But Not Heard. In Wednesday's Child he played the role of Bobby Phillips, the longest stage part ever written for a child performer. Thomas also developed a lifelong fascination with the character of Sherlock Holmes during this period, when he saw William Gillette perform the part during his farewell tour. Thomas's last "A" film was Boys' Town (1938) with Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney. Thomas was Freddy Fuller, Boys' Town's mayor, and was not asked to appear in the sequel, Men of Boys' Town (1941). He then appeared in a string of "B" films such as Little Tough Guys in Society and Nancy Drew... Detective (both 1938), Nancy Drew... Reporter, Code of the Streets, Nancy Drew… Trouble Shooter, The Angels Wash Their Faces, Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase, On Dress Parade and Invisible Stripes (all 1939). In 1941 Thomas had small parts in Flying Cadets and One Foot in Heaven. His last film roles were small roles in Always in My Heart and The Major and the Minor (1942), where he played a military school cadet who flirted with Ginger Rogers' character. After World War II, Thomas moved into television. In the fall of 1950 he became the idol of millions of children when he played the starring role in Tom Corbett, Space Cadet, beginning on CBS and transferring to ABC in January 1951. Thomas had beaten out Jack Lemmon for the part.
Place of Birth: Not available
Birthday: April 09, 1921
Deathday: May 11, 2006
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Known For
Nancy Drew... Reporter
1939-02-18
Nancy Drew... Reporter
Overview: While participating in a contest at a local newspaper in which school children are asked to submit a news story, local attorney Carson Drew's daughter Nancy intercepts a real story assignment. She "covers" the inquest of the death of a woman who was poisoned. Nancy doesn't think the young woman accused of the crime is guilty and corrals her neighbor Ted into searching for a vital piece of evidence and stumbles onto the identity of the real killer.
Genres: Comedy Crime Mystery
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1939-02-18
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Nancy Drew… Detective
1938-11-19
Nancy Drew… Detective
Overview: After a wealthy dowager who has made a substantial donation to her alma mater suddenly disappears, Nancy Drew sets out to solve the mystery.
Genres: Comedy Mystery
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1938-11-19
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Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase
1939-09-09
Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase
Overview: Nancy helps two aging spinsters fulfill the byzantine provisions of their father's will, but the murder of their chauffeur complicates matters.
Genres: Comedy Crime Mystery
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1939-09-09
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Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter
1939-06-17
Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter
Overview: When a close friend of the Drew family is accused of murder in a rural community, Nancy, aided by boyfriend Ted, helps her lawyer father expose the real killers.
Genres: Comedy Mystery
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1939-06-17
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The Major and the Minor
1942-09-16
The Major and the Minor
Overview: Returning to her hometown from New York, Susan Applegate learns that she hasn't enough for the train fare and disguises herself as a twelve-year-old to travel for half the price. She hides from the conductors in the compartment of Major Philip Kirby, a military school instructor, who takes the "child" under his wing.
Genres: Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-09-16
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Always in My Heart
1942-03-14
Always in My Heart
Overview: A man is pardoned from prison and returns to Santa Rita, CA to be with his family, but discovers his children have been told he's dead and his wife is in love with another man.
Genres: Drama Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-03-14
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Angels Wash Their Faces
1939-08-26
Angels Wash Their Faces
Overview: A young man just released from a reformatory moves to a new neighborhood with his sister, intending to start a new life. However, he gets mixed up with the local mob boss and corrupt politicians and soon finds himself being framed for an arson and murder he didn't commit.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1939-08-26
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Wednesday's Child
1934-10-26
Wednesday's Child
Overview: A 10-year-old's happy life is shattered when his parents are divorced.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1934-10-26
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Boys Town
1938-09-08
Boys Town
Overview: Devout but iron-willed Father Flanagan leads a community called Boys Town, a different sort of juvenile detention facility where, instead of being treated as underage criminals, the boys are shepherded into making themselves better people. But hard-nosed petty thief and pool shark Whitey Marsh, the impulsive and violent younger brother of an imprisoned murderer, might be too much for the good father's tough-love system.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1938-09-08
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A Dog of Flanders
1935-03-22
A Dog of Flanders
Overview: Adaptation of Ouida's sentimental classic about a poor Flemish boy (Frankie Thomas) whose ambition is to become a painter.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1935-03-22
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Tim Tyler's Luck
1937-12-27
Tim Tyler's Luck
Overview: A 12-episode serial in which Tim Tyler goes to Africa in search of his father in gorilla country. He meets up with Laura, who is after Spider Webb who has framed her brother. Webb causes the death of Tim's father, but is eventually tracked down.
Genres: Family Adventure
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1937-12-27
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Little Tough Guys in Society
1938-11-01
Little Tough Guys in Society
Overview: A society matron invites the gang to her estate as playmates for her spoiled brat son.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1938-11-01
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Code of the Streets
1939-04-13
Code of the Streets
Overview: Frankie Thomas plays Bob Lewis, leader of a gang consisting of Sailor, Murph, Monk, Trouble and Yap. The son of disgraced police officer Lt. Lewis, Bob vows to clear his dad's name, and also to prove that accused murderer Tommy Shay is innocent.
Genres: Drama Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1939-04-13
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On Dress Parade
1939-11-18
On Dress Parade
Overview: The final feature in the "Dead End Kids" film series finds a youth trying to adjust to life at a military school.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1939-11-18
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Invisible Stripes
1939-12-30
Invisible Stripes
Overview: A gangster is unable to go straight after returning home from prison.
Genres: Crime Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1939-12-30
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Flying Cadets
1941-10-24
Flying Cadets
Overview: Story of test pilots at a school that trains new flyers.
Genres: Action Adventure Drama Romance War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1941-10-24
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One Foot in Heaven
1941-11-01
One Foot in Heaven
Overview: Episodic look at the life of a minister and his family as they move from one parish to another.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1941-11-01
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