Friday, January 06, 2012

Cocaine Fiends (or The Pace that Kills)

A few days ago, I was taking my kids to the library and while they were looking for books, I took a quick browse through the video section.  As I was scanning the new titles, one caught my eye.  It was a compilation of three films from the 1930s:  Reefer Madness, Cocaine Fiends, and Sex Madness.  These were cautionary tale B Movies, mostly forgotten, but I guess now developing "cult classic" status.


When I was a child, my grandparents lived in the Toluca Lake area of North Hollywood about a block away from Bob Hope and a bunch of other stars.  I once jokingly asked my grandmother (the one in the skiing picture from yesterday's post) if she had ever wanted to be in the pictures and I was surprised by her reply.  She told me that my Uncle Dean (actually great-uncle), her older brother, was a B Movie actor when he was younger.  As surprising as this was to me, she said that one day she was on a movie lot with him and when he was away, some fellow was looking for additional people for a scene.  He turned to her and said, "Hey, you'll do just fine, come with me and we'll put you in this picture."  They were about to film when Dean spotted her and said, "Say, that's my little sister, you can't use her, go get someone else." So she was pulled off and some other girl put in her place.  She told me she resented her older brother for quite some time as she imagined that her appearance would have been her big break.


Dean did several more films in the 1930s and was a bit actor through the mid-1940s.  A few years ago, I searched his name on the Internet Movie Database and I was surprised to find that he was one of the lead parts in a movie called the Cocaine Fiends.


I haven't really hunted for the movie, but the title certainly is memorable, so I was quite surprised to see it on the library shelf.

Dean as Eddie Bradford

Dean plays the part of a waiter at a drive-in restaurant.  He is convinced by a co-worker named Fanny to go enjoy a night with her in the big city.  Unfortunately, the allurements of the city life are too much and Eddie and Fanny become unemployed dope addicts.  Fanny eventually ends up pregnant and walking the streets looking for money.

Eddie and Fanny enjoying a night on the town

Can't say I recommend the movie, but it was fun seeing a youthful Uncle Dean.

[Dean Benton was the third son of Jessie Burrows Benton (from the post card collection)].


23 comments:

recumbent conspiracy theorist said...

Nate your Uncle Dean looks alot like your profile picture!

Great story.

Anonymous said...

Did you notice he wrote three songs (lyrics and music) for the previous movie The Shadow of Silk Lennox (1935). You can watch it online at

http://www.archive.org/details/TheShadowofSilkLennox

(I didn't get a chance to listen to the music since I am at work now).

Nate Maas said...

Rob, thanks, I overlooked that! I'll have to check it out.

Anonymous said...

Tonight I watched The Shadow of Silk Lennox . It's not a very good movie, except for your great-uncle. He can act, he looks handsome, and he can sing!

Top 7 Packers and Movers said...

Check qualifications, credentials of all organizations on your own.Movers and Packers in Amritsar
Packers and Movers in jalandhar
Packers and Movers in Chandigarh
Packers and Movers in Jalandhar
Packers and Movers in Mohali
Movers and Packers in Panchkula
Packers and Movers in Pinjore

Top 7 Packers and Movers said...

Packers and Movers in Abohar
Packers and Movers in Ahmedgarh
Packers and Movers in Ambala
Packers and Movers in Baddi
Packers and Movers in Banga
Packers and Movers in Barnala
Packers and Movers in Batala
Packers and Movers in Bhatinda
Packers and Movers in Bhiwani
Packers and Movers in Dasuya
Packers and Movers in Faridkot
Packers and Movers in Firozpur
Packers and Movers in Gurdaspur
Packers and Movers in Hisar
Packers and Movers in Jagraon

Unknown said...

Birthday Quotes

sksaini446@gmail.com said...

Father's Day Card Messages From Daughter in Law

Happy Father’s Day Quotes, Messages, Sayings & Cards 2016:Best Quotes, Messages, Sayings & Poems for Father’s Day 2016

Father's Day Gifts Idea 2016

Father's Day Poem 2016

Cute Fathers Day Sayings From Daughter and Son

Suhail Alam said...

Happy Easter Day 2017
Happy Easter Sms Wishes 2017
Happy Easter message 2017
Happy Easter poems 2017
Good Friday image 2017
Happy Passover day 2017
Happy Passover text sms2017
Happy Fathers Day image 2017


noreply said...

www.mothersdaysgifti¬deas.com
Happy Mothers Day 2017
mother’s day gift ideas
mother’s day pictures
mother’s day greeting
mother’s day roses
mother’s day message
mother’s day gift ideas
mother’s day quotation

noreply said...

mothers day poem
mothers day hd image
mothers day best gifts
Memorial day poetry
Memorial day cliparts
Memorial day 2017
Ramadan 2017
teachers day 2017
teachers day Gift ideas

noreply said...

memorial day images
Mother’s day Images
Mother’s day Poem
Tomorrowland Lineup 2017
Mothers day surprise ideas
mothers day craft ideas
mothers day songs
mothers day quotes and sayings
mothers day gif

Suhail Alam said...

Happy Mothers day 2017 poems
Happy Mothers day 2017
Happy Mothers day Message from daughter
Happy Mothers day sms wishes
Happy Mothers day quotes saying
Happy Mothers day greeting cards
Happy Mothers day Picture Image

Suhail Alam said...

Happy Mothers day poems and songs
Happy Mothers day animated gif image
Happy Mothers day lyrics songs
Best Mothers day Present Ideas gift ideas
Mothers day wishing message quotes sms
Mothers day craft 2017
Mothers day whatsapp status 2017
Mothers day image & Wallpaper 2017

Suhail Alam said...

Happy Ramadan Mubarak 2017
Happy Ramadan message 2017
Ramadan Mubarak Image 2017
Ramadan Mubarak Message in urdu hindi english
Ramadan Mubarak image Wallpaper 2017
Ramadan sms wishes 2017
Ramadan status for whatsapp facebook

Sarah Saad said...


دار السلام اهم شركة نقل عفش بالطائف وكذلك اهم شركة نقل عفش بمكة وجدة والمدينة المنورة تقوم الشركة بنقل العفش بحفر الباطن وتبوك وجازان وتقوم بنقل الاثاث بالقصيم
شركة نقل عفش بالطائف
شركة نقل عفش بالمدينة المنورة

Sarah Saad said...

شركة نقل عفش بجازان وابها
شركة نقل عفش بجدة
شركة نقل عفش بالقصيم

Unknown said...

best surveillance equipments in delhi
cctv camera surveillance in delhi
cctv installation companies in delhi
best home security systems in delhi

Prometheas Tech said...

prometheastech web design

sehatwanita said...

This information is very useful. thank you for sharing. and I will also share information about health through the website

Cara Mengobati Epilepsi
Cara Mengobati Gusi Bengkak
Cara Menghilangkan Varises
Cara Membersihkan flek paru
Obat Penyakit kulit Eksim
Obat Penghilang Stretch mark
Cara Mengobati Sinusitis

Dave Benjamin said...

Do Follow New Blog Post on the New Current Running Shows
American Idol 2019 Winner Predictions
American Idol 2019 who will win Predictions
Who Won American Idol 2019
American Idol 2019 Winner Predictions
American Idol 2019 who will win Predictions
Who Won American Idol 2019
The Voice 2019 Winner Spoiler
American Idol 2019 Winner Spoiler
World of Dance 2019 Spoiler
The Voice 2019 Winner Predictions
who won The Voice 2019
The Voice 2019 Winner Name
The Voice 2019 Winner Predictions
who won The Voice 2019
The Voice 2019 Winner Name

Dale Morris said...

Norton customer support number
McAfee helpline number
Malwarebytes phone number
Hp printer support chat
Canon printer support help

Carpet Bright UK said...

Nice Blog. Thanks dear for sharing this interesting information with us and put your thoughts in this blog.
Best Happy Diwali Wishes and Quotes From GreetingsMag
Best Happy Diwali Quotes & Wishes
Best Diwali Wishes Whats app Status
Diwali Quotes 2019 For Friends and Family
Happy Diwali Wishes & Quotes Images
Diwali 2019 Greeting Cards For Family & Friends
Subh Deepawali 2019 Wishes Hindi
Happy Diwali Best Wishes