“Otay!” The Billy “Buckwheat” Thomas Story

This forum is nearly identical to the previous forum. The difference? Discussions about comedy from the SOUND era.
Bruce Calvert
Associate
Posts: 149
Joined: Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:26 pm
Location: Plano, TX USA
Contact:

“Otay!” The Billy “Buckwheat” Thomas Story

Postby Bruce Calvert » Tue Jan 26, 2010 12:02 am

“Otay!”
The Billy “Buckwheat” Thomas Story

William Thomas, the man known as “Buckwheat,” one of the most beloved characters in the history of the Our Gang and Little Rascals films, rose from obscurity to become an American icon. Billy’s heritage grew to be more than the ninety-three comedies in which he appeared as Buckwheat. He was a husband, father, and soldier. Several generations have come to know Buckwheat as if he was a real person, but few knew Billy, the man behind the myth.

In “Otay!” The Billy “Buckwheat” Thomas Story, William Thomas, Jr., Billy’s son, joins with acclaimed author David W. Menefee to brush back the sands of time and unearth the facts beneath the fable. For the first time, the true story is told how producer Hal Roach, Sr. plucked three-year-old Billy from hundreds of children and raised him on a pedestal before an adoring public. For a decade, Billy was the most prominent Black American in motion pictures, but World War Two brought an end to the famous comedy series and a halt to his film career. Billy went on to live a private, nearly normal life, married, fathered an adorable child, and then answered the call to arms and enlisted in the US Army during the Korean War. Years later, imposters attempted to steal his limelight, but Billy forgave the offense with his characteristic, childlike good humor.

In an era when most Black American actors were struggling to gain a foothold in Hollywood, Billy achieved a lasting legacy. Enjoy the timeless tale of a baby superstar, who once shown brightly on movie screens during Hollywood’s “Golden Years” and still fascinates audiences today.

David W. Menefee is the author of:
Sarah Bernhardt in the Theater of Films and Sound Recordings (Mcfarland 2003)
The First Female Stars: Women of the Silent Era (Greenwood/Praeger 2004)
The First Male Stars: Men of the Silent Era (BearManor Media 2007)
Richard Barthelmess: A Life in Pictures (BearManor Media 2009)
George O’Brien: A Man’s Man in Hollywood (BearManor Media 2010)
“Wally” The True Wallace Reid Story (BearManor Media 2010)


Published exclusively by BearManor Media
For more information, contact Ben Ohmart at books(at)benohmart.com
www.bearmanormedia.com

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 37 guests