EPISODE 19 - “Fallen Angel: The Helen Walker Story” - 01/22/2024

Cast as ALAN LADD’s leading lady in her film debut, Massachusetts-born HELEN WALKER was destined for Hollywood greatness. With her deep voice, coolly blonde good looks, and immense talent, she were perfect for Hollywood of the 1940s. However, her rising star abruptly came crashing to earth after a tragic accident sent her life into a downward spiral of despair and alcoholism. This is a cautionary tale of the dark side of fame. Listen to her compelling and tragic story on this week’s episode. 

SHOW NOTES: 

Sources:

Hollywood’s Hard Luck Ladies (2020), by Laura Wagner

Femme Noir: Bad Girls of Film (2012), by Karen Burroughs Hannesberry

“Biography of Helen Walker,” 1946, 20th Century Fox Studios

“Low Down on Cinderella,” March 1946, by Robbin Coons, Motion Picture Magazine

“Actress Hurt As Car Upset, Killing Soldier,” January 3, 1947, The Los Angeles Times

“Actress Faces $150,000 Suit in Accident,” March 6, 1947, The Los Angeles Daily News

“Helen Walker Faces Trail Over Fatal Crash,” March 26, 1947, Citizen News

“Helen Walker Cleared in Hitchhiker’s Death,” April 4, 1947, The Los Angeles Times

“Louella Parsons In Hollywood,” June 5, 1949, by Louella Parsons, The Los Angeles Examiner

“Helen Walker, Film Actress, Sheds Fur Buyer,” June 9, 1952, The Los Angeles Daily News

“Helen Walker Dies of Cancer at 47,” March 12, 1968, The Los Angeles Times

“Helen Walker Dies on Coast, Film Actress in 40s and 50s, March 12, 1968, The New York Times

“Screen Time: Return to ‘Nightmare Alley’ - The Tumultuous Life of Worcester Starlet Helen Wallker," March 3, 2022, by Craig S. Semon, Worcester Magazine

IMDBPro.com

Wikipedia.com

Stars/Movies Mentioned: 

HELEN WALKER: Lucky Jordan (1942), The Good Fellows (1943), Abroad With Two Yanks (1944), Brewster's Millions (1945), Murder, He Says (1945), Murder In The Music Hall (1946), Cluny Brown (1946), Her Adventurous Night (1946), The Homestretch (1947), Nightmare Alley (1947), Heaven Only Knows (1947), Call Northside 777 (1948), My Dear Secretary (1949), Impact (1949), My True Story (1951), Problem Girls (1953), The Big Combo (1955);

ROBERT F. BLUMOFE: Yours, Mine, and Ours (1968), Bound For Glory (1976); 

H. BRUCE “LUCKY” HUMBERSTONE: Wake Up Screaming (1941), Pin-Up Girl (1944); 

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