Jack Holt and His Pastel Drawers

Jack Holt (May 31, 1888 – January 18, 1951) was a man's man in Hollywood. His career lasted through both silent films and talkies, mostly Westerns, up to his death in 1951.

Jack , a native New Yorker and son on an Episcopalian minister, who was expelled from Virginia Military Academy for bad behavior. He had aspirations of being a lawyer, but ended up traveling the country doing just about everything. He mined gold in Alaska, rode cattle, delivered mail, worked on the railroad, and was a civil engineer.

Author Zane Grey with Jack Holt

While employed as a surveyor in San Francisco in 1914, he got his big break into pictures. He offered to ride a horse off a cliff for a stunt, because no one else would do it. The director was so glad, he gave him a part in the film - and Jack Holt, actor was born.

Some Fun Facts About Jack:

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  His children Tim Holt and Jennifer Holt followed in his footsteps, making mostly westerns. Tim became quite a bit more famous than his father.


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  Chester Gould based the drawing of Dick Tracy on Jack Holt, particularly his granite jaw


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  Jack Holt was Al Capp's favorite actor and he drew his bumbling detective character Fearless Fosdick after Jack.


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  Became a life member of the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of California on July 13, 1928 based on his direct descent from Capt. John Marshall, 1700-1795. His General Society membership number was 7810 and his California Society membership number was 364.
• He was Margaret Mitchell's choice to play Rhett Butler in Gone With The Wind
  

Jack Holt and Norma Shearer

Sylvia gave Jack Holt facials quite regularly. She did not comment on anything about him, except that he preferred being naked, except for his silk purple drawers while getting his facial. Not quite what I expect from a macho western star.

Catch Jack in action in this flick

Next up - Why did Neil Hamilton freak out when Sylvia arrived on his doorstep?