Wheezer

[mtw12055]

Does anyone recall the source of Wheezer being "starved"? I swore it was in the Maltin/Bann book, but all they say is that he was allegedly "ill-treated by one of his parents in an attempt to keep him from outgrowing his role."

So, did someone come to the conclusion of starvation from that statement, or was starvation specifically mentioned elsewhere? I guess that does sound like the most logical word to fit the description. I'm not sure - nor do I think I want to know - what other measures could be taken to keep someone from outgrowing their role.

[silentfilmsseeker]

I think that belief is hogwash. His parents were pretty religious, even had Wheezer and siblings in a religion run school in Tacoma. Perhaps his parents didnt want him to eat the food provided by the on set catering which is why someone may have come up with him being "purposely" starved? But after having a now 4yo boy of my own, I fully know how picky little ones can be. My boy won't eat most food so to an outsider it may seem abnormal. His weight is perfectly fine though. And to me, Wheezer looked like a healthy boy.
Ive been working on a Hal Roach, etc documentary for the last couple years and have spent A LOT of time researching more about Wheezer, and can say there are a few wrong things circulating about him online. Even about his death. A "detective" recently put out a Youtube video about it which I cant wait to debunk! The "detective" said his death didnt make the front page news, when I have a newspaper copy showing otherwise. He also claimed, and others saying online, that the accident was Wheezers fault, but it wasnt. I will go into more details about the accident, and other things about his life more publicly known soon (if im not able to include it in my documentary).

[dchord568]

May 17, 2021 0:55:54 GMT -5 silentfilmsseeker said:

I think that belief is hogwash. His parents were pretty religious, even had Wheezer and siblings in a religion run school in Tacoma.

Just a general observation: given the many examples we have of the lengths some religious fanatics will go to, Wheezer's parents being "pretty religious" does not, in my mind, automatically make it less likely that they ill-treated their son. It could just as easily have gone in the opposite direction.

I look forward to the results of your in-depth research into his life. I hope you'll find some definitive answers.

[myhomeo]

From what little I've read, Bobby Hutchins' father was determined to turn his son into a movie star and reportedly tried to stunt his growth in some manner to keep him from aging out of the Gang.
I'm guessing this is where the starvation rumors came from.

[smiles]

Jun 21, 2021 18:28:56 GMT -5 myhomeo said:

From what little I've read, Bobby Hutchins' father was determined to turn his son into a movie star and reportedly tried to stunt his growth in some manner to keep him from aging out of the Gang.
I'm guessing this is where the starvation rumors came from.

This originally appeared in Screenland (Oct 1929). Sounds like James Hutchins had some issues with his kid being the breadwinner.