This week’s mystery movie has been the 1934 Universal picture “Imitation of Life,” with Claudette Colbert, Warren William, Rochelle Hudson, Ned Sparks, Louise Beavers, Fredi Washington, Baby Jane, Alan Hale, Henry Armetta and Wyndham Standing. The film was directed by John M. Stahl, with a screenplay by William Hurlbut, adapted from the novel by Fannie Hurst. It was produced by Carl Laemmle Jr.
Writing in the Nov. 24, 1934, New York Times, Andre Sennwald said:
Since a candid examination of Fannie Hurst’s “Imitation of Life” will only force this unpleasant department to label it the most shameless tearjerker of the Fall, let us proceed to an objective report on the latest of the cinemized social histories of America’s favorite philosopher. “Imitation of Life” is a dignified and sober dramatic chronicle which proceeds on its earnest way for almost two hours.
Edwin Schallert of the Los Angeles Times wrote (Nov. 28, 1934):
“Imitation of Life” is a screen victory that may well fling glory to its personnel, especially those who have contrived behind the screen to bring it to the screen…. There was sufficient testimony of tears last night to provie that “Imitation of Life” will be the joy of its women audiences.”
I picked “Imitation of Life” as this week’s film because my friend Farran Smith Nehme has an article about Carl Laemmle Jr. in Film Comment.
And for Monday, we have a very young mystery guest.
Update: This is Baby Jane in the original credits, Juanita Quigley in IMDB.
And for Tuesday, we have this mystery gentleman.
Update: This is Henry Armetta.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and mystery tot), Tim Doherty (mystery tot), Jenny M. (mystery tot), Anne Papineau (mystery tot, wrong movie), Mike Hawks (mystery movie, mystery tot), Sally Stark (mystery movie, mystery tot), LC (mystery movie, mystery tot), Susan Slutzky (mystery tot) and Dan Nather (mystery tot).
For Wednesday, we have a mystery woman.
Update: This is Hazel Washington.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests, wrong movie), Anne Papineau (mystery movie, Tuesday’s mystery guest), Howard Mandelbaum (Tuesday’s mystery guest), Mike Hawks (Tuesday’s mystery guest), Pat in Michigan (mystery movie and Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests), Jenny M. (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery guest), Patrick (mystery movie and Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests), Gary Martin (mystery movie and Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests), Dewey Webb (Monday’s mystery guest), Bruce (Tuesday’s mystery guest), Dan Nather (mystery movie and Tuesday’s mystery guest) and Sheila (mystery movie and Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests).
For Thursday, we have a mystery cashier.
Update: This is Fredi Washington.
Or perhaps she is a mystery record producer.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mystery woman), Dewey Webb (mystery movie, wrong mystery guest), Anne Papineau (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Jenny M. (Wednesday’s mystery guest), David Inman (mystery movie and mystery guests), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Don Danard (Tuesday’s mystery guest), Bob Hansen (Tuesday’s mystery guest), Candy Cassell (Tuesday’s mystery guest) and Susan Slutzky (Tuesday’s mystery guest).
And for Friday, our mystery guests are serving pancakes.
Update: This is Louise Beavers and Claudette Colbert.
Brain Trust roll call: Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery woman), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery woman), Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery woman), Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery woman), Jenny M. (Thursday’s mystery woman), Chrisbo (mystery movie, mystery guests), Bob Hansen (mystery movie, Thursday’s mystery woman) and Dan Nather (Wednesday’s mystery woman, wrong mystery daughter).
ladailymirror.com 
Mitzi Green?
LikeLike
Alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
Juanita Quigley in IMITATION OF LIFE.
LikeLike
Is Monday’s guest Baby Peggy aka Diana Serra Cary?
LikeLike
Alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
Rita Quigley?
LikeLike
Cora Sue Collins
LikeLike
Alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
Another possibility is Juanita Quigley.
LikeLike
Juanita Quigley in “Born to Dance”?
LikeLike
Juanita Quigley in IMITATION OF LIFE 1934.
LikeLike
The little girl looks like Juanita Quigley, from the 1934 IMITATION OF LIFE. ” I want my Quack-quack!”
LikeLike
Juanita Quigley, IMITATION OF LIFE (1934)
LikeLike
Juanita Quigley, from IMITATION OF LIFE (1934)?
LikeLike
Juanita Quigley in Imitation of Life 1934.
LikeLike
Darla Hood? Jane Withers? Both too obvious for a Monday?
LikeLike
Alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
Juanita Quigley
LikeLike
Is it Sybil Jason?
LikeLike
Alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
Sybil Jason?
LikeLike
Alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
Juanita Quigley?
LikeLike
Henry Armetta today.
LikeLike
Juanita Quigley and STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART.
LikeLike
Henry Armetta, Imitation of Life
LikeLike
Henry Armetta.
LikeLike
Henry Armetta adds some humor to the proceedings.
LikeLike
Monday’s guest is Juanita Quigley, and the film is the 1934 version of “Imitation of Life”.
LikeLike
Tuesday’s guest is Henry Armetta.
LikeLike
Henry Armetta in Imitation of Life (1934).
LikeLike
Juanita Quigley on Monday and Henry Armetta on Tuesday in Imitation of Life from 1934.
LikeLike
Akim Tamiroff?
LikeLike
Alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
When I went to google to verify that this is Henry Armetta, a former mystery guest, it showed me as well a photograph of Juanita Quigley and said that they had appeared together in Imitation of Life. Is that true?
LikeLike
Quigley was early on billed as Baby Jane. Does that ring any bells?
LikeLike
Juanita Quigley
could there be worse name
LikeLike
Tuesday looks like Henry Armetta to me, but that’s too easy for Tuesday, right?
LikeLike
Henry Armetta for Tuesday, and I’m betting the movie is IMITATION OF LIFE (1934).
LikeLike
Juanita Quigley and Henry Armetta, ‘Imitation of Life’.
LikeLike
Imitation of Life.
LikeLike
Hazel Washington
LikeLike
I am getting an Imitation Of Life vibe here, If it is, one of strangest endings in film history. Kid in bathtub playing with rubber duck says Quack quack while star chortles in background. But I digress. Fredi Washington?
LikeLike
Hazel Washington on Wednesday?
LikeLike
Hazel Washington
LikeLike
That staircase is the tipoff to me — is this “Imitation of Life” circa 1934? If so, that would make Monday’s guest Baby Jane, Tuesday’s Henry Armetta and Wednesday’s — ummm ….
LikeLike
Hazel Washington
LikeLike
The mystery gentleman is Henry Armetta.
LikeLike
Is Tuesday’s guy Henry Armetta?
LikeLike
I think Tuesday´s mystery gentleman is the same actor who played ¨Tony the organ grinder¨ who rescued Shirley Temple´s character in ¨Poor Little Rich Girl.¨ The mystery lady today could then be a maid in Shirley´s wealthy household. I cannot place Monday´s tot in my recollections of the storyline unless she is one of Tony´s children. I guess I will know if Alice Faye and Jack Haley appear in their spangled costumes tomorrow.
LikeLike
Is the mystery gent Henry Armetta?
LikeLike
Fredi Washington.
LikeLike
Fredi Washington.
LikeLike
Fredi Washington staffing the cigar stand.
LikeLike
It froze as I was trying to send. Fred Washington yesterday and since I probably can’t see this tomorrow, Claudette Colbert and Warren William on Friday.
LikeLike
Fredi Washington
LikeLike
I knew these images looked familiar! Imitation of Life. Juanita (Baby Jane) Quigley, Henry Armetta, Fredi Washington.
LikeLike
Look at those cigars in the case below our mystery lady! Probably all Cubans (pre-embargo).
LikeLike
Thursday’s young lady is Fredi Washington as Peola, and now I know that the movie is Imitation of Life, from 1934. It stars Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers.
LikeLike
I’m guessing Hazel Washington for Wednesday, and Rochelle Hudson today.
LikeLike
Louise Beavers and Claudette Colbert in IMITATION OF LIFE (1934). Also stars the elusive Fredi Washington.
LikeLike
Friday Claudette Colbert leans on the counter dreaming of the perfect pancake.
LikeLike
Louise Beavers and Claudette Colbert.
LikeLike
Claudette Colbert on Friday
LikeLike
Louise and Claudette flipping cakes on the Boardwalk in A.C.
LikeLike
The movie is 1934’s “Imitation of Life” with Claudette Colbert and Louise Beavers, and the other mystery guests: Juanita Quigley, Fredi Washington, Henry Armetta. Not sure who Wednesday’s mystery woman is.
LikeLike
Ah, the original ¨Imitation of Life¨ from the 1930´s. Our mystery ladies are Louise Beavers as Delilah, creator of delicious pancakes (¨bottle it¨), and Claudette Colbert as her boss. Lovely movie though I didn´t like either of the performances of the daughters in the movie. (I prefer Sandra Dee and John Gavin as the love interest better from the 1950´s version.)
LikeLike
And our stars Louise Beavers and Claudette Colbert today. And was that Fredi Washington on Thursday? Oh well, guess I’ll know tomorrow . . .
LikeLike
Imitation of Life. Claudette Colbert & Louise Beavers.
LikeLike