Figure 1.--Ted Donaldson is seen here in "Adventurey with Rusty". Note that he wears his bennie with the rim turned down, a very unusual way to wear it.
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Figure 1.--Ted Donaldson is seen here in "Adventurey with Rusty". Note that he wears his bennie with the rim turned down, a very unusual way to wear it. |
Ted Donaldson was a recognized Hollywood child star during the 1940s, but is today little recognized. Ted was born in New York City on August 20, 1933 at the height of the Depression. His show business career began when he was 4 years old in 1937 on the popular media at the time--radio. He then moved on to stage productions when he was 7 years old. He was signed to a Columbia Pictures contract in 1944. His first film appearance was a role in the Edward G. Robinson film Mr. Winkle Goes to War. He impressed the studio and was given an important role a major Columbia film, the comedy-fantasy Once Upon a Time (1944), even sharing billing with two established sates--Cary Grant and Janet Blair. His performance in the film was noted and he received the Critics Choice award. He was also named one of the top ten child performers of 1944. This was followed by a series of important child roles. Some of the films, especailly A Tree Grows in Brooklyn were highly regarded. He was especially well know for the "Rusty" B-films in which he played the all American kid, normally appearing in striped "t"-shirts, jeans, and tennis shoes. Like many child stars, his career declined after 1949 when he could no longer play boyish roles. Some of his other films included: Mr. Winkle Goes to War (1944), A Guy, a Gal, and a Pal (1945), A Tree Grows In Brooklyn (1945), Adventures of Rusty (1945), Personality Kid (1946),
The Red Stallion (1947), For the Love of Rusty (1947), Rusty Leads the Wau (1948), My Dog Rusty (1948),The Decision of Christopher Blake (1948), Rusty's Bithday (1949), Rusty Saves a Life (1949), Green Promise (1949), and Phone Call From A Stranger (1952).
Ted Donaldson was a recognized Hollywood child star during the 1940s, but is today little recognized. Ted was born in New York City on August 20, 1933 at the height of the Depression.
His show business career began when he was 4 years old in 1937 on the popular media at the time--radio. He then moved on to stage productions when he was 7 years old.
He was signed to a Columbia Pictures contract in 1944. His first film appearance was a role in the Edward G. Robinson film Mr. Winkle Goes to War.
He impressed the studio and was given an important role a major Columbia film, the comedy-fantasy Once Upon a Time (1944), even sharing billing with two established sates--Cary Grant and Janet Blair. His performance in the film was noted and he received the Critics Choice award. He was also named one of the top ten child performers of 1944. This was followed by a series of important child roles.
Some of the films, especailly A Tree Grows in Brooklyn were highly regarded. Colombia loaned Ted to 20th Century-Fox where he played Neeley Nolan in
this Oscar-nominated film.
He was especially well know for the "Rusty" B-films in which he played the all American kid, normally appearing in striped "t"-shirts, jeans, and tennis shoes. Ted of course played Danny Mitchell. Rusty was his dog. Colombia beginning in 1945 made six of these films. The classic boy and his dog theme seemed a sure winner. The films, however, did not prove especially popular at the box office and are little remembered today. Interestingly, these films are raely shown on the various cable old moviews channels.
Ted played the role of Joel Curtis.
Ted played the title role in The Decision of Christopher Blake.
We note Ted doing some public service work for both the Boys' Clubs and Easter Seals.
Ted made about 15 films. Thise films included: Mr. Winkle Goes to War (1944), Once Upon a Time (1944), A Guy, a Gal, and a Pal (1945), A Tree Grows In Brooklyn (1945), Adventures of Rusty (1945), Personality Kid (1946),
The Red Stallion (1947), For the Love of Rusty (1947), Rusty Leads the War (1948), My Dog Rusty (1948),The Decision of Christopher Blake (1948), Rusty's Birthday (1949), Rusty Saves a Life (1949), Green Promise (1949), and Phone Call From A Stranger (1952).
Like many child stars, his career declined after 1949 when he could no longer play boyish roles. He was unavble to make the transitioin to adult roles. He played a coming of age role in Fox's Phone Call From a Strange (1952). The disappointed Donaldson retired from the movie industry.
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