Fehmer Christy “Chick” Chandler (January 18, 1905 – September 30, 1988) was an American film character actor who appeared in more than 130 films from 1925 through the mid-1950s. Chandler was known for his starring role as Toubo Smith in the Universal-produced 1955 syndicated television series Soldiers of Fortune.
Early life
Born Fehmer Christy Chandler (named after his uncle, well-known architect Carl Fehmer), in Kingston, New York to Colonel George F. Chandler and the former Martha Schultze (a sportswriter and daughter of Boston Symphony Orchestra conductor Carl Schultze), by the age of 12, he was appearing as a dancer and entertainer in local stage shows. His father, an army surgeon and organizer of the New York State Police, enrolled him in a military academy, The Manlius School, which he attended for three years, serving with distinction and rising to the school rank of corporal. At 16, though he was being groomed by his family for a military career, he dropped out to work on a tramp steamer and, later, to pursue work in vaudeville and to study dance at the school of famed choreographer Ned Wayburn.
Career
Chandler maintained a successful career throughout the 1920s as a dancer and comedian in vaudeville and burlesque, at times teamed with Naomi Morton, granddaughter of vaudeville and Broadway star Sam Morton.
In 1930, Chandler, still billed as Fehmer Chandler, joined the cast of the Liberty Bell Filling Station radio show starring Chic Sale, as Rodney Gordon, the assistant to Wheel Wilkins (Sale), proprietor of the titular gas station. Two years later, he landed a role in the Ben Hecht-Gene Fowler Broadway play The Great Magoo. Spotting him there, film producer David O. Selznick signed Chandler, now billed under his boyhood nickname Chick, to a film contract at RKO, telling the press that Chandler was “a cross between Lee Tracy and James Cagney.” Chandler, who had done behind-the-camera work for director Charles Brabin in 1923 and had appeared in at least one silent film as an actor, turned full-time to movie acting with his first films under contract, Sweepings and Melody Cruise, in 1933. He appeared mainly in supporting roles, mostly comic, in nearly 120 films over the next 36 years. In the late 1930s he was a fixture at Twentieth Century-Fox, playing wiseguy sidekicks in the studio’s series films.
Chick Chandler starred in only two films: the 1933 short subject A Preferred List and the 1944 feature film Seven Doors to Death.
Under the pseudonym Guy Fehmer, Chandler wrote a screenplay about racing called The Quitter. There is no evidence the film was ever produced.
Television
In 1955, Chandler was cast in the starring role of Toubo Smith in the adventure series Soldiers of Fortune alongside John Russell as Tim Kelly. In the show, Smith and Kelly traveled the world engaging in treasure hunts, rescues, and exploration adventures. It brought Chandler his greatest fame. During the off-seasons, he toured the country in stock and musical theatrical productions such as Harvey and Annie Get Your Gun.
He was also a regular on the short-lived 1961 NBC comedy series One Happy Family. In the 1959 debut episode of NBC’s Johnny Staccato, he played a police detective who was friends with John Cassavetes’ title character. He also portrayed photographer “Billy Hackett” in the I Love Lucy episode “Ethel’s Hometown”. In 1962 he played Mr. Hodges, the human partner of a performing elephant, in the Mister Ed episode “Wilbur and Ed in Show Biz” (Season 3, Ep. 3), and then John McGivney, a racetrack groom accused of doping, later that same season, in the episode “Horse Talk” (Season 3, Ep. 18). In 1965 he played the old fisherman Andy McGrew in the Lassie episode “Trouble at Paradise Lake” (Season 12, Ep. 7). In 1966 he played Riff Lawler in the Perry Mason “The Case of the Avenging Angel”. He retired in 1971 following a sixth guest appearance on Bonanza.
Personal life
Chandler was a cousin of artist Howard Chandler Christy, but is often referred to in period newspapers articles as Christy’s “nephew” simply because Chandler referred to Christy as “Uncle Howard”.
In February 1925, Chandler became engaged to Ziegfeld Follies performer, beauty contestant winner, and Christy model Dorothy Knapp, whom he had met in Christy’s studio in or around 1922. Knapp broke off the engagement to pursue her career further, and Chandler then became partnered, both privately and professionally, with 17-year-old Sallie Sharon, whom he met at West Point. The pair formed a vaudeville team, but never married. On April 4, 1931, Chandler married Eugenia “Jean” Frontai, a former contract performer with David Belasco’s theatrical company. They were married 57 years, until Chandler’s death from a heart attack on September 30, 1988. (Jean Chandler followed her husband in death [from cancer] the next day in the same hospital, South Coast Medical Center.) The couple had no children.
Chandler had been an avid amateur auto racer, until his wife filed for a restraining order to make him stop as he had promised to do upon their marriage.
Selected filmography
Red Love (1925) as Tom Livingston
Sweepings (1933) as Gene’s Friend (uncredited)
Melody Cruise (1933) as Hickey
Blood Money (1933) as Drury Darling
Harold Teen (1934) as Lilacs
The Party’s Over (1934) as Martin
Lightning Strikes Twice (1934) as Marty Hicks
Murder on a Honeymoon (1935) as Dick French
Circumstantial Evidence (1935) as James Richard ‘Jim’ Baldwin
Alias Mary Dow (1935) as Jimmie Kane
Tango (1936) as Oliver Huston
In Paris, A.W.O.L. (1936) as Eddie
Forgotten Faces (1936) as Chick
Three of a Kind (1936) as Jerry Bassett
Star for a Night (1936) as Eddie
Straight from the Shoulder (1936) as Fly (scenes deleted)
Woman-Wise (1937) as Bob Benton
Off to the Races (1937) as Spike
Time Out for Romance (1937) as Ted Dooley
Nobody’s Baby (1937) as Elevator Operator (uncredited)
Sing and Be Happy (1937) as Mike
Born Reckless (1937) as Windy Bowman
One Mile from Heaven (1937) as Charlie Milford
The Lady Fights Back (1937) as Steve Crowder
Portia on Trial (1937) as Barker
Love and Hisses (1937) as Sidney Hoffman
City Girl (1938) as Mike Harrison
Alexander’s Ragtime Band (1938) as Louie
Speed to Burn (1938) as Sport Fields
Mr. Moto Takes a Chance (1938) as Chick Davis
Time Out for Murder (1938) as Snapper Doolan
While New York Sleeps (1938) as Snapper Doolan
Kentucky (1938) as Betting Parlor Clerk (uncredited)
The Mysterious Miss X (1939) as Dan ‘Scooter’ Casey
Inside Story (1939) as Snapper Doolan
Rose of Washington Square (1939) as Emcee at Theatre (uncredited)
Hotel for Women (1939) as Ben Ritchie
Hollywood Cavalcade (1939) as Assistant Director
Missing Evidence (1939) as Jerry Howard
Too Busy to Work (1939) as Cracker McGurk
Swanee River (1939) as Bones
Honeymoon Deferred (1940) as ‘Hap’ Maguire
Free, Blonde and 21 (1940) as Gus
On Their Own (1940) as Doc Duggan
Pier 13 (1940) as Mickey Martin
So You Won’t Talk (1940) as Lounger (uncredited)
Charter Pilot (1940) as Fred Adams
Ride, Kelly, Ride (1941) as Knuckles
The People vs. Dr. Kildare (1941) as Dan Morton
Blondie in Society (1941) as Cliff Peters
Puddin’ Head (1941) as Herman
Two in a Taxi (1941) as Sid
The Bride Came C.O.D. (1941) as First Reporter
It Started with Eve (1941) as Frank – Reporter (uncredited)
I Wake Up Screaming (1941) as Reporter
Cadet Girl (1941) as Benny Burns
Remember the Day (1941) as Mr. Mason
A Gentleman at Heart (1942) as Louie
Home in Wyomin’ (1942) as ‘Hack’ Hackett
The Big Shot (1942) as Frank ‘Dancer’ Smith
The Magnificent Dope (1942) as Reporter (uncredited)
Baby Face Morgan (1942) as Oliver Harrison
My Sister Eileen (1942) as Air Raid Warden (uncredited)
Youth on Parade (1942) as Eddie Reilly
Springtime in the Rockies (1942) as Stage Manager (uncredited)
My Heart Belongs to Daddy (1942) as Jiggers Johnston (uncredited)
Rhythm Parade (1942) as Speed
He Hired the Boss (1943) as Fuller
Action in the North Atlantic (1943) as Goldberg (uncredited)
Spy Train (1943) as Stew Stewart
Hi Diddle Diddle (1943) as Saunders
The West Side Kid (1943) as Shoelace
Minesweeper (1943) as Seaman ‘Corny’ Welch
Johnny Doesn’t Live Here Any More (1944) as Jack
Seven Doors to Death (1944, starring role) as Jimmy McMillan
Maisie Goes to Reno (1944) as Tommy Cutter
Irish Eyes Are Smiling (1944) as Stage Manager (uncredited)
Leave It to Blondie (1945) as Eddie Baxter
Nob Hill (1945) as Wax Museum Guide (uncredited)
Captain Eddie (1945) as Richard Lacey
The Chicago Kid (1945) as Squeak
Do You Love Me (1946) as Earl Williams (uncredited)
Mother Wore Tights (1947) as Ed (uncredited)
Blondie’s Reward (1948) as Bill Cooper
Music Man (1948) as Sanders
Family Honeymoon (1948) as Taxi driver
Every Girl Should Be Married (1948) as Soda Clerk
Hideout (1949) as Joe Bottomley
The House Across the Street (1949) as Sanlon (uncredited)
Holiday Affair (1949) as New Year’s Celebrant (uncredited)
Key to the City (1950) as Herman – Reporter (uncredited)
The Great Rupert (1950) as Phil Davis
Key to the City (1950) as Herman – Reporter (uncredited)
Curtain Call at Cactus Creek (1950) as Ralph
Bright Leaf (1950) as Tobacco Auctioneer (uncredited)
Wyoming Mail (1950) as Saloon Waiter (uncredited)
Mr. Imperium (1951) as George Hoskins (uncredited)
Show Boat (1951) as Trocadero Stage Assistant (uncredited)
Lost Continent (1951) as Lt. Danny Wilson
Steel Town (1952) as Ernie
Aaron Slick from Punkin Crick (1952) as Pitchman
Private Eyes (1953) as Eddie the Detective
The Eddie Cantor Story (1953) as Lesser (uncredited)
It Should Happen to You (1954) as TV Engineer in Booth (uncredited)
Untamed Heiress (1954) as Eddie Taylor
A Star Is Born (1954) as Man in Car at Diner (uncredited)
There’s No Business Like Show Business (1954) as Harry (uncredited)
3 Ring Circus (1954) as Drop-the-Dip Pitchman (uncredited)
Battle Cry (1955) as Capt. Chaplin (uncredited)
Naked Gun (1956) as Shakey Wilson
Once Upon a Honeymoon (1956) as Wilbur the Angel
The Runaway (1961) as Joe Sullivan – Customs Officer
Dangerous Charter (1962) as Kick
It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) as Policeman Outside Ray & Irwin’s Garage
The Patsy (1964) as Hedda Hopper’s Escort (uncredited)
Nightmare in the Sun (1965) as Bartender
The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1969) as Hunley Cobble
External Links
Actor Chick Chandler – Wikipedia
