Mike Todd Jr.

Michael Henry Todd Jr. (October 8, 1929 – May 5, 2002) was an American film producer. He was involved in innovations such as the movie format Smell-o-vision, and the production of a racially-integrated minstrel show for the 1964 World's Fair.

For other people with the same name, see Michael Todd (disambiguation).
Mike Todd Jr.
In 1958.
Born(1929-10-08)October 8, 1929
Los Angeles, California
DiedMay 5, 2002(2002-05-05) (aged 72)
County Carlow, Ireland
Spouses
Sarah Jane Weaver
​
​
(m. 1953; died 1972)​
    Susan McCarthy
    ​
    (m. 1972)​
    Children8

    Early life

    Todd was born to movie producer and cinema pioneer Mike Todd and his first wife, Bertha Freshman Todd.[1] He was also a stepson of Elizabeth Taylor even though he was older than his famous stepmother through his father's third marriage.[2]

    Career

    Todd was vice president of his father's company, Cinerama, and was responsible for filming the famous roller-coaster scene from the company's debut film, This is Cinerama (1952). He is also known for introducing the short-lived movie format Smell-o-vision, used in the 1960 film Scent of Mystery, which he produced. It was re-released as Holiday in Spain without smells.[3][4]

    External video
    video icon "Mae Barnes, Lola Falana, Louis Gossett Jr, America Be Seated, 1964 World's Fair", Ed Sullivan Show
    video icon "Holiday in Spain (trailer)"

    Following in his father's footsteps of producing attractions for World's Fairs, Todd Jr. produced a racially integrated minstrel show for the 1964 New York World's Fair, called "America, Be Seated". It closed after two performances.[5]

    Personal life and death

    Todd was first married [1953–1972] to Sarah Jane Weaver, and they had six children: Cyrus, Susan, Sarah, Eliza Haselton, Daniel, and Oliver Todd. Later, then married [1972–2002] to Susan McCarthy, Todd had two more children: Del and James.[5]

    In 1983, Todd and his wife Susan McCarthy wrote a biography of Todd Sr. called A Valuable Property: The Life Story of Michael Todd. (ISBN 0-87795-491-7)[5]

    On May 5, 2002, Michael Todd died in Ireland of lung cancer, at the age of 72, with all of his children and his second wife surviving him.[5]

    References
    1. Cohn, Art (November 19, 1958). "The Nine Lives of Michael Todd: A Hustler, He Never Looked Back". Beaver Valley Times. p. 3. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
    2. "Oliver Michael Todd in Conversation with Thomas Hauerslev". In 70 MM. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
    3. Gross, Daniel A. (2017). "The Third Sense". Distillations. 2 (4): 6–7. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
    4. "Scent of Mystery". Institute for Art and Olfaction. 15 August 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
    5. Lewis, Paul (May 8, 2002). "Michael Todd Jr., 72, a Creator Of Smell-o-Vision for Movies". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
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