Best known as the co-writer of the 1958 horror classic The Blob, Kay Linaker passed away last Friday at the age of 94. Prior to her 1945 marriage, Linaker was also an actress during the 1930s and '40s, appearing alongside Henry Fonda in Young Mr. Lincoln (1939) and Drums Along the Mohawk (1939), as well as playing a bit role in The Invisible Woman (1940), the third film in Universal's Invisible Man series. She also starred in eight Charlie Chan pictures, playing a different character in each one.After retiring from acting, she became a screenwriter, working mainly in television (her husband Howard Phillips was an NBC executive). For her contribution to the script for The Blob, one of the biggest box office hits of 1958, she received a mere $150 (she was promised royalties, which never materialized).
In recent years, Linaker continued to work as a teacher of screenwriting, acting and film study at Keene State University, and was in fact one of the oldest college teachers in America. She died in Keene, New Hampshire, where she had been teaching and living near her daughter Katherine.
That´s sad.
ReplyDeleteAnd Hollywood really knew how to cheat their writers out of their deserved income.
Kate was a remarkable teacher. And she sure loved to tell stories of old Hollywood! When you signed up for a Kate Phillips class, you knew that half of the time, you'd be learning, and the other half, you'd just be sitting there, mesmerized. (Michael T. KSC '86)
ReplyDeleteThanks for leaving a comment, Michael. Nice to hear from someone who knew her first-hand.
ReplyDeleteI knew Kate when she lived near Gananoque Ontario back in the early 1990's. She was a friend of my grandfather (Godfrey Bird) so we all got to know her a little bit. She attended many family picnics, always by my grandfather's side. I had the extreme pleasure of interviewing Kate for a film class and, as Michael T. said, all I had to do was point the camera let her talk. Her stories were incredible, and it was incredible whom she knew from Old Hollywood. I especially loved hearing about how her recorded screams were used in dozens of Hollywood films of the 40s and 50s. She even showed me how to do it. Who knew such a horrible sound could come from such a gentle woman.
ReplyDeleteI never knew that about the screaming, Chris. I wonder what movies used her voice!
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame we're losing all these old Hollywood people and their stories. Someone should do a recorded testimonials project.
She also taught at my private school, Hampshire Country School in Rindge, N.H.
ReplyDeleteI also met Kate in Gananoque, Ontario. She was a dear friend of a lady I worked for, and Kate would come in to visit from time to time. She was truly an amazing woman. I so enjoyed listening to her stories. She will be greatly missed.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how many people have fond memories of her. She must have really been someone special.
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