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For other people with the same name, see Michael Todd (disambiguation).

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.

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]

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. ^ a b c d 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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