Paul McCullough
Encyclopedia
Paul Johnston McCullough (27 March 1883 - 25 March 1936) was an American actor who performed in a comedy team with Bobby Clark
.
Born in Springfield, Ohio
, McCullough met Clark at a local YMCA
when they were boys. Their childhood friendship grew into an adult partnership, and the pair appeared in circuses and vaudeville revues before achieving mainstream stardom in the 1922 Irving Berlin
Broadway show “Music Box Revue.” Their Broadway hit "The Ramblers" was filmed in 1930 as “The Cuckoos,” a vehicle for Wheeler & Woolsey
.
Clark and McCullough
went to Hollywood in 1928 and starred in 35 short films produced over a seven-year period.
In their act, Clark was the dominant, motor-mouthed comedian and McCullough was the quieter straight man. In many of their films, McCullough’s input was severely limited to a supporting role as Clark generated the bulk of the humor.
Their occupations in the films usually dictated what Clark's character name was: when photographers, Clark was named "Flash"; when chefs, Clark was "Cook"; when lawyers, Clark was "Blackstone", etc. Paul McCullough was always named "Blodgett," regardless of the role. He was enthusiastic on film, punctuating scenes with a cackling laugh. His antics were much subtler than those of the bombastic Clark; McCullough would fiddle with props or react quietly while the action was centered on Clark.
The Clark and McCullough
film series ended in 1935. McCullough suffered from severe depression and in 1936 sought treatment at a sanitarium in Medford, Massachusetts
. Upon his release in March 1936, he stopped at a barber shop for a shave. After being shaved, he grabbed the barber’s razor and cut his wrists and neck. He died in the hospital two days later.
Upon learning of his partner’s death, Clark publicly stated: "I think it was just something Paul couldn't help. Something that had been with him all the time and he didn't even know it." Clark continued performing as a solo act until his death in 1960.
Bobby Clark (comedian)
Robert Edwin Clark , known as Bobby Clark, was a minstrel, vaudevillian, performer on stage, film, television and the circus....
.
Born in Springfield, Ohio
Springfield, Ohio
Springfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Clark County. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio and is situated on the Mad River, Buck Creek and Beaver Creek, approximately west of Columbus and northeast of Dayton. Springfield is home to Wittenberg...
, McCullough met Clark at a local YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
when they were boys. Their childhood friendship grew into an adult partnership, and the pair appeared in circuses and vaudeville revues before achieving mainstream stardom in the 1922 Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
Broadway show “Music Box Revue.” Their Broadway hit "The Ramblers" was filmed in 1930 as “The Cuckoos,” a vehicle for Wheeler & Woolsey
Wheeler & Woolsey
Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey were a famous American film comedy team of the 1930s....
.
Clark and McCullough
Clark and McCullough
Clark and McCullough were a comedy team consisting of comedians Bobby Clark and Paul McCullough. They starred in a series of short films during the 1920s and 1930s....
went to Hollywood in 1928 and starred in 35 short films produced over a seven-year period.
In their act, Clark was the dominant, motor-mouthed comedian and McCullough was the quieter straight man. In many of their films, McCullough’s input was severely limited to a supporting role as Clark generated the bulk of the humor.
Their occupations in the films usually dictated what Clark's character name was: when photographers, Clark was named "Flash"; when chefs, Clark was "Cook"; when lawyers, Clark was "Blackstone", etc. Paul McCullough was always named "Blodgett," regardless of the role. He was enthusiastic on film, punctuating scenes with a cackling laugh. His antics were much subtler than those of the bombastic Clark; McCullough would fiddle with props or react quietly while the action was centered on Clark.
The Clark and McCullough
Clark and McCullough
Clark and McCullough were a comedy team consisting of comedians Bobby Clark and Paul McCullough. They starred in a series of short films during the 1920s and 1930s....
film series ended in 1935. McCullough suffered from severe depression and in 1936 sought treatment at a sanitarium in Medford, Massachusetts
Medford, Massachusetts
Medford is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States, on the Mystic River, five miles northwest of downtown Boston. In the 2010 U.S. Census, Medford's population was 56,173...
. Upon his release in March 1936, he stopped at a barber shop for a shave. After being shaved, he grabbed the barber’s razor and cut his wrists and neck. He died in the hospital two days later.
Upon learning of his partner’s death, Clark publicly stated: "I think it was just something Paul couldn't help. Something that had been with him all the time and he didn't even know it." Clark continued performing as a solo act until his death in 1960.