The Ice Cream Blonde's Last Stop: What Happened To Thelma Todd's Sidewalk Cafe And Its Unsolved Hollywood Mystery?
Thelma Todd's Sidewalk Cafe, a picturesque Mediterranean-style building on the Pacific Coast Highway, remains one of the most chilling and historically significant landmarks in Southern California. As of late
Far from being a forgotten relic, the building at 17575 Pacific Coast Highway has recently been part of a significant commercial real estate transaction, surviving both the passage of time and the threat of fire. Today, the location that once served as a glamorous 1930s celebrity hotspot, briefly owned by a star known as "The Ice Cream Blonde," continues its life, currently housing a modern creative agency and occasionally listed as a premium office/retail space available for lease, perpetually linked to its tragic past.
Thelma Todd: The Tragic Biography of "The Ice Cream Blonde"
Thelma Alice Todd was a celebrated American actress and businesswoman whose life was cut short at the height of her fame. Known for her effervescent personality and striking blonde hair, she earned the affectionate nicknames "The Ice Cream Blonde" and "Hot Toddy."
- Full Name: Thelma Alice Todd
- Born: July 29, 1906, in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
- Career Highlights: Todd appeared in approximately 120 films between 1926 and 1935, transitioning seamlessly from silent films to talkies.
- Notable Roles: She was a prominent comedic actress, frequently starring in shorts for Hal Roach Studios alongside legends like Laurel and Hardy, as well as appearing in feature films with the Marx Brothers, such as Monkey Business (1931) and Horse Feathers (1932).
- Business Venture: In the early 1930s, she opened Thelma Todd's Sidewalk Cafe with her lover and business partner, director Roland West.
- Death: December 16, 1935, at the age of 29. She was found dead in her car in the garage of the apartment above her cafe.
The Rise and Fall of Thelma Todd's Sidewalk Cafe
The building that housed the famed cafe was constructed in 1927–1928, a beautiful example of Spanish Colonial Revival commercial architecture designed by Mark Daniels. Located right on the Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades, the structure was originally intended as a shopping center and seafood restaurant to serve the nearby exclusive Castellammare housing development.
By the early 1930s, Thelma Todd lent her name and star power to the establishment, transforming it into a popular, high-end dining and dancing spot. The cafe quickly became a magnet for Hollywood's elite, offering a glamorous escape from the city and a stunning view of the coastline.
The cafe itself was situated at the base of a cliff, with a private residence, known as Castillo Del Mar, situated on the bluff above. Director Roland West, Todd's partner, lived in the home, and Todd maintained an apartment and an office on the property. It was in the garage of this upper residence where the tragic events of December 1935 unfolded.
The Unsolved Mystery: Three Theories on Thelma Todd's Death
The discovery of Thelma Todd's body on December 16, 1935, in the garage of her own property, sent shockwaves through Hollywood. She was found slumped over the wheel of her Lincoln Phaeton, dead from carbon monoxide poisoning. The official ruling was accidental death, but the circumstances were so suspicious that the case remains an enduring, unsolved mystery.
The popular belief among many historians and true-crime enthusiasts is that Todd was murdered, with several high-profile theories persisting:
1. The Accidental Death/Suicide Theory (Official Ruling)
The initial and official ruling was that Thelma Todd’s death was accidental, caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. The theory posited that after a party, she was unable to gain entry to the apartment and, in a drunken or confused state, went into the garage to warm up her car, accidentally succumbing to the fumes. Some early reports even suggested suicide. However, this theory is undermined by conflicting evidence, including reports of her broken nose, bruising, and cracked ribs found during the autopsy, which suggested a physical struggle before her death.
2. The Mobster Murder Theory
One of the most sensational and widely accepted theories is that Thelma Todd was murdered by mobsters. Todd had reportedly been pressured by organized crime figures to allow gambling operations to run out of her cafe, a proposition she vehemently refused. Figures like notorious mob boss Lucky Luciano were implicated in the investigation, suggesting that Todd’s unwillingness to cooperate led to her death. This theory paints Todd as a victim who stood up to the unsavory characters attempting to infiltrate Hollywood.
3. The Roland West Involvement Theory
Director Roland West, Thelma Todd’s business partner and lover, is another primary suspect in the unofficial investigation. West was known to be possessive and controlling. He was one of the last people to see Todd alive and was the one who was telephoned immediately after her body was discovered by her maid, May. Furthermore, the garage where she died was part of his residence, Castillo Del Mar, not her main apartment. While West was cleared by the initial police investigation, he later reportedly confessed to his involvement on his deathbed, though this claim remains unverified and controversial.
The Cafe Today: A Century-Old Hollywood Landmark
The historic building at 17575 Pacific Coast Highway, a rare surviving example of a 1920s neighborhood commercial building, has had a long and varied life since Thelma Todd's death. The property has changed hands multiple times, including a reported sale for $6 million in recent years.
In a testament to its sturdy, Spanish Colonial Revival construction, the building has endured the devastating forces of nature, notably surviving the recent Palisades Fire. Today, the structure is preserved as a landmark, though it no longer serves food. The space is currently occupied by a modern creative firm named "The Many," which uses the iconic location as its office and agency headquarters.
For visitors and history enthusiasts, the site of Thelma Todd's Sidewalk Cafe remains a compelling pilgrimage. It stands as a physical link to the Golden Age of Hollywood, a beautiful, sun-drenched facade that forever hides the shadow of an unsolved Tinseltown tragedy, inviting endless speculation about what truly happened to "The Ice Cream Blonde" on that cold December morning in 1935.
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