Buster Crabbe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Buster Crabbe
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Crabbe, around the 1940s
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| Born |
Clarence Linden Crabbe II
February 7, 1908 |
| Died | April 23, 1983 (aged 75) |
| Cause of death | Heart attack |
| Resting place | Green Acres Memorial Park, Scottsdale, Arizona |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Hilo Union School Honolulu Military Academy |
| Alma mater | University of Southern California |
| Occupation | Olympic swimmer Movie and television actor |
| Years active | 1928-1932 (Olympic swimmer) 1930–1982 (Actor) |
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Notable work
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Flash Gordon (3 movie serials) |
| Television | The Buster Crabbe Show (1951-1952) Buster's Buddies! (1953-1954) Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion (1955-1957) |
| Spouse(s) |
Adah Virginia Held
(m. 1933–1983) |
| Children | Cullen Susan Caren Lynn ("Sande") |
| Parent(s) | Lucy Agnes McNamara (1885-1959) Edward Clinton Simmons Crabbe I (1882-?) |
| Relatives | Nick Holt, grandson |
Clarence Linden "Buster" Crabbe II (born February 7, 1908 – died April 23, 1983) was an American Olympic swimmer. He was also a famous movie and television actor. He won a gold medal in swimming at the 1932 Summer Olympics. He is best known for playing the science fiction hero Flash Gordon in three popular movie series.
Buster Crabbe is the only actor who played the three most famous heroes from 1930s adventure stories. These heroes were Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, and Tarzan.
He started swimming when he was a young boy. He went to the University of Southern California and was part of its first swim team. He trained hard for the Olympics. He won a bronze medal in the 1928 Summer Olympics and a gold medal in the 1932 Summer Olympics. During his swimming career, he set 16 world records and 35 national records.
After the 1932 Olympics, he moved to Hollywood to become an actor. He played heroes in many adventure, crime, and western movies. He also starred in nine movie serials. In the late 1940s, Crabbe left movies to start his own water show. He later faced financial problems and started working in television.
He hosted a children's TV show in New York City. He also starred in an NBC adventure series called Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion. He later started several businesses, including Buster Crabbe Swim Pools. He retired to Scottsdale, Arizona, where he passed away from a heart attack in 1983.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Birth and Nickname
Buster Crabbe was born on February 7, 1908, in Oakland, California. His parents were Edward Clinton Simmons Crabbe and Lucy Agnes McNamara Crabbe. His father worked as a real estate agent. Buster was named Clarence Linden Crabbe after his grandfather.
He had a younger brother named Edward Clinton Simmons Crabbe II. Clarence was called "Buster" and Edward II was called "Buddy." Both brothers used these nicknames for the rest of their lives.
Growing Up in Hawaii
Buster Crabbe spent his childhood in Hawaii. He began swimming at Waikīkī Beach when he was very young. His family moved when his father became a manager at a pineapple farm on Oahu. This meant Buster and his brother could not swim as much.
A year later, his father got a real estate job in Hilo, Hawaii. The family moved again, and the boys started swimming once more when their father joined a yacht club. Because of all the moving, it was hard for the Crabbe boys to go to school regularly. Buster was eight and a half years old when he started first grade in Hilo Union School.
When World War I began in 1918, Buster's father joined the Army. After finishing Officer Candidate School, he moved his family to the Schofield Barracks in Oahu. Again, the boys were too far from the beach to swim. Instead, they rode horses and went to the Honolulu Military Academy. When Buster's father left the Army in 1920, the family moved to Honolulu. Around 1920, his parents got divorced. Buster and his brother lived with their grandparents in Honolulu.
College Years
In 1928, Buster went to the University of Hawaii to study law. He also had offers from the United States Military Academy at West Point and Yale University. Yale offered him a scholarship for his swimming talent. Only his school fees would be paid, but Crabbe thought he could work to cover other costs. Yale also had a famous swim team, which interested him.
He visited Yale on his way to the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He liked Yale and decided to go there instead of West Point. He was 20 years old when he started studying law at Yale.
After two weeks at Yale, Crabbe returned to Hawaii because his grandmother was very ill. She passed away in the spring of 1929. Yale said he could come back on his scholarship, but he would have to start over as a first-year student. He did not want to do this. He applied to Stanford University, but they told him the same thing. He was happy when he received a scholarship to the University of Southern California (USC) as a second-year student.
He worked in a store in downtown Los Angeles to earn money. He also joined the Sigma Chi fraternity. He was a member of USC's first swim team. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from USC in June 1931.
Swimming Achievements
| Medal record | ||
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| Men's Summer Olympics Swimming | ||
Representing the  United States |
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| Olympic Games | ||
| Bronze | 1928 Amsterdam | Men's 800 meter freestyle |
| Gold | 1932 Los Angeles | Men's 400 meter freestyle |
Buster started swimming when he was very young. He was 15 when he joined his school's swim team. In his last year of school, he was the team captain. He earned four letters in varsity sports. After high school, he competed in many swim meets and won many awards.
He earned a spot on the 1928 Summer Olympics team. However, he got sick with the flu on his way to Amsterdam, where the Olympics were held. He lost a lot of weight and was not as strong as usual. He won a bronze medal in the 800-meter freestyle, finishing in third place.
He continued to train hard and competed in the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He won the gold medal in the 400-meter freestyle by a tiny amount, just a tenth of a second. This race set a new world record. He was the only male swimmer to win a gold medal for the U.S. at the 1932 Summer Olympics. He became a sports superstar known around the world.
Movie Career Highlights
Starting in Hollywood: 1930-1935
Crabbe's movie career began in 1930 while he was still at USC. He worked as an extra in some movies about college football. He also did stunts for another actor in a suspense movie.
Crabbe got his first big acting role in 1932. He played a character similar to Tarzan named Kaspa. He signed a one-year contract with Paramount Pictures, earning $100 a week. The movie was called King of the Jungle and came out in 1933.
After this, Crabbe had a small role in Man of the Forest, a western movie. This was his first western, and he would make many more. In one scene, he had only two words to say: "Yes, boss." Movie posters advertised him as "the star of King of the Jungle." He then took acting classes at Paramount.
In 1933, Crabbe starred in Tarzan the Fearless. This was the only time he played Tarzan. Fearless was a movie serial with 12 parts. This meant fans had to go to the theater every week for 12 weeks to see the whole story. The movie was not very successful. Crabbe made six more movies in 1933. He saved enough money to go to law school if his acting contract was not renewed. However, his contract was renewed, and his salary increased to $150 per week. The movie studio changed his name to Larry "Buster" Crabbe.
In 1934, he was in six movies. Only two were for Paramount, his main studio. He was in Ida Lupino's first American movie, Search for Beauty. Paramount also let him work for other studios for some movies. These studios called him Buster Crabbe.
In 1935, Paramount renewed his contract for the third time, paying him $300 a week. He made three movies for Paramount that year: two westerns and a college football movie.
Flash Gordon and Other Serials: 1936-1952
In 1936, Crabbe learned that Universal Pictures planned to make a movie serial based on Alex Raymond's science fiction comic strip, Flash Gordon. He went to the try-outs and was immediately offered the part of Flash. Crabbe accepted. Since he was still under contract with Paramount, Universal made arrangements to borrow him for the role.
Flash Gordon became famous as one of the most expensive and popular movie serials ever made in America. Universal had already made two other successful serials from comic strips. The Flash Gordon comic strip was incredibly popular.
For the role, Crabbe had to have his hair bleached and waved. He wasn't happy about this and often wore a hat outside the studio to hide his hair. Crabbe performed his own stunts in the serial.
Flash Gordon reportedly cost $350,000 to make. Most of this money was spent on science fiction sets, special effects, and costumes that looked like those in the comic strip. Crabbe was seen as the perfect hero: strong, handsome, and honest. Jean Rogers played his girlfriend, Dale Arden, and Charles B. Middleton played his enemy, Ming the Merciless, the ruler of the planet Mongo.
Flash Gordon opened in theaters in 1936 and was a huge success. Crabbe enjoyed the fame but hoped to get a part in a major movie. Paramount renewed his contracts in 1937 and 1938 with pay raises. By 1938, he was earning $600 per week. During this time, he also acted in crime movies and westerns.
A sequel to Flash Gordon was made in 1938 called Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars. It was a low-budget serial that reused scenes from the first one. Crabbe was a bit disappointed with it, but he was happy to play Flash again because the role had made him so famous.
In 1938, he made another serial for Universal called Red Barry. This was a modern detective story set in San Francisco, based on a comic strip.
Crabbe left Paramount in 1939. He said the studio didn't want to give him a raise. He had made 26 B-movies during his six years with Paramount but never a major film. His agent convinced him to leave, knowing Universal wanted him for more serials.
In 1939, he made another serial for Universal called Buck Rogers. Like Flash Gordon, it was based on a popular science fiction comic strip. Crabbe was paid $1,000 per week for this. Universal then made Crabbe's third and final Flash Gordon serial, Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe, in 1940. Crabbe was paid a flat $25,000 for it. He became known as "The King of the Serials."
Crabbe was disappointed with Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe. He said they reused too many old scenes. He made a total of nine movie serials in his career. The last three were for Columbia Pictures: The Sea Hound (1947), Pirates of the High Seas (1950), and his very last serial, King of the Congo (1952).
The "Billy" Westerns
Between 1941 and 1946, Crabbe starred in a series of westerns for Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC). He played a cowboy hero named Billy the Kid. This character was not based on the real-life outlaw of the American Old West. To avoid confusion, the character's name was changed to Billy Carson. Crabbe had only signed for two movies, but they were so popular that the studio continued the series.
These PRC westerns were made very quickly, taking only 10–12 days to film and costing about $25,000 each. They were 50–60 minutes long and were often shown as the second movie in a double feature. Crabbe made about eight of these westerns every year. He also had time to make other types of movies, like jungle adventures and crime films.
When World War II started, PRC had to cut costs. The filming time for the "Billy" westerns was reduced to 7–8 days. There was no time or money to fix mistakes. For example, in one scene, Crabbe bumped his head on a window frame while jumping through it. They couldn't reshoot it, so it stayed in the movie.
Crabbe did not serve in the military during World War II because he was 34 years old and had a family. Instead, he made training movies for the Field Artillery. He continued making westerns for PRC during the war. In 1942 and 1943, he made 15 westerns. Crabbe's contract with PRC ended in 1946. He had made 36 "Billy" westerns for them.
Later Movies
Crabbe made five more western movies between 1957 and 1965. His very last movies were Swim Team in 1979 and The Alien Dead in 1980.
The Aqua Parade Water Show
During the summers while he was making the "Billy" movies, Crabbe continued swimming and performing in water shows. Around 1946, he invested his savings into his own show called The Aqua Parade. He described his two-hour show as something he loved doing and also a way to earn money. In 1947, his show traveled across the United States for five months, playing in cities and at state fairs. The show received good reviews. Crabbe performed in the water ballet and in a part of the show called "The Evolution of Swimming."
In 1950, the show went to Europe. They faced problems, including needing new costumes and scenery for the Paris show, which cost a lot. The show also lost money in Italy because they had to swim in cold water in Milan and played in a small venue. In the end, Crabbe was $100,000 in debt and returned to America, wondering what to do next. He then started working in television.
Television Career
The Buster Crabbe Show
Crabbe moved to the East Coast of the United States to host a live children's program in New York City called The Buster Crabbe Show. It aired on weekday evenings starting March 12, 1951. The show was set in a western bunkhouse. It showed old western movies, serials, and comedies. Crabbe shared games, stories, and other activities with the young viewers.
While working on this show, Crabbe was also a swimming and boating counselor at his summer camp for boys and girls. It was called "Buster Crabbe's Camp Meenahga" in Saranac Lake, New York.
The program's name was changed to Buster's Buddies, but it was cancelled on October 3, 1952. It returned to television on September 21, 1953, with a live children's audience. However, it was not very popular and was cancelled again on March 26, 1954.
Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion
Crabbe played Michael Gallant in the NBC adventure television series, Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion. The series aired from 1955 to 1957. It was set in modern Morocco, where Captain Gallant was in charge of an outpost in the desert. He fought against thieves, desert tribes, and other villains. Crabbe's son, Cullen, played Cuffy Sanders in the series. Cuffy was an orphan boy whose father had passed away while serving with the Legion.
The Crabbes first signed a contract for three 30-minute episodes. These could be turned into a 90-minute movie if the TV series wasn't successful. But the three episodes were a hit! The H. J. Heinz Company agreed to sponsor the series. They made thirty-six 30-minute episodes. Crabbe was paid $1,000 per episode. This work would take up most of his time, so he stopped his New York City children's show to focus on Captain Gallant.
Filming for the series began in April 1954. Crabbe's old friend w:Fuzzy Knight joined the cast. Outdoor scenes were filmed in North Africa, and indoor scenes were shot in Paris and Rome. Filming stopped in October 1954. The series had its television premiere on February 13, 1955. Children and long-time Crabbe fans loved the show. A fan club for Cuffy was even started. Charlton Comics published four comic books based on the series in 1955 and 1956.
A sad event happened to the Crabbe family in 1957. Crabbe's daughter, "Sande," was a 20-year-old college student. She became very unwell and sadly passed away on April 10, 1957.
In total, there were sixty-five 30-minute black and white episodes. The series finished its first run in February 1957. Reruns were shown between 1960 and 1963. Cullen Crabbe stopped acting when the series ended. In 1970, he said he only acted in the series because no other boy's parents would let him live and work in North Africa for two years.
Last Television Appearances
Crabbe appeared on television sometimes after Captain Gallant. He was in an episode of the Ellery Queen series in 1959. In 1961, he co-hosted an NBC Easter television special with Rosemary Clooney called Marineland Circus. In December 1965, CBS showed ceremonies from the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Crabbe was there because he was becoming a member of the Hall of Fame. Crabbe was in two episodes of the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century television series in 1979. His last TV appearance was in an episode of B. J. and the Bear in 1981.
Business Ventures
After his water show, The Aqua Parade, caused him to go into debt, Buster Crabbe looked for ways to earn money. His name was used to promote a New York health club. He also hosted a women's exercise television program called Figure Fashioning. He worked as a swim director at a hotel in the Catskill Mountains.
In 1952, he moved his family to New Jersey and taught swimming at Palisades Amusement Park. That same year, he made his first live television appearance on Philco Playhouse. He also made his ninth and final movie serial, King of the Congo.
In 1966, Crabbe passed an exam to become a stockbroker in New York City. He led the annual Red Cross swim sessions in Rye, New York. In 1969, he continued his work with the Concord Hotel as the Director of Water Activities. He also had two camps in the Adirondacks: a summer camp for young boys and a water camp for teenagers. He continued his work for Cascade Pools. In 1970, he wrote a book called Energistics, which was an exercise guide for older people.
Death
Buster Crabbe passed away from a heart attack in Scottsdale, Arizona, when he was 75 years old. He was buried at Green Acres Memorial Park in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Legacy and Impact
Buster Crabbe holds a special place in history because he was the only actor to play the three biggest heroes from 1930s adventure stories: Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, and Tarzan. His early fame became popular again when people watching television in the 1970s rediscovered his Flash Gordon serials. By 2013, all three Flash Gordon serials, the Buck Rogers serial, and the Tarzan serial were available on DVD.
In 1973, a poll at the University of Maryland showed that the Flash Gordon serials were very popular among students. They were shown on college campuses and on nationwide television channels. A New York City Public Broadcasting channel even showed the serials during the 7 p.m. news programs of other channels. This widespread interest led to Crabbe being invited to make personal appearances and give talks at colleges.
About his acting skills, Crabbe once said, "I was a lot better actor than people gave me credit for. I didn't have any training, but I feel that if I had been given the chance, I could have become a really good, top-rate actor."
He also said, "I always wished I could have been in one really good film. But they decide you're a guy who can fall off a horse and take a breakaway table over your head, and there's nothing you can do about it... Many fans have told me they saw in my portrayals a moralistic way, something they could connect with or imagine as children. There's a place for hero worship in any society. It gives people something to look up to, even if no real hero can ever live up to the image people have of them."
Images for kids
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Crabbe at age 20 at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam
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Crabbe watches "Jack", one of the lions in King of the Jungle, eating lunch in a Hollywood restaurant in 1933. Crabbe became a lion tamer while working on that adventure film.
See also
In Spanish: Buster Crabbe para niños
