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Bryan Foy started in showbiz as a vaudevillian, touring nationally for ten years as one of the 'Seven Little Foys' (the oldest). He left the act in 1918 to embark on a solo career in Hollywood, at first devising gags for Buster Keaton then filming two-reelers at Fox. In 1927, he began his long association with Warner Brothers where he famously produced the first all-talking feature, Lights of New York (1928), at the cost of a mere $18,000. The film, shot in just eight days, grossed well over a million dollars for Warner Brothers and contributed to Foy being promoted head of the B-unit.

Under his sobriquet 'Keeper of the B's', Foy turned out as many as 26 pictures a year for the next two decades. Some were prison films, such as Crime School (1938) with Humphrey Bogart and the Dead End Kids (another winner: it cost $210,000 and returned a million, not to mention reissues). Much of Foy's other output consisted of thrillers like the 'Torchy Blane' series, or its juvenile counterpart, 'Nancy Drew'. By the mid-30's, Warners were also competing with RKO and Columbia in the B-western stakes, turning out a series of oaters starring Dick Foran.

After a spell at 20th Century Fox beginning in 1942 (which took in some of the last films made with Laurel & Hardy), Foy returned to Warner Brothers to produce the most popular film associated with his name, the gimmicky but hugely enjoyable House of Wax (1953), shot in 3-D and 'WarnerPhonic' sound. Curiously, the director André De Toth was blind in one eye and thus unable to fully appreciate the fruits of his labour. A year later, Foy produced another 3-D low budgeter which featured the same combination of Vincent Price (star), Bert Glennon (cinematographer), and Crane Wilbur (writer). The Mad Magician (1954) wasn't quite on par with 'House of Wax' but still provided some decent entertainment for fans of the genre. Foy's last film as producer was the much criticised JFK biopic PT 109 (1963), after which he decided to call it a day. Though he received little praise from the critics during the course of his career - a source of some bitterness on his part - he remained proud of his 'little' pictures and their proven record at the box office.

David Thursby was born on 28 February 1889 in Cumbria, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Zero Hour! (1957), The Heiress (1949) and Rope of Sand (1949). He died on 20 April 1977 in Hollywood, California, USA.

Diana Kane was born on 10 January 1901 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She was an actress, known for Lovers in Quarantine (1925), Bluebeard's Seven Wives (1925) and The Perfect Sap (1927). She was married to George Fitzmaurice. She died on 20 April 1977 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Mary Lawlor was born on 28 June 1907 in Utica, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for Good News (1930) and Shooting Straight (1930). She died on 20 April 1977 in Downey, California, USA.

Hugo Bidet was born in 1934 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was an actor and writer, known for Elas São do Baralho (1977), Reel Savages (1977) and O Roubo das Calcinhas (1975). He died on 20 April 1977 in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

John McDermott was born on 30 August 1919 in Pueblo, Colorado, USA. John died on 20 April 1977 in Westport, Connecticut, USA.

Roberta Wilson was born on 15 January 1895 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. She was an actress, known for The Right to Be Happy (1916), The Townsend Divorce Case (1917) and Perils of the Secret Service (1917). She died on 20 April 1977 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Wilmer Allison was born on 8 December 1904 in San Antonio, Texas, USA. He died on 20 April 1977 in the USA.

Hal Angus was born on 23 August 1890 in Oakland, California, USA. He was an actor, known for The Outlaw's Sacrifice (1912) and The Little Sheriff (1912). He was married to Josephine Rector. He died on 20 April 1977 in Castro Valley, California, USA.