Tom Patricola(1891-1950)

American actor, dancer and vaudevillian. Tom Patricola was for five years (1923-28) a leading comic with "George White's Scandals". Though rather stocky and muscular, he excelled as an eccentric song-and-dance man. He was particularly famous as a fleet-footed performer of the "Black Bottom", accompanying fellow hoofer Ann Pennington. Intent on getting into the movies, Tom later joined Fox as a contract player. However, his film career turned out to be somewhat desultory, and was largely confined to two-reel comedy shorts for Educational. His few appearances in better quality productions (Louisiana Purchase (1941), Rhapsody in Blue (1945)) took place when he was well past his prime, and these were merely bit parts or cameos. Tom's sister, Isabella, was a noted vaudeville singer and violinist.