ZaSu Pitts' Chocolate Fudge

Karie Bible
Jul 27
2 min read

ZaSu's grandson joined us for this special episode.

ZaSu Pitts began her film career in 1917 and went on to star in the silent film classics Greed (1924) and The Wedding March (1928), both for director Erich von Stroheim. She made a successful transition to sound and co-starred opposite Thelma Todd in a series of comedy shorts and opposite Slim Summerville in several features. Pitts also had stints in vaudeville, radio, television and on Broadway. Her final film was 1963's It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World.

Recipe

ZaSu Pitts wrote the book "Candy Hits with Zasu Pitts", which was published in 1963. The book is dedicated to her grandson John and his brother Ralph. I asked John what recipe he can recall her making for him and he immediately replied "chocolate fudge", so that's what we made.

Unlike a lot of star recipes, ZaSu gives detailed directions and I love that!

Special Guest

John Reynolds is a fifth-generation Southern Californian and the grandson of actress ZaSu Pitts. He is a musician who plays the banjo and guitar with several bands including Janet Klein and her Parlor Boys. You can read more about John Reynolds and see his paintings in an article at PBS SoCal.

Janet Klein is a band-leader, musical archeologist specializing in rare and wonderful early jazz of the 1920s and 1930s.

Joined by some of her L.A.-based band members—The Parlor Boys—She and her band have recorded 10 CDs with their spirited renditions of Tin Pan Alley, early hot jazz, vaudeville, and Yiddish novelty tunes, ragtime, and other rare and rustic gems.

When live concerts and tours were curtailed in 2020, Janet kept the musical cheer and “time travel entertainment” going by creating an online series called “Hit of the Week Parlor Party" and "Parlor Party Cartoon Screening Room" with fellow musicians, artists & historian pals. To learn more, visit JANETKLEIN.COM