The U.S. City Directories provided some valuable information, namely, the address of the Parnells, who resided with them, and their occupations. The Parnells made their home in Columbus, Ohio from 1926-1929. During that time, Effie taught at Mary Fanning's School of Childhood - a precursor to modern day kindergarten. Emory became a representative for the Coit-Alber Bureau Chautaqua talent agency, booking acts as well as performing. The year before the Stock Market Crash, Emory was selling life insurance to supplement their income. With the dawn of the Depression, the Parnells had to put show business on hold and focus on supporting the family, which included another son, Charles Stewart.

As of 1930, the Parnells moved to Detroit. Curious about how long they remained in this location, I visited the Burton Collections of historical documents at the Detroit Public Library with my fellow research colleague, Barb. The Detroit City Directory books gave me the following information: in 1929-30 the Parnells resided at 2566 W. Grand Blvd. In 1930-32, Emory was an insurance agent for Johnston & Clark, and their residence had changed to 1615 Cadillac Blvd. Emory switched to the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company, in 1932-33, working from home at 374 S. Eastlawn Ave. He switched back to Johnston & Clark's firm in 1934, and the family had moved to 1017 Seyburn, Apt. 4. Sometime in late 1934 or early 1935, they relocated to California.

While in Detroit, Emory also appeared in, or narrated industrial documentary films for Ford Motor Company on salesmanship, General Motors on what the assembly line does, the workings of tire factories, coal mines, steel mills, building of the Boulder Dam, and portable emergency radio/telephone equipment. Other actors took advantage of the opportunity to star in these short films. One of them was Hugh Beaumont (Leave It to Beaver), who appeared in a Ford film as the mentor for a new trainee car salesman.

While selling insurance may have helped pay the bills, Emory's heart was definitely elsewhere as Effie stated in an interview:

"Then came the blow. In came the automobile and motion pictures and vaudeville went out. Emory went into the insurance business in Detroit", she explained. "For me, these were some of the happiest days of my life. But, Emory looked like a dog going to his grave every day when he left the house. So I said, 'Why did we spend all those years in New York studying acting? Let's go to Hollywood!" (In Navy Circles, April 9, 1970).

By 1935, they had settled in the Los Angeles area. Appearances in their first films were 1938 for Emory and 1939 for Effie. The 1940 U.S. Census listed their residence as 2126 Patricia Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, and this same residence was also on Emory's WW II Draft Registration Card (1942).

Effie McLaird Parnell dabbled on the small screen too. For the most part she had a recurring character on The Stu Erwin Show (1951-1955). As the real Aunt Louisa, she was reunited with Sarah Padden for the Adventures of Superman episode, "The Haunted Lighthouse". Despite her brief appearance in the episode, her "no nonsense, take charge" attitude was predominant in this and other series as well. Effie did "The Hitchhiker" episode of Highway Patrol (1955), and two for Sky King, "The Silver Grave" and "Fish out of Water" (both 1956). She also appeared in Circus Boy for "The Gentle Giant" (1957) with Mickey Dolenz (The Monkees), Noah Beery, Jr. (Rocky of Rockford Files), along with fellow Adventures of Superman alumni Robert Lowery ("The Deadly Rock"), Herb Vigran, and Buddy Baer (Atlas from "Three in One"). Her final performance was a 1959 episode of Dragnet, "The Big Sour". Looking back over her show business career, Effie Parnell stated "I always played little old ladies - just ordinary housewives. This type casted me right off," she said, adding, "I never talk about my motion picture life because I always looked like something the cat drug in - you know, the scrub woman or the old maid school teacher."

Effie may have enjoyed family life as Mrs. Emory Parnell; however, she was not content to just sit at home and manage the household. She had been involved in cultural art organizations, but when her husband, Emory told her "Instead of wearing yourself out on all these civic projects - where you usually wind up with a good stiff kick in the pants - take your talent and use it for yourself." With very little prodding, Effie began to paint.

When she wasn't working on her own paintings, Effie promoted new artists and their works. In October, 1963, she was the director of the California City Art Festival. Entries for the contest were for "California Landscapes and Landmarks" as reported in the Bakersfield Californian (Oct. 4, 1963). Both she and Emory also provided entertainment, such as the annual Sierra Art Fair.

The Parnells kept strong ties to their Minnesota roots and performed there regularly. They were responsible for establishing the tradition of the Chatfield Western Days (1970), after Effie commented that "you should do this every year" and the annual event was born. Three of Effie's paintings were donated to the Chosen Valley School in addition to some of her sketches. Dorothy McConnell, Historical Society columnist for the Chatfield News, made a reference to three paintings in her article dated 13 Jan 1999: "The first "shows a horse and sleigh tied up outside an old Chatfield saloon. One shows Winona Hill in winter, and one is an oil painting of a fall scene." The latter two oil paintings were donated to the school, but the horse and sleigh mentioned in the article was never found. Several of Mrs. Parnell's oil and watercolor paintings hung in the Historical Society Museum in Chatfield. In addition to Effie's paintings being displayed in and around Chatfield, her works were mentioned in a book, Artists in California, 1786-1940 by Edan Hughes.

Effie possessed the talent to motivate people and organize activities. One example of this in 1967 involved the recycling of men's white dress shirts into items such as hospital gowns for the Cancer Society. Never one to be shy, Mrs. Parnell wrote a letter to Virginia Kay, columnist for The Independent, a Pasadena newspaper. As she stated, "I do not have time to play cards or bingo but I'll always find time for something constructive". Effie explained why she needed Ms. Kay's help - to let the public know that her group had not yet received the donated shirts, and help expedite their arrival. Mrs. Parnell also saw this as a great opportunity to utilize older adults: "We have so many elderly (retired) women living in the Park who need some such project…" She also took issue with criticism of where she resided: "Many think a Trailer Park is living on the wrong side of the tracks, literally. My husband…still works in pictures - we are very active, and we have several professional people living here."

Emory Parnell appeared with Effie in his last film, The Grasshopper (1970). This was the first time they were cast as husband and wife. Emory's last television role was in a 1971 episode of Gunsmoke as a prospector.

Throughout their careers, the couple had provided entertainment to small towns across the country, Canada and New Zealand. They performed for troops during the Korean War. As of 1970 they included their grandson, Dennis Parnell in their act. Effie certainly didn't show signs of slowing down either: "See why I want to live to be 100? I keep telling Emory. 'Let's go on one of those junkets with Bob Hope before we're too old."

Both Emory and Effie spent their final years together as residents of the Motion Picture Country Home in Woodland Hills, California. In 1974, Tom Snyder interviewed both of them on their experiences in vaudeville for his late night show Tomorrow. Emory died of a heart attack on June 22, 1979. Effie remained at the Motion Picture Country Home and Hospital until her death on September 4, 1986.

While both Effie and Emory Parnell may be gone, their legacy still lives on. Their grandson, Dennis Parnell, who used to accompany them on some of their shows, has followed the career path of Effie's sisters, June and Goldie. Dennis teaches voice and music at Santa Monica and Pierce Colleges.

I also had the pleasure of communicating with Effie Parnell's 1st cousin twice removed. Her name is Jenny Lerew and she has inherited the artistic genes from Effie. Jenny's talent lies in animation, where she has been a storyboard artist for Pixar and Disney for projects like Mulan II and How to Train Your Dragon. She is the author of a hardcover book entitled The Art of Disney Pixar Brave. When I asked her about the Parnells she told me:

"I met Effie and Emory when they were living in retirement in Glendora, CA near us in about 1972, and my mom got in touch with them; a few years later both of the Parnells moved into the Motion Picture Country Home in Woodland Hills. Emory told GREAT stories--most of which I couldn't appreciate then at all…only later, after he'd passed away, did I become a big movie buff. I can tell you that Effie was a delightful lady and she and Emory were certainly devoted to each other."

Special thanks go to Barbara L. Frye, for her technical/research assistance and Thom Hamilton for moral support.

Sources:
Effie McLaird IMDB, Emory Parnell IMDB
http://www.answers.com/topic/chautauqua-movement
http://www.townofbusti.com/chaut_lake.html
http://www.answers.com/topic/emory-parnell-1#ixzz1oCBiSi8z
U.S. City Directories, Columbus, Ohio (1926-1929), Detroit, Michigan (Burton Collections, 1929/30-1934), Santa Monica, California (1954)
California Voter Registration, 1900-1968
Warrensburg, NY, Lake George News, Dec. 20, 1923, page 1, "Emory Parnell Here January 3"
Monticello NY Republican Watchman, 1923-24, page 5, "Chautaqua Here Tuesday Night"
Portsmouth Herald, NH, January 30, 1925, page 5, "Pay Tribute to the Memory of Robert Burns"
The Humboldt Republican, Iowa, July 17, 1931, page 1, "Quality Program Is Scheduled - Tickets on Sale"
Council Bluffs Nonpareil, Iowa, May 7, 1944, page 6, 'Effie Laird Starring in Broadway Week-end"
Bakersfield Californian, October 4, 1963, page 28, "Festival Time Near"
In Navy Circles, Long Beach, California, April 9, 1970, "Secret of Youth for Parnells Is Entertain"
Winona Daily News, August 12, 1970, page 21, "Chatfield Western Days Features Varied Activities"
Star News, May 24, 1976, page 19, "Tomorrow" Show
Chatfield News, January 13, 1999, "Folks You Know"
Chatfield News, July 3, 2007, "Chatfield Historical Society Pays Tribute to Western Days Musicals"

Photos provided by Colete Morlock. Graphics intergration and page layout by Lou Koza.

I want to be the first to thank Colete Morlock for bringing us closer to knowing so much about Effie Laird. There are many women of the Adventures of Superman and a good many explored within the TAC pages of Ladies of the Adventures of Superman, which Colete has spearheaded now for several years who are well deserving of our interest. I couldn't be happier that we've added Effie, as well as Lilyan Chauvin this past April to the TAC pages. If I were to imagine a Mrs. Perry White in the episodes of Superman, well then Effie Laird wins hands down. She seems loving, sure of herself and the kind of gal who knew how to take charge in a moment of crisis.

I think if George Reeves were alive today he'd be very pleased to see the attention the supporting players are getting at the TAC pages. In fact, he might wonder why we make such a fuss over him and advise us to take up fishing as a hobby. Of course we know better how well worth he is of our admiration. So are the likes of Effie McLaird Parnell. I hope you've enjoyed this feature.

Lou (August 10, 2012)

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