The Hal Roach Comedy Shorts of Thelma Todd, ZaSu Pitts and Patsy Kelly

Focusing on the evolution of a classic comedy series, the book chronicles producer Hal Roach's attempt to replicate the success of Laurel and Hardy with a female duo. Initially pairing Thelma Todd with ZaSu Pitts, the series saw a shift when Pitts departed, leading to the introduction of Patsy Kelly. The narrative takes a darker turn with Todd's mysterious death in 1935, followed by Kelly's efforts to continue the series with new partners, ultimately concluding with the untimely death of Lyda Roberti in 1938.