Walter Clarence Thornton

Walter Clarence Thornton (April 3, 1903 – May 14, 1990) was an American model agent best known for founding the Walter Thornton Model Agency in 1929 and his World War II era pin-up girls. Walter Thornton rose to success from being an orphan and a butcher cart driver.[1] He was a Miss America Judge in 1935.[2] His company represented adults as well as children and many of his clients achieved fame and success. He retired from the agency in 1958 and spent the rest of his life in Ajijic, Mexico.[3]

Walter Clarence Thornton
A portrait photo of Walter Thornton
Born(1903-04-03)April 3, 1903
Pike County, Ohio, U.S.
DiedMay 14, 1990(1990-05-14) (aged 87)
Long Beach, California, U.S.
Resting placeRiverside National Cemetery
NationalityAmerican
OccupationModeling Agent
Years active1929–1955
Spouse(s)Judy Dolan (m.1934–1955)
Candelaria Navarro (m.1960–1990)
Children7

Walter Thornton Modeling Agency

After working as a model and posing for artists such as Arthur William Brown he gained connections in the modeling business and he started his own modeling agency, located in the Chrysler Building, in 1929.[4][5] As the Walter Thornton Modeling Agency grew, it was considered one of "Big Three", the largest model agencies in the United States, along with its competitors, John Robert Powers and Harry Conover.[6] His agency worked with famous models such as: Lizabeth Scott, Susan Hayward, Grace Kelly, Lauren Bacall, Hazel Brooks, Lucille Wilds, and Eleanor Cahill.[7][8][9][10][11][12] Walter Thornton supplied models to Alex Raymond for his comic book, Flash Gordon. A special autobiographical issue depicts Alex Raymond sketching panels using Walter Thornton model Patricia Quinn as a reference.[13] Starting in the mid-1950s and continuing after Walter moved to Mexico, Walter Thornton modelling schools and agencies were opened in Canada.[14]

Pin-up girls

Walter Thornton's agency favored "wholesome girl-back-home type" models as opposed to his competition who tended to hire models that fell into the "glamorous show-girl type". pin-up girl. Many of his agency's pin-up girl photos were sent to G.I.s under General Powell during World War II.[15] The popularity of Thornton's pin-up girls led to charting singles such "Get a Pin-Up Girl!" by Don Wolf, "Pin-Up Polka" by Al Gamse and Irving Fields, and "The Walter Thornton Rumba" also by Gamse and Fields.[16]

Just Kids Photos

Walter Thornton ran a stock photo publication of children. Peggy Ann Garner was included in this publication and went on to win an award for her acting.[17]

A series of legal issues and negative publicity starting in 1954 culminated in Walter Thornton's retirement from his modeling agency. Walter Thornton was arrested and charged with grand larceny, petit larceny, and conspiracy on January 26, 1954.[18][19] Walter Thornton said in a news article that the District Attorney who was prosecuting him, Quinn, didn't have a case and furthermore was just stirring up publicity to cover for his own legal problems.[20] Walter Thornton also had his modelling license suspended for sending clients to a photography office that he owned without disclosure.[21] The case was dismissed on June 3, 1954, by judge Peter T. Farreli of Queens county court in Jamaica, New York.[22] Thornton filed a lawsuit for $3,000,000 in damages against the Hearst Corporation on May 21, 1955 claiming he was libeled.[23]

Personal life
House built and lived in by Walter Clarence Thornton in Ajijic, Mexico

Thornton married one of his models, Judy Dolan, in 1934 and had one daughter, Daryl.[24] They separated when Walter moved to Mexico.

After retirement

In Ajijic, Mexico, Walter Thornton remarried to Candelaria Navarro and had six children with her: Walter Jr., Roberta Virginia, Adriana Anabel, Nancy Louella, Richard Orlando, Ethel Ivette.[25] He built a house decorated with mosaic tiles where he raised his children and lived until his health failed.[26] He died of a stroke in 1990.[27]

References
  1. Dale Carnegie, From Editorial Page, The Pittsburgh Press, December 26, 1940
  2. "Miss Philadelphia Fourth in 2d Test", Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, September 5, 1935
  3. "Walter Thornton, Agent for Models, Dies of Stroke at 88", The New York Times, May 16, 1990
  4. Dale Carnegie, From Editorial Page, The Pittsburgh Press, December 26, 1940
  5. Eileen Evans-Smith, "Person to Person: Every Girl a Model?", Ottawa Citizen, Nov 13, 1962
  6. "The Modeling Business", LIFE, Mar 25, 1946
  7. 1944 Walter Thornton Model Agency calendar, Lizabeth Scott Model of the month
  8. Kim R. Holston, Susan Hayward: Her Films and Her Life, p. 8, September 24, 2002
  9. Wendy Leigh, True Grace: The Life and Times of an American Princess, p. 36, Jun 10, 2008
  10. Terry Rowan, World War II Goes to the Movies & Television Guide Volume I A-K, p. 39, 2012
  11. "Broadway's Answer to Hollywood", The Free Lance-Star, April 4, 1941
  12. "Dream Girl", The Milwaukee Sentinel, December 31, 1939
  13. "Modern Jules Verne", Flash Gordon #10, 1942
  14. Eileen Evans-Smith, "Person to Person: Every Girl a Model?", Ottawa Citizen, November 13, 1962
  15. Paul Dickson, War Slang: American Fighting Words, p. 198, Aug 1, 2014
  16. "Music As Written", Billboard, Feb 26, 1949
  17. "Walter Thornton, Agent for Models, Dies of Stroke at 88", The New York Times, May 16, 1990
  18. "Merchant of Venus Head on Fraud Charges", Barrier Miner, January 27, 1954
  19. "Thornton is Free in Model 'Racket'", The New York Times, June 03, 1954
  20. "1000% Publicity", TIME, p. 86, February 8, 1954
  21. "25 Models Aid Agency to Regain License", The New York Times, December 11, 1934
  22. "Thornton is Free in Model 'Racket'", The New York Times, June 03, 1954
  23. "Walter Thornton Sues For $3,000,000", Editor & Publisher, May 21, 1955
  24. Betty Clark, "Model Wife Says Anyone Can Keep Spouse Charmed", St. Petersburg Times, Jun 3, 1945
  25. "Walter Thornton, Agent for Models, Dies of Stroke at 88", The New York Times, May 16, 1990
  26. Morris Reichley, "Arabian Nights", El Ojo del Lago
  27. "Walter Thornton, Agent for Models, Dies of Stroke at 88", The New York Times, May 16, 1990
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