It's pretty unusual for a mostly unbilled chorus girl to rate a star on Hollywood Boulevard, but Toby Wing was unique. A genuine granddaughter of the Confederacy (on her mother's side at least; her father's family was pure Maine Yankee), she was born Martha Virginia Wing in Amelia Court House, Virginia in 1915 and taking the stage name Toby after a...
Because I'm a vivid blonde and people think of me as a chorus girl they won't believe I'm any more than just that.
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Fact
1
In early April, 1934 Mary Blackwood nearly died on the set of "Come On Marines!" While filming a swimming sequence, Toby Wing was swinging across a lake and accidentally struck Blackwell in the face as she surfaced from her earlier dive. Seeing her floating unconscious, Toby broke ranks and dived in the water rescuing the uncredited extra from drowning. A story and a photo of Toby Wing and Miss Blackwood (with bandage covering face) were distributed by Associated Press.
2
Over the winter of 1939-1940, although essentially retired, Toby toured - with Rita Rio (Dona Drake) and her "All Girl Orchestra" with actresses Marie Wilson and Faith Bacon (from the Earl Carroll Vanities) across the United States. The actresses made numerous benefit appearances on behalf of the Infantile Paralysis Fund and Christmas Seals Tuberculosis campaign during the tour.
3
Toby's younger sister, Pat Wing, was also an actress. Pat's son, William Perry (1936-2006), Toby's nephew, was a former actor who appeared in touring musical productions of "My Fair Lady" and "Take Me Along". He also performed as half of the comedy team of "Joanie and Bill" -- the Joanie being none other than Joan Rivers. William later retired from show business and became a real estate agent.
In biographies of her husband, Toby is mentioned to have appeared in "Our Gang" comedies as a child. Detailed series cast records show no record of her ever appearing in the series and based on her father's position at Paramount (and where former Roach star Harold Lloyd was under contract) it would be extremely unlikely that Hal Roach would have hired her.
6
Named Martha after her maternal grandmother, Toby was born at 'Eight Oaks,' a plantation of her maternal grandfather, John T. Thraves (a veteran of the 44th VA Company H, Amelia Minutemen, CSA), on the banks of the Appomatox River, near Richmond, Virginia.
7
Her 41-year old son Ricky was murdered in their Miami home on August 12th or 13th 1982. At the time of his death, Ricky was separated from his wife Hella and out on bond awaiting sentencing after being convicted in federal court of smuggling 1,525 lbs of Columbian marijuana in New Orleans. A co-defendant, Gary "Butch" Merritt survived an attempt on his life after his van was blown up the previous June near Deland, Florida. Ricky's new Jeep Scrambler truck was found at the Miami International Airport on Aug. 16th. The Merrills were living in Virginia at the time and the nature of Ricky's death could not be withheld from her husband, Dick. Sadly, he died shortly thereafter. Ricky's murder is still unsolved.
8
One of the most engaged starlets in Hollywood. She was engaged to Jackie Coogan for most of 1935 (during the time he discovered his parents had spent his childhood fortune, hit the bottle and they broke up). She claimed to be engaged to pilot John Helm at the time of his death and then was briefly engaged to actor/singer/composer (and one-time co-star) Pinky Tomlin in November, 1936. Despite all the engagements, she married only once - to world-famous pilot Dick Merrill, whom she met in 1938. After their wedding she appeared on Broadway in the Cole Porter flop, 'You Never Know' and retired.
9
Biographers often claim Toby's "Marines Come Through" as a 1943 production. This picture was actually produced in 1941 and was re-released by Astor Pictures in 1943 as "Fight on Marines!" to capitalize on the patriotic fervor of WW2. Toby's film career ended with her marriage to pioneer aviator Dick Merrill in 1938. She retired to Di Lido Island and became a Miami Beach housewife, traveling, dabbling in real estate investing and supporting her husband's significant contributions to aviation history. A remarkable couple, Toby and Dick (who retired from Eastern Airlines in 1961) sadly outlived both their children; their youngest son Ricky was murdered (still unsolved as of mid-2013) in Miami in August, 1982 shortly before Dick's death. She was survived by two granddaughters.
10
Married Dick Merrill twice in 1938 - first wedding in Tijuana, Mexico upset her mother. A second wedding was performed at the home of Sidney Shannon (an early backer of Eastern Airlines and close personal friend of both Dick and Eddie Rickenbacker) in June, 1938 in Fredericksburg, VA. This second ceremony went unnoticed until another friend of Dick's, Walter Winchell broadcast the news. Although Toby appeared in one low budget film in 1941 and two subsequent local stage productions (one with Pat O'Brien at the Coconut Grove Playhouse) she essentially retired from acting to a life as a Miami Beach housewife (where her husband was based on his Miami to NYC EAL flight route) on Di Lido Island in late 1938. At the time of her marriage Toby was 22 and Dick was 43 and they'd known each other for six months. Despite nearly everyone's predictions, they remained together happily for the rest of their lives.
Her husband, Henry 'Dick' Merrill, was the first Aviator to fly the Transatlantic route round-trip. Their first son died in his crib in 1940. Their second son, Richard, was murdered in 1982.
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
Ma's Pride and Joy
1932
Short
Radio Director's Secretary
Young Onions
1932
Short
Charlie's Girlfriend (uncredited)
Neighbor Trouble
1932
Short
Alaska Love
1932
Short
Blonde by River (uncredited)
The Candid Camera
1932
Short
Betty Swan
The Loud Mouth
1932
Short
Nurse (uncredited)
Jimmy's New Yacht
1932
Short
One of Charlie's Girlfriends
Palmy Days
1931
Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
Double Daring
1926
Nan
American Pluck
1925
Flower Girl at Coronation (uncredited)
The Pony Express
1925
Child (uncredited)
Dollar Down
1925
Little Girl
The Shining Adventure
1925
Little Girl (uncredited)
Marry Me
1925
Little Girl (uncredited)
Zander the Great
1925
Little Girl (uncredited)
Percy
1925
Little Girl (uncredited)
Circe, the Enchantress
1924
Little Girl (uncredited)
A Woman Who Sinned
1924
uncredited
A Boy of Flanders
1924
Little girl
Sweethearts
1938
Telephone Operator (uncredited)
The Marines Come Thru
1938
Linda Dale
Mr. Boggs Steps Out
1938
Irene Lee
True Confession
1937
Suzanne Baggart
Sunday Night at the Trocadero
1937
Short
Toby Wing
The Women Men Marry
1937
Sugar
Sing While You're Able
1937
Joan Williams
Silks and Saddles
1936
Marion Braddock / Jane Smith
With Love and Kisses
1936
Barbara Holbrook
Mister Cinderella
1936
Lulu, the Cashier
Rhythmitis
1936
Short
Lola Green
Hill-Tillies
1936
Short
Toby
Thoroughbred
1935
Anne O'Malley
Forced Landing
1935
Amelie Darrell
Two for Tonight
1935
College Girl (uncredited)
Hollywood Extra Girl
1935
Documentary short
Girl in Montage (uncredited)
One Hour Late
1934
Maizie
Rhythm on the Roof
1934
Short
Bob's Fantasy Sweetheart
Kiss and Make-Up
1934
Consuelo of Claghorne
Murder at the Vanities
1934
Nancy
Come On, Marines!
1934
Dolly
School for Girls
1934
Hazel Jones
Search for Beauty
1934
Sally Palmer
Torch Singer
1933
Blonde in Sally's apartment (uncredited)
This Day and Age
1933
Student (uncredited)
Arizona to Broadway
1933
Chambermaid (uncredited)
She Had to Say Yes
1933
Model (uncredited)
Baby Face
1933
Office Worker (uncredited)
College Humor
1933
Student (uncredited)
Private Detective 62
1933
Free's Girl Friend (uncredited)
Central Airport
1933
Air Show Observer (uncredited)
The Little Giant
1933
Society Girl (uncredited)
42nd Street
1933
Blonde in 'Young and Healthy' Number (uncredited)
The King's Vacation
1933
Autograph Seeker at Casino (uncredited)
Keyhole Katie
1933
Short
Blue of the Night
1933
Short
Blonde in Bathing Suit (uncredited)
The Kid from Spain
1932
Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Kid from Spain
1932
performer: "But We Must Rise The College Song" 1932 - uncredited
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story
2002
TV Movie documentary
Herself (uncredited)
Busby Berkeley: Going Through the Roof
1998
TV Movie documentary
Herself (as Toby Wing Merrill)
Screen Snapshots Series 18, No. 1
1938
Documentary short
Herself
La Fiesta de Santa Barbara
1935
Short
Herself
Star Night at the Cocoanut Grove
1934
Short
Herself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Down Memory Lane
1949
Blonde at poolside
Musical Memories
1946
Short
Blonde Chorus Girl(edited from '42nd Street')
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1960
Star on the Walk of Fame
Walk of Fame
Motion Picture
On 8 February 1960. At 6561 Hollywood Blvd.
Known for movies
Rhythmitis (1936) as Lola Green
Thoroughbred (1935) as Anne O'Malley
Search for Beauty (1934) as Sally Palmer
Silks and Saddles (1936) as Marion Braddock / Jane Smith
$300,000
