Knowing Virginia Karns Patterson was truly one of the most unique and fulfilling experiences in my life. I had met many celebrities – mostly in the Laurel & Hardy and Our Gang realm – up to that point, but never had I carried on a true friendship with any of them. Virginia was mostly known for her role as Mother Goose in the 1934 Laurel & Hardy film Babes in Toyland. She also had supporting roles in several other Hal Roach short subjects which included Four Parts (Charley Chase series), Soup and Fish (Todd-Kelly series), and Music in Your Hair (starring Billy Gilbert and Billy Bletcher).
What made Virginia unique to me was that she currently hailed from Dayton, Ohio – and had for decades. She had married R. William Patterson in 1935, who would later become the mayor of Dayton from 1958-62, and he has whisked her back to his hometown. So naturally, when I was introduced to her on Friday, July 25, 1986, at the fifth international Sons of the Desert convention in Valley Forge, she took a special interest in me because not only was I from her hometown, but I was an exceedingly enthusiastic youngster. We had great interaction throughout the week. I got to peruse her memorabilia, photos, and Bill’s letter from Stan, she signed several autographs for me, and we chatted about life in Dayton, Ohio.
After we returned home, our tent Grand Sheik Carl made Virginia an honorary member of our Springfield Towed in a Hole Tent. My family and I also arranged a visit to her house (where, incidentally, Laurel and Hardy had visited in 1941). I further perused her collection of relics and soon began to think of Virginia and Bill as friends. She lent me three of her photos and I had duplicates made for myself and friends for her to sign. I then made an additional visit to her to get her to sign and inscribe them all.
Virginia peeking out second from left in Soup and Fish
Virginia stars in Music in Your Hair with Billy Gilbert (right)
Virginia, Betty Mack, and Charley Chase in Four Parts
Laurel and Hardy visit Virginia in Dayton in 1942
Great photo of Virginia holding the candle holder that she carried in Babes in Toyland – taken by Carl Ahlm
Since we were traveling to our tent meetings from Dayton anyway, we brought Virginia and Bill along for their first meeting on September 27, 1986, and then Virginia alone on October 26. I recall sitting in the back seat of my parents’ car with her, chatting about her career and specifically the director of Babes in Toyland Gus Meins, who had committed suicide after being accused of child molestation.
Photo that Bob got for me as part of a graduation gift – an album full of graduation wishes from Laurel & Hardy/Our Gang celebrities
Sadly, I didn’t take full advantage of my friendship with Virginia after our meeting. Although we chatted once in a while on the phone – and she sent me several birthday cards – I didn’t see her again until she came to the next Sons of the Desert convention in the summer of 1988. Again, we chatted frequently at this convention and a few time afterward. She even signed some additional original photos that I had located during my 1988 Hollywood trip. She hadn’t seen these photos before, so I had negatives made for her.
One of the birthday cards sent to me, this one from 1987
Virginia gave these postcards out to her ‘special friends’ at the 1988 convention. She made it out to my sister and me. This is a photo of a Mother Goose float dating back to the Barnum & London Circus of the 1880’s
Original photo that I found of Patsy Kelly, Thelma Todd, and Virginia Karns in Soup and Fish
Cast shot from Soup and Fish
Letter that Virginia sent to me in 1989
Virginia and Bill were scheduled to attend the 1990 Clearwater convention, but sadly she passed away on June 21, the month prior to the gathering. I had really been looking forward to seeing her again, and immediately kicked myself for not visiting her more often. Sadly and ridiculously, I never got a good photo of myself with Virginia. Her husband Bill lived until June 18, 1995.
The only known photo with Virginia and me. Here Carl and Holly Ahlm and Denise and I gather autographs from three of the cast members from Babes in Toyland – Henry Brandon, Felix Knight, and Virginia Karns. Taken on July 27, 1986. Denise had a much better one taken – seen here.
I went and took a photo of Bill & Virginia’s house – that both Laurel & Hardy and my family and I visited – for an article that I wrote about Virginia in 2003
Grave of Bill and Virginia in Calvary Cemetery in Dayton
As a post-script: on January 24, 2004, I arranged to have a meeting honoring Virginia and was able to gather ten of Virgina’s family members, some of whom flew in from Alexandria, Virginia. It was a great night that I will never forget…and which will be covered at a later time.
Return to the Valley Forge Sons of the Desert convention where I first met Virginia Karns Patterson…
Loved your bloc of my mom, . b y coincidence Jim kirkoff and his wife are coming to my home tomorrow ,I will show him your blog.
Ann
We have forwarded your blog to the other relatives. Thank again
Ann Patterson Boyle
December 26th, 2013
Awesome article. Are you selling any autographs from Babes in Toyland? Thanks
John
March 22nd, 2020
Virginia Karns Patterson was my dads grandma, my great grandma. I remember as a small child living in Dayton, her Cadillac and Spider Monkey on her shoulder. Uncle Bill was major there in Dayton. Thank you for posting such wonderful information about my Great Grandma!
Sherman
September 6th, 2021
Virginia Karns Patterson. I called her my Grandma. Sher was actually my great aunt. Many fond memories of her and her spider monkey on her shoulder.
Sherman Karns
September 7th, 2021
Interestingly, she was called “Jessie” both personally and professionally through young adulthood. She then went by Jessie Virginia Karns as a singer, but then used only Virginia around the time she went to Hollywood and began acting. She subsequently used only Virginia once married and thereafter.
Also, Virginia’s tombstone seems to be incorrect about her year of birth. Multiple documents from earlier in her life (and therefore closer to the event) state her as being in born in 1908. For some reason, it wasn’t until later documents came about that she’s listed as being born in 1907.
Finally, IMDB states her name was “Virginia Ida Weddle”, but I cannot find any corroboration for this. I believe it to be incorrect and it is unfortunately being published by other websites.
Thanks again for sharing your memories and autographed images. She is most certainly a memorable part of Americana, and seems to have been a generally wonderful and giving person.
D Lohr
December 25th, 2021
If anyone is available to provide more information about Virginia and her family, I would be very appreciative. We moved into the Sandalwood home in 2020 and are going to give it a revival. Especially the old cottage!
changebecomesyou@hotmail.com
J Harrison
March 7th, 2022