By Meredith Stanton Vaselaar
Adrian Branch Librarian
What do Judy Garland, Gail Sondergaard, Gig Young, Al Franken, Marlon Brando, Jessica Lange, Tippi Hedren, Joel & Ethan Coen, the Andrews Sisters, Jane Russell, Steve Zahn, and Tim O’Brien have in common? All of them have ties to Minnesota, and all of them have ties to motion pictures. They are just a few of whom represent the state of Minnesota in the cinema – in front of and behind the camera.
Author Rolf Canton, whose books include “Minnesotans in the Movies,” and “Minnesotans in the Movies: Behind the Cameras,” became fascinated with the movies, Hollywood, television, and all things on the silver screen at the age of five. He might have been just in Kindergarten, but he fell in love with everything to do with stars and film, perhaps beginning with Darla Hood, of the “Our Gang” series. After that, there was no looking back.
Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Canton attended the Blake School in Minneapolis, where he was classmates with Governor Mark Dayton. He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1969, with a degree in Theatre Arts and Humanities. He has held many jobs over the years, including Lumber Salesman, Massage Therapist, English Teacher in Bonn, Germany, and taught English as a second language in Salonika, Greece. Canton is currently living in Adrian.
Canton’s first book, “The Moriarty Principle,” is an irregular look at Sherlock Holmes and his archenemy, Professor James Moriarty. Eventually, Canton started to research his first love – the movies and television. He focused his research on actors and actresses, as well as directors, writers, and more, with ties to Minnesota. That research, with hours spent at the Minneapolis Central Library, pouring over old newspapers, looking through archives, even telephone books, to search out those “Hollywood Minnesotans” who gave so many such pleasure through their movies and television performances.
Rolf Canton’s first book about film stars is “Minnesotan’s in the Movies,” and contains biographies of dozens of actors and actresses. One can read about Phil Bruns, who was born just seven miles south of Pipestone, Minnesota, and after leaving home and earning a degree at Yale University, went on to perform alongside stars such as Jackie Gleason and Robert Redford, and his movies include “Midnight Cowboy,” “The Great Waldo Pepper,” and “Flashdance,” and an appearance on “Seinfeld.” Of course, there are many stars to read about, Oscar winners and nominees, and those with Emmys and other accolades in their field.
Canton wrote a follow-up book called, “Minnesotans in the Movies Volume 2: Behind the Cameras.” This book highlights producers, including Mike Todd (whose wives included Joan Blondell and Elizabeth Taylor); screenwriters such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Al Franken; to those whose stories and books have been made into movies, such as Tim O’Brien (born and raised in Worthington, Minnesota), Jon Hassler, and Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Canton’s third book of the genre, “Minnesotans in the Media,” is currently available as an eBook.
Canton has done more than just read about his favorites performers, and those behind the scenes; he has also had the opportunity to meet many stars along the way. To name just a few of those he met over the years (with or without Minnesota ties): Bob Hope, Mary Martin, Sophia Loren, Charlton Heston, Debbie Reynolds, Red Skelton, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemon, Mitzi Gaynor, Ann Miller & Mickey Rooney (who toured together in “Sugar Babies”), Jimmy Durante and the adult Shirley Temple. There is no clear count as to how many stars Canton has met over the decades, but to meet his childhood idols, as well as current stars, has left a lasting impression.
The Adrian Branch Library will be hosting a book talk with Mr. Canton on Monday, November 13, 2017, in the Library, at 1:00 p.m. Rolf will talk about what went into the research for his books, as well as stories about some of the stars that are included in his books. The Library will serve cookies, and Rolf will have limited copies of his books available for perusal. The Library will be adding his two “Minnesotans in the Movies” volumes for checkout.
The public is welcome to attend the book talk, and ask questions and chat with Mr. Canton. The Library and Adrian Senior Dining have partnered to make the most of the day, with Senior Dining offering the November $2.00 meal on that day. People are encouraged to dine at the Senior Center, then head over to the Library to hear Mr. Canton speak at 1:00 p.m. The Library program is, as always, free and open to the public.
