Fatty Arbuckle, Clara Bow, Jackie Coogan
Silent Screen Star Scandals – Sex, Sanity, Substance Abuse and So On
Apr 10, 2009
Before the days of censorship and codes within Hollywood, the stars of the silent silver screen created several scandals.
Murderous, sexual, economic, and generally diverse in nature scandals were torrid, sorrowful, and more extreme than many movie star scandals of the talking picture era.
A – Fatty Arbuckle
Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle (1887-1933) was a famous silent screen comedian. He became one of the highest paid stars of Hollywood, and he was responsible for assisting the careers of future stars Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and Bob Hope.
However, Arbuckle is now best remembered for the scandal surrounding the death of Virginia Rappe. The aspiring actress died in suspicious circumstances during a 1921 Labor Day Weekend Party hosted by Arbuckle, who was tried for her death. Although not convicted, the highly publicized scandal seriously damaged his career.
B – Clara Bow
Known as “The It Girl,” Clara Bow (c.1907-1965) became known as sexually appealing quintessential flapper.
Her childhood was plagued by tragedy. She grew up neglected and mistreated by her parents. Not only beaten by her father, her mentally ill mother awakened her with the purpose of stabbing her to death. Although able to escape, Bow consistently suffered from insomnia as a result.
During her stardom, tabloids often reported her as having love affairs with high profile leading actors. She was even cited as the other party in the divorce of Bela and Beatrice Lugosi.
Following the unset of “talkies” studio demands caused her to enter a sanatorium. Although able to recover her nerves, she retired from acting, marrying actor Rex Bell and becoming a fulltime wife and mother.
C – Jackie Coogan
John “Jackie” Coogan (1914-1984) was a famed child star of silent films. Earning up to $4 million, as an adult he had to bring a lawsuit against his mother and stepfather in order to claim any of his money. At the time married to his first wife pinup movie star, Betty Grable, Coogan only received about $126,000, but it did set precedents for child acting laws.
In later life, Coogan originated the role of Uncle Fester in The Addams Family. He married four times, producing four children.
D – Marion Davies
Marion Douras (1897-1961) was an actress in silent films, but she is better known as the longtime girlfriend of William Randolph Hearst. Despite the proprieties of the time, the couple lived together for many decades without ever marrying, perhaps due to Hearst being already wed.
In 1924, Davies became central to a scandalous death aboard the Hearst yacht. The party of guests including Charlie Chaplin and Louella Parsons never revealed exactly what occurred, but they returned to shore with the corpse of Thomas Ince. Speculation asserted that a jealous Hearst may have killed Ince due to suspecting him as having an affair with Davies. No charges were brought, and the truth remains elusive.
E – Jeanne Eagels
Amelia Jeannine Eagles (1894-1929) was predominately an acclaimed Broadway actress, but she also received notice for her performances in silent and early talking pictures.
She may have given up for adoption a son from an early failed marriage, but her early life remains as mysterious as her death. She died while still in her mid-thirties. Doctors were unable to agree on a cause of death, dividing between believing her death to have been caused by the effects of either alcohol or heroin.
Douglas Fairbanks, Lillian Gish, Hedda Hopper, Thomas Ince and more
Silent Screen Star Scandals continues with the murders, intrigues, and affairs of F-J Silent Silver Screen Stars.
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