ARBUCKLE MAY GET BAIL -- September 15, 2021

 

Salem, Oregon Capital Journal, 15-September-1921

District Attorney Matthew Brady made plans to charge Roscoe Arbuckle in the death of actress Virginia Rappe, who died in a San Francisco hospital on 09-September-1921. She had been in critical condition since attending a Labor Day party held by actor Roscoe Arbuckle at the Saint Francis Hotel on 05-November-1921. She died because of a ruptured bladder which became infected. The DA seemed to be trying to stack the deck against Roscoe. 

ARBUCKLE MAY GET BAIL

ARRAIGNMENT HELD

ON MANSLAUGHTER

CHARGE; TRIAL SET

Freedom To Be Allowed On $5,000 Deposit If

Prosecution Decides To Sidetrack Two Murder

Charges Pending; District Attorney

Undecided As To Course

San Francisco, Sept. 15. -- A county grand jury indictment charging Roscoe Arbuckle, with manslaughter in connection with the death of Miss Virginia Rappe, motion picture actress, after a party in his rooms in the St. Francis hotel, was returned to Presiding Judge Shortall of the superior court today.

The indictment was voted September 14.

Bail was set at $5,000 cash or $10,000 bonds and the case assigned to the court of Superior Judge Harold Louderback in the Hall of Justice.

The indictment:
"We, the grand jury charge, to wit: That on or about the ninth of September, 1921, Roscoe Arbuckle did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously and without malice aforethought, kill Virginia Rappe, a human being."

Arbuckle was not in court.

District Attorney Brady explained that Arbuckle would not be admitted to ball until two murder charges pending against him had been disposed of. He is to confer with the chief of police and other authorities later in the day as to the exact charge on which Arbuckle shall be tried.

Arbuckle Threatened

San Francisco, Sept. 15. -- A threat of violence against Roscoe Arbuckle, "If justice is not done" in his case, was contained in an anonymous special delivery letter received from Sacramento today by Harry Kelly, secretary of the county grand jury. The letter was turned over to the police.

Arbuckle bade goodbye to his cellmate, David Bender, who escaped from the Maryland penitentiary. Bender left today in charge of a Maryland official to serve the remainder of his term. Bender wished Arbuckle "good luck" and the film comedian reciprocated the sentiment.

Funeral Plans Laid

San Francisco, Sept. 15. -- Arrangements are being completed today for the funeral of Miss Virginia Rappe, motion picture actress, whose death in a sanitarium here last Friday resulted in four charges against Roscoe C. (Fatty) Arbuckle, two of murder and two of manslaughter. Herman Jaurag, motion picture director of Los Angeles, is expected to arrive today and take charge of the remains for shipment to Hollywood, Miss Rappe's home.

Prosecutor Thanked.

A telegram from Mayor L. C. Hodgson of St. Paul which thanked Brady for his announced intentions that he will prosecute the case without fear or favor, was made public by Brady today. It continued:

"Latest reports Indicate Arbuckle money Is overcoming state testimony. Do not falter. Fight this to a finish. If Arbuckle is not punished the moving picture business is done, for decent people are tired of the eccentricities of genius. Go the limit and win praise of all good people."

Brady replied that "in spite of Arbuckle's money and influence the case will be prosecuted most vigorously."

Another telegram from Henry Lehrman of New York, Miss Rappe's fiance, to Brady also was made public. It said:

Fiancé Asks Justice.

"For the sake of God and justice to men don't let justice be cheated. It brought tears of rage to my eyes when I read your speech that influence and wealth are brought into play to bar justice. I cried because you told the truth in spite of the pressure of gold to stifle it.

"You are convinced from facts and I from knowing him that Arbuckle killed Virginia Rappe as a result of his attack.

"Now don't let them cheat justice -- for God's sake don't."

While the city authorities busied themselves with the case, federal prohibition enforcement officials, under the direction of Robert R. McCormack, assistant United States attorney general in charge of prohibition violations, continued an investigation of charges that a considerable quantity of liquor was served and consumed at the hotel party in Arbuckle's room in which Miss Rappe is alleged to have received her fatal Injuries. McCormack announced that there would be vigorous investigation and a quick hearing on the charge.

Bail Is Possible.

District Attorney Brady announced that he would be present in the court of Presiding Judge Shortall, of the superior court, when the grand jury manslaughter indictment against Arbuckle is returned, and that he might decide later in the day the charge on which he will try Arbuckle.

It was pointed out by Brady that should it be decided to try the film star on a charge of manslaughter, and the murder charge be dismissed, Arbuckle would be admitted to bail. Under the California law a person charged with murder cannot obtain bail.

The coroner's inquest into the death of Miss Rappe was the most important feature of the Arbuckle case yesterday. The coroner's jury recommended a charge of manslaughter. Telegrams were received by District Attorney Brady yesterday asking him to prosecute the case vigorously. Arbuckle too received telegrams, eighteen of them, the contents of which were not made public. The telegrams to Arbuckle were sent in care ot the chief of police and, it was said, many were from women friends.

Roscoe Arbuckle -- MURDER CHARGES FILED -- September 12, 2021

Salem, Oregon Capital Journal, 12-September-1921

100 years ago today, on 12-September-1921, comedian Roscoe Arbuckle was arrested in connection with the death of actress Virginia Rappe, who died in a San Francisco hospital on 09-September-1921. She had been in critical condition since attending a Labor Day party held by actor Roscoe Arbuckle at the Saint Francis Hotel on 05-November-1921. She died because of a ruptured bladder which became infected. Stories began to circulate that Arbuckle had assaulted Rappe. Tried for manslaughter three times, he was acquitted. Virginia Rappe was 26 when she died. Arbuckle's career was ruined. The newspapers sold a lot of copies. Many people who tried to defend Arbuckle said some nasty and unfounded things about Virginia Rappe. Mrs. Bambina Maude Delmont, who had come to the party with Virginia Rappe, told a doctor at the hospital that Arbuckle had raped her friend. The doctor found no evidence of rape. Delmont had been accused of extortion, and may have tried to get money from Arbuckle's attorneys. San Francisco District Attorney Matthew Brady used the case to boost his career. Comedy producer and director Henry (Pathé) Lehrman said he had been engaged to Rappe, and pushed hard for Arbuckle to be tried. Tried for manslaughter three times, Arbuckle was acquitted. Virginia Rappe was 26 when she died. Arbuckle's career was ruined. The newspapers sold a lot of copies. Many people who tried to defend Arbuckle said some nasty and unfounded things about Virginia Rappe.  

MURDER CHARGE FILED

ARBUCKLE IS

ACCUSED OF

KILLING GIRL

Film Comedian Held Without Bail on Charge

Preferred by Friend of Dead Actress; Prosecutor 

Says Case Against "Fatty" Complete;

Coroner's Inquest Today.

San Francisco, Sept. 12. -- A formal complaint charging murder was sworn to before Police Judge Daniel O'Brien today against Roscoe C. (Fatty) Arbuckle in connection with the death of Miss Virginia Rappe, a motion picture actress. The complaint was signed by Mrs. Bambina Maude Delmont, a friend of the dead actress.

Arbuckle appeared in court to be arraigned on the charge sworn to by Mrs. Delmont. At the request of the district attorney the case was continued until Friday morning and Arbuckle was taken back to his cell.

Dr. T. B. W. Leland, city and county coroner, said that the inquest would start today, but probably would not be concluded until tomorrow. Doctors Arthur Beardslee, William Ophuls and M. E. Rumwell who attended Miss Rappe, will be called on to testify today, he said. Arbuckle will be present at the inquest, but may not testify today.

In his answer to Lehrman, Brady said Miss Rappe's body would not be shipped to her home in Los Angeles until after the inquest. He asked Lehrman what his wishes were in regard to the funeral.

Mrs. Delmont appeared to be near collapse after making the charge against Arbuckle.

The arraignment was conducted in a haze of flashlight smoke, the flashlights popping with machine gun regularity.

Arbuckle appeared through a side door, flanked by his attorneys and the police guard. He appeared greatly dejected and heaved many sighs.

Court Room Packed.

Following the court session and before he was taken back to his cell, he was given an opportunity to go Into the judge's chambers and smoke a cigarette while the arraignment papers were being made out.

The little court room was packed, the spectators rising in their chairs when Arbuckle appeared and remaining in that position during the brief session. There were few women present.

District Attorney Brady announced that he had received a telegram from Henry Lehrman, motion picture producer of New York and fiancé of Miss Rappe, asking him to obtain a sworn statement from Mrs. Delmont. Brady replied that the statement has already been obtained.

Mrs. Spreckles Named.

Brady said also that he had sent for Mrs. Sidi Wirt Spreckles, widow of John D. Spreckles Jr., who was killed in an automobile accident recently, to question her regarding a visit she made to Miss Rappe at the girl's request after the attack.

Mrs. Delmont, in signed and sworn statements, gave the police many details of the party in Arbuckle's rooms in the St. Francis hotel here a week ago today, at which time Miss Rappe was subjected to an alleged attack by Arbuckle. She died four days later.

Mrs. Delmont attended the party and assisted Miss Rappe after the alleged attack. She appeared personally in court to swear to the complaint. Arbuckle was not in court when the complaint was filed.

Arbuckle is held without bail in the Hall of Justice here. He was arrested last Saturday night on his arrival from Los Angeles and was booked on a charge or murder.

Goes to Grand Jury.

The Arbuckle case is scheduled to be brought before the San Francisco county grand jury tonight. A coroner's inquest into Miss Rappe's death has been called for next Thursday.

Arbuckle has requested that none but his attorneys be allowed to see him at the Hall of Justice. He declined yesterday, on the advice of counsel, to make any statement. His lawyers also refused to make a statement or discuss the case in any way.

Police yesterday were busy examining witnesses whom they say will be presented to the grand jury tonight. These witnesses number 22 and are being guarded by police detectives.

Shows Cancel Films.

Representatives of the Famous Players-Lasky corporation, distributors of the films in which Roscoe Arbuckle is featured, said today that there bad been some cancellations of Arbuckle's pictures as a result of the scandal involving the actor. Any declaration of policy in regard to the corporation's pictures would have to come from New York.

The corporation representatives here declined to say where the pictures were cancelled outside of San Francisco. There were' two cancellations here.

Arbuckle went to bed on his narrow cell couch at 9 o'clock last night and apparently slept soundly. When the prison watch shouted "everybody up" at the usual rising time today, he awakened, but rolled over on the bed and tried to go to sleep again. He was told he must get up, however, so he arose, smilingly.

Eats Big Breakfast.

While he did not take advantage of the prison showers, he dressed with the greatest care. He ordered his breakfast from the outside and when the waiter came, held a long, secret conference with him. The waiter brought back a carefully covered tray which Arbuckle attacked with all of the secrecy possible.

He continued to decline to see any visitors, other than his attorneys. He is scheduled to appear in police court for formal arraignment today.

Captain of Detectives Matheson ordered that Arbuckle be placed in the regular morning lineup of prisoners which is held for the police detectives each morning, and that he be photographed for the rogue's gallery and his fingerprints and Bertillon measurements taken.

Case "Complete" Claim.

Arbuckle consented later to see a group of newspaper men, but refused to discuss the Rappe case with them. He appeared dejected but said he was receiving good treatment in the jail.

District Attorney Grady through Deputy Milton T. U'Ren, said:
"We have a complete case against Arbuckle."

Arbuckle's appearance in police court was delayed until his Bertillon measurements could be taken and he could be photographed for the rogue's gallery.

The measurements showed that his weight was 266 pounds and his height 5 feet 8 5/8 inches. He gave his birthplace as Kansas and his age at 34.

LEHRMAN ENGAGED TO

GIRL; TO PUSH CHARGE

New York, Sept. 12. -- Henry Lehrman, motion picture director, who was engaged to marry Virginia Rappe, the film actress for whose death Roscoe Arbuckle .is held in jail in San Francisco, today said he would devote every moment he could spare from his business to pressing the comedian's prosecution.

"I cannot got to the coast in person," he said, "but I am doing everything that can be done by telephone."

Mr. Lehrman said that he would supervise funeral arrangements after the inquest in San Francisco Thursday. Miss Rappe, he said, had no near relatives. Burial will be in Los Angeles.

The Sordid Arbuckle Tragedy -- September 5, 2021

Sunset, May, 1915

100 years ago today, on 05-September-1921, actor Roscoe Arbuckle and some of his friends had a Labor Day party at the Saint Francis Hotel. Guest Virginia Rappe, an actress, became sick and had to be hospitalized. On 09-September-1921, she died because of a ruptured bladder which became infected. Stories began to circulate that Arbuckle had assaulted Rappe. Tried for manslaughter three times, he was acquitted. Virginia Rappe was 26 when she died. Arbuckle's career was ruined. The newspapers sold a lot of copies. Many people who tried to defend Arbuckle said some nasty and unfounded things about Virginia Rappe.

Moving Picture World, 10-September-1921

At the beginning of September, 1921, Roscoe Arbuckle was doing well. Several of his movies, features and shorts, were in release. He made many personal appearances. And once in a while he liked to take a drive up to San Francisco for the weekend.

Indiana Daily Times, 07-September-1921

He did some product endorsements. I like this one. "Good nature is evident in the way Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle holds his OMAR."

Moving Picture World, 03-September-1921

Moving Picture World, 10-September-1921

Moving Picture World, 24-September-1921

Moving Picture World, 17-September-1921

Illustrator and puppet animator Tony Sarg made this poster for Gasoline Gus.

Arizona Republican, 04-April-1920

At the beginning of September, 1921, Virginia Rappe's career was still active, although she did not play leads. She may have been engaged to comedy producer Pathé Lehrman, but she went to Roscoe's party at the Saint Francis. She became ill during the party, was hospitalized, and died in a hospital on 09-September-1921.

Moving Picture World, 24-September-1921

Newspapers and magazines quickly turned on Roscoe.

Exhibitors Withdraw Arbuckle Comedies,

Awaiting Court Action on Murder Charge

WHILE Roscoe ('Fatty') Arbuckle languishes in the San Francisco prison under an indictment for manslaughter, with the police still endeavoring to prove a case of murder against him, in connection with the death of Virginia Rappe, an actress, who died of peritonitis four days after a 'drinking' party in the comedian’s suite at the Hotel St. Francis on the afternoon of September 10, exhibitors in some parts of the country are cancelling contracts on Arbuckle pictures and withdrawing them during showings.

The New York Theatre Owners Chamber of Commerce, representing about 500 picture houses, has gone on record against the exhibition at present of Arbuckle pictures. Members assert that the films and the advertising and lobby displays are being hissed. Several theatres in Albany, Troy and Schenectady have banned the pictures. These include, the Proctor, Pearl and Happy Hour in Schenectady.

Members of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Southern California have adopted a resolution favoring the withdrawal of the films. This action was taken after Sid Grauman withdrew "Gasoline Gus," Arbuckle's latest comedy, from his Los Angeles theatre. Secretary Glenn Harper is quoted as saying that California people are bitter over the undesirable notoriety the state has received.

The Western Pennsylvania, Missouri and Kansas organizations have voted against exhibiting the pictures at present. Kansas women politicials have asked the state censors to bar Arbuckle films because a large crowd in a Topeka theatre cheered when the comedian was shown on the screen after his arrest.

L. J. Dittmar has stopped an Arbuckle film in Louisville, Ky.

S. R. Kent, general manager of Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, announced:
"There is nothing that we can say. We are awaiting the outcome of Arbuckle's troubles. A few exhibitors have requested changes of the booking of the Arbuckle pictures and in those cases we have bowed to their wishes in the matter."

The original stories told by guests at Arbuckle's party led the San Francisco authorities to formally charge him with murder. They said they entertained little doubt but that the grand jury would immediately indict him under that charge. But when Sadie Reiss, known in films as Zey Privon, reversed, it is alleged, the story she told the police, the grand jury declined to indict and adjourned subject to the call of the prosecutor.

District Attorney Matthew Brady immediately charged that powerful interests were at work to influence the witnesses and said he might charge the Privon woman with perjury. The defense also got a setback when Mrs. Maude Delmont, an actress and another guest at the party, testified. She had sworn out the warrant charging Arbuckle with murder, but before the grand jury she testified that she had had about ten drinks of whiskey and that Miss Rappe went into Arbuckle's room of her own accord.

"They were in there an hour," she testified. "I heard her screaming. I phoned the manager. Arbuckle heard the telephone call and came out. He had on Miss Rappe's hat.

"Miss Rappe, when I went in to her, cried out: 'I'm hurt, I'm dying. He did it.'

"I took off her clothing and we put her in a cold bath. Yes, she was pretty fully clothed -- had on shirtwaist, stockings and everything. She commenced to tear at her clothes."

The rest of Mrs. Delmont's testimony described Miss Rappe's nervous condition. During the examination Dr. Leland asked her if she felt sleepy.

"Oh, no," she replied. "I had a hypodermic this morning and I'm all right."

Arbuckle Silent

The known witnesses examined so far include Al Semnacher, Los Angeler, Miss Rappe's manager; Zey Privon, actress; Alice Blake, San Francisco entertainer; Lowell Sherman, actor; Fred Fischback, director; Joyce and Dollie Clark, actresses; Ira G. Fortlius, New York salesman, all of whom are said to have been at the party; Mrs. Jean Jameson, Miss Martha Hamilton and Miss Vera Cumberland, nurses; half a dozen physicians and the detectives. Arbuckle has steadfastly refused to make any statements, being thus advised by his lawyers. Betty Campbell is said to have disappeared.

The prohibition enforcement authorities are endeavoring to learn where Arbuckle got his liquor, as the hotel suite is reported to have been full of it.

Post-Mortem Statement

The following post-mortem statement on Miss Rappe's death was given by Dr. William Ophuls:

"The post-mortem examination showed a ruptured bladder, the rupture being clue to natural causes. There were no marks of violence on the body. There were absolutely no evidence of a criminal assault, no signs that the girl had been attacked."

Dr. W. E. Rumwell told of attending Miss Rappe and admitted making a post-mortem examination with another doctor without official authority. She said he was curious to know the cause of the peritonitis that caused her death. He said he found the rupture of an important organ, resulting in death.

Weighed 16 Pounds at Birth

Arbuckle was born in Smith Center, Kansas, in 1887. His weight at birth was sixteen pounds. He is recalled by the townspeople as a fat, overgrown, mischievous lad, with a natural bent for acting. He got his first stage job when 8 years old in Santa Ana, Cal., as a pickaninny in a stock company for 50 cents a night. His first regular job came ten years later when Sid Grauman hired him at $17.50 a week to sing popular songs in his San Jose vaudeville house. Chris Brown hired Arbuckle to sing at the Star Theatre, Portland, Ore., and Leon Errol took him into one of his companies. At one time he was a soft shoe dancer in Oakland. He entered pictures at $3 a day as an extra for Keystone.

Minta Durfee, Arbuckle’s wife, from whom he separated about five years ago, is on her way to San Francisco with the avowed purpose of helping him. To New York newspapermen she characterized her husband as "just a great big, lovable, pleasure-loving, overgrown boy whose success and prosperity have been a little too much for him." They were married in 1908. She said they parted friends and that Arbuckle has been generous in his allowance to her. Last February he gave her an automobile.

Arbuckle’s only sister, Mrs. Nora Arbuckle St. John, mother of Al St. John, the comedian, and Arbuckle’s two brothers, Harry and Arthur, are already in San Francisco, having left Los Angeles.

Henry Lehrman has been heavily interviewed by New York newspapers and seized the calcium by announcing he was Miss Rappe’s "fiancé" and that Arbuckle "would have to answer to him" if "justice" wasn’t done. Others in the industry have leaped into publicity in the case and the newspapers of the country are playing the story sensationally.

Moving Picture World, 24-September-1921

The Sordid Arbuckle Tragedy

WE do not propose to judge the guilt or innocence of Roscoe Arbuckle, accused of causing the death of Virginia Rappe in San Francisco. The machinery of law has been put into motion and in the course of time a decision will be reached and made public.

The culpability of Roscoe Arbuckle will not be established until then, but in the weeks that will intervene the entire moving picture business will suffer from the sensational retailing in the daily newspapers of all the sickening details of the death and the causes which led to it.

Already the newspaper bureaus have been asked by their newspaper customers for every scrap and morsel of information in this case and in other cases (fortunately a very few) where moving picture people have been involved in smirching situations.

Of course, the moving picture business is not responsible for the drinking party nor for the tragedy, any more than the reverend clergy were responsible for the minister of the gospel who, in cold blood, murdered a young woman of his parish in Boston not so long ago, nor any more than the banking business was responsible for the notorious marital infelicities of Mr. Stillman, the head of one of the greatest banks in the world. But the public's love for a sensation, especially a sensation in which a man known to the millions is the central figure, creates a morbid demand which the newspapers find nothing unprofessional in supplying.

In our opinion, Mr. Arbuckle's screen career is at an end. Earlier in the short history of our business a popular star became known as a wife-beater and his popularity disappeared over night. Later a man who stood at the very top of the wave crest of popular favor was divorced by his wife and immediately he became a cipher as a screen attraction. No matter what the verdict of the courts, the action of the Grand Jury, or the recommendations of the district attorney of San Francisco, the public, fed to the full with stories of a drunken debauch in which women were so lightly held, will turn against Roscoe Arbuckle. He scarcely can rise from the ruin that has crashed down about his head. The public and the moving picture industry will not tolerate a smirched figure on the screen.

In cases of this kind, in whatever business or in whatever walk of life their principals happen to be moving, the innocent suffer with the guilty, and so the moving picture industry may be prepared at all censorship hearings, or in all the reformers' railings, to have the Arbuckle case flung into its face for years to come.

We have no sympathy for those in our business who seek to use the case as a vehicle for bringing publicity to themselves, or for those business rivals of Roscoe Arbuckle who see a temporary advantage for themselves in the miserable plight in which he finds himself. They must indeed be short of vision if they do not realize the damage which all of our industry innocently sustains from this unhappy and wholly sordid tragedy.

Our business is peopled with men and women of high character, of sincere motives, of honest and faithful endeavor. They are husbands and fathers, wives and mothers, sons and daughters, as clean of mind and conduct as can be found in any business, in any social stratum and in any endeavor in the world. It is this great majority that suffers most in these pitiful and tragic circumstances.

It is to be hoped that the law's investigation will be swift, just and complete, so that the facts once established can be, with the immediate principals of the seamy cast, put behind us.

Mav this be the last of the sensations furnished by the "movies."

ARTHUR JAMES.

Moving Picture World, 24-September-1921

 

It Is Not for Us to Pass Judgment on

Roscoe Arbuckle, Says M. P. T. O. A.

THE following statement on the Arbuckle case has been made by the Committee on Public Welfare, Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America:
"While the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of America is cognizant of the charges made against Roscoe Arbuckle, yet the apparent reflection which seems to be cast upon the entire motion picture industry because of these charges demands that this organization at this time and in terms as emphatic as it is capable of, declare that it has lost none of the sublime confidence it has always manifested in the laws of our government and the integrity of its various prosecuting officers.

"This organization knows that Roscoe Arbuckle will be prosecuted, as he should be, by the same methods and under the same laws that the humblest citizen in California would be dealt with, and if a jury of his peers, decides that he is guilty of the crime as charged, not only will this organization refuse to sympathize with him but will ring loudest in its condemnation.

"However, we believe that it is not for us to pass judgment on him, nor any other in similar circumstances, but to withhold our judgment until the jury shall return a verdict, and to be guided by that alone.

"Exact Analogies."

"However, we keenly resent the indictment hastily and unthinkingly made against the entire motion picture industry because of this most unfortunate occurrence. Not so long since, when a minister of the gospel was charged with a heinous crime, no one ever thought, and very properly so, that it cast a reflection upon all those distinguished gentlemen of the cloth, nor yet when one of America's foremost bankers played an important part in a sensational domestic controversy did the public look with suspicion upon the entire banking interests. And so we might recount instances in every profession and every industry known to the civilized world and find exact analogies.

"Our motion picture theatre owners are modest, industrious family men of the highest type of citizenship in this coun- try, which is evidenced even in the smallest hamlet by the respect in which they are held. The industry at large is made up of the best executive minds, the greatest artists and the best mechanics, and it is high time they were accorded that same fairness and justice that is so freely given to men in every other walk of life.

Against Reissue Showing Victim

"This organization respectfully submits that of the hundreds of thousands of men and women earning a livelihood in the motion picture industry, there has been but a mere handful who do not enjoy an enviable reputation for industry, citizenship and morality.

"This organization, formed for the protection of the motion picture going public, has never swerved from its original intention and is determined to remain steadfast as long as its exists. We will never, in so far as we can prevent it, permit any one to capitalize crime or indecency, nor to use our screens for the purpose of morbid notoriety. Upon this, we assure the public, they can absolutely depend.

"While various state and local associations have already declared that they will not show Roscoe Arbuckle pictures until he shall have purged himself of this charge, no more so shall we tolerate the showing on our screens of any picture of the unfortunate Virginia Rappe. We make this observation because our notice has been called to the fact that a certain distributing company has decided to reissue an old comedy picture showing Miss Rappe, who appears in a very minor and inconspicuous part, and we want the people to know that they will never turn morbidity into dollars with our assistance."

First National Withholds Virginia Rappe Films

UNDER date of August 14, Sydney S. Cohen, national president of the M. P. T. O. A., has written Associated First National Pictures, Inc., that he has been informed its exchanges are "extensively exploiting and reissuing films in which Miss Virginia Rappe plays a minor and inconspicuous part." He writes that if this is true, the M. P. T. O. A. will look upon it "with positive disfavor."

J. D. Williams, manager of the circuit, replied immediately, expressing great surprise and saying that he has no record of any such bookings made since September 11. He presented a copy of a telegram sent all exchanges, to the effect that no bookings will be countenanced on "The Punch of the Irish," "Wet and Warmer," "Kick in High Life," "Twilight Baby," and "Game Lady," all pictures in which Miss Rappe played. The telegram asks for reports on any instances where exhibitors recently playing any of these pictures may have ignored the posters and press sheets, in which Miss Rappe's name does not appear, and instead used "special matter printed locally and featuring her."

Moving Picture World, 24-September-1921

And finally, this was added to a little item about promoting one of Roscoe's movies:

In this issue we offer a number of exploitation stunts on Roscoe Arbuckle, prepared before the recent developments. As these all have a distinct exploitation value apart from the star, they are offered here for the general information of the exhibitor-exploiter.

You Will Have No "Blue" Mondays -- August 23, 2020

 

Motion Picture News, 07-August-1920

Henry (Pathé) Lehrman started out at Biograph, then went to Keystone with Mack Sennett, then left Sennett to found L-KO (Lehrman Knock-Out) Komedies. He left L-KO to produce Sunshine Comedies for Fox. Sunshine Comedies frequently featured pretty girls and lions. Lehrman left Fox to make comedies released by First National. Fox Sunshine still had plenty of pretty girls. 

 Bud Fisher's Mutt and Jeff was the most popular comic strip in America for many years. Augustus Mutt and Jeff had many timely adventures.

Motion Picture News, 07-August-1920

How Henry Lehrman "Kids" Those Dramatic "Fillums" -- August 19, 2020

Bottineau, ND Courant, 12-August-1920

In his wonderful book The Silent Clowns, Walter Kerr suggested that Lloyd Hamilton was one of the great silent comics whose reputation has diminished. This is because many of the solo movies Hamilton made for Educational during the 1920s are lost. Perhaps this is also because he was not able to succeed as a star in feature films.

In "A Twilight Baby," Ham appeared with Virginia Rappe, the poor young woman who is mostly remembered for dying the day after a party with Roscoe Arbuckle in San Francisco's Saint Francis Hotel. People told a lot of ugly stories about her, but I doubt that any of them were true.

Fatty Arbuckle Has Written a Song -- August 27, 2019

Moving Picture World, 30-August-1919

Buster Keaton's first movie after his return from military service was "Back Stage," one of the funniest Comique productions.

Moving Picture World, 09-August-1919

Two stories that we saw last month insisted that Roscoe was not a partner with Pathé Lehrman, but a tenant in his new studio.

Moving Picture World, 23-August-1919

Roscoe moved his productions from Glendale to Culver City.

Moving Picture World, 09-August-1919

This item reminds us that Roscoe was the "manager, owner and general factotum" of the Vernon baseball team of the Pacific Coast League, and that Molly Malone was the team's mascot.

Moving Picture World, 02-August-1919

Moving Picture World, 09-August-1919

Roscoe's wife, Minta Durfee, signed to appear in a series of comedies for Truart Pictures.

Moving Picture World, 02-August-1919

Roscoe's nephew, Al St John, signed a contract to appear in a series of sort comedies produced by the Warner Brothers.

Moving Picture World, 09-August-1919

Buster Keaton is Back in the Cast -- July 27, 2019

Film Fun, July, 1919

"This is Fatty -- no, this is Magnate Roscoe Arbuckle, president and owner of the Vernon Club of the Pacific Coast League."

Moving Picture World, 05-July-1919

Buster Keaton was back from his service in the Army.  Roscoe made his next film, "Back Stage," in a leased studio in Glendale.  It is a good one.

Moving Picture World, 12-July-1919

Roscoe and Henry Lehrman were planning to share a new studio they were building in Culver City.

Moving Picture World, 12-July-1919

"Buster Keaton is back in the cast ... The company is working at the Astra Studio in Glendale, Cal., pending preparation of a new studio located probably in Culver City."

Motion Picture News, 05-July-1919

Buster talked about his deafness, which resulted from the horrible climate in Europe.

Moving Picture World, 19-July-1919

Roscoe explained that he was not entering into a partnership with Pathé Lehrman, but would "become a tenant of the plant."

Moving Picture World, 26-July-1919

The new studio in Culver City was going to be near Thomas H Ince's studio.

Moving Picture World, 05-July-1919

Not only did Roscoe own a professional baseball team, he was also a big fight fan. He rode on a special train with other celebrities to see the Dempsey-Willard heavyweight championship which took place in Toledo, Ohio on 04-July-1919:
http://cablecarguy.blogspot.com/2019/07/fight-should-have-ended-in-one-round.html

Lehrman to Make More Sunshine -- December 21, 2018

Variety, 21-December-1918

100 years ago this month, in December, 1918, Henry (Pathé) Lehrman was expanding his comedy empire.

Moving Picture World, 07-December-1918

Sunshine Comedies had a new office building and a new publicity rep.  The managed to spell Lehrman's name wrong in the title.

Moving Picture World, 21-December-1918

Lehrman added a fourth production company.

Motion Picture News, 21-December-1918

Not a Serious Thing in Them Except the Profits -- Setpember 25, 2018

Moving Picture World, 28-September-1918

Henry (Pathé) Lehrman started out at Biograph, then went to Keystone with Mack Sennett, then left Sennett to found L-KO (Lehrman Knock-Out) Komedies. He left L-KO to produce Sunshine Comedies for Fox. Sunshine Comedies frequently featured pretty girls and lions. Here we see a lion sitting on top of a locomotive boiler and a comedian stuck in the smokestack.  Many of the films were lost in a big fire at Fox.

Moving Picture World, 07-September-1918

Bud Fisher's Mutt and Jeff was the most popular comic strip in America for many years.  Augustus Mutt and Jeff had many timely adventures.  The cartoon in this ad refers to the draft.  Mutt is eligible because he is 18 to 45, while Jeff is not because he is too short.

Moving Picture World, 21-September-1918

Despite Jeff being too short, they wound up in the army, fighting the Germans.

Moving Picture World, 28-September-1918

"As an example of the policty now almost exclusively followed utilizing big news events as the theme of the Mutt and Jeff Animated cartoons..." Mutt and Jeff wound up in Berlin, treating Kaiser Bill's aching tooth.