by Greg Merritt
Entering an amateur contest at the local theater … Ibid., 19—22.
the 1900 census listed… US Census Bureau, Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900, population of Santa Clara, CA, sup. dist. 2, enum. dist. 77, June 9, 1900 (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1904).
“Whenever a baseball went over the fence …” “Former ‘Kid Pals’ of Arbuckle Tell of Early Scrapes,” Evening Independent (Massillon, OH), September 13, 1921.
dancing jigs or belly-flopping… “Story of a Farm Boy’s Rise to Film Star,” New York American, September 13, 1921.
“He was aggravatingly lazy … “ “Here’s Interesting ‘Cut-Back’ on Life of ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle,” Evening Independent (Massillon, OH), September 20, 1921.
“His father used to beat him …” “Film Comedian Forgets His Two Blind Sisters,” Oakland Tribune, September 12, 1921.
In San Francisco two years later … Susan Saperstein, “Grauman’s Theaters,” Guidelines: Newsletter for San Francisco City Guides and Sponsors, www.sfcityguides.org/public_guidelines.html?article=200&submitted=TRUE.
In February 1903 … Clyde Arbuckle, Clyde Arbuckle’s History of San Jose (San Jose, CA: Smith & McKay, 1985), 454.
Between their first public projections … David Robinson, From Peep Show to Palace: The Birth of American Film (New York: Columbia University Press, 1996), 61.
The Unique has a unique history … Saperstein, “Grauman’s Theaters.”
the Hotel St. Francis opened its doors … David Siefkin, Meet Me at the St. Francis: The First Seventy-Five Years of a Great San Francisco Hotel (San Francisco: St. Francis Hotel Corp., 1979), 11, 18—21.
Alexander Pantages … Daniel Statt, “Pantages, Alexander,” HistoryLink.org, www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=2999.
“who persuaded me that I had a voice …” Wil Rex, “Behind the Scenes with Fatty and Mabel,” Picture-Play, April 1916, 50.
“taught me several valuable things …” “Turning Pounds into Laughs Not Arbuckle’s Ideal,” Sun, June 17, 1917.
a new woman appeared onstage … Durfee, unpublished manuscript, 23.
Arbuckle turned again to Alexander Pantages … Ibid., 24.
His rotation of characters … Eric L. Flom, Silent Film Stars on the Stages of Seattle: A History of Performances by Hollywood Notables (Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2009), 119—123.
One day, while returning to Long Beach … Minta Durfee, interview by Don Schneider, July 21, 1974, excerpted at Mabel Normand Home Page, www.mn-hp.com/minta1.html; further details from other Durfee interviews.
“I don’t know what got into me”… Minta Durfee, interview by Walter Wagner, July 4, 1973, in You Must Remember This (New York: Putnam, 1975), 31.
“His ability to do everything …” Durfee, unpublished manuscript, 34.
”Willyou marry me?”… Ibid., 8.
the couple married in the Byde-A-Wyle….” Stage Wedding Draws Crowds,” Los Angeles Times, August 6, 1908.
Durfee was bedridden … Durfee, unpublished manuscript, 13.
3. Virginia
Virginia never knew her father … “Origin of Miss Rappe,” Los Angeles Times, September 20, 1921.
“a pretty girl of nineteen”… “Locked in the Veterans’ Building,” Chicago Tribune, December 23, 1892.
“the most dangerous gang of forgers … “ “Forger Pullman Boys’ Friend,” New York Times, December 31, 1898.
her “grandmother,” Caroline Rapp … Nat Schmulowitz, closing statement of third Arbuckle trial, in Classics of the Bar: Stories of the World’s Great Legal Trials and a Compilation of Forensic Masterpieces, vol. 8, ed. Alvin V. Sellers (Washington, DC: Washington Law Book, 1942), 38.
Rappe’s “adopted aunt”… Ibid.
Mabel Rapp’s deathbed wish … “Adopted Aunt of Actress Denies Operation Rumor,” Oakland Tribune, September 12, 1921.
a “rollicking schoolgirl…” “Friends Defend Miss Rappe,” New York Tribune, November 7, 1921.
A 1908 article in the Chicago Tribune… “Are the Artists’ Models of Chicago More Beautiful Than the Famous Models of Paris?,” Chicago Tribune, November 22, 1908.
she entered into a pact… “Mrs. Arthur Greiner to Re-wed Husband,” Cedar Rapids Daily Republican, October 25, 1912.
“attracting considerable attention …” Ibid.
“Miss Rappe spends most of her time… “ Editorial, Omaha Exclesior, September 20, 1913.
Rappe’s advice to young women … “New Jobs Await Working Women,” Los Angeles Times, January 3, 1913.
when only 18 percent of American women … US Census Bureau, Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1912-14).
the average annual salary for employed men and women … Ibid.
A front-page news story early in 1914… “Girls in Pink Bloomers Mystify Ship’s Passengers,” Fort Wayne News, January 13, 1914.
“the spider-web hat…” “‘Won’t You Come into My Parlor?’ Says Spider to Butterflies of Fashion,” Reno Evening Gazette, May 18, 1915.
“monoplane hat” … “Trim Little Craft Is the Monoplane, Is Now Soaring ‘Cross the Fashion Skies,” Reno Evening Gazette, May 22, 1915.
“summer muff”… “With Muffs In Summer Girls Remain Cool,” Reno Evening Gazette, May 29, 1915.
”Equal clothes rights with men!… ““Here’s the Tuxedo Girl, How Do You Like Her?,” Reno Evening Gazette, May 10, 1915.
‘“The women of America want world peace’…” “Peace Hat! And It’s Crownless Too!,” Reno Evening Gazette, June 19, 1915.
“a man’s diamond ring… “ “Operated on Rappe Girl, Says Doctor,” Bakersfield Californian, March 10, 1922.
“member of an old aristocratic family …” “Fashion Model to Wed,” Daily-News Record, July 31, 1915.
“nice but old enough to be my grandfather”… “‘Cold and Unresponsive’ Is Men’s Description of Miss Rappe,” Evening Record, September 21, 1921.
She struck poses in an Atlanta department store … “Pretty Victim in Arbuckle Gin-Frolic Remembered as Model in Atlanta Store,” Atlanta Constitution, September 13, 1921.
“‘Paradise Garden,’ a seven-part Metro … “ Review of Paradise Garden, Variety, October 12, 1917.
“tears her dress in the rear …” Ibid.
director Henry Lehrman … Biographical details via Thomas Reeder, “And He That Strives to Touch the Stars: Henry Lehrman and the Fledgling Film Industry,” Galitzianer, November 2009, 16-24.
she was listed as “boarder”… US Census Bureau, Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920, population of Los Angeles, CA, precinct 394, January 10, 1920 (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1921).
“one of the wealthiest and most beautiful…” “Wealthy Young Woman to Be Screen Actress,” Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, September 21, 1919.
Lehrman released a terse statement… Anthony Balducci, Lloyd Hamilton: Poor Boy Comedian of Silent Cinema (Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2009), 77.
Arbuckle said his renting… “Film Actor on Stand,” Los Angeles Times, November 29, 1921.
This lengthy headline and subhead… “Back to Quakerland!,” New Castle News, March 4, 1920.
she won prizes for such … “Miss Rappe Winning Fame as Screen Star,” Oakland Tribune, September 11, 1921.
He signed on to direct four films … Reeder, “And He That Strives,” 21.
she paid Kate Hardebeck … “Deny Miss Rappe Ill,” Los Angeles Times, April 8, 1922.
“Her chief delight… “ “Lauds Character of Miss Rappe,” Evening Public Ledger (Philadelphia, PA), September 13, 1921.
his death certificate lists … California State Board of Health, standard certificate of death for William Monroe Ritchie, July 8, 1921, state index number 13748.
Semnacher would later claim … “Blackmail Charged,” Los Angeles Times, September 27, 1921.
sandwiches and coffee in vacuum bottles … “Lauds Character of Mis
s Rappe.”
Delmont later claimed she brought a pint of whiskey … “Dead Girl’s Accusation Is Repeated,” Oakland Tribune, September 13, 1921.
a “very pleasant time” … “Adopted Aunt of Actress Denies Operation Rumor.”
4. Sanitarium
the hotel’s house physician, Dr. Arthur Beardslee … Beardslee’s actions via “Arbuckle’s Aim Short,” Los Angeles Times, November 20, 1921.
Rappe said she did not recollect anything… “Dying Statement of Movie Actress Read by Doctor,” Atlanta Constitution, November 26, 1921.
Arbuckle spoke with Al Semnacher… “Arbuckle Defense Opens; State Rests,” New York Times, November 23, 1921.
Arbuckle picked up the $611.13 tab … “Arbuckle’s Three Day Party Cost Actor $611.13,” Sacramento Bee, September 23, 1921.
the steamship Harvard… Gordon Ghareeb and Martin Cox, Hollywood to Honolulu: The Story of the Los Angeles Steamship Company (Palo Alto, CA: Glencannon, 2009), 13-20.
he met on the Paramount lot… Minta Durfee, unpublished manuscript, unnumbered pages, Minta Durfee Arbuckle Collection, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, Beverly Hills, CA.
Spreckels came to Rappe’s side … “Mrs. Spreckels, Jr., Friend of Dead Girl Pays Tribute,” Oakland Tribune, September 12, 1921.
“Oh, to think I led…” “Party Guests Give Evidence Before Coroner,” Indianapolis Star, September 13, 1921.
prayed for the comatose woman’s recovery … “Pastor Wants Facts on Arbuckle Party,” Oakland Tribune, September 19, 1921.
5. Hollywood: 1909-12
Key works consulted for early motion picture history: David Robinson, From Peep Show to Palace: The Birth of American Film (New York: Columbia University Press, 1996); Robert Sklar, Movie-Made America: A Cultural History of American Movies (New York: Vintage, 1975); Gordon Hendricks, “The History of the Kinetoscope,” in The American Film Industry, ed. Tino Balio (Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1976).
The actual first… William M. Drew, “The Prehistory of Hollywood,” Early Hollywood Films and Movie Stars, 2009, http://william-m-drew.webs.com /prehistoryofhollywood.htm.
Ben’s Kid, a western … Andrew A. Erish, Col. William N. Selig, the Man Who Invented Hollywood (Austin: University of Texas Press, 2012), 83.
Arbuckle’s second film, Mrs. Jones’ Birthday … Ibid.
“The Jones of the picture is a fat fellow … “ Review of Mrs. Jones’ Birthday, New York Dramatic Mirror, September 11, 1909.
“My God!…”Minta Durfee, unpublished manuscript, 81, Minta Durfee Arbuckle Collection, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, Beverly Hills, CA.
“Then, there was nobody breaking in …” “‘Fatty’ Arbuckle Went into the Movies, He Confesses, Because He Likes to Eat,” Baltimore American, February 13, 1921.
at Los Angeles’ Auditorium Theater… Arbuckle’s roles via theater review, Los Angeles Herald, January 19, 1909; ibid., February 3, 1909; ibid., March 16, 1909.
”[He] sings much better than he acts”… The Drama, Los Angeles Times, March 2, 1909.
“You wanted him, you married him …” Durfee, unpublished manuscript, 13.
staging such plays as . . .Theater listings, Bisbee Daily Review, June 17, 1909; ibid., September 5, 1909; ibid., December 7, 1909; ibid., December 14, 1909.
Elks Club funeral… “Elks Honor Dead’s Memory,” Bisbee Daily Review, December 5, 1909.
Eagles Club affair… “Eagles Do Selves Proud with Smoker,” Bisbee Daily Review, October 20, 1909.
country club “dinner and smoker”… “Country Club Has Big Time at Feast,” Bisbee Daily Review, December 11, 1909.
Orpheum wrestling match … “Stone Proves Too Fast for Indian,” Bisbee Daily Review, November 30, 1909.
Arbuckle guest umpired one game … “C.Q. Ball Teams Will Battle Today,” Bisbee Daily Review, October 3, 1909.
“Roscoe Arbuckle and the rest of the Orpheum bunch … “ “Muckers Defeated by the Demons,” Bisbee Daily Review, September 9, 1909.
The other entertainment… “Country Club Has Big Time at Feast.”
“At the close of the performance …” “Man from Boston Scores Big Hit in Two Performances,” Bisbee Daily Review, December 28, 1909.
cranking out three shows daily … Theater advertisement, Los Angeles Herald, April 26, 1910.
“I remember [Arbuckle] when he was … “ Harry Carr, Grouchy Remarks, Los Angeles Times, December 9, 1921.
“It may have been slammed together …” Review of The Sanitarium, Variety, October 15, 1910.
At home, Arbuckle and his wife were sharing… US Census Bureau, Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910, population of Los Angeles, CA, sup. dist. 7, enum. dist. 11, April 29, 1910 (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1912-14).
“Roscoe’s swinging off the street car… “Durfee, unpublished manuscript, 48.
the second film company … “David Horsley: How the First Independent Started,” Moving Picture World, March 10, 1917, 1518-19.
its first major tragedy … “Maddened Japanese Slays,” Oakland Tribune, October 27, 1911.
“Special Appearance… “Advertisement, Evening News (San Jose), August 18, 1911.
She soon discovered she was pregnant … Durfee, unpublished manuscript, 50, 58.
a critically and commercially successful run … Positive reviews from four Chicago newspapers are excerpted in “How Chicago Received ‘The Campus,’” The Shield 28, no. 1 (February 10, 1912): 48-49.
“a nice little chap … “Theater review, Oakland Tribune, June 29, 1912.
“Roscoe and I made it a habit …” Durfee, unpublished manuscript, 65.
“serenaded by bands and royally entertained”… “Ferris Hartman Company Made the Orientals Laugh,” Oakland Tribune, March 16, 1913, 23.
“a quaint old negro servant”… Review of The Mikado, North-China Herald, October 19, 1912.
“barked at a dog who barked at me”… “Roscoe Arbuckle, Mountain of Flesh, Achieves Fame,” Morning Oregonian, April 4, 1920.
6. Postmortem
Document notes are from California State Board of Health, standard certificate of death for Virginia Rappe, September 15, 1921, local registered number 5182. Typical autopsy procedures are from various sources.
He noted two bruises … “Testify to Bruises on Virginia Rappe,” New York Times, September 23, 1921.
Blood had congested… “Describe Injuries of Film Actress,” Evening Public Ledger (Philadelphia, PA), September 23, 1921.
The lower lobes of one … “Arbuckle Hit Hard,” Los Angeles Times, September 23, 1921.
The peritoneum was inflamed… Coroner’s inquest testimony, in K. Sellers Kennard, MD, “Rupture of the Female Urinary Bladder,” Medico-Legal Journal, May/June 1923, 74.
It was unusually small… “Film Actor Is Nervous,” Los Angeles Times, November 19, 1921.
Dr. Ophüls made an incision … Kennard, “Rupture of the Female Urinary Bladder,” 74.
a small clot of blood… Ibid., 73.
described by Ophüls as “a clean break” … Ibid.
He noted eleven bruises … “Testify to Bruises on Virginia Rappe.”
Viewing through a microscope … Kennard, “Rupture of the Female Urinary Bladder,” 74.
He sent the stomach … “Arbuckle Held Without Bail as Murderer,” Chicago Tribune, September 12, 1921.
caused by “some external force”… “Testify to Bruises on Virginia Rappe.”
7. Rise: 1913-14
“But let’s be practical… “ Mack Sennett with Cameron Shipp, King of Comedy (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1954), 26.
“The round, fat girls … “ Ibid., 28—29.
“He was my day school…” Ibid., 51.
Baumann and Kessel supplied $2,500 … Doings at Los Angeles, Motion Picture World, September 14, 1912.
“Overnight our place …” Sennett, King of Comedy, 88.
one true eccentric… Adela Rogers St. Johns, Love, Laughter and Tears: My Hollywood Story (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1978), 30.
“a university of nonsense …” Sennett, King of Comedy, 140.
“Woman is rarely ridiculed…” “It Is to Laugh,” Moving Picture World, December 21, 1912. 1166.
the readers of Photoplay would vote her… “Victory on the Last Lap,” Photoplay, June 1914.
a notice in August 1914… Motion Picture News, August 15, 1914.
“Big Otto” … Minta Durfee, interview by Don Schneider, July 21, 1974, excerpted at Mabel Normand Home Page, www.mn-hp.com/minta1.html.
”All my mechanical knowledge… “ Roscoe Arbuckle, interview by Ray Frohman, Los Angeles Herald, October 28, 1919.
an upbringing worthy of the adjective “Dickensian”… Details of the early life of Charlie Chaplin and the lives of his parents via Stephen Weissman, Chaplin: A Life (New York: Arcade, 2008), 9-97.
named something like “Chapman” … Sennett, King of Comedy, 151.
“I was not terribly enthusiastic … “ Charlie Chaplin, My Autobiography (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1964), 138.
“I’m too shy, and I feel uncomfortable … “ Minta Durfee, interview by Walter Wagner, July 4, 1973, in You Must Remember This (New York: Putnam, 1975), 33.
The Essanay Film Manufacturing Company was a minor studio … Ted Okuda and David Maska, Charlie Chaplin at Keystone and Essanay: Dawn of the Tramp (Lincoln, NE: iUniverse, 2005), 108.
“Mr. Sennett asked Roscoe …” Durfee, interview by Schneider.
“But outside of falling… “ “Nobody Loves a Fat Man?,” Movie Pictorial, June 13, 1914, 20.
their pit bull, Luke … Raymond Lee, Not So Dumb: The Life and Times of the Animal Actors (South Brunswick, NJ: Barnes, 1970), 52-54.
His love of cars bound him … William F. Nolan, Barney Oldfield: The Life and Times of America’s Legendary Speed King (New York: Putnam, 1961), 115—16.
“Mabel and I were engaged…” Sennett, King of Comedy, 103.