New-York tribune., 1922-12-19
Film Drug Quiz
Pushed as Reid
Fights for Life
Colony Supplied From Mex
leo, Says California Off
cial; Influence of Hays
Aids War on Narcotics
Star Better, Says Wife
Screen Favorite Victim OF
Influenza Intensified by
Indulgence in Drugs
sp.e.ar DGsatcA 70 ne Trosas

HnTrlnI U1NufCN 70 AA9 ANN|A+N
LOS ANGELES, Dec. is.-Louis zeh,
secretary Of the state Board Of Phar-
macy, to-day, following the disclosures
n the case Of wslly Reid, famous
slm s,ar. who Is near death here from
influenza IN the wake Of excessive In
diligence in drugs. said that an In
vestigation By that body into the SAFE
Of drugs 20 members Of the Aim colony
sss been IN progress for three weeks
NJ. zsh asserted that all barriers to
the sueeessful conclusion Of this task
h,8 bsen lifted since win Hays became
ehlsf Of the melton picture industry
He said;
sWith the advent Of VIII Hays into
N. motion picture industry the drug
evil IN Hollywood has .abated to con-
.,d.yable degree. Agents Of the board
nav now enter the studios freely
whereas heretofore they required
NJ zeb said that the Pharmacy
Roard is vestigating the 'Wally.
REID ease. but only 70 the. extent OF
checking up on drug sales In the MIN
eeIony. The colony as a whole is not
under investigation, he declared.
eve are under a great handicap N
,unnine down the trafieksrs," he SAID.
sThev uss fast automobiles. while we
nust pursue them In antiquated ma
chimes. place the principal source
~ the traffe over the line In he1iea.
We have had a line on the man who Is
supplvin0 certain sections OF southern
California, including Hollywood with
drugs"
Reds physician said the star IS 90
weak he can scarcely raise bis head
without faintlng, we are treating hin
Tor nervous exhaustion complicated. by
influenza" said the physician. Reid is
oriv n husk Of a man. Whether he
vii live OF die IL a toss-up. We hope
he will gradually gain strength during
the next few weeks and recover. His
temperature Is now nearly normal. and
Sc ls able TO take q little nourish-
The Methodist preachers Of Southern
California, In a meeting to-day, passed
a resolution % be presented 20 the
City Council OF Los Angeles tomorrow
In which they urge that body 70 name
a committee which shall be given a
free hand 20 make a sweeping investi-
cation Of reputed movie" vice con-
ditions.
LOS ANGELES, Dee. is.-The eondi-
tion Of "wAlly" Reid, motion picture
actor, who recently suffered a nervous
breakdown and who was reported 70
be on the verge Of death last night,
improved somewhat to-day, and his
wife, known IN the film world as
Dorothy Davenport, said she was hope
ful that the crisis was past.
"Wallaee's doctors have about made
up their minds II is q case Of inhu-
enza," Mrs. Reid said. "The charts AZ
the hospital where he has been under
treatment taking during the last week
show oil the symptoms Of this disease.
II he can throw this Of he Will be
back at work as soon as bis strength
"a regained."
Blames Drink and Drugs
Mrs. Reid said her husbands break
down, which came about six weeks
ago, was, che believed, due 10 habits
peculiarly dangerous 70 one OF Wal
lace's high-strung temperament"
wallace always drank 10 some ex-
tent" she said, "and two years ago be-
gan to use drugs. lie was very III at
that time, but there was a great deal
Of work at his studio and he felt he
must keep up somehow and he resorted
70 the artificial means which have so
nearly been bis undoing.
ANY talk Of his having been con-
neeted with dope ring Is absolutely
absurd and untrue. Nor did he fre-
quen. dope parties think he did
70 TO one or two such affairs, but he
found them distasteful and never went
back. He was making a picture when
the collapse came. He was advised at
the studio % take a rest and went un-
der treatment. / am satisfied that he
has won the fight. He knows nothing
,f the publiciyt which has been given
% hie affairs"
The actors contract with the Fam
Gus Players-Lasky Corporation has two
years to run. Mira Reid said. He ex-
pecss 20 return 70 work at the cor
pOrationb studio, she added.