The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-01-20
Motion Picture
World Mourns
Death Of Reid
.God-l-PIease." Mumbled
in semi-Delirium. Last
Words of Noted
Movie Actor.

Los Angeles. Jan. 19.-Filmdom to-
day mourned the passing yesterday
of Wallace Reid. motion picture star,
whose death ended his long battle for
health after abandoning the use of
habit forming drugs
His death came as he lay in the
arms of his wife. known in the screen
world as Dorothy Davenport. apd just
after he had mumbled in semi-deliri-
um "Go-I-please."
lie had seen unconscious for many
hours. hut n his last talk with his
wife. when lis mind was clear. he
seemed to be aware. relatives said,
that death was almost upon him.
At that time. he said tell them.
Mamma. have Won my fight-that
have come back"
~ Great Loss"
He had affeetionately called his
wife Mamma" since the birth of
their son, Billy. years ago.
Representatives Of all phases Of
motion picture work offered their
sympathy to his widow, Little Billy
and the tiny daughter the Reds
adopted some time ago. Tributes to
the dead actor. were many.
I'VE have lost one of our greatest
stars" said Jesse l.. Lasky.
The motion picture art has suf-
fered a great loss said Carl
Laemmle.
Some of the tributes of movie stars
were:
Il cannot express the grief and
sorrow eel."-Charlie Chaplin.
MY heartfelt Szrapa sia9- goes cut to
Mrs Reid''-Haroid Lloyd.
This is one of the saddest things
l have ever known"-Theodore Rob
erts.
He was a charming boy. with great
genius us'-Mary PiclSford.
THE motion picture has sustained
an irreparable loss"-Douglas Fair
banks.
Wanted TO BE Director.
The son of Hal Reid. the famous
melodramatis. did not want TO be an
actor. ii is said. but desired to be a
motion picture director.
I never wanted to be an actor"
friends quoted him. and Il still don't
Want to be an actor. The promoters
liked the shape Of my nose or some
thing and was powerless TO do
what ] wanted to do. But they not
going to get away with it forever.
They're not going to ruin my life
like they did my fathers. lie could
have been great playwright but
they wouldn't let him.
Some of the boys got him to write
a 'meller-dramner' and after it made
a big hit, they'd never take anything
else from him In just the same way,
they ignored my desire to be a direc.
tor. They put me out as an actor
and made money out of me. There
after l was doomed. But III show
EN-. One of these days I'll be free to
10 as l like and that will be the end
OF my acting"
Member of Elks.
Reid was a member Of Los Angeles
lodge, No. 80, Benevolent and Pro.
tective Order of Elks, and it was an.
nounced the edge would conduct
public funeral services Saturday
afternoon. The body will be cremated
in accordance to Reid's wishes and
the ashes probably sent east.
Today was one Of poignant grief
to Dorothy Davenport Reid. awed
sadness for little Billy. the son. and
Betty adopted daughter, and wistful
grief for hundreds of intimate per.
sonal friends in studios, laboratories,
music rooms and business offices. for
lew men so young had SO many
friends and admirers as Wallace Reid.
His life was a virile. weu-filled life.
an experience far beyond that ordi-
nary to even twice the so years of
his The music room In the Holly.
wood home is silent and even the in.
animate saxophone, the violin and
stringed instruments which vibrated
10 jazz or swayed in his hands to
the refinements OF higher music,
seemed in their stiffness to emanate
sadness.
Silent Reminders.
These inanimate things were silent
reminders of few of the phases of
study that moved Reid in his work
before the camera that won admira-
ton from millions
'Wally.' as he was known because
of his personal magnetism, started in
acting when he was 1 years old. His
first part was that of a girl in Slaves
of Gold Through vaudeville. mill
tary academy, athletics in football and
baseball. newspaper work. magazine
editing. automobile work, COW punch
ing, chemical research, Wally moved
up in his experience until he found
a decade ago that modern pictures had
destiny.
Acting was secondary TO Reid. his
desire was to become a director and
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