Evening star., 1933-05-24
FAIRBANKS, JR.,
TELLS HIS SIDE
OF SEPARATION
"Playing Around''
Not Cause of
DivOrce.

NEW YORK, May "a IN. A. N. Az
| my only side in this divorce is Joan's
side," says Doug Fairbanks, jr. Il have
no AK to grind. I am terribly grateful
for all the things I owe to her.
Until our marriage. had been going
around in a circle. The trouble all my
life has been doing many things pass
ably well. The ability to draw and
write and act came too easy. ! never
took it seriously enough to concentrate
Joan made me settle down to business
'The entire memory of our marriage
| Is pretty nice. I never said, however,
| would try to effect a reconciliation
WOO my wife again with flowers and
| daily telephone calls. That sounds too
Hollywood When asked If we would
/ remain friends, said, sure, hope So
| They tackled on the rest"
He talked so fast that between trying
| to munich q chicken sandwich and take
| notes, an interviewer scarcely could
keep up with him.
When we first separated" he said,
Joan and I decided we would say
nothing So far as I am concerned,
have tried to maintain a discreet
silence. I haven't attempted to deny
! any of the rumors circulated about me.
The more you deny, the less is believed.
| But I do want to ask you to correct
statements that my playing around
with other women caused Joan to di-
vorce me.
IT don't think I ever have done any
thing deliberately that would humiliate
any one dear to me. I don't believe
there are any sins in the world except
those committed in bad taste.
uuoc literally hOrr, IN prnadWav
Keeping up front was instilled In me.
From the time was three years old
| it was impressed upon me to keep away
from scandal and gossip. My maternal
grandfather was the cotton king; his
| failure was the biggest In the history
of finance My grandfather on my
| fathers side was brilliant lawyer.
Mania for Individualism.
IT was taught never to do anything
| that would reflect discredit on the
family, that there was something to
keep intact. I was so overcareful that
| it drew me into shell; gave me q
mania for individualism.
II have the most passionate love Of
| living This enthusiastic love of life.
the natural buoyancy feel, might be
construed as playing around I am
extremely nervous, never sleep more
than five hours-that's all the sleep
I require.
Nervousness comes out in Joan and
me in entirely different ways. She
shuts up like clam. I become over
enthusiastic. Out of sheer nervousness
I might walk on a set and say to some
| one who meant nothing to me: Hello,
| darling!' Just for lack Of something
| to do. Two hours later I might hear
I was mad about that person!
Joan and set up high standard,
| with the agreement that If we fell
| below that standard either as a couple
or individuals, our marriage would be
over. We thought it would be dis
honest to keep up front Just for q
fronts sake-because there was nobody
| to protect. We didn't let 1t go so long
! ring to retain the friendship, affection
! and deep respect one for the other, we
decided to call 1t quits while 1t was
still pleasant and nice"
| you are not blaming your failure on
Hollywood, then?"
Largely up to Individual.
Hollywood has devastating in
fuence which makes it more difficult to
succeed But in spite of this, think
successful marriage is largely up to
! the individuals"
Joan said it took courage for you
, both to marry so young. What part
do you think your youth played in
your inability to weather the Storm"
"It might not have played any part
| If 1T hadn't been that we set this
standard with this microscopic lens
on us all the time. We broke under
the strain of this constant thing on us.
We had too much to do as ambitious
young people. Marriage deserved more
time than we ever were able to give 1t
in this business"
do you share Joan's opinion that
career lasts longer than love?"
Again I think that's a case for in
dividuals. Nothing emotional can be-
set to rule. But who am I to give out
any theories in the cause of matri-
mony? I evidently am no expert at 1t.
still think 1t is grand institution
none better"
@ Father Fond of Joan.
Referring to a statement Of the
trouble between this Darby and joan
to the effect that in-laws at Pickfair
were not exactly fair to Doug's wife
his comment was characteristic.
dad is tremendously fond of JOAN
I was aware of no unfriendly feeling.
But I'm q pollyanna. trust every one
If some one stuck knife in me I'd
still think he was trying to tickle mel"
As Doug talked, there was no indi-
cation of real unhappiness or heart
break The only admission he made was:
II haven't had time really to know
| what this separation will mean to- me-
It's the first time ! have ever been
alone There always has been somc-
| body around in my life. This alone
| ness will get me somewhere by the
/ time I am 30-if ever am going to
be a khgpin, should begin to in
dividualize in earnest. ! am IS now
After IL years in this business, I should
be learning my trade. At my age, Noel
Coward is doing the thing I want to
do-and doing it well. It's about time
struck out"
Joan said you never had any re-
sponsibility"
! "She was right" said gentleman
Doug 81 had 1t, but never really as
| sumed it. II we didn't have a dollar.
somehow 1t didn't worry me overmuch."
| tCopyright. 1888 by the North American
Newspaper Alliance, Inc.)
y