The Washington times., 1936-09-15
THALBERG PAID
HOMAGE BY
HOLLYWOOD

37-year-old producer who in his
lifetime was often called by his
bitterest competitors:
"Our most competent and in
Spired maker of pictures"
With stunning Suddenness he
died Of lobar pneumonia at 1915
q. m. yesterday. His last words
were for his beautiful and
talented wife, Norma Shearer,
who was sleeping at his bedside.
When news of the death came
out, Hollywood virtually ceased
activity and today an aura of
sorrow encirces the film colony.
Funeral Tomorrow
The funeral for the brilliant
Brooklyn boy will be held tomor-
row, at a time and place not yet
announced. At that time all activ-
ity in Hollywood will cease for five
minutes, the Association of Motion
Picture Producers announced to-
day.
There will be no activity during
the entire day at Thalberg's home
studio, Metro Goldwyn-Maye his
partner producer, Louis B. Mayer,
announced.
Thalberg's fatal disease grew
out of a slight head cold caught
on Labor Day at Del Monte, Calf,
where he went on a sentimental
pilgrimage" with Miss Shearer. It
was there the couple whose mar
riage in 1923 was proclaimed
"Hollywood's most perfect ro-
nance" honeymooned.
Went to Work
When he returned, Thalberg
plunged at once into his studio
duties, and he and Miss Shearer
attended several social functions.
When the cold developed into
pneumonia, doctors ordered Thai
berg under an oxygen tent. There
he Law all night, while his wife,
Mr.. and Mrs. William Thalberg,
his parents, and other close
friends maintained sorrowful
vigil.
Almost historical, Miss Shearer
was led from the death chamber
by Mayer. She went at once to
her two children, Irving Thalberg,
jr., 6, and Katherine, l year old,
with whom, in a state OF near col
lapse, she is today.
Film executives and star joined
today in paying tribute the young
producing genius.
Some of those reached for COM
ment on the death were:
Will H. Hays said:
"The death of Irving Thai
berg is an irreparable loss to
the motion picture industry.
No one can take his place,
though others may come to do
his work.
Louis B. Mayer said:
81 have lost my associate and
the finest friend man ever had"
Daryl Zanuck said:
more than any other man
he raised the film industry to
its present prestige"
Cecil B. De Mile said: =
"There are hundreds of
executives, but only about six
men with a genuine genius for
making pictures. Irving Thai
berg was the greatest of these
six"
Jesse L. Lasky said:
cit will be impossible to re-
place him."
Adolph Zukor said:
"He was the most brilliant
young man in the motion pic
ture business.
Mary Pickford said:
"He was never-ceasing in.
spiratiOn to all Of u.s."
Harold Lloyd said:
"HiS daring, initiative and in
ate artistry made him the fore
most contributor to the SCREEN"
Lionel Barrymore:
zone of the greatest friends a
man could have"
Warner Baxter:
"The motion picture industry
has lost one of its greatest lead
ers."
Nine. Ernestine S chum a n n
Heink:
81 am too heartbrOken to talk"
Fifteen years ago Irving Thai
berg produced his first important
picture, THE Big Parade
Today he is the last of the big
Four" Of that picture to be over
taken by death.
The three stars of the picture,
who preceded him to the land
from which no traveller returns
were John Gilbert, Karl Dane and
Renee Adoree.
HonOred on Air
Over the Always the Little
Napoleon" was honored last night
when the National Broadcasting
Company gave 15-minute dra-
matization of his career and when
the Lux program paused for 10
seconds in his honor.
Thalberg was born in Brooklyn,
May 30, 1899. From childhood he
battled against i'll health which
interrupted his schooling. He
started as clerk in a department
store and later met ''Uncle Carl"
Laemmle, then head of Universal
Studios.
BY the time he was 81, Thalberg
virtually was running the Uni