The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-12
Douglas Fairbanks
Dies Very Suddenly
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sweetheart, the most popular actress.
The ceremony had been secret be-
cause Mary had obtained her divorce
from owen Moore only q few weeks
before. But when the news leaked
out there were such parties that old
timers swoofi upon recalling them.
The champagne cainc by truck.
loads. NJ tatxll
Nobody ever thought Of turning
down q Pickfair dinner. The Fair
bankses became Hollywood royalty.
They were the movies ideal couple
and pointed out as object lessons Tor
those who said picture romances
could not last.
Doug and Mary continued to
make picture after picture, with
multt.million dollar profits to DO di.
vided among producers, directors
and stars. Eventually they joined
with Griffith, Charlie Chaplin,
Samuel Goldwyn and others In or
ganizing United Artists studios, q
cooperative venture whereby they
could keep most Of the profits them.
selves.
Divorce Talk startles
Hollywood was never more shock.
ed than on Christmas, 1898, when
1t was learned that Miss Pickford
intended to seek q divorce. Il was
explained that Doug wanted TO
chuck the movie business and see
the world; his wife wanted TO stick
to her movie career.
Her suit was pending for more
than O year while movie fans all
over III eworld hoped they would be
reconciled. More words were writ
ten about the decline OF Pickfair
perhaps than about any other event
that year. But the divorce became
Anal In 1884.
Miss Pickford by then was O bus
iness woman Of Importance, with
real estate holdings throughout
Hollywood, interests In numerous
industrial enterprises, ana O cos
metic factory Of her own, she even
found time to write an inspira ton.
al book, "Why Not Try ood?"
Eventually she married Buddy ROC.
ers, the band leader.
When the divorce became final,
Doug resumed his world wander
ings. From odd addresses through
out the globe came announcements
Of his production plans and his adj
ventures. BY 1895 he was In London
and soon there was gossip about his
dancing attendance upon the beau-
teous Lady Sylvia Ashley.
Scandal In England
These notes finally exploded In q
major scandal, when Lord Ashley
sought q divorce and named Doug
as correspondent, on adultery
charges.
Doug said he loved Lady Ashley
and intended to bring her to Amer.
lea to wed her.
They went 10 Paris In March,
1885, and were married after two
days OF widely publicised argument
over whether her divorce from
Lord Ashley was valid. Doug cot.
tied that by sending TO London for
the papers.
He brought his bride to Holly.
wood three years ago, and though
he talked regularly about going
back to work, either as producer or
actor, his name never appeared on
any tilm credit list.
He and Mrs. Fairbanks spent
much OF their time traveling--and
O great deal more attempting TO
complete what he called his Shan.
gri La, an estate at Rancho santa
re, 50 elaborate, with artificial wa
tor falls, golf courses, and private
game preserves, that his friends In.
sisted he would not live To finish II.
They were right.
several Years Retired
Fairbanks had been several years
retired from the dAshing, acrobatic
Don Juan roles that kept him one
Of the worlds outstanding ceiebrt-
ties for 10 years,
He was q millionaire, o movie
producer, artisocrat, world traveller,
Doth guest and host 10 royalty and
Prior TO his marriage TO Lady
Ashley he and his former wife,
Mary Pickford, had relgned for
decade as the king and queen" Of
Hollywood, from their castle, Pick.
fair" o combination Of their names,
and there, most Of the worlds cele-
brities ct one time or another had
been entertained.
Fairbanks made his last movie.
Don Juan, In ie32, ana since had
his interest to the pro-
ducing end OF the business.
Ell had entered the movies as q
star In 1914, after d brief but sue.
cessful stage career. and for his FIRST
role In d. w. Grifhth's 1.-THE Lamb"
he earned the then fabulous salary
Of $1,000 Q week on O 10 weeks
contract.
His heaping Career
THE Lamb" was replete with
leaping scenes, capitalizing on FAIR
banks already established fame In
acrobatic roles ON the stage, and
he was typed quickly for an almost
endless series Of romantic adven-
lure movies. He leaped from cliffs,
from balconies, parapets and house
tops.
He made In lusty succession,
Manhattan Madness" 1.-THE Amer
cano". "The Man FROM The Paints
"a Post" wild and Woolly",
'knickefbocker fsuekafoo", THE
Mark Of Zorro, 'sAobhin Hood"
His salary scared to more than
81 600 900 Q year In the middle '20's
and by that time he and Miss Pick |
ford had teamed In the idyllic mar
riage, eventually 10 end IA The