The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-12

III was ABOUT ~ O'CLOCK III tne
morning." reported his sister law
Mrs. Robert Fairbanks. "His wife
called his physician, who did not
believe II was serious. All he said
was that Dug needed q few weeks
rest.
Last night we phoned his home
and his wife said he was resting
quietly and very comfortably. He
seemed as gay and as happy as
ever. There wa 30 nurse In at
tendance, as O precautionary meas
ure, and we went 10 sleep unwor-
ried.
News OF Death Flashed
"Then at one o. m. came the news
Of his death. 1t was so sudden we
we're stunned. We could hardly
think"
Fairbanks death came as a shock
to all Hollywood, which had re-
garded him as man who never
grew older, who remained as bronze.
skinned and as perfectly inuscled
as he was the day he went to work
for D. W. Griffith In 1914 ut the
then dazzling salary Of $4,000
week.
Only a few hours before he sue
stumbled, he discussed with associates
his plans to start producing q mo.
ton picture at United Artists Stu
dos, where he continued to main.
tain headquarters, though he had
seldom used them during the last
Is years.
He had hoped to produce the ad-
venture picture TO end ell adventure
pictures, with his son and name
sake in the stellar role and with
himself perhaps taking o minor part
1T was to have been called The
Californian" reported Clarence
F'rikson. his manager, land we wert
almost ready TO start. Now that Is al
over and all I can be grateful for Il
n, that Doug D died as he would have
"He just turned over in his bed
and expired"
Locked Years Younger
Saturday the handsome Fairbanks
looking 20 years younger than his
actual age, Joined 100000 other foot
ball fans at the use game
That night he took part In gay cele-
bration with his wife and others and
Saturday morning phoned Erickson
about details Of his proposed pic
ture.
HE was the same old DOUG
Erickson said. HE was laughing and
joking as usual, II was o real shock
TO me TO learn that he had even had
any kind OF heart spasm. He never
had suffered anything like that be-
fore.
80 they put him TO bed, under q
nurses care. All the while he pro-
tested laughingly that he was no in
valid. And then along about 1 o. m,
the nurse who sitting by the window
staring out toward the ocean, heard
q gurgling sound. She turned to the
bed--and Doug was gone"
wife Il Too Late
Servants called Mrs. Fairbanks
from her room-too late TO see her
husband alive--and then notified
his relatives by phone. Soon there
was q parade Of automobile head
lights spearing the fog ina rush TO
Fairbanks home.
Doug, Jr, and his bride OF O few
months, arrived first. Then came
Doug's brother, Robert, and his wife,
Erickson. and two nieces. The fam
lily gathered In the living room deco
rated with trophies from Doug's
worldwide hunting expeditions.
They can hardly think, 10 was 30
sudden" Erickson said. I'VE can't
even begin TO consider funeral ar
rangements yet"
Born In Denver, educated In the
Colorado School Of Mines. because
his father wanted him TO be gold
miner, he began his career selling
stock. Then he tried selling hard
ware but he couldn't get the thea
trical bug out Of his veins.
Went Back for Brady
He played In Shakespeare Roper
tory and stock, and then studied law
on the theory that he ought TO set
tie down. Instead he touerd japan,
and upon his return went back 10
the stage In 1.-THE Pit" for William
A. Brady. That veteran said he new
er had seen an actor with such Vi
tally.
You'd think the stage was going
to collapse, every time he leans
across It," Brady once said.
ut wasn't long before Doug was
making acting an athletic endeavor.
He sprang from the wings to the
Threats Of his adversaries and he
vaulted walls as II they were curb
stones.
His first movie for Griffith, enti-
tied "The Lamb" was anything but
gentle. He nearly broke his neck do
ing all the things the script de.
manded, but the public ate it up.
Soon after his salary reached $4,000
q week. Doug married Beth Sully.
the actress, who bore him his only
child. Their marriage lasted but q
short while.
Learns Of Romance
In 1870 Hollywood ran out the red
carpets and turned on the SPOT
lights when It learned Of the great
est romance In the history Il tho
movie business.
Fairbanks. the most popular movie
actor Of them all. had taken as his
bride. Mary Pfnkf0rd Amnrica, a