While researching, I came across a newspaper article from 1934 that talked about other tragedies that happened in Hollywood that I thought were interesting, if not morbid. It is my favorite holiday soon, Halloween, so...why not read some deliciously spooky stories with some hauntings on the side?
It seems that Peg may have gotten the desire to act from her father, who appeared in a few plays while living in New York. One of her first stage roles was a tiny part in a production of "Hamlet" starring Ethel Barrymore.
She was soon a part of the New York Theatre guild and sharing the stage with more big names like George M. Cohen, Dorothy Gish, and Laurette Taylor. Her longest running show, and the one that was the real highlight of her stage acting career was "Tommy." It ran for over 200 performances!
She appeared in a string of other shows and in her last show, she was the understudy for Laurette Taylor. It was 1932, and it seemed like Peg's career was rising and rising fast!
Because of the failure of her film debut, Peg's contract was not renewed and she didn't have enough money to get back to New York to work on the stage there. It seemed like her career, and her life, were over. All she wanted was to be a big star on the screen.
The investigation concluded that Peg must have used a worker's ladder that had been left behind, climbed the letter "H" and jumped. The main cause of death was listed as "multiple fractures of the pelvis." In her purse was a suicide note she had written: "I'm afraid I'm a coward. I am sorry for everything. If I had done this thing a long time ago it would have saved a lot of pain. P.E." Poor girl...
For a few days after her body was found, Peg was an anonymous body in the morgue. Her uncle finally pieced together her strange disappearance and the news of the jumper and realized it was his niece. The note found in her purse cinched the case.
A funeral was held for her in California where she was then cremated. Her ashes were interred in Oak Hill Cemetery in Glendale, Ohio next to her father. Her grave was unmarked for years until fans pooled donations together and bought her a brand new headstone (I believe in 2010). What a great thing to do for such a talented lady.
Peg was married once, to actor Robert Keith in 1927. She divorced him two years later, claiming that he was cruel to her and that he never told her that he had been married before and had a six year old son. Interesting side note, the son in question, later became an actor...Brian Keith, best known for his roles in "Family Affair" and The Parent Trap.
Here is one of those situations where you want to slap your head against your forehead. A few days after her death, a letter arrived at Peg's home offering her a role in a play...playing a woman who commits suicide. The role was a bit twisted considering the circumstances, but some people say that it would have made her a star. But, I don't know if this is just wishful thinking or what.
Bette Davis was inspired to act by Peg. After seeing her perform in a production of "The Wild Duck," Bette told her mother, "I want to be exactly like Peg Entwistle!" Now go and say Peg wasn't important to film history!!
It is rumored that if you go up around the sign at night, you can hear crying, and it is said to be Peg. Pretty sure that area is all off limits now because police didn't want any copy cat suicides.
***************************************
Does the name Sigrun Solvason ring any bells? No? Didn't think so. She was an Icelandic actress who was known for her striking resemblance to Greta Garbo and once even worked as Garbo's double. But, Sigrun wanted more than to just be another star's shadow, she wanted to BE the star! She too became too despondent over her non existing career that she too committed suicide. She dressed in her best silk pajamas, stood before a large mirror in her bedroom, and drank poison. She was found days later, collapsed on the ground, the walls surrounding her covered in pictures of herself...and of Garbo. She left a note simply saying, "I would like to be cremated and my ashes scattered without any ceremony at all."
Sigrun Solvason |
We have all heard the stories about women killing themselves after Valentino's death, but it is also said that these stories are just hype. Apparently, only a few woman ATTEMPTED to commit suicide, but none actually ever died. One of the women who did make an attempt was 20 year old Angeline Celestina who tried to shoot herself. She was later charged for having the gun in the first place. I did find an article about a 12 year old girl named Evelyn who supposedly died with a picture of Valentino clutched in her hands, but I can't access the full article.
I love the story about the woman who said she was pregnant with Rudolph's child after his death. No one believed her because she was 8 months pregnant and Rudy's been dead for over 10 months. Lol.
ReplyDeleteI'm very fond of Peg, I've liked her since I was a little girl.
Great post!
Thanks Lois!
ReplyDeleteYeah, Marion Benda really threw herself on the Valentino train after he died. She tried to kill herself and blamed it on her sadness over his death. Kinda like Pola Negri who put on a big ole show at the funeral. Ladies, ladies, ladies...
Hi Jessica,
ReplyDeleteLove your Peg Entwistle entry and an awesome job in tying in additional info on suicides
/attempted suicides.
Thank You!
Theresa
Thanks Theresa!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter had taken a picture of the hoolywood sign in 2005. We had notice a woman with a white dress and a hat in the photo. We had assumed it was a Statue, strange place for a statue up high in the trees Recently We watched a show On Peg Entwistle so we had enlarged the photo the Image truly looks like a woman dressed in the early 1900's I dont know if anyone is interested in the photo
ReplyDeleteI am very interested in seeing the photo! Please e-mail it to me when you get a chance!
ReplyDeletepot the photo on here!
ReplyDeletedid you ever see the photo
ReplyDeleteNo, I am hoping they post it or e-mail it to me though!
Deletewow ok that was a year ago, heres hopeing thanks for answering. larry
ReplyDeleteHi. Nice article. I hope you will give my book "Peg Entwistle and the Hollywood Sign Sucide: A Biography" a read!
ReplyDeleteJames