Tuesday, February 05, 2008

TODAY IS THE 100th BIRTHDAY OF PEG ENTWHISTLE. That name probably doesn't mean anything to you. However, she appeared in one of my favourite little 1930's mystery flicks: THIRTEEN WOMEN along with a young Irene Dunne and an even younger Myrna Loy. It's a great little film and you should see it one day. But Peg Entwhistle will be known far longer as the stage actress who failed to make it in the movies - - so she famously leapt to her death from the "H" of the Hollywood sign. She was 24 years old. A note found after her death read: "I am afraid, I am a coward. I am sorry for everything. If I had done this a long time ago, it would have saved a lot of pain. P.E. " So here's to the memory of an actress I fondly remember from only one screen appearance. . . and one in the countless string of hopefuls chewed up by the Hollywood machine.

6 comments:

  1. Maybe I'm wrong but didn't Peg have lunch with Boris Karloff before her leap? Sure I heard this somewhere.

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  2. Hokey smokes I never heard that before! Wouldn't that be something!!!!

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  3. I'm pretty certain I read that story in Kenneth Anger's HOLLYWOOD BABYLON - but I may be wrong.

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  4. Ooo, I have that I'll have to check it out. Speaking of which (witch?!?). . . have you ever seen any of Kenneth Anger's films? I haven't but I recently noticed that they are now available on 2 DVDs. . .don't know if I want to get them, though since, by all reports, they sounds like they'd be a little too indulgent or "experimental" for me.

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  5. No, Anger doesn't really hold much fascination for me. I'd probably watch then given the chance but they are certainly not a priority.

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  6. Same with me. Maybe one day when I have oodles of disposable cash on hand. . .

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