Debunking Hollywood Babylon 2: Part 1

So we finally begin the debunking of Hollywood Babylon 2! For those who don’t know in the 1960s or so a jerk named Kenneth Anger wrote a book called Hollywood Babylon. It was a little trashy piece of tabloid junk and for many years it sold very well and was taken as fact...mainly because there are a lot of sick people in the world (ask Hedda Hopper and TMZ.com how they make their money). Many of the ''facts'' Anger made up in that book became de facto in the stories of the long dead celebs he told of. Never mind that it didn’t sync up one bit with documents or press...Anger had written it in a published book it must be true!

When I first started this site I mentioned my favorite thing was restoring legacies. In other words gathering what was out there, getting it right, and putting it in one google accessible place. As I discussed this with someone I said I felt with the internet that information on silent stars had become much more accessible. They asked what about books? I mentioned Anger. In fairness many of the books pre 1995 are inaccurate as hell...but at least those authors TRIED. Anger just sat down, got hot over a Valentino picture, probably drank a bottle of pink champagne, and made up what he felt like. No fact checking necessary!

So we debunked Hollywood Babylon the first. Hollywood Babylon 3 is too new to really sit and debunk (though it wouldn’t be hard). We set the Valentino part straight though (literally): click here. That left Hollywood Babylon 2.

Hollywood Babylon 2 was released in the early 80s, was much bigger than the first one, and flopped a lot harder. That first stupid piece of trash can still be found in stores or online quite easily, but this book is a lot less available. Thankfully it’s as cheap and it too is going in the garbage the minute this debunking is done (I don’t believe in reselling junk).

I did skip a few talkie chapters again, mainly because Anger hurts my brain and it’s not my arena so I’m not responsible for it. However some good stuff is below. I think the saddest thing is that many of these little names are so long forgotten that their only claim is being in Anger's stupid book. VERY SAD.

I will give Anger some credit as he deserves it. Compared to the first Hollywood Babylon this one is MUCH closer to accurate. He gets the 'jist' of things right. However he likes to embellish or fudge important details, ya know his trademark. He still is terribly bad with dates and ages, and he likes to say everyone was gay and throwing orgies. Thankfully this one is a little more merciful to debunk...he must have forgotten the pink champagne this time.



Getting Gloria's Goat

Anger claims that when Gloria Swanson died in 1982 not one person would miss her; literally chanting 'ding dong the wicked witch is dead'. Every now and then I will hear from some person or another how they've heard (again from some person or another) how Gloria was a mean old hag. Yet despite that I've never found any proof she was.  In fact what they don't seem to know is Anger spent her final years harassing the hell out of her.

No one ever spoke ill of her, and no other silent biographies mention feuding with her (beyond Pola Negri; they had a diva battle before Valentino died). Her own autobio doesn't really diss anyone. In fact she speaks fondly of many celebs she had been close with. Rumor has it she feuded with Mary Pickford, but her own story says how much she enjoyed Mary. If anything I think she liked getting Mary's goat...teasing her in a friendly way.

Her children all stayed close to her to the end of her life, and Swanson fan sites and biographers mention a granddaughter who still likes to speak of her Grandmother. Many fans mention she was nice to meet well into old life, and was a very busy and charitable woman right to the end.

If anything Gloria wasn't 'difficult' or 'bitchy'. She was a modern woman who still to this day would probably catch hell for it. She knew what she wanted, and she went for it. She knew what her role in Hollywood was and she played it. She was extremely independent and opinionated (as can be seen in an awesome Dick Cavet interview with her and freakin Janis Joplin!).

But to fully debunk this one I googled and googled every term I could think. Only one result came back, and for what it’s claiming it sounds exaggerated. Dr. X tells a tale of working in a hotel and encountering Gloria in the 1970s. She seems quite fine in all her appearances from that era and she acted in Airplane 75 as well...I question if she really needed a walker then. And if she never left her room how would they know she was nothing but cranky? Whatever the case that is the only thing online I could find saying she was a bitter old woman. Either which way I don't think Gloria was as mean as a rumor from a rumor (possibly Anger or Rose Kennedy) claims. Either way Anger isn't done with Gloria yet...



Killer Kelly

Well this is a mighty interesting one! Anger tells the story of Paul Kelly a mostly stage actor sometimes silent actor who beat the hell out of Ray Raymond. Beat him to death! Then to make things even more interesting Kelly MARRIED Dottie Mackaye...Raymond's widow. But as usual there are some 'Angerisims' present. To his credit he got most of it right, just when he embellished details did he go wrong.

Thankfully the crime library helps out here. The crime happened on April 15th, 1927, not the 16th as Anger says. Paul Kelly was born in 1899, not 1901. Raymond was 39 not 33. Raymond met Dot in 1921, not 1920. Dot was 21, not 17. Jesus Anger...what is it with him and numbers? Dot also could not have toured the British Isles at age 4 as her parents moved to the US when she was a toddler. They lived in Denver. Interestingly enough Anger doesn't mention how Raymond left his first wife for her, and managed to commit bigamy while he did it (he never bothered with a divorce). They had a daughter Mimi in 1920 making her 7, not 4, as Anger claims.

Dot did leave Raymond claiming she was going 'Easter egg' shopping, but instead she went to see Kelly. Anger leaves that part out but it is crucial. Kelly had been drinking and he was bitching about how their affair was the talk of the town (because Raymond had been complaining). Kelly called Raymond and threatened him, Raymond said 'Come on over' and well...indeed he did. So far Anger gets that much right.

Anger goes on to list a list of celebs that supposedly held lots of wild parties. Call me cynical but I can’t imagine Lila Lee was throwing the wildest liquor parties known to man as claimed. I find it odd he didn't even list REAL known celebs and drinky, like Mabel Normand or Raoul Walsh (both would have been proud of that honor).

Anger leaves out how Kelly urged Raymond to come outside, but Raymond's maid convinced him to come in and sit down and talk. Anger does mention the maid, but claims she was more concerned about the furniture. Anger claims a child Valerie 'Mimi' Raymond was present (and four years old, not seven), but the crime library doesn't support that claim. He also claims a peg legged dog was present and that gay men dyed their dogs purple...I find both claims a little much even for Anger. There is a picture with Dottie and her dogs, neither appear to have a peg leg.

Anger makes it out like Kelly came in and just started beating the hell out of him. While that was probably his intent court records say else wise. The two men sat and talked and put their complaints out on the table. Kelly claims he began slapping Raymond and that's when it escalated. The LA Times points out there was a vast size difference between the men; Raymond never stood a chance.

Kelly went home to Dottie and admitted what he did (he hadn't realized he'd killed the guy yet). Apparently Dottie 'bawled him out' and the two kept drinking. Anger gets it wrong here. He doesn't mention that part at all. He then says Dottie and the maid found Raymond the next day and Dottie called a doctor friend to see if word had gotten out. In actuality Dottie went home that night and found her husband alive and wearing dark sunglasses. They joked about the fight and Raymond said he felt fine. It was the next day the maid found him on the bedroom floor in a stupor. Dottie did call her doctor friend, but to quietly admit Raymond to the hospital.

Anger makes it out like Raymond passed out the night of the fight (Dottie arriving from Easter egg shopping) and died. He actually was in a coma for 3 and a half days before he actually died. Dottie wasn't concerned; she was with Kelly when he died.

Anger is a little odd here. He says Raymond died and that the Doctor claimed it was of natural causes (this is true) but then jumps to 'the maid backed him up but didn't hold under police questioning'. Why was she being questioned by the police? What really happened was the hospital staff was concerned and as Raymond laid about to be embalmed and buried (evidence destroyed) they called the press who got wind of the mysterious death. The press called the undertaker, who pulled the body back for an autopsy. It took until this moment for a death by beating to be determined. NOW the police were involved. Anger mentions absolutely NONE of this.

Anger says it was the maid's confession that got the police after Kelly. Actually it was the rumors the press sent their way. Anger says Kelly admitted he was in love with Dottie, but it was unrequited. Actually he admitted the whole ordeal, said he hoped to marry her one day, and that the duel had been 'fair'. THEN the police spoke to the maid, who gave the account that for the most part matches Angers blow for blow of the actual fight. The police then tried to question Dottie who had taken so ill over her husband's death she couldn't speak for a week.

Anger then skips straight to Dottie's trial, forgetting to mention her questioning. She actually died admit to the affair (unlike what Anger claims) but said she promised her husband she would stay away from Kelly. After this Kelly was charged with murder, and Dottie and the doctor were charged with conspiracy to cover up the case. Anger got this mostly right, only he said manslaughter which is way different then actual murder charge wise.

Anger gets most of the trial testimony right. The Kelly's young Japanese servant, "Jungle" claimed he had served breakfast in bed to both of them (whether aspirins were included or not as Anger claims seems to be false). And indeed mushy love notes came out, though if pig Latin was involved that's not mentioned either.

Kelly was indeed sentenced to manslaughter, apparently having his charges lowered. And indeed was he sentenced to 1-10 years in San Quentin. Whether Dottie actually went to see Kelly before he was sent away as Anger claims is not mentioned, but indeed she too was sentenced to 1-3 years as well. The charges against the doctor were dropped.

Anger embellishes their prison sentences. Dottie didn't wait 7 months in LA jail appealing her sentence, in fact she served less than 2 months total. Anger claims 'less than a year'. He was right thought: Kelly was out of prison just after 2 years. The pair did indeed marry in 1931, and it indeed lasted until Dottie's unexpected death (car crash) in 1940. Anger gets it wrong though: he says she crashed on January 5th, she actually crashed on the 2nd (and died on the 5th). And again she was 40, not 37.



Why Be Good?

On August 9th, 1929 a crazy young woman named Eunice Irene Pringle ran screaming out of Alexander Pantage's office, claiming he had raped her. Again Anger gets the jist while missing the details (kudos on doing better with dates this chapter).

Eunice actually had an appointment with Pantage, and she entered a side street office instead of some big grand theatre. She indeed ran through a theatre and into the street causing a scene, but probably a little less dramatic then Anger claims. She was indeed affiliated with a variously spelled Nicolas Dunaev but unlike Anger claims it’s unlikely he had much to do with it. Also she didn't just buy a ticket and go accost Pantage, she had an appointment.

Anger is close to right with the first trial as well. Indeed she appeared dressed up as a sweet little Dutch school girl, seen as a sweet innocent latter day Virginia Rappe. She was ordered to appear in what she had worn the night she was allegedly raped and it was said to be a red slinky number. Anger leaves out the details (a first for him) but the overall part is right. Indeed Pantages was still convicted.

And indeed a second trial was scored by claiming though a minor her conduct and sexual prowess should be allowed in court (ironically this has long been overruled in this day and age). The lawyers successfully argued their case and Pantages was ruled not guilty.

Anger then goes on to say it was actually Joseph P Kennedy who was behind it, bribing Eunice so he could ruin Pantages and take over the theatre circuit. Anger says on Eunice's death bed she confessed this. The trouble with this story was that Eunice died in 1996...and Anger wrote this book in 1984...so...impossible. It's true the trial did indeed destroy Pantages and indeed it was sold to RKO for less than face value...but if indeed Kennedy was behind it there was never proof or a confession. Also this book being written in the 80s mentions Pantages as a rundown little theatre. It's been revived and does great business these days (I can personally attest as the stupid pedestrians make driving around there IMPOSSIBLE!)



Bootlegger Joe

Not satisfied with having a go at Joe and Gloria separately, Anger now needs a whole chapter on the pair. With credit to Anger he gets most of Joseph's history right. However he is wrong, when the movie moguls spoke at Harvard their lectures were printed in a book. Kennedy showed it to Gloria proudly during their first meeting. Gloria thought he was sexist for not including any women...in her (and many folks) opinion there was no one shrewder than Ma Pickford, Peg Talmadge, or even Mary herself.

Anger is extremely wrong about Swanson and Kennedy's first meeting. He says it occurred on her return from France (filming Madame Sans Gene) during an 'ovation', or a big press event. True Gloria did hold ovations, but that was not how or where they met. When Gloria began planning 'Rain' (aka Sadie Thompson) Joe's signature was one of the MPAA's, and she had no clue who he was. As she fought to make her film she met with Kennedy, and they hit it off. No press involved. Also to my knowledge Gloria never 'cooed' "Joe you're the best actor in Hollywood". Also an affair didn't begin right away, and they weren't exactly 'secret' about the affair (Gloria stayed with his children on a few occasions though she found it distasteful).

Many people think that Gloria only became independent because of Joe. Is this freakin book the source of that rumor!??!!?!? Untrue. Greatly untrue. She created Gloria Swanson Productions in 1926, mostly tired with the studio moguls and wanting more control and freedom. However she wasn't very good with the business side of things proving disastrous. Her first independent film was "The Love of Sunya" which flopped, and occurred long before she met Kennedy. Anger mentions none of this. He claims Kennedy created her company and that she would 'learn the price of hubris'. Jerk.

He also claims "The Swamp" (later to be known as Queen Kelly) was her first indie. She had already made 2 Indies before Kennedy. Anger claims that mess was their ending, but even as he notes Kennedy was around for 2 more Swanson pictures. The relationship soured when Gloria found out all the gifts Kennedy had been giving her were charged to her account...a very odd thing for a very wealthy man. Anger claims this is when Kennedy began his Eunice ploy, but that occurred in 1929...he and Gloria were still good then. And I have no clue why Anger goes on to repeat the whole thing...we just read about it a chapter ago!

I always wondered why no celebs sued Anger.  Clara Bow's sons thought about it.  But Gloria Swanson actually did it for the first book.  God bless her!



Interlude

Y'all will have to forgive me, as I just can’t make it through the talkie portions. Not because I have anything against them, but because the more Anger I read the more brain cells I loose. So small notes from these skipped chapters. In The Two Faces of Tinsel town Anger claims Valentino had orgies when Natacha left him. Yeaaaah no. I'm pretty sure Rudy was too busy crying and as one fan put it, "Being emo" to be enjoying orgies. He had his fun (and ladies), but he greatly missed Natacha. Jesus Christ how could you even come up with things like that let alone claim them as fact?!

In Stumpfinger Anger claims Bill Tilden ''played'' with Valentino, Louise Brooks, Ramon Novarro, Clara Bow, and Chaplin. Tilden was a gay tennis player...if Anger meant a double entendre he should be shot. Half that list is proven straight and the other half Tilden wouldn't touch: he reportedly never had sex with a woman and was almost virginal until the 40s. In Nightflowers Nightmares I definitely don't feel like dealing with his Black Dahlia story, but I'm sure it’s inaccurate. This link can clear it up.

In The Trouble with Jimmy Anger takes an already interesting claim and sensationalizes it. James Dean very well might have been bisexual, possibly gay for pay. It is absolutely impossible to prove so I'm hesitant to declare it, but most of his biographers agree on it. Anger jazzes it up: claiming Dean had crabs and suffered incest! JESUS CHRIST. Somebody just punch this man right now please. In Odd Couples he is mostly right about Clara Bow and Bela Lugosi likely had an affair. He's once again off by a year and interestingly enough doesn't mention Clara was cited as the reason for his divorce...after being married to a woman for 3 days!

He also mentions Hearst and Davies. However Davies was 20 when she met Hearst, not 'barely sweet sixteen'. She also had long been done with the follies, and had already entered pictures. Thus it was impossible for them to meet as she performed AT the follies. Interestingly enough Anger then debunks his own myth; the one that Marion Davies is Susan Alexander in Citizen Kane. 1 drop of good karma in his deep deep shit bucket. He then goes on to the spread the 'rosebud=clit' rumor...something we'll never be able to prove.

In Lost Boy he speaks of Bobby Driscoll. I like Bobby, he was adorable. For his real story please click here. And no Frances Farmer never had a lobotomy...he mentions that in this chapter.

Click here to go to part 2