Revisiting the Arbuckle/Rappe’ Scandal of 1921

A simple story really right? We’ve all heard about it, it was quite the scandal of 1921. Boy decided to celebrate a big movie contract rents 3 rooms at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco. Boy meets swarmy Madam then Boy meets Girl, Boy helps Girl who is sick on the toilet and she dies 4 days later...Boy is Arrested for Murder. 

Simple Right? 

The Beginning

Labor Day Weekend September 1921 Roscoe Arbuckle was celebrating Adolph Zucker signing him to a 3 year 1 Million a year contract. ($14 Million a year in today’s economy) Roscoe rented rooms 1219-1221 of the St. Frances Hotel in San Francisco CA 

It is unknown if Maude Delmont (AKA Madam Black) was invited or crashed the party with starlet and sometime prostitute Virginia Rappe’. 

There were a lot of people at the party and it was during the days of Prohibition and (bathtub gin) everyone got drunk quickly. 

Roscoe found Virginia with her head in the toilet he came in to help her when Maude Delmont came in and Virginia started putting on a show jumping up saying “He did this to me, He hurt me” 

She was legitimately unwell now History tells us that Rappe’ had multiple abortions and multiple STD’s only one of these is fact. Virginia according to Autopsy records show had never been pregnant and never had a abortion much less multiple abortions. She did however have STD’s she had evidence of different types of STD’s she also according to studio medical records and autopsy records show due to the STD’s Virginia suffered from chronic cystitis. She was having another bout of it at the party. 

Death

Due to the untreated VD and the Cystitis the infection got worse and after 4 days Virginia died of a ruptured bladder which caused sepsis and peritonitis. 

Virginia’s body being returned to Hollywood for Burial. 

Virginia was buried at Hollywood Memorial Cemetery now called Hollywood Forever Cemetery. In Hollywood CA

Virginia’s Funeral 

It was noted in court records that Virginia had VD and Arbuckle was tested and he tested negative for any STD’s. 

Virginia Rappe’ 

Here is Virginia’s Wikipedia Page 

Virginia Rappe'

Arrest and Trials

Now poor Roscoe was at the mercy of a crooked DA and The Court of Public Opinion. The District Attorney Matthew Brady was running for re-election and there was nothing he wanted more than to Convict Roscoe Arbuckle on Rape and First Degree Murder! He not only coached Maude Delmont (who choked on the stand) and he planted a friend on the jury! 

The First and Second Trial were both mistrials. Hung Juries. The Third and final Trial Roscoe was Aquitted with a formal apology from the Jury. 

He was innocent in the eyes of the court and the justice system but guilty in the court of public opinion. 

Aftermath

Roscoe’s movies were not shown anywhere his multi-million dollar contract cancelled he lost everything. His cars, home his Wife Minta Durfree who stayed by his side during the ordeal divorced him. Minta never re-married. Roscoe married 2 more times one ended in divorce the other with his passing. 

Roscoe got work under a pseudonym William B. Goodrich (Will B. Goode) one of his movies was The red mill  starring Marion Davies and Owen Moore. 

Roscoe’s first wife Minta Durfree 

Roscoe was married to Doris Deane from 1925 to 1929.

Roscoe’s third and final wife was Addie McPhail they married in Erie PA in June of 1932. 

That same year Roscoe signed a contract with Warner Brothers to do 6 two reel comedies under his real name since 1921. The movies were a hit in the US but still we’re not shown in the UK. 

Roscoe finished the last 2 of the comedies on June 28, 1933. He celebrated the accomplishment and his first wedding anniversary with friends and his wife Addie. He said that this was “the Happiest day of his life”

He and Addie got home. Roscoe got into bed. When Addie went in to check on him Roscoe was dead he had a Heart Attack in his sleep and he had a grin on his face. He was only 46 years old. 

He was cremated and his ashes scattered. His wife Addie never re-married and lived to be 97 years old

In popular culture

John Belushi, John Candy, and Chris Farley all expressed interest in playing Arbuckle in a biopic of his life. Farley wanted it to be his first Dramatic role. He actually approached people on writing a screenplay. 

All 3 actors died before they could get their projects off the ground. 

Here is Roscoe’s Wiki Page 

Roscoe C. Arbuckle