The Children of

Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Virginia Richdale Kerrigan

Foyer of the Cathedral Mausoleum at Hollywood Forever

•  BORN: November 15, 1915, Universal City, California
• DIED: December 27, 1924, Hollywood, California
• CAUSE OF DEATH: Burns
• BURIAL: Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Cathedral Mausoleum, Crypt 1399

By Allan R. Ellenberger

Virginia Richdale Kerrigan was the daughter of Nina Richdale and William Wallace Kerrigan, the twin brother of silent film actor, J Warren Kerrigan. Virginia was born on November 15, 1915 on the Universal Studios lot — reportedly the first and perhaps the only child to be born there. At the time W. W. Kerrigan was general manager of Universal and also managed his brother’s career. Over the years he directed the careers of such stars as William S. Hart, Douglas Fairbanks and Rudolph Valentino.

Valentino first met Kerrigan while working on the set of Delicious Little Devil (1919) with Mae Murray. At the time, Kerrigan was managing his brother’s career and soon did the same for Valentino. Over the coming months Rudy became attached to little Virginia, spending many hours at her Ivar Avenue home (2050 Ivar Avenue). Later, even after his success, Valentino continued to visit Virginia, taking her for rides in his car through the Hollywood Hills.

Former home of Virginia Kerrigan and her family - 2050 Ivar Avenue, Hollywood

On the day after Christmas 1924, Virginia and her family were attending a party at a neighbors house at 2006 Ivar Avenue (original home has been demolished). There was a nip in the air that day and an open gas heater was lit to lessen the chill. Virginia received a new dress for Christmas the previous day and was modeling it for the party goers. Shortly before noon, as she laughed and twirled around the room, her dress brushed over the heater and ignited. The flames spread rapidly to the upper part of her clothing and to her hair. Before others in the house could extinguish the flames, Virginia was badly burned about the arms, body and head.

The Hollywood police rushed the injured girl to the Stadfield Hospital on Sunset Boulevard where she was given emergency treatment before her transfer to the Hollywood Community Hospital at 1300 Vermont Avenue. Virginia lingered for nearly 36 hours before succumbing to her injuries at 10:30 on Saturday night, December 27, 1924.

Hollywood Hospital (later Hollywood Presbyterian) where Virginia died from her injuries

The funeral services were held at the home of Virginia’s uncle, actor J. Warren Kerrigan (see below).

Virginia was interred in the Cathedral Mausoleum at Hollywood Cemetery, in a crypt (1399) across the corridor from her grandmother, Sarah McLean Kerrigan, who passed away just two years earlier.

According to Virginia’s brother, Patrick O. Kerrigan (who was born a few years after Virginia’s death), Rudolph Valentino, who had a profound love of children, was devastated by her death and would often leave flowers at her crypt.
  

EMAIL: Hollywoodland23@aol.com

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Elmer Dills dies at 82; L.A. restaurant and travel critic

From the Associated Press

September 16, 2008

Restaurant and travel critic Elmer Dills, whose radio and television reports spanned nearly three decades, has died. He was 82.

Dills died Monday at Pasadena’s Huntington Memorial Hospital, according to Los Angeles television station KABC, where he dished out his reports on Southern California dining.

He developed his vast knowledge of food and wine as an officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. He entertained heads of state and other VIPs before leaving the diplomatic service after more than 20 years.

Dills then hosted a KABC radio talk show on dining and travel before becoming a KABC-TV regular reporting on area restaurants.

Dills also did travel features for the station with the late Fred Anderson, then partnered later with Ric Romero.

“Working with Elmer on all of those vacation getaways was some of the most fun I’ve had working in this business,” Romero said.

Dills is survived by his wife Lynne and four grown children. Funeral arrangements were incomplete.

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