Comments on: Hollywood Tragedies…

By: d haffner

d haffner — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 14:15:24 +0000

any inside info regarding Virgie will be appreciated…….thanx zeke

By: Martin Evans

Martin Evans — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 13:23:04 +0000

Has anybody ever considered the idea that Virginia Rappe might’ve been purposefully murdered by Maude Delmont to frame Roscoe Arbuckle?

By: Lisa Cousins

Lisa Cousins — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:58:01 +0000

Hmmm – hadn’t noticed this the first time around with this article, but I see that her birth year is listed as 1891 in the text, but appears to be 1895 on the gravemarker. Any light to shed on the discrepancy?
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Hi Lisa, It’s the norm for an actress to lie about her age to stay younger for parts. The 1891 is from her birth certificate. — Allan

By: Nance

Nance — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:24:52 +0000

Kevin-Virginia added the e to the end of her name to sound more glamourus. She pronounced it Rapp (a). Also, if you would like more info. on Ms. Rappe, you can go to Goldensilents.com or a number of sites to find out more.

By: Joan Myers

Joan Myers — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:05:15 +0000

Kevin:

As nearly as I can tell, Rappe began designing fashions around the early part of 1914. She may well have had an interest in clothing design previously, stemming from her involvement in the early fashion industry, but 1914 is when her first publicity articles start appearing. These articles appear throughout the country and continue until she went to Hollywood. It is always possible that the move to Hollywood was in connection with her design career rather than in the hopes of an acting career; most actresses, at least in dramatic roles, wore their own clothing in films. Of course, then–as now–the step from modeling to acting is a standard career arc, a person who photographs well as a model is likely to photograph well in a movie. The source material on Rappe is not vast, but what is available points to intelligence and ambition, rather than cluelessness.

Her name is Swedish/Germanic and is pronounced “Rap-pay.”

By: w.k. mccauley

w.k. mccauley — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:21:27 +0000

And also, may we expect to hear about Florence Lawrence and, most especially, Flora Finch in future posts? We are looking for the first movie star and the first billed female comedienne (Finch?) Would love to hear your story of Florence Lawrence and her headstone. and, as always Flora Finch. Is her last credited app. in “The Women?” Does anyone recocnize her in such?

By: w.k. mccauley

w.k. mccauley — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:45:26 +0000

Allan,
I would love to know more about V.R.s early career as a designer. She has always been depicted as a failed starlet. Please let all your many readers know about her early career and how that may have affected the outcome. She was not just a clueless starlet? This is so interesting, much like Barbara Lamar who was only known as an actress, when she did so much more. N’est ce que pas? I am so interested. Also, can you elucidate us on how her last name is pronounced?
Kevin