One wonders what cable television news would do with the following story. The media would have a great time, all channels blasting away at this new, juicy sex scandal involving a famous and beloved Hollywood comic and murder.
Like all famous stories involving Hollywood, then and now, the events reported about the Fatty Arbuckle rape case were mixed and cruel and damaging of his the reputation and career. The media cares little about people they report on, just so it makes a good story. What "facts" are actually reported against what actually happened are too many times counter to reality. Generally those involved are too invested in the outcome rather than the truth and justice. The Hollywood PR machines conflicted with the media's desire to "know." The public is willing to buy any juicy twist and turn that reveals the nasty underbelly of fame, fortune and the price paid by those lucky enough to be successful.
Twenty minutes after Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle disappeared into the bedroom with Virginia Rappe there was a long, high pitched scream. It was a scream which would haunt the famous silent movie comic for the rest of his life.
Four days after the scream, Virginia Rappe was dead. A short time later Fatty Arbuckle was taken into custody and charged with murder.
It was the "Roaring 20's" and prohibition was in full swing. Hollywood had finally become a town of national importance, producing an endless supply of motion pictures, making unknowns more famous than kings and queens. Hollywood stars were loved and adored, worshipped, and anything they did was featured material for the national newspapers. A scandal concerning a motion picture star drew more attention than national elections.
Fatty Arbuckle was one of the most beloved of Hollywood personalities.
The minute Fatty was arrested, the newspapers were filled with the rape case. During the months following his arrest, it was to be established that Arbuckle had had sexual relations with Virginia and in the process her bladder had been ruptured. Rumors claimed that he had used either a bottle or a chunk of ice on the woman in a perverted way.
What actually happened between Fatty Arbuckle and Virginia Rappe could never be completely established, since they were the only ones who really knew the truth. She was dead and he was, for obvious reasons, admitting nothing.
After eight months of trials, though finally acquitted, Fatty Arbuckle found it impossible to return to the films. Public opinion was strongly set against him. Fatty was never able to completely shake off the effects of the scandal, though many personal friends and the high powers in Hollywood and show business did everything they could to help him.
Some years later, in New York, under the insistence of his friends, Fatty did a play called Baby Mine, which was highly successful. New York was sophisticated enough to accept his talent and not judge the man--but when he went across country on a stage tour, his appearances in Minneapolis were cancelled because of public and civic pressure. This was seven years after the trials.
Fatty went back to Hollywood to open a night club called The Plantation Club. Here in the city which had made him a national motion picture star he found it possible to obtain some kind of success in this business enterprise. When the depression came, the club had to close.
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