Dark Places Behind Bright Lights

TW: Discussion of eating disorders and predatory behaviors. Written by Noa Chamberlin, Arts Staff Writer Photographed by Molly Jacobs, Staff Photographer Modeled by Jessica Katz, Online Editor

Between the 1920s and 1960s, enchantment and mystery overwhelmed the “golden age of Hollywood.”1 Yet the true nature of this period was masked by the illusion of magical simplicity and alluring innocence. Tinseltown, as it was called, was known for this glitz and glamor, but beyond the eyes of its audience, scandal reigned.

Today, every big Hollywood scandal seems to live in full display across the internet for unlimited viewing. But according to Laura Martisiute, a writer for

Ah That’s Interesting Magazine, there was once a time when “Tinseltown’s darkest episodes were successfully swept under the rug—at least for a while.”2 Of the scandals that went unseen until after the stars had passed their peak of fame, there are three that stand out: Charlie Chaplin’s grooming and pursuit of younger girls, Hollywood Studios’ pressure on actresses to get abortions and Judy Garland’s enforced diet.

Once he became a worldwide icon, socalled comedy genius Charlie Chaplin developed a reputation for pursuing younger women.3 When Chaplin was 25, he entered a relationship with his

¹ Charlotte Chilton, “35 Rules You Probably Didn’t Know Old Hollywood Stars Had to Follow,” Harper’s Bazaar, April 17, 2020. ² Laura Martisiute, “9 Vintage Hollywood Scandals That Reveal Tinseltown’s Ugly Side,” All That’s Interesting, May 11, 2011. ³ Ibid. MODA | 38

19-year-old co-star, Edna Purviance. Only four years later, at 29, Chaplin was involved with 16-year-old child actress Mildred Harris. This continued into his mid-50s when he dated 18-year-old Oona O’Neill.4 While these women endured the brunt of Chaplin’s actual personality—which was domineering and cruel—Chaplin himself was never exiled from the Hollywood community.5 Even today, Chaplin is recognized for his impact on the entertainment industry, not for his perverse treatment of his female co-stars.6

According to Daisy Webb, a writer for Film Daily, many scandals similar to Chaplin’s took place during the dark days of the all-powerful Old Hollywood system “before political correctness and legitimate workplace practices had been put into place.”7 During this time, studios were able to maintain a vice-like grip over every aspect of an actor’s life. Unsurprisingly, women had it harder than men. Actresses were seen as sex symbols, so it was largely frowned upon to get married, let alone pregnant. Due to this, studios pressured—and practically forced—ac-

⁴ Ibid. ⁵ Lauren Oyler, “Charlie Chaplin Was a Sadistic Tyrant,” Vice, April 15, 2016. ⁶ Peter Ackroyd, “2,000 lovers of the comedy genius who didn’t like women: New book reveals Charlie Chaplin’s obsession with young girls,” Daily Mail, April 4, 2014 ⁷ Daisy Webb, “‘Hollywood Babylon’: The most salacious Old Hollywood scandals,” Film Daily, Feb. 1, 2021. tresses to have abortions.8 Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Judy Garland and Lana Turner are just a few of the ones who maintained their Hollywood status by involuntarily remaining barren. Not only were these women confined by the bounds of their sex appeal, but strict diets were put in place to maintain the image of perfection. When Garland entered the entertainment world at the age of 13, what seemed like a lucky break quickly turned into a nightmare. According to Herbert Kretzmer, famous lyricist and author of “Snapshots,” Louis Mayer, the co-founder of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, instructed that Garland be put on a diet of “soup and coffee, which she later supplemented with cigarettes and diet pills.” Garland was one of the most beloved actresses of her time, and it came as quite a shock when she died of a drug overdose at 47 in 1969 as a result of the trauma she suffered at the hands of Hollywood.9 The cinema has always been a dark place behind its bright lights. Although it may seem like all the current scandals of Hollywood are swarming social media today, many remain hidden from view, just as they were in the past. Old Hollywood often comes off as all glitz and innocence, but many misdeeds occurred beyond what those in power allowed us to see. ■