Who Do You Think Killed William Desmond Taylor?

The famous unsolved mystery from the silent film days. Please, no sous chef theories.

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by Anonymousreply 29March 15, 2021 7:30 PM

OP, maybe you should provide some background who this is instead of a link to an unknown source.

by Anonymousreply 2September 13, 2018 3:54 AM

The most likely answer can be found in this book published a few years ago. I read it twice. If you love Hollywood history from the silent film days this is for you.

The person behind it was likely a an actress named Margaret Gibson and the trigger man was a thug named Blackie Madsen, who was likely aided by Margaret's boyfriend, another actor. I won't spoil the motive if anyone wants to read this book.

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by Anonymousreply 5September 13, 2018 3:59 AM

Wow, this brings up memories. Thirty years ago I read Kirkpatrick's "A Cast of Killers" book about the William Desmond Taylor case. Kirkpatrick based his book in King Vidor's research on the topic when Vidor was going to make a movie about Taylor in the 60s that never panned out.

Vidor's theory, or Kitrkpatrick's I can't remember which, assumed it was done by Mary Miles Mintner's mother. But don't take my word for it because it's been about 30 years since I thought about this.

by Anonymousreply 6September 13, 2018 4:09 AM

BTW, there's apparently a newsletter called Taylorology. They noted a lot of errors in Vidor's research.

by Anonymousreply 7September 13, 2018 4:11 AM

^ Yes, however new evidence has emerged since that book, which points to Margaret Gibson.

by Anonymousreply 8September 13, 2018 4:11 AM

Has anyone else read issues of the plaintext zine Taylorology? Lots of good 1910s-1920.... aaaaand r6 ninjaed me.

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by Anonymousreply 9September 13, 2018 4:13 AM

[quote] The butler did it.

The maître de did it!

by Anonymousreply 10September 13, 2018 4:14 AM

I feel for poor Edna Purviance and Mabel Normand. Not so much Mary Miles Minter, I never watched any of her films.

by Anonymousreply 11September 13, 2018 4:15 AM

I didn't think Kirkpatrick had really solved or proven anything. I mostly read the book because of Taylor's "homosexual houseman." That proved to be much ado about nothing but the vintage Hollywood setting was entertaining.

by Anonymousreply 12September 13, 2018 4:20 AM

Why don't any so-called Hollywood mediums get to the bottom of this and Ince's death?

by Anonymousreply 13September 13, 2018 4:22 AM

This is a great review of the cast of characters.

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by Anonymousreply 14September 13, 2018 5:31 AM

Lucy was going to do it, but Gary talked her out of it.

by Anonymousreply 15September 13, 2018 6:07 AM

So, what do you think of Vidor and Kirkpatrick's conclusion that W.D. Taylor himself was gay? That he was just friends with Mabel Normand and Mary Miles Mintner?

by Anonymousreply 16September 13, 2018 7:06 AM

^ See William Mann's Tinseltown posted upthread. This is the latest book on the subject with new evidence that Vidor didn't piece together. By several accounts Taylor was indeed gay his probable lover was a co-worker.

by Anonymousreply 17September 13, 2018 7:44 PM

Mary Miles Minter's Mama!

by Anonymousreply 18September 13, 2018 7:49 PM

Sadly, the site of William Desmond Taylor's apartment where the murder took place is now the parking lot of a Ross Dress for Less

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by Anonymousreply 20September 13, 2018 8:04 PM

William Desmond Taylor was himself something of a mystery. He'd changed his name and abandoned a wife and kids to start over in Hollywood.

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by Anonymousreply 22August 23, 2020 7:18 PM

He dropped dead from a Charley Horse.

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by Anonymousreply 23August 23, 2020 9:09 PM

His valet, Henry Peavy, was a flamboyant gay according to the book(s).

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by Anonymousreply 24March 15, 2021 3:58 AM

Doubtful that William Mann has the answer---his books are always full of questionable stuff.

by Anonymousreply 25March 15, 2021 4:01 AM

^ How so? Any examples?

I ask because his book on WDT's murder makes a lot of sense.

by Anonymousreply 26March 15, 2021 4:58 AM

R5 "Tinseltown" is being made into a series:

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by Anonymousreply 28March 15, 2021 7:08 AM

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