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Editorial Cartoons
from February 1922 |
A selection of editorial cartoons published in the month following the William Desmond Taylor murder (click on the image to see a larger view).
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Feb. 4, 1922
New Shadow on the Screen
Theme: With the arrival of the Taylor mystery, the Arbuckle case is no longer the main focus of national attention on Hollywood. |
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Feb. 5, 1922
Quick Fade-Out Wanted
Theme: The movie producers and Will Hays must quickly eliminate the conditions in Hollywood which have lead to the Arbuckle and Taylor cases. Uncle Sam is watching to see what they will do. |
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Feb. 6, 1922
Another “Scenario”
Theme: The mystery of the Taylor case, as if written by Death. |
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Feb. 7, 1922
The Progress of the Latest Big Murder Mystery
Theme: The public is fascinated by the gossipy rumors of the Taylor case. |
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Feb. 7, 1922
Keeping Step with the Big Ones
Theme: Hollywood’s front page crime is beginning to rival Chicago and New York. |
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Feb. 8, 1922
Go West, Young Man
Theme: A good boy should stay away from Hollywood. |
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Feb. 8, 1922
Get the Hook!
Theme: The public is fed up with stars who portray virtuous roles but are revealed to live dissipated lives. |
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Feb. 8, 1922
Steady Customers
Theme: Death and Mrs. Grundy (intrusive, prudish morality) are looking at Hollywood. |
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Feb. 8, 1922
“Holeywood” is a Better Name
Theme: The wormholes of scandal caused by immorality, gay life, the Taylor mystery, and the Arbuckle case, threaten to cause the collapse of the movie industry, and the public can see that the foundation is rotten. (Note: “gay life” did not refer to homosexuality.) |
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Feb. 8, 1922
Epilogue
Theme: Behind the theatrical mask of tragedy, the reality of death stands in the spotlight. |
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Feb. 8, 1922
A Flaw in the Film
Theme: Uncle Sam must cut episodes like the Taylor murder and Arbuckle case from Hollywood studio life. |
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Feb. 8, 1922
Where the Sam Hill is that New Hired Man?
Theme: The public and movie industry are urgently awaiting the arrival of Will Hays to clean up the mess from Hollywood scandals. |
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Feb. 9, 1922
Just When Company is Arriving!
Theme: Los Angeles is preoccupied with the Taylor case, just as the tourist season is about to start. |
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Feb. 9, 1922
Another Glimpse Into Another World
Theme: The public (‘the rest of us’) is given a glimpse into Hollywood, and is shocked. |
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Feb. 9, 1922
In a Sea of Reel Trouble
Theme: The movie industry is calling on Will Hays to save it from film scandal, murder, dope parties, vice, wayward stars, and the Arbuckle and Taylor cases. |
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Feb. 9, 1922
Falling Stars
Theme: The Taylor case has revealed falling reputations of film stars, and movie fans are dismayed. |
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Feb. 10, 1922
Filmdom Never Staged a Greater Thriller
Theme: The Taylor case is developing into a greater thriller than any movie, partly due to the famous stars and producers involved, and Uncle Sam is watching with interest. |
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Feb. 10, 1922
What the “Angel” Mother Should Do to Her “Angelic” Child!
Theme: Los Angeles should take strong action to end the immoral excesses of Hollywood. |
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Feb. 10, 1922
Has He Brooms and Mops Enough?
Theme: Will Hays will have a big job trying to clean up after the many Hollywood scandals. |
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Feb. 11, 1922
The Film Maker
Theme: Hollywood private life seems to be directed by Satan. |
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Feb. 11, 1922
A Cubistaylor Picture
Theme: In a mock style of Cubism, here are some of the sensational facts and rumors of the Taylor case. |
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Feb. 11, 1922
Theme: In Hollywood, the combination of high salaries, immaturity, drugs, alcohol, and loose living, has produced a deadly explosion. |
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Feb. 13, 1922
Help!!
Theme: The motion picture industry is being carried away by the devil of scandal. |
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Feb. 16, 1922
A “Snow Party” in Hollywood
Theme: Some actors and actresses are being frozen out by public opinion. (Note: “snow party” was a slang term for a drug party.) |
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Feb. 16, 1922
With 20th Century Trimmings!
Theme: Modern Hollywood is as bad as ancient Babylon. |
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Feb. 17, 1922
It’s an Ill Wind, etc.
Theme: The scandals of Hollywood may make a girl abandon her dream of acting in the movies. |
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Feb. 19, 1922
They’ll Have to Cut This Part Out
Theme: Scandals, scorching parties, orgies, murder, must be cut from the motion picture industry. |
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Feb. 20, 1922
Shame!
Theme: The national public condemnation of Hollywood is hypocritical and unfair, because there are far worse matters that deserve public attention and condemnation. |
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Feb. 20, 1922
The Motion Picture Industry Presents —
Theme: What will be the next in Hollywood’s continuing series of scandals? |
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Feb. 21, 1922
Life’s Darkest Moment
Theme: When a young man idolizes a film actress, it is a sad day when she is linked to a murder. |
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Feb. 25, 1922
A Long Drawn Out Affair
Theme: The Taylor case goes on and on. |
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Feb. 26, 1922
The Double Exposure
Theme: Hearst‘s Los Angeles paper praises the movie industry with bootlicking gush, while at the same time Hearst‘s Chicago paper makes sensational attacks against Hollywood. |
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Feb. 27, 1922
It Seems to have the Endurance Record for Mysteries
Theme: The Taylor mystery is being tied down by rumors, false clues, unknown motives, gossip, and theories. |
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