William Desmond Taylor
The 100-year old cold case murder of William Desmond Taylor shook Hollywood to it’s core and changed the movies forever. With a bungled investigation, widespread corruption and a press that was more interested in newspaper sales than truth, it may never be solved. Or was it?
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SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY AND FURTHER READING SUGGESTIONS
Di Mambro, Dina. “William Desmond Taylor: The Unsolved Murder”. Classic Hollywood Bios Accessed 24 December 2021. http://www.classichollywoodbios.com/WilliamDesmondTaylor.htm
Long, Bruce ed. “TAYLOROLOGY” Accessed 24 December 2021. https://silentera.com/taylorology/index.html
William Desmond Taylor 1872 – 1922 Hollywood Forever Accessed 24 December 2021.
https://hollywoodforever.com/story/william-desmond-taylor/
Giroux, Robert. A Deed of Death. New York, Alfred A. Knopf 1990
Kirkpatrick, Sidney D. A Cast of Killers. New York. E.P. Dutton. 1986.
An incredible recording of a rare interview of Mary Miles Minter is available at:
Mary Miles Minter 1970 Interview Excerpt. BACLong. YOUTUBE VIDEO. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpP9rF1KhLc
For the most comprehensive information on the William Desmond Taylor murder, Bruce Long is the expert. His Taylorology Online newsletter has 100 editions and has sources on every twist and turn in this case. Be warned: it is a rabbit hole you can spend many hours in if you are interested in this case – or the era. Copies of newspaper articles, interviews, background info – it’s all there. You can access TAYLOROLOGY at https://silentera.com/taylorology/index.html
A IMAGES USED IN THIS VIDEO:
IMAGE; FILE:CHAPLIN THE KID EDIT.JPG
DESCRIPTION: PUBLICITY STILL CHAPLIN “THE KID” 1921 .
CITATION: ©. PUBLIC DOMAIN. PD: PRE 1927
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chaplin_The_Kid_edit.jpg
IMAGE: FILE:ROSCOE ARBUCKLE.JPG
DESCRIPTION: ROSCOE ARBUCKLE STARS OF THE PHOTOPLAY, 1916
CITATION: PUBLIC DOMAIN PD: PRE-1927. NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Roscoe_Arbuckle.jpg
IMAGE; FILE:MABEL NORMAND 001.JPG
DESCRIPTION: MABEL NORMAND, MOTION PICTURE MAGAZINE, 1915
CITATION: ©. PUBLIC DOMAIN. PD: PRE 1927
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mabel_Normand_001.jpg
IMAGE; FILE:MARY PICKFORD AND DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS.JPG
DESCRIPTION: DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS AND MARY PICKFORD 1922
CITATION: ©. PUBLIC DOMAIN. PD: PRE 1927
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mary_Pickford_and_Douglas_Fairbanks.jpg
IMAGE; FILE:OLIVE THOMAS WHO’S WHO ON THE SCREEN.JPG
DESCRIPTION: OLIVE THOMAS 1920 PUBLICITY PHOTO
CITATION: ©. PUBLIC DOMAIN. PD: PRE 1927/EXPIRED
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Olive_Thomas_Who%27s_Who_on_the_Screen.jpg
IMAGE; FILE:ROSCOE ARBUCKLE TRIAL – 1921.JPG
DESCRIPTION: Roscoe Arbuckle Trial, 18 November 1921, San Francisco
CITATION: ©. PUBLIC DOMAIN. PD: PRE 1927
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Roscoe_Arbuckle_Trial_-_1921.jpg
IMAGE: FILE:WILLIAM DESMOND TAYLOR – DEC 1915 MP.JPG
DESCRIPTION: WILLIAM DESMOND TAYLOR IN THE DECEMBER 1915 MOVIE PICTORIAL.
CITATION: ©. PUBLIC DOMAIN.
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_Desmond_Taylor_-_Dec_1915_MP.jpg
IMAGE: FILE:TOM SAWYER (1917) -2.JPG
DESCRIPTION: TOM SAWYER AD IN VARIETY 21 DEC 1917
CITATION: PUBLIC DOMAIN PD: PRE-1927. NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
SOURCE : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tom_Sawyer_(1917)_-_2.jpg
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IMAGE: FILE:MARY MILES MINTER ANNE OF GREEN GABLES 2 FILM DAILY 1919.PNG
DESCRIPTION: ANNE OF GREEN GABLES AD IN FILM DAILY VOL 9, 10 - 1919
CITATION: PUBLIC DOMAIN PD: PRE-1927. NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
SOURCE :
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IMAGE: FILE:HUCKLEBERRY FINN (1920).JPG
DESCRIPTION: HUCKLEBERRY FINN 1920 AD IN EXHIBITORS HERALD 2/28/1920
CITATION: PUBLIC DOMAIN PD: PRE-1927. NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
SOURCE : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Huckleberry_Finn_(1920)_-_5.jpg
IMAGE: FILE:WILLIAM DESMOND TAYLOR 1920 BY ALBERT WITZEL, TO MARY MILES MINTER.JPG
DESCRIPTION: WILLIAM DESMOND TAYLOR 1920 BY PHOTOGRAPHER ALBERT WITZEL, SIGNED TO MARY MILES MINTER
CITATION: 0 PUBLIC DOMAIN
IMAGE; FILE:WILLIAM DESMOND TAYLOR 1917 BY WITZEL.PNG
DESCRIPTION: WILLIAM DESMOND TAYLOR 1917 BY WITZEL
CITATION: ©. PUBLIC DOMAIN
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:William_Desmond_Taylor_1917_by_Witzel.png
IMAGE; FILE:DENIS GAGE DEANE-TANNER.JPG
DESCRIPTION: DENIS GAGE DEANE-TANNER 1905 BY LBEACHCA
CITATION: ©. PUBLIC DOMAIN
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Denis_Gage_Deane-Tanner.jpg
IMAGE: FILE:CAPTAIN ALVAREZ1914.JPG
DESCRIPTION: WILLIAM DESMOND TAYLOR IN CAPTAIN ALVAREZ 1914
CITATION: PUBLIC DOMAIN
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Captain_Alvarez1914.jpg
IMAGE; FILE:MABEL’S BLUNDER.JPG
DESCRIPTION: MABEL NORMAND STARRING IN ‘MABEL’S BLUNDER’, 1914
CITATION: ©. PUBLIC DOMAIN. PD: PRE 1927
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mabel%27s_Blunder.jpg
IMAGE; FILE:MABEL NORMAND CARD 4.JPG
DESCRIPTION: MABEL NORMAND KROMO CARD 1917
CITATION: ©. PUBLIC DOMAIN PRE-1927
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Margaret_Gibson_trading_card.jpg
IMAGE: FILE:DUESENBERG CAR LOC NPCC.08153.TIFF
DESCRIPTION: DUESENBERG CAR 1923 LOC
CITATION: PUBLIC DOMAIN PD: 1927-1977 NO NOTICE. NO KNOWN RESTRICTIONS
SOURCE : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duesenberg_car_LOC_npcc.08153.tiff
IMAGE: FILE:MARY MILES MINTER PHOTO.JPG
DESCRIPTION: MARY MILES MINTER IN THE ST LOUIS GLOBE-DEMOCRAT 1916
CITATION: PUBLIC DOMAIN
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mary_Miles_Minter_photo.jpg
IMAGE; FILE:MARY MILES MINTER IN 1909.JPG
DESCRIPTION: MARY MILES MINTER IN THE LITTLEST REBEL 1909 (EXHIBITORS HEARLD JUNE - SEPT 1919)
CITATION: ©. PUBLIC DOMAIN PRE-1927
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mary_Miles_Minter_in_1909.jpg
IMAGE: FILE:CHARLOTTE SHELBY 1923.JPG
DESCRIPTION: AMERICAN ACTRESS CHARLOTTE SHELBY 1923
CITATION: PUBLIC DOMAIN
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Charlotte_Shelby_1923.jpg
IMAGE: FILE:MARY MILES MINTER AND HER MOTHER, CHARLOTTE SHELBY.JPG
DESCRIPTION: MARY MILES MINTER AND HER MOTHER, CHARLOTTE SHELBY 1923
CITATION: PUBLIC DOMAIN
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mary_Miles_Minter_and_her_mother,_Charlotte_Shelby.jpg
IMAGE: FILE:MARY MILES MINTER BY ALBERT WITZEL.JPG
DESCRIPTION: MARY MILES MINTER PHOTOGRAPHED BY ALBERT WITZEL
CITATION: PUBLIC DOMAIN
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mary_Miles_Minter_by_Albert_Witzel.jpg
IMAGE: FILE:A PERFECT 36 (1918) - 1.JPG
DESCRIPTION: MABEL NORMAND IN A PERFECT 36 EXHIBITORS HERALD OCT 19, 1918
CITATION: ©. PUBLIC DOMAIN PRE-1927
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_Perfect_36_(1918)_-_1.jpg
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IMAGE; FILE:MABEL NORMAND – THE PHOTO-PLAY JOURNAL, MARCH 1917.JPG
DESCRIPTION: MABEL NORMAND PORTRAIT BY ALBERT WITZEL 1917
CITATION: ©. PUBLIC DOMAIN PRE-1927
SOURCE: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mabel_Normand_-_The_Photo-Play_Journal,_March_1917.jpg
IMAGE; FILE:MARY MILES MINTER. PORTRAIT BY CINEMATOGRAPHER JAMES WONG HOWE 1923.JPG
DESCRIPTION: MARY MILES MINTER PHOTO BY J. W. HOWE 1923
CITATION: ©. PUBLIC DOMAIN PRE-1927
IMAGE; FILE:STILL FROM THE 1914 VITAGRAPH FILM “THE RIDERS OF PETERSHAM”, WITH MARGARET GIBSON AND WILLIAM DESMOND TAYLOR.JPG
DESCRIPTION: STILL FROM THE 1914 VITAGRAPH FILM “THE RIDERS OF PETERSHAM” MARGARET GIBSON AND WILLIAM DESMOND TAYLOR
CITATION: ©. PUBLIC DOMAINBY PRE-1927
IMAGE; FILE:MARGARET GIBSON TRADING CARD.JPG
DESCRIPTION: MARGARET GIBSON, AKA PATRICIA PALMER MARGARET GIBSON AND WILLIAM DESMOND TAYLOR
CITATION: ©. PUBLIC DOMAIN PRE-1927
SOURCE:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Margaret_Gibson_trading_card.jpg
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