Peg Entwistle
Peg Entwistle's birth certificate states she was born Millicent Lilian Entwistle on February 5, 1908 in Port Talbot, Wales. Her parents, Robert and Emily Entwistle, were English and actually lived in West Kensington, just outside of London (they had been visiting Emily's family in Port Talbot at the time of Peg's birth). In 1910, Emily died. In 1912, Robert was hired by Broadway producer Charles Frohman to manage stages in New York. This is when Peg came to America.
In 1914, Robert married Lauretta Ross. Lauretta was the sister of actress Jane Ross, who was married to Robert's brother, Charles Harold Entwistle. A few years later, Robert and Lauretta had two sons, Milton and Robert Bleaks Entwistle. In 1921 Lauretta died from meningitis, and just a year later, on November 2, 1922, Peg's father, Robert was struck down on Park Avenue in New York City by a hit and run limo while leaving his upscale Madison Avenue specialty shop where he made elaborate gift boxes for wealthy clients. He survived the massive injuries only to die the following December, just a week before Christmas. Peg's uncle Charles and aunt Jane adopted Peg and her brothers.
In 1924 Peg was enrolled into Henry Jewett's Repertory school in Boston. Peg was taught to act by famed director/actress Blanch Yurka. Peg performed every play by Henrik Ibsen while under Yurka. Peg was one of the pioneers of the famous Henry Jewett Players at just 16-years-old. In 1925, her uncle's friend and employer, actor Walter Hampden, gave her her first Broadway role. It was an un-credited walk-on, but Peg had attracted the attention of scouts from the prestigious New York Theatre Guild. She was the youngest actress ever to be recruited. She graduated their program and went on to play major supporting roles with Dorothy Gish, Laurette Taylor, Henry Travers, William Gillette, Bob Cummings, Romney Brent, and a host of other famous names. George M. Cohan in one of his original Broadway comedies personally directed her.
Peg also traveled around the country as a representative of the Guild during a special tour celebrating the Theatre Guild's ten-year birthday. The tour was orchestrated by the great Bernard Shaw. Peg received rave reviews in every play she ever performed...including plays the critics did not like. In 1932, after the very popular James Barrie revival of "Alice Sit-By-The-Fire" was pulled because of problems with the star, Laurette Taylor, she was brought out to Los Angeles by producers Edward Belasco and Homer Curran especially to costar opposite Billie Burke and Humphrey Bogart in a tryout production of Romney Brent's "The Mad Hopes." The show was a huge smash and Peg was again given tremendous notice. Three days after the production had ended, she was in her room at her uncle and aunt's house at 2428 Beachwood Drive, packing to return to New York when RKO Pictures called. They asked if she would like to do a screen test. She did and was soon signed to a small role in David O. Selznick's "Thirteen Women," with Irene Dunne and Myrna Loy. The film was a flop despite the combined talents of Dunne, Loy, and Entwistle. Peg's contract was not optioned. The worst year of The Great Depression was at hand. Money was tight for everyone -- including Peg's famous friends and former costars. She was broke and had no way to return to New York. There were no stage roles to be had in Los Angeles. In her mind, all seemed hopeless. On Friday evening, September 16, 1932, Peg left a note for her uncle and aunt, saying she was going to visit friends and buy some books. Her family and fans never saw her smile again.
On Sunday, September 18, an anonymous hiker found Peg's coat, a shoe, and her purse containing a suicide note. The hiker saw the body 100 feet below the 50-foot tall "H" of the HOLLYWOODLAND Sign and after leaving Peg's things on the steps of the LAPD's Hollywood Station, called the Central Station to report what she'd seen and done. Police investigators found her body and pieced-together what had happened. Peg had climbed a workman's ladder that had been left upright against the back of the "H" and jumped to her death. The note found in Peg's purse read, "I'm afraid I'm a coward. I am sorry for everything. If I had done this thing a long time ago it would have saved a lot of pain. P.E." An autopsy was performed. There was no indication of her having been drinking. The cause of death was internal bleeding cause by "Multiple Fractures of the Pelvis."
The nickname, "The Hollywood Sign Girl" was not given by the Los Angeles times, but rather the Los Angeles Herald Examiner -- a now defunct tabloid newspaper. Many rumors, myths and lies continue to circulate this beautiful and tragic woman. Her outstanding body of work for the stage has, for the most part, become just a footnote to a puzzling, heart-breaking end.
In 1914, Robert married Lauretta Ross. Lauretta was the sister of actress Jane Ross, who was married to Robert's brother, Charles Harold Entwistle. A few years later, Robert and Lauretta had two sons, Milton and Robert Bleaks Entwistle. In 1921 Lauretta died from meningitis, and just a year later, on November 2, 1922, Peg's father, Robert was struck down on Park Avenue in New York City by a hit and run limo while leaving his upscale Madison Avenue specialty shop where he made elaborate gift boxes for wealthy clients. He survived the massive injuries only to die the following December, just a week before Christmas. Peg's uncle Charles and aunt Jane adopted Peg and her brothers.
In 1924 Peg was enrolled into Henry Jewett's Repertory school in Boston. Peg was taught to act by famed director/actress Blanch Yurka. Peg performed every play by Henrik Ibsen while under Yurka. Peg was one of the pioneers of the famous Henry Jewett Players at just 16-years-old. In 1925, her uncle's friend and employer, actor Walter Hampden, gave her her first Broadway role. It was an un-credited walk-on, but Peg had attracted the attention of scouts from the prestigious New York Theatre Guild. She was the youngest actress ever to be recruited. She graduated their program and went on to play major supporting roles with Dorothy Gish, Laurette Taylor, Henry Travers, William Gillette, Bob Cummings, Romney Brent, and a host of other famous names. George M. Cohan in one of his original Broadway comedies personally directed her.
Peg also traveled around the country as a representative of the Guild during a special tour celebrating the Theatre Guild's ten-year birthday. The tour was orchestrated by the great Bernard Shaw. Peg received rave reviews in every play she ever performed...including plays the critics did not like. In 1932, after the very popular James Barrie revival of "Alice Sit-By-The-Fire" was pulled because of problems with the star, Laurette Taylor, she was brought out to Los Angeles by producers Edward Belasco and Homer Curran especially to costar opposite Billie Burke and Humphrey Bogart in a tryout production of Romney Brent's "The Mad Hopes." The show was a huge smash and Peg was again given tremendous notice. Three days after the production had ended, she was in her room at her uncle and aunt's house at 2428 Beachwood Drive, packing to return to New York when RKO Pictures called. They asked if she would like to do a screen test. She did and was soon signed to a small role in David O. Selznick's "Thirteen Women," with Irene Dunne and Myrna Loy. The film was a flop despite the combined talents of Dunne, Loy, and Entwistle. Peg's contract was not optioned. The worst year of The Great Depression was at hand. Money was tight for everyone -- including Peg's famous friends and former costars. She was broke and had no way to return to New York. There were no stage roles to be had in Los Angeles. In her mind, all seemed hopeless. On Friday evening, September 16, 1932, Peg left a note for her uncle and aunt, saying she was going to visit friends and buy some books. Her family and fans never saw her smile again.
On Sunday, September 18, an anonymous hiker found Peg's coat, a shoe, and her purse containing a suicide note. The hiker saw the body 100 feet below the 50-foot tall "H" of the HOLLYWOODLAND Sign and after leaving Peg's things on the steps of the LAPD's Hollywood Station, called the Central Station to report what she'd seen and done. Police investigators found her body and pieced-together what had happened. Peg had climbed a workman's ladder that had been left upright against the back of the "H" and jumped to her death. The note found in Peg's purse read, "I'm afraid I'm a coward. I am sorry for everything. If I had done this thing a long time ago it would have saved a lot of pain. P.E." An autopsy was performed. There was no indication of her having been drinking. The cause of death was internal bleeding cause by "Multiple Fractures of the Pelvis."
The nickname, "The Hollywood Sign Girl" was not given by the Los Angeles times, but rather the Los Angeles Herald Examiner -- a now defunct tabloid newspaper. Many rumors, myths and lies continue to circulate this beautiful and tragic woman. Her outstanding body of work for the stage has, for the most part, become just a footnote to a puzzling, heart-breaking end.