The Untold Story of Olive Thomas: Hollywood's First Scandalous Death

[@rwisti11301962]

My grandmother used to play piano and or organ (depending on the theater) for the silent movies. She would tell me how you had to be able to change the tone of the music to the tone of the movie, dramatic, happy, sad, scary, etc. She was an amazing pianist.

[@The_momur]

Thank you for sharing. This era fascinates me. My maternal grandmother was on the drapery construction team! She was very young, an immigrant from Belgium ~1910. They’d do repairs in the theaters and they may have designed and sewn them in the theater too. Anyway, this is how she met my grandfather. He and his brother worked for the same company in repairs. She’d purposefully kick the belt off the sewing machine ( treadle) to get his attention so he could fix it. Her friend Hilma, born in Sweden was in on the act too. Both of the brothers married the girls. That’s my favorite family story.

[@cooki801]

My grandmother did the same, although I don't think she played the organ.

[@lwoods1940]

@@The_momur This is an adorable story.

[@AlbertaGeek]

Surely you mean great-grandmother.

[@rwisti11301962]

@AlbertaGeek No my grandmother. I am old...

[@thurayya8905]

Olive was a beautiful woman and talented actor. It is a shame most people don't know about her. Thank you so much for telling her story.

[@Tugela60]

She looks kind of dopey in a bluecollar kind of way.

[@rmp7400]

​@@Tugela60 I agree that she does not at all look like a predator+

[@resnonverba137]

Actress...

[@Tugela60]

@rmp7400 Lol...that is exactly what predators normally look like actually. Ordinary people try to grift into a lifestyle they otherwise would not be able to afford.

[@MyBarkin]

@@resnonverba137 no, actor is correct because the Associated Press manual of style does not use the term "actress," it uses the non-gender specific term actor, regardless of the gender of the person acting.

[@leejones7439]

This series is so well done. The presenter is a total pro.

[@deniselyke2841]

I love this guy! What a beautiful voice. You just cant make new stories fast enough for me

[@ravenlass3334]

Thank you for honoring Ollie.

[@terrygibbs1147]

An impressive telling of Olive's tragic ending and the still mysterious story from the Silent Era

[@leviathan8215]

I appreciate your respect for all the women who died because of violent partners. You never justify it or say it was a different time, and you bring light to these women who were snuffed out

[@ttf4now]

She is a natural beauty. A rare gem.

[@maizie9454]

i always found this story interesting. and never believed jacks story about it. its way too hard to believe anyone would drink that - it is increbily painful- from just one sip. thanks for doing a piece on it

[@mollybell5779]

I love these stories, and the content and delivery is top notch. I was today years old when I learned that Paul was a film actor and also the front man for a band when he was younger. Good stuff!

[@donnariahi2975]

Excellent story and one I have never heard.

[@GriffGriffith-l6i]

She was innocently gorgeous... I could listen to this man forever...I love his accent and proper speech!!

[@99fruitbat94]

Some of the earliest screen stars died in awful ways . One actress burned to death when a stage hand carelessly discarded a still lit cigarette butt.Her dress caught on fire 😢

[@sallyjune4109]

Another actor accidentally shot himself with a gun he didn't know was loaded. He took it on a trip because he didn't want his younger brother hurt himself.

[@jeanoboyle2439]

@99fruitbat, that was Martha Mansfield, who died of those burns in 1924

[@Chrissy-j6v]

99fruitbat, yes, True! Like the man who played Lillian and Dorothy Gish's brother in movie "Unseen Enemy" and was the lead bad guy in "Musketeers of pig alley-" Elmer Booth-he died when he was passenger of car driven by director Tod Browning hit a streetcar in 1915. Plus, Dorothy Gish real life boyfriend Robert Harron also in movie "Unseen Enemy" accidently shot himself with his own gun in 1920.

[@thekrrib]

Even today people die making.movies and stunt people end up in wheelchairs or injured in other ways. There are websites which document these things.

[@christinetitus6388]

Great video! I have always been drawn to Olive’s life story & tragic end. She was a beautiful woman who lived too fast & died young. One of the first Hollywood scandals.

[@terr777]

Can you imagine going from $2.50 a week to $2500.00 in those days?

[@kmos1948]

$2500 a week is plenty acceptable today.

[@babyIwelcomethepressure]

​@@kmos1948Agreed 😂

[@toriamansfield2999]

That would be just under $40K/week today.

[@lynnleigha580]

Roughly $80ish a week in today's money

[@Blech-h9z]

I'd be happy as a pig in swill with 2500.00 a week.

[@JamesDavidWalley]

Truly a timeless beauty; she'd be considered stunning even if she came along today.

[@maryana9987]

Do people that write such comments think that people are very different in their facial features than people in the past?

[@oooh19]

@@maryana9987nope but beauty standards and norms change

[@griseldis]

She loved life, she loved making films and being successful, her career was going very well, she was so young. And beautiful, even her sister-in-law Mary Pickford, who was probably not her biggest fan, said of her that Olive had beautiful deep blue, almost violet eyes under long dark lashes. In reality she must have been even more beautiful than in photos. How could someone so hungry for life do something like that to herself? I can't believe it, never. She didn't even take the name Pickford because she was proud of her own career, it's not nice that she is buried in a grave that bears the name Pickford. Because her husband later remarried, she lies there all alone, under a name she didn't want. When I look at her photos, she seems incredibly alive to me, as if she wants to talk to us.

[@deb310red]

It wasn't a suicide attempt. She thought she was drinking water.

[@SheppardOfHermes]

I thought so too. pictures of Olive, looks like she wants to talk to us. ❤

[@turkeysandtiaras2623]

Another gem❤

[@patmurphy6849]

From my home town. What a sad story What a beautiful girl. Everything old is new again.

[@karaamundson3964]

Indeed, a real starlet! ✨️ Thank you, Paul, for another absorbing tale

[@mikki3961]

She was a beauty, what a shame. Thank you for the video.

[@resnonverba137]

Less of an issue if she were ugly?

[@michelledesgroseilliers2956]

Olive was beautiful and talented! What happened to her is so sad. I still dont understand why she took the poison by accident. Maybe she was very drunk? Paul, you are the best storyteller! Hugs from the US!

[@parsleypalace3272]

I knew about Mary Pickford (and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and their house Pickfair!), but did not know that she had two Hollywood siblings. I learn something new every day.

[@freakshowfilmfestival3591]

Apparently Mary had to deal with her siblings misbehaving and scandals.

[@riverbilly64]

I had never heard of Olive before this story. Great telling.

[@TheFinalBathAmber]

Love this actress. Thank you for remembering her.

[@CindyKester-pb2ct]

Paul, you have the most wonderful, amazing voice! I absolutely love your videos, and your narration makes them even better. I am so disappointed when they're over! Thanks you from Cindy in Boise, Idaho!

[@supernoodles91]

A new 'Well I Never' channel.....yay!!

[@Flamsterette]

Thanks for the upload, Paul.

[@keiththorpe9571]

My girlfriend and I saw her ghost at the New Amsterdam Theater back in 2006. We were backstage on our way to see one of my gf's friends who was performing that night when we saw Olive's ghost. She didn't look what you might call "spectral' at all, she appeared as substantial as any person might, just standing there. And she was quite beautiful. She was the second ghost I've ever had contact with (My first was at a place in Fredericksburg, Virginia called the Kenmore Inn, a small tavern with rooms for guests that dates back to colonial times. The ghost there didn't manifest physically, however. Just spectral sounds, cold drafts, and psychic phenomenon).

[@EKA201-j7f]

More details please! What happened?

[@deb310red]

Did Olive's ghost say anything to you?

[@ailsasublett9885]

She was so beautiful!

[@jamesclyburn1373]

Excellent sir.

[@Tatteddaddydc]

OMG, Paul!!!!! I LOVE the new channel!!! Yessssssssssssssssssssss!!!!! STARS 🌟🤩⭐️🌠

[@nataliemeenakshithegreat7780]

From Paris ❤thank you so much dear it was great ❤

[@AnnaAnna-uc2ff]

Thank you.

[@plicketyplunk]

Love your channel. New subscriber❤

[@cheryl2962]

Enjoyed This! Just Subscribed!

[@livingdeadgirla]

Well, I never! Fascinating.

[@Ms.HarmonyJ]

Sensational job Paul you guys rock always know how to make your fans wanting more

[@StanSwan]

Photos are amazing. In her lifetime there not photos from 100 years before her time. Seeing her looking out at us all you can see she was just a person be it a beautiful one. Makes you feel like you could walk up to her and smile and she might smile back. Not sure a painting can ever do that. Sad story but Hollywood is full of them.

[@rmp7400]

May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the infinite mercy of God rest in peace+

[@barbarawillis5187]

Enjoyed the story and pictures. Interesting Hollywood history of one of its stars.

[@sandic3892]

Great video!

[@Moosetta]

At 4:27, the actress at center is Betty Bronson, not Lottie Pickford. A blogger made this error and it's been picked up by others a few times.

[@Chrissy-j6v]

Well, I Never, I love your channel, and I subscribed. I am an old Hollywood History Buff. I have heard about Olive Thomas before. Olive looked even younger than she was in my opinion! Olive Thomas and her sisters in law The Pickford sisters were all very lovely Lassies indeed!! I read that the handsome Jack Pickford took Mercury pills for his syphilis, which was pretty common back then. Thanks for talking about this tragic and beautiful Hollywood star Olive Thomas.! And thanks for the fabulous scenes & old photos! Olive Thomas & Jack Pickford both died way too young! SAD! Other beauties in this era would include Lillian & Dorothy Gish, Corinne Griffith, Colleen Moore, Clara Bow and Louis Brooks among others. Thanks for the upload. Chrissy-Your fan from America! ❤❤❤❤

[@Deepbluecat]

Great presentation sir! Subbed. Looking forward to more.

[@cindysmith6612]

Thank you ❤

[@melissaconnellyjones2622]

I’m not buying the husbands story. Even if she was inebriated, it doesn’t make sense that she would’ve downed the whole bottle. And why delay getting her to the hospital? Very suspicious.

[@g.ecoleman5910]

Not sure about now but it use to be that most people were treated on the scene in France then transported to a hospital. The same was done when Princess Diana crashed in Paris.

[@magesalmanac6424]

When does it say he delayed? He called for a doctor right away, and tried to help induce vomiting.

[@donnarogers7732]

STD certainly was Common in those Days. No treatment until Pensacillian. Who would want to marry a Disease ridden Sex fiend? Horrible.She was probably infested as well.

[@crystalmiller4577]

Ty ❤❤❤❤❤

[@lelia660]

I've always been so intrigued by this; I've read everything I could on it. To be honest, I'd never known Jack Pickford was so prominent until I learned about his marriage to Olive. Such a sad story. Thank you for covering this!

[@jujumulligan43]

A very well presented segment of the early days of Hollywood. In many ways, from the history I have read it was a cut throat world. Poor Olive didn't see what was coming. Thanks again for an entertaining and informative video!

[@stevenreid1796]

Thanks so much

[@eileencorcoran3090]

Interesting stuff

[@jamesclyburn1373]

Thank you

[@davidca96]

she was gorgeous

[@suzanneoshannessy7666]

Very sad story too young to die

[@nicolaasormsby2977]

You need to do a Well I Never Stars video about actor, George Reeves.

[@R.Oates7902]

I think George Reves was killed by his jealous fiancee'

[@franken-pattern]

I'm dreaming of Paul doing episodes featuring lesser known actresses like Dorothy McGuire and of "A list" actresses who don't get enough limelight like Bette Davis ❤

[@donaldleroy6502]

I think that I'll have to search for some of Olive's films if possible. She looks every bit as pretty as Mary Pickford and Lillian Gish, the only two silent era ladies I know of

[@Chrissy-j6v]

Donald, I am sure you have heard about a few other silent movie starlets like Greta Garbo. And Gloria Swanson from the movie "Sunset Boulevard". Among others.

[@donaldleroy6502]

@@Chrissy-j6v now that you mention it, yes, they do sound familiar 😊

[@Chrissy-j6v]

@@donaldleroy6502 😊

[@jocelynsomerville4319]

What a great storey have not been i touch with u for a while always love ur stories cant wait for more and so so well told 👍🥂

[@resnonverba137]

Story.

[@prudencepineapple9448]

I like Lilyan Trashman's assessment of Jack Pickford. Unfortunately, I can't repeat it here.

[@BeaBea-54]

i cannot find what she said anywhere can you tell me the video or the article headline please?

[@cherylschantz9893]

You can tell he was a bad boy, so to speak.

[@prudencepineapple9448]

@@BeaBea-54 ......"" Ohhhh, look, here comes Mr........""" The rest I can't repeat, but Lilyan was known for her dry/sarcastic/droll SOH and her quick wit! I think it was the BBC's miniseries called Hollywood (1980). It's available here on YT. Lilyan was known for her dinner parties, going as far as to paint the dinning room black as she was going to wear a red dress and wanted to make a statement. She even got into a fist-fight with Lupe Valez in the women's toilet of the Coconut Grove one evening. Now I may be very wrong about the venue, but they did indeed have their claws out! Hollywood (1980) is a good series, with many of the stars from the silent era through to the 1930s giving interviews. I think it's in 8 parts of 45 minutes each. Louise Brooks gives a very rare interview, as she hadn't given one in nearly 30 years. Such an intellectual woman, but very complicated.

[@cherigilliam3292]

She is beautiful

[@timbrandt2132]

loved it!

[@JJW77]

Well I never thought that I would heard a better version of Olive Thomas than yours.

[@janstaz]

She was very pretty

[@Thialeana]

There is another famous starlit Jack Pickford was rumored to be with who also died tragically at the age of 14. Lucille Ricksen. Many think she may have been pregnant. It was a big scandal at the time of her death.

[@extraolive2006]

That was such a tragic story, poor little Lucille, thrown to the sharks...

[@oooh19]

Wow! So he was probably behind all this!

[@Thialeana]

@@oooh19 He may have been for Lucille and maybe Olive but it is hard to say. There are some pretty hefty stories about Jack Pickford!

[@oooh19]

@@Thialeana it’d be so sad if people were speculating and it’s not true

[@extraolive2006]

@@oooh19 I did extensive research on this case and firmly believe that Olive's death was just a tragic accident when she was wasted. She was conscious for many hours afterwards and kept apologizing to Jack for her foolish mistake.

[@JoMarieM]

I think that Olive's death was just a tragic accident. From what I've read, she came to her room late at night very drunk, reaching for what she apparently thought was aspirin. But in her confused state, and considering that the label was in French, she just went ahead and took some of the substance and felt her throat burning, before realizing that she had made an awful mistake. Apparently, the medication was supposed to be applied topically to sores - it was supposedly brought along by Jack to treat some sores on his feet -- and not intended to be taken orally. While Jack was kind of a wild sort, I don't believe that he would have ever intentionally tried to murder Olive. Whatever the case, it was a tragic end to a beautiful and talented young actress!

[@GGG-sd9ei]

She was beautiful!

[@clemdane]

What a lovely accent you have!

[@MrDonaldwilson]

Paul comes from Glasgow, Scotland.

[@clemdane]

@@MrDonaldwilson Thanks!

[@toniadugger3954]

Wow !

[@debraroser985]

Thanks

[@vivienh7984]

Actually I’ve studied Olive and it appears to have been an accident. None of Jacks wives/girlfriends ever had Syphilis so he didn’t have it. Back in the day, there were bottles of mercury left in bathrooms for when the maids cleaned. The powder looked just like the headache powder so being drunk Olive picked the wrong bottle.

[@thefanone]

Just dang 😮

[@JeffreyHarnden-qw8fs]

I remember the zigfeild theater in New York City. I would always hear about that place. I think that it no longer exist today

[@lokjaw30]

Great Voice! And NOT AI

[@thisravenhasflown010]

Nothing can be a scandal... unless the public chooses to make it a scandal

[@oooh19]

A lot of things especially in Hollywood would be all about public image

[@stevenmcghee6649]

"Live fast, die young" - both Olive and her husband.

[@e.jenima7263]

I live in the next Neiborhood Over from Mc Kees Rocks . And My grandma used to talk about Shopping at joseph horns Department store

[@janstaz]

Such a shame she died so young, both were very attractive. Im drawn towards murder, rather than accident. Just don't think she would drink it even drunk. He couldn't keep it in his pants, so not so nice. She should have been much much bigger probably would have been, had she not died not impressed with her affair with Ziegfeld, like Billy Burke. they were quite immoral the film stars then. I would imagine the fans thought they were all very sweet and innocent

[@markcarpenter6020]

They are still quite immoral. And that's been true for pretty much the entire existence of actors from stage to screen.

[@janstaz]

@@markcarpenter6020 don't hide it now. did then

[@markcarpenter6020]

@@janstaz they did and didn't. Hollywood has always been pretty infamous for its behavior. Fatty Arbuckle ended up on trial accused of killing a lady by "violating her with a coke bottle", Eral Flynn (or however you spell his name) ended up arrested for underage girls, etc and some of those innocent looking starlets were known to have had numerous affairs with men and women.

[@markcarpenter6020]

@@janstaz not really. Look up people like fatty Arbuckle.

[@markcarpenter6020]

@@janstaz lol it won't let me reply to you and tell you what happened to some actors from the early days of cinema. You tube yeets it.

[@greenshp]

Fascinating.

[@Mary-h8m5r]

Very interesting

[@hobartw9770]

My gosh, they dropped like flies back then.

[@genniejefferson6588]

Lovely story.

[@figaro569]

I have missed u soooo much ... u had dropped out of my notifications, y I will never know ... found u is all that matters ... best wishes ❤

[@Gangstgma]

Jack was Canadian as was his sister, Mary Pickford.

[@AlysonMcNulty]

Don't forget sister Lottie, mother of 'Gwynne' aka Mary Pickford Rupp.

[@sadielevens1144]

❤❤❤❤❤😊

[@Sandynut01]

Looking at the natural stunning beauty of the women from the 1920-30 and then looking at the hideous things women do to themselves these days, makes me wonder if progress is such a good idea.

[@yanavillae8771]

Fabulous Delighted to open this Frist time Historical insightful Intelligent Door to a private movie house .

[@CassandrashadowcassMorrison]

Well! I never!

[@helentsoukala5412]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@linferguson8702]

The Pickford family were quite clearly all totally twisted 😢

[@extraolive2006]

They were all severe alcoholics, which killed Lottie and Jack when young. They were all put in the business when small children, though, so probably endured some terrible things.

[@eerie930]

Wow. Scandalous

[@texasred2702]

Terrible way to die. I can't imagine it was anything other than accidental.

[@sarahcartier3393]

It's quite possible she mixed up bottles if intoxicated enough. I think a seance should be held in the theatre.

[@bonniemoerdyk9809]

I don't know how fluent she was in the French language, but if she was anything like me when I went to Germany many years ago, I needed to purchase an item at a drug store. It was in a small town south of Stuttgart, but nothing looked like in the states! I finally found a store, but the items are all packaged differently... and although I studied German for a few weeks, I had NO clue what I was reading!!!! 🤔

[@SweetChicagoGator]

Strange Case of poisoning by accident?! Hard to believe she wud pour poison into a glass to drink when not able to read the French label? Beautiful Starlet Gone Too Soon. 💔

[@cyndi6hdz]

Love this, thanks! Just my 2 cents but maybe she was drunk and confused the bottle of poison with liquor? Many people who are drunk do stuff out of the norm, so maybe she made a dangerous decision?

[@LeticiaHernandez-mt8rv]

Hollywood lifestyle what a sad life yet so glamorous.

[@JosieStev]

I have always the Glinda thenGood Witch 💖 Did she know about the affair?

[@sparky3156]

Florenz Ziegfeld was a notorious womanizer. Billie knew of many affairs.

[@nataliakrzemuski6425]

Department stores were good employment opportunity on the days for American ppl

[@MeredithBell-v3f]

Hollyweird, expected outcome

[@Toolongno]

I've never heard of her before.