Timothy Dean Lefler - Mabel Normand: The Life and Career of a Hollywood Madcap

McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Jefferson, North Carolina

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGUING DATA ARE AVAILABLE

BRITISH LIBRARY CATALOGUING DATA ARE AVAILABLE

e-ISBN: 978-1-4766-2307-8

2016 Timothy Dean Lefler. All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Front cover image: Mabel Normand, 1910s Photofest

McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Box 611, Jefferson, North Carolina 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com

For Melissa and Brad
with all my love

I would like to thank the following individuals, institutions and sources for their invaluable assistance:

Thomas Lefler

Melissa Sossamon

Marilyn Slater

Marc Wanamaker

William Thomas Sherman

Tiffany Harris

Diana Molander

Rudy Cecera

David Pearson

Alanna Potter

Malnor Films

The Museum of Modern Art

PBS

Bison Archives

The Margaret Herrick Library

Special Collections staff, The Margaret Herrick Library

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

The Venice Historical Society

Picture Post

Getty Images

Hollywood Heritage Museum

Calvary Cemetery, Los Angeles

TheMabelNormand.com

Taylorology.com: A Continuing Exploration of the Life and Death of William Desmond Taylor

The Mabel Normand Home Page

Riddle Me This Productions

Cinecon

As long as a girl goes up against the world and challenges its high places, there will always be Mabel Normand.

T. Howard Kelly

I decided to go see Mabel. After seven years of researching and writing about silent screen star Mabel Normand, I thought it only right that I pay my respects at her final resting place. It was a dark and cloudy afternoon and a light rain was just beginning as I got in my car. After about an hours drive from my home, I turned my car through the main gate of Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles. I rolled through the silent grounds, surrounded by green lawns and granite monuments to those who passed away long ago. The acreage was shrouded in a rainy mist that was both beautiful and eerie. I finally found the main mausoleum, a mammoth neo-classical structure. The main, square building sat atop two tiers of wide cement stairs. I parked my car at the curb and climbed the mausoleum stairs that were flanked on both sides by gigantic stone pillars. A carved angel sat on top of each pillar as silent sentinels to those who passed by. Above the imposing iron doors was a carved quotation from the Bible: I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, though he be dead, shall live.

I walked through the one open side of the double doors and was met by a flight of shiny beige marble stairs. The cavernous edifice was cold and dark. At the top of the stairs I arrived at the back of an immense Catholic church complete with pews, a long center aisle, a high ceiling and an ornate altar. This was my starting point. I unfolded the directions that I had printed from the Internet and held them in my left hand as I walked: Stand at the back pew and turn left, make another quick left into a corridor, when you get to a flight of stairs turn right, go to the second row of tombs, look down, and count up two. And there she was:

Mabel Normand-Cody
18951930
Rest in Peace.

As I contemplated the inscription I couldnt help wondering if Mabel was truly at rest. Five years ago I met a wonderful person named Marilyn Slater. Marilyn operates the largest website honoring the silent film star, and hosts the largest online club. She is truly the godmother of all things Mabel. We met at a beachside caf in Venice, California, the location of many of Mabels early comedies. Marilyn related her fascinating tales and I began scribbling on napkins and menus trying to keep up with her. And this book project had its beginning.

Marilyns deep ties to the silent star began early. When she was a girl, her legal guardian was Mabels nurse Julia Benson. After Mabel passed away, some of her belongings found their way into Julias closet. Marilyn never forgot the time that she tried on Mabels riding boots, only to have the boots start running on their own. Mabels mischievous spirit was active from then on. She tripped Marilyn repeatedly during dance lessons and occasionally gave her playful pushes from behind. I wondered if Mabel had anything in mind for me.

I stood at Mabels tomb and said a few quiet words to her. I was so focused on my thoughts that I didnt notice the hour or the departing light. Suddenly, I heard a booming KA-THUMP! echoing deeply all around me. I was puzzled for a moment. Then came the sickening realization that I was locked in. By now the mausoleum was dark and I found myself feeling my way along in the blackness of the tombs. Unable to read my directions I tried to retrace my steps backwards and remember the reverse sequence of turns. There were no sounds other than the clack of my shoes on the marble floors. The air was still and foreboding and I was getting more than a little nervous. Finally, with a couple of fortunate turns I found my way back to the Catholic church and gratefully headed down the stairs that would take me out. Just as I thought, the heavy main doors were barred tightly shut. After several more tries I knew it was hopeless. I sat down in the darkness on the bottom marble step and wondered what to do next. I wasnt worried about ghosts, but the lack of a rest room did concern me.

I remembered my cell phone and quickly dialed information to get the main number for the cemetery.

Hi, this is Tim Lefler. Im here at the main mausoleum and I guess someone locked the doors without checking. Can you send someone over here to unlock them?

I was met with an unfriendly reply: No. We are very specific. Our hours are posted at the gates. We dont unlock doors after hours.

You mean I have to stay in here all night? I asked.

There was a long, confused silence followed by a sputtering noise. You mean youre inside trying to get out?!

A few minutes later I heard the screech of brakes at the curb and someone hurrying up the stairs rattling a heavy ring of keys. I was released from my prison and headed for my car.

I was soon back on the freeway. After about 20 minutes I started to smile and then laughed out loud. I looked up at the stars through the moon roof of my car.

Okay. Mabel, you got me.

She was vivid as summer lightning, beautiful as dawn, and as natural as both.Jim Tully

On the morning of August 29, 1911, a Staten Island teenager strode out to the edge of a diving board over a watery expanse. She flung herself into the air and into the sea of a thousand mens dreams. The film industry of the twentieth century had arrived. So had the black tights that clung to her voluptuous body. She exuded all that was scandalous, mischievous and free. The new industry was in search of itself. Now it had found its first metaphor.

Yet no one really understood why. It was 502 feet of film. The small movie crew that gathered that summer day in Huntington, Long Island, New York, hardly gave it a thought. They were just filming an exuberant little girl at the beach doing what came naturally. And then the world took notice. With no language barriers to contain this brazen new art form, it unaccountably swept the globe. Curiosity grew up around her, but her employer, Biograph Studio, didnt identify its actors by name. This only fueled the worlds fascination. The public demanded to know the name of The Diving Girl. Her name was Mabel Normand.