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Modern Times Clippings 87/382

Daily News, New York, May 31, 1934.

MOVIES HIT BY KIDNAP SCARE

(...) Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Ill., May 12, 1934,

Front page detail

& RANSOM DEMANDS MADE FOR RETURN

      OF KIDNAPPED OIL MILLIONAIRE.

      The gate to the Arcadia estate of William F. Gettle near

Beverly Hills, Cal., from which oil magnate was

kidnapped after gay party. Gettle was seized and taken over

the wall of estate on stepladder. Two ransom demands

have been made.

(...) Acme photo, Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Ill.,

May 12, 1934

& Hollywood‘s Stars Take

      Precautions Against Abduction

      Harold Lloyd, Bing Crosby, Charlie Chaplin and Mary

      Pickford Guard Against Kidnappers.

      (Associated Press.)

      BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., May 11. – Hollywood‘s motion

picture celebrities, hundreds of whom reside in this

exclusive city, have taken extra precautions to guard themselves

and their families against abduction since the numerous

kidnappings of which that of William F. Gettle, millionaire Beverly

Hills financier and oil man, is the latest.

      Harold Lloyd, screen comedian and reputedly one of the

wealthiest members of the motion picture colony, has

gone to great expense to develop extensive protection for

himself, his wife und their three children.

      The Lloyd estate is surrounded by high walls, the

automobile entrance of which is protected at all

times by an armed guard. Inside the grounds other guards

patrol the estate 24 hours a day.

      Bing Crosby not only hires guards for his young son,

but he and his brother. Everett, are sworn sheriff‘s

deputies and carry revolvers. Crosby also recently received

threats to kidnap his child.

      Charlie Chaplin, who once was reported to have paid

his way out of a kidnapper‘s net, has taken every

precaution against another attack. So, too, has Mary Pickford,

whose home is virtually a fortress. 

(...) Associated Press, Ottawa Citizen, Ottawa,

Canada, May 12, 1934

„They‘d either have to let me go or do murder“

Editorial content. „,Won‘t Pay Cent,‘ Chaplin‘s Retort

      To Kidnap Rumor

      Hollywood, May 30. – „Not one cent for ransom!‘

      That was Charley Chaplin‘s answer tonight

to reports he had been threatened with kidnapping.

      Charley said the rumors, circulated widely

around Hollywood  today, were ,old stuff.‘

      ,If I‘m ever kidnapped,‘ he said, ,I‘ll tell the snatchers

they‘re wasting their time. I mean it. I‘ve positive

orders to all my associates that under no condition is one

cent to be paid anybody trying to extort money

from me.

      ,If I should be kidnapped – and I‘m not worrying any

that it‘s going to happen – I‘d fight at the first

opportunity. They‘d either have to let me go or do murder.‘

      Federal agents here paid no attention to the

Chaplin kidnap rumors. They understood Chaplin usually

is well guarded.“

Redaktioneller Inhalt

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