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Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Cal., May 26, 1941.

„GOOD NIGHT, SWEET PRINCE“ – Charles Chaplin read

these words from Hamlet yesterday as he eulogized

Douglas Fairbanks at $40,000 tomb in Hollywood Memorial

Park. Fairbank‘s widow, former Lady Sylvia Ashley,

can be seen just behind the sarcophagus.

(...) Times photo, Los Angeles Times, May 26, 1941

„He was a happy life“

Editorial content. „Tribute Paid to Fairbanks

      New $40,000 Memorial to Former

      Film Star Dedicated Before 1500

      ,To the youth of a decade ago he was the epitome

of knightly courage and romance . .  .

      ,And as he worshiped heroes, so too did he worship

those qualities a hero should possess.‘

      In these words Charles Chaplin, a fellow pioneer

in motion pictures, eulogized the late Douglas

Fairbanks yesterday at the dedication and unveiling

of a $40,000 marble memorial in Hollywood

Memorial Park.

      As he spoke, Fairbank‘s widow, the former Lady Sylvia

Ashley, wept behind the sarcophagus on which, a few moments

before, she placed a bouquet.“ (...)

      „WIDOW ACCOMPANIED

      Mrs. Fairbanks, in white dress and veil, arrived at the

ceremony with Chaplin, Robert Fairbanks, Douglas‘

brother; Mrs. Fred Astaire and her sister, Mrs. Basil Beck.“ (...)

      „CHAPLIN‘S TRIBUTE

      Chaplin‘s eulogy was brief.

      ,We are gathered here to pay tribute to one who might

well be termed a great man,‘ he said. ,To name him

thus would have brought incredulous laughter to his lips.

That he was even a great artist he would have been

the first to deny. Yet this modesty was but another facet of his

greatness, and there were many facets.‘

      Relating Fairbanks‘ versatility, he praised him most

as the ,eternal boy‘ – always fresh in viewpoint and interested

in what each day would bring.

      ,He was a happy life. His rewards were great, his joys

many. Now he pillows his head upon his arms, sighs deeply –

and sleeps.‘

      HAMLET QUOTED

      Chaplin concluded with the inscription from Hamlet

chiseled on the casket: ,Good night, sweet prince, and flights

of angels sing thee to thy rest.‘“ (...)

Redaktioneller Inhalt

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