CMBA Forgotten Stars Blogathon: The Time Bebe Daniels Couldn’t Get Out of a Speeding Ticket

Bebe Daniels in her Speedster

It reads like a publicity stunt out of the movie Bombshell. Silent film sweetheart Bebe Daniels was ticketed for speeding, tried, convicted, sentenced to jail, and forced to serve time. Rather than being planned like the stunts in that movie, Bebe did like to speed, and she had gotten caught. Her press agent helped her spin a potentially career damaging moment into one that titillated the public. They were not yet weary of or suspicious of Hollywood stars, and speeding seemed like an offense that anyone could get caught committing. Film fans relished each moment of the case as a chance to gossip about a beloved star. Bebe provided them plenty to dish about.

Jack Dempsey Portrait

Let’s back up to January 1921 when she was ticketed. Bebe was behind the wheels of her Marmon Roadster, a car favored by those other fast-livers Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Bebe was hurtling down Route 101 to San Diego with her mother Phyllis Daniels, and they were accompanied by “a well-known Los Angeles pugilist.” At least once source cites him as boxer Marty Farrell, but Bebe herself wrote he was her beau Jack Dempsey. Since Bebe was 19 years-old at this point, her pairing with Jack, six years her senior, wasn’t likely to be controversial, and he was single. He had not yet married actress Estelle Taylor. His identity might have been kept out of the papers as a professional courtesy.

Bebe and Ben

When her car was spotted by motorcycle cop Vernon “Shorty” Myers, Bebe had left Los Angeles County, and she was driving through Orange County in the Santa Ana area. The speed limit along that stretch of the freeway was 35. Bebe would be quoted in the press as driving 56.25 MPH, but in the book Bebe and Ben, she bragged in a later personal account that she was driving 72 MPH. After being issued the ticket, she was warned, “You know we put people in jail for going this fast.” Bebe didn’t believe that would happen to her. She was famous and had connections.

What county she sped in mattered. Her Uncle Jack “was an important newspaper man and ‘in’ very well with the Los Angeles police department.” He had her previous parking tickets taken care of, but this time she had sped in the wrong county. He was powerless in Orange County. There a “notorious anti-speeding crusader” ruled.  Judge John Belshazzar Cox “was a barber, not a lawyer, and was a bicyclist, not an auto driver.” He had little sympathy for speeders. He fined anyone going over 35 MPH and put in jail anyone speeding over 50 MPH. Worse for Bebe, he courted media attention normally. Trying a movie star would give him even more.

She Couldn't Help It Newspaper ad

Her first hearing disappointed the public. Only her lawyer W.I. Gilbert attended and pled her case.  Judge Cox could not be swayed to dismiss her ticket. He gave Bebe the courtesy of a delayed trial, she was finishing her film She Couldn’t Help It, so the trial was set for March. Her lawyer requested a trial by jury, betting Bebe stood a better chance of defeating her ticket that way. In the interim, she finished her film and worked the press harder than a girl gunner. She made a public appearance at a benefit in Fullerton. Wearing a dress called “revealing” and “scanty,” she sang a tune called the The Judge Cox Blues. Her performance bouquets included one from him! “Days before the trial, her publicity agent made sure all the Orange County theaters premiered her latest film.”

The publicity likely sold more movie tickets, and it resulted in an estimated crowd of 1,500 to gawp at the fashionably turned out star at the courthouse, but her antics and film weren’t that influential over the jury and Judge Cox. “The jurors were all elderly men–mostly retired ranchers and a real estate agent.” They did not believe Bebe’s excuse that she was racing her car to be repaired at a San Juan Capistrano garage. The jury deliberated for about seven minutes before returning with a guilty verdict. The Judge, who exchanged smiles with Bebe throughout the trial, wasn’t swayed either. He would not be vamped. Bebe expected a warning and a fine. He sentenced her to ten days in jail! She became the first woman convicted of speeding in Orange County.

Bebe Daniels in Jail

Bebe was told to report to jail on April 16. This second delay was work-related as well. It allowed her to finish her scenes in The Affairs of Anatol. Since she had been convicted of a misdemeanor, she was allowed privileges that other inmates were not. Her mother was given permission to accompany and stay with her daughter. Bebe could wear her own clothes, bring personal belongings, and decorate her cell. Local furniture stores competed to furnish her cell, and area restaurants vied to be the one to provide her meals for free. Bebe being Bebe chose the best of each to supply her.  When the pair arrived, her cell looked more like a fine room, “furnished with wall to wall carpet, chintz curtains,” “twin beds with covers to match the curtains,” and “even bedside tables and lamps.”

Bebe Daniels Jail Cell

The judge greeted her with a bouquet in front of the press and escorted her to her cell. While Bebe thought he acted like a “hotel manager” when he wished her a comfortable stay, she very much felt her loss of freedom. She remembered the sound of the “locks being turned and the iron gates clanking behind” them for the rest of her life. Despite all the comforts she had, she was locked in one room that she could not leave except for set times. She had to find ways to distract herself so she did not pace her cell. Meals, reading, exercise, Mom, her Victrola records, and a who’s who of movie star visitors provided her main distractions. She tried not to look at the clock.

Bebe Daniels Serenade

The jail was overwhelmed at hosting a popular celebrity. Locals left her gifts ranging from chocolates to kittens. The sixty-three “other female inmates, accused of such crimes as bootlegging, forgery, drunkenness, drug-dealing and bigamy, vied for her attention.” A woman only identified as Sadie, convicted of bootlegging, won the privilege of cleaning Bebe’s room daily. Her jailer helped her screen visitors. No one was approved to see her until Bebe saw his or her visitor’s card. One day Abe Lyman appeared outside her windows with his orchestra. They drove down from the Cocoanut Grove in Los Angeles to serenade her with Rose Room Tango, her favorite tango song she used to dance to with Rudolf Valentino. The group played for her all afternoon. Her jailer confessed he was exhausted by the end of her stay. The jail had never been so busy.

Bebe Daniels Released from Jail

Due to Bebe’s good behavior, her sentence was ended one day early. Judge Cox returned for her departure and gave her yet another bouquet, this time roses. He had invited the press and insisted that Bebe pose with him for photographs as he presented her the flowers. Their farewell was widely circulated by the papers as he had intended. Bebe never saw him again. Her jail time had curtailed her desire to speed–at least in real life.

The Speed Girl Poster

Her next picture with Realart was inspired by her experience. It was called The Speed Girl. In this romantic comedy, she played a heroine arrested for speeding. Like Bebe, her character ended up in jail. Unlike Bebe, a love triangle with a naval officer and millionaire complicated the plot. The film was released into theatres in the fall of 1921. Its advertising copy read, “Here is a six cylinder hundred and twenty fun powered and record-breaking comedy with Bebe at the wheel. The brakes are off. Slip her into high. Now step on it!” While it does not sound like the strongest picture (It’s presumed lost), the public positively responded to Bebe’s attempt to move on from what could have been a scandal. Her career survived into the sound era before segueing into radio and TV.

Sources:

1. Allgood, Jill. Bebe and Ben. London: R. Hale, 1975. Print.

2. “Bebe Daniels: The Orange County ‘Speed Girl.'” Orange County Sheriff’s Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.

3. Rasmussen, Cecilia. “A Celebrity Tossed in the Slammer? That’s Old News.” Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2007. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.

4. Mott, Patrick. “Film Star Nabbed in Orange County.” Orange Coast Magazine Apr. 1985: 170-71. Print.

5. Slater, Marilyn. “Bebe Daniel – The Speed Girl.” Looking for Mabel Normand. Marilyn Slater, 1 Aug. 2009. Web. 30 Oct. 2014.

This post is an entry in the CMBA Forgotten Stars Blogathon. Click on the banner below to read more posts about yesteryear’s favorite and unjustly forgotten performers by a great roundup of dedicated classic and silent film bloggers!

CMBA Forgotten Stars Blogathon 2014

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Beth Ann Gallagher

25 Comments

  1. Reply

    Marsha Collock

    October 31, 2014

    Love this story! Bebe ws such a charmer – I just loved her and John Boles in Rio Rita. and phooey on those masterminds at Paramount for not liking her voice! Excellent and delightful addition to the blogathon.

    • Reply

      msbethg

      October 31, 2014

      Thank you, Marsha! Yes, Bebe was wonderful. Her speaking voice was nothing to close one’s ears, too. That was Paramount’s loss and Britain’s gain. I can’t wait to catch up on the other entries from the blogathon!

  2. Reply

    Patricia Nolan-Hall (@CaftanWoman)

    October 31, 2014

    I can imagine myself in that time hanging onto every word about Bebe and her trial. What a gal!

    • Reply

      msbethg

      October 31, 2014

      Patricia, it must have been so much fun to read about her exploits as they unfolded! She was brilliant. She could act and work the newspapers. Looking forward to reading your post!

  3. Reply

    Cliff Aliperti

    October 31, 2014

    Enjoyed this post so much! Love Bebe, but really only know her for her pre-Code stuff while being aware she did SO MUCH both before and after that brief period. I’m going to have to grab that Bebe and Ben book, been meaning to for awhile. Thanks for the push!

    • Reply

      msbethg

      October 31, 2014

      You’re welcome and thank you, Cliff! That’s a great compliment to receive. I’ve seen more of her silent comedies than her Pre-Code work, but learning more about her has got me wanting to watch more of her movies. I’m almost in the part of the book she meets Ben.

      The author seems to received a lot of cooperation by all the details she could include. Some of the quotes above come from Bebe’s own written recollection that were included in the book!

  4. Reply

    Jacqueline T. Lynch

    November 2, 2014

    Thanks for a fun post, and a great choice for this blogathon.

    • Reply

      msbethg

      November 8, 2014

      Thank you, Jacqueline! It was a lot of fun researching this post. Glad that came through!

  5. Reply

    carygrantwonteatyou

    November 2, 2014

    Wow. This is such a hilarious story. I love thinking of that orchestra and the decorations in her cell. Love this line: “There a ‘notorious anti-speeding crusader’ ruled.” A media circus about a speeding ticket! Reminds me of Winona Ryder and the shoplifting incident.

    • Reply

      msbethg

      November 8, 2014

      I could not resist using that “notorious anti-speeding crusader” quote! It was too good to pass up. Judge Cox had a history of stunts to get press attention, so Bebe played right into his hands by speeding (which he really was against) and by being famous (which was sure to help him get attention again). You’re right that this resulted in a media circus. Bebe wasn’t too happy about the press photos the Judge insisted on, and you can see that on her face.

      She was luckier than Winona Ryder. Her case happened months before the Fatty Arbuckle scandal and the William Desmond Taylor murder. The public and media were more amused by her antics versus being as judgmental as they might have been later. Bebe, also, was lucky that her career was strong at the time of her arrest unlike Winona’s.

  6. Reply

    BlondeAtTheFilm

    November 2, 2014

    What a great post! Fascinating story (amazing to decorate your jail cell and get free restaurant meals!) about a fascinating actress! Love the images, too, especially the one of the band playing outside the jail. Thanks for this entertaining read!

    • Reply

      msbethg

      November 8, 2014

      Thank you for visiting my post and the compliments! Bebe certainly spent her jail time in style. Even though she wasn’t happy to be there, she certainly had more comforts and privileges than other prisoners. Don’t you just love her expressions in the staged photos? She really signals she’s participating unwillingly. The band photo is a favorite of mine, too. You’re welcome!

  7. Reply

    Grand Old Movies

    November 4, 2014

    Such a fascinating anecdote on how the Hollywood star machine works (and finally turning a potential scandal into a film! That takes moxie!).

    • Reply

      msbethg

      November 8, 2014

      It really was! Bebe had star power, and she used it as well as Judge Cox. Moxie is a great word to describe starring in a film based on your own arrest and court trial! She was lucky all of this occurred months before the Arbuckle and William Desmond Taylor scandals. The public was fascinated by her behavior versus being judgmental.

  8. Reply

    Vienna

    November 5, 2014

    Glad you have featured Bebe Daniels whom I am just discovering. I got the Bebe And Ben book recently. Not enough in it about her films.
    Amazing to think Bebe was the first screen ‘Dorothy’ in Wizard of Oz in 1910.
    It’s a mystery why Paramount let her go after the success of Rio Rita in 1929.
    I love her singing ‘You’re Getting to be a Habit with me’ in 42nd Street.

    • Reply

      msbethg

      November 8, 2014

      Bebe deserves to be remembered! I’m glad to do my bit to help her. She likely doesn’t get the attention she deserves because her film work wasn’t as extensive past a certain period, and she and Ben relocated overseas. Which is a shame since she was so talented, and she performed for as long as she could in so many different media. I’d like to catch up on more of her radio work when I’ve seen more of her available films.

      I’m almost through the book. It hops around her and Ben’s timelines and features some works more than others. There is an opening for a more exhaustive biography some day.

      Actually, she made Rio Rita for RKO, after Paramount had dropped her. I love this exchange after Rio Rita’s success recorded in the book:

      Ben Schulberg of Paramount
      “Bebe, why didn’t you tell me you could sing?”

      Bebe Daniels
      “You didn’t ask me.”

      The gal had talent and sass! She knew she had shown Paramount. It was very short-sighted of them to not even test her for sound–and insulting.

      Nice to meet and chat with another Bebe fan!

  9. Reply

    shadowsandsatin

    November 9, 2014

    I loved your write-up, Beth — what a great story! Being allowed to have her mother accompany her and decorate her cell — crazy! Good stuff.

    • Reply

      msbethg

      November 11, 2014

      Thanks, Karen! It is a fun story. If someone had used the incident in a twenties novel, I might think everything read a little far-fetched if I did not know it was real. I love Bebe’s expressions in the photos she’s not happy to take. She made the best out of her situation. Not many others would have gotten a movie out of it!

  10. Reply

    Jason Day

    November 11, 2014

    I’m a huge silent movie fan, but even I hadn’t heard of this little controversy! Amazing account, especially the cell made up like a gilded film star’s bedroom! Read and take note, Lindsey Lohan!

    • Reply

      msbethg

      November 11, 2014

      It is the sort of story us silent film fans enjoy! I left this tidbit out, but the store that furnished her cell later recreated the look for its front window.

      • Reply

        Jason Day

        November 12, 2014

        Well, you wouldn’t miss a marketing opp. like that! Awesome tidbit (love that word! In the UK, we say ‘titbit’)

        • Reply

          msbethg

          November 16, 2014

          Funny! I was not aware of that word being slightly different in the UK. It’s fascinating to find out how even a common language varies between countries.

          • Reply

            Jason Day

            November 18, 2014

            Probably just my family and I who say that! I think tidbit is the correct way of saying it.

  11. Reply

    Jason Day

    November 11, 2014

    PS – awesome pics too! Thank you

    • Reply

      msbethg

      November 11, 2014

      I love the pictures, too! Many of them came from the Orange County Sheriff’s Museum. Bebe’s petulant expression in some of them clearly broadcasts she is not pleased to be there. You’re welcome!

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Blogger Beth Ann Gallagher explores the best of all eras of film and television, with a special emphasis on the classic, silent, period pieces, and international.

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