John Barrymore came from a long line of theater actors. He himself first appeared on stage alongside his father in 1900, and in 1903 officially began his career, starring in the likes of Justice (1916) and Richard III (1920). His greatest role was his 1992 appearance in Hamlet, for which he was dubbed “the greatest living American tragedian.”
Barrymore also starred in a slew of silent films, most notably Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920), Sherlock Holmes (1922) and Beau Brummel (1924). He later made the transition to sound movies, starring in the likes of Grand Hotel (1932) and Midnight (1939).
On May 29, 1942, Barrymore died at the age of 60 from pneumonia and cirrhosis. What happened next has been the subject of many rumors. It’s alleged his friends, Errol Flynn, W.C. Fields and Sadakichi Hartmann snuck into the morgue where his body was being held, propped him up against a poker table and allowed him to experience one final celebration.
As it turns out, these rumors are true! In an August 2020 episode of the popular YouTube series Hot Ones, the acting legend’s granddaughter, Drew Barrymore, revealed his corpse had actually been stolen.
“Not only yes, but there have been cinematic interpretations of it,” she exclaimed. Those interpretations include S.O.B., starring Julie Andrews, and allegedly the 1989 comedy Weekend at Bernie’s, in which two friends pretend their deceased boss is alive.
Barrymore added that she wants the same to happen to her. “I will say this, I hope my friends do the same for me. That is the kind of spirit I can get behind. Just prop the old bag up, let’s have a few rounds.
“I think death comes with so much morose sadness and I understand that, but if it’s okay, just for me, if everybody could be really happy and celebratory and have a party, that would be my preference.”
Vintage Hollywood certainly was a different era…
Demanding Parents Expect Nanny to Pay $1000 for Vacation Flights, Their Harsh Reality Check
Jane’s employers planned a lavish vacation and invited her along to care for their children, promising to cover all expenses. However, upon returning home, they unexpectedly demanded that she pay back the $1,000 for her plane ticket. Jane was taken aback but refused to accept this situation.
One day, Mrs. Smith called Jane into the living room. While tidying up the playroom, Jane felt uneasy about the request. Mrs. Smith, composed and stylish, informed Jane they needed to discuss the vacation expenses. Jane acknowledged the lovely trip but was shocked when Mrs. Smith demanded repayment for the tickets. She couldn’t believe her ears when Mrs. Smith insisted she pay back the money they had initially said would be covered.
Overwhelmed, Jane explained that she couldn’t afford it, as most of her salary went toward rent and her mother’s medical needs. Mr. Smith, uninterested in her situation, confirmed that Jane had one week to pay or the amount would be deducted from her wages.
That evening, Jane was furious. She realized the Smiths valued their reputation more than anything else and decided to use that against them. She created a fake email account and wrote a polite message detailing her experience, leaving enough clues to point back to the Smiths. She sent the email to influential people in their social circle.
Soon, rumors began to spread, damaging the Smiths’ reputation. Jane overheard Mrs. Smith discussing the situation, revealing her distress. At the school pick-up, other nannies asked Jane if the gossip was true, and she confirmed that the Smiths were indeed unkind.
Days later, Mrs. Smith hosted a ladies’ luncheon. Jane attended, knowing it was an opportunity to share more about Mrs. Smith’s behavior. While mingling, she complimented Mrs. Smith’s handbag, hinting at her tendency to borrow and never return items. This sparked more whispers among the guests.
The next day, Mrs. Smith’s friends began demanding their belongings back. Upset, Mrs. Smith confronted Jane during dinner, suspecting her involvement in the email. When Mr. Smith questioned her directly, Jane remained silent, leading to her dismissal.
After moving back home, Jane received a call from Mrs. Johnson, who had heard about her situation and offered her a job with better pay and conditions. Grateful and relieved, Jane accepted the offer. She hoped the Smiths felt the sting of betrayal for their treatment of her.
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