Roscoe C. "Fatty" Arbuckle (1887-1933) was one of the silver screen's first big comic stars. Best known as an actor, he also worked as a screenwriter and director. Raised in Santa Ana, he got the nickname "Fatty" from his school mates. (Aren't the little nippers charming?). In 1921, he was accused of raping and killing a girl. He was acquitted of these crimes, but his career was ruined. The still above shows Arbuckle wielding a mallet in the 1915 film, "Fickle Fatty's Fall," which was at least partially shot at the Joy Zone in Seal Beach. (Arbuckle's cousin, Santa Ana native Al St. John also appeared in this Mack Sennett film.)
It looks like many of the contents of the recent exhibit about silent films shot in Orange County, (assembled by the Orange County Archives, with funding from OC Parks) will reappear soon as part of a film exhibit at Casa Romantica in San Clemente. There's a possibility that it will also move on to the Fullerton Museum at a later date. Who knew we'd get this much mileage out of it?
Had no idea Fatty was from Santa Ana. What about his family?
ReplyDeleteAlso, congrats to you, Chris. So many fascinating posts lately.
-An HB kid in exile on the east coast