You are a young, beautiful, successful stage actress. You move to LA to make it big. Once there, life deteriorates. You are just one of many and work is scarce. You can’t afford to eat. You think the only way out is to take your own life.
This is the story of Peg Entwistle.
This is the story of Peg Entwistle.
The Haunted Hollywood Sign
Back of the Hollywood sign - ladders visible. Have you heard of the Ghost of the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles?
Since the 1930’s, the ghost of a woman has been seen, walking around, looking lost and desperate. Her spirit has been reported by park rangers, tourists, workers and locals!
One morning a couple were walking their dog close to the sign. Their dog started to act very strange, cowering and crying. They couldn’t figure out what was wrong with it. All of a sudden a woman appeared just before them. She was wearing dated clothing and appeared confused. They started to talk to her, when she disappeared, just as suddenly as she’d appeared.
Another report is that of park ranger John Arbogast. He claims to have seen the famous ghost on several occasions, and normally late at night, when it is foggy. Whenever he sees her, her appearance is followed by the very strong scent of gardenias.
A recent report was documented on an episode of Paranormal Witness. Four friends decided to visit the Hollywood sign. They illegally jumped the fence which surrounds it. One of them slipped and fell a little way down the hill. He got up and began walking back up the hill, and saw a woman walking towards him. His description was:
Since the 1930’s, the ghost of a woman has been seen, walking around, looking lost and desperate. Her spirit has been reported by park rangers, tourists, workers and locals!
One morning a couple were walking their dog close to the sign. Their dog started to act very strange, cowering and crying. They couldn’t figure out what was wrong with it. All of a sudden a woman appeared just before them. She was wearing dated clothing and appeared confused. They started to talk to her, when she disappeared, just as suddenly as she’d appeared.
Another report is that of park ranger John Arbogast. He claims to have seen the famous ghost on several occasions, and normally late at night, when it is foggy. Whenever he sees her, her appearance is followed by the very strong scent of gardenias.
A recent report was documented on an episode of Paranormal Witness. Four friends decided to visit the Hollywood sign. They illegally jumped the fence which surrounds it. One of them slipped and fell a little way down the hill. He got up and began walking back up the hill, and saw a woman walking towards him. His description was:
Peg Entwistle "It was a woman, wearing a dress similar to the style of the 1930s. She wore heels and a veil over her face. She walked effortlessly up the hill. Her footsteps made no sound."
None of the friends new there was a regularly seen spirit on them there hills!
So who could this woman be?
What has driven her to spend eternity wandering the biggest and most recognisable sign in the world?
It’s thought she is Peg Entwistle, a beautiful, young actress who took her life by jumping off the “H” of the sign back on 18 September, 1932.
None of the friends new there was a regularly seen spirit on them there hills!
So who could this woman be?
What has driven her to spend eternity wandering the biggest and most recognisable sign in the world?
It’s thought she is Peg Entwistle, a beautiful, young actress who took her life by jumping off the “H” of the sign back on 18 September, 1932.
Spectacular Tragedy
Entwistle as a young girl Peg was born Millicent Lilian Entwistle on 5 February 1908, in Wales, United Kingdom. She moved to the United States of America with her family when she was a child. She realised she wanted to be an actor when she was quite young, and had some success on the Boston stage. As most young actresses did back then, she figured if she could make it on the stage, she could make it in the ‘moving pictures’, so she packed her bag and moved to Los Angeles, hoping to be discovered and made into another Greta Garbo.
Unfortunately this was not to be. Although very attractive, in a place like tinsel town, good looks were everywhere! She featured in a few small roles, but struggled to make a living. Obviously it all got too much for Peg, and she took her own life in a dramatic fashion.
Peg’s tragic life and death was reported in The Northern Miner, a Queensland Newspaper, as:
Unfortunately this was not to be. Although very attractive, in a place like tinsel town, good looks were everywhere! She featured in a few small roles, but struggled to make a living. Obviously it all got too much for Peg, and she took her own life in a dramatic fashion.
Peg’s tragic life and death was reported in The Northern Miner, a Queensland Newspaper, as:
Newspaper clipping “SPECTACULAR TRAGEDY. ACTRESS'S SUICIDAL LEAP.
One of the most spectacular tragedies in the recent history of Hollywood occurred when Miss Peg Entwistle, a 24-year-old English-born actress, who deemed herself a failure in films, plunged to death from the top of an electric sign.
On the hills outside Hollywood film colony stands a gigantic illuminated advertisement, which bears, in letters 50ft. high, the name: "Hollywoodland." It is the most powerful "spot-light" on the Pacific coast.
With the help of a workman's ladder, Miss Entwistle climbed to the top of the letter "H" and jumped. Her body rolled more than 100ft. down the mountain side. Near it was found her handbag containing a small amount of money and a note reading:-
"I'm afraid I am a coward. I am sorry for everything. If I had done this long ago, it would have saved a lot of pain."
One of the most spectacular tragedies in the recent history of Hollywood occurred when Miss Peg Entwistle, a 24-year-old English-born actress, who deemed herself a failure in films, plunged to death from the top of an electric sign.
On the hills outside Hollywood film colony stands a gigantic illuminated advertisement, which bears, in letters 50ft. high, the name: "Hollywoodland." It is the most powerful "spot-light" on the Pacific coast.
With the help of a workman's ladder, Miss Entwistle climbed to the top of the letter "H" and jumped. Her body rolled more than 100ft. down the mountain side. Near it was found her handbag containing a small amount of money and a note reading:-
"I'm afraid I am a coward. I am sorry for everything. If I had done this long ago, it would have saved a lot of pain."
A Life Too Short
Peg Entwistle Miss Entwistle, who came to the United States as a child with her parents, both of them from the English stage, was married after a whirlwind courtship to Mr. Robert Lee Keith, an English actor. She divorced him in 1929, alleging cruelty.
Though then only 21, she had already achieved notable success as a member of the Repertory company of the Theatre Guild. She was one of the leading players in a production of Mr. George Bernard Shaw's "Getting Married," and late last winger supported Miss Lauretta Taylor in "Alice Sit by the Fire."
Then Miss Entwistle went to Hollywood, and - like so many others - she could not wait for success.
She was engaged to star with Miss Billie Burke in "The Mad Hope," but the picture failed to attract the favourable attention of the producers and had only a brief run.
Miss Entwistle secured small parts here and there, and finally was given the leading place in "Thirteen Women," an occult play based on Tiffany Thayers' story of 13 girls who first meet in a fashionable finishing school. One of the girls ostracised by the others vows to be revenged. The girls grow up. some of them marry, some take lovers. Their despised schoolmate becomes associated with a Hindu. She sends word to each of the others that they are destined to die at a certain time in a certain manner.
What she predicts begins to happen. One woman commits suicide, another murders her husband, and is sentenced to be executed, and a third is killed by her husband.
Though then only 21, she had already achieved notable success as a member of the Repertory company of the Theatre Guild. She was one of the leading players in a production of Mr. George Bernard Shaw's "Getting Married," and late last winger supported Miss Lauretta Taylor in "Alice Sit by the Fire."
Then Miss Entwistle went to Hollywood, and - like so many others - she could not wait for success.
She was engaged to star with Miss Billie Burke in "The Mad Hope," but the picture failed to attract the favourable attention of the producers and had only a brief run.
Miss Entwistle secured small parts here and there, and finally was given the leading place in "Thirteen Women," an occult play based on Tiffany Thayers' story of 13 girls who first meet in a fashionable finishing school. One of the girls ostracised by the others vows to be revenged. The girls grow up. some of them marry, some take lovers. Their despised schoolmate becomes associated with a Hindu. She sends word to each of the others that they are destined to die at a certain time in a certain manner.
What she predicts begins to happen. One woman commits suicide, another murders her husband, and is sentenced to be executed, and a third is killed by her husband.
Peg Entwistles burial card. Miss Entwistle's part was that of the second woman to die. Undoubtedly, it is thought her mind was affected by the weird occultism of the play, but it was even more effected by the decision of the producers to shelve the play after it had been completed.” – The Northern Miner, QLD, 22 November 1932
It is said that Peg’s favourite perfume was that of Gardenia’s. Could this be why that smell has been reported so many times in the area?
Was Peg’s ultimate goal achieved?
Fame at whatever cost?
It is true she is remembered for her tragic death and her spirit, so I think the answer is yes.
It is said that Peg’s favourite perfume was that of Gardenia’s. Could this be why that smell has been reported so many times in the area?
Was Peg’s ultimate goal achieved?
Fame at whatever cost?
It is true she is remembered for her tragic death and her spirit, so I think the answer is yes.
By Peet Banks 2013
Put together by Ashley Hall 2013
Put together by Ashley Hall 2013
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