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$500 Reward Quiz

10 Mar

What does a $500 reward have to do with Errol Flynn?

— Tim

 
13 Comments

Posted in Behind the Scenes, Gentleman Tim, Newspaper & Headlines, QUIZ PAGE, Special Events, Travels

 
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Gentleman Tim
5 years ago

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Author
Gentleman Tim
5 years ago

That’s Jack Warner above with Errol and Bogie. He’s the one who offered the $500 Reward.

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Author
Gentleman Tim
5 years ago
Reply to  Gentleman Tim

On March 10, 1939, it was reported that “wiithin a few hours” after announcing their $500 reward, “Warner Brothers received 143 telegrams from all parts of the country.”

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barb
5 years ago
Reply to  Gentleman Tim

Tim, judging from the date and photos, is this part of the premiere of Dodge City? No idea about the reward, tho .. part of the festivities?

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Author
Gentleman Tim
5 years ago
Reply to  Gentleman Tim

Bob Taplinger, Warner Brothers Director of Publicity, was involved. Here he is with Bette Davis, who was not involved with the reward (but was briefly with Taplinger.)

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Author
Gentleman Tim
5 years ago
Reply to  Gentleman Tim

March 10, 1939

“Warners wish they hadn’t offered that $500 reward … Within a few hours after the story hit the wires, the studio had received 143 telegrams from all parts of the country. …and now the studio is faced with the headache of trying to figure out who deserves the reward.”

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barb
5 years ago

Tim, given the date, is this from the premiere of Dodge City in Dodge City? No idea about the reward, though, maybe part of the festivities?

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David DeWitt
5 years ago

Barb writes (She is having probs commenting):

Tim, given the date, is this from the premiere of Dodge City in Dodge City? No idea about the reward, though, maybe part of the festivities?”

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Author
Gentleman Tim
5 years ago
Reply to  David DeWitt

Excellente, Barb! Muchas gracias, David. Indeed it is a Dodge City-related quiz. The exact nature of the $500 reward may be unfindable on the net, however (until after this comment.) So, here it is:

March 9, 1939

Evening Herald Express

FLYNN IN TEXAS ON NEW FILM RUNOUT

Errol Flynn, dashing screen star who is supplying Warner Brothers publicists with a headache, was reported proceeding to Mazatlan, Mexico, today and running out on his film studio’s stunt for a picture.

Traveling incognito so far as it was possible – and it was pretty difficult after Warner’s offered a $500 reward for his capture. – Flynn and his wife Lili Damita, would only comment at the Brownsville airport today that they were “making a little trip.”

Then the couple took a plane to Mexico City. It waa understood Flynn’s plans included a hunting trip to Mazatlan. Warners wanted its playboy to go to Dodge City, KS, for the premiere of a picture by that name.

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barb
5 years ago
Reply to  Gentleman Tim

Tim, that is wild. What a great find. I love that so many claimed the reward. Wonder how it was resolved.

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Author
Gentleman Tim
5 years ago
Reply to  barb

Yes, 143 telegrams, and that was just within the first few hours! I’m sure many more poured in. …Some were said to be “gags” (which probably included some hilarious claims,) but I’d bet all kinds of people were spotting Flynn – in Texas, Mexico City, Mazatlan, and God knows where else. His internationally famous face be hard to miss, especially with Lily Damita in tow!

I don’t know who, if anybody, Warner paid. Based on his reputation I wouldn’t be surprised if he reneged on everybody!

During the remainder of the month I will publish more info and articles on the exciting rest of this story, which includes, inter alia, the reported near deaths of Errol and Lily on their return from Mexico.

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Author
Gentleman Tim
5 years ago
Reply to  Gentleman Tim

For a fun take on Jack (J. L.) Warner’s reputation for scheming, reneging and untrustworthiness, see Something to Sing About, where Gene Lockhart portrays B. O. Regan. Cagney was suing WB at the time of filming for J.L.’s reneging on a contractual promise to him.

Further, much more direct and severe, evidence of Jack Warner’s greedily deceitful ways can be found in accounts of how he backstabbed his own brothers, reneging on a very important promise to them.

www.hollywoodreporter.com…

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barb
5 years ago
Reply to  Gentleman Tim

I’d never heard that story about Jack Warner, Tim .. pretty grim, to say the least.

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