The Ghost of Virginia Rappe

Not many people know who Virginia Rappe is, or rather who she was. Her story has been lost among the thousands of sad puppy eye women who flock to Hollywood every year. which is why I am telling her story, so that others may know, and respect the lost. 

Virginia Rappe was born to Mabel Rappe, a woman who died when Virginia was only eleven years old. after only three years of being in the care of her grandmother, Virginia ran away for the stardom and glitz of Hollywood. She was a model for some time, in which time she met Robert moscobitz and became engaged to him. sadly the affair did not last long since he died in a car crash some time later. 

In early 1917 she was hired by director Fred Balshofer and given a prominent role in his Paradise Garden opposite popular screen star Harold Lockwood.In 1919, she began a relationship with director/producer Henry Lehrman; the two eventually became engaged. She appeared in at least four films for Lehrman: His Musical Sneeze, A Twilight Baby, Punch of the Irish and Game Lady.

She had found love, and had become a star, all of her dreams where coming true. until labor day 1921 when she attended a party at the St. Francis Hotel. Many whitness have claimed to have seen Virginia and actor  Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle enter room 1219 that night. sadly only one of them came back out alife. 

According to the trial records, virginia died of an erupted bladder. a fact that was greatly emphasised during the trial since they claimed that it had been Virginia's lust and sexual appetite that killed her, and not Harold Lockwood (who was accused of violently raping her until her bladder bursts.) 

Harold was acquitted after three trials, in each of them Virginia was accused of prostitution, abortions, and wild sexual allegations. so on the third one it is to no surprise that Harold was acquitted by a jury of his peers. 

To this day visitors at Hollywood forever cemetery claim to see the ghost of Virginia Rappe crying on her grave site. perhaps she cries for the injustice, perhaps she cries for the son she had once given up into adoption, or for her mutilated reputation that Hollywood lawyers slaughtered as if her murder had not been enough. Whatever the case, Karma took its own revenge on the screens Star Roscoe "fatty" Arbuckle, since he went from being the first actor to be paid a million dollars, to being an untouchable in Hollywood. serves him right.