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Day three: A Hollywood star goes to jail – for speeding
November 4th, 2009, 3:00 am · 16 Comments · posted by Larry Welborn
Bebe Daniels in the jail being serenaded by local musicians. Courtesy of OCSD
Siilent film star Bebe Daniels is sentenced with a handshake to the county jail by Judge John B. Cox for speeding in 1921. Photo courtesy of Santa Ana History Room, Santa Ana Public Library.
1921: Silent film “vamp” Bebe Daniels was arrested and tried for speeding after she raced her Marmon sports car through the streets of Tustin at 56 mph in 1921.
That was fast back then – at least 20 miles over the speed limit. More than 1,500 spectators gathered outside the Santa Ana courthouse to get a glimpse of Daniels, who arrived for her trial wearing a fur coat and a veiled hat.
Scores of Hollywood celebrities attended the proceedings, according to published accounts. She was convicted of speeding and sentenced to 10 days in jail. That’s right, jail.
She was serenaded by a local band during her jail stay.
Register reporter and historian John Westcott wrote in 2000 that the episode spawned three movies (including one starring Daniels herself) and a song, “The Judge Cox Blues,” after Justice of the Peace John Belshazzar Cox, who visited the actress in jail, bringing with him a bouquet of flowers.
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PULEASE THIS IS SO NOT A CRIME TO BE IN WITH AX MURDERS!
This is a GREAT series. I hope someone makes a book of these when this is finished. I’m already glued to reading this.
So true Dennis. But at least we don’t have to hear from the racist sector.
Wow jail time for speeding, I wish we still did that… teach some young punks that Yes the speedometer might go to 130 MPH but you cant.
Never mind….she’s here too.
yep, do you have anything to comment on… you know regarding the story? Apparently not… oh well, see you around Im not going anywhere
It’s “notorious cases” not notorious murders. I think the picture doesn’t support what the caption says. The article states that JP Cox visited and brought her flowers, but the picture caption states that JP Cox sentenced her with a handshake. Which is it?
Well, that’s the charming touch to this story, Martha. Despite giving the beauty 10 days in jail, the sentencing judge is so smitten by Bebe he very publicly delivers a dozen roses to her!
It’s curious to me how our interpretation of “speed” changes over time. This lady did 10 days in jail for cracking 50 mph.
But I drive 80 mph all time (and get passed on the freeway when I do.) But it’s still not fast enough. I’m miffed if my computer hiccups for 20 seconds; a fastball, today, is something in the upper 90s; red lights make me insane if they last for more than 1 minute… I don’t know why this post made me think about this stuff, but it did.
Wikipedia: “In 1921, [Daniels] was arrested in Santa Ana, CA for speeding in a 10 mph zone — she was going at 15 mph. She spent five days in jail.”
IMDB.com: “[Daniels'] film The Speed Girl (1921) was made to capitalize on her ten-day jail sentence for multiple speeding tickets. The movie’s poster shows her walking out of a jail cell.”
Scott: Somewhere in the middle of all this lies what really happened.
Paris Hilton of her day! Some things never seem to change!
It is quite sad if you analyze what the Register now must do to stay in business. It must follow the LA Times by running REALLY OLD news in order to keep the doors open. I assert that it is a mistake to follow the Times down any road. If you want to follow someone else, follow the OC Weekly: At least they have put together several news coups in the last few years; they are extremely local and OC-focused and fun to read.
Very likely the OLD stories which the Register is now running are public domain, so there is no barrier to entry: Anyone can run the stories. Again, I suggest that you concentrate on what you have done well in the past: Local stories that are relevant, well written and timely. Not stories from 50, 70 or 100 years ago. This is insane! How can you expect to sell a paper when everything is old news stories and advertisements? Have you guys really looked at your paper lately?
Further, your Business section has always sucked. You know that! Why not try to beef that up? I must say that the Sunday WSJ portion of your paper is worthy, but why can you not do this every day? I want quality each and every day, not only on Sunday.
It is such a shame that the Register can not figure out what to do to save the business.
Judge Cox sounds like the Lance Ito of his day. Becoming enamored with defendants because of their celebrity and his own celebrity rising in the process. Sadly hollywood worship still exists today
In my opinion, Ito was so enamered of celebrities that he helped a killer go free…..It took Las Vegas to set Simpson straigt…..not the gawking jelly fish that was Ito
Thats a jail??
You have to be kidding Chris! Reading stories from the past - whether they are serious historic events or old murders, are absolutely fascinating! It shows the times, it does relate to today and it requires research. I think the stories about veterans recently in the paper have been equally interesting. The OC Register is doing a great job with this series.