OCCULT IN HOLLYWOOD

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 November 1934, Page 4

OCCULT IN HOLLYWOOD

FAKIRS DICTATE COURSES The recent, suicide of a London woman for whom a fortune-teller had predicted unhappiness recalls the charlatanism by which many of these impostors batten on the credulity of .the public. Although they are still numerous In England they are few when compared with the prophets, seers, and mongers of future dispensations who flourish in America (writes Michael O’Kell in the “Melbourne Argus.”) When visiting an Elstree studio recently I met a. well-known British film star who has also played in America. She mentioned that, she was about to consult her solicitor about a fresh contract which she has been offered by the company, adding, “If I were a Hollywood star I should b 0 off to obtain advice from my favourite fortuneteller before signing on the dotted line.”

I. treated this remark as a. joke until the girl pointed out that she was speaking in all seriousness. She continued: —“The deep-rooted belief in fortune-tellers shown by the stars of the film colony was the thing which most impressed me on my first visit to Hollywood. And it was all the more surprising because .1 had so often seen many of the artists playing flippant or “hard-boiled” roles that I had come to regard scepticism as part of their make-up. Yet I found the majority possessed a child-like belief in the powers of their necromancers and soothsayers.

SOOTH SA YERS’ C ON T R A CT S “Many, indeed, would not think of signing a contract or transacting a business deal without advice from a chosen prophet, and it has been whispered that when a harassed studio executive wants to bo certain that the terms of a new contract, will be agreed upon or the assignment of a difficult film role accepted he first visits the paiticulai- “star’s” pet fortune-teller, .and for a handsome sum ensures the 'success of his project beforehand. It has also been suggested in gossip that many a financial deal in which prominent film personalities subsequently lost monev had been engineered by the cooperation of these ‘inspired’ prophets, whose predictions, strangely enough, have the advantage of being strictly lpp*cl •. “One of the reasons for the enormous success of these Hollywood ‘voodoo’ men is that, according to Californian law, they can obtain a legal certificate to practise their calling op. payment of a small sum. Consequently the Los Angeles newspapers daily carry columns of advertising devoted solely to announcements of professional fortune-tellers. “That-vast.sums of money are earned by the most fashionable prophets is proved by the palatial homes, elegant city offices, and high-power motor(jars they speedily acquire. And the more exorbitant their fees the more popular they become. It is not unusual to s.i. e a line m luxurious cars parked

outside the well-kept approach to a fortune-teller’s house while inside men and women whose names are famous tho world over, and whose stormy temperaments and box-office appeal render them extremely difficult .to handle, meekly and submissively await their turn. “When J was first in Hollywood, two or three years ago,” my informant continued, “the most exclusive of the local prophets was an aged white-haired negro, who had graduated from the ranks of lay-preachers to the heights of first soothsayer to the elect of the film colony. Mis word was law among them, and he. exercised undisputed sway over their lives, love affairs, and business activities. Many shops in Hollywood display palm-prints, astrology charts, phrenology casts, and horoscopes of all the famous stars, and appointments with fortunte-tellers may be booked at the principal cafes and agencies in just the same manner as one reserves theatre seats.

“Belief in spiritualism, of course, is very general throughout the United States. Although I have travelled much, 1 have never encountered as deep a belief in the occult as that of the Hollywood “stars.” Indeed, I can think of nothing comparable, except the dominion exercised by witch-doc-tors over the ignorant natives of Central Africa. At nearly every party I attended and in most of the Beverley Hill mansions fortune-telling and the manipulation of ‘oojah boards’ and such contrivances was a feature greatly appreciated by guests. The hostess who could produce a really first rank prophet was immediately assured of social success.

VALENTINO’S INFLUENCE “Some of the older Hollywood residents trace these strong superstitious beliefs to the influence of the late Rudolph Valentino, who was reputed to be a devout Spiritualist and student of the occult. In fact, on the outskirts’of Hollywood there is an old disused studio which is supposed to be; haunted by his spirit. It was in this studio that Valentino made some of his. last pictures, including ‘The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.’ ” Confirmation of this strange story later came from Miss Helen Chandler, the Hollywood actress, when she was visiting England. “Fortune-telling is rife in Hollywood,” said Miss Chandler. “Quite apart from advertisements and shop displays, many private houses and bungalows have signboards and cards outside announcing the offers of fortune-tellers. A. man named Darieo is the most fashionable seer at present, but 1. do not know which individual ‘stars’ patronise him. My great friend Marie Dressier was a confirmed believer in astrology, and held that this greatly helped her work.” Another famous Hollywood hostess, commenting on the deep-rooted faith hi fortune-tellers shown by the “stars, concluded with a remark which might bo typical of the movie kings and queens;—“Oh, well, Santa Glaus has avned out to be a myth, and I guess ve’Ve gotta believe in something!