RELIGION IN HOLLYWOOD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 192, 15 August 1931, Page 18 (Supplement)

RELIGION IN HOLLYWOOD

FAITHS OF THE STARS. ROMAN CATHOLICS LEAD. “An all informed preacher referred to Hollywood as a godless town,” says an American writer. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is as much sincere religion in Hollywood ac anywhere. The Roman Catholic Church can boast many members among the movie folk. Ramon Novarro is an ardent Catholic; Marion Davies is a Catholic, and does not neglect her religious duties; Tom, Matt and Owen Moore, Bally O’Neill, Gilbert Roland, Anita Page, Zasu Pitts, Colleen Moore, Norman Kerry—all are devout Catholics. Bebe Daniels was baptised a Catholic, but married out of the Church when she wedded Beu Lyon, who is a Jew. Mae Murray became a Catholic when she married Prince Mdvani, Maureen O’Sullivan, Maurice Chevalier and Claudette Colbert are Catholics. May McAvoy, Thomas Meighan, George O’Brien, Neil Hamilton, Rod La Rocque, Vilma Banky, Nancy Carroll, Antonio Moreno, Jackie Coogan, June Collyer, and Polly Moran are members of the Catholic Motion Picture Guild. Norma Shearer adopted Judaism when she married Irving Thai berg, a Jew. Carmel Myers is the daughter of a Jewish rabbi, and Charlie Chaplin is of the Jewish faith and is a deep student of the Bible. Mary Pickford was formerly a Catholic, but after her divorce from Owen Moore became a Christian Scientist. Douglas Fairbanks is also a follower of this sect. Conrad Nagel is an usher of the Christian Scientist Church in Hollywood, Joan Crawford and Douglas Fairbanks, jun., were married in tho Catholic Church, but now attend the Christian Scientist Church.

The Church of England boasts a number of regular members among tho stars. Joan and Constance Bennett are Church of Englanu, as are Richard Barthelmess, Victor McLaglcn, Irene Rich, Virginia Cherrill, Esther Ralston, Ronald Colman, George Arliss, George Fawcett, Clive Brook, Ruth Chatterton, and Ralph Forbes. Marie Dressier's simple cred is doing as one would be done by. Greta Garbo is a Lutheran. John Wayne is a Methodist. Harold Lloyd and Mildred Davis are Golden Rulers. Charles Farrell and Hedda Hopper arc the only Quakers in Hollywood. The Catholic faith is the strongest, followed by Christian Science, third Episcopalian, then Presbyterian and Methodist.