RELIGION IN HOLLYWOOD

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18378, 11 July 1931, Page 17 (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 as anywhere. The Roman Catholic Church can boast many members among the movie folk. Ramon Novarro Is an ardent Catholic; Marlon Davies is a Catholic, and does not neglect her religious duties; Tom, Matt and Owen Moore, Sally 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 Ben Lyon, who is a Jew r . Mae Murray became a Catholic w'hen 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 Banlcy, 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 Thalberg, 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 divroce 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 Hollywoqd, Joan Crawford and Douglas Fairbanks, jun., were married in the Catholic Church, but now attend the Christian Scientist Church.

The Church of England boasts a number of regular members among the stars. Joan and Constance Bennett are Church of Englahd, as are Richard Barthelmess, Victor McLaglen, Irene Rich, Virginia Cherriil, Esther Ralston, Ronald Colman, George Arliss, George Fawcett, Clive Brook, Ruth Chatterton, and Ralph Forbes.

Marie Drcssler’s simple creed is doing as one would be done by. Greta Garbo is a Lutheran. John Wayne is a Methodist. Harold Lloyd and Mildred Davies are Golden Rulers, Charles Farrell and Hedda Hopper are the only Quakers in Hollywood.

The Catholic faith is the strongest, followed by Christian Science, third Episcopalian, then Presbyterian and Methodist.