Movie star mystery photo

Los Angeles Times photo

Our mystery star has more than 100 credits on imdb.

Update: These are pictures from the 1936 trial over the custody of Marilyn Astor Thorpe. Mary Astor charged that her ex-husband, Franklyn, wasn’t a fit parent (he allegedly had women spend the night while his daughter was in his custody and was supposedly abusive to the girl) and he made similar accusations. citing passages in her diary describing her affair with playwright George S. Kaufman.

From left, Attorney Joseph Anderson, Franklyn Thorpe, attorney Ethel M. Pepin (that’s the lady in the hat), attorney A.P. Michael Narlian, attorney Roland Rich Woolley and Mary Astor. Ruth Chatterton is in the audience between Thorpe and Pepin.

Los Angeles Times photograph

Several people have guessed correctly: Steven Bibb was first, followed by Mary Mallory, Nick Santa Maria and Jany. Congratulations! Here’s another clue for everyone else.

At left, Mary Astor, Roland Richard Woolley and Ruth Chatterton

Los Angeles Times photograph

Today, we have a big clue to our mystery star. Imagine my surprise to find this in the archives. Update: A page from Mary Astor’s diary — written in lavender ink.

Several more people have guessed correctly: Regular reader Dewey Webb and Jeff Hanna. Congratulations!

Many people talk about Mary Astor’s diary. It was supposedly burned on orders of the judge. However I have been told by people who worked at the Examiner that Hearst photographed the whole thing. That’s a story that I doubt will ever be verified but it shows what a big deal the diary was at the time.

Los Angeles Times photograph

And we have many more correct guesses. Congratulations to: Nathan Benedict, Carol Gwenn, Gregory Moore, "Zabadu," Pamela Porter, Richard Heft and "Laura" fan Waldo Lydecker.

At left, Judge Goodwin Knight — the future California governor — with Lois Carpenter, 12, and Dorothy Carpenter, 6. Astor’s diary surfaced during a child custody dispute.

Los Angeles Times photograph

Here’s our mystery woman. Add Rance Ryan to the folks who have recognized her.

Isn’t this a great picture of Mary Astor? She had just been awarded custody of her daughter Marilyn during the school year.

Los Angeles Times photograph

And yes, this is Mary Astor. I usually end the contests on Friday but I like the art so much I just had to go another day. People sometimes ask me why I run black and white pictures in color but the image at left shows why. The print happens to be a sort of sepia tone as if they didn’t fix it long enough because they were in such a hurry to get it into the paper. I could clean it up digitally and make it nice with pure blacks and whites but to me that spoils the experience.

The outfit was blue taffeta, by the way.

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I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

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29 Responses to Movie star mystery photo

Steven Bibb says:

January 12, 2009 at 10:16 am

Good choice today! Mary Astor, seated at the right of the photo, and second from left is her husband, Dr. Franklin Thorpe. This was taken during the divorce trial, when they were both fighting for custody of their daughter. This is the famous “Blue Diary” case.

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william says:

January 12, 2009 at 10:49 am

Hedda Hopper

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Dewey Webb says:

January 12, 2009 at 10:52 am

Herman Bing?

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Mary Mallory says:

January 12, 2009 at 11:05 am

is it Mary Astor at her divorce trial, where her diary became a major piece of evidence?

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Nick Santa Maria says:

January 12, 2009 at 11:09 am

Mary Astor

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Arye (Leslie) Michael Bender says:

January 12, 2009 at 12:20 pm

Could be the Statue of Liberty under that hat, and who would know. Or maybe it’s Neil’s Grandma, Hedda Gabler?
Although that dapper guy with the floppy handkerchief is quite theatrical. Must be an Esquire.

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Nick Santa Maria says:

January 12, 2009 at 1:01 pm

Mary Astor

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MichaelRyerson says:

January 12, 2009 at 6:48 pm

Bette Davis in The Letter.

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jany says:

January 13, 2009 at 8:13 am

Mary Astor

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Dewey Webb says:

January 13, 2009 at 9:23 am

Mary Astor

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Eve says:

January 13, 2009 at 11:32 am

If you mean the woman in the lower photo, that’s Ruth Chatterton, yes? She was a big B’way star, too, as well as a novelist and a pioneering aviatrix!

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LEE RIVAS says:

January 13, 2009 at 12:24 pm

Ida Lupino?

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Jeff Hanna says:

January 13, 2009 at 6:19 pm

Mary Astor

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Nathan Benedict says:

January 14, 2009 at 8:53 am

Mary Astor???

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Carol Gwenn says:

January 14, 2009 at 9:19 am

As I suspected…Mary Astor.

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Gregory Moore says:

January 14, 2009 at 9:34 am

Aha! It’s Mary Astor….I was looking at the wrong lady…

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zabadu says:

January 14, 2009 at 9:46 am

Mary Astor in her custody trial because of her affair with Hart?

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Pamela Porter says:

January 14, 2009 at 10:41 am

Mary Astor. To be honest, I wasn’t sure *which* person was the “mystery actress” – maybe a bit more direction next time?
Keep ’em coming – love this feature!

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Richard Heft says:

January 14, 2009 at 11:39 am

It must be Mary Astor, and “Franklyn” would be her husband, Franklyn Thorpe.

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MIKE SCANLON says:

January 14, 2009 at 12:42 pm

I think that is Lee J Cobb. The jawline sure looks like his as well as the intensity in the eyes.

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waldo lydecker says:

January 14, 2009 at 4:11 pm

I don’t know the mystery star, but in the photo where the man is whispering to her, the woman in the upper left, face half hidden, resembles Mary Astor.

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zabadu says:

January 14, 2009 at 5:21 pm

Since I can’t tell if you want Mary Astor or her lawyer – I’ve already guessed Mary, so how about her lawyer Roland Rich Woolley?

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Rance Ryan says:

January 15, 2009 at 9:54 am

I am an idiot I was looking at the wrong women. Mary Astor?

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pat says:

January 16, 2009 at 8:28 am

Mary Astor

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JJ says:

January 16, 2009 at 9:07 am

Myrna Loy?

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zabadu says:

January 16, 2009 at 9:14 am

It’s the Mary Astor trial – that pic looks a lot like Mary, but I’m assuming that we are trying now to identify the companion, right?

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Deb Morris says:

January 16, 2009 at 12:02 pm

Mary Astor?

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David Warheit says:

January 16, 2009 at 11:47 pm

It’s got to be Mary Astor; the courtroom scene would be her custody fight with her second husband, Dr. Franklin Thorpe. In her writing she talks about “Franklyn”. I can’t explain the discrepancy in spelling, but I’m sure it’s Mary.

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Arye (Leslie) Michael Bender says:

January 17, 2009 at 1:10 pm

Word is that George S. Kaufman was the Adrian Monk of his day. Hard to imagine him having an affair with anyone other than his formidable wit. Who else could compete?

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