Overview

The story of a beloved comedian turned pariah illuminates the mystery behind one of Hollywood’s most shocking events

Part biography, part true-crime narrative, this painstakingly researched book chronicles the improbable rise and stunning fall of Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle from his early big screen success to his involvement in actress Virginia Rappe’s death, and the resulting irreparable damage to his career. It describes how during the course of a rowdy party hosted by the comedian in a San Francisco hotel, Rappe became fatally ill, and Arbuckle was subsequently charged with manslaughter. Ultimately acquitted after three trials, neither his career nor his reputation ever recovered from this devastating incident. Relying on a careful examination of documents, the book finally reveals what most likely occurred that Labor Day weekend in 1921 in that fateful hotel room. In addition, it covers the evolution of the film industry—from the first silent experiments to the connection between Arbuckle’s scandal and the implementation of industry-wide censorship that altered the course of Hollywood filmmaking for five decades.

Reviews

“The sensational sex scandal that ended the career of one of Hollywood’s earliest superstars—and generated a tidal wave of public indignation that nearly destroyed the entire film industry—is brought to vivid life in this riveting true crime narrative.  Dispelling the salacious myths and lurid legends that have accumulated around Fatty Arbuckle’s notorious ‘wild party,’ Merritt’s book will surely stand as the definitive work on a case that has fascinated and titillated for nearly a century.” —Harold Schechter, author of The Serial Killer Files and The Devil’s Gentleman

“Those who think they know everything about the tragic rise and fall of silent comedian Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle should read Room 1219. It dissects in painstaking detail the myths surrounding the man who not only came to symbolize the bloated decadence of Hollywood in the 1920's,  but who helped bring the wild partying of an industry and a decade to an abrupt and sobering end.” —Paula Uruburu, author of American Eve

“With the probing eye of a crime reporter and the vividness of Raymond Chandler, Greg Merritt plunges us back into the 1920s hotel suite where Hollywood infamy was born. Room 1219 is the compulsively readable last word on one of the most mythologized nightmares in film history.” — James Gavin, author of Deep in a Dream

“Not just an informed look through the keyhole at Hollywood’s first great scandal, but also a fascinating view of the birth of the movie business and the players who helped create both the industry and the glamour. An enjoyable and instructive read.” —Howard Blum, author of American Lightning 

"What Merritt brings to an old story is a look beyond the scandal, showing how it became a contemporary symbol of Hollywood's immorality—and a defining moment for the film industry." —Shelf Awareness

"Merritt’s account of the crime (if there was one), the three trials and the people involved is admirably evenhanded, meticulously researched and compelling." —New York Times Book Review

Author Biography

Greg Merritt has an MFA from the American Film Institute and has written hundreds of feature articles for several magazines. He is the author of Celluloid Mavericks: A History of American Independent Film and Film Production: The Complete Uncensored Guide to Independent Filmmaking. He lives in Los Angeles.