Chopper Read famously said ‘Never let the truth get in the way of a good story’ and in this spirit, Kenneth Anger’s Hollywood Babylon joyously delves into the seedy cornucopia of scandal, hearsay and outrageous gossip surrounding the self-anointed gods of the Hollywood dream machine.
Even if only half of the stories related here are true, Anger’s tome on the many indulgences of early Hollywood’s high society (or ‘The Golden Circle’ as he called it) still makes for delicious reading.
A veritable Bible of murder, sex, suicide, mental illness, drug abuse and excesses on the scale of imperial Rome, Hollywood Babylon is required reading for anyone with even a passing interest in the history of cinema.
Written by Kenneth Anger – ex-child actor, avant-garde filmmaker and occultist, (he reputedly follows the teachings and beliefs of none other than Aliester ‘The Beast’ Crowley) – Hollywood Babylon details the various scandals of many famous and infamous Hollywood luminaries from the 1900s through to the 1950s.
Anger also wrote a sequel – Hollywood Babylon II – with plans to write a third put on the backburner when the Church of Scientology caught wind of what Anger had written on their dubious religion.
Indeed, the inception of the book and the life of the author himself are nearly as scandalous as its contents – for example, Anger was apparently good friends with renowned sexologist Alfred Kinsey, going so far as to masturbate in front of him in the name of research.
He boasted of having a photo of Marlon Brando engaged in a sex act with a younger man, which was set to appear in the first book, only to have it removed at the last minute.
Plans to have Jayne Mansfield’s mangled chihuahua (also a victim of the horrific car crash that claimed Mansfield’s life) emblazoned on the cover were shut down.
Meanwhile, Anger’s own film career crossed the line into Hollywood strangeness and legend.
Some of Anger’s experimental film efforts include Invocation of My Demon Brother, featuring soon-to-be Manson Family killer Bobby Beausoleil and a droning drug-f**ked score by Mick Jagger.
He also directed gay Nazi biker flick Scorpio Rising and is said to have put a hex on David Lynch when Lynch mimicked a certain scene using Bobby Vinton’s cheese laden song, Blue Velvet in his film of the same name.
Some of the books many highlights include the Fatty Arbuckle rape case and the mysterious deaths of Thomas Ince (allegedly shot by press baron William Randolph Hearst who then used his considerable influence to cover it up) and Thelma Todd (most likely a victim of a Mob hit).
Then there is Ramon Navarro’s slaying at the hands of rent boys who thrust a dildo down his throat and the insatiable sexual appetite of original ‘It Girl’ Clara Bow, who supposedly gangbanged the entire University of Southern California’s football team – one of whom then went on to enjoy fame as John Wayne.
By turns vindictive and salacious, Anger still manages to pay tribute to tragic figures such as Frances Farmer and unknown aspiring actress Peg Entwistle who jumped to her death from the famous Hollywood sign in 1932.
So there you have it – borrow, buy or steal this bad boy and explore the wonderfully sleazy, almost satanic underbelly of Hollywood from the comfort of your very own living room!