The Untold Story of Olive Thomas: Hollywood's First Scandalous Death

Olive Thomas was a rising American actress and model in the early 20th century, known for her beauty and roles in silent films. Born in 1894, she gained fame as a Ziegfeld Follies girl before transitioning to Hollywood. Her promising career was tragically cut short in 1920 when she ingested mercury bichloride in Paris, possibly mistaking it for a headache remedy or sleeping tonic. She died shortly after, at just 25. Her death shocked the public and became one of Hollywood's earliest scandals. Despite her brief career, Thomas remains a symbol of the silent film era, remembered for her vibrant life and tragic end.

[rwisti]

My grandmother used to play piano and or organ (depending on the theater) for the silent movies. She would tell me how you had to be able to change the tone of the music to the tone of the movie, dramatic, happy, sad, scary, etc.
She was an amazing pianist.

[terr]

Can you imagine going from $2.50 a week to $2500.00 in those days?

[leejones]

This series is so well done. The presenter is a total pro.

[thurayya]

Olive was a beautiful woman and talented actor. It is a shame most people don't know about her. Thank you so much for telling her story.

[fruitbat]

Some of the earliest screen stars died in awful ways . One actress burned to death when a stage hand carelessly discarded a still lit cigarette butt.Her dress caught on fire 😢

[deniselyke]

I love this guy! What a beautiful voice. You just cant make new stories fast enough for me

[maizie]

i always found this story interesting. and never believed jacks story about it.
its way too hard to believe anyone would drink that - it is increbily painful- from just one sip.
thanks for doing a piece on it

[terrygibbs]

An impressive telling of Olive's tragic ending and the still mysterious story from the Silent Era

[donnariahi]

Excellent story and one I have never heard.

[mikki]

She was a beauty, what a shame. Thank you for the video.

[mollybell]

I love these stories, and the content and delivery is top notch. I was today years old when I learned that Paul was a film actor and also the front man for a band when he was younger. Good stuff!

[christinetitus]

Great video! I have always been drawn to Olive’s life story & tragic end. She was a beautiful woman who lived too fast & died young. One of the first Hollywood scandals.

[karaamundson]

Indeed, a real starlet! ✨️
Thank you, Paul, for another absorbing tale

[jocelynsomerville]

What a great storey have not been i touch with u for a while always love ur stories cant wait for more and so so well told 👍🥂

[nataliemeenakshithegreat]

From Paris ❤thank you so much dear it was great ❤

[prudencepineapple]

I like Lilyan Trashman's assessment of Jack Pickford. Unfortunately, I can't repeat it here.

[griseldis]

She loved life, she loved making films and being successful, her career was going very well, she was so young. And beautiful, even her sister-in-law Mary Pickford, who was probably not her biggest fan, said of her that Olive had beautiful deep blue, almost violet eyes under long dark lashes. In reality she must have been even more beautiful than in photos. How could someone so hungry for life do something like that to herself? I can't believe it, never. She didn't even take the name Pickford because she was proud of her own career, it's not nice that she is buried in a grave that bears the name Pickford. Because her husband later remarried, she lies there all alone, under a name she didn't want.
When I look at her photos, she seems incredibly alive to me, as if she wants to talk to us.

[Ms.HarmonyJ]

Sensational job Paul you guys rock always know how to make your fans wanting more

[parsleypalace]

I knew about Mary Pickford (and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and their house Pickfair!), but did not know that she had two Hollywood siblings. I learn something new every day.

[patmurphy]

From my home town. What a sad story What a beautiful girl. Everything old is new again.