John Barrymore came from a long line of theater actors. He himself first appeared on stage alongside his father in 1900, and in 1903 officially began his career, starring in the likes of Justice (1916) and Richard III (1920). His greatest role was his 1992 appearance in Hamlet, for which he was dubbed “the greatest living American tragedian.”
Barrymore also starred in a slew of silent films, most notably Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920), Sherlock Holmes (1922) and Beau Brummel (1924). He later made the transition to sound movies, starring in the likes of Grand Hotel (1932) and Midnight (1939).
On May 29, 1942, Barrymore died at the age of 60 from pneumonia and cirrhosis. What happened next has been the subject of many rumors. It’s alleged his friends, Errol Flynn, W.C. Fields and Sadakichi Hartmann snuck into the morgue where his body was being held, propped him up against a poker table and allowed him to experience one final celebration.
As it turns out, these rumors are true! In an August 2020 episode of the popular YouTube series Hot Ones, the acting legend’s granddaughter, Drew Barrymore, revealed his corpse had actually been stolen.
“Not only yes, but there have been cinematic interpretations of it,” she exclaimed. Those interpretations include S.O.B., starring Julie Andrews, and allegedly the 1989 comedy Weekend at Bernie’s, in which two friends pretend their deceased boss is alive.
Barrymore added that she wants the same to happen to her. “I will say this, I hope my friends do the same for me. That is the kind of spirit I can get behind. Just prop the old bag up, let’s have a few rounds.
“I think death comes with so much morose sadness and I understand that, but if it’s okay, just for me, if everybody could be really happy and celebratory and have a party, that would be my preference.”
Vintage Hollywood certainly was a different era…
The Heartwarming Response to a Little Girl’s Wish
We’ve all experienced wanting to do something but lacking permission, especially as kids. This heartwarming story is about a little girl who couldn’t resist her curiosity. She knocked on her neighbor’s door but got no response. Undeterred, she left a heartfelt letter in their mailbox asking, “Could she use their basketball hoop to shoot some hoops after school?”
To her surprise, she later found a genuine and kind reply in her mailbox. Not only did her neighbors give her permission to use the hoop, but they also encouraged her to have fun, writing, “Enjoy yourself and have a great time!”
In a world where people often hold tightly to what they own, this act of generosity was truly heartwarming. It gave the little girl a chance to enjoy some exercise and restored our faith in humanity.
This moment reminds us of the importance of kindness and how a simple act can make a big difference. The neighbors’ willingness to share their basketball hoop turned a small request into a significant gesture of community and goodwill.
Next time you have an opportunity to bring a smile to someone’s face, go for it. You never know how much it might mean to them. Simple acts of kindness can create lasting memories and strengthen the bonds within our communities.
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