An approach to the William Desmond Taylor murder
by Michael B. Druxman on 08/09/14
August 11, 2014
I think that I've finally come up with a viable approach to writing my play about the William Desmond Taylor murder.
Taylor, a top director of the silent screen era, was found shot to death in 1922, and the crime has never been officially solved. Indeed, the killing put an end to the careers of two silent screen stars, Mabel Normand and Mary Miles Minter.
If you've read my first memoir, MY FORTY-FIVE YEARS IN HOLLYWOOD ...AND HOW I ESCAPED ALIVE, you are aware of how long I've researched this case. It's one of those "missed opportunities" in my life.
In any event, while I'm still working on my current play, which is going well, I'm going to start initial work on the Taylor piece. Like with the Franchot Tone/Barbara Payton/Tom Neal story which became B MOVIE, this Taylor story is, for me, "unfinished business".
For those of you in/around McKinney, TX: On the weekend of September 13-14, I will be at the "Spirit of the Cowboy Festival," appearing with both Dan Haggerty and Bo Hopkins, who were in my movie, CHEYENNE WARRIOR. So, come on down and say "Hello".
You have a creative week.
Michael
