-
A star is born
Roscoe Conkling Arbuckle is Born in Smith Center Kansas. The youngest of nine children, he is reported to weigh 16 pounds at birth. This is where the nickname "Fatty" begins. -
His big debut
Roscoe Arbuckle is hired by Mack Sennett’s comedy studio. Here he stars opposite of Mabel Normand and Charlie Chaplin. He adopts the nickname he used to hate, “Fatty.” He becomes a top attraction of the comedy studio. -
His career takes off
He begins writing and directing many of the comedies that he stars in. Including "Fatty and Mabel Adrift" and "He Did and He Didn’t." -
Growing his fame
Arbuckle took creative control of producer Joseph M. Schenck’s Comique Film corporation. During this time, he directed and stared in a series of knockabout two-reelers. He also nurtured the talents of young star Buster Keaton. -
Becoming the "biggest" star
Fatty Arbuckle had appeared in more than 100 films. He also became the first movie star the get paid one million dollars. The caliber of his fame makes what happens next such a huge scandal. -
It's all fun and games until...
Arbuckle and his friends invite the movie actress Virginia Rappe for afternoon drinks. Rappe arrived at Arbuckle’s hotel room around noon. What happens next is disputed by many sources and juries. Arbuckle and Rappe were alone in his hotel room for anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour. It is believed that Arbuckle took Rappe, who was intoxicated, into a room alone and raped her. -
Virginia Rappe pronounced dead
After 3 days in the hotel room, on morphine to dull the pain, Virginia Rappe was moved to a sanatorium. A friend of Virginia's reported that during this time Rappe said that Fatty Arbuckle did it, he attacked her. The next day on September 10th she was pronounced dead. The cause of death was paratenonitis, a bacterial infection in the wall of her abdomen. A rumor went around that Arbuckle rapped Virginia with a glass bottle. -
The first big hollywood scandal
Fatty Arbuckle was arrested for murder. Because of Arbuckle's fame and the controversy surrounding this event, this becomes the first Hollywood scandal. Some people were concerned that Fatty's popularity and fame would allow him to get away with murder with no consequences. While Paramount Studios wanted to sweep this under the rug this scandal was magnified by the media, many newspapers reported on this and drew in more public interest. -
Trial begins
Arbuckle took the stand in his own defense during trial. -
A decision is made
Arbuckle is acquitted of manslaughter after the jury deliberated for only five minutes. Roscoe received a letter from the jury apologizing and stating he was completely innocent. Some believe this letter was a PR stunt by his lawyers. To this day people still debate whether or not Roscoe Arbuckle was guilty of Rappe's murder. Some people are confident he did not do it, while others believe events got twisted and he was guilty.
He was acquitted, but his career never recovered. -
The death of a star
Roscoe Arbuckle died from a heart attack in his sleep. He was 46 years old.
