(Jewish Daily Bulletin)
Remarks derogatory to the Jewish race, made by John Barrymore, idol of the stage and screen, were the cause of a fist fight between him and Myron Selznick, Jewish motion picture producer.
The fist fight, which took place on the lawn of the Ambassador Hotel, last Saturday night, it was disclosed yesterday, lasted about 10 minutes. As a result of the fight it was stated that Mr. Barrymore will not be seen in public for a number of days.
Mr. Myron Selznick, when interviewed by the correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, declined to make any further comments on the incident. Mr. Barrymore could not be reached, and his friends and representatives issued no denial of the account current in Hollywood circles.
The Associated Press gave the following account of the incident:
On the night when the Wampas ball was being attended by filmdom’s elite at the Ambassador, Selznick said he was holding a supper party when Owen Moore, also of the screen, called for him. Moore told Selznick he was wanted by Lionel Barrymore to discuss a business matter. Lionel’s brother, John also was at the hotel bungalow, when Selznick declared he made the slurring remarks about his nationality.
“I felt I had been insulted,” Selznick said, “and I asked him like a gentleman to refrain from making more remarks. He wanted me to fight him and I told him I respected his age. This seemed to anger him very much, so when I left the bungalow be followed Moore and me.
“He struck me before I walked out and on the lawn he struck me again Then we had a real fight which lasted about ten minutes. Moore tried to separate us but was unable to do so. That probably is the reason we fought so long. Then I returned to the supper party and Barrymore went back to his bungalow.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
