LA Times, 1929: Young Doug Weds Joan

NEW YORK June 3. (Exclusive) -- Douglas Fairbanks. Jr. and Joan Crawford, motion-picture players, were married today in St. Malachy's Roman Catholic Church by Rev. Edward F. Leonard.

Fairbanks’ mother, Beth Sully, the first wife of Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. was present at the ceremony. The wedding was the culmination of an engagement for the last two years, during which time there were many rumors linking the two is marriage, but which were subsequently denied.

TOLD HIS FATHER

Even when applying for the license today Fairbanks had asserted that they would not be married until some time in the fall.

Fairbanks said he had told his father of his intentions before he left Hollywood and that the latter had given his blessing and followed it with a telegram of congratulation today.

An hour after the ceremony the couple was back at the Algonquin Hotel. Miss Crawford was at a writing desk penning a letter to her mother, which, she said, started with "Dear Mother, it is but an hour since…”

Fairbanks fidgeted in his chair and explained how his affair had been a "romantic and sweet one." "I suppose I’m expected to say that I’m the happiest and proudest, and so forth," he said. “But it's true."

"As for me," interrupted his wife, “I love you so."

JOAN SHOWS RING

"Marriage is a wonderful thing," soliloquized young Fairbanks, “but it certainly scares you.”

Mrs. Fairbanks turned nonchalantly to her writing again. She ate huge red cherries out of a glass pitcher. Suddenly she ran to the lamp and held her hand so that the light was reflected from the large diamond ring she wore.

"Isn't it gorgeous?" she demanded. "We bought it today."

WILL HONEYMOON ABROAD

Mr. Fairbanks went on to tell about his wedding. How he had watched some one crying in a mirror. How his knees shook. How his gaze had been fixed on a blotter on the floor.

The couple arrived in New York Thursday and plan to leave for California next Tuesday. They will take up their separate motion-picture careers in different studios. Mrs. Fairbanks will keep her name of Joan Crawford on the screen. She has three more pictures to make thus year and Mr. Fairbanks has four. After these are finished, it was explained, they intend to come east and then sail for Europe on a honeymoon.

WEDDING RUMOR DENIED OFTEN IN HOLLYWOOD

When Joan Crawford and Douglas Fairbanks. Jr. left Hollywood several days ago for a vacation trip to the East, they declared they were not to be married until August 23. While their marriage was not unexpected in Hollywood, the news of the ceremony came as somewhat of a surprise.

The romance has been watched with interest for many months in Hollywood and it was not long ago that they admitted their engagement after consistent rumors they had been married in Mexico more than a year ago. These reports they consistently denied.

Joan's mother said last night In Hollywood that the marriage was a surprise to her as she had been helping her daughter prepare her trousseau and was making plans for the wedding here.

"I received a wire from Joan," she said, "telling of her marriage and it certainly was news to me. When they left here they did not intend being married. I am only sorry that I wasn't there to witness the ceremony. But I am happy for them. He is such a nice boy."

Joan Crawford stretched and squirmed until the little yellow white spot on her shoulder that just wouldn't take on the "high yaller" compliments of old man Sol was revealed. She was lolling on the sand, half in, half out of the shade supplied by a giant umbrella. A crimson bathing suit revealed a tan that challenged the best efforts of all the cocoa butters and olive oils on the market.

But outside of letting her hair grow, furnishing her new home, and burning a light mahogany color … only three things in the world, at the present writing, interest Joan Crawford: Douglas Fairbanks Jr., alias Doug, alias Dodo.

At the mention of this picture showing at Loew's State, Joan came completely to life, in spite of the sun's endeavors to exact the last ounce of pep.

"Wasn't Dodo marvelous?" she beamed. "He gave one of his finest characterizations! It has been awarded an `outstanding performance of the month' distinction. It was his first. He was so thrilled."

"Why, I couldn't really tell you what I thought of my role. You see, I was so busy watching Dodo. Just wait until you see him. He's wonderful.

"He does his characterizations – his father, John Barrymore, Jack Gilbert. He's really more like them than they are," she added enthusiastically.

"'Modern Maidens' is undoubtedly a good picture. I don't know that it will be as successful as "our Dancing Daughters' … sequels seldom are. But then it should be – Dodo's in it."

"No, I don't think it's a good thing to play the same picture with one's husband. People seem to lose interest. Of course, we weren't married when `Modern Maidens' was taken. That makes a difference …"

A group of friends, who were about to hit the briny in self-protection from the sun, broke into the conversation.

"Not without Dodo," she called back. "Thanks awfully, but I'm scared when he isn't with me."

"You know, Dodo is a marvelous swimmer," getting back to the conversation. "I don't mind swimming anywhere when he's along. Even out to the raft. I do wish work on his picture was finished. It's getting dreadfully lonesome."

And in truth time is hanging heavily on the hands of this young lady. Fate ruled that, in spite of their recent marriage, she and Doug should not vacation together. And so when the final scenes on "Jungle," her first talkie for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer were shot … Doug began kicking a pigskin from the hither to the yon for "The Forward Pass," in production at First National.

But Joan isn't the type to remain idle long. So that she won't lose her precious tan, she is spending one day on the sand, and the next shopping for furniture. When it comes to shopping, as well as a good many other things, Joan knows exactly what she wants.

There was a time, for example, when an interior decorator insisted upon a French bed for an Italian room. Joan balked. Result: a cabinet maker is now carving a bed after an Italian design that Joan unearthed in the library. Practically all the furniture in her home, however, is being worked out from sketches planned by the Fairbanks Jrs.

Indeed, Joan seems to be very much Mrs. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and very little Joan Crawford, motion picture star … on her vacation, at least.

She doesn't know what her next picture is to be … but she hopes it won't start the day Dodo finishes his. It will be a talkie, she's sure of that.

"You've heard Dodo in talkies, haven't you? He's grand. I don't see how anyone can pay attention to others when he's on the screen. I can't."

Marriage was a stumbling block to the artistic career of Jessie Beryl LeSueur but Hollywood parties were not. Her husband, Hal Hays LeSueur, brother of Joan Crawford, asserted in his divorce complaint on file yesterday.

“She insisted on going to parties at all times," the plaintiff declared, "and when I wouldn't take her, she went alone. She told me a career was the biggest thing in life and marriage was only a stumbling block."

According to LeSueur's complaint, which was prepared by Attorney Milton Golden, the defendant insisted on having her own apartment and her own friends and announced she would see the plaintiff only by appointment.

When LeSueur refused to put his home on a companionate basis, she left him and wouldn't come back, he said. The couple was married in 1925 and separated May 15, last.