The Poisoning of Olive Thomas | Horrorwood: True Crime in Tinseltown

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If you'd rather not hear our banter/biznasty, skip ahead 5 minutes. We've got a tale for you today that is considered to be the first Hollywood scandal: the death of Olive Thomas. Olive was just 25 years old and at the height of her career when she died tragically while vacationing with her husband, Jack Pickford (yes, of THOSE Pickfords). Was it an accident, or something more sinister?

Episode Sources:

“From $2.75 to $4,000 Weekly as a Movie Star” by James A. Baubie, The Pittsburgh Press, p. 19 & 27, Feb. 4, 1931

“Olive Thomas leaves no will, estate is valued at $25,000” The Pittsburgh Press, p. 16, Oct. 5, 1920

“Olive Thomas Left $27,644” The New York Times, Jul. 15, 1922

“Women Faint at Olive Thomas Rite” The New York Times, Sep. 29, 1920

“Olive Thomas’ Death Declared An Accident” The Vancouver Sun, Sep. 14, 1920

“Bichloride of Mercury Killed Olive Thomas” The Toronto World, Sep. 15, 1920

“Memories of Olive"

“The Most Beautiful Girl in the Movies” Herald-Journal, p. 13, Oct. 22, 1919

“The Life & Death of Olive Thomas” Taylorology, edited by Bruce Long, Sep. 1995

“$30,000 Realized as Olive Thomas’ Effects Are Sold” The Pittsburgh Press, Nov. 23, 1920

“Poisonings Throughout History: Olive Thomas” Maryland Poison Center, Aug. 31, 2023