John Barrymore came from a long line of theater actors. He himself first appeared on stage alongside his father in 1900, and in 1903 officially began his career, starring in the likes of Justice (1916) and Richard III (1920). His greatest role was his 1992 appearance in Hamlet, for which he was dubbed “the greatest living American tragedian.”
Barrymore also starred in a slew of silent films, most notably Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920), Sherlock Holmes (1922) and Beau Brummel (1924). He later made the transition to sound movies, starring in the likes of Grand Hotel (1932) and Midnight (1939).
On May 29, 1942, Barrymore died at the age of 60 from pneumonia and cirrhosis. What happened next has been the subject of many rumors. It’s alleged his friends, Errol Flynn, W.C. Fields and Sadakichi Hartmann snuck into the morgue where his body was being held, propped him up against a poker table and allowed him to experience one final celebration.
As it turns out, these rumors are true! In an August 2020 episode of the popular YouTube series Hot Ones, the acting legend’s granddaughter, Drew Barrymore, revealed his corpse had actually been stolen.
“Not only yes, but there have been cinematic interpretations of it,” she exclaimed. Those interpretations include S.O.B., starring Julie Andrews, and allegedly the 1989 comedy Weekend at Bernie’s, in which two friends pretend their deceased boss is alive.
Barrymore added that she wants the same to happen to her. “I will say this, I hope my friends do the same for me. That is the kind of spirit I can get behind. Just prop the old bag up, let’s have a few rounds.
“I think death comes with so much morose sadness and I understand that, but if it’s okay, just for me, if everybody could be really happy and celebratory and have a party, that would be my preference.”
Vintage Hollywood certainly was a different era…
Funny Moments in Life
Once upon a time, there was a man who came home to find his wife of 10 years packing her bags. Confusion washed over his face as he asked, “Where are you going?” Little did he know, his wife had a surprising revelation. She boldly declared, “To Las Vegas! I found out that there are men who are willing to pay $500 cash for the very things I do for you, for free!”
As the husband processed this unexpected information, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy. After a moment of contemplation, he made a firm decision and began packing his own bags. Bewildered, his wife couldn’t resist raising her voice, “What on earth do you think you’re doing?” she screamed. With a mischievous smile, he replied, “I’m going to Las Vegas with you. I can’t wait to see how you’ll manage to live off a mere $1,000 a year!”
In another humorous encounter, an old lady found herself in a frustrating situation. She patiently waited for a parking space, only to have it snatched away by a young man in a flashy red Mercedes. Fuming with frustration, she approached the young man and exclaimed, “I was going to park there!” Unfazed, the man responded with a smug attitude, “That’s just what you can do when you’re young and vibrant.”
These amusing anecdotes remind us that life is full of unexpected surprises. Whether it’s discovering unusual career options or asserting our confidence in the face of cheekiness, embracing humor can lighten even the most exasperating situations. So let’s keep smiling and find joy in life’s funny moments!
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