In 1937, a horrific incident occurred at an MGM party that would change the life of Patricia Douglas forever.
At just 20 years old, Douglas was brutally attacked and raped by an MGM salesman.
What followed was a heartbreaking story of injustice and cover-up as the powerful film studio did everything in its power to silence her.
The history of Hollywood is no stranger to scandal, and the early 20th century's Golden Era was no exception.
But it wasn't until 66 years later that Patricia Douglas was able to shed light on the industry's dark secrets and make the public fully understand what had been done to her.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1917, Patricia Douglas moved to Hollywood with her mother Mildred Mitchell when she was just a child.
While her mother pursued work designing costumes, Douglas discovered her passion for dancing.
She socialized with stars like Bing Crosby and even landed dancing roles in classic films like So This Is Africa and Gold Diggers in 1933.
By 1937, Douglas was still living with her mother and taking on small dancing roles for major studios like MGM.
It was during this time that she was hired for what she thought was a movie, only to find herself at an MGM party called the Wild West Show.
Little did she know, this event would forever change her life.
The Wild West Show was a five-day convention organized by MGM to celebrate the studio's profits during the Great Depression.
Salesmen from across the country were invited to attend, and the event promised an extravagant and wild time.
The studio spared no expense, bringing in cases of scotch and champagne and providing glamorous costumes and makeup for the female dancers, including Patricia Douglas.
During the party, Douglas encountered a sales executive named David Ross, who relentlessly pursued her on the dance floor.
Feeling uncomfortable, she sought refuge in the restroom but was followed by Ross.
It became clear that Douglas wasn't the only woman dealing with unwanted advances that night, as 18-year-old Ginger Wyatt expressed her frustration with the “creepy” behavior of some men at the party.
Ross and another man cornered Douglas, holding her down and forcing alcohol down her throat.
Despite her resistance, they found amusement in her struggle.
In a desperate attempt to escape, Douglas ran to the bathroom to vomit, but Ross continued to pursue her.
Threatening her life, he dragged her into a parked car and proceeded to rape her.
Devastated and traumatized, Douglas sought medical help at the Culver City Community Hospital.
However, the doctor who treated her had close ties to MGM and dismissed her claims of rape.
With no physical evidence left due to a cold-water douche, Douglas returned to MGM hoping for support and justice.
Instead, she was handed a meager $7.50 as payment for attending the party.
Furious at MGM's indifference towards her trauma, Douglas took her case to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.
Unfortunately, the D.A., Buron Fitts, chose to ignore her pleas, possibly influenced by his campaign contributions from MGM.
Determined to seek justice, Douglas hired her own attorney and threatened to go to the press if action wasn't taken.
The media did eventually pick up on the story, but due to the sensibilities of the time, the word “rape” was not used in the headlines.
Instead, they described Douglas as being “ravished” during a “studio orgy.”
Her full name and address were published, while MGM remained unnamed.
In an effort to protect their reputation, MGM launched a campaign to destroy Douglas' credibility.
They hired the Pinkerton Detective Agency to smear her and pressured other party attendees to cover up the rape.
False rumors were spread, claiming that Douglas was unrefined and promiscuous.
MGM even pressured Douglas' doctor to lie about her having gonorrhea.
Despite the obstacles and smear campaign, Patricia Douglas refused to be silenced.
Her case went before a grand jury in June 1937, but the lies and bribes orchestrated by MGM ultimately led to the criminal trial's dismissal.
Undeterred, Douglas pursued a civil lawsuit against MGM executives.
However, her attorney dropped her as a client to run for D.A., effectively ending her legal battle.
For decades, Patricia Douglas lived with the trauma of what happened to her, her life forever altered by the actions of those who sought to silence her.
It wasn't until much later, in 2003, that she had the opportunity to tell her story once again.
Historian David Stenn interviewed Douglas for a Vanity Fair article, and a documentary called Girl 27 was released in 2007, bringing her story to a wider audience.
In the end, Patricia Douglas outlived her abusers, but the scars of her ordeal remained.
Louis B. Mayer, one of the founders of MGM, died from leukemia in the 1950s.
Buron Fitts, the district attorney who turned a blind eye to her pleas, died by suicide in the 1970s.
David Ross, the man who committed the heinous act, passed away from rectal cancer in the 1960s.
Patricia Douglas may have been treated as a disposable object by MGM, but her courage and resilience live on.
She became a great-grandmother and continued to fight for justice until her death in 2003 at the age of 86.
This heartbreaking story serves as a reminder of Hollywood's dark secrets and its long history of covering up scandals.
The case of Patricia Douglas sheds light on the power dynamics and patriarchy that existed in the industry, even during its glamorous Golden Era.
It serves as a testament to the importance of speaking out against injustice and standing up against those who abuse their power.
