Per his birth certificate (not the family bible), John Barrymore was born on, yes, Valentine's Day, 1882, in Philadelphia, PA. He tells amusing stories (or the stories are reported as if he said them) of feeling he MUST have been born on this day, and his friend Helios Hotchener seemed to provide some kind of verification via the stars. Ok, I don't know about that, but big brother and big sister were certainly on hand to welcome John Sidney Blythe. I was a Jack fan well before I became a Lionel fan, and I do appreciate his work and am of course a bit sad at the way his early brain damage via alcohol abuse warped his life--but he seemed to have a good time and tried to be a good guy when he could.
So here's to you, Jake! Enjoy the eternal roses.
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| With third wife Dolores Costello, after their wedding in Yuma, AZ |
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| h/t this blog--Mary Astor and Jack |
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| Gorgeous portrait! |
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| My own Jack Valentine--in Topaze |
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