HISTORY OF PASCO COUNTYNew Port Richey - the Next Hollywood?
This article was last revised on July 1, 2007. In 1926 it seemed possible that New Port Richey, Florida, might become another Hollywood. Thomas Meighan, one of the top stars of the silent screen, had purchased property and was about to build a mansion on the Pithlachascotee River. He hoped to convince other figures from Hollywood to move to New Port Richey. A new theater under construction was to be named for Meighan. On Jan. 1, 1926, the New Port Richey Press reported:
Thomas Meighan and Paul Whiteman, Irving Berlin, Sam H. Harris Among Celebrities Who Have Purchased Here Celebrities famous the world over, owners of names as familiar to Paris theatre-goers and Australian music-lovers as they are to the inhabitants of old Manhattan Isle, have bought land in New Port Richey, and plan to build winter homes in this famous resort-town, the New Port Richey Press has learned. Recent purchases of building lots in this city, when generally known, will thrust New Port Richey in the public eye as no other community of like size in the limits of Florida can possibly be subjected to the calcium glare of publicity.
Several researchers who have examined recorded deeds have been unable to confirm the facts of this news story
and doubt its veracity, except that Thomas Meighan, a leading movie star of the silent era,
did build a home in New Port Richey, as did golfer Gene Sarazen. It may be that
Berlin and Whiteman made deposits in property but did not purchase.
Thomas Meighan and his brother James bought property from Earl Benham, an actor and costumer, who had purchased land in this area as early as 1913, the year George Sims purchased the Port Richey Company. Benham's wife was a sister of the wife of Raymond Hitchcock, a comedian. The Hitchcocks visited the area but records seem to indicate that they purchased property in eastern Pasco County only. On Jan. 14, 1927, the New Port Richey Press reported that Donald Brian, the Broadway actor, dancer, and singer, arrived in town with his new bride. On Oct. 14, 1927, the New Port Richey Press reported, "Ground was broken Monday for the foundation of Thomas Meighan's beautiful residence to be erected on his waterfront property at Jasmin Point Estates and material is being shipped in at a rapid rate." An article about New Port Richey in the Portsmouth Daily Times of Feb. 28, 1929, has: Gene Sarazen isn't the only notable who lives here. Thomas Meighan, the celebrated screen star, has a beautiful mansion and when he is not working to bring enjoyment to theater-goers he is here getting enjoyment for himself. Gloria Swanson and Blanche Ring also own valuable property here. In fact the little city is made up largely of people of more or less prominence in various arts and professions including men of wealth who have come here to make their homes, and the Florida sun has mellowed and moulded them into one large family where taking time to greet your neighbor—and everybody is your neighbor—seems to be the main purpose in life. On June 7, 1929, the New Port Richey Press published a "partial list" of "noted people who have visited New Port Richey since 1925." The list, compiled by Charles F. Herms, was as follows:
A photo of the Hacienda in the New Port Richey Press of May 2, 1930, carried this caption: The foyer of the Hacienda Hotel, which was the scene of many brilliant social affairs during the season just closed. Here were assembled at various times some of the most famous living celebrities of stage and screen, including Thomas Meighan, Leon Errol, Madeline Cameron, Frances Ring, Flora Zabelle, and numerous others as well as such noted writers as Bob Davis, George Ade, Ring Lardner, Hal W. Lanigan and others. Gay parties from St. Petersburg, Tampa, Clearwater and other cities motored here to enjoy the delightful atmosphere of this “Bit of Old Spain Amid the Palms.” In a 1961 newspaper column, John W. Parkes wrote that Ralph Bellwood had in his possession a letter from Mary Pickford Rogers saying: “I regret to inform you that I have never had the pleasure of visiting New Port Richey, and neither do I own any real estate in your fine state of Florida.” An article in the St. Petersburg Times on Jan. 13, 1993, quoted Gene Sarazen as saying that Gloria Swanson did not live in New Port Richey. “She didn't spent any time there,” he said. “She may have spent some time in West Palm Beach, but not in New Port Richey. I lived there.” However, in her book Florida Cracker Days in West Pasco County, Pauline Stevenson Ash recalled that as a child she and her friends had heard that Gloria Swanson was visiting in town one day and went to the Hacienda and saw her. In an undated newspaper article, Reginald Sims recalled that Ed Wynn "came down for several weeks visit with my parents each winter." Sims also recalled that Wynn wrote the play The Perfect Fool while fishing on the Pithlachascotee River; this seems unlikely, as the play opened in 1921. Some accounts say that Wynn emceed the opening of the Hacienda, but contemporary newspaper articles indicate this is not true. In a 1970 newspaper article, Reginald Sims recalled that Ring Lardner, Grantland Rice, Gloria Zabelle Hitchcock, Ed Wynn, Frank Case of the Algonquin Hotel, Oscar Shaw, Ernest Truex, Jack Hazzard, and Gloria Swanson visited New Port Richey. On Feb. 4, 1927, the New Port Richey Press reported that Thomas Meighan stated that his next picture, We're All Gamblers, would be filmed in New Port Richey. The film was released in 1927, but was shot in California. The movie The New Klondike, which was shown on opening night at the Meighan Theatre, was filmed partly on location in Miami. According to a 1967 newspaper article, “parts of the film” were shot here. On Mar. 2, 1928, the New Port Richey Press reported that Charlotte Greenwood (1893-1978), a star of vaudeville and movies, had secured a riverfront lot along Dixie Boulevard and that a mansion similar to that of Thomas Meighan would be built. In December 1928, Jesse L. Lasky, an important Hollywood film producer, and his wife spent the holidays here, staying at the Hacienda. He expressed a desire to "one day join [Thomas] Meighan and others in a colossal motion picture studio enterprise in this vicinity." An article of show business items which appeared in the Lincoln Star on June 4, 1933, reported, “Ed Wynn owns a theater at New Port Richey, Fla.” In November and December 1933, Harry Miller and William Zimmer of Paramount Pictures visited here seeking a possible location for making motion pictures. It appears that no significant motion picture was shot here, although apparently a film travelogue included scenes of the area, and a newsreel showing blasting to widen the channel of the Pithlachascotee River was made. Meighan died on July 8, 1936, at Great Neck, Long Island. On Oct. 30, 1936, the Dade City Banner reported that Meighan's home was sold to Irving R. Allen of Chicago. The deed, signed by Frances Ring Meighan and Arthur M. Munn, as executors of the estate, denoted a cash price of $30,000. According to the article, Meighan's home was built at a cost of approximately $150,000, with a $60,000 swimming pool. In 1978, a scene for the movie The Norseman, starring Lee Majors, was shot at Green Key Beach. |
A biography, Pops: Paul Whiteman, King of Jazz, seems to imply that
Whiteman helped to match buyers and sellers in the 1926 Florida land boom but did not buy property himself.