Imitation of Eythe
Bill marries Buff Cobb
In early 1948, Bill impulsively wed Buff Cobb. Some say it was to help his sinking career. Whatever the reason behind it, they were divorced a year-later, and Bill was back with Lon McCallister.
Rosemary Eyth told me that Buff had "aggressively pursued" Bill, when both were on the Fox lot. If this was an attempt by Bill to alter his public-image, as well as giving himself a more "macho" profile in the Hollywood community, it didn't take. He didn't get anywhere after leaving Fox, outside of some really-pathetic "B" pictures at independent lots.
Buff Cobb, herself, was apparently a very-interesting lady with a story of her own. Granddaughter of famous humorist Irvin S. Cobb, after divorcing Bill, she married a young reporter named Mike Wallace, later of "60 Minutes" fame, and together, they hosted an early-morning Network show in the early-days of television. Later, both divorced, and married other people.
Here, at the wedding of Bill and Buff, we see their close-friends, James and Pamela Mason wishing them good-luck -- they needed it, evidently!
When Bill died, ten-years later, and somebody asked Buff if she intended to attend the service here in Hollywood, she is supposed to have said, referring-to Lon McCallister, "Wouldn't it a bit much if TWO-widows showed up?" (Photo courtesy Rosemary Eyth Orendorff)
Bill marries Buff Cobb
In early 1948, Bill impulsively wed Buff Cobb. Some say it was to help his sinking career. Whatever the reason behind it, they were divorced a year-later, and Bill was back with Lon McCallister.
Rosemary Eyth told me that Buff had "aggressively pursued" Bill, when both were on the Fox lot. If this was an attempt by Bill to alter his public-image, as well as giving himself a more "macho" profile in the Hollywood community, it didn't take. He didn't get anywhere after leaving Fox, outside of some really-pathetic "B" pictures at independent lots.
Buff Cobb, herself, was apparently a very-interesting lady with a story of her own. Granddaughter of famous humorist Irvin S. Cobb, after divorcing Bill, she married a young reporter named Mike Wallace, later of "60 Minutes" fame, and together, they hosted an early-morning Network show in the early-days of television. Later, both divorced, and married other people.
Here, at the wedding of Bill and Buff, we see their close-friends, James and Pamela Mason wishing them good-luck -- they needed it, evidently!
When Bill died, ten-years later, and somebody asked Buff if she intended to attend the service here in Hollywood, she is supposed to have said, referring-to Lon McCallister, "Wouldn't it a bit much if TWO-widows showed up?" (Photo courtesy Rosemary Eyth Orendorff)
