William Gargan - This post is dedicated to Leslie Gargan

[Leslie Howard with good friend Bill Gargan, along
with Fred MacMurray, W. C. Fields and George Arliss]

In William Gargan's book, Why Me? An Autobiography, Gargan enjoys recounting his memories of times spent with his good friend, Leslie Howard. One of the traits Gargan found amusing about Howard was his "frugality." This trait in Howard was also noted by Howard's daughter, Leslie Ruth, in her book, A Quite Remarkable Father. Leslie Ruth tells a
story about her economy-minded but economy-challenged dad who went to Texas to buy eight horses, because they only cost $80 there. Unfortunately, Leslie Ruth goes on to state, by the time he paid for board and transport back to England, Howard had spent as much as he would have had he bought eight race horses.

I would like to convey a funny story Bill Gargan tells about his friend:

Gargan had been working out of town in Chicago in the play, He. His stage manager, George Fogel, received a script from Howard for The Animal Kingdom asking Fogel for his services for the upcoming production to be staged at the Broadhurst in 1932. Apparently, Fogel raved about the play so much that Gargan asked to see it. Well, anyone who has seen the subsequent film knows that the part of Red Regan was made for Bill Gargan. And after taking the play back to his hotel that night and reading it over and over again, even playing the part aloud alone in his room, Gargan knew it, too. The next day Gargan told Fogel he wanted the part. Fogel encouraged him to read for the role once they returned to New York. Gargan did and he was offered a run-of-the-play contract at $300 a week by the person he believed to be the sole producer of the play, Gilbert Miller. Gargan was so excited he met Leslie Howard's boat at the dock to share the good news. Howard was happy for him.

Well, the play was a success and Gargan was a huge hit with audiences. He was receiving more and more attention and after the play had been running for a time Gargan was offered a movie part in Hollywood at $1,500 a week. This was big. How could Gargan ignore it? Gargan went up to his "old pal, Leslie Howard." "I've got to get my release." Howard sympathized, "I'll see what I can do, old man. I'm afraid it will cost you something—" Howard went to Miller and "came back with a long face." "They don't want you to leave," he said. Gargan pleaded, "But I've got to! It's my one chance to really make money. I want to go to Hollywood!" Gargan wrangled with Gilbert Miller until they both agreed that Gargan could buy out his contract for $1,400. And off he went to Hollywood.

A week after Gargan and his family arrived in Hollywood he read in the paper that "Leslie Howard, star and co-producer—co-producer!!!—of the Animal Kingdom, had obtained a leave to go to Hollywood...to star in an MGM film, Smilin' Through, with Norma Shearer." It was then that Gargan realized who had pocketed half of that $1,400—his "old pal" Leslie Howard.

Gargan did manage to get his $1,400 back from his "old pal" over the years, in piecemeal. He also got a New York Drama Critics' Award for his role as Red Regan.


Gargan, William. Why Me? An Autobiography. Doubleday and Company, Inc., Garden City, New York, 1969.
Howard, Leslie Ruth. A Quite Remarkable Father: The Biography of Leslie Howard. New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1959.

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