Peggy Diggins

[COP11]

(Margaret Mary Diggins)

12 October 1921 is born in New York City to Paul Farrell Diggins, a prominent Westchester County lawyer, and his wife, the former Ella M. Connors

lives with her parents and her older brother, Paul F., in Mount Vernon, New York

Late '30s attends convent school until age 16. She is much too imaginative, so the Diggins conclude their only daughter should go to city high school. She is always the tallest in her class. She graduates from Mount Vernon High School in New York, where she took every available course in public speaking. Her father decided she would follow his footsteps as a trial lawyer. Evenings when her lessons were done, she and her father discussed law. Her father explained all the intricacies in addressing a jury and coached her in the use of her voice. She will later say that legal training helps her plenty in handling dialog.

at the Hotel Lincoln during a jitterbug contest, a woman taps her shoulder and asks if she wants to get into pictures. Aware of such high-handed methods, luring poor innocent girls to Hollywood, she replies, “I should say not.” The lady is later identified as the wife of a Paramount executive. Peggy swallows her pride and apologizes. The result is admission to the Paramount dramatic school.

one afternoon at the Paramount dramatic school, a girl invites her to meet another gal at the International Casino. It’s her first time in a Broadway nightclub. She sits down and watches the afternoon rehearsal. A man walks over and asks if she would like a job in the show. She coldly replies, “No.” She later finds out he is none other than George Hale, producer and director of the show. She apologizes to him, and he offers her a showgirl job. After 15 minutes of talk, she walks away with a contract calling for a featured top spot and $300 a week.

a month later she makes her Broadway debut. The show folds in three months. She registers in the American Academy dramatic school and models between classes for Walter Thornton.

agent Leland Hayward sees her in an American Academy dramatic school play and signs her immediately. He wires Howard Hughes and tells him he has a new star for Hughes’ new picture. Hughes sends for her. She later says: “It turned out to be a nice plane ride at Mr. Hughes expense. He felt I was too tall for the part. He gave me a plane ticket with the suggestion that I return to New York and when he made a picture wherein he could use me, he’d let me know. My Irish was up again. I’d quit my job in New York and my school. I had less than $25. I didn’t want to wire dad for help. I got in touch with my agent and told him if I couldn’t stay as a star, I’d better start at the bottom and work up. Just as long as I got started! That week I was signed with Warner Brothers on a seven-year optional contract. I’ve played bits. In Tugboat Annie Sails Again, I screamed and dove under a table, not much for my first part, nor a climax for my dramatic school training. But I’m in pictures and learning. I wouldn’t turn down any part, and like everyone, I’m waiting for a break. I’ll be ready for it, I hope, when it comes, and with my Irish luck, it will.”

November 1940 is courted by young John F. "Jack" Kennedy, son of the U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James

mid 1940's she marries an officer while overseas

June 1945 seeks a divorce

3 July 1945 starts divorce proceedings against the officer she married while overseas

She then marries Dr. John Staige Davis, Jr., a New York Park Avenue medico and son of the plastic surgery pioneer

September 1951 her daughter is born at Doctors Hospital in New York. The girl has the same birthday as her father.

December 1951 she and her husband part amicably. She will file for divorce. He's 51; she's 30. Davis will die at age 77 in 1977.

24 June 1955 calls off her engagement to Albert Plant of the cosmetics fortune

11 August 1956 She married Wall Street broker John Walters

February 1957 She splits up with Walters

12 August 1957 as Margaret Mary Walters, she dies in a car crash at age 35 in Gulfstream, Florida

14 August 1957 Hearst writer Bob Considine editorializes her and the courage she showed during his adventures with her during World War II. He describes her as a “rare type of Irish beauty with eyes like a good blue sky and hair like a good black raven.”

[COP11]

[michaeldineen58]

Peggy Diggins was my grandfathers sister. If anyone has any questions contact me at [email protected] . I also have some rare family photos if anyone would like to see them.