Part 2: The Case of the Cursed Socialite
Harry stared at the unbelievable headlines. For months, he juggled three jobs: taxi driver, parking lot manager, and Hotel Statler bellhop, squirreling away every dollar. All his efforts were focused on saving for the ivy-covered cottage she desired. He recalled their last meeting in New York City, upon his return from 2.5 years in the Army Air Corps. She was a Broadway chorine at the LaMartinique Club. Their reunion had been awkward, perhaps due to his unexpected arrival, but after a few drinks, she seemed like her old self, and he was even starting to like her new blonde hair. That night, before he left, she vowed to live with him again, as his wife, as soon as he purchased her dream home.
He also remembered seeing a comedian perform that evening and his wife's annoyance at his lack of enjoyment. Now, the court documents laid bare a stark reality: his wife was named as the reason for comedian Jan Murray's divorce. There had to be some mistake.
Pearl Murray's lawsuit accused Jan of having an affair with a chorus girl. She sought $2,000 per month in alimony and custody of their son. Jan denied these claims, attributing them to "blind, sadistic hatred," and counter-sued, alleging Pearl's infidelity. Actor Bobby Byron testified that he witnessed Pearl in a compromising situation with a man named "Joe" at a hotel. Jan also reported that Stan Van Claire confessed to an affair with Pearl. Furthermore, theatrical agent Al Beckman's friend, Al Schucknan, allegedly described Pearl as promiscuous and cohabiting with Sid Karten. Pearl denied all accusations against her, asserting that Jan was attempting to deflect from his own indiscretions with the chorus girl, a dalliance she claimed was common knowledge within the entertainment industry.
The chorus girl, Mrs. Harry Kelley, was well-acquainted with controversy. Notably, five years earlier, she drew considerable media attention when it was revealed that she had lied about her age in 1938. Toni Mann was only 14 when she won the Miss Virginia pageant, defeating dozens of the most beautiful women from across the state. Initial questions arose about her eligibility to compete in the Old Dominion state when it was discovered that just weeks earlier, she had placed third in a D.C. pageant. Pageant officials investigated and confirmed that Toni had recently established residency in Arlington, Virginia. Consequently, her title was validated.
Ironically, Kelley's true age was not discovered at that time. However, the truth emerged in 1942 after her marriage to Harry, her high school sweetheart. During an interview, twenty-two-year-old amateur boxer Harry inadvertently disclosed that Kelley had recently turned eighteen.
In Harry's retelling, the newlyweds enjoyed a happy life as husband and wife until Toni expressed a desire to move to New York City and pursue a modeling career. At the same time, she began pressuring Harry to enlist in the Army Air Forces while he still had options. He remembers her saying, "There's a war on, honey."
The chorus girl, Mrs. Harry Kelley, was well-acquainted with controversy. Notably, five years earlier, she drew considerable media attention when it was revealed that she had lied about her age in 1938. Toni Mann was only 14 when she won the Miss Virginia pageant, defeating dozens of the most beautiful women from across the state. Initial questions arose about her eligibility to compete in the Old Dominion state when it was discovered that just weeks earlier, she had placed third in a D.C. pageant. Pageant officials investigated and confirmed that Toni had recently established residency in Arlington, Virginia. Consequently, her title was validated.
Ironically, Kelley's true age was not discovered at that time. However, the truth emerged in 1942 after her marriage to Harry, her high school sweetheart. During an interview, twenty-two-year-old amateur boxer Harry inadvertently disclosed that Kelley had recently turned eighteen.
In Harry's retelling, the newlyweds enjoyed a happy life as husband and wife until Toni expressed a desire to move to New York City and pursue a modeling career. At the same time, she began pressuring Harry to enlist in the Army Air Forces while he still had options. He remembers her saying, "There's a war on, honey."
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Harry enlisted in the Army eighteen months after eloping. Simultaneously, Toni moved to New York City to pursue her modeling aspirations after signing with the prestigious John Robert Powers Agency, known for launching Hollywood careers. While Harry was deployed overseas, Toni found work in the city’s nightclubs and quickly became the captain of the chorus line. In letters to Harry, she shared details of her exciting new life. However, as time went on, Harry noticed a decline in the frequency of Toni's correspondence, and before long, there was none at all. Following his military discharge in August 1945, Harry immediately traveled to Manhattan to reunite with his bride. Their surprise reunion took place at the LaMartinique Club, the very night Jan Murray was headlining.
Ten months after that night, in June 1946, Harry found it difficult to accept the accusations made about Toni in Mrs. Murray's lawsuit. In his mind, she was still his bride, and he believed it was only a matter of time before they would live together as man and wife in that ivy-covered cottage. However, because he was working seven days a week, sixteen hours a day, he had not seen Toni since that night in August. Worse, he had not heard from her since the news about Mrs. Murray’s claims broke, and he did not know where she was. On the other hand, Mrs. Murray's lawyer knew exactly where she was, claiming Toni was living with Jan Murray in Miami.
Ten months after that night, in June 1946, Harry found it difficult to accept the accusations made about Toni in Mrs. Murray's lawsuit. In his mind, she was still his bride, and he believed it was only a matter of time before they would live together as man and wife in that ivy-covered cottage. However, because he was working seven days a week, sixteen hours a day, he had not seen Toni since that night in August. Worse, he had not heard from her since the news about Mrs. Murray’s claims broke, and he did not know where she was. On the other hand, Mrs. Murray's lawyer knew exactly where she was, claiming Toni was living with Jan Murray in Miami.
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Following his divorce, Harry Kelley remarried Betsy Lyon in Clark, Indiana, on June 21, 1947, just six weeks after Theodore Deutsch's suicide. The Journal and Courier reported that the Kelleys, formerly of Washington, D.C., had moved to Lafayette, Indiana, on June 5, 1947.
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| Jan and Toni in Miami |
The Murrays' Passover Seder was a notable Hollywood tradition. Hosting 40 guests over two nights, the Seder regularly included Jackie Gleason, Jerry Lewis, Steve Lawrence, and Eydie Gorme among the attendees. Interestingly, despite the Jewish holiday, the feast was prepared by Mr. Murray's Irish Catholic mother-in-law from Mississippi, Bertie Murphy.
In addition to Diane, Toni Mann and Jan Murray had a son named Howard.
*********** Part Three ************
Primary Sources:
Times Herald, Tue, Aug 02, 1938 ·Page 3
Evening Star, Wed, Aug 03, 1938 ·Page 2
The Washington Herald, Fri, Aug 12, 1938 ·Page 5
The Washington Herald, Sun, Aug 14, 1938 ·Page 20
The Washington Herald, Mon, Aug 15, 1938 ·Page 3
The Washington Daily News, Mon, Aug 15, 1938 ·Page 3
The Richmond News Leader, Thu, Aug 25, 1938 ·Page 22
Times Herald, Thu, Mar 30, 1939 ·Page 23
Times Herald, Fri, Aug 08, 1941 ·Page 25
Times Herald Wed, Feb 17, 1943 ·Page 3
Times Herald, Sat, Jun 15, 1946 ·Page 25
Times Herald, Sun, Jun 16, 1946 ·Page 5
Times Herald, Wed, Jul 17, 1946 ·Page 5
Times Herald, Thu, Jul 18, 1946 ·Page 21
Daily News, Thu, Jul 18, 1946 ·Page 72
Times Herald, Mon, Feb 02, 1948 ·Page 3
Journal and Courier, Thu, Jun 05, 1947 ·Page 32
Indiana State Board of Health. Marriage Certificates, 1958–2012. Microfilm. Indiana Archives and Records Administration, Indianapolis, Indiana.
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