Dorothy Arnold

Dorothy Arnold, a young socialite, vanished without a trace in 1910. Born into wealth and privilege, Dorothy's life seemed idyllic, but her family didn’t support her aspirations to become a writer nor her budding romance with a man named George Griscom Jr., both of which she kept hidden from her family after they objected. With her disappearance, a tangled web of theories emerges, including rumors of elopement, a clandestine abortion, and even suspicions of sex trafficking.

Born into wealth and privilege during the Gilded Age, Dorothy largely lived a life of luxury in New York City’s Upper East Side where she had access to some of the best education available to women at the time. A lover of reading and writing, Dorothy wanted to pursue a career in writing, something her family didn’t support.

On December 12, 1910, Dorothy set out alone to buy a dress, stopping first to buy candies and then to shop for a book. When she didn’t return home, her family thought she may be staying with friends for the night. By the next day, her family realized something was wrong and began to look for her. Wary of media scrutiny, her family hired private investigators and Pinkertons to handle the case. It took nearly six weeks before a press conference was held announcing her disappearance in the press.

Through journalists’ efforts, the public soon learned that Dorothy had been romantically linked to George Griscom, Jr., a romance her father objected to. They also revealed that Dorothy had been in Boston with George several months before and had pawned her jewelry. After, they secretly corresponded with him while he was in Italy.

Many speculated about possible theories for Dorothy’s disappearance including a possible elopement, abortion, and suidice. The family’s own theories ranged from murder to sex trafficking, but, ultimately, most believed she was dead.

Dorothy Arnold’s disappearance remains one of America’s greatest unsolved mysteries.

People and Cases Mentioned in this Episode:
Dorothy Arnold (unsolved missing person case)

Guest reader

Sharon Lawrence

Sharon recently had a series regular role in the Paramount + series JOE PICKETT based on the best seller of the same name. Previously she starred opposite Kirsten Dunst in the Showtime series ON BECOMING A GOD IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, and as an elusive librarian in HOME BEFORE DARK for Apple TV. Many recurring roles include REBEL with Katy Sagal and Andy Garcia, a serial killer in CBS's CRIMINAL MINDS, Fiona's acerbic boss on Showtime's SHAMELESS, Sam Elliott's love interest in THE RANCH, and in the critically acclaimed series QUEEN SUGAR produced by Ava DuVernay.

Sharon continues to be recognized from her multiple Emmy nominated and SAG Award-winning portrayal of ADA Sylvia Costas Sipowitz in the groundbreaking NYPD BLUE and as Izzy's tender but ditzy Mom on GREY'S ANATOMY (for which she earned her 4th EMMY nod). Her 5th EMMY nomination came in 2021 as Lead Actress in a digital series -THE GAZE www.thegazeseries.com

Film work includes THE LOST HUSBAND with Leslie Bibb and Josh Duhamel, OF MIND AND MUSIC with Anjeannue Ellis and and the indie hit MIDDLE OF NOWHERE directed by Ava DuVernay.

An accomplished stage actress, and 2012 Lunt-Fontane Ten Chimneys Fellow, Sharon appeared in the West Coast premiere of A KID LIKE JAKE directed by Jennifer Chambers. LA theatre credits includes her acclaimed performance in THE MYSTERY OF LOVE AND SEX at the Mark Taper Forum, playing twenty different women in the LOVE, NOEL cabaret at The Wallis, at the Pasadena Playhouse she starred in Noel Coward's final play, A SONG AT TWILIGHT and as Vivian Leigh in ORSON'S SHADOW for which she was nominated for an Ovation Award, and won the LA Drama Critics Circle Award. She was part of a rotating cast in Nora & Delia Ephron's LOVE, LOSS & WHAT I WORE, and starred opposite Cherry Jones in TONGUE OF A BIRD at the Public Theatre. Sharon created the role of Maureen in the premiere of Theresa Rebeck's POOR BEHAVIOR at the Mark Taper Forum and her last Broadway appearance was as Velma Kelly in CHICAGO.

Sharon is the Second Vice President of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.

Sources

Episode 21: Dorothy Arnold

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Dorothy Arnold

Guest reader

Sharon Lawrence

Sources

Episode 21: Dorothy Arnold

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