Errol was no Boy Scout, but he did once trek hills and canyons north of Los Angeles with them:
From the Los Angeles Evening Herald Express, reported exactly seventy-eight years ago this weekend, July 17, 1939:
“Leading a band of Boy Scouts and neighborhood youngsters, Errol Flynn is combing the canyons and hills between Sunland and Roscoe in an effort to locate his two prize greyhounds which disappeared from the home of Jim Fleming, his standin, last Wednesday night.
The dogs, valued at $250 each, were a gift from dentist Al Blissing, of Dodge City, Kansas, and were left in Fleming’s care while Flynn spent several days on his boat. Last Wednesday evening, Fleming tied the pets to an iron woodfire bucket in the patio of his home.
Shortly after dinner, Fleming went to take the dogs for a stroll. They were gone – and so was the bucket. Fleming sent word to Flynn, who started the search, rounding up all available youngsters, on Thursday. He fears the dogs might have become entangled with their leaches and the bucket and may be helplessly suffering, perhaps dying in some lonely part of the canyon and hills.”
Jimmy Starr, LA Evening Herald Express
I’m not 100% certain, but this may well have had Errol leading this troop of kids through Verduga and/or La Tuna Canyon terrain, some of which is depicted below. That’s must have been quite a merry and memorable experience for that band of kids – hiking through the hills with Robin Hood!
— Tim
The Real Person!
July 16, 2016 at 8:03 pm
So..did they ever find the dogs?
Gentleman Tim
July 17, 2016 at 6:10 am
Excellent question, Maria. I do not know. After an initial look-see, I believe it may take exceptionally dogged-determination to find out. I will have to get back to you. Perhaps one of Dr. Blissing’s descendants or relatives may know, or those of one of the Scouts or other youngsters? Are any of you out there??
The Zaca
July 17, 2016 at 9:57 pm
I had heard about Errol’s pet terrier and his Rhodesian Ridgebacks but wasn’t aware of his greyhounds. Interesting –
Gentleman Tim
July 18, 2016 at 2:27 pm
Excellent point, Zaca. These greyhounds were not likely around that long, given that they were given to Flynn by the dentist from Dodge City (sounds like a Bob Hope movie) and then were lost in July ’39, possibly forever, though I’m not sure – just that I can find no reports they were found, nor have I ever heard of them again being up at the Flynn Farm.
Speaking of the Flynn Farm, I think I’ll link this over to the Flynn Menagerie of Pets post.
The Real Person!
July 18, 2016 at 4:17 pm
Speaking of Greyhounds –
[img]http://www.theerrolflynnblog.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Errol-Flynn-Greyhound-Cup.jpg[/img]
The Real Person!
July 18, 2016 at 4:20 pm
An unusual printed official Racing Form programme for Greyhound Racing at the West Flagler Kennel Club in Miami, 1st April 1938, featuring the Errol Flynn Cup Race.
Gentleman Tim
July 19, 2016 at 9:01 pm
What a sensational find, Maria! Thank you! … I hope you don’t mind if I add your link to my Flynn Over Miami post.
[img]http://www.playle.com/pictures/AHA27344.jpg[/img]
[img]https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8313/8006286720_2219026466_b.jpg[/img]