About Us
The Bette Davis Mural, part of Cuba, Missouri’s Viva Cuba mural program, tells the story of a real-life and almost unbelievable encounter that took place in 1948. Painted by artist Ray Harvey, the mural brings to life the night when legendary actress Bette Davis stopped in Cuba with her husband, William Sherry, during a cross-country trip.
While dining at the Southern Hotel, her presence created a stir in town. Local photographer Wilbur Vaughn rushed over hoping to capture a photo, only to be firmly denied. Determined not to miss the moment, Vaughn waited outside in the cold and rain—and when Davis finally emerged, he snapped the picture anyway. What followed turned into local legend, as Vaughn was chased through the streets of Cuba by Davis’s furious husband before narrowly escaping.
The mural captures both the glamour and humor of that moment, preserving a uniquely local story that blends Hollywood fame with small-town spontaneity. Like many of Cuba’s murals, it transforms a single moment in time into a larger-than-life piece of Route 66 history.
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