I really wonder how people can even begin to suppose what effect this had on Bix. What a fun game it must be.
It is beyond me how one could even begin to pretend to know what effect this had on Bix. Why is the worst always supposed? I have no problem seeing how that if this story got out, that there would be vicious rumors. I'm sure his family was 100% supportive of Bix and in the absence of proof, were convinced of his innocence. If this incident had anything to do with their deciding to send him to Lake Forrest, it may have been to shield him from the cruelty of others, not to cast him out.
It would be a traumatic event, to be sure, but one that I'm sure Bix had much help in dealing with. His parents no doubt wanted to do what they could to make sure it was put behind him.
As far as using this as a reason for his joining Whiteman, I dunno....
What about simply wanting to be in the best paying, most popular band of the time? Is that pragmatic reason just too weird to entertain?
If you were a very young and talented guitarist , and Ricky Martin offered an very large amount of cash to join up for a tour, would you have to have some deep-seated psychological problem motivating you to agree to do it? What am I missing here?
Who was it that decided Bix suffered from "Self-loathing"? When did this happen?
And it reveals a certain lack of understanding of alcoholism to suppose that the alcoholic drinks out of some suicidal urge. Alcoholics do not have a death wish. While this may eventually be the case after alcohol has ruined their lives, I feel secure in saying that Bix did not drink because he hated himself and wanted to kill himself with drink.
To suppose so is to over-dramatize reality.
I do love the term "verbomassive"!! Though I don't think it's sufficiently descriptive. Suffice it to say that Mr. Whitehorn's efforts could be used as a counter-weight on a Navy Yard crane or very large draw-bridge.