Silent film actress, and like many other silent stars, the majority of her films are lost. One of few actress to star in films with the magician Houdini. Sadly was killed when her couch caught fire. She apparently was a pack rat and firefighters found stacks of clippings and memorabilia from her career. All of it was thrown out by her family. Supposedly she didn’t trust banks and her family believed she kept a small fortune hidden in her house, a small fortune that never existed. Today the sight of her modest Los Angeles house is an empty lot surrounded by office buildings. -Rj
Yes, it looks like she was in a bridal gown. Reminds years ago when my family managed a motel in Palm Springs 1971-72. We had a guest who claimed to have been a star of the silent era, but my grandmother had no clue about her. She was in her late 60’s, as old as my grandmother. She was well dressed in a brocade coat and was driven to the motel by her chauffeur in a mid sixties Lincoln sedan. She registered and paid up front for a two week stay. When the chauffeur left he peeled rubber ! I can remember my grandmother asking me “ is he coming back after she’s been her for two weeks ?!” The lady was very nice and used our phone to call taxis to take her to restaurants and local shops. She mentioned her film career but my grandmother had no memory of her aside from other actresses like Mabel Normand, Marie Dressler, Colleen Moore and the Talmadge sisters. After two weeks the chauffeur did return and took her home. -Rj
Silent film actress, and like many other silent stars, the majority of her films are lost. One of few actress to star in films with the magician Houdini. Sadly was killed when her couch caught fire. She apparently was a pack rat and firefighters found stacks of clippings and memorabilia from her career. All of it was thrown out by her family. Supposedly she didn’t trust banks and her family believed she kept a small fortune hidden in her house, a small fortune that never existed.
ReplyDeleteToday the sight of her modest Los Angeles house is an empty lot surrounded by office buildings.
-Rj
Did you see the other photo, by Nelson Frazier Evans? She was lovely.
DeleteYes, it looks like she was in a bridal gown.
DeleteReminds years ago when my family managed a motel in Palm Springs 1971-72. We had a guest who claimed to have been a star of the silent era, but my grandmother had no clue about her. She was in her late 60’s, as old as my grandmother. She was well dressed in a brocade coat and was driven to the motel by her chauffeur in a mid sixties Lincoln sedan. She registered and paid up front for a two week stay. When the chauffeur left he peeled rubber ! I can remember my grandmother asking me “ is he coming back after she’s been her for two weeks ?!” The lady was very nice and used our phone to call taxis to take her to restaurants and local shops. She mentioned her film career but my grandmother had no memory of her aside from other actresses like Mabel Normand, Marie Dressler, Colleen Moore and the Talmadge sisters. After two weeks the chauffeur did return and took her home.
-Rj
It sounds like a gentler Sunset Boulevard…
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