Photos by Russell Ball (1891-1942)

Some familiar faces…

Billie Burke (Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Burke, 1884-1970), who was married to Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. 1914-32.

Mary Forbes

Ralph Forbes

Ben Lyon

Photos by Elmer Fryer (1898-1944)

George Arliss (Augustus George Andrews, 1868-1946) filming THE MAN WHO PLAYED GOD (1932).

Al Jolson (Asa Yoelson, 1886-1950) in GO INTO YOUR DANCE (1935).

Patric Knowles (Reginald Lawrence Knowles, 1911-1995)

Marie Prevost (Mary Bickford Dunn, 1896-1937) and Seena Owen (Signe Auen, 1894-1966) filming THE RUSH HOUR (1928). Seena Owen was married to Raoul Walsh’s brother, the matinee idol George Walsh, 1916-24.

Jane Wyatt (1910-2006)

Bebe Daniels and Ben Lyon at home.

Hollywood at play

This staged scene plays with some then-current preoccupations about etiquette — what not to do, but with pretty people.

Prince of tempters

Ben Lyon (1901-1979) could play an All-American boy as well as a suave seducer; he can be seen in the latter guise in PRINCE OF TEMPTERS (1926) with Lya De Putti (Amália Helena Mária Róza Putti, 1897-1931).

Walter Frederick Seely (1886-1959)

Initially a photographer in partnership with his brothers, Seely went to work for Hartsook Studios in Los Angeles before going off on his own. 

There’s a bit of a theme here. 

Edmund Burns (1892-1980) — his career peaked during the 1920s.

Ben Lyon (1901-1979) was married to Bebe Daniels 1930-71 and to Marian Nixon in 1972. All three were stars in silent film, Lyon most prominently in the early sound picture HELL’S ANGELS (1930).

Carl Miller (1894-1979), best-remembered for his roles in two Charlie Chaplin films: THE KID (1921) and A WOMAN OF PARIS (1923).

Conway Tearle (Frederick Conway Levy, 1878-1938), part of the Conway and Tearle clan of actors. His stage career began at the turn of the century, leading to matinée idol status in silent films.