Silent Players: A Biographical and Autobiographical Study of 100 Silent Film Actors and Actresses

460 Pages·2002·27.51 MB·English

by  Anthony Slide

Silent Players

Silent Players
A Biographical
and Autobiographical Study
of 100 Silent film Actors and Actresses
Anthony Slide
THE UNIVERSITY PRESS OF KENTUCKY
Publication of this volume was made possible in part by a grant
from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Copyright © 2002 by The University Press of Kentucky
Scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth,
serving Bellarmine University, Berea College, Centre
College of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University,
The Filson Historical Society, Georgetown College,
Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky State University,
Morehead State University, Murray State University,
Northern Kentucky University, Transylvania University,
University of Kentucky, University of Louisville,
and Western Kentucky University.
All rights reserved.
Editorial and Sales Offices: The University Press of Kentucky
663 South Limestone Street. Lexington, Kentucky 4050S-400S
06 05 04 03 02 5 4 3 2 I
Frontispiece: Douglas Fairbanks holding Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Slide, Anthony.
A biographical and autobiographical study of 100 silent film actors and actresses I
Anthony Slide.
p.cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-SI31-2249-X (alk. paper)
I. Motion picture actors and actresses-United States-Biography-Dictionaries.
2. Silent films-UnitedStates-History and criticism. I. Title.
PNI99S.2.5547 2002
791.43'02S'0922-dc21 2001007529
This book is printed on acid-free paper meeting
the requirements of the American National Standard
for Permanence in Paper for Printed Library Materials.
Manufactured in the United States of America.
This book is dedicated to
Edward Wagenknecht.
my mentor. friend.
and whilom co-author.

Contents
Preface ix Jetta Goudal 145
Acknowledgements xiii Ethel Grandin 153
A Personal Odyssey xv Ralph Graves 159
Mignon Anderson 3 Gilda Gray 163
Mary Astor 7 Corinne Griffith 167
William Bakewell II Robert Harron 173
Lina Basquette 15 William S. Hart 179
Madge Bellamy 19 Alice Howell 185
Constance Binney 23 Alice Joyce 189
Priscilla Bonner 27 Madge Kennedy 193
Hobart Bosworth 35 Doris Kenyon 199
Evelyn Brent 39 J . Warren Kerrigan 203
Mary Brian 43 Laura La Plante 209
Gladys Brockwell 51 The Legends 215
Kate Bruce 55 Lon Chaney
John Bunny 59 Charlie Chaplin
Ruth Clifford 63 Greta Garbo
Elmer Clifton 69 Buster Keaton
Miriam Cooper 73 Rudolph Valentino
Pauline Curley 79 Harold Lloyd 221
Viola Dana 83 Babe London 225
Bebe Daniels and Ben Lyon 89 Bessie Love 229
Philippe De Lacy 97 Dorothy Mackaill 233
Carol Dempster 101 Mary MacLaren 237
Dorothy Devore 105 Percy Marmont 241
Richard Dix 109 Mae Marsh 247
Billie Dove 113 James Morrison 251
Claire DuBrey 117 Jack Mulhall 255
Virginia Brown f aire 121 Mae Murray 259
Bess flowers 127 Conrad Nagel 263
Howard Gaye 131 Nita Naldi 267
Lillian Gish 135 Mabel Normand 271
Dagmar Godowsky 141 Jane Novak 275
George O'Brien 281 Blanche Sweet 357
Gertrude Olmstead 285 Constance Talmadge 369
Seena Owen 289 Norma Talmadge 373
Jean Paige 293 Alice Terry 377
Kathryn Perry 297 florence Turner 385
Olga Petrova 30 I The Vamps 389
Mary Philbin 307 ThedaBara
Mary Pickford and Louise Glaum
Douglas fairbanks 311 Kitty Gordon
Arline Pretty 31 7 Olga Grey
Esther Ralston 321 Alice Hollister
Charles Ray 325 Valeska Suratt
Wallace Reid 329 George Walsh 395
Billie Rhodes 333 Henry B. Walthall 40 I
Charles "Buddy" Rogers 337 Kathlyn Williams 407
Clarine Seymour 341 Lois Wilson 411
Lowell Sherman 345 Margery Wilson 415
Pauline Starke 349 Claire Windsor 421
Gloria Swanson 353 fayWray 425
Index 429
Preface
As the title indicates, this volume is devoted to a wide spectrum of silent film
performers, from the legendary stars to those who were little more than ex
tras. In the silent era, to be a star meant to have one's name above the title
there was no other definition-and so, it might be noted, the majority of players
herein do not fall into that category but were rather leading ladies and leading
men. I knew many of the players personally, some very well, hence the sub
title "A Biographical and Autobiographical Study." Wherever appropriate, I
have discussed my relationship with and my personal observations of the
performer. The hundred actors and actresses represented herein are my per
sonal choices of some of the best, brightest, or most unusual of silent players.
(The unlikely plot twists in many silent films are nothing compared to the
extraordinarily strange and often sad lives led by many of the players from the
silent era.)
I make no apologies for absences that may cause personal distress to
overly enthusiastic fans. You have your opinions and I have mine. At the same
time, I would point out that within the main entries I have discussed many
players whom I did not choose to feature. The index will help to locate com
mentary on these individuals.
Unless otherwise indicated, all quotes are from interviews or conversa
tions with me. Comments have been edited, but no words have been added
nor changes made to the context. Occasionally, I have merged interviews or
conversations that took place at different times.
Aside from those of whom I write, I have met many other silent players
through the years, including Gertrude Astor, Yakima Canutt, Janet Gaynor,
May McAvoy, Patsy Ruth Miller, and Carmel Myers. My dismissal of these in
favor of others is as hard for me to justify as it may be for some readers to
accept. I did not necessarily dislike the rejected ones, although I have to admit
that Patsy Ruth Miller's right-wing opinions and racist views on "niggers" were
as difficult to tolerate as Carmel Myers's snobbery. Both Priscilla Bonner and
Mrs. Wallace Reid shared my opinion of Patsy Ruth Miller: "No one cared for
Patsy Ruth Miller," they assured me in unison. for her comedic performance
opposite Harry Langdon in The Strong Man alone, Gertrude Astor deserves
some sort of recognition, and perhaps some day she will get it. Yakima Canutt