Mae Murray (1889-1965)

The petite 5'2 blonde got her start dancing on Broadway with famed ballroom dancer Verne Castle in 1906.  Next step the chorus line of the Ziegfield Follies beginning in 1908 then quickly moving up to a head liner by 1915. During her Ziegfield days she was announced as The Girl With the Bee-Stung Lips, a nickname that would follow her throughout her career. While starring in the dance circuit across the United States and Paris she danced with such famous partners as Clifton Webb, Rudolph Valentino and John Gilbert.

Before Mae's film career got off the ground she married stock broker William Schwenker in 1908 but the union didn't last. She then married Olympic bob sled champion Jay O'Brien.  Her film debut soon followed with "To Have And To Hold" that same year. She became a big star at MGM after co-starring with Rudolph Valentino in "The Delicious Little Devil" and "Big Little Person" during 1919.

in court

The 1920's were a busy time for Mae, having divorced her second husband by this time she married a third time to producer Robert Leonard. She starred in several films with dance numbers created specifically for her and produced by her husband. Though it was her acting in "The Merry Widow" 1925 with co-star and silent screen icon John Gilbert that shes most known for today. At the height of her popularity she formed a production company with her director John M. Stahl. Beginning in 1925 Mae, John and her husband produced several films together at Tiffany Pictures. During this time she also wrote a weekly column for a William Randolph Hearts publication.

with John Gilbert in "The Merry Widow" 1925

When silents gave way to talkies Mae appeared in a few more movies without success and critical reviews causing the decline of her career and offers for parts. Her last film was "High Stakes" in 1931. Her third marriage to Leonard was finished by 1925 and she was married for a fourth time to "Prince" Mdivani in 1926, a Georgian  faux-nobleman and scam artist. (His brothers married silent star Pola Negri and the heiress Barbara Hutton). Mae's oceanfront mansion where she was living when she first met her "Prince" can be viewed HERE.. Unfortunately it was sold off to pay her increasing debts.

with leading man Monte Blue in "Broadway Rose" 1922

The final humiliating blow to Mae's career came when her new husband and self appointed "manager" encouraged her to leave MGM. She misguidedly walked out on her contract which infuriated her boss Louis B. Mayer. Seeing that this was a mistake and unable to get work with any other studio Mae pleaded with Mayer to get her job back but the damage was done and Mae's career was over. She had been blacklisted thanks to Mayer's pull within the industry. She starred in close to 50 films during her short career.

with fourth husband "Prince" Mdivani

Mae and Mdivani has a son together then divorced in 1933 once her money ran out. They would go back and forth throughout the years with bitter custody battles eventually ending in 1940 with Mae gaining custody of  Koran.

in "Circe, The Enchantress"

Broke and broken by 1940 Mae found regular work appearing at Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe nightclub. The club presented stars of the past and Mae danced her old routines and read lines from her old films. In later years with her finances in total decline she lived in poverty and was found wandering the streets of St. Louis dazed and hungry. She was brought to the the Motion Picture House, a place for retired actors in California. Mae passed away at 75 from a heart condition and was layed to rest at Memorial Park Cemetery, North Hollywood, CA. Her grave site can be viewed HERE.

Mae's autograph from my collection

back of mailed Mae Murray postcard

 

Interesting Mae Murray Facts:

Rudolph Valentino was the best man at her 1926 wedding to Prince David Mdivani and actress Pola Negri was her maid of honor.

She claimed to have discovered Rudolph Valentino and for getting him a role in her film "Delicious Little Devil" 1919.  (If this is true then the world thanks you Mae. What a gift).

She was arrested for vagrancy in NYC for sleeping on a park bench.

Critics often panned her over the top emoting and flamboyant costumes during her silent screen performances.  Even during her nightclub days in later years Mae would take the stage wearing elaborate, over the top feather costumes and dramatic, harsh makeup. (Hopefully accentuating her famous "bee-stung" lips).

She co-wrote an autobiography in 1959 titled The Self-Enchanted.

Mae repeated the quote many times "Once A Star Always A Star", and a star Mae was. She died surrounded by her movie memorabilia and clippings from her film days. 

Mae's husband Prince David Mdivani and his brothers were all discovered to be frauds and not of Russian royalty as they claimed. They got the nicknames "The Marrying Mdivani's" for their talent of marrying famous actresses and heiresses who they quickly stripped of their money. After Mae had lost all of her money and had to file for bankruptcy her "Prince" moved on to marry the Sinclair Oil heiress Virginia Sinclair in 1944.

Many believe that Gloria Swanson's character Norma Desmond in "Sunset Boulevard" was based on the life of Mae due to her over the top performances, her work under Erich Von Stroheim and Cecille B. DeMille (Both featured in the film) and her delusions late in life.

with the talented Basil Rathbone

Until next time, 

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Gilbert Roland (1905-1994)

The Mexican born actor with his dark eyes and macho good looks relocated from Mexico with his parents to the U.S. during the Mexican Revolution.  His dream was to become a bullfighter like his father but that was not to be. He turned to acting and started getting bit parts in movies as an extra in 1918. His first listed movie credit is in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" 1923. He quickly befriended actor Rudolph Valentino which opened doors for him in 1920.

publicity still from "The Dove" 1927

Gilbert's first major role was playing Clara Bows love interest in "The Plastic Age" 1925 but it was his reviews in "Camille" 1927 starring Norma Talmadge that launched his career playing Latin lovers and then cowboys for many years to come. He starred with Norma Talmadge in a few silents and they were romantically linked together during this time then with the advent of talkies Norma's career suffered and soon ended while Gilbert's career thrived with his romantic leads continuing.

with co-star and off screen love interest Norma Talmadge in "New York Nights" 1929

with Norma Talmadge

In the 1940's and 1950's Roland's career flourished in popular Westerns under the helm of such great directors as John Huston's "We We're Strangers" 1949, Vincente Minnelli's "The Bad and the Beautiful" 1952 and later in John Ford's "Cheyenne Autumn" 1964. Gilbert's most recognized role was playing the character Cisco Kid in six movies during the 1940's. Gilbert married actress Constance Bennett in 1941 and they remained married until 1946. Their marriage produced two gorgeous daughters  (A post on the beautiful Constance and Norma Talmadge to follow).

Roland's hand signed photo from my collection with his distinctive red pen.

click on photos and autographs from my collection for a larger view

Gilbert's career lasted into the early 1980's  playing character actors in Spaghetti Westerns. His last film was "Barbarosa" 1982. Thats quite a career spanning six decades and included over 120 films. Gilbert married a second time in 1952 to Guillermina Cantu, their marriage lasted until his death from cancer in Beverly Hills, CA 1994.  He was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea.

with Constance Bennett

Interesting Gilbert Roland Facts:

He was nominated twice for a Golden Globe Award during his career for his roles in "The Bad and the Beautiful" and  "Cheyenne Autumn".

His nickname in Hollywood was Amigo.

His birth name was Luis Antonio Damaso de Alonso. He chose the name Gilbert Roland after his two movie idols John Gilbert and Ruth Roland. 

He described his first meeting with the great Rudolph Valentino as terrifying as his hands would not stop shaking from nerves.

During WWII he served in the U.S Army Air Force.

He's the only man to have portrayed both the hero and the villain of a single serial.

His affair with Norma Talmadge resulted in her divorce from Joe Schenck.  She eventually lost interested in Gilbert before they would marry and went on to marry comedian George Jessel.

With Mona Barrie in "When Ladies Love Danger"  1935

Thanks for stopping by,

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Gene Raymond (1908-1998)

The American born actor with his blonde locks and piercing blue eyes started his career on a stage as a young boy and was considered a veteran of the stage by age 12. His first Broadway debut was at the age of 17 appearing in The Cradle Snatchers which ran for two years and also show cased a very young Humphrey Bogart. Gene eventually made his way to Hollywood to try his hand at acting on film. His first acting credit  was in "Personal Maid" 1931 starring Nancy Carroll and Pat O'Brien.

with Sylvia Sidney "Behold My Wife" 1934

Gene was soon cast in "Red Dust" 1932 starring Clark Gable and Jean Harlow then playing the spouse of  Bette Davis in "Ex-Lady" 1933. Throughout the 1930's Gene became the dependable leading man to many well known actresses like Loretta Young, Sylvia Sidney, Ann Sothern, Frances Drake, Joan Crawford and Barbara Stanwyck.  My favorite of his films is "Mr. and Mrs Smith" 1941. An early Hitchcock classic co-starring Robert Young, the amazingly funny Carole Lombard and of course Gene in one of his most memorable roles. 

with Robert Young and Barbara Stanwyck

Gene met and fell in love with the beautiful actress Jeanette MacDonald during the 1930's. They were married in 1937 and remained happily married until her death of a heart attack in 1965. (At the time of her death they were considered one of the longest lasting marriages in Hollywood). During the 1940's Gene appeared in musicals, light comedies and a couple of dramas while also recording music, some of which his wife Jeanette recorded and sang in her own movies. The lovely couple starred in only one film together "Smilin Through" 1941.

Gene with wife Jeanette MacDonald

He was sent to England during WWII where he served until the war ended. While deployed he flew many missions as an Air Force pilot (He had previously been a reservist). Upon returning to Hollywood he dabbled in directing and producing in 1948 without much success. That same year he and Jeanette decided to slow down their careers in order to travel and spend more quality time together. After Jeanette's passing in 1965 Gene kept in touch with her fans and made it a priority to attend the Jeannette MacDonald International Fan Club Convention in Los Angeles every year, sharing stories of their life together with her fans. Gene remarried in 1974 and remained married to his second wife Nel until her death in 1995.

with Jeanette all dressed up for an Award show.

The talented Mr. Raymond died of pneumonia in 1998. He was interred next to his wife Jeanette in the Sanctuary of Heritage section at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Glendale, CA Their resting place can be viewed HERE.  The mausoleum is also the resting place of Nat King Cole, George Burns and his wife Gracie Allen, Rex Bell and his wife Clara Bow, and Alan Ladd and his wife Sue Carroll who surround the Raymonds. You can view the mausoleum HERE.

Interesting Gene Raymond Facts:

He was a Colonel in the Air Force Reserves upon retiring from the military in 1968 and a decorated military pilot. He took flying lessons at his own expense before the war started.

During the time that Gene was stationed in England during WWII Jeanette wore his flying wings on her lapel, never taking them off until he returned safely.

He returned to Broadway briefly in 1957 starring in A Shadow of my Enemy. Unfortunately the play was a flop.

There are two books discussing Gene's marriage to Jeanette and why it came about. Throughout his years in Hollywood it was well known that he was bi-sexual.  In Nelson Eddy's biography Sweethearts released in 2001 he claims that studio head Louis B. Mayor knew that Gene was bi-sexual but arranged his marriage to Jeanette MacDonald to prevent her from marrying him. His reasoning was not wanting Eddy and MacDonald's marriage ending in divorce which would risk the loss of his lucrative box office duo. Nelson Eddy also wanted children with Jeanette and for her to semi-retire to raise a family. This did not sit well with the studio head and so the union between Gene and Jeanette began.  (That had to be crushing for Nelson Eddy, losing the love of his life for his career and what was best for MGM).

It has been well documented that Gene was arrested on three separate occasions for having sex with men during the 1930's. His last arrest occurred while stationed in England during WWII.  This caused a huge scandal within the movie industry and looked bad for MGM. Gene was subsequently blacklisted by Louis B. Mayor to do damage control after photos came out of his 1938 arrest. Gene was unable to work until 1940 when he appeared in Hitchock's "Mr. and Mrs Smith" and "Cross Country Romance".

After Jeanette's death he vowed to keep in touch with her many fans until they were reunited again.

I hope you return for more of my collection.
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Billie Dove (1903-1997)

The New York beauty who was born to Swiss immigrants started working in her early teens to help support her family. First as an artists model then at the age of 15 she was hired by Florenz Ziegfield to appear in his Ziegfield Follies Revue. Although unable to sing or dance Billie known for her stunning beauty, adapted well on stage and stayed with the revue from 1918 to 1920 before relocating to Hollywood.

Billie soon became one of the most popular silent screen actresses of the 1920's starring along side such leading men as Warner Baxter, John Gilbert, Lon Chaney and Tom Mix. But it was playing a Princess swept up by the dashing Douglas Fairbanks in the early Technicolor film "The Black Pirate" 1926 that launched her to stardom.  Billie was dubbed The American Beauty after appearing in the film with the same title in 1927.  During this time Billie married her first husband, silent film director Irvin Willat.  Mr.Willat directed Billie in some of her earlier films.

with Charles Starrett in "The Age Of Love" 1931

At the advent of sound Billie was still at the peak of her popularity and gaining many more admirers, the most famous being the eccentric inventor and multi millionaire Howard Hughes. They started an affair which led to Howard proposing. The relationship lasted just three years from 1929 to 1932 after Billies divorce from her first husband.  During this time Billie starred in two of Howard Hughes pictures "The Age Of Love" 1931 and "Cock Of The Air" 1932. It's been rumored that Billie ended her engagement with Hughes due to his long absences and growingly odd behavior.

click on autograph and photos from my collection for a closer view.

Billie starred in her last film in 1932 "The Blondie Of The Follies". She retired after a dispute with co-star Marion Davies regarding her role being cut at the influence of Marion's paramour William Randolph Hearst.  It was said that Marion was jealous over Dove outshining her on film and demanded her part cut. In 1933 Billie married for a second time to Robert Kenaston, a cattle rancher and oil executive. They had one son and an adopted daughter together before divorcing in 1970. Ms. Dove later married her third husband, architect John Miller which also ended in divorce.

Billie spent her retirement years in Rancho Mirage, CA before moving into the Motion Picture & Television's Country House and Hospital where she died from pneumonia at the age of 88.  Billie is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Glendale, CA. Her grave site can be viewed HERE.

Interesting Billie Dove Facts:

She was a favorite of singer Billie Holiday who changed her first name from Eleanora to Billie after her Idol.

President Gerald Ford was a big fan of hers.

Her third marriage in 1975 lasted only three months.

She was a pilot a painter and a poet.

She was offered the role of Belle Watling in "Gone With The Wind" but turned it down.

Billies daughter Gail claims Howard Hughes paid her first husband $35,000 to divorce her.

Later in life Billie stated Howard Hughes was the only man that she ever really loved.

It was rumored that Florenz Ziegfields wife actress Billie Burke arranged for Ms. Dove to get work out west in Hollywood due to a burgeoning affair with her husband.

Until next time,
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Colleen Moore (*1899-1988)

The American born pixie vowed early on that she would one day become a movie star. As a child she had a love for two things, movies and dolls. She collected film stars autographs and left a blank page in her scrap book right along side Mary Pickford's for her own one day.

As a young girl she created a stock company with her brother performing on stage in plays and for her neighborhood via the top of piano crates.  Her love of movies and drive wouldn't stop at local childhood performances.  Luckily for Colleen her uncle, an editor for the Chicago Examiner was owed a favor by the great director D.W. Griffith and Colleen was hired by his studio in 1917.  (Colleens uncle Walter Howey helped get D.W. Griffiths first two films "Birth Of A Nation" and "Intolerance" past the sensors).

Colleen's first credited film was "The Bad Boy" 1917 then she appeared in Westerns opposite the great cowboy actor Tom Mix.  In the 1920's she cut her hair into her now famous bob which launched her very successful career playing flappers and in comedies. Colleens first starring role was playing Annie in "Little Orphan Annie" 1918.  During the 1920's Colleen was loaned out by her studio several times where she appeared in the King Vidor film "The Sky Pilot" 1921 and with John Barrymore in "The Lotus Eaters". It was Colleens role in "Flaming Youth" 1923 that got her noticed and labeled as one of the earliest flappers. It was also during the production of this film that Colleen married her first husband John McCormick a publicity man who's eyes she caught after seeing her photographs.. By 1927 Colleen was at the top of the American box office making $12,500 a week, much of which she invested but more on that later. You can view Colleen's mansion where she resided at the height of her fame HERE.

Colleen with Gary Cooper "Lilac Time"  1928

With the advent of talkies in 1929 Colleen took a break from acting. It was during this time that she married husband Albert Scott who was a very successful New York based stock broker. Colleen spent her hiatus hosting lavish parties at her Bel Air home, on occasion for the US Olympic Yachting Team. (The 1932 summer Olympics we're hosted in Los Angeles)  You can view Colleen's Bel Air mansion HERE.

click on autograph from my collection and photo's for a closer view

Divorced again by 1933 Colleen returned to acting appearing in a couple of not so successful films prompting her retirement from acting. She appeared in over 30 films between 1917 and 1934. Colleen maintained friendships with director King Vidor and actress Mary Pickford throughout their lives (a post on Mary to follow).  Ms Moore later married widower Homer Hargrave and helped in raising his children. Colleen never had children of her own.

click images to enlarge

In the 1960's Colleen formed a television and film production company with King Vidor called Vid-More Productions. Until their business venture they had not seen one other in 40 years. Colleen had vowed to never see him again after a brief affair in the 1920's. Due to investing her earnings in the stock market Colleen was one of the few actresses who instead of spending frivolously amassed a small fortune and remained wealthy the rest of her life due to her great business sense. (Marrying not one but two stock brokers early on was a wise choice no doubt)  Colleen published two books in the 1960's one her autobiography titled Silent Star and a book titled How Women Can Make Money in the Stock Market. 

Colleen passed away from cancer at the age of 88. The spirited brunette was cremated and her ashes were scattered.

 *Colleens actual birth date has been disputed and her birth date is listed from 1899 to 1902.  It's not uncommon for actresses to have added a few years or shaved off a couple from their age to appease the studios and depending on their first movie roles.  Interestingly at any of the above birth dates Colleen would have played Little Orphan Annie at the age of 16 to actually being 19 at the time. 

in "Lilac Time" 1928

Interesting Colleen Moore Facts:

Colleen was one of the WAMPAS baby stars of 1922. 

Colleen donated her own copy of "Flaming Youth" to a museum but unfortunately the museum never got around to restoring the film and it deteriorated.

F.Scott Fitzgerald once wrote of her "I was the spark that lit up "Flaming Youth", Colleen Moore was the torch. What little things we are to have caused all that trouble"

She had a love of Doll Houses and they became a passionate hobby of hers. She set about building the grandest one to ever be built which she named The Enchanted Castle. Once crafted and complete with miniatures at a height of 8 feet it cost over $500,000. It has every detail including its own library with  miniature versions of great works that includes a miniature copy of  "Tarzan of the Apes" which is hand signed by Tarzan's creator Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Doll House is now on display at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. This is one of eight doll houses Colleen owned during her lifetime.

She had one green eye and one blue eye.

Below are photos of Colleen's Doll House that's now on display as noted above

The gated entrance to Colleen's Doll House now on display at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry

The Fantasy Garden of the doll house

The Grand Hall of the doll house

A beautifully done bedroom in Colleen's Doll House

Colleen showing some of her doll house miniatures.

Thank you for stopping by and please come back and visit.

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