Brief biographies of 1910s movie stars taken from vintage movie cards
Last time around we took a look at some of the most popular film stars from 1916 through the results of a period poll run by Motion Picture Magazine. Tonight I was putting together a new Photo ID Guide for one of my sites featuring an anonymous issue of movie cards from about 1915-1916 and it got me thinking about that previous article.
I was able to date the cards by the descriptive text under each photo, so I thought it might be worthwhile to put some of these early mini-biographies to work alongside the movie card images I so often show off. You might not glean as much info off a movie card as you do the back of a baseball card, but sometimes there are some lessons to be learned.
Since we ran through the Top 10 movie stars on that Motion Picture Magazine poll last time I figured I'd start today's slideshow sometime after number 10. But before we get to that, here are 4 of our previous top 10, plus 4 other film star notables who didn't place so well in that poll. Included with each listing, both below and inside the slideshow, is the text from the card itself. So let's delve a little deeper into our Who's Who of the 1910's Silent Stars.
Note: The numbers are where each particular star finished in the Motion Picture Magazine poll. The cards themself are unnumbered.
2 - Francis X Bushman - Crowned "King of Filmland" as result of popular vote at San Francisco Exposition. Leading man in many important photo-plays. Has great magnetic personality.
4 - Jack Kerrigan - To get it right you must put Warren between the Jack and Kerrigan. Plays Western leads for Universal. Born Louisville 1889; educated for the ministry; took the stage at 19; Essanay bought him away in 1910; 6 feet 1 and weight 200.
5 - Pearl White - Born in Missouri. Began career as member of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" troupe. Became movie star about 1912 as the heroine in "Perils of Pauline."
8 - Henry B Walthall - Born Shelby Co., Ala., 1878. Enlisted Spanish War. Leading role in "Birth of a Nation," "Misleading Lady," "Strange Case of Mary Page," etc. Entered movies in 1906.
Other notables from either outside the Top 10 of the film poll or unlisted altogether:
84 - Mabel Normand - She's made pretty much the whole world laugh, and now she's tired of playing just funny parts and is going for something bigger. It's a good bet that she can do it, too. She has changed her address to "California."
Not listed - Roscoe Arbuckle - Comedian. Born Kansas 1887, played in drama and stock, entered moving pictures 1913, been acting and directed last two years, famed as Fatty in "Fatty and Mabel" pictures, weights 285 pounds.
Not listed - Robert Harron - Character leads, Fine Arts. Born New York City 1894; left school at 14 to become errand boy in Biograph studios; screen career began 1908; has played in "The Birth of a Nation;" one of D.W. Griffith's "best men."
Not listed - Tom Mix - Actor, Scenario writer and director; with the California forces of Selig-Polyscope. Spent years on the plains in a cowboy's saddle; one of Roosevelt's Rough Riders in the Spanish-American War.
The following slideshow takes up our list of the Motion Picture Magazine's most popular film stars beyond the Top 10:
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