Asides - Seen, But Not Heard

In 1924, Photoplay magazine came out with their second edition of the "Stars of the Photoplay" hard cover book, filled with 250 images and bios of the leading stars of the day. Actresses accounted for 121 of these. There are many that will be familiar to anyone with an interest in classic film. These include major stars who were well established by 1924 and continued their careers into the sound era - Clara Bow, Mary Astor, Evelyn Brent, the Gish sisters, and Marion Davies, are examples.

However, there are many actresses who made a substantial number of films, but never crossed over to talkies. Five years after this book was published, these actresses were gone from the silver screen forever, never having uttered a word to their fans. Some left because of "fear" of the talkies, others settled into family life, and others left for reasons we will probably never know.

Here are their images and bios, still mute to this day, but pioneers in the early days of film.

Double-click on the images for a larger view.

There were, as far as I can tell, three editions of Star of the Photoplay, 1916, 1924, and 1930. I have not be able to find of copy of the 1916 (which I've seen listed as 1918) edition, but the other two are available if you hunt around a bit.

Sylvia Breamer appeared in 48 films, her last in 1926. She did have one uncredited role in 1936 in a small non-speaking part. Dipping her toe in the water after a 10 year absence didn't turn the tide.

Winifred Bryson was in 19 films, the last in 1928. She was married to Warner Baxter for over thirty years.

May Allison was in 59 films from 1915 to 1927. She became editor for Photoplay magazine after her editor/husband James Quirk died in 1932.

Marjorie Daw was in 71 films, the last in 1928. She was the bride's attendant at the marriage ceremony of Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks.

June Elvidge appeared silently 71 times, the last in 1924.

Elaine Hammerstein was the granddaughter of Oscar Hammerstein. She made 44 films before retiring in 1926.

Dorothy Dalton made 56 films and left the screen in 1924. She was related to Elaine Hammerstein through her 1924 marriage to Arthur Hammerstein.

Constance Binney made only 16 films and retired in 1923, a year before being featured in Stars of the Photoplay - guess they thought she would continue to act. She died at age 94 in 1989.

Carol Dempster made 19 films through 1926, all for D.W. Griffith, with whom she had a romantic relationship while he was estranged from his wife.

Ann Forrest hailed from Denmark. She appeared in 34 films from 1915 to 1925.

Alice Calhoun retired at age 29 in 1929 after making 47 films. Like Sylvia Breamer, she had a small uncredited role, in this case after five years (1934), that also didn't turn the tide.

Mabel Ballin was in 28 films through 1925, including the title role in the 1921 version of Jane Eyre.

Sally Phipps

Recently I was contacted by Sally Phipps son, who had seen the April 2007 post about his mother on this blog. He was writing to let me know that the postcard I "posted" was actually not her, even though it showed her name at the bottom and was put out by Ross, one of the movie postcard giants of the era. It was actually Sue Carol, whom her son agreed looked quite a bit like her and could understand how the studio and postcard publisher could get it wrong.

However, here at Allure we must be sure to right any wrongs, and due to her son's generosity, we can now present you with a series of wonderful images he supplied and are guaranteed to be the real thing. :-)

He also supplied some additional information on her career. She made her debut earlier than I originally posted, appearing at the age of three - see the image below. She is also uncredited, but easily spotted in F.W. Murnau's Sunrise, A Song of Two Humans (1927) , appearing in the ballroom scene and in the "kissing couple" scene. Additionally, after leaving Hollywood, she appeared on Broadway in Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman's hit play, "Once in a Lifetime". It ran for 406 performances, opening September 24, 1930 at the Music Box Theater.

For reference, here is the text that appeared in my initial post in April 2007.

"Byrnece Beutler, how she got Sally Phipps out of that we will never know, was born in Oakland California in 1911.

Not much is available about her early life, but she had just completed high school when she began making films and in 1927 she was named a WAMPAS baby star. Her first role in motion pictures was in Bertha, the Sewing Machine Girl (1926). She went on to make only 15 films before leaving the industry in 1929, even though she had signed a five year contract with Fox in October of '27. In searching the NYT film review archives I found several reviews of her work and while they all refer to her beauty and vivaciousness, not much is said about her ability to actually act. This may be why she only lasted three years in the business - just another pretty face?

Sally Phipps died in Long Island, New York in 1978."

According to her son, leaving Fox may have been as a result of some in-fighting with a rival actress of the time, who seems to have prevailed in getting her way.

I am pleased to be able to bring my readers and followers these images of Sally Phipps, and again thank her son for sending them along and chatting with me about his mother's career. He is currently working on an article on his mother for Classic Images magazine.

Double click on the images for a larger view.

Here is Sally at age 3 or 4 when she made her first appearance on film.
Billed as Bernice Sawyer, she played the part of the Baby in Broncho Billy and the Baby for Essanay in 1915. She was in three Broncho Billy westerns that year.

Publicity stills.

Sally Phipps - What do you think - Allure?

Jobyna Ralston

Jobyna Ralston was born Jobyna Lancaster Raulston in South Pittsburgh, Tennessee on November 21st, 1899. She was named after actress Jobyna Howland, a favorite of her parents. Jobyna left Tennessee at age fifteen to appear with Ned Wayburn's troop of dancers and performers. While still in the East she appeared in a few Reelcraft comedies in 1920 and also in the lost Marx Brothers film Humor Risk. Broadway saw Jobyna on the boards in "Two Little Girls In Blue" in 1921.

Jobyna remained in comedy after heading West, working mostly for Hal Roach, but was taken seriously enough as an actress to become a WAMPAS Baby Star in 1923, the second year the designation was awarded.

Jobyna's break came when Harold Lloyd saw her work and signed her as his leading lady to replace Mildred Davis, his former leading lady, whom he was planning on marrying. Her films with him include Why Worry? in 1923, Girl Shy (delightful) and Hot Water, both 1924, The Freshman in 1925, For Heaven's Sake in 1926, and The Kid Brother, 1927. I should mention that all these films are available and worth watching for some of the best in silent comedy.

In 1927 Jobyna was also given the second female lead in Wings, the first film to win a Best Picture Academy Award, and also the only silent film to win the award. She also received top billing for the features Lightning and Pretty Clothes, both also in 1927. Jobyna and Wings co-star Richard Arlen were married that year.

Jobyna made a few sound pictures, including 1929's The College Coquette, and Rough Waters (1930). Unfortunately, a noticeable lisp (disputed by one reader, but found in a couple of my sources), and ultimately, child rearing (Richard Arlen, Jr.) ended her film career.

Jobyna Ralston died January 22nd, 1967 in Woodland Hills, California.

Double-click on the images for a larger view.

Jobyna in print

Stars of the Photoplay 1924 hardcover book.
Somehow, Jobyna turns up five years younger in this bio.

Photoplay, January 1926.

A review of For Heaven's Sake in the June 1926 issue of Photoplay.

Photoplay, April 1927

Jobyna stars with Eddie Cantor in Special Delivery, directed by "Fatty" Arbuckle.

Photoplay, October 1927
The text mentions the nuptials between Jobyna and Richard Arlen.

Jobyna Publicity Stills

Early Twenties studio still.

Two publicity stills from The Freshman.

Publicity still from 1926's Gigolo
Jobyna starred opposite Rod La Rocque.

Publicity still from The Kid Brother.

Three publicity stills, the last probably from 1929 or 1930.

Jobyna Ralston - What do you think - Allure?

Asides - Cards, Covers, And More, Oh My.

Postcards, covers, and ads featuring actresses make up the content of this post. The actresses have all appeared here before, but the material is making it's debut. Enjoy.

As always, double click on the images for a larger view.

Brigitte never struck me as one to play with dolls, and here I am thinking the dolls are a little unsure as to whether or not they really want to be there.

Brigitte appeared as the lead in Alraune in both the 1928 silent version and the 1930 sound version, two completely separate productions.

Thanks, gentlemen, but I light my own.

Is this the outfit that got Errol Flynn interested in and then marrying Lily?

This is the reverse side of the Lily Damita card. Bonus points for anyone who can translate it.

A very early Lilian Harvey card in her brunette at the seashore days.

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COVERS

Photoplay, October 1920
A beautiful Rolf Armstrong cover of Mary Pickford

Picture Play, September 1921
Betty Compson as portrayed by Knox, an illustrator unfamiliar to me.

Motion Picture Classic, July 1925
Norma Talmadge by E. Dahl

Motion Picture Classic, March 1927
Betty Bronson by Don Reed

Motion Picture Classic, January 1927
Alice Joyce by Don Reed

Motion Picture Classic, November 1930
Dorothy Lee by Marland Stone

The following are pages and star studded ads from
the above Motion Picture Classic, November 1930.

Attention, Loretta on board.

Bebe Daniels (and just about every other star in Hollywood) loves that Lux.

Lila Lee was twenty-nine in 1930, but adored Seventeen perfume.

Joan asks, "How much do I get to hawk silverware? That much? Huh, I'll do it."

A very nice portrait of Joan that I haven't seen anywhere else. The interesting thing lies in the copy. The film "Great Day" (not The Great Day) was never completed for reasons never fully understood. They tried again a few years later, but it was never made.