Louise Glaum
Louise Glaum | |
---|---|
Los Angeles, California, U.S. | |
Burial place | Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1907–1940 |
Spouses |
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Signature | |
Louise Glaum (September 4, 1888 – November 25, 1970)
Glaum began her
After starring in Greater Than Love (1921), she retired from the screen and moved to New York. In 1925, she sued for money owed her for movie work amounting to $103,000. The suit was ultimately dismissed by the court due to technicalities. Glaum made a final movie appearance in 1925. Under contract with Associated Exhibitors, she starred as the conniving other woman opposite Lionel Barrymore in a drama directed by Henri Diamant-Berger titled Fifty-Fifty.
For over three years, Glaum headlined on the
Early life and stage career
Glaum was born near Baltimore, Maryland, the third of four daughters of John W. Glaum and Lena Katherine Kuhn. Her sisters were Hattie Helen "Phyllis" Glaum, Lena K. Glaum, and Margaret Olive Glaum.[citation needed]
Her father was born as Johannes Wilhelm Glaum in Germany, emigrated with his family to the U.S. in 1869, and lived in Indiana, then Prince George's County, Maryland, while her mother was born in New York City to German-born parents. John and Lena Glaum and family moved to Southern California in the late 1890s, and lived in Pasadena for several years before moving into Los Angeles. Louise attended Berendo School on South Berendo Street in Pico Heights.[citation needed]
Glaum began her acting career in
Upon the death of her younger sister, Margaret, in June 1911, Glaum resigned and returned home to Los Angeles. On July 29, the Los Angeles Times read, "Louise Glaum, ingenue, who made her professional start here a few years ago, is at home on a short visit. Of late she has been playing in Chicago."[7]
Her mother wanted her to remain in Los Angeles, but the desire to return to the stage possessed her. She compromised, however; while acting as the ingenue in a local theatre company,
Motion picture career
Glaum made her movie debut playing the ingenue role as Mary Gordon, the rancher's daughter, in the
Signing with Thomas Ince, her first role as a vamp, and first starring role in the new five-reel features, was as Mademoiselle Poppea in The Toast of Death (1915) opposite Harry Keenan and Herschel Mayall. It was directed by Thomas Ince at his Inceville Studio in Topanga Canyon.[6] That same year, she appeared in the role as cabaret star Kitty Molloy in The Iron Strain, the first American film adaptation of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, a modern version in which she starred opposite Dustin Farnum, Enid Markey, and Charles K. French.
Glaum played
On February 27, 1915, she and director Harry J. Edwards were married.[11] They were divorced on March 17, 1919.[12]
She played the role of Lola Montrose in the drama A Strange Transgressor (1917). She then starred in the title role as a gun-slinging heroine, the female equivalent to Bill Hart, in the Triangle Company's western Golden Rule Kate (1917).
She played Mary Thorne in the drama The Goddess of Lost Lake (1918), which she also co-produced through her own production company, the Louise Glaum Organization. It is the story of a young woman who is a quarter Native American and decides to pretend she is a full-blooded Indian princess when she visits her father's rustic cabin after completing college in the East.[9]
Glaum then began working with J. Parker Read Jr. Productions, which she later described as J. Parker Read, Jr.'s unit as a
She played the roles as Adrienne Renault in the provocatively titled
Glaum was maintaining her own household in Los Angeles, when the
On March 16, 1925, she filed suit in the Supreme Court of New York against producer J. Parker Read, Jr., for $103,000 and asked for an attachment against money owed him by various film distributors in New York City. The complaint stated she starred in several pictures under Read's direction, and on December 23, 1921, he made a promissory note to her for the money, payable in four installments. Nothing was paid, however, and in the fall of 1923, according to Glaum, he went to Paris without paying her. According to her attorney, Read's departure took the form of a flight and he had disguised himself as a stoker on a ship.[14]
She then sued the estate of Thomas H. Ince, Read's partner, stating that Read was insolvent and asking for the $103,000 plus $290,000 for breach of contract. The Appellate Division, however, decided that she could not prosecute a suit in the state against the executors under the will of Ince on the grounds that the New York courts had no jurisdiction over the executors, who were appointed in California, in which state Ince was a resident at the time he died in November 1924.[15] She then filed suit in California, but a copy of the contract was not attached. By the time that arrived, the time had elapsed in which she was legally entitled to make a claim against the Ince estate and the court dismissed the suit on technicalities.[16]
She made one screen comeback. Signing a contract with Associated Exhibitors, she played the role as Nina Olmstead, the conniving other woman, in the Henri Diamant-Berger directed drama Fifty-Fifty (1925) opposite Hope Hampton and Lionel Barrymore.
Vaudeville and the stage
Glaum stayed away from Los Angeles for over three years as she headlined on the big-time
On January 19, 1926, Glaum and movie theater owner Zachary M. Harris were married in New York City.[19][20]
When she returned to Los Angeles, with her husband and business manager, Zack Harris, to visit her family and friends, they decided to stage the play Trial Marriage at the Egan Theatre,[21] 1320 South Figueroa Street, with Glaum in the starring role.[22] When asked by a reporter for the Times whether she would be doing any picture work, she said she had not thought of it, but acknowledged that she was interested in talking pictures.[17]
On November 16, 1928, Glaum opened in Trial Marriage, the story of a woman who wants to test the suitability of her prospective mate and herself to each other without the benefit of wedlock before they make it permanent. Although she received good reviews, the play did not fare so well.[23]
She and Harris lived at 2282 Cambridge Street in Los Angeles, in 1930.[24] Glaum continued to act on the stage and also became a drama instructor, opening and appearing in her own theatre in Los Angeles in the mid-1930s.[citation needed]
Glaum's theatres
On January 6, 1935, Glaum announced in the Los Angeles Times the opening of the Louise Glaum Little Theatre of Union Square,[25][26] which was inside a remodeled and redecorated movie theater with a seating capacity of 400 located at 1122 West 24th Street near Hoover in the West Adams District. The stated purpose was to provide drama with enlivening moments by way of scheduled plays of moment and actual integrity. Several New York plays were considered, and the intention was to present original manuscripts with motion picture possibilities, as well as tried plays from around the world. Both professionals and students were to be cast in productions, as well as some of the featured players of the past."[26] Classes for students wanting to join the Union Square Players, and "learn by practical experience," began on January 21.[27]
The little theatre generated a great deal of interest among local playwrights inasmuch as Glaum had received some 15 plays by January 27. One of the most intriguing was Eulalia Andreas's A Friendly Divorce, which went into rehearsal with Johnstone White directing.[28] Noted stars were lured to perform. In March 1935, Glaum and Betty Blythe, another star of the silent screen, starred in Angel Cake, which was written by Ansella Hunter, who had three plays staged by the Shuberts.[29]
In May, the Union Square Players presented the comedy Ask Herbert, which was written by Katherine Kavanaugh and declared in the Los Angeles Times to be "a riot of laughs" and "a fast-paced farce of Broadway caliber." Among the cast that Glaum assembled was Herbert Vigran,[30] who went to New York and made his debut on Broadway later that year.
In 1936, Glaum joined the Matinee Musical Club. A drama department was introduced as an innovation to the club and Glaum was appointed the director. Plans for three one-act plays to be presented in November at the club were discussed by the department members on August 7, at the department chairman's home in Beverly Hills.[31] She presented three one-act plays for the club on November 17, 1937, in the Creative Arts Center at 4950 Franklin Avenue in Hollywood.[32]
In late September 1939, Glaum took over a theatre at 11th Street and Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles, designating it the "Louise Glaum's Happy Hollow." Opening on Wednesday night, September 27, in the rural play Aaron Slick From Pumpkin Creek, which had a continuous run for three months in Long Beach,[33][34] specialties were offered between the acts.
Another rural play with specialties was presented at the Happy Hollow Playhouse on January 11, 1940, for the Matinee Musical Club,[35] which had a Gay Nineties party at the theatre.[36]
In September 1952, Glaum reopened the Beaux Arts Theatre,
Later life
Glaum was also a busy clubwoman over the last three decades of her life. She served as president of the Matinee Musical Club for many years and also as state president of the California Federation of Music Clubs.[citation needed]
Louise Glaum died at age 82 of pneumonia in Los Angeles.[41] Her funeral service was held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 28, 1970, at Pierce Brothers Mortuary, 720 West Washington Boulevard.[42] She is interred in Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery, along with her second husband, Zachary Harris, and others of her family. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 6834 Hollywood Boulevard, for her work in motion pictures.[citation needed]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1913 | The Invisible Foe | Lost film | |
1914 | Lucille Love: The Girl of Mystery | Lost film | |
1915 | The Cup of Life | Irene Bullard | |
The Darkening Trail | Fanny | ||
The Iron Strain | Kitty Molloy | Lost film | |
Matrimony | Thelma Iverson | Short Lost film | |
1916 | The Three Musketeers | Miladi Winter | |
Hell's Hinges | Dolly | ||
The Aryan | Trixie - 'The Firefly' | ||
Home | Daisy Flores | ||
Honor Thy Name | Viola Bretagne, 'The Moth' | Lost film | |
The Wolf Woman | Leila Aradella | Lost film | |
The Return of Draw Egan | Poppy | ||
Somewhere in France | Marie Chaumontel | Lost film | |
1917 | The Weaker Sex | Annette Loti | Lost film |
Sweetheart of the Doomed | Honore Zonlay | Lost film | |
Love or Justice | Nan Bishop | Lost film | |
A Strange Transgressor | Lola Montrose | Lost film | |
Golden Rule Kate | Golden Rule Kate | Lost film | |
Idolators | Viola Strathmore | Lost film | |
1918 | An Alien Enemy | Neysa von Igel / Frau Meyer | Lost film |
Shackled | Lola Dexter | Lost film | |
Wedlock | Margery Harding | Lost film | |
A Law Unto Herself | Alouette DeLarme | ||
The Goddess of Lost Lake | Mary Thorne | Lost film | |
Staking His Life | Bubbles | Lost film | |
1919 | Sahara | Mignon | |
The Lone Wolf's Daughter | Princess Sonia / Sonia, her daughter | ||
1920 | Sex | Adrienne Renault | |
Love Madness | Mary Norwood | Lost film | |
The Leopard Woman | Madame - the Leopard Woman | ||
Love | Natalie Storm | ||
1921 | I Am Guilty | Connie MacNair | Lost film |
Greater Than Love | Grace Merrill | Incomplete film | |
1925 | Fifty-Fifty | Nina Olmstead | Lost film |
See also
References and notes
- ^ California Death Index, Name: Louise G. Harris, Birth Date: 09-04-1901 [sic], Sex: Female, Birth Place: Maryland, Death Place: Los Angeles Co. (70), Death Date: 11-25-1970, SSN:571-01-5724, Age: 70 yrs. [sic].
- ^ 1900 Los Angeles Co., CA, U.S. Federal Census, Pasadena, Precinct 4, 108 W. Walnut St., June 4 & 5, Enumeration Dist. 116, Sheet 2 A, Page 302 A, with parents, Lines 40 & 41, John W. & Lena K. Glaum, Line 44, Louisa L. Glaum, Daughter, White, Female, month born: September, year born: 1888, age: 11, Single, MD, MD [sic], NY, At School, 9 mons., Y, Y, Y.
- ^ "Music And The Stage." Los Angeles Times. Nov. 13, 1907. p. II 5.
- ^ "Music And The Stage." Los Angeles Times. June 1, 1908. p. 17.
- ^ 1910 Cook Co., IL, U.S. Federal Census, Chicago, Ward 21, Palace Hotel, 518 N. Clark St., May 2, Enumeration Dist. 927, Sheet. 2 B, Page 185 B, Line 78, Louise Glaum, Lodger, Female, White, 20 [sic], Single, CA [sic], United States, United States, Engl., Actress, Theatre, Wages, N, Y, Y.
- ^ a b "Louise Glaum." Los Angeles Herald. Nov. 13, 1919.
- ^ "Playgoers On Problem Rock." Los Angeles Times. Jul. 29, 1911. p. II 5.
- ^ "Louis Glaum, The ingenue of the Stoermer Company, at the Auditorium." Los Angeles Times. Sep. 6, 1911. p. III 4.
- ^ a b c Lowrey, Carolyn (1920). "The First One Hundred Noted Men and Women of the Screen, p. 62". Google Books. Retrieved February 22, 2008.
- ^ "Who's Who In Reel Drama; Louise Glaum." Los Angeles Times. Feb. 25, 1913. p. III 4.
- user-generated source]
- ^ "Louise Glaum's Now Free." Los Angeles Times. Mar. 18, 1919. p. II 6.
- ^ 1920 Los Angeles Co., CA, U.S. Federal Census, Cahuenga Township - Arnaz Precinct, Hughes Rd., Jan. 26, Enumeration Dist. 33, Sheet 13 B, Page 223 B, Line 60, Louise Glaum, Head, Rented, Female, White, 26 [sic], Div., Y, Y, MD, England [sic] (Native language) Engl. [sic], NY, Y, Actress, Moving Pictures, Wages. Albert M. Fell, Caretaker; Emma M. Fell, Housekeeper; Suigi Imizie, Gardner.
- ^ "Actress Sues For $103,000; Louise Glaum Says Producer Fled to Paris Without Paying Note." New York Times. Mar. 17, 1925. p. 13.
- ^ "Louise Glaum Loses Plea." New York Times. Apr. 10, 1926. p. 14.
- ^ "Glaum Suit Thrown Out; Actress' Claim Against Ince Estate for $405,000 Dismissed on Technicalities." Los Angeles Times. May 13, 1926. p. A 1.
- ^ a b "Louise Glaum at Egan." Los Angeles Times. Nov. 2, 1928. p. 10.
- ^ "Theatrical Notes." Los Angeles Times. Apr. 16, 1926. p. 20.
- ^ "Actress Becomes Bride of Director; Film 'Vamp' Married in Manhattan; Louise Glaum Wedded to Picture Director at Gay Ceremony." Los Angeles Times. Jan. 20, 1926, from New York Jan. 19. p. 3.
- ^ "Louise Glaum Marries; Film Actress Weds Zachary M. Harris at Municipal Building." New York Times. Jan. 20, 1926. p. 23.
- ^ Note. In 1933, the Egan Theatre was renamed the Musart Theatre.
- ^ "Louise Glaum Comes Out of Retirement." Los Angeles Times. Nov. 18, 1928. p. C 31.
- ^ "Miss Glaum Starred In Stage Play; 'Trial Marriage' at Egan Theater Inclines to Sordid Melodrama." Los Angeles Times. Nov. 17, 1928. p. A 11.
- ^ 1930 Los Angeles Co., CA, U.S. Federal Census, Los Angeles, Dist. Assembly No. 58, Block No. 625, 2282 Cambridge St., April 15, Enumeration Dist. 215, Sheet 4 B, Page 254 B, Line 77, Zack M. Harris, Head, Rented, Owns Radio Set, Male, White, 48 [sic], Marr., (Age wh. first m.?) 43 [sic], N, Y, NY, SC, KY, Y, Manager, Theatre, Wages, Y, (Vet?) N. Louise G. Harris, Wife, Female, White, 35 [sic], Marr., (Age wh. first m.?) 22 [sic], N, Y, MD, Germany, NY, Y, None.
- ^ "Velaslavasay Panorana in Los Angeles, CA". Cinema Treasures. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
- ^ a b "Studio and Theater Comings and Goings: Louise Glaum to Head New Drama Group Union Square Players." Los Angeles Times. Jan. 6, 1935. p. A 2.
- ^ "Little Theater of Union Square Begins Classes." Los Angeles Times. Jan. 20, 1935. p. A 2.
- ^ "Studio and Theater Comings and Goings; Louise Glaum Theater." Los Angeles Times. Jan. 27, 1935. p. A 2.
- ^ "Stage Lures Noted Stars; Louise Glaum and Betty Blythe at Work." Los Angeles Times. Mar. 9, 1935. p. 5.
- ^ "Studio and Theater Comings and Goings; Riot of Laughs." Los Angeles Times. May 12, 1935. p. A 2.
- ^ "Drama Club Chairman Named." Los Angeles Times. Aug. 7, 1936. p. A 8.
- ^ "One-Act Plays to Be Offered Wednesday." Los Angeles Times. Nov. 15, 1937. p. A 6.
- ^ "On Approval; What's Doing in Little Theaters; Louise Glaum Theater." Los Angeles Times. Sep.24, 1939. p. C 4.
- ^ "Louise Glaum to Open Theater." Los Angeles Times. Sep.27, 1939. p. A 15.
- ^ "Rural Play To Be Seen." Los Angeles Times. Jan. 10, 1940. p. A 6.
- ^ "Clubdom." Los Angeles Times. Jan. 11, 1940. p. A 6.
- ^ "Beaux Arts Theatre". Retrieved February 15, 2014.
- ^ "Beaux Arts Will Reopen." Los Angeles Times. Sep.19, 1952. p. 17.
- ^ "Stage Farce Offered At Beaux Arts Theater." Los Angeles Times. Oct. 11, 1952. p. 13.
- ^ "Comedy Will Close." Los Angeles Times. Nov. 21, 1952. p. B 6.
- ^ California Death Index, Name: Louise G. Harris, Birth Date: 09-04-1901 [sic], Sex: Female, Birth Place: Maryland, Death Place: Los Angeles Co. (70), Death Date: 11-25-1970, SSN:571-01-5724, Age: 70 yrs. [sic].
- ^ "Louise Glaum Harris, Ex-Film Actress, Dies." Los Angeles Times. Nov. 27, 1970. p. F15.