Lois Wilson
Wilson in 1920
Born(1894-06-28)June 28, 1894
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedMarch 3, 1988(1988-03-03) (aged 93)
Reno, Nevada, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)
OccupationActress
Years active1915–1952

Lois Wilson (June 28, 1894 – March 3, 1988) was an American actress who worked during the silent film era. She also directed two short films and was a scenario writer.[1]

Early life

Born to Andrew Kenley Wilson and Constance (née Coolidge) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,[2] Wilson's family moved to Alabama when she was still very young. She earned a degree from Alabama Normal College (now the University of West Alabama), and became a school teacher for young children, soon leaving to pursue a film career.

In 1915, Wilson moved to California after winning a beauty contest put on by Universal Studios and the Birmingham News.[3] This pageant was the predecessor to the Miss Alabama/Miss America pageant system, and Wilson is considered the first Miss Alabama. Upon arriving in Hollywood, she auditioned and was hired by the Victor Film Company for several small film roles.

In 1916, she visited Chicago, where she met pioneer female film director Lois Weber, who gave her a small part in her film The Dumb Girl of Portici,[4] which starred famed ballerina Anna Pavlova. Weber then took her to Los Angeles, where she was groomed for stardom and began playing leads opposite actors such as J. Warren Kerrigan and Frank Keenan.[5][6]

Career

Noah Beery, Raymond Hatton, Lois Wilson and Jack Holt in The Thundering Herd (1925)

After appearing in several films at various studios, Wilson settled in at Paramount Pictures in 1919, where she remained until 1927.[7] She was a WAMPAS Baby Star of 1922, and appeared in 150 movies. Her most recognized screen portrayals are Molly Wingate in The Covered Wagon (1923), in which she was well reviewed,[8] and Daisy Buchanan in the silent film version of The Great Gatsby (1926).[9] She acted opposite male stars such as Rudolph Valentino and John Gilbert.[10]

Wilson, Picture-Play Magazine, 1923

Wilson played both romantic leads and character parts. Despite making a successful transition to sound, Wilson was dissatisfied with the roles she received in the 1930s, and she soon retired in 1941, making only three films after 1939. Lois ventured to Broadway and television following her final role in The Girl from Jones Beach (1949) with Ronald Reagan. Wilson played in the network soap operas The Guiding Light in 1951, The Secret Storm and The Edge of Night. She portrayed featured character roles.[11] She made a guest appearance with her old friend Gloria Swanson on the WPIX TV show The Gloria Swanson Hour in 1948.[12]

Wilson was also the model of the official poster for "America Welcomes the World", the Philadelphia Sesquicentennial Celebration, in 1926.[13]

In 1934, her performance in No Greater Glory inspired a Birmingham, Alabama sculptor to create a monument for the city's celebration of World Peace Day.[14]

Personal life

Wilson, 1922

She was once described as having a screen image of "the soft, marrying kind of woman"; in real life, however, she never married. She was chosen by Paramount Pictures to represent the motion picture industry at the British Empire Exposition of 1924.[15] She was described as "a typical example of the American girl in character, culture and beauty". In 1919, Wilson met Gloria Swanson on the set of Cecil B. DeMille's drama, Male and Female. In her 1981 autobiography, Swanson says "Lois had real star quality. Everyone who met her knew it was just a question of time until the right part came along. She never stopped working."[12] They remained close friends.

Death

Lois Wilson died of pneumonia at the Riverside Hospital for Skilled Care in Reno, Nevada at age 93. Her funeral service was conducted at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, California. She was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in nearby Glendale.[1]

Filmography

The following is a list of films that Lois Wilson either directed, acted in, wrote or produced:

Silent films

Year Title Role Studio(s) / Distributor(s) Notes
1915The Palace of DustBeatrixShort
The New Adventures of Terence O'RourkeBeatrixShort
When a Queen Loved O'RourkeBeatrixShort
The Road to ParadiseBeatrixShort
The HypocriteExtant
1916Langdon's LegacyPepitaUniversal Film Manufacturing CompanyLost
The Dumb Girl of PorticiUniversal Film Manufacturing CompanyExtant
Married on the WingGrace DarlingUniversal Film Manufacturing CompanyLost
The Pool of FlamePrincess BeatrixUniversal Film Manufacturing CompanyLost
The Gay Lord WaringHelen Von GeroldBluebird PhotoplaysLost
Hulda the SilentHulda AndersonNew York Motion Picture CompanyLost
Short
A Son of the ImmortalsJoan CameronBluebird PhotoplaysLost
The DecoyMutual Film CorporationLost
The Silent BattleJane LoringUniversal Film Manufacturing CompanyLost
He Wrote a BookJennieUniversal Film Manufacturing CompanyShort
The Beckoning TrailMary HeltonUniversal Film Manufacturing CompanyLost
Arthur's Desperate ResolveSibly GreyUniversal Film Manufacturing CompanyShort
The White Man's LawUniversal Film Manufacturing Company
A Soul at StakeClementina FairwoodUniversal Film Manufacturing CompanyShort
The DecoyFeleseUniversal Film Manufacturing CompanyShort
Her ChanceFrances MartinUniversal Film Manufacturing CompanyLost
Short
The Morals of HildaMarionUniversal Film Manufacturing CompanyLost
Green EyesJuliaUniversal Film Manufacturing CompanyShort
1917Alone in the WorldLost
Short
Also wrote and directed
The Whispered NameMadeline EversUniversal Film Manufacturing CompanyLost
Short
Black EvidenceMaryUniversal Film Manufacturing CompanyLost
Short
Won by GritTeresaUniversal Film Manufacturing CompanyShort
Flames of TreacheryRuth ChalmersUniversal Film Manufacturing CompanyLost
Short
TreasonFloria NatarreUniversal Film Manufacturing CompanyLost
ParentageMrs. MeltonUniversal Film Manufacturing Company
AlimonyMarjorie LansingFirst National PicturesLost
1918His Robe of HonorLaura NelsonW. W. Hodkinson CorporationLost
The Turn of a CardCynthia BurdetteW. W. Hodkinson CorporationLost
One Dollar BidVirginia DareW. W. Hodkinson CorporationLost
Maid o' the StormElaine ShacklefordW. W. Hodkinson CorporationLost
A Burglar for a NightJanet LeslieW. W. Hodkinson Corporation
The BellsAnnettePathé ExchangeLost
Prisoners of the PinesRosalie DufresneW. W. Hodkinson Corporation
Three X GordonDorrie WebsterW. W. Hodkinson CorporationLost
A Man's ManDolores RueyW. W. Hodkinson CorporationLost
1919The DriftersThe GirlPathé Exchange
W. W. Hodkinson Corporation		Lost
Come Again SmithLucy StevensPathé Exchange
W. W. Hodkinson Corporation		Lost
The End of the GameMary MillerPathé Exchange
W. W. Hodkinson Corporation		Extant. Preserved at the EYE Film Institute Netherlands
Gates of BrassMargaret BlakePathé ExchangeLost
The Best ManCelia HathawayPathé Exchange
W. W. Hodkinson Corporation		Lost
A Man's FightMary TompkinsUnited Picture Theaters of AmericaLost
Love InsuranceCynthia MeyrickFamous Players-LaskyLost
Why Smith Left HomeMarianFamous Players-LaskyAn incomplete copy is held at the Library of Congress
The Price Woman PaysLouiseJ. Frank Hatch EnterprisesLost
It Pays to AdvertiseMary GraysonFamous Players-LaskyLost
Too Much JohnsonMrs. BillingsFamous Players-LaskyLost
1920Who's Your Servant?Madeline BancroftRobertson-ColeLost
Thou Art the ManJoan FarrantFamous Players-LaskyLost
The City of MasksMiss EmsdaleFamous Players-LaskyLost
What's Your Hurry?Virginia MacMurranFamous Players-LaskyExtant. A copy is held at the Gosfilmofond
A Full HouseOttilie HowellFamous Players-LaskyLost
Burglar ProofLaura LowellFamous Players-LaskyLost
Midsummer MadnessMargaret MeredithFamous Players-LaskyExtant. A copy is held at the Library of Congress
1921What Every Woman KnowsMaggie WylieFamous Players-LaskyLost
The City of Silent MenMolly BryantFamous Players-LaskyLost
The Lost RomanceSylvia HayesFamous Players-LaskyExtant. A copy is held at the Library of Congress
The Hell DiggersDora WadeFamous Players-LaskyLost
Miss Lulu BettLulu BettFamous Players-LaskyExtant.
1922The World's ChampionLady ElizabethFamous Players-LaskyAn incomplete copy is held at the Library of Congress
Is Matrimony a Failure?Mabel HoytFamous Players-LaskyLost
Our Leading CitizenKatherine Fendle, his fiancéeFamous Players-LaskyLost
ManslaughterEvans - Lydia's MaidFamous Players-LaskyExtant. A copy is held at the George Eastman Museum and the Paul Killiam Collection
Without CompromiseJean AinsworthFox Film CorporationLost
Broad DaylightNora FayUniversal Film Manufacturing CompanyLost
1923The Covered WagonMolly WingateFamous Players-LaskyExtant
Bella DonnaPatriciaFamous Players-LaskyExtant. A copy is held at the Gosfilmofond archive
Only 38Mrs. StanleyFamous Players-LaskyLost
A Man's ManLois WilsonW. W. Hodkinson CorporationLost
To the Last ManEllen JorthFamous Players-LaskyExtant. A copy is held at the Cosfilmofond archive
Ruggles of Red GapKate KennerFamous Players-LaskyLost
The Call of the CanyonCarley BurchFamous Players-LaskyExtant. A copy is held at the Library of Congress
1924Pied Piper MalonePatty ThomasFamous Players-LaskyExtant. A print is held at the Gosfilmofond archive
IceboundJane CrosbyFamous Players-LaskyLost
Another ScandalBeatrice VanderdykeW. W. Hodkinson Corporation
Producers Distributing Corporation		Lost
The Man Who Fights AloneMarionFamous Players-LaskyLost
Monsieur BeaucaireQueen Marie of FranceFamous Players-LaskyExtant
North of 36Taisie LockheartFamous Players-LaskyExtant
1925ContrabandCarmel LeeFamous Players-LaskyLost
The Thundering HerdMilly FayreFamous Players-LaskyLost
Welcome HomeNettie ProutyFamous Players-LaskyExtant. Preserved at the Library of Congress
Marry MeFamous Players-LaskyLost
Uncredited
Rugged WaterNorma BartlettFamous Players-LaskyLost
The Vanishing AmericanMarion WarnerFamous Players-LaskyExtant
The King on Main StreetHotel guest in lobby (cameo appearance) ( uncredited)Famous Players-LaskyExtant
Irish LuckLady GwendolynFamous Players-LaskyExtant. A copy is held at the George Eastman Museum
Bluebeard's Seven WivesMary KellyFirst National PicturesLost
1926Let's Get MarriedMary CorbinFamous Players-LaskyExtant. A copy is held at the Library of Congress
Fascinating YouthLois WilsonFamous Players-LaskyLost
The Show-OffAmy FisherFamous Players-LaskyExtant
The Great GatsbyDaisy BuchananFamous Players-LaskyLost
1927New YorkMarjorie ChurchFamous Players-LaskyLost
Broadway NightsFanny FranchetteFirst National PicturesLost
The Gingham GirlMary ThompsonFilm Booking Offices of AmericaExtant. A copy is held at the Cinematheque Royale de Belgique
Alias the Lone WolfEve de MontalaisColumbia PicturesLost
French DressingCynthia GreyFirst National PicturesLost
1928Coney IslandJoan WellmanFilm Booking Offices of AmericaLost
Miss InformationThe Public StenographerLost
RansomLois BrewsterColumbia PicturesLost
Sally's ShouldersSallyFilm Booking Offices of AmericaLost

Sound films

Release date Title Role Studio(s) / Distributor(s) Notes
1928On TrialMay StricklandWarner Bros.Lost. Trailer and soundtrack survives.
Object: AlimonyRuth RutledgeColumbia PicturesLost
ConquestDiane HoldenLost
1929A Bird in the HandThe WifeIncomplete
Kid GlovesRuthLost
The GamblersCatherine DarwinWarner Bros.Lost
Her Husband's WomenThe Painter's Jealous WifeShort
The Show of ShowsPerformer in 'Bicycle Built for Two' NumberWarner Bros.Extant
Wedding RingsCornelia QuinnWarner Bros.Lost
1930For Love or MoneyExtant
Short
The FuriesFifi SandsFirst National PicturesLost
Lovin' the LadiesJoan BentlyRKO Radio PicturesExtant
TemptationJulieExtant
Once a GentlemanMrs. MallinSono Art-World Wide PicturesLost
1931SeedPeggy CarterUniversal PicturesExtant
The Age for LoveSylvia PearsonUnited ArtistsLost
1932The ExpertNettie MinickWarner Bros.Extant
The Rider of Death ValleyHelen JoyceUniversal PicturesExtant
Drifting SoulsLinda LawrenceCapitol Film ExchangeExtant
Divorce in the FamilyMrs. ShumakerMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
The CrashMarcia PetersonWarner Bros.
The Devil Is DrivingNancy EvansParamount Pictures
The Secrets of Wu SinNona GouldChesterfield Pictures
Law and OrderUniversal Pictures
1933Obey the LawGrace ChesterColumbia Pictures
Laughing at LifeMrs. McHaleMascot Pictures
DelugeHelen WebsterRKO Radio Pictures
In the MoneyMary 'Lambie' HigginbottomChesterfield Pictures
FemaleHarrietWarner Bros.
1934The Show-OffClara HarlingMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
No Greater GloryNemeecsek's MotherColumbia Pictures
School for GirlsMiss CartwrightLiberty Pictures
There's Always TomorrowSophie WhiteUniversal Pictures
Ticket to a CrimeElaine PurdyBeacon Productions
Bright EyesMary BlakeFox Film
1935Life ReturnsDr. Louise StoneUniversal Pictures
Public OpinionMona Trevor / Anne TrevorChesterfield Pictures
Society FeverPortia ProutyChesterfield Pictures
Born to GamblePaula MathewsRepublic Pictures
Cappy Ricks ReturnsFlorry PeasleyRepublic Pictures
Your Uncle DudleyChristine Saunders20th Century Fox
1936The Return of Jimmy ValentineMary DavisRepublic Pictures
Wedding PresentLaura DodackerParamount Pictures
Laughing at TroubleAlice Mathews20th Century Fox
1939Bad Little AngelMrs. Ellen CreightonMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
1940Nobody's ChildrenMiss JamiesonColumbia Pictures
1941For Beauty's SakeMrs. Lloyd Kennar20th Century Fox
1949The Girl from Jones BeachMrs. WilsonWarner Bros.

References

  1. 1 2 "Lois Wilson, Actress of Stage, Television and Silent-Film Era". The New York Times. Associated Press. March 10, 1988. Retrieved August 31, 2012. Lois Wilson, an actress who appeared in more than 100 early films including the 1923 Western epic The Covered Wagon, died of pneumonia on March 3 at Riverside Hospital for Skilled Care. She was 93 years old.
  2. ↑ Katchmer, George A. (May 20, 2015). A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-0905-8.
  3. ↑ "Lois Wilson". The Moving Picture World. Vol. 27, no. 8. February 26, 1916. p. 1303. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  4. ↑ Fox, Charles Donald; Silver, Milton L., eds. (1920). Who's Who on the Screen. New York: Ross Publishing. p. 316.
  5. ↑ "Lois Wilson". GoldenSilents.com. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Several Bluebirds to Make a Summer". The Moving Picture World. July 1, 1916. p. 75."The Silent Battle (Bluebird)". Moving Picture World and View Photographer. July 18, 2016. p. 271."The Silent Battle". Moving Picture World and View Photographer. July 22, 1916.
  7. ↑ "Screen Beauties of "Paramount" Importance". Theatre Magazine. August 1926. p. 36. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  8. ↑ Hall, Mordaunt (December 8, 1924). "THE SCREEN; Texas Cattlemen". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  9. ↑ Hall, Mordaunt (November 22, 1926). "Gold and Cocktails". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  10. ↑ Slide, Anthony (September 27, 2002). Silent Players: A Biographical and Autobiographical Study of 100 Silent Film Actors and Actresses. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0-8131-2249-6.
  11. ↑ Irvin, Richard (February 23, 2018). The Early Shows: A Reference Guide to Network and Syndicated PrimeTime Television Series from 1944 to 1949. BearManor Media. ISBN 978-1-6293-3241-3.
  12. 1 2 Swanson, Gloria (1981). Swanson on Swanson. New York City: Pocket Books. ISBN 9780671433543.
  13. ↑ Ristine, James D. (2009). Philadelphia's 1926 Sesqui-Centennial International Exhibition. Charleston SC: Arcadia Press. p. 2. ISBN 978-0-7385-6544-6.
  14. ↑ "Lois Wilson sculpture 1934". The Birmingham News. May 4, 1934. p. 28. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Questions and Answers". Photoplay. Vol. 26, no. 1. June 1924. pp. 93–100.
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