Beverly Bayne
Encyclopedia
Beverly Bayne (November 11, 1894 – August 18, 1982) was an American actress who appeared in silent films beginning in 1910 in Chicago, Illinois, where she worked for Essanay Studios
.
, she moved to Chicago when she was six. She stayed there for a time, and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, before she settled in Chicago. She was sixteen when by curiosity she happened by the Essanay Studios. She was told she had a camera face. She began working there at a salary of $35/week. It was soon increased to $75 a week. In a few years the actress was earning $350 weekly.
. It is said that Swanson wept because her eyes were blue and not brown as were Bayne's. Brown eyes were considered preferable for photography then. Other actors on the lot were Wallace Beery
, Charlie Chaplin
, and Francis X. Bushman
. Bushman demanded Beverly as his female lead, and soon they were a romantic duo, appearing in twenty-four films. Their first film together was Pennington's Choice (1915). In 1917 the couple made Romeo and Juliet, which generated a sizeable profit. Bushman and Bayne were married in 1918.
Bayne and Bushman left Essanay and made films for Metro Pictures
from 1916–1918 and are credited as the first romantic team in film. In 1920 the couple starred in a play, The Master Thief, which did well. Later they appeared in vaudeville
and as guest stars in dramatic stock.
Eventually the two drifted apart. Bayne and Bushman divorced in 1924, and her career went into decline after that. Soon both she and Bushman were out of motion pictures. On reflecting, Bushman believed their demise in films was caused by a new valet who inadvertently snubbed Louis B. Mayer
. The movie mogul had called on him during a personal appearance tour. Others contend that the Hollywood establishment disapproved of Bushman divorcing his wife and marrying the much younger Bayne.
Her final silent film was Passionate Youth in 1925. Unable to make a comeback, she worked on stage productions and on Broadway
throughout the 1930s and 1940s. During the early 1940s, Miss Bayne performed in radio and did an occasional play. During World War II
her serious work involved British War Relief
.
Her only sound film was The Naked City
(1948) with Barry Fitzgerald
and Howard Duff
. It was also her last film.
, where she died from a heart attack
at the age of 87.
Essanay Studios
The Essanay Film Manufacturing Company was an American motion picture studio. It is best known today for its series of Charlie Chaplin comedies of 1915.-Founding:...
.
Early life
Born in Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, she moved to Chicago when she was six. She stayed there for a time, and in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, before she settled in Chicago. She was sixteen when by curiosity she happened by the Essanay Studios. She was told she had a camera face. She began working there at a salary of $35/week. It was soon increased to $75 a week. In a few years the actress was earning $350 weekly.
Film career
Her first films were The Rivals and The Loan Shark, both in 1912. She played the feminine lead in the latter. Under contract to Essanay at this time was Gloria SwansonGloria Swanson
Gloria Swanson was an American actress, singer and producer. She was one of the most prominent stars during the silent film era as both an actress and a fashion icon, especially under the direction of Cecil B. DeMille, made dozens of silents and was nominated for the first Academy Award in the...
. It is said that Swanson wept because her eyes were blue and not brown as were Bayne's. Brown eyes were considered preferable for photography then. Other actors on the lot were Wallace Beery
Wallace Beery
Wallace Fitzgerald Beery was an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Bill in Min and Bill opposite Marie Dressler, as Long John Silver in Treasure Island, as Pancho Villa in Viva Villa!, and his titular role in The Champ, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor...
, Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin
Sir Charles Spencer "Charlie" Chaplin, KBE was an English comic actor, film director and composer best known for his work during the silent film era. He became the most famous film star in the world before the end of World War I...
, and Francis X. Bushman
Francis X. Bushman
Francis Xavier Bushman was an American actor, film director, and screenwriter. His matinee idol career started in 1911 in the silent film His Friend's Wife, but it did not survive the silent screen era....
. Bushman demanded Beverly as his female lead, and soon they were a romantic duo, appearing in twenty-four films. Their first film together was Pennington's Choice (1915). In 1917 the couple made Romeo and Juliet, which generated a sizeable profit. Bushman and Bayne were married in 1918.
Bayne and Bushman left Essanay and made films for Metro Pictures
Metro Pictures
Metro Pictures Corporation was an American motion picture production company founded in late 1915 by Richard A. Rowland . Louis B. Mayer who worked for Metro Pictures Corporation early on. It is not to be confused with MGM which is a much later franchise concerning itself, Goldwyn and Louis B....
from 1916–1918 and are credited as the first romantic team in film. In 1920 the couple starred in a play, The Master Thief, which did well. Later they appeared in vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
and as guest stars in dramatic stock.
Eventually the two drifted apart. Bayne and Bushman divorced in 1924, and her career went into decline after that. Soon both she and Bushman were out of motion pictures. On reflecting, Bushman believed their demise in films was caused by a new valet who inadvertently snubbed Louis B. Mayer
Louis B. Mayer
Louis Burt Mayer born Lazar Meir was an American film producer. He is generally cited as the creator of the "star system" within Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in its golden years. Known always as Louis B...
. The movie mogul had called on him during a personal appearance tour. Others contend that the Hollywood establishment disapproved of Bushman divorcing his wife and marrying the much younger Bayne.
Her final silent film was Passionate Youth in 1925. Unable to make a comeback, she worked on stage productions and on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
throughout the 1930s and 1940s. During the early 1940s, Miss Bayne performed in radio and did an occasional play. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
her serious work involved British War Relief
British War Relief Society
The British War Relief Society was a US-based humanitarian umbrella organisation dealing with the supply of non-military aid such as food, clothes, medical supplies and financial aid to people in Great Britain during the early years of the Second World War...
.
Her only sound film was The Naked City
The Naked City
The Naked City is a 1948 black-and-white film noir directed by Jules Dassin. The movie, shot partially in documentary style, was filmed on location on the streets of New York City, featuring landmarks such as the Williamsburg Bridge the Whitehall Building and an apartment building on West 83rd...
(1948) with Barry Fitzgerald
Barry Fitzgerald
Barry Fitzgerald was an Irish stage, film and television actor.-Life:He was born William Joseph Shields in Walworth Road, Portobello, Dublin, Ireland. He is the older brother of Irish actor Arthur Shields. He went to Skerry's College, Dublin, before going on to work in the civil service, while...
and Howard Duff
Howard Duff
Howard Green Duff was an American actor of film, television, stage, and radio.Duff was born in Charleston, Washington, now a part of Bremerton. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in Seattle in 1932 where he began acting in school plays only after he was cut from the basketball team...
. It was also her last film.
Partial filmography
- Dear Old Girl (Bushman and Bayne)
- "A Brother's Loyalty" (Bushman and Bayne)
- "The Hermit of Lonely Gulch" (Bushman and Bayne)
- "The Eye That Never Sleeps" (Bushman)
- "Out of the Night" (Bushman)
- "Lost Years" (Bushman)
- "The Virtue of Rags" (Bushman)
- "The Turning Point" (Bushman and Washburn)
- "Waiting" (Henry Walthall)
- "Dad's Boy" (Henry Walthall)
- "Two Men and a Girl" (Bushman, Washburn, Cassanelli)
- "Sunshine" (Ruth Stonehouse)
- "Napatia, the Greek Singer" (Dolores Cassanelli)
- "The Swag of Destiny" (Dorothy Phillips)
- "The Great White Trail" (Doris Kenyon)
Later years
She retired from performing completely in 1950 and settled in Scottsdale, ArizonaScottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...
, where she died from a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at the age of 87.
External links
- Vh1 movies: Beverly Bayne
- 1922 Louella Parsons interview
- ISBN 0786407964 Beverly Bayne, Queen of the movies, Richard J. Maturi & Mary Buckingham