Majel Coleman
Encyclopedia
Majel Coleman was a movie actress
from Cincinnati, Ohio
. Most of her eleven film credits are silent movie
features. The name Majel means wood dove.
in particular. When she could not find a way to get his attention, she lost interest in working for other movie studios. Then a chance happening changed Coleman's future.
Demille noticed Coleman when a small stray dog followed her home and became intimidated by her police dog. The little dog jumped off her
porch and broke its leg on the cement below. It continued on across the street with Coleman pursuing. A car driven by the film producer almost ran over the red haired beauty. Together Demille and Coleman took the puppy to the hospital.
Demille then signed Coleman to a movie contract in March 1925. He made tests and arranged for her to act in small parts in his next films. Coleman's hands became an ideal of perfection, beginning with film screen tests which revealed their beauty. She was listed among the fourteen most beautiful women in the world in 1926 along with Sally Rand
, Etta Lee, Eugenia Gilbert, Jocelyn Lee, Sally Long, Clara Morris
, Olive Borden
, Christina Montt
, Adalyn Mayer, Thais Valdemar, Yola D'Avril, and Dorothy Seastrom
.
Her early motion picture efforts include roles in Bluebeard's Eight Wife (1923), and several Harry Carey
westerns, Soft Shoes (1925) and West of Broadway (1926). In Corporal Kate (1926) Coleman stars with Vera Reynolds
and Julia Faye
. The setting is Rivecourt, France
, a town almost totally destroyed by the German
offensive of August–September 1918,
during World War I
. The American Seventh Machine Gun Battalion fought there.
In 1927 Coleman played Procula, the wife of Pontius Pilate
, in Demille's production of King of Kings. Her last films were made in the late 1920s. She had roles in The Girl In The Glass Cage (1929) and Romance of the Rio Grande (1929).
and did away with the need for B batteries in radio reception.
Majel Coleman died in Paramount, California
in 1980.
from Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. Most of her eleven film credits are silent movie
Silent Movie
Silent Movie is a 1976 satirical comedy film co-written, directed by, and starring Mel Brooks, and released by 20th Century Fox on June 17, 1976...
features. The name Majel means wood dove.
Film actress
She came to Hollywood in 1921 after high school in Cincinnati. She was a beauty contest winner in her hometown. Coleman wanted to work for Cecil B. DemilleCecil B. DeMille
Cecil Blount DeMille was an American film director and Academy Award-winning film producer in both silent and sound films. He was renowned for the flamboyance and showmanship of his movies...
in particular. When she could not find a way to get his attention, she lost interest in working for other movie studios. Then a chance happening changed Coleman's future.
Demille noticed Coleman when a small stray dog followed her home and became intimidated by her police dog. The little dog jumped off her
porch and broke its leg on the cement below. It continued on across the street with Coleman pursuing. A car driven by the film producer almost ran over the red haired beauty. Together Demille and Coleman took the puppy to the hospital.
Demille then signed Coleman to a movie contract in March 1925. He made tests and arranged for her to act in small parts in his next films. Coleman's hands became an ideal of perfection, beginning with film screen tests which revealed their beauty. She was listed among the fourteen most beautiful women in the world in 1926 along with Sally Rand
Sally Rand
Sally Rand was a burlesque dancer and actress, most noted for her ostrich feather fan dance and balloon bubble dance. She also performed under the name Billie Beck.-Early life and career:...
, Etta Lee, Eugenia Gilbert, Jocelyn Lee, Sally Long, Clara Morris
Clara Morris
Clara Morris was an American actress.-Biography:Born in Toronto, Canada, her real name was Morrison. She was reared in Cleveland, Ohio, where at the Academy of Music she became a member of the ballet and afterward leading actress.She went to New York in 1870 as a member of Daly's company...
, Olive Borden
Olive Borden
Olive Borden was an American actress in silent and early talkies. Nicknamed "The Joy Girl", Borden was known for her jet-black hair and overall beauty.-Early life:Olive Borden was born in Richmond, Virginia in 1906...
, Christina Montt
Christina Montt
Cristina Montt , was a Chilean film star of silent and early sound films.-Early life:She was born in Chile in 1895 into the well-known, political Montt family. Her granduncle, Manuel Montt, was twice president of Chile...
, Adalyn Mayer, Thais Valdemar, Yola D'Avril, and Dorothy Seastrom
Dorothy Seastrom
Dorothy Seastrom was an American silent film actress.-Early life and career:Born in Texas, Seastrom got into acting after winning the a beauty competition....
.
Her early motion picture efforts include roles in Bluebeard's Eight Wife (1923), and several Harry Carey
Harry Carey
Harry Carey was an American actor and one of silent film's earliest superstars. He was the father of Harry Carey Jr., who was also a prominent actor.-Early life and career:...
westerns, Soft Shoes (1925) and West of Broadway (1926). In Corporal Kate (1926) Coleman stars with Vera Reynolds
Vera Reynolds
-Early life and career:Born in Richmond, Virginia in 1899, she started out as a dancer, worked as one of the Sennett Bathing Beauties, and became a leading lady in silent motion pictures. Among her film credits are starring roles in Sam Wood's Prodigal Daughters , and Cecil B...
and Julia Faye
Julia Faye
Julia Faye was a motion picture actress from Richmond, Virginia.-Career overview:Faye had resided in St. Louis, Missouri prior to coming to Hollywood in 1916, to visit friends. She visited one of the film studios and was introduced to Christy Cabanne. The two reminisced about St...
. The setting is Rivecourt, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, a town almost totally destroyed by the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
offensive of August–September 1918,
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The American Seventh Machine Gun Battalion fought there.
In 1927 Coleman played Procula, the wife of Pontius Pilate
Pontius Pilate
Pontius Pilatus , known in the English-speaking world as Pontius Pilate , was the fifth Prefect of the Roman province of Judaea, from AD 26–36. He is best known as the judge at Jesus' trial and the man who authorized the crucifixion of Jesus...
, in Demille's production of King of Kings. Her last films were made in the late 1920s. She had roles in The Girl In The Glass Cage (1929) and Romance of the Rio Grande (1929).
Advertising model
Coleman made many promotional appearances at automobile shows and other events. She was once photographed demonstrating a Velvetone eliminator. The little black box was invented by Harry HoudiniHarry Houdini
Harry Houdini was a Hungarian-born American magician and escapologist, stunt performer, actor and film producer noted for his sensational escape acts...
and did away with the need for B batteries in radio reception.
Majel Coleman died in Paramount, California
Paramount, California
Paramount is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. According to the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 54,098 down from 55,266 at the 2000 census...
in 1980.