Yvonne Hughes
Encyclopedia
Yvonne Hughes was a dancer in the Ziegfeld Follies
and an actress in silent motion pictures.
and once danced with Rudolph Valentino
. Her movie appearances came in 1923 and 1924. She had roles in Lawful Larceny, Zaza, Big Brother, A Society Scandal, and Monsieur Beaucaire. She also appeared in Rio Rita.
In 1928, Hughes married Gordon Godowsky, son of Leopold Godowsky
. The marriage lasted one year. In 1932, Godowsky committed suicide over financial trouble.
hotel room of Birger Nordkvist, a Swedish
apple picker who worked for a western New York
cider firm. Earlier that night, Nordkvist got into a cab driven by John McDonald, who had lived with Hughes for fourteen years. McDonald offered to take him to the Ashland Hotel, where he kept a room. Nordkvist met Hughes, who demonstrated some old dance routines for him, and they drank beer through the night and into the next morning; all the while, McDonald was driving his taxi. After Hughes rebuffed Nordkvist's advances, Nordkvist strangled her by tying his handkerchief around her throat and stuffing a silk scarf into her mouth. Nordkvist was arrested in Utica, New York
where he went after leaving the hotel.
Ziegfeld Follies
The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 through 1931. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air....
and an actress in silent motion pictures.
Career and personal life
Hughes appeared in films with 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...
and once danced with Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino was an Italian actor, and early pop icon. A sex symbol of the 1920s, Valentino was known as the "Latin Lover". He starred in several well-known silent films including The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, The Sheik, Blood and Sand, The Eagle and Son of the Sheik...
. Her movie appearances came in 1923 and 1924. She had roles in Lawful Larceny, Zaza, Big Brother, A Society Scandal, and Monsieur Beaucaire. She also appeared in Rio Rita.
In 1928, Hughes married Gordon Godowsky, son of Leopold Godowsky
Leopold Godowsky
Leopold Godowsky was a famed Polish American pianist, composer, and teacher. One of the most highly regarded performers of his time, he became known for his theories concerning the application of relaxed weight and economy of motion in piano playing, principles later propagated by Godowsky's...
. The marriage lasted one year. In 1932, Godowsky committed suicide over financial trouble.
Murder
On December 26, 1950, Hughes was murdered in the New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
hotel room of Birger Nordkvist, a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
apple picker who worked for a western New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
cider firm. Earlier that night, Nordkvist got into a cab driven by John McDonald, who had lived with Hughes for fourteen years. McDonald offered to take him to the Ashland Hotel, where he kept a room. Nordkvist met Hughes, who demonstrated some old dance routines for him, and they drank beer through the night and into the next morning; all the while, McDonald was driving his taxi. After Hughes rebuffed Nordkvist's advances, Nordkvist strangled her by tying his handkerchief around her throat and stuffing a silk scarf into her mouth. Nordkvist was arrested in Utica, New York
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
where he went after leaving the hotel.
Selected Filmography
- ZazaZaza (1923 film)Zaza is a silent film drama produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures, directed by Allan Dwan, and starring Gloria Swanson. This film is based on a famous play of the same name produced on Broadway in 1899 by David Belasco and starring Mrs...
(1923) - A Society ScandalA Society ScandalA Society Scandal is a 1924 silent film drama starring Gloria Swanson and was produced by Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It is based on a 1923 play, The Laughing Lady by Alfred Sutro, which starred Ethel Barrymore on Broadway. The picture was directed by Allan Dwan,...
(1924) - Monsieur Beaucaire (1924)