Famous Performers

Arbuckle, Roscoe "Fatty"

Involved in scandal in which it was claimed a young woman died from his weight while he was sexually assaulting her. He was acquitted of all charges but his career was destroyed.

 Bara, Theda
Early movie "vamp". Her name was an anagram for Arab Death.

 Bow, Clara
The "It" Girl

 Chaplin, Charlie
British comdian famous for his "Little Tramp" character and his anti Nazi stance in The Great Dictator in which he made fun of Adolph Hitler.

 Costello, Maurice
One of the first "matinee idols" First actor to refuse to do work on the set other than act - and get away with it! Davies, Marion
Best known as the mistress of William Randolph Hurst whose life is vaguely portrayed in Citizen Kane. It is rumored that Thomas Ince was killed by Hurst on his yacht because of Davies.

 Fairbanks Sr. , Douglas
Acrobatic actor of silent films. Married to Mary Pickford and father of Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

 Gaynor, Janet
Famous actress and star of Murnau's classic Sunrise and later Seventh Heaven. She stars in the original version of A Star is Born. Gish, Lillian
Long lived actress who performed from 1912-1987 and died at the age of 99. Appeared in such silent films as Birth of a Nation, Broken Blossoms, Orphans of the Storm and sound films as Duel in the Sun, Portrait of Jenny, Night of the Hunter and The Whales of August (her final film in 1987)

Keaton, Buster
Remarkable physical comedian whose career spanned silent and sound films. Best known for his film The General about a train during the Civil War. Appears as one of the "waxworks" in Sunset Blvd.

 LaRoque, Rod

Appears in the first The Ten Commandments which was directed by Cecil B. DeMille in 1923 Lloyd, Harold
Comedian known for his film Safety Last Was missing fingers as a result of an explosion. Carmen Miranda (1909–1955) Portuguese born, Brazilian raised singer/actress who was brought to the US as part of the "Good Neighbor Policy" which "Americanized" Latin America and Latins. Her Brazilian career and reputation were destroyed through her performances in American films.

Navarro, Ramon

One of the major "Latin lovers". Billed as the "New Valentino" Plays the title role in the original Ben Hur. Murdered by hustlers who heard he had thousands of dollars in his home. Nazimova, Alla
Famous for her film Salome Aunt to producer Val Lewton. Pickford, Mary
Actress and wife of Douglas Fairbanks Sr.

Turner, Florence
"The Vitaphone Girl". One of the first "movie stars" and with Florence Lawrence the first actresses to get their names on a film when they were not known in another medium. This "starts" in effect the "star system" in which performers are given billing and screen credits, a name on a marquee as well as promotion in advertising. Valentino, Rudolf
Italian born, but the most famous of the "Latin lovers". First male "sex symbol" Known for his performance in The Sheik and The Son of the Shiek a role he could not shake. His death in NY at age 31 caused near riots.