On this day in 1892, a star was born and she would give us an exceptional performance, both on stage and on camera. Her name was Mary Pickford.
Mary Pickford was known as “America’s Sweetheart”, paving her way in little girl roles in the early 1900s. Although she may appear to take on her acting career with ease, her rise to stardom was not an easy one.
Pickford was born Gladys Smith in 1892 in Toronto, Canada. After her father was killed in an accident, she became the breadwinner of her family when she entered the Toronto’s Princess Theatre in 1899. She landed a role on Broadway in 1906, which eventually caught the attention of theatre producer David Belasco where, after a meeting with him, she emerged as Mary Pickford. She entered the moving picture scene in 1909 when she began working at D.W. Griffith’s Biograph Company. She stayed with the company from 1909 to 1911, leaving briefly to work for the Independent Picture Company.
In 1913, Pickford became known as the biggest star in featured motion pictures. Some of her famous motion pictures include Tess of the Storm County (1914), Poor Little Rich Girl (1917), Stella Maris (1918), and The Hoodlum (1919). She was remembered for her child like portrayal, which can be seen in films such as Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1917) and Daddy-Long-Legs (1919).
Featured in December 5, 1916 Perth Amboy Evening News.
In 1919, Pickford cofounded United Artists with actor/filmmaker Charlie Chaplin, film director D. W. Griffith, and actor/ screenwriter/ director/producer, Douglas Fairbanks. Her most successful films of the 1920s include a remake of Tess of the Storm Country (1922), Rosita (1923), Sparrows (1926), and her last silent film, My Best Girl (1927).
Featured in July 14, 1919 Perth Amboy Evening News.
By the late 1920s, sound film replaced silent film and although Pickford made a few Talkies, they were not as successful as her silent films. Having relied on expressions and gestures in her silent films, she needed to restrict her movements to stay in range of the microphone. In addition, speaking her voice showed her age, erasing the image of her being young “America’s Sweetheart.” Failing to adapt to these changes in film, she retired in 1933.
As a result of her decline in her career and failed first marriage, Pickford remarried in 1937 and adopted two children. Her last years were spent in seclusion. However, in 1976, the Academy presented her with a lifetime achievement award for all her contributions to the film industry.
(Contributed by Kristi Chanda)
References
Brazier, Tori. (2017). “Mary Pickford: The Rise and Fall of America’s Sweetheart.” One Room With A View, Received from oneroomwithaview.com/2014/04/07/mary-pickford-the-rise-and-fall-of-americas-sweetheart/.
“The Long Decline.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service. Received from www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/pickford-long-decline/.
Schmidt, Christel. (2020). “Mary Pickford.” Mary Pickford – Women Film Pioneers Project. Received from wfpp.columbia.edu/pioneer/ccp-mary-pickford/.