The Los Angeles County Superior Court has finally settled the Grand View lawsuit. The settlement is for $3.8 million dollars, which the law firm handling the case will receive $1.1 million dollars. The rest will be divided to the 2,500 to 3,000 claimants who filed suit.
"Paul Ayers, one of the plaintiff attorneys representing the families, will oversee the restoration efforts, to include obtaining original cemetery records, identifying and storing cremated remains in the mausoleum and installing an irrigation system for rehabilitated landscaping.
With the settlement complete, the long-awaited restoration efforts should begin soon, Ayers said.
“For most of the families, it’s not the compensation,” Ayers said. “They want to see the cemetery normalized.”" - Burbank Leader, March 10, 2010
As for Edna Purviance, and the fans who voiced here, they wanted Edna out of Grand View, Lita Hill (Edna's grand niece) was trying to remove Edna in the fall of 2007, to take to another cemetery. She was in the process of doing so, when the attorney involved decided against it, on the grounds of Edna being "a celebrity" and "cult" figure.
I will say, Lita was very serious in doing it and followed all the steps in doing so, but was told, afterwards, it could have lead to lawsuits toward her, from people (not related to Edna) not wanting Edna out of Grand View.
So for all the fans, who wanted Edna out of Grand View, Lita did try, she really did. Lita's wish was an memorial for herself, Edna and her father, Morgan (Lita's father). That didn't happen.
Hopefully, Grand View will be on the road to being restored, and a caring buyer will be found. That will be the next step. So this story is not over, just beginning a new chapter.
Showing posts with label Edna history. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Edna history. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Charlie Chaplin Studio early day 3D Film Experiments
With the chat about Charlie Chaplin being animated into a 3D image, it just so happens, 3D is not new to the Chaplin Studio. Back in the late 1920s, Charlie Chaplin's head cameraman, Rollie Totheroh was experiencing with creating 3D images on film, on the back lot of the Chaplin Studio.
The people filmed in this test wasn't Charlie Chaplin, but Edna Purviance's nephew, Morgan Hill and cameraman, Val Lane. Both men worked for the Chaplin film crew.
Morgan Hill worked for Charlie Chaplin starting sometime in 1927 through 1939. (He started to work for Chaplin during the filming of The Circus and worked full time starting in 1928, from the information we have in the Hill collection.)
Morgan use to visit the studio when Edna Purviance was still working there in the early 1920s, clear up to the time when she was filming The Sea Gull "A Woman of the Sea" (in 1926).
Morgan was assistant to Rollie Totheroh during filming, and worked in the studio film developing lab. He used is mechanical talents in repairing film cameras on site, and even invented unique equipment, used in the film industry.
You can see this clip of Morgan in The Chaplin DVD Collection from Warner Brothers. If you have the two disc DVD of The Circus, in the MK2 collection, look up the extras on Disc Two. On the menu, you will see a listing for DOCUMENTS. Click on DOCUMENTS, and you will find a listing for 3D camera test footage.
The footage opens with cameraman Val Lane by a tree. Walking up from the background, is Morgan Hill. The two do hand movements in front of the camera.
It was just an experiment, but interesting to note Chaplin's camera crew were creating 3D, never realizing their boss, one day, would be re-created using that technique for future audiences to enjoy.
This film clip is own by David Totheroh. We actually met David in Hollywood during our Cinecon event. He came especially to meet Lita and see our event. He didn't know Morgan, but remembered an old family joke, concerning the fact, Morgan had a town in California named after him, called Morgan Hill.
Of course, it adds a bit of a problem researching Morgan Hill, on a database, as the town shows up often in searches.
If you don't have the DVD, it is still available from private sellers. The Chaplin Collection DVD set from Warners has been retired. I don't know if this clip will be added to future Chaplin DVD collections, so if you like to have it, should probably get one now, before the price goes higher. It has been increasing in price.
___________________
Added Notes
Morgan Hill was the father to Lita and Ellie Hill, and was the son of Bessie Purviance Hill and Sidney Hill. He was Edna's close friend and pal, while growing up in Nevada. Morgan was seven years younger than Edna, and would remain close to the family his whole life. He use to live with Edna, from time to time, in the late 1910s and early 1920s, until he married his first wife Jean. Jean and Morgan would visit Edna on the set during the time of Edna's last films with Chaplin.
Morgan and his second wife, Helen (Lita and Ellie's mother), helped Edna get into the Motion Picture Home, during Edna's serious illness with cancer in the 1950s.
The people filmed in this test wasn't Charlie Chaplin, but Edna Purviance's nephew, Morgan Hill and cameraman, Val Lane. Both men worked for the Chaplin film crew.
Morgan Hill worked for Charlie Chaplin starting sometime in 1927 through 1939. (He started to work for Chaplin during the filming of The Circus and worked full time starting in 1928, from the information we have in the Hill collection.)Morgan use to visit the studio when Edna Purviance was still working there in the early 1920s, clear up to the time when she was filming The Sea Gull "A Woman of the Sea" (in 1926).
Morgan was assistant to Rollie Totheroh during filming, and worked in the studio film developing lab. He used is mechanical talents in repairing film cameras on site, and even invented unique equipment, used in the film industry.
You can see this clip of Morgan in The Chaplin DVD Collection from Warner Brothers. If you have the two disc DVD of The Circus, in the MK2 collection, look up the extras on Disc Two. On the menu, you will see a listing for DOCUMENTS. Click on DOCUMENTS, and you will find a listing for 3D camera test footage.
The footage opens with cameraman Val Lane by a tree. Walking up from the background, is Morgan Hill. The two do hand movements in front of the camera.
It was just an experiment, but interesting to note Chaplin's camera crew were creating 3D, never realizing their boss, one day, would be re-created using that technique for future audiences to enjoy.
This film clip is own by David Totheroh. We actually met David in Hollywood during our Cinecon event. He came especially to meet Lita and see our event. He didn't know Morgan, but remembered an old family joke, concerning the fact, Morgan had a town in California named after him, called Morgan Hill.
Of course, it adds a bit of a problem researching Morgan Hill, on a database, as the town shows up often in searches.
If you don't have the DVD, it is still available from private sellers. The Chaplin Collection DVD set from Warners has been retired. I don't know if this clip will be added to future Chaplin DVD collections, so if you like to have it, should probably get one now, before the price goes higher. It has been increasing in price.
___________________
Added Notes
Morgan Hill was the father to Lita and Ellie Hill, and was the son of Bessie Purviance Hill and Sidney Hill. He was Edna's close friend and pal, while growing up in Nevada. Morgan was seven years younger than Edna, and would remain close to the family his whole life. He use to live with Edna, from time to time, in the late 1910s and early 1920s, until he married his first wife Jean. Jean and Morgan would visit Edna on the set during the time of Edna's last films with Chaplin.
Morgan and his second wife, Helen (Lita and Ellie's mother), helped Edna get into the Motion Picture Home, during Edna's serious illness with cancer in the 1950s.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Edna Purviance Website questions
From time to time, I post some of the questions that come by. Here are three for today.
What war(s) were going on during Charlie Chaplin's live?
I will list the bigger ones: WWI, WWII, Korea War, Vietnam War.
What color of hair did Edna Purviance have?
From the color film, still color photos and hand colored photos of Edna we have in the Hill Family Collection (from the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s), Edna was a natural strawberry blond. It is why it sometimes looks slightly darker, at times, in black and white film. Red tones do photograph darker in B&W. She did inherited her hair color from her father's side of the family (Madison Gates Purviance). Louise (her mother) had darker hair.
What was the last photo of Edna Purviance?
We have the last known family photo taken of Edna. It was in late 1957. She was at the Motion Picture Home in Woodland, California. Edna was in a wheelchair at the time, with her sisters Myrtle and Bessie visiting, with their family pet dog, Tippy, by Edna's side. I don't know who took the photo, but could have been Bessie Purviance Hill or maybe even her son, Morgan Hill, who visited often with other family members.
This photo was first seen in public at our Hollywood presentation of "Angel from Nevada" the Lita Hill interview, at Cinecon in 2006. I am currently updating this video for the International Charlie Chaplin Conference coming this October, in Zanesville, Ohio.
Watch for more questions in the future, that pass by, on Edna's site.
What war(s) were going on during Charlie Chaplin's live?
I will list the bigger ones: WWI, WWII, Korea War, Vietnam War.
What color of hair did Edna Purviance have?
From the color film, still color photos and hand colored photos of Edna we have in the Hill Family Collection (from the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s), Edna was a natural strawberry blond. It is why it sometimes looks slightly darker, at times, in black and white film. Red tones do photograph darker in B&W. She did inherited her hair color from her father's side of the family (Madison Gates Purviance). Louise (her mother) had darker hair.
What was the last photo of Edna Purviance?
We have the last known family photo taken of Edna. It was in late 1957. She was at the Motion Picture Home in Woodland, California. Edna was in a wheelchair at the time, with her sisters Myrtle and Bessie visiting, with their family pet dog, Tippy, by Edna's side. I don't know who took the photo, but could have been Bessie Purviance Hill or maybe even her son, Morgan Hill, who visited often with other family members.
This photo was first seen in public at our Hollywood presentation of "Angel from Nevada" the Lita Hill interview, at Cinecon in 2006. I am currently updating this video for the International Charlie Chaplin Conference coming this October, in Zanesville, Ohio.
Watch for more questions in the future, that pass by, on Edna's site.
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Charlie Chaplin's Screen test of Genevieve & Vivian Tobin
Took Film Test Many Years Ago
Genevieve Tobin Owes Part of her
Success in Movie World to Charlie Chaplin
The Centralia, Washington Daily Chronicle
Saturday, November 8, 1930 - pg. 2
Genevieve Tobin Owes Part of her
Success in Movie World to Charlie Chaplin
The Centralia, Washington Daily Chronicle
Saturday, November 8, 1930 - pg. 2
By Robbin CoonsHollywood, Nov. 8th - Genevieve Tobin is a comparative newcomer to Hollywood, but she had her first screen test years ago at the hands of Charlie Chaplin. Genevieve and sister, Vivian, who is still on Broadway, were doing a one-act play in vaudeville, and Chaplin sitting bored in the audience, was startled into interested attention when the two mere children came on stage.
With their mother, there with Genevieve, they were invited to come to the Chaplin's studio next morning for a screen test.
Edna Purviance, the comedian's then leading lady, helped Genevieve make up while himself assisted Vivian --- piquing Genevieve no little.
The test resulted well enough but there was nothing Chaplin had for them to do at the time, and Mother Tobin wanted them to finish school, so that ended the movie idea for a time.
TOO BAD
It came again, to Genevieve, when she was playing the lead in "Fifty Million Frenchmen" on Broadway and received an offer of talkie stardom.
The show, says Genevieve, fairly collapsed soon after she left its cast for Hollywood.
Various triumphs on the stage, she allows no false modesty to underestimate their greatness nor her own worth, as she tells of them--- preceded this offer.
She is, to say the least, very confident not only for herself, but for Sister Vivian, who she says, "is not in pictures but could be any time she wanted to."
__________________
Genevieve Tobin played many supporting roles, including her work in "The Petrified Forest" with Humphrey Bogart and Bette Davis.
Here is a clip of Genevieve Tobin playing Mitzi Olivier in One Hour with You (1932).
As for the Chaplin screen test, where Edna helped, the internet information is a bit confusing, with different birth date for Tobins. Unless someone has this all figured out on the Tobins, it would take me sometime to research.
I am interested, since I have a photo of Edna with two young girls, all in costumes, but dressed in nothing I ever seen in any Chaplin film before. The girls were pretty young looking, so that is why I am most interested in exact birth dates. But from the little information on the web, I would guess this photo we have is not them, because the girls look too young.
This photo I maybe including in the newly updated video I am working on for the Chaplin Conference in Zanesville, Ohio, coming this October, 2010.
Image - Drawing by Linda Wada - Feb. 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Charlie Chaplin & Edna Purviance: First Grand March
On this night, on January 30, 1915, Charlie Chaplin and Edna Purviance lead the Grand March at the Celebrities Ball held at the Civic Auditorium in San Francisco.
"Lincoln Beachey, who is to be in the grand march with Miss Ellie Shoemaker, has surrendered the leadership to Charles Chaplin. - Jan. 29, 1915, The Call
"Chaplin is to lead the grand march at the Celebrities' Ball... Chaplin was playing in a comedy with Miss Edna Purviance, who is his latest partner in the strenuous photoplay life and who has consented to be his partner in tonight's grand march." - Jan. 30, 1915, The Call
This was Edna's second visit in just three weeks to the Civic Center Auditorium in San Francisco.
During her first visit, of January 9, 1915, she was just one of tens of thousands, who attended, and watched the Grand March, at the Grand Opening event of the building.
Edna had no idea she would go from someone watching, to center of attention, in this same building, in just three weeks.
Now, she would take the lead role in the Grand March, with her new partner, Charlie Chaplin, at the Celebrities Ball.
What a thrill it had to be for Edna. But while it changed her life, it didn't change her.
It would be the beginning of a love affair, that would heat up in the coming months, but cooled to a warm friendship, that lasted a lifetime.
"Lincoln Beachey, who is to be in the grand march with Miss Ellie Shoemaker, has surrendered the leadership to Charles Chaplin. - Jan. 29, 1915, The Call
"Chaplin is to lead the grand march at the Celebrities' Ball... Chaplin was playing in a comedy with Miss Edna Purviance, who is his latest partner in the strenuous photoplay life and who has consented to be his partner in tonight's grand march." - Jan. 30, 1915, The Call
This was Edna's second visit in just three weeks to the Civic Center Auditorium in San Francisco.
During her first visit, of January 9, 1915, she was just one of tens of thousands, who attended, and watched the Grand March, at the Grand Opening event of the building.
Edna had no idea she would go from someone watching, to center of attention, in this same building, in just three weeks.
Now, she would take the lead role in the Grand March, with her new partner, Charlie Chaplin, at the Celebrities Ball.
What a thrill it had to be for Edna. But while it changed her life, it didn't change her.
It would be the beginning of a love affair, that would heat up in the coming months, but cooled to a warm friendship, that lasted a lifetime.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Charlie Chaplin's Grand March with his new leading lady
On this date in 1915, (according to the San Francisco Call & Post), famous, early day aviator and chairman of The Celebrities Ball, Lincoln Beachey, visited Niles Studio. He hand delivered a personal invitation to Charlie Chaplin to be part of the Celebrities Ball.
While the Ball was open to the public, all the dancers in the Grand March were invited guest. Charlie Chaplin was selected to lead the Grand March.
During the week the local newspapers reported different ladies to dance with him, including Mabel Normand. But Charlie Chaplin had someone else in mind for this honor: his new leading lady, Edna Purviance.
Edna just attended the huge Civic Center Exhibition Auditorium event on January 9, 1915. She was a private citizen, who just happened to be photographed by the San Francisco Examiner. Her picture appeared in that newspaper on the Society page, January 17, 1915. (The Society page was right next to the theatre and movie listings.)
Charlie Chaplin just arrived in San Francisco bay area that same weekend of January 16th. He was in Chicago January 9, 1915, working on his film "His New Job" and just left the Essanay Chicago Studio a few days later to start work in Niles. He only had about three days in the bay area, to get his new picture started and look for a new leading lady.
By January 21, 1915, Edna was in Niles, reporting for her first day at the studio.
Now, just about one week later, she would be the leading lady in the Grand March at the Celebrities Ball with her new leading man, Charlie Chaplin. The Ball was scheduled for Saturday night, January 30, 1915.
LINK
You can see "His New Job" from the Image Entertainment collection at this link. Note, Image has the wrong name on the film. They list it as "A Night Out."
While the Ball was open to the public, all the dancers in the Grand March were invited guest. Charlie Chaplin was selected to lead the Grand March.
During the week the local newspapers reported different ladies to dance with him, including Mabel Normand. But Charlie Chaplin had someone else in mind for this honor: his new leading lady, Edna Purviance.
Edna just attended the huge Civic Center Exhibition Auditorium event on January 9, 1915. She was a private citizen, who just happened to be photographed by the San Francisco Examiner. Her picture appeared in that newspaper on the Society page, January 17, 1915. (The Society page was right next to the theatre and movie listings.)
Charlie Chaplin just arrived in San Francisco bay area that same weekend of January 16th. He was in Chicago January 9, 1915, working on his film "His New Job" and just left the Essanay Chicago Studio a few days later to start work in Niles. He only had about three days in the bay area, to get his new picture started and look for a new leading lady.
By January 21, 1915, Edna was in Niles, reporting for her first day at the studio.
Now, just about one week later, she would be the leading lady in the Grand March at the Celebrities Ball with her new leading man, Charlie Chaplin. The Ball was scheduled for Saturday night, January 30, 1915.
LINK
You can see "His New Job" from the Image Entertainment collection at this link. Note, Image has the wrong name on the film. They list it as "A Night Out."
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Another Grand Ball event for Edna
All this week, in 1915, Edna worked with Chaplin and crew on "A Night Out" in Oakland and at the Niles Studio. Meanwhile, another Grand Dance was being planned in San Francisco.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Edna Purviance first week at Essanay
Niles, California - During this week of January 24, 1915, Edna Purviance was spending her first full week at Essanay Studios. Her first film was called "A Night Out" and was Chaplin's second film with Essanay. As part of her assignment, Edna watched the film being made.
Charlie was spending a great deal of time with all his players, especially Edna. He had to know his actors well, to direct them.
It was during this period Chaplin, and company, had a little party or get together, during one of the breaks in filming.
As everyone enjoyed their meals, Chaplin started making claims he could put anyone asleep. A bet was made and Edna took him right up on it.
Chaplin placed Edna in position for his trick. His made dramatic movements in front of Edna as he was "hypnotizing" her for the crowd. At one of the passes, he whispered to Edna to "fake" it.
Chaplin was taking a chance with his new leading lady, knowing full well she could have made a fool of him.
Edna had only seconds to think, but made her decision as smooth as silk sliding off a table.
She 'passed right out' in front of everyone, frighting the crowd.
Charlie quickly asked for assistance, as he grabbed her. As Edna was being revived, he had a smile to himself in being pleased with his new leading lady. She could have easily grabbed the money from the bet, but instead, played along for the joke.
Chaplin was very impressed and would learn more about his leading lady in the weeks to come.
Charlie was spending a great deal of time with all his players, especially Edna. He had to know his actors well, to direct them.
It was during this period Chaplin, and company, had a little party or get together, during one of the breaks in filming.
As everyone enjoyed their meals, Chaplin started making claims he could put anyone asleep. A bet was made and Edna took him right up on it.
Chaplin placed Edna in position for his trick. His made dramatic movements in front of Edna as he was "hypnotizing" her for the crowd. At one of the passes, he whispered to Edna to "fake" it.
Chaplin was taking a chance with his new leading lady, knowing full well she could have made a fool of him.
Edna had only seconds to think, but made her decision as smooth as silk sliding off a table.
She 'passed right out' in front of everyone, frighting the crowd.
Charlie quickly asked for assistance, as he grabbed her. As Edna was being revived, he had a smile to himself in being pleased with his new leading lady. She could have easily grabbed the money from the bet, but instead, played along for the joke.
Chaplin was very impressed and would learn more about his leading lady in the weeks to come.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Edna learning the ropes
On this day in history: After becoming an official member of the Essanay team on Thursday, the 21st, 1915, Edna started to watch how silent films were made. Chaplin asked Edna to observe while work began on his second film with Essanay 'A Night Out.' Edna appearance happens about halfway through this film. For Edna, it was exciting times, as she started her new job...
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Edna Purviance Arrives at Essanay Studio
On this day: Thursday, January 21, 1915, Edna Purviance arrived at the Essanay Studio in Niles, California. Charlie Chaplin was reported to have arrived at Niles on January 18th. He just arrived in the San Francisco area over the weekend of January 16th. Edna's photograph in the San Francisco Examiner appeared on Sunday, January 17, 1915.
In the Thursday, January 21, 1915 issue of The Examiner, the paper stated seeing Charlie Chaplin at the Gaiety Theatre, where he spoke with reporters. He was watching "Tillie's Punctured Romance" and seeing "pictures of all the interesting incidents of the recent Auditorium ball" which was held on January 9th, 1915.
A short walk away, was the St. Francis Hotel, the place Chaplin said he first met Edna.
Now exactly how and where Charlie and Edna first met has been written in several accounts, even by Chaplin and Purviance. But accurate accounts can be hard to find. Example being, Charlie and Edna's stories at the time were based more on a few facts, laced with fiction, filled in by studio publicity departments. While most writers know this, I found evidence of this practice from the Chaplin Studio publicity department from Edna's own archive.
Why the fiction? For many reasons, but protecting privacy was one.
So to state exactly how they first met isn't really known, but I do agree Edna knew someone from Essanay. And for an added fact, the studio used local livestock for their westerns. This does tie into the fact Edna's brother-in- law, Sydney Hill, was manager of one of the largest ranches in California at the time. And Sydney's home base for his job was in the San Francisco bay area. It is just another link to how Edna could have met someone from Essanay, before she ever met Charlie Chaplin.
While Sydney did work for the California ranch company, he and his family still lived in Lovelock. Bessie never lived in San Francisco, but she did visit there often. Edna and Myrtle were the only sisters who lived in San Francisco. At the time of this event, Bessie was in Lovelock, as was Louise Purviance Nurnberger (Edna's mother). Louise was running her boardinghouse and Bessie was caring for her son Morgan, who was attending school in Lovelock.
How Bessie ever got mentioned as the sister Edna was living with in San Francisco, has been an error. Myrtle married a San Francisco native and lived there a few different times, over the years. Anytime Edna visited San Francisco during her film career, it was always to Myrtle's home. In later years, Edna and Jack Squire lived in San Francisco. It was in a fine neighborhood, in an high story apartment building, overlooking the San Francisco Bay and Golden Gate Bridge.
Other facts: Essanay did have a tie to the January 9th ball, because they were filming the event. And the Gaiety Theatre (where Chaplin watched "Tillie") was built and owned by G.M. Anderson, the man who signed Charles Chaplin to Essanay. Chaplin did say he went to San Francisco, with Anderson, to see girls in the theatres, but he didn't mention in his biography, he watched a movie.
"Tillie's" started at 11AM each day. On January 19 or 20th, Chaplin was at a showing, and could have had a meeting with Edna, at the dining room of the St. Francis, afterwards.
It has been mentioned that Edna was a waitress at that time, but I have not been able to find any solid evidence to support it. I have found evidence of Edna's interest in the secretary field, clear back to Lovelock, where she took a business course in Lovelock. (Both her sisters studied business school courses too.) Myrtle was able to support herself, and found success in the field of bookkeeping. But I found no evidences of the girls being waitresses, except, maybe, to help with Louise's boardinghouse. But the meals at Louise's boardinghouse business was always leased out for other people to run. Except to help out or to hold a special event, Louise never ran the boardinghouse kitchen.
So from the evidences I have found, so far, Edna most likely was working as a secretary at the time she met Chaplin. Edna attending the popular cafes at the time, was more likely as a diner, not a server. And one person she probably met as a diner was Charlie Chaplin.
And what role did Edna's photo in the San Francisco Examiner play in this? I do believe it had a role, in at least Chaplin seeing Edna, in print, before meeting her. Oddly, it has never been mentioned in any Chaplin related information, except for the oddly mentioned story, where Edna is quoted as saying she was picked out of a large group of girls. That never made any sense (as it was written) and seemed more fanciful than fact. (Makes for a colorful story.) But seeing Edna in this newspaper story, with thousands of women at the ball, does make sense and could be how she was found so fast, and lead to her being at Essanay on this day, in 1915.
Click on the Edna History label below for more.
Updated Note: We have been getting our The Sea Gull set up with a new printer, because our old printer abandoned us, right in the middle of an order they needed to correct (they sent us poorly printed books, but stopped contact in fully correcting it). On Friday, January 22nd, we received our first newly printed proof book. I just noticed the date for the printing of the proof was January 21, 2010. The proof came out very well. So very nice to have the re-started Sea Gull, start on the same date, as Edna started with Essanay, on Thursday, January 21, 1915.
In the Thursday, January 21, 1915 issue of The Examiner, the paper stated seeing Charlie Chaplin at the Gaiety Theatre, where he spoke with reporters. He was watching "Tillie's Punctured Romance" and seeing "pictures of all the interesting incidents of the recent Auditorium ball" which was held on January 9th, 1915.
A short walk away, was the St. Francis Hotel, the place Chaplin said he first met Edna.
Now exactly how and where Charlie and Edna first met has been written in several accounts, even by Chaplin and Purviance. But accurate accounts can be hard to find. Example being, Charlie and Edna's stories at the time were based more on a few facts, laced with fiction, filled in by studio publicity departments. While most writers know this, I found evidence of this practice from the Chaplin Studio publicity department from Edna's own archive.
Why the fiction? For many reasons, but protecting privacy was one.
So to state exactly how they first met isn't really known, but I do agree Edna knew someone from Essanay. And for an added fact, the studio used local livestock for their westerns. This does tie into the fact Edna's brother-in- law, Sydney Hill, was manager of one of the largest ranches in California at the time. And Sydney's home base for his job was in the San Francisco bay area. It is just another link to how Edna could have met someone from Essanay, before she ever met Charlie Chaplin.
While Sydney did work for the California ranch company, he and his family still lived in Lovelock. Bessie never lived in San Francisco, but she did visit there often. Edna and Myrtle were the only sisters who lived in San Francisco. At the time of this event, Bessie was in Lovelock, as was Louise Purviance Nurnberger (Edna's mother). Louise was running her boardinghouse and Bessie was caring for her son Morgan, who was attending school in Lovelock.
How Bessie ever got mentioned as the sister Edna was living with in San Francisco, has been an error. Myrtle married a San Francisco native and lived there a few different times, over the years. Anytime Edna visited San Francisco during her film career, it was always to Myrtle's home. In later years, Edna and Jack Squire lived in San Francisco. It was in a fine neighborhood, in an high story apartment building, overlooking the San Francisco Bay and Golden Gate Bridge.
Other facts: Essanay did have a tie to the January 9th ball, because they were filming the event. And the Gaiety Theatre (where Chaplin watched "Tillie") was built and owned by G.M. Anderson, the man who signed Charles Chaplin to Essanay. Chaplin did say he went to San Francisco, with Anderson, to see girls in the theatres, but he didn't mention in his biography, he watched a movie.
"Tillie's" started at 11AM each day. On January 19 or 20th, Chaplin was at a showing, and could have had a meeting with Edna, at the dining room of the St. Francis, afterwards.
It has been mentioned that Edna was a waitress at that time, but I have not been able to find any solid evidence to support it. I have found evidence of Edna's interest in the secretary field, clear back to Lovelock, where she took a business course in Lovelock. (Both her sisters studied business school courses too.) Myrtle was able to support herself, and found success in the field of bookkeeping. But I found no evidences of the girls being waitresses, except, maybe, to help with Louise's boardinghouse. But the meals at Louise's boardinghouse business was always leased out for other people to run. Except to help out or to hold a special event, Louise never ran the boardinghouse kitchen.
So from the evidences I have found, so far, Edna most likely was working as a secretary at the time she met Chaplin. Edna attending the popular cafes at the time, was more likely as a diner, not a server. And one person she probably met as a diner was Charlie Chaplin.
And what role did Edna's photo in the San Francisco Examiner play in this? I do believe it had a role, in at least Chaplin seeing Edna, in print, before meeting her. Oddly, it has never been mentioned in any Chaplin related information, except for the oddly mentioned story, where Edna is quoted as saying she was picked out of a large group of girls. That never made any sense (as it was written) and seemed more fanciful than fact. (Makes for a colorful story.) But seeing Edna in this newspaper story, with thousands of women at the ball, does make sense and could be how she was found so fast, and lead to her being at Essanay on this day, in 1915.
Click on the Edna History label below for more.
Updated Note: We have been getting our The Sea Gull set up with a new printer, because our old printer abandoned us, right in the middle of an order they needed to correct (they sent us poorly printed books, but stopped contact in fully correcting it). On Friday, January 22nd, we received our first newly printed proof book. I just noticed the date for the printing of the proof was January 21, 2010. The proof came out very well. So very nice to have the re-started Sea Gull, start on the same date, as Edna started with Essanay, on Thursday, January 21, 1915.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
January 17, 1915
January 17, 1915, is a special day for Edna Purviance. It was the day her photograph appeared in one of the largest newspapers in San Francisco, The Examiner.
On January 9, 1915, Edna Purviance attended the grand ball at the opening of the San Francisco Civic Center Exhibition Auditorium. It was a huge affair, with over 20,000 people attending. Edna was one of them.
After the event, the Examiner started running stories, showing photographs of people who attended. The photos showed on the Society page.
On this day, in 1915, Edna's picture appeared in the paper. The paper wasn't only seen in San Francisco, but thanks to the trains, it appeared in many cities across the US. Lovelock, Nevada had their edition soon after its release. The whole town was overrun with excitement in seeing their Edna, in the SF paper!
But their excitement was only beginning. Monday, Edna went to work, as usual, not knowing that she was about to meet a famous young filmmaker looking for a new leading lady.
UPDATE: Today is also Mack Sennett's birthday! If it wasn't for Mack signing Chaplin for Keystone films, we might have never seen Edna (or Chaplin in films, for that matter). After Chaplin's success with Keystone in 1914, he signed with Essanay in 1915.
NOTE: If you own The Sea Gull, it is on page 8. Or you can see a flash version of the page at this link. Edna was the biggest picture on the page, filling nearly half the right hand side. Her name was listed on the back side of this page. Her hometown was bubbling with excitement about this. Personally, I think it has something to do with Edna being found so fast after this release.
________________________________
Edna's Date in History:
January 16, 1958 - Edna's funeral was held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. It was a small private affair. Due to recovering from a serious illness, Lita Hill could not attend. Edna did receive a pay check from Mr. Chaplin until her passing.
On January 9, 1915, Edna Purviance attended the grand ball at the opening of the San Francisco Civic Center Exhibition Auditorium. It was a huge affair, with over 20,000 people attending. Edna was one of them.
After the event, the Examiner started running stories, showing photographs of people who attended. The photos showed on the Society page.
On this day, in 1915, Edna's picture appeared in the paper. The paper wasn't only seen in San Francisco, but thanks to the trains, it appeared in many cities across the US. Lovelock, Nevada had their edition soon after its release. The whole town was overrun with excitement in seeing their Edna, in the SF paper!
But their excitement was only beginning. Monday, Edna went to work, as usual, not knowing that she was about to meet a famous young filmmaker looking for a new leading lady.
UPDATE: Today is also Mack Sennett's birthday! If it wasn't for Mack signing Chaplin for Keystone films, we might have never seen Edna (or Chaplin in films, for that matter). After Chaplin's success with Keystone in 1914, he signed with Essanay in 1915.
NOTE: If you own The Sea Gull, it is on page 8. Or you can see a flash version of the page at this link. Edna was the biggest picture on the page, filling nearly half the right hand side. Her name was listed on the back side of this page. Her hometown was bubbling with excitement about this. Personally, I think it has something to do with Edna being found so fast after this release.
________________________________
Edna's Date in History:
January 16, 1958 - Edna's funeral was held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. It was a small private affair. Due to recovering from a serious illness, Lita Hill could not attend. Edna did receive a pay check from Mr. Chaplin until her passing.
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Edna's Big Night in San Francisco, without Charlie
On this afternoon in San Francisco, on January 9, 1915, Edna Purviance was getting ready to attend the biggest event she ever attended. It was the grand opening of the Exhibition Auditorium at San Francisco Civic Center.
This event was a worldwide event, as over 20,000 people from all over the world came to attend on this one evening. It was the official re-opening of the Civic Center area, since the 1906 earthquake, which destroyed the original Civic Center. And Edna Purviance was one of guest to attend.
Exhibition Hall October 2009 - Photos by Linda Wada
At the time, Edna lived with her sister Myrtle Purviance Bell. They lived only a few blocks from the Civic Center. One can just picture Edna getting the final touches ready for the big evening.
During the event, Essanay Studios filmed the early arrivals to the event. By midnight, they returned with a special film to show the audience. Was Edna still there? She could have been, since midnight dances in Lovelock were a fairly common affair, with dances starting as late as 9PM.
This all happened before Edna Purviance ever met Charlie Chaplin.
Edna would go back to work the following Monday, not knowing her life would be changed forever in the coming two weeks.
And Charlie Chaplin? He was in Chicago on the night of January 9th, 1915. He was finishing up his first film and preparing to travel to California in the coming week. But he could have easily read about the opening, in the Chicago newspapers.
Exhibition Hall about the time of the opening
This event was a worldwide event, as over 20,000 people from all over the world came to attend on this one evening. It was the official re-opening of the Civic Center area, since the 1906 earthquake, which destroyed the original Civic Center. And Edna Purviance was one of guest to attend.
Exhibition Hall October 2009 - Photos by Linda WadaAt the time, Edna lived with her sister Myrtle Purviance Bell. They lived only a few blocks from the Civic Center. One can just picture Edna getting the final touches ready for the big evening.
During the event, Essanay Studios filmed the early arrivals to the event. By midnight, they returned with a special film to show the audience. Was Edna still there? She could have been, since midnight dances in Lovelock were a fairly common affair, with dances starting as late as 9PM.
This all happened before Edna Purviance ever met Charlie Chaplin.
Edna would go back to work the following Monday, not knowing her life would be changed forever in the coming two weeks.
And Charlie Chaplin? He was in Chicago on the night of January 9th, 1915. He was finishing up his first film and preparing to travel to California in the coming week. But he could have easily read about the opening, in the Chicago newspapers.
Exhibition Hall about the time of the opening
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)