Lois Wilson

Lois Wilson (June 28, 1894 – March 3, 1988) was an American actress who worked during the silent film era. She also directed two short films and was a scenario writer. Wilson's family moved to Alabama when she was still very young. She earned a degree from Alabama Normal College (now the University of West Alabama), and became a school teacher for young children, soon leaving to pursue a film career.

In 1915, Wilson moved to California after winning a beauty contest put on by Universal Studios and the Birmingham News. This pageant was the predecessor to the Miss Alabama/Miss America pageant system, and Wilson is considered the first Miss Alabama. Upon arriving in Hollywood, she auditioned and was hired by the Victor Film Company for several small film roles.

In 1916, she visited Chicago, where she met pioneer female film director Lois Weber, who gave her a small part in her film The Dumb Girl of Portici, which starred famed ballerina Anna Pavlova. Weber then took her to Los Angeles, where she was groomed for stardom and began playing leads opposite actors such as J. Warren Kerrigan and Frank Keenan.

Career

After appearing in several films at various studios, Wilson settled in at Paramount Pictures in 1919, where she remained until 1927. She was a WAMPAS Baby Star of 1922, and appeared in 150 movies. Her most recognized screen portrayals are Molly Wingate in The Covered Wagon (1923), in which she was well reviewed, and Daisy Buchanan in the silent film version of The Great Gatsby (1926). She acted opposite male stars such as Rudolph Valentino and John Gilbert.

Wilson played both romantic leads and character parts. Despite making a successful transition to sound, Wilson was dissatisfied with the roles she received in the 1930s, and she soon retired in 1941, making only three films after 1939. Lois ventured to Broadway and television following her final role in The Girl from Jones Beach (1949) with Ronald Reagan. Wilson played in the network soap operas The Guiding Light in 1951, The Secret Storm and The Edge of Night. She portrayed featured character roles. She made a guest appearance with her old friend Gloria Swanson on the WPIX TV show The Gloria Swanson Hour in 1948.

Wilson was also the model of the official poster for "America Welcomes the World", the Philadelphia Sesquicentennial Celebration, in 1926.

In 1934, her performance in No Greater Glory inspired a Birmingham, Alabama sculptor to create a monument for the city's celebration of World Peace Day.

Personal life

She was once described as having a screen image of "the soft, marrying kind of woman"; in real life, however, she never married. She was chosen by Paramount Pictures to represent the motion picture industry at the British Empire Exposition of 1924. She was described as "a typical example of the American girl in character, culture and beauty". In 1919, Wilson met Gloria Swanson on the set of Cecil B. DeMille's drama, Male and Female. In her 1981 autobiography, Swanson says "Lois had real star quality. Everyone who met her knew it was just a question of time until the right part came along. She never stopped working."

Filmography The following is a list of films that Lois Wilson either directed, acted in, wrote or produced: Silent films Year Title Role Studio(s) / Distributor(s) Notes1915 The Palace of Dust Beatrix ShortThe New Adventures of Terence O'Rourke Beatrix ShortWhen a Queen Loved O'Rourke Beatrix ShortThe Road to Paradise Beatrix ShortThe Hypocrite Extant1916Langdon's Legacy Pepita Universal Film Manufacturing Company LostThe Dumb Girl of Portici Universal Film Manufacturing Company Extant Married on the Wing Grace Darling Universal Film Manufacturing Company Lost The Pool of Flame Princess Beatrix Universal Film Manufacturing Company LostThe Gay Lord Waring Helen Von Gerold Bluebird Photoplays LostHulda the Silent Hulda Anderson New York Motion Picture Company Lost Short A Son of the Immortals Joan Cameron Bluebird Photoplays LostThe Decoy Mutual Film Corporation LostThe Silent Battle Jane Loring Universal Film Manufacturing Company LostHe Wrote a Book Jennie Universal Film Manufacturing Company ShortThe Beckoning Trail Mary Helton Universal Film Manufacturing Company LostArthur's Desperate Resolve Sibly Grey Universal Film Manufacturing Company ShortThe White Man's Law Universal Film Manufacturing Company A Soul at Stake Clementina Fairwood Universal Film Manufacturing Company Short The Decoy Felese Universal Film Manufacturing Company ShortHer Chance Frances Martin Universal Film Manufacturing Company Lost ShortThe Morals of Hilda Marion Universal Film Manufacturing Company LostGreen Eyes Julia Universal Film Manufacturing Company Short1917Alone in the World Lost Short Also wrote and directedThe Whispered Name Madeline Evers Universal Film Manufacturing Company Lost ShortBlack Evidence Mary Universal Film Manufacturing Company Lost ShortWon by Grit Teresa Universal Film Manufacturing Company ShortFlames of Treachery Ruth Chalmers Universal Film Manufacturing Company Lost ShortTreason Floria Natarre Universal Film Manufacturing Company LostParentage Mrs. Melton Universal Film Manufacturing Company Alimony Marjorie Lansing First National Pictures Lost1918 His Robe of Honor Laura Nelson W. W. Hodkinson Corporation Lost The Turn of a Card Cynthia Burdette W. W. Hodkinson Corporation LostOne Dollar Bid Virginia Dare W. W. Hodkinson Corporation LostMaid o' the Storm Elaine Shackleford W. W. Hodkinson Corporation Lost A Burglar for a Night Janet Leslie W. W. Hodkinson Corporation LostThe Bells Annette Pathé Exchange Lost Prisoners of the Pines Rosalie Dufresne W. W. Hodkinson Corporation LostThree X Gordon Dorrie Webster W. W. Hodkinson Corporation LostA Man's Man Dolores Ruey W. W. Hodkinson Corporation Lost1919 The Drifters The Girl Pathé Exchange W. W. Hodkinson Corporation LostCome Again Smith Lucy Stevens Pathé Exchange W. W. Hodkinson Corporation LostThe End of the Game Mary Miller Pathé Exchange W. W. Hodkinson Corporation Extant. Preserved at the EYE Film Institute NetherlandsGates of Brass Margaret Blake Pathé Exchange LostThe Best Man Celia Hathaway Pathé Exchange W. W. Hodkinson Corporation LostA Man's Fight Mary Tompkins United Picture Theaters of America LostLove Insurance Cynthia Meyrick Famous Players-Lasky Lost Why Smith Left Home Marian Famous Players-Lasky An incomplete copy is held at the Library of CongressThe Price Woman Pays Louise J. Frank Hatch Enterprises Lost It Pays to Advertise Mary Grayson Famous Players-Lasky LostToo Much Johnson Mrs. Billings Famous Players-Lasky Lost1920Who's Your Servant? Madeline Bancroft Robertson-Cole LostThou Art the Man Joan Farrant Famous Players-Lasky LostThe City of Masks Miss Emsdale Famous Players-Lasky LostWhat's Your Hurry? Virginia MacMurran Famous Players-Lasky Extant. A copy is held at the GosfilmofondA Full House Ottilie Howell Famous Players-Lasky LostBurglar Proof Laura Lowell Famous Players-Lasky LostMidsummer Madness Margaret Meredith Famous Players-Lasky Extant. A copy is held at the Library of Congress1921 What Every Woman Knows Maggie Wylie Famous Players-Lasky LostThe City of Silent Men Molly Bryant Famous Players-Lasky LostThe Lost Romance Sylvia Hayes Famous Players-Lasky Extant. A copy is held at the Library of CongressThe Hell Diggers Dora Wade Famous Players-Lasky LostMiss Lulu Bett Lulu Bett Famous Players-Lasky Extant.1922The World's Champion Lady Elizabeth Famous Players-Lasky An incomplete copy is held at the Library of CongressIs Matrimony a Failure? Mabel Hoyt Famous Players-Lasky LostOur Leading Citizen Katherine Fendle, his fiancée Famous Players-Lasky LostManslaughter Evans - Lydia's Maid Famous Players-Lasky Extant. A copy is held at the George Eastman Museum and the Paul Killiam CollectionWithout Compromise Jean Ainsworth Fox Film Corporation LostBroad Daylight Nora Fay Universal Film Manufacturing Company Lost1923The Covered Wagon Molly Wingate Famous Players-Lasky ExtantBella Donna Patricia Famous Players-Lasky Extant. A copy is held at the Gosfilmofond archiveOnly 38 Mrs. Stanley Famous Players-Lasky LostA Man's Man Lois Wilson W. W. Hodkinson CorporationLostTo the Last Man Ellen Jorth Famous Players-Lasky Extant. A copy is held at the Gosfilmofond archiveRuggles of Red Gap Kate Kenner Famous Players-Lasky LostThe Call of the Canyon Carley Burch Famous Players-Lasky Extant. A copy is held at the Library of Congress1924Pied Piper Malone Patty Thomas Famous Players-Lasky Extant. A print is held at the Gosfilmofond archiveIcebound Jane Crosby Famous Players-Lasky LostAnother Scandal Beatrice Vanderdyke W. W. Hodkinson Corporation Producers Distributing Corporation LostThe Man Who Fights Alone Marion Famous Players-Lasky LostMonsieur Beaucaire Queen Marie of France Famous Players-Lasky ExtantNorth of 36 Taisie Lockheart Famous Players-Lasky Extant1925 Contraband Carmel Lee Famous Players-Lasky LostThe Thundering Herd Milly Fayre Famous Players-Lasky LostWelcome Home Nettie Prouty Famous Players-Lasky Extant. Preserved at the Library of CongressMarry Me Famous Players-Lasky Lost UncreditedRugged Water Norma Bartlett Famous Players-Lasky LostThe Vanishing American Marion Warner Famous Players-Lasky ExtantThe King on Main Street Hotel guest in lobby (cameo appearance) ( uncredited) Famous Players-Lasky ExtantIrish Luck Lady Gwendolyn Famous Players-Lasky Extant. A copy is held at the George Eastman MuseumBluebeard's Seven Wives Mary Kelly First National Pictures Lost1926Let's Get Married Mary Corbin Famous Players-Lasky Extant. A copy is held at the Library of CongressFascinating Youth Lois Wilson Famous Players-Lasky LostThe Show-Off Amy Fisher Famous Players-Lasky ExtantThe Great Gatsby Daisy Buchanan Famous Players-Lasky Lost1927New York Marjorie Church Famous Players-Lasky LostBroadway Nights Fanny Franchette First National Pictures LostThe Gingham Girl Mary Thompson Film Booking Offices of America Extant. A copy is held at the Cinematheque Royale de BelgiqueAlias the Lone Wolf Eve de Montalais Columbia Pictures LostFrench Dressing Cynthia Grey First National Pictures Lost1928Coney Island Joan Wellman Film Booking Offices of America LostMiss Information The Public Stenographer LostRansom Lois Brewster Columbia Pictures LostSally's Shoulders Sally Film Booking Offices of America Lost

Sound films Release date Title Role Studio(s) / Distributor(s) Notes1928 On Trial May Strickland Warner Bros. Lost. Trailer and soundtrack survives.Object: Alimony Ruth Rutledge Columbia Pictures LostConquest Diane Holden Lost1929 A Bird in the Hand The Wife IncompleteKid Gloves Ruth LostThe Gamblers Catherine Darwin Warner Bros. LostHer Husband's Women The Painter's Jealous Wife ShortThe Show of Shows Performer in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number Warner Bros. ExtantWedding Rings Cornelia Quinn Warner Bros. Lost1930 For Love or Money Extant Short The Furies Fifi Sands First National Pictures LostLovin' the Ladies Joan Bently RKO Radio Pictures ExtantTemptation Julie ExtantOnce a Gentleman Mrs. Mallin Sono Art-World Wide Pictures Lost1931 Seed Peggy Carter Universal Pictures ExtantThe Age for Love Sylvia Pearson United Artists Lost1932The Expert Nettie Minick Warner Bros. ExtantThe Rider of Death Valley Helen Joyce Universal Pictures ExtantDrifting Souls Linda Lawrence Capitol Film Exchange ExtantDivorce in the Family Mrs. Shumaker Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer The Crash Marcia Peterson Warner Bros. The Devil Is Driving Nancy Evans Paramount Pictures The Secrets of Wu Sin Nona Gould Chesterfield Pictures Law and Order Universal Pictures 1933Obey the Law Grace Chester Columbia Pictures Laughing at Life Mrs. McHale Mascot Pictures Deluge Helen Webster RKO Radio Pictures In the Money Mary 'Lambie' Higginbottom Chesterfield Pictures Female Harriet Warner Bros. 1934The Show-Off Clara Harling Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer No Greater Glory Nemeecsek's Mother Columbia Pictures School for Girls Miss Cartwright Liberty Pictures There's Always Tomorrow Sophie White Universal Pictures Ticket to a Crime Elaine Purdy Beacon Productions Bright Eyes Mary Blake Fox Film 1935 Life Returns Dr. Louise Stone Universal Pictures Public Opinion Mona Trevor / Anne Trevor Chesterfield Pictures Society Fever Portia Prouty Chesterfield Pictures Born to Gamble Paula Mathews Republic Pictures Cappy Ricks Returns Florry Peasley Republic Pictures Your Uncle Dudley Christine Saunders 20th Century Fox 1936The Return of Jimmy Valentine Mary Davis Republic Pictures Wedding Present Laura Dodacker Paramount Pictures Laughing at Trouble Alice Mathews 20th Century Fox 1939 Bad Little Angel Mrs. Ellen Creighton Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 1940 Nobody's Children Miss Jamieson Columbia Pictures 1941 For Beauty's Sake Mrs. Lloyd Kennar 20th Century Fox 1949 The Girl from Jones Beach Mrs. Wilson Warner Bros.