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Clara Kimball Young

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Clara Kimball Young
Young, 1920
Born
Edith Matilda Clara Kimball

(1890-09-06)September 6, 1890
DiedOctober 15, 1960(1960-10-15) (aged 70)
OccupationActress
Years active1909–1941
Spouses
(m. 1910; div. 1919)
(m. 1920; div. 1927)
[1]
Dr. Arthur Fauman
(m. 1928; died 1937)
Parent(s)Edward Kimball
Pauline Kimball
Signature

Clara Kimball Young (born Edith Matilda Clara Kimball; September 6, 1890 – October 15, 1960)[2] was an American film actress who was popular in the early silent film era.

Early life

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Clara Kimball Young in 1909

Edith Matilda Clara Kimball was born in Chicago on September 6, 1890, the only child to Edward Kimball and Pauline Madeline Kimball (née Garrette, 1860–1919), both of whom were traveling stock actors. She made her stage debut at the age of three, and throughout her early childhood traveled with her parents and acted with their theater company. She attended St. Francis Xavier Academy in Chicago. Afterward, she was hired into a stock company and resumed her stage career, traveling extensively through the United States and playing in various small town theaters.[3]

Early in her career, she met and married a fellow stock company and known Broadway actor named James Young. Young's previous wife had been the songwriter/lyricist Rida Johnson Young. After sending a photograph to Vitagraph Studios, Clara Kimball Young, as she was then known, and her husband were both offered yearly contracts in 1912.[2]

Career

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Clara Kimball Young as Marguerite Gautier in Camille, 1915

In the new medium of motion pictures, and without much screen competition, Young's star at Vitagraph rose quickly. Young was predominantly cast in one- and two-reel roles as the virtuous heroine. By 1913, she had become one of the more popular leading ladies at Vitagraph and placed at number 17 in a poll of public popularity. Many of Young's films from her early period with Vitagraph are now lost.[4]

In 1914, Vitagraph released the drama My Official Wife, which starred Young as a Russian revolutionary and was directed by her husband James Young and co-starred the popular leading man Earle Williams. The film, which is now lost, was an enormous success and launched Young and Earle Williams into first place in the popularity polls, and Young immediately was signed to a contract with pioneering mogul Lewis J. Selznick.[2]

Young, c. 1916

After a string of successful roles, Young was established as one of the chief attractions of World Film Corporation and her husband James was now a much sought-after director. By 1915, Young's popularity was equivalent to that of Mary Pickford, Dorothy and Lillian Gish, Pearl White, Edna Purviance, and Mabel Normand.[5]

She became involved in a much publicized affair with Selznick, culminating in a 1916 divorce suit accusing her of alienation of affection. James Young finally obtained a final decree on April 8, 1919, on grounds of desertion.[6]

Clara Kimball Young, with Clara Kimball Young Film Corporation, October 1916

Selznick quickly formed the Clara Kimball Young Film Corporation, installing himself as president, and formed Selznick Productions to distribute her films and those of some other independent producers. After only four films with Selznick however, the personal and business relationship began to sour, and Young struggled to extricate herself from all business arrangements with Selznick, accusing him of defrauding her of her profits through a series of dummy corporations and by electing himself president of her company while not permitting her any input in her business affairs.[2]

In 1917, Young became involved in an affair with Harry Garson, with whom she then teamed in a business venture. Garson had little experience in the motion picture business, and as a result, Young's career began to sputter. Although she remained a popular actress into the early 1920s, Young suffered at the inexperience and alleged mismanagement and apathy of Garson.[2] In her 1921 diary, Young wrote "It will be wonderful to get out of debt and finish these three pictures for equity. I feel as though I had my head on a block and was waiting for the axe to descend at any moment."[7]

Young in May 1919
Starring in Charge It for Equity Pictures (1921)

She began suffering a series of press attacks for her business dealings and personal relationship with Garson. By 1925, her stardom began to fade, and she made her last silent film Lying Wives. Young spent the remainder of the 1920s performing in vaudeville, and in 1928 quietly married Dr. Arthur Fauman. The advent of sound briefly revived her career, and she appeared in several featured roles for RKO Radio Pictures and Tiffany Pictures with only modest success, appearing only in bit parts including a Three Stooges short, and extra roles in mostly lower budget pictures and having a stint on radio. One of her bigger roles is in the murder mystery The Rogues Tavern (1936) where she plays a sweet but fussy motherly woman who is hiding a very big secret.

She retired from acting in 1941.[8]

Death

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Young underwent minor surgery to correct a chronic bronchial problem in March 1960.[9] She did not recover her health after the surgery, and became increasingly frail. Young died of a stroke at the Motion Picture House in Woodland Hills, California on October 15, 1960.[8] Her remains were cremated, and she was interred at Grand View Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.[10] For her contribution to the motion picture industry, Young was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6513 Hollywood Blvd.[11]

Selected filmography

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Short subjects

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Year Title Role Notes
1909 Washington Under the British Flag Lost film
1909 Washington Under the American Flag Lost film
1909 A Midsummer Night's Dream Penelope
1910 Richelieu; or: The Conspiracy Lost film
1910 Uncle Tom's Cabin Lost film
1910 The Sepoy's Wife The Sepoy's Wife
1910 Ransomed; or, A Prisoner of War Captain Jack's Wife Status unknown
1910 The Last of the Saxons Aldyth Lost film
1911 Lady Godiva Coventry resident praying
1912 Cardinal Wolsey Anne Boleyn Incomplete film
1912 The Haunted Rocker Madge Boggs, the Daughter Status unknown
1912 The Jocular Winds of Fate Alice De Voe Status unknown
1912 The Pipe Dingley's Wife Status unknown
1912 The Old Kent Road Sue Simmonds, Their Daughter Status unknown
1912 Dr. LaFleur's Theory the Criminal's Moll Status unknown
1912 Professor Optimo Clara Lost film
1912 The Picture Idol Beth Ward, a Passionate Fan of Howard Hanson's Status unknown
1912 Mockery Princess Dolorosa Status unknown
1912 Half a Hero Mabel Kemp Status unknown
1912 Lulu's Doctor Aunt Madge Marion
1912 When Roses Wither Howard's Wife Status unknown
1912 Lincoln's Gettysburys Address Lost film
1912 The Troublesome Step-Daughters Assistant in the Toy Shop Lost film
1912 The Money Kings Status unknown
1912 A Lively Affair Dorothy, the Maid
1912 Rock of Ages Status unknown
1912 Wanted, a Sister Evelyn Marshall Lost film
1912 Popular Betty Betty Wilson Status unknown
1912 A Vitagraph Romance Caroline, the Senator's Daughter Lost film
1912 The Irony of Fate Status unknown
1912 Mrs. Lirriper's Lodgers Mrs. Edson Status unknown
1912 A Mistake in Spelling Mabel Moore, Fred's Fiancée Status unknown
1912 Poet and Peasant Toinette Savard, the Daughter Status unknown
1912 Lord Browning and Cinderella Cinderella Status unknown
1912 In the Flat Above Priscilla Putnam, a Music Teacher Status unknown
1912 The Eavesdropper Alice Status unknown
1913 Love Hath Wrought a Miracle Rose Graham Status unknown
1913 The Little Minister Lady Babbie Lost film
1913 The Interrupted Honeymoon Mrs. Adele Young, the Wife Status unknown
1913 What a Change of Clothes Did John Mason's Fiancée
1913 The Volunteer Strike Breakers Harris's Fiancée Status unknown
1913 When Mary Grew Up Mary Status unknown
1913 Beau Brummel Helen Ballarat Lost film
1913 The Old Guard Melanie
1913 Put Yourself in Their Place Mr. Kent's Daughter Status unknown
1913 The Way Out Emma Bindley – a Spinster Status unknown
1913 Getting Up a Practice Emily Irving, Dr. Lyons' Sweetheart Status unknown
1913 The Mystery of the Stolen Child The Nurse Status unknown
1913 Mr. Mintern's Misadventures Muriel Leach Status unknown
1913 The Mystery of the Stolen Jewels First Thief Status unknown
1913 The Wrath of Osaka Miro Status unknown
1913 The White Slave; or, The Octoroon Zoe – the Octoroon Status unknown
1913 Delayed Proposals Marion Van Sicklen Status unknown
1913 Jack's Chrysanthemum Kichimatsu, a Japanese Maiden Status unknown
1913 The Spirit of the Orient Normallee Status unknown
1913 The Taming of Betty Betty Status unknown
1913 A Faithful Servant Nina, Count Gullio's Sweetheart Status unknown
1913 A Maid of Mandalay Ma May Status unknown
1913 The Lonely Princess The Princess, Prince Raffaello's Daughter Status unknown
1913 When Women Go on the Warpath; or, Why Jonesville Went Dry Minor Role Status unknown
1913 Cupid Versus Women's Rights Madge Trenton Status unknown
1913 The Hindoo Charm Phyllis – the Step-Mother Status unknown
1913 John Tobin's Sweetheart Minor Role Lost film
1913 Extremities Gladys Robinson Status unknown
1913 The Test Eleanor Anstruther Status unknown
1913 The Pirates Helen Merwin Status unknown
1913 On Their Wedding Eve Edna Morvell Status unknown
1913 Jerry's Mother-In-Law Jerry's Wife Status unknown
1913 Fellow Voyagers Jerry's Wife Status unknown
1913 Betty in the Lions' Den Betty Status unknown
1913 A Lesson in Jealousy Mabel – the Wife Status unknown
1913 Beauty Unadorned Helen Preston Incomplete film
1913 Love's Sunset Nita Travers Status unknown
1913 Up in a Balloon Betty Simpson Status unknown
1914 The Perplexed Bridegroom Lucy Demly, the Bride Status unknown
1914 Goodness Gracious Gwendoline Status unknown
1914 Some Steamer Scooping Clara Lane, a Journalist Status unknown
1914 Her Husband Dora Allen, Mrs. Tom Harcourt Status unknown
1914 The Silver Snuff Box Amy, Julian's Granddaughter Status unknown
1914 The Awakening of Barbara Dare Dorothy Clayton Status unknown
1914 The Violin of M'sieur Yvonne – Gerome's Daughter Status unknown
1914 Happy-Go-Lucky Happy-Go-Lucky Status unknown
1914 David Garrick Ada Ingot Status unknown
1914 Taken by Storm Betty, the Willful Wife Status unknown
1916 A Race for Life Status unknown
1935 Hollywood Extra Girl Grace Documentary
1936 Ants in the Pantry Mrs. Beulah Burlap
1936 Love in September Mrs. Thompson
1937 New News Mrs. Van Gage

Features

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Year Title Role Notes
1914 My Official Wife Helene Marie Lost film
1914 The Fates and Flora Fourflush Flora Fourflush Film serial
Lost film
1914 Lola Lola Barnhelun
1915 The Deep Purple Doris Moore Lost film
1915 Hearts in Exile Hope Ivanovna
1915 Marrying Money Mildred Niles
1915 Trilby Trilby O'Ferral
1915 The Heart of the Blue Ridge Plutina Lost film
1915 Camille Camille Lost film
1916 The Yellow Passport Sonia Sokoloff Lost film
1916 The Feast of Life Aurora Fernandez
1916 The Dark Silence Mildred White
1916 The Foolish Virgin Mary Adams Lost film
1916 The Common Law Valerie West Lost film
1916 The Rise of Susan Susan Incomplete film
1917 The Price She Paid Mildred Gower Lost film
1917 The Easiest Way Laura Murdock Lost film
1917 Magda Magda Lost film
1917 Shirley Kaye Shirley Kaye
1918 The Marionettes Fernande de Monclars Lost film
1918 The House of Glass Margaret Case Lost film
1918 The Reason Why Zara Zenova Lost film
1918 The Claw Mary Saurin Lost film
1918 The Savage Woman Renee Benoit Lost film
1918 The Road Through the Dark Gabrielle Jardee Lost film
1919 Cheating Cheaters Ruth Brockton Lost film
1919 The Better Wife Charmian Page Lost film
1919 Eyes of Youth Gina Ashling
1919 Soldiers of Fortune Uncredited
Lost film
1920 The Forbidden Woman Diane Sorel
1920 For the Soul of Rafael Marta Raquel Estevan Lost film
1920 Mid-Channel Zoe Blundell
1921 Hush Vera Stanford Lost film
1921 Straight from Paris Lucette Grenier
1921 Charge It Julia Lawrence
1921 What No Man Knows Norma Harvey Incomplete film
1922 The Worldly Madonna Lucy Trevor, Dancer/Janet Trevor, Nun
1922 The Hands of Nara Nara Alexieff Lost film
1922 Enter Madame Prima Donna Lisa Della Robia
1923 The Woman of Bronze Vivian Hunt Lost film
1923 Cordelia the Magnificent Cordelia Marlowe Lost film
1923 A Wife's Romance Joyce Addisonn Lost film
1925 Lying Wives Patricia Chase
1931 Kept Husbands Mrs. Henrietta Post
1931 Mother and Son Faro Lil
1931 Women Go on Forever Daisy Bowman
1932 Love Bound Mrs. Jane Randolph
1932 Probation Mrs. Humphries
1933 File 113 Mme. Fauvel
1934 I Can't Escape Mrs. Wilson
1934 Romance in the Rain Mlle. Fleurette Malevinsky
1934 The Return of Chandu Dorothy Regent
1935 The Drunkard Mrs. Karns
1935 She Married Her Boss Parsons
1935 His Night Out Mrs. Davis
1935 Fighting Youth Mrs. Stewart, House Mother
1935 The Fighting Coward Mrs. Gordon
1936 Dangerous Waters Kind Lady Passenger Uncredited
1936 Three on the Trail Rose Peters
1936 The Rogues Tavern Mrs. Jamison
1936 Oh, Susanna Aunt Peggy Lee
1936 The Black Coin Donna Luise Navarro
1937 They Wanted to Marry Wedding Guest Talking to Hunter Uncredited
1937 Hills of Old Wyoming Ma Hutchins
1937 Dangerously Yours Mrs. Prentiss Uncredited
1937 The Mysterious Pilot Martha, Fritz's Wife Film serial
Chs.3-5,9,14-15
1938 The Secret of Treasure Island Cortez Hotel Maid Film serial
Uncredited
1938 The Wages of Sin Fat Pearl
1938 The Frontiersmen Mrs. Peters
1941 The Round Up Mrs. Wilson
1941 Mr. Celebrity Herself
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References

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  1. ^ Golden, Eve (December 1, 2000). Golden Images: 41 Essays on Silent Film Stars. McFarland. ISBN 9780786408344 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b c d e Groat, Greta de. "The Life and Career of Clara Kimball Young". The Clara Kimball Young Website.
  3. ^ "Photos of The Stars". Silents Are Golden.
  4. ^ Groat, Greta de. "The Films of Clara Kimball Young". The Clara Kimball Young Website.
  5. ^ Golden, Eve (2001). Golden Images, 41 Essays on Silent Film Stars. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. ISBN 0-7864-0834-0.
  6. ^ Groat, Greta de. "Clara Kimball Young Website".
  7. ^ "The Diary of Silent Film Actress Clara Kimball Young". Diary File. August 9, 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Clara Kimball Young, Pioneer Actress, Dies". The Los Angeles Times. October 16, 1960. p. A2.
  9. ^ "Former Star Recovers". Oakland Tribune. March 20, 1960. p. 2.
  10. ^ Ellenberger, Allan R. (2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company. p. 105. ISBN 978-0-7864-0983-9.
  11. ^ "Hollywood Walk of Fame Star locations". Archived from the original on June 7, 2012. Retrieved December 29, 2006.
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