BORN: January 10, 1883
DIED: August 23, 1966
AGED: 83 yrs from a heart attack
MARRIAGES: 4 times-2nd with Beverly Bayne
AFFAIRS: Beverly Bayne
FAMOUS PARTNER: Beverly Bayne (she shows up a lot)
Major Matinee Idol and was in his prime in 1911 (geez my dad wasn't even born yet-he was born in 1913). He was the Hubba-Hubba of the 1910's. The old stereotype image of a man coming out of his dressing room and women literally tearing his clothes off actually started with this man because it happened to him! This became folklore. He started having an affair with his leading lady which caused quite the scandal. He divorced his first wife and married his co-star Beverly but had to keep it hush, hush so it would not hurt his image. When it was found out-it did hurt his image-geez! He loved dogs (had over 30 of them) and he was supposed to have the largest songbird collection. He lost all his money in the stock market crash of 1929 and his career went with it. He worked in TV mainly until he passed away. Most of his films are gone due to the nitrate they used-it would disintegrate and was highly flammable.
FILMS: His Friend's Wife, The Silent Voice, Romeo and Juliet, Ben-Hur, The Lady In Ermine
this one I'd not actually heard of - or Beverly Bayne. Wonder what the X stood for - Xavier?
ReplyDeleteAnabel at Anabel's Travel Blog
Yes I believe it is Xavier and he was THE idol in the early 1910's and his wife was and he were the IT couple.
DeleteIt was a different time, wasn't it? He had an affair with and later married his leading lady and it actually damaged his reputation. Brad Pitt did the same thing and he and Angelina both are considered icons. People look up to them!
ReplyDeleteI know! It is so weird but the women wanted him to remain single and not married so when they found out he was married it hurt his career.
DeleteRipped his clothes off? I'm not seeing it. I do recall seeing clips of the silent 'Ben-Hur' that he made.
ReplyDeleteI know-He is not the "hunks" of today but yup his clothes were ripped off when he was leaving the studio (I think that is when it happened). So weird isn't it?
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ReplyDeleteSorry about the deleted comment, Birgit. I think I'm over-tired and becoming confused!
DeleteI think your X is brilliant. I think most of us will be cheating a little on this, I know I am.
It's hard to believe that women would be tearing the clothes off their idols in those times. Some of us wouldn't even do it today.
It's a shame that the movies were not preserved.
Hahaha-It's Monday and it is nearing the end of the A to Z-whew! They did because they wanted a piece of his clothing and they went nutty at a time when film stars were just becoming to be known by their names (Florence Lawrence was the first). Most of those films-something like over 90% are lost since they were so flammable and easily disintegrated. It is such a shame that these huge stars in their time, have none of their films that they did (at least he has Ben Hur but Theda Bara has none but her first)
DeleteI don't believe I'd ever heard of that actor.
ReplyDeleteWell his career was basically over almost 90 yrs ago so only a few geeks like me know about him:)
DeleteI've never heard of this guy but I love him because he loved dogs! :) Too bad what happened to him with the market crash.
ReplyDeleteIt is and I was happy to know he loved animals so much like dogs and the song birds.
DeleteFans really did tear off his clothes? WOW. What a story. That's incredible!
ReplyDeleteYup they did-poor guy:)
DeleteWhat a clever X.... I was not familiar with this actor. You are educating me.
ReplyDeleteHe is one of the very first actors to be known by name and was the heart throb of the teens
DeleteHe looks familiar. I must have seen one of his movies but I didn't know his name.
ReplyDeleteLiz A. from Laws of Gravity
Most likely you saw him in Ben-Hur as that is now his most famous role that survives. I am unsure how many other films of his survive that were made from the silents
DeleteI never really heard of him. I guess movies stars were a new thing then.
ReplyDeleteOh yes they were new and the studios back then didn't want their stars to be known by name because then, rightly, the actors would ask for more money. The first film star to be known by her full name was Florence Lawrence. She was known as the Biograph girl and people all over wanted to know who she was. Carl Laemmle -studio head, placed in the papers that she died in a traffic accident(remembering off my head so forgive me the exact ways). people were aghast. he then had it printed that the studio she was with lied to sell her films and he could prove it by showing her to the crowds which numbered in the thousands. The first film actor to be known by name
DeleteYup that's old.....I have never really liked silent movies, but I like them for their history.
ReplyDelete: )
Oh I am a lover of the silent film and love it even more with live music.
DeleteSilent movies, when acted properly, can be very powerful and truly move me. I don't remember seeing him, though he does look familiar, but maybe it's that particular look that makes him appear familiar.
ReplyDeleteSilvia @
SilviaWrites
The movie you may have seen him in is Ben Hur where he played Mesala. I agree with you as many silent greats used their eyes and subtle movements to create beautiful works
DeleteWow! What a personality! :) I only remember Charlton Heston in Ben Hur. Can't say I've heard of Francis. He's certainly good looking and I can see why he got the reactions he did. Just Googled him :D I must explore his movies.
ReplyDeleteSo many silent are lost which is a shame. he played the bad guy-Mesala in Ben Hur opposite Ramon Novarro.
DeleteNever heard of him, but he is a dapper looking man in that picture!
ReplyDeletebetty
Yes he was actually
DeleteNever heard of him. But I haven't really seen any Hollywood silent films. He does look quite handsome in that old-school sort of way. Interesting how some star-crazy fans behave the same, regardless of the times we live in :)
ReplyDeleteI don't think much changes when one thinks about it. Silent Films were never silent! (Lilian Gish said this). I wish I could see a silent film in one of those grand palaces with a full orchestra. Thank for looking:)
DeleteThe name sounds familiar, but I have no idea if I've ever seen him in a movie or tv program. Seeing his photo, I can see how and why women would want to tear his clothes off.
ReplyDeleteThe View from the Top of the Ladder
hahahahaha I guess so and he seems beef cake when he was in Ben Hur
DeleteThat's okay. I cheated a little too :) Not familiar with this guy. Too bad most of his films are gone. We've lost so many that way.
ReplyDeleteShells–Tales–Sails
Yes we have and it is a shame
DeleteThat was sad about her not acknowledging who the dad was; I know it was the times, but still.......
ReplyDeleteWTG for almost being there and done with the challenge!
betty
oops; I just realized I did this on X instead of Y. How did I do that?
ReplyDeletebetty
We are near the end so we can be quite tired-lol I love it actually. It is a shame that she would not even let her know when she got a little older and tell her to keep it hush since the times would not be kind about this. I agree as she denied it until the 80's or 90's
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