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Post by diane on Jul 30, 2008 0:57:01 GMT -6
I just noticed an article on "The Adventures of Dollie" at UNKNOWN VIDEO. It was trying to find the exact location of the falls - they had photos and everything.
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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Jul 30, 2008 4:17:04 GMT -6
Although I cannot remember what I'd read, I remember reading something about those falls a long time ago. I wish I could remember that location and what I'd seen.
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Post by diane on Jul 31, 2008 0:14:21 GMT -6
According to this article Linda Arvidsen says the film was shot at South Beach , Conneticut but there are no falls there. Billy Bitzer said that the scene was filmed on a location at the Bronx River. There is a scene from the film and a picture of the falls recently - they haven't changed much.
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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Mar 12, 2010 18:19:25 GMT -6
* * * NEWS FLASH * * * I think I may have gotten a lead on our beloved Gladys Egan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! According to newer, more updated information at Wikipedia and Internet Movie Database, she was born NOV 24, 1905 in Manhattan, New York; she died AUG 3 1997 in Parkersburg, West Virginia. I'm still trying to verify the authenticity of these dates. I have e-mailed the Wood County Public Library in Parkersburg, in hopes that I may be able to get a lead on a Death Certificate for her. I would find it awkward to believe, however, that in 91 years she did not marry; so I don't know if there's any Marriage Certificates for her out there somewhere or where they would be located. :nervous: I'm still a little concerned about the authenticity of her birth year, however. These sources both state her birth year as 1905; however, watching Gladys Egan in The Adventures of Dollie leaves me a bit puzzled, because it was released in 1908 when Gladys would have decidedly been 3 years old. In this film, though, she appears to be much older than 3 years of age; in Dollie, she appears to be at least 6 to 8 years of age. Would anyone else here concur with my thoughts on this? :unsure: Being one of Griffith's earlier works, though, it is rather difficult to know for sure, because none of the camera angles were ever close-ups (this was before he "pioneered" the close-up). With all the shots being long-shots, one cannot even see the faces on any of the actors or actresses in the film, really.
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Post by Midge on Mar 12, 2010 19:06:26 GMT -6
That's exciting news, Larry!
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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Mar 12, 2010 19:14:55 GMT -6
I hope it is, Midge! ;D My heart damn near jumped out of my throat when I saw those vital statistics! :huh: Having just taken another glimpse of Dollie, I'll step down just a little bit and say that it's possible she could have even been 4 or 5 in that film. :unsure: But three
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Post by diane on Mar 12, 2010 20:34:23 GMT -6
I agree with you Larry. The film you let us view - "In the Border States" - I just viewed it again. If she was born in 1905 - she would have been 5 in that movie and she definately looked older - I would say about 8. But it is wonderful news all the same - looking over this topic, Liz posted one to say she thought Gladys did marry .
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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Mar 12, 2010 22:24:53 GMT -6
Diane, thank you for bringing that up, because I had In the Border States in my mind as well. In that film, I think she appears to be about 8 to 10 years of age. I had people doing many searches, including Ancestry.com, Rootsweb et al and have turned up numerous Gladys Egans, including the ones Liz mentioned a few years ago at the beginning of this thread. So I'm still wondering if we will ever know the truth. I clicked around most of the imdb.com website today, trying to find a link for their "Research Dept", or whoever the heck is in charge of finding out all these bios on earlier actors, etc. However, I couldn't even find a link for that. I'm anticipating what type of result I will receive from the Wood County Public Library, however. :thumbsup:
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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Mar 13, 2010 16:00:10 GMT -6
WE DID IT ! ! ! ! ! ! :thumbsup: :jump: OUR BELOVED GLADYS EGAN HAS BEEN FOUND ! ! ! ! ! ! :jump: :thumbsup: I received this email at 2:59pm this afternoon: Larry, The lady you are looking for is listed as Gladys Beal in the obituaries. I googled her because I did not find anyone listed in the indexes or Ancestry.com matching your dates. That's when I discovered she was a child star of the silent film era! Thanks for the interesting question. I have attached a copy of her obituary. It was accompanied with the following attachment: After five or six years of searching off and on and off and on again for for this elusive, cute little lost actress of the silent era, she has been located!!!! :jump: The next step in my agenda is contacting her daughter, Mrs Sarah Maxwell! :thumbsup:
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Post by Midge on Mar 13, 2010 16:02:30 GMT -6
WOW!
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Post by diane on Mar 13, 2010 16:35:58 GMT -6
That's fantastic news Larry - it was such a nice piece in the paper as well. She must have been much beloved. Is her daughter still alive??? You may want to invite her to the Diner.
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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Mar 13, 2010 16:48:18 GMT -6
Is her daughter still alive??? You may want to invite her to the Diner. That, my Dear, will be my NEXT project ...... :thumbsup: (Not necessarily having her come to the Diner, but merely contacting her and speaking with her.
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Post by rmichaelpyle on Mar 13, 2010 16:52:41 GMT -6
Definitely keep us apprised; this is very interesting!
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Post by Hedvig on Mar 13, 2010 17:07:33 GMT -6
Very cool. I always liked Gladys Egan, even before you started up the Diner, Larry. She had attitude! I hope her daughter will be flattered.
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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Mar 13, 2010 17:38:38 GMT -6
You would not believe how many telephone numbers that I've called that are all disconnected!!!! :huh:
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Post by Midge on Mar 13, 2010 18:12:35 GMT -6
How frustrating, Larry! I noticed that Gladys's parents were named Engle, so she must have used Egan as a stage name.
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Post by Roger Thornhill on Mar 13, 2010 18:35:09 GMT -6
Great news Larry, I'm very pleased that your persistence has been rewarded this way.
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hippiechick
Have my own Counter stool!
[F4:little_kicks]
Posts: 273
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Post by hippiechick on Mar 13, 2010 18:48:21 GMT -6
Great job detectives!! I find it fascinating she had a TWIN! Wonder if she acted as well?
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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Mar 14, 2010 0:08:55 GMT -6
Thanks, Folks! I'm going to do some more checking tomorrow (well, I guess I should say later today, actually) and make more phone calls. I put things on hiatus for a few hours this evening, as we were over playing cards with Chris and Beanka, having lots of fun and laughs! ;D
The saga continues! ......... :thumbsup:
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Post by tinyhippy on Mar 14, 2010 8:24:16 GMT -6
How wonderful that you've found this information, Larry! Does this mean that the her birth year of 1905 is correct? I noticed it says on IMDb that her birthdate is in Nov of that year, so she would not even be three in The Adventures of Dollie, since she wouldn't have turned three until the end of that year! I have never seen anything starring Gladys, but I have been interested in her story just reading this thread!
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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Mar 14, 2010 9:21:15 GMT -6
Believe me, Angie, I am still quite puzzled about her age in Dollie!! There are still a couple things that I need to figure out yet — a few pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that don't quite seem to match! :unsure: I need to put together a few other "loose ends" in order for me to be 100% correct in my feelings. In fact, I kind of wish I wouldn't have posted this until I was 100% certain in my gut feeling about everything. But to make me feel better about the situation, I am still going to try to make some phone calls and track down cemetery records perhaps, etc. :thumbsup:
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Post by dvdjunkie on Mar 14, 2010 10:21:57 GMT -6
Larry, I noticed you said you were going to look up her sister "Sarah", and her sister's name according to the obit is "Sally". That might be why you are having a problem.
Also when was the newpaper dated, I didn't see that anywhere. That might give a clue to where to start your search.
;D
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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Mar 14, 2010 10:52:06 GMT -6
I noticed in my earlier posting I said "Sarah", but then I later corrected myself a few posts down and said "Sally". The date of the newspaper is written vertically, in handwriting, on the right-hand side of the newspaper page. (I'm sure that was done by the lady doing the research for me.)
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Post by diane on Mar 14, 2010 16:01:02 GMT -6
I noticed the written date myself - it was 4th August, 1997. The fact that her age was listed as 91 seems to tie in with the 1905 birth date. I'm with you though Larry - she was definately more than 5 in "In the Border States". I wonder if her birth date was falsified - to make her seem like a little child "wonder" actress. It seems a bit of a long shot but I sure that went on back in those times as well.
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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Mar 14, 2010 21:57:58 GMT -6
Well, Diane, that is another thought that I hadn't taken into consideration, so that could be possible although, as you indicated, probably a long shot. However, we were sitting at my parents' house this evening, playing cards and visiting with them and some other friends, and I brought up the videos on YouTube of The Adventures of Dollie and In The Border States. While my parents and our friends were watching segments of those two films, they were all in agreement with one another that Gladys very well could have been only 3 years old in Dollie and 6 years old in States. :idea: TC had suggested that Gladys could have been wearing platform-type shoes, or even the use of certain other gimmicks indicative to the film industry. She also mentioned that certain camera angles can make appearances not appear what they seem to be. The dresses that Gladys typically wore in her films even made here appear "chubby" too, which could be completely deceiving. I accepted those suggestions as possibilities while studying the films closely and, perhaps they could be conclusive that we do have the right person. (I certainly wish to believe that we do! ;D) I am beginning to be more convinced that we have indeed found her! :thumbsup: I plan to try to get back on the telephone tomorrow and touch base with some people in Parkersburg, including, but not limited to: - Sally Maxwell (if surviving)
- other Maxwells and Beals living in Parkersburg or even Newark
- the funeral home
- the nursing home where she resided
- the hospital where she had worked
- and the church she had attended
There is bound to be a long-time employee, such as a Director of Nursing, at both the hospital and the nursing home, who may have recollection of her. There's also a likelihood that a pastor or a long-time congregation member of the church could point me in the right direction toward Sally. One thing that caught my attention in the obituary just this evening, was that there was no mention of any grandchildren. Typically an obituary includes "X" grandchildren, "X"great-grandchildren, etc. Perhaps Sally never married or had children. :unsure: One of my friends this evening also suggested looking for relatives of Gladys' twin sister, Lillian, but I think that would prove to be even MORE difficult than it has been searching for Gladys herself! :huh: I think I'll just stick with Gladys! ;D
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liz
Regular Diner Patron
Posts: 53
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Post by liz on Mar 14, 2010 23:37:32 GMT -6
Guess I missed something here. Gladys? So glad you finally have some leads,Larry. I've been very busy here. But what wonderful news. The mystery might get solved. :thumbsup: Keep us updated.
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Post by diane on Mar 15, 2010 1:17:31 GMT -6
I am sure you have the right person Larry. Another thought I had was that the camera was much harsher back in those times. She could have been only 5 but with the harsh lights etc. I read in Lillian Gish's book a story she told where Griffith sent back a baby to the orphanage saying "get me another baby - this one's too old"!!!
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Post by tinyhippy on Mar 15, 2010 10:08:43 GMT -6
However, we were sitting at my parents' house this evening, playing cards and visiting with them and some other friends, and I brought up the videos on YouTube of The Adventures of Dollie and In The Border States. While my parents and our friends were watching segments of those two films, they were all in agreement with one another that Gladys very well could have been only 3 years old in Dollie I just looked it up on YouTube too, Larry, and I agree, she could very well be only three years old here! She looks about the same size as my own little three year old. :angel:
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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Mar 15, 2010 11:11:39 GMT -6
Well, I've been busy again today: I've telephoned the Rochester General Hospital, where she was employed and they would not give me any information — just as I expected, as far as employment records are concerned. I've called the Grace Brethren Church, but it was obviously at a time when a live person was unavailable; also, the voice mailbox was full, so I was unable to leave a message. Upon calling the nursing home, I received a bit of information from an individual who has been employed there for 20+ years! In addition, she seems to vaguely remember Gladys Beal e! (Yes, with an "e".) :thumbsup: Upon correcting the spelling of her name, she informed me that Gladys Beale was admitted to the nursing facility on DEC 4, 1995 and remained there until her death on AUG 3, 1997. She further informed me that Gladys' previous address was at a Pinewood Village Apartment Complex in Parkersburg and even provided me with an apartment number. When I questioned her if the Admission Records included any "next of kin" information (hoping to find Sally Maxwell listed), she said there was nothing like that listed. Although there was nothing listed for Sally Maxwell, she located an "S Maxwell" in the telephone directory for me at an address not far from Pinewood Village Apartments. This could indicate to me that Sally(?) chose a location of a nursing facility not far from her own, in which she could easily help look after her mother (assuming this is the correct individual). I also telephone Leavitt Funeral Home. The person I spoke to there said she would do some looking around in the files for me, and I am expecting a return phone call from her later today. :thumbsup:
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Post by Larry's 66 Diner on Mar 15, 2010 13:33:22 GMT -6
Well, I received a phone call from Leavitt Funeral Home. The very helpful lady assisting me, said that Gladys E Beal (again, with no "e" at the end of her last name ) was buried (although the obituary said cremated) at White Haven Memorial Park in Pittsford, NY on AUG 16, 1997. This location, of course, is in very close proximity to Rochester and Newark, where work and family would have been throughout most of her life. She also said that, before she returned my phone call, she had tried contacting Sally Maxwell at the last known telephone number she had for her, but it was disconnected. When I contacted the burial park, I was told that she is in Section "L"; Lot 13; Unit C; Grave #2. Also, buried in the same area are her husband, Verne; and parents, Richard and Gertrude Engle. Miller Funeral Home conducted the interment for her husband, Verne, in 1974. So, where do we go from here?
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