anita page
Dorothy Sebastian, Joan Crawford Joan Crawford Joan Crawford, Anita Page in a publicity photo for the 1928 hit Our Dancing Daughters. Dorothy Sebastian, Joan Crawford Joan Crawford Joan Crawford, Anita Page in a publicity photo for the 1928 hit Our Dancing Daughters.
Anita Page began as a silent film actress and successfully made the transition to sound films. It was thrilling to be in that ornate living room, sitting next to someone who had played in films belonging to a long-vanished era, opposite men and women who were long gone.
Anita Page and Ramon Novarro in a publicity shot for the aviation drama The Flying Fleet, one of MGM’s biggest hits of the late 1920s.
Unfortunately for Anita Page, in the early 1930s the pretty, blonde Leila Hyams and the stage-trained Madge Evans began landing roles that might have gone to Page a mere couple of years earlier.
Back in the late 1920s, Anita Page could never have dreamed that eight decades later she would be a celebrity of sorts: The Official Last Surviving Silent Film Star.
Silent screen actress and siren Anita Page was one of the all time great beauties of the silver screen. Other parts followed such as “Love ‘Em and Leave ‘Em” and the lead role in “Beach Nuts”
Eventually Thaw returned to New York, but meanwhile Mrs.
Betty took an immediate liking to the fifteen-year-old Anita. After completing filming, the director told Anita the company was moving their operations to California and invited the young hopeful along. Considering her age, the company offered to pay the expenses for her mother and brother to join her.
On December 2, 1927, the entire Kenilworth company, including Anita and another actress, Susan Hughes, boarded the Santa Fe Chief and left New York for California. He then introduced Susan and Anita known then as Anita Rivers to the press.
I want to go home.” Bern took Anita to make-up where they fixed her hair and tried to cover up her puffiness and red nose.
The man who brought Anita to Hollywood was an unlikely film producer; more a man of infamy and an assumed murderer.
“Years later, after making Mogambo, Clark told a reporter, ‘ Grace Kelly reminds me of my first leading lady, Anita Page.’ Of course I loved Grace Kelly so that didn’t hurt my feelings at all.”
Of course, Anita jumped at the chance. That brief meeting in films led to another extra bit in the Louise Brooks film, Love ‘Em and Leave ‘Em , also filmed at the Astoria studios. So that’s what she did.
On the advice of the assistant, Anita took dancing lessons from Martha Graham, studied acting under John Murray Anderson, and modeled for John Robert Powers.
While preparing for the scene, Joan approached Anita with words of advice. “No way, honey,” he told her.
Anita found Powers, whose models became known as “The Power Girls,” a charming man but business all the way.
With her one chance for stardom dissolving before her, Anita finally was able to convince her mother to stay.
The Bronson’s had a suite at the Plaza Hotel, and invited Anita and her mother to visit.
Page died in her sleep on September 6, 2008 in Los Angeles, California of natural causes.
” Anita Page - The Last Surviving Silent Film Star: QA with Author Allan Ellenberger - Part I - Alternative Film Guide
