Olive Borden

Olive Borden
Born	July 14, 1906(1906-07-14) Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Died	October 1, 1947(1947-10-01) (aged 41) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Years active	1924–1934
Spouse	Theodore Spector (m. 1931–1932) «start: (1931)–end+1: (1933)»"Marriage: Theodore Spector to Olive Borden" Location: (linkback://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_Borden) John Moeller (m. 1934–1941) «start: (1934)–end+1: (1942)»"Marriage: John Moeller to Olive Borden" Location: (linkback://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_Borden)

Olive Borden (July 14, 1906 – October 1, 1947) was an American actress in silent and early talkies. Nicknamed "The Joy Girl", Borden was known for her jet-black hair and overall beauty.

Early life

Olive Borden was born in Richmond, Virginia in 1906. Her birth name was often reported erroneously as Sybil Tinkle until the 1990s when it was discovered that another woman with the same name had been confused with Borden. Borden's father died when she was a baby and she was raised by her mother, Sibbie, in Norfolk and Baltimore, Maryland where she also attended Catholic boarding schools. She was a distant relative of Lizzie Borden. As a teenager, she persuaded her mother to take her to Hollywood to pursue a career in show business. To support themselves they opened a candy store and Olive worked as a telephone operator.

Career

Borden began her career as one of the Sennett Bathing Beauties in 1922 and was soon appearing as a vamp in Hal Roach comedy shorts. Producer Paul Bern chose her for a role in his film The Dressmaker In Paris. She was signed by Fox after being named a WAMPAS Baby Star in 1925 (along with cousin Natalie Joyce). Borden quickly became one of their most popular and highest paid stars earning a salary of $1,500 a week. She had starring roles in 11 films at Fox including 3 Bad Men and Fig Leaves both costarring her then-boyfriend George O'Brien. During this time she worked with some directors who would go on to achieve major fame, including John Ford, Howard Hawks and Leo McCarey.

When Fox cut her salary in 1927, she walked out on her contract. By this point she was a major star but she found it difficult to make the transition from silent films to "talkies". She worked to get rid of her Southern accent but could not overcome her reputation as being difficult. She was still in demand as an actress and continued to work for Columbia and RKO. Borden cut her trademark hair into a short bob and turned herself into a modern flapper. She made several movies in the early 1930s but her career stalled. Her last screen credit came in 1934 in the film Chloe, Love Is Calling You. She moved to New York where she had a brief stage career and made a living on the vaudeville circuit. By the late 1930s she had filed for bankruptcy and took a job at Macy's department store.

Personal life

Borden had two failed marriages. She married a stockbroker named Theodore Spector in March 1931. He was arrested for bigamy in 1932 when it was discovered he had married Borden before divorcing his first wife. The marriage was annulled. She married her second husband, electrician John Moeller, in 1934. That marriage ended in divorce seven years later.

From 1926 until 1930 she had been romantically involved with actor George O'Brien and the press reported they were engaged. She also dated director Marshall Neilan, producer Paul Bern, and had a long affair with Arthur Benline, Lieutenant Commander in the Navy Construction Battalion. For most of her life Borden lived with her mother, Sibbie.

Later years and death

In 1942, Borden joined the WAC where she has received an army citation for bravery in turning over an enemy ammunition truck. Her Army career ended after she was hospitalized in Walter Reed medical center with a severe foot injury. After her honorable discharge she attempted an unsuccessful comeback in films. She was now struggling with alcoholism and numerous health problems. Borden's final years were spent in the skid row section of Los Angeles scrubbing floors at the Sunshine Mission, a home for destitute women.

Borden died on October 1, 1947 from a stomach ailment and pneumonia at the age of 41. The only possession she had when she died was a signed photo of herself. She was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Her mother Sibbie was interred in the grave next to her.

For her contribution to the motion picture industry, Olive Borden has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6801 Hollywood Blvd. She was one of the first eight stars chosen to receive a star in 1958. Her name was drawn randomly from hundreds of nominees.

Partial Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1924	Neck and Neck		Extant(Museum of Modern Art,nitrate print)
1924	Wide Open		Extant(private collector)
1924	Air Pockets
1924	Why Men Work
1924	Should Landlords Live?
1924	Too Many Mamas
1924	The Royal Razz		Extant(private collection)
1924	Just a Good Guy		Extant(UCLA Film & TV, Hungarian National Film archive)
1925	Should Husbands be Watched?	The New Maid	Extant(Lobster films, Paris)
1925	The Dressmaker from Paris		Lost
1925	Bad Boy	Undetermined Role	Uncredited
1925	Tell It to a Policeman
1925	Good Morning, Nurse		Lost'
1925	The Happy Warrior	Ima	Lost
1925	The Overland Limited	Ruth Dent	Extant(Library of Congress)
1926	The Yankee Señor	Manuelita	Alternative title: The Conquering Blood Lost
1926	My Own Pal	Alice Deering	Lost
1926	Yellow Fingers	Saina	Extant(Narodni Film Archive, Prague)
1926	3 Bad Men	Lee Carlton	Extant (UCLA Film & TV)
1926	Fig Leaves	Eve Smith	Extant (Museum of Modern Art, Centre National de la Cinematographie (CNC)Paris, Cinematheque Royale-Brussles)
1926	The Country Beyond	Valencia	Lost
1927	The Monkey Talks	Olivette	Extant; George Eastman House
1927	Secret Studio	Rosemary Merton	Lost
1927	The Joy Girl	Jewel Courage	Extant; Museum/Modern Art
1927	Pajamas	Angela Wade	Extant; private collection, nitrate damage
1927	Come to My House	Joan Century	Lost
1928	The Albany Night Boat	Georgie	Lost
1928	Virgin Lips	Norma	Lost
1928	Gang War	Flowers	Alternative title: All Square; Lost
1928	Stool Pigeon	Goldie	Alternative title: The Decoy; Extant
1928	Sinners in Love	Ann Hardy	Extant; Centre National de la Cinematographie(CNC)Paris
1929	Love in the Desert	Zarah	Extant; CNC(Paris), Cineteca del Friuli
1929	The Eternal Woman	Anita	Extant; British Film Institute(BFI)
1929	Half Marriage	Judy Paige	Extant; UCLA Film & TV, private collectors
1929	Dance Hall	Gracie Nolan	Extant; UCLA Film & TV, private collectors
1929	Wedding Rings	Eve Quinn	Alternative title: The Dark Swan; Incomplete(UCLA Film & TV)
1930	Hello Sister	Vee Newell	Extant(private collectors)
1930	The Social Lion	Gloria Staunton	Extant(private collectors)
1932	The Divorce Racket	Marie Douglas
1933	Hotel Variety		Alternative title: The Passing Show; Lost;IMDb
1933	Leave It to Me	Peavey	Alternative title: Help
1933	The Mild West	Baby Doll	Short film
1934	The Inventors		Uncredited
1934	Chloe, Love Is Calling You	Chloe (Betty Ann Gordon)

Further Reading

• Michael G. Ankerich (2010). Dangerous Curves atop Hollywood Heels: The Lives, Careers, and Misfortunes of 14 Hard-Luck Girls of the Silent Screen. BearManor. ISBN 1-5939-3605-2. 
• Michelle Vogel (2010). Olive Borden: The Life and Films of Hollywood's "Joy Girl". McFarland. ISBN 0-7864-4795-8. 

External links

• Olive Borden at the Internet Movie Database
• Olive Borden at AllRovi
• Olive Borden Online
• Olive Borden at Silent Ladies
• Olive Borden at Find a Grave