Olive Borden
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| Olive Borden | |
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| Born | July 14, 1906 Richmond, Virginia |
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| Died | October 1, 1947 (aged 41) Los Angeles, California |
| Years active | 1924-1934 |
| Spouse(s) | Theodore Spector (1931-1932) John Moeller (1934-1941) |
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.
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[edit] Early life
Olive Borden was born in Richmond, Virginia in 1906. The year of her birth is sometimes mistakenly given as 1907. 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.[1] One of Olive's distant relatives was accused murderer Lizzie Borden. Olive'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. As a teenager, she persuaded her mother to take her Hollywood to pursue a career in show business.
[edit] Career
Borden began her career as one of Mack Sennett's 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. 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 Three Bad Men and Fig Leaves both costarring her 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. Olive 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 and had a brief stage career which was derailed by her numerous personal problems. For a while she made a living working the vaudeville circuit.
[edit] Personal life
Borden had two failed marriages. She marred a stockbroker named Theodore Spector in March 1931. He was arrested for bigamy in 1932 when it was discovered he had married Olive before divorcing his first wife. Olive had this marriage 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 and producer Paul Bern. For most of her life Olive lived with her mother, Sibbie.
[edit] Later years
By the 1940s she was bankrupt and suffering from alcoholism. She became a nurse's aide and volunteered as a WAAC during World War II. In 1945, she became a born again Christian. She tried to make a comeback in Hollywood but she had gained weight and had numerous health problems. After a series of low paying jobs she moved to the Sunshine Mission, a home for destitute women in the skid row section of Los Angeles. Her mother worked in the commissary. Olive's final years were spent scrubbing floors and organizing their Christmas pageants.
Borden died at the Sunshine Mission on October 1, 1947 from a stomach ailment and pneumonia at the age of 41. The only possessions she had when she died were a signed photo of herself and a scrapbook of clippings. The mission paid all of her funeral expenses.[2] 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.
Borden's cousin Natalie Joyce also became a successful actress.
[edit] Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | Neck and Neck | ||
| Wide Open | |||
| Air Pockets | |||
| Why Men Work | |||
| Should Landlords Live? | |||
| Too Many Mamas | |||
| The Royal Razz | |||
| Just a Good Guy | |||
| 1925 | Should Husbands be Watched? | The New Maid | |
| The Dressmaker from Paris | |||
| Bad Boy | Undetermined Role | Uncredited | |
| Tell It to a Policeman | |||
| Good Morning, Nurse | |||
| The Happy Warrior | Ima | ||
| The Overland Limited | Ruth Dent | ||
| 1926 | The Yankee Señor | Manuelita | Alternative title: The Conquering Blood |
| My Own Pal | Alice Deering | ||
| Yellow Fingers | Saina | ||
| 3 Bad Men | Lee Carlton | ||
| Fig Leaves | Eve Smith | ||
| The Country Beyond | Valencia | ||
| 1927 | The Monkey Talks | Olivette | |
| Secret Studio | Rosemary Merton | ||
| The Joy Girl | Jewel Courage | ||
| Pajamas | Angela Wade | ||
| Come to My House | Joan Century | ||
| 1928 | The Albany Night Boat | Georgie | |
| Virgin Lips | Norma | ||
| Gang War | Flowers | Alternative title: All Square | |
| Stool Pigeon | Goldie | Alternative title: The Decoy | |
| Sinners in Love | Ann Hardy | ||
| 1929 | Love in the Desert | Zarah | |
| The Eternal Woman | Anita | Lost film | |
| Half Marriage | Judy Paige | ||
| Dance Hall | Gracie Nolan | ||
| Wedding Rings | Eve Quinn | Alternative title: The Dark Swan | |
| 1930 | Hello Sister | Vee Newell | |
| The Social Lion | Gloria Staunton | ||
| 1932 | The Divorce Racket | Marie Douglas | |
| 1933 | Hotel Variety | Alternative title: The Passing Show | |
| Leave It to Me | Peavey | Alternative title: Help | |
| The Mild West | Baby Doll | Short film | |
| 1934 | The Inventors | Uncredited | |
| Chloe, Love Is Calling You | Chloe (Betty Ann Gordon) |
[edit] References
- ^ Lowe, Denise (2005). An Encyclopedic Dictionary of Women in Early American Films, 1895-1930: 1895-1930. Haworth Press. pp. 76. ISBN 0-789-01843-8.
- ^ Klepper, Robert K. (1999). Silent Films, 1877-1996: A Critical Guide to 646 Movies. McFarland. pp. 358. ISBN 0-786-40595-3.
[edit] External links
- Olive Borden Online
- Olive Borden at the Internet Movie Database
- Olive Borden at Allmovie
- Olive Borden at Silent Ladies
- Olive Borden at Find a Grave
