Tuesday - March 7

Today’s storyteller is actress Mary Pickford.  Mary Pickford was born in Canada and as a child started acting after the death of her father.  By the age of 18, she was playing on Broadway.  In 1909 she starred in the silent film The Violin Maker of Cremona but returned to Broadway.  In 1913 she turned permanently to the screen and went on to own and star in her own production company.  Mary was dedicated to her craft, and she created quality entertainments.  She was known for her ringlet curls, expression of sweet sincerity, and invincible innocence earning her the nickname America’s Sweetheart.  In 1917 she was paid $350,000 for each of three films.  Mary continued to star in silent films and won an Academy Award for her performance in the film Coquette in 1929.  After making her 194th film, she retired from the screen as her career had begun to wane with the advent of sound, but she continued working for the film industry for several years.  In the last years of her life Mary became a recluse at her lavish estate, Pickfair, and struggled with alcoholism.

Tomorrow we will learn about Laura Ingalls Wilder.