- Olive Borden
-
Olive Borden 
Born July 14, 1906
Richmond, Virginia, U.S.Died October 1, 1947 (aged 41)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.Years active 1924–1934 Spouse Theodore Spector (m. 1931–1932)
John Moeller (m. 1934–1941)Olive Borden (July 14, 1906 – October 1, 1947) was an American actress in silent and early talkies. Nicknamed "The Joy Girl",[1] Borden was known for her jet-black hair and overall beauty.
Contents
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.[2] 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.[3] She was a distant relative of Lizzie Borden.[4] 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 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 (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.[4] 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.[4]
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.[5] 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.
References
- ^ Liebman, Roy (2000). The Wampas Baby Stars: A Biographical Dictionary, 1922-1934. McFarland. pp. 32. ISBN 0-786-40756-5.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Shipman Springer, John; Hamilton, Jack D. (1974). They Had Faces Then: Super Stars, Stars, and Starlets of the 1930's. Citadel Press. pp. 273. ISBN 0-806-50300-9.
- ^ a b c Brettell, Andrew; King, Noel; Kennedy, Damien; Imwold, Denise (2005). Cut!: Hollywood Murders, Accidents, and Other Tragedies. Leonard, Warren Hsu; von Rohr, Heather. Barrons Educational Series. pp. 35. ISBN 0-764-15858-9.
- ^ Klepper, Robert K. (1999). Silent Films, 1877-1996: A Critical Guide to 646 Movies. McFarland. pp. 358. ISBN 0-786-40595-3.
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
Categories:- 1906 births
- 1947 deaths
- Actors from Virginia
- American silent film actors
- American film actors
- Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)
- Deaths from pneumonia
- Infectious disease deaths in California
- People from Richmond, Virginia
- People from Norfolk, Virginia
- People from Baltimore, Maryland
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