Mary Kornman

Mary Kornman
Mary Kornman in Dogs of War (1923)
Born	December 27, 1915(1915-12-27) Idaho Falls, Idaho, U.S.
Died	June 1, 1973(1973-06-01) (aged 57) Glendale, California, U.S.
Cause of death	Cancer
Occupation	Child actor
Years active	1922–1940
Website
http://www.marykornman.com/

Mary Kornman (December 27, 1915 – June 1, 1973) was an American child actress who was the leading female star of the Our Gang series during the Pathé silent era.

Our Gang

Mary Kornman was the daughter of Hal Roach's still-photo cameraman Gene Kornman. After Peggy Cartwright, who only appeared in four or five Our Gang episodes, Mary became the leading lady of the series, appearing in more than 40 episodes. Kornman was one of the series' biggest stars during its early years between 1922 and 1926.^[1]

Later career

After the series, she had a successful movie career through her twenties. She also continued appearing with Our Gang co-star Mickey Daniels into adulthood, as evidenced by some publicity shots from the era. She appeared with Mickey Daniels in the teen version of Our Gang, The Boy Friends. She married Leo Tover, a cameraman, in or around 1934, but divorced approximately five years later. She later married Ralph B. McCutcheon, a horse trainer on some of her Western films; this marriage lasted until her death.

In 1935, she appeared in Queen of the Jungle with Reed Howes. The same year, she appeared in The Desert Trail as a store owner and the love interest of John Wayne. She continued to appear in features until 1940, when she retired from the screen.

Later years

Never having children, Mary would spend the rest of her life devoted to her husband, Ralph. They both spent their remaining years on their ranch with the horses they loved. Mary was never to return to movies, yet she would keep in close contact with many of her Hollywood acquaintances and friends.^[2]

When recently asked if Mary was as kind and genuine a person as she appeared to be in her movies, sister Mildred Kornman replied, "She was all of that and more".^[2]

Death

Mary became ill in the early 1970s. She was eventually diagnosed with cancer and died on June 1, 1973 with sister Mildred at her side. Kornman's husband Ralph (16 years her senior) died in 1975. They both were buried at the Linn Grove Cemetery, in Greeley, Weld County, Colorado.^[2]

Legacy

When asked in 1960 what she thought of being part of Our Gang, Kornman replied "It was fun being a gang member. It was play. I have no regrets...We didn't have to be talented, which is natural for kids...I think we had a privileged childhood working in those films."^[1]

Filmography

Our Gang

• The Champeen (1923)
• The Cobbler (1923)
• The Big Show (1923)
• A Pleasant Journey (1923)
• Dogs of War (1923)
• Lodge Night (1923)
• July Days (1923)
• No Noise (1923)
• Stage Fright (1923)
• Derby Day (1923)
• Tire Trouble (1924)
• Big Business (1924)
• The Buccaneers (1924)
• Seein' Things (1924)
• Commencement Day (1924)
• Cradle Robbers (1924)
• Jubilo, Jr. (1924)
• It's a Bear (1924)
• High Society (1924)
• The Sun Down Limited (1924)
• Every Man for Himself (1924)
• Fast Company (1924)
• The Big Town (1925)
• Circus Fever (1925)
• Dog Days (1925)
• The Love Bug (1925)
• Shootin' Injuns (1925)
• Ask Grandma (1925)
• Official Officers (1925)
• Boys Will Be Joys (1925)
• Mary, Queen of Tots (1925)
• Your Own Back Yard (1925)
• Better Movies (1925)
• One Wild Ride (1925)
• Good Cheer (1926)
• Buried Treasure (1926)
• Monkey Business (1926)
• Baby Clothes (1926)
• Uncle Tom's Uncle (1926)
• Thundering Fleas (1926)
• Shivering Spooks (1926)
• The Fourth Alarm (1926)
• Fish Hooky (1933)
• Reunion in Rhythm (1937)

The Boy Friends

• Doctor's Orders (1930)
• Bigger and Better (1930)
• Ladies Last (1930)
• Blood and Thunder (1931)
• High Gear (1931)
• Love Fever (1931)
• Air-Tight (1931)
• Call a Cop! (1931)
• Mama Loves Papa (1931)
• The Kick-Off! (1931)
• Love Pains (1932)
• The Knock-Out (1932)
• Too Many Women (1932)
• Wild Babies (1932)

Miscellaneous

• Rupert of Hee Haw (1924)
• Short Kilts (1924)
• Isn't Life Terrible? (1925)
• Let's Do Things (1931)
• Are These Our Children? (1931)
• The Hollywood Handicap (1932)
• Exposure (1932)
• Me and My Pal (1933)
• Bondage (1933)
• College Humor (1933)
• Neighbors' Wives (1933)
• Please (1933)
• Flying Down to Rio
• Just an Echo (1934)
• The Quitter (1934)
• Picture Brides (1934)
• Strictly Dynamite (1934)
• Financial Jitters (1934)
• Madame Du Barry (1934)
• Smokey Smith (1935)
• Roaring Roads (1935)
• The Desert Trail
• Adventures Knights (1935)
• Queen of the Jungle
• The Calling of Dan Matthews (1935)
• Swing It, Professor (1937)
• Youth on Parole (1937)
• King of the Newsboys (1938)
• That Certain Age (1938)
• I Am a Criminal (1938)
• Zenobia (1939)
• On the Spot (1940)

Our Gang - Questionable Listings

There is some discrepancy concerning which of the early Our Gang films Mary actually appeared in. According to The Lucky Corner website Mary did not appear in any of the following four films.

• One Terrible Day (1922), listed by the Internet Movie Data Base
• Young Sherlocks (1922), listed by the Internet Movie Data Base and by Maltin and Bann
• Saturday Morning (1922), listed by the Internet Movie Data Base
• A Quiet Street (1922), listed by the Internet Movie Data Base

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Maltin, Leonard and Bann, Richard W. (1977, rev. 1992). The Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang, p. 249. New York: Crown Publishing/Three Rivers Press. ISBN 0-517-58325-9
2. ^ ^{a b c} marykornman.com

External links

Biography portal

• Mary Kornman at the Internet Movie Database
• Mary Kornman at Find a Grave
• Mary Kornman at AllRovi
• Mary Kornman home page
• The Lucky Corner

Persondata
Name	Kornman, Mary
Alternative names	Kornman, Mary A.
Short description	American film actress
Date of birth	1915-12-27
Place of birth	Idaho Falls, Idaho U.S.
Date of death	1973-6-1
Place of death	Glendale, California U.S.