Tuesday, September 16, 2014

MARY PICKFORD: THE LATER YEARS

If you are talking about the pioneers of the film industry, many people would have to talk about Charlie Chaplin or D.W. Griffith. In that early era of American film, as was the norm in society as a whole, women were not allowed to be the leaders. However, one of the first woman pioneers in film was silent screen star Mary Pickford. Known as "America's Sweetheart", Pickford was so powerful in Hollywood that she could dictate her roles, her movies, and everything about her career. It was very rare for a woman to have that power in the early days of Hollywood. Mary Pickford, however, disappeared from film, and left the business at the height of her fame to become an elusive legendary figure.

When she retired from acting in 1933, Pickford continued to produce films for United Artists, and she and Chaplin remained partners in the company for decades. Chaplin left the company in 1955, and Pickford followed suit in 1956, selling her remaining shares for three million dollars. On June 24, 1937, Pickford married her third and last husband, actor and band leader Charles 'Buddy' Rogers. They adopted two children: Roxanne (born 1944, adopted 1944) and Ronald Charles (born 1937, adopted 1943, a.k.a. Ron Pickford Rogers). As a PBS American Experience documentary noted, Pickford's relationship with her children was tense. She criticized their physical imperfections, including Ronnie's small stature and Roxanne's crooked teeth. Both children later said that their mother was too self-absorbed to provide real maternal love. In 2003, Ronnie recalled that "Things didn't work out that much, you know. But I'll never forget her. I think that she was a good woman."

 After the love of her life, Douglas Fairbanks Sr, died in 1939 Mary withdrew and gradually became a recluse, remaining almost entirely at Pickfair and allowing visits only from Lillian Gish, her stepson Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and a few select others. The Political Graveyard reports that Mary Pickford Rogers was a candidate for presidential elector on the Republican ticket of Dewey-Bricker in 1944. She did appear in court in 1959, in a matter pertaining to her co-ownership of North Carolina TV station WSJS-TV. In the mid-1960s, Pickford often received visitors only by telephone, speaking to them from her bedroom. Buddy Rogers often gave guests tours of Pickfair, including views of a genuine western bar Pickford had bought for Douglas Fairbanks, and a portrait of Pickford in the drawing room. A print of this image now hangs in the Library of Congress. In addition to her Oscar as best actress for Coquette (1929), Mary Pickford received an Academy Honorary Award for a lifetime of achievements in 1976. The Academy sent a TV crew to her house to record her short statement of thanks - offering the public a very rare glimpse into the fabled Pickfair Manor. On May 29, 1979 Pickford passed away at the age of 87. She was a forgotten icon of a legendary era in Hollywood history...

9 comments:

  1. I myself have not forgot Mary.

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  2. Have not forgotten her.She's still a constant subject of discussion amongst silent film groups.Wish she had been nicer to her kids but I think she herself had too many issues to try and parent any one.

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  3. Both of those adopted kids were disrespectful to her. They both could have gone to college and made something of themselves. Whoever their birth parents were, that’s who they were going to be like. You can’t make a silk purse out of a sows ear. You can’t just adopt kids from street people and exspect them to want to make something of themselves, If they came from homeless/street people, then that’s what they will also be. Ron was found in the 2000s in Central Park toothless. Roxanne was told by her adopted mother that she needed to act respectable to be respected by men. She didn’t listen to her. I’m sure she just rolled her eyes. Mary Pickford was a very wise, and a driven woman. She just couldn’t make anything out of street sperm. It just can’t be done. They just threw away the opportunities that were given to them.

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    1. My~~~How do you know all of this? You sound a bit off and also angry

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    2. You know some times genetics does have something to with it. The adopted son said later in an interview Mary was nice. I think she adopted two rebels. Its just like breeding animals. Some are bred for disposition,etc.

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    3. I agree with the genetic thing with children. Its like animals, Some people breed animals for hood disposition, etc. I have seen children who never new their fathers and act just like them. Those kids probably got caught up with the hippy generation.

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  4. Unless you actually knew those children personally including their family environment, you have absolutely no right to offer such harsh criticisms. You people sound bitter and angry and unrightfully judgmental.

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    1. Well said. Totally agree

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    2. Yes, that doesn't even touch on problems in the adopted family. To speak so harshly about their bio parents is outrageous.

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