Martha Mansfield, Photoplay July 1920 Card by FirstNightVintage
Martha Mansfield [1899-1923] was an American actress who was always determined on a stage career. At the age of fourteen she appeared on Broadway in Little Women (1912), while her film debut came in 1917 with a short called Max Comes Across. She made twenty-four further films, including Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde [1920] with John Barrymore but her life and career was cut tragically short in 1923 when she was filming a Civil War picture called The Warrens of Virginia. A lighted match was thrown in her vicinity and it ignited her costume which went up in flames. She was rushed to hospital but had sustained ‘substantial burns’ [Wikipedia] and died a day later. A sad story. It has never been known who discarded the match thus.
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Take care and keep laughing!
A lovely image, Sarah. But what a sad end to a promising life!
Best wishes, Pete. x
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Yes, indeed. I’m still quite shocked! Thanks, Pete! x
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A beautiful image….and yes what a sad ending to her life….Keep smiling and enjoy your day..janet:)xx
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When I was researching, I was shocked to discover what happened to her. I wonder how her career would have gone. Awful story. Keep smiling, my friend. xx
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Sad story, beautiful image. Thanks, Sarah
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Glad you like it, Olga.
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Very sad story! Love the image tho. xxx
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Thank you!
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This young lady was very pretty – what a tragic ending for one of our early movie stars!
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Tragic. Too much tragedy in those years. Where’s Health & Safety when you really need them!
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Good to see you back online.
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Thank you! How’s Salisbury?
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We didn’t get there. We are in the Cotswolds!
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Oh my. Enjoy!
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Love the layout and great colour composition, Sarah! Wishing you happy weekend! 💋
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The talent around at that time was beyond compare! Happy Weekend!
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NO! She didn’t really die this way, did she? Tragic!
Beautiful cover, though. Thank you for sharing her story.
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‘Fraid so.
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