Ethelyn Gibson

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Ethelyn Gibson
refer to caption
Photograph of Ethelyn Gibson (1919)
Born1897
Akron, Ohio, US
Died1972
Other namesEthlyn Gibson
OccupationActress
Years active1911–1928
Notable workWinnie Winkle film series

Ethelyn Gibson (1897–1972), sometimes credited as Ethlyn Gibson, was an American stage and screen actress who featured in films and productions in the 1910s and 1920s. First joining the theatre through becoming a member of The Charlie Chaplin Revue in 1911, she then became involved in other revue productions as a member of the Ziegfeld Follies. She joined the silent-film industry beginning in 1917, appearing with Oliver Hardy before acting as a leading lady in multiple Billy West films. Later, she also appeared in works with Charley Chase. One of her most famous roles was acting as the title character in the Winnie Winkle series of films from 1926 to 1928.

Life and career[edit]

Gibson was born in Akron, Ohio, in 1897.[1] At the age of 14 while living with her parents in Los Angeles in 1911, Gibson had a chance encounter with a Charlie Chaplin film production set in her local park, where she was convinced to take part as an extra. Her successful acting convinced the director to make her a full member of The Charlie Chaplin Revue company and show. She continued in this position up through 1916.[2]

Gibson had her first official stage production outside of revues in 1914 after being recruited by the Ziegfeld Follies[3] and in vaudeville productions until she became involved in the film industry.[4] As a film actress, she worked for the motion picture studio Vitagraph for two years. In 1920, she was signed to be a co-star with West for Equity Pictures and was contracted to make 12 two-reel comedy films.[5][6] A committee of top American artists rated Gibson in 1923 the "World's Most Beautiful Blonde".[7]

Lobby card for Weary Winnie from the Winnie Winkle Weary film series

Gibson starred as the title character in the Winnie Winkle comedy film series first produced in 1926. The initial run of the films was so successful that Gibson was signed for a further series of shorts.[8] She also concurrently conducted appearance tours in all of the principal cities where she was shooting Winnie Winkle.[9] After completing her run of the film series, Gibson moved on to independent films, setting up the studio Gibson Productions in 1928 with herself as the star of its films, and producing the first serial film with sound called Five Cards.[10]

Personal life[edit]

Gibson with West in Fiddlin' Around (1925).

Gibson married Billy West (Roy B. Weisberg), a comic Charlie Chaplin–style actor.[11] She later signed a marriage contract with Michael Glaser, a broker, on November 5, 1926. Two years later, Billy West and Gibson divorced. West alleged that Gibson had left him five years prior and stated that Michael Glaser was the reason for their separation. In 1930, Gibson sued Glaser for breach of promise of their marriage contract.[12][13] The subsequent case was settled by Gibson for an unknown payment amount from Glaser on May 6, 1930.[14]

She established an organization in May 1930 called "The Divorcee Club" that quickly gained several hundred members. The club advocated for divorced women to have equal rights to married women and to push for proper alimony payments from ex-husbands.[15]

Filmography[edit]

  1. Working Winnie (1926)
  2. Happy Days (1926)[22]
  3. Winnie's Birthday (1926)
  4. Oh! Winnie Behave (1926)
  5. Winnie's Vacation (1927), extant[23]
  6. Winnie Wakes Up (1927)
  7. Winnie Steps Out (1927)
  8. Winnie Be Good (1927)
  9. Winning Winnie (1927)
  10. Winnie's Winning Ways (1928)

References[edit]

  1. ^ Massa, Steve. "Slapstick Divas: The Women of Silent Comedy". BearManor Media – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Ethelyn Gibson Sticks to Comedy Roles". Janesville Daily Gazette. April 27, 1016. Retrieved December 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Popular Picture Personalities: Who's Who In The Moving Picture World". The Moving Picture World. December 1, 1917. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  4. ^ "Ethlyn Gibson To Star For Series". The Los Angeles Times. May 22, 1927. Retrieved December 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Equity Signs Billy West". Los Angeles Evening Post-Record. 27 November 1920. p. 16. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Ethelyn Gibson with Billy West". The Tacoma Daily Ledger. 2 January 1921. p. E-3. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Movie Star To Appear At Loew's". Dayton Daily News. May 5, 1923. Retrieved December 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Ethelyn Gibson Cast For New West Series". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. September 24, 1926. Retrieved December 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Ethlyn Gibson Home from Trip". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. December 18, 1926. Retrieved December 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Crafton, Donald (1997). The Talkies: American Cinema's Transition to Sound, 1926-1931. Charles Scribner's Sons. p. 386. ISBN 9780684195858.
  11. ^ "Ethelyn Gibson". www.lordheath.com.
  12. ^ "Film Director and Actress Are Given Decree of Divorce". The San Bernardino County Sun. 12 May 1928. p. 1. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  13. ^ "Follies Girl Sues Broker for Balm". The Star Press. 22 March 1930. p. 2. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  14. ^ "Winnie Winkle's Heart Receives Soothing Balm". The Idaho Statesman. May 7, 1930. Retrieved December 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Members of Odd Organization Are Invited to See Miss Shearer". Los Angeles Evening Express. May 29, 1930. Retrieved December 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b c "Actresses, Ingenues". Motion Picture Studio Directory. 1918. p. 118. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  17. ^ "The Scenic". Lancaster New Era. July 14, 1920. Retrieved December 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Yale Theatre". Muskogee Daily Phoenix and Times-Democrat. August 23, 1920. Retrieved December 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "New Folly Theatre". Drumright Weekly Derrick. July 3, 1920. Retrieved December 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Family Theatre". The Marion Evening Post. October 21, 1925. Retrieved December 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Weary Winnie, US lobbycard, Ethelyn Gibson, circa 1926-". Getty Images.
  22. ^ McGowen, Roscoe (April 30, 1926). "Winnie Winkle Of Comic Strip Takes Her Gang Into Movies". New York Daily News. Retrieved December 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Working On Fifth". The Los Angeles Times. July 17, 1927. Retrieved December 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "The Daily Dozen, poster, Ethelyn Gibson, circa mid-1920s". Getty Images.
  25. ^ "Facts About Your Favorites". The Los Angeles Times. September 28, 1927. Retrieved December 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Independents". Los Angeles Evening Post-Record. October 8, 1927. Retrieved December 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Independents". Los Angeles Evening Post-Record. November 5, 1927. Retrieved December 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "Directing Difficult". Los Angeles Evening Post-Record. December 30, 1927. Retrieved December 16, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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