Mini Biography
Widely publicized as "The Vitagraph Girl," silent film actress Florence Turner was one of the silver screen's first celebrities to be coined the term "movie star." Born in New York City in 1885, she was pushed into the business at age 3 by an overzealous stage mother, performing on the vaudeville stage as little Eugenie Florence. Audiences took delight in her talents as an impressionist of well-known stage actresses of the time such as Marie Dressler. Florence was a full-fledged professional by the time she hooked up with Vitagraph Studios in 1906 as a wardrobe mistress and cashier, as well as actress.
Making her debut with Cast Up by the Sea (1907), she was prominently displayed in front of the camera within a short period of time. Appearing in the company's more quality pieces, she formed a sturdy pairing with actor Maurice Costello and other matiné–‘ idols of the day. The diminutive, forlorn-looking performer eventually tested the acting waters in London in 1913, and was directed frequently by long-time friend Lawrence Trimble, occasionally collaborating on screenplays. She also contributed to her livelihood making appearances in music halls still amazing audiences with her impersonations of everybody from Alla Nazimova to Charles Chaplin. She organized her own production company, Turner Films, and made more than thirty short films, becoming the first star of the silver screen to take on producing chores. In 1915, she was the top box-office star.
Florence maintained a highly visible transatlantic career for nearly a decade while appearing both here and in England in everything from classic Shakespeare [The Merchant of Venice (1908), Richard III (1908)] and historical epics [A Tale of Two Cities (1911), The Deerslayer (1913)], to classic drama [_Far from the Madding Crowd (1914)_ , Through the Valley of Shadows (1914), My Old Dutch (1915)]. Her career started slipping after WWI and by 1924, she was forced to settle permanently in Hollywood when the British film market dried up completely. At this point, however, she had to make do as a stock player for MGM. The advent of sound was the final nail in the coffin. It was a respectful MGM who kept her on the payroll for the next decade albeit in bit parts and extra roles. She died practically forgotten at the Woodland Hills, California Motion Picture Country Home in 1946 at age 61.
Mini Biography By:
Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net