Francis X. Bushman: A Biography and FilmographyBefore Burt Lancaster and Charlton Heston, before Bogart and Gable, even before Rudolph Valentino, there was Francis X. Bushman. Named the King of the Movies at San Francisco's Panama-Pacific Exposition of 1915, Bushman virtually created the Hollywood model of the male heartthrob that hundreds of others have sought to imitate over the years. Born in 1883, Bushman had his first acting jobs in stock companies in his hometown of Baltimore. His film career started in 1911 when he starred in a one-reeler entitled His Friend's Wife. Over the next seven years, he became one of the top stars in movies. But his divorce from his wife, Josephine, and subsequent remarriage to leading lady, Beverly Bayne, effectively ended his career. He did manage a triumphant return to the big screen as Messala in Ben Hur (1926), but mostly thereafter he had smaller parts or was on stage. From contemporary sources and conversations with many of Bushman's surviving relatives, this is the compelling tale of one of Hollywood's first superstars and how his career laid the foundation for the matinee idols who followed. |
Contents
Acknowledgments vii | 1 |
ESSANAY STUDIO STAR | 21 |
THE QUALITY PICTURESMETRO PICTURES YEARS | 43 |
Copyright | |
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actor Alice Arthur August Balshofer Baltimore Ben-Hur Betty Beverly Bayne Billy Bryant Washburn Bush Bushman and Bayne Bushman appeared Bushman plays Bushmanor Camera Cast Charles Chicago Clark comedy contest daughter David Detective Dick Director drama E.H. Calvert Edward episodes Essanay Film Manufacturing falls in love father feet Film Manufacturing Company Five reels Francis Francis X Frank Dayton Fred George Girl Helen Dunbar Henry Hollywood Jack Conway James January John July June King Lady Lester Cuneo listed as Ralph Louis Marguerite Snow marriage marry Mary Mayer Messala Metro Pictures Corporation Motion Picture Magazine Motography movie Moving Picture World October Photoplay portrayed Princess production Quality Pictures Corporation Radio Ralph Bushman Ramon Novarro Release Date reported Richard Robert role romance Ruth Stonehouse scene screen Screenplay September serial silent Six reels star story studio Theater Theodore Wharton Virginia Wallace Beery Walter wife William Wilson Woman Wonderful Night York young