Gladys Valerie (June 27, 1890 – September 1972) was an American singer and actress. She worked during the

silent film era A silent film is a film with no synchronized Sound recording and reproduction, recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) ...

Life and career

Valerie was born Gladys Valerie Hays, on 27 June 1890, in Wheeling, West Virginia. She was the daughter of Rudolph A Hays and Edith Ida Hays, nee Koon. She was raised and educated in New York City. On the 30th June 1914, Gladys was married to Mark Barth, a teacher, in Manhattan. In 1919, Valerie sang at a

benefit concert A benefit concert or charity concert is a type of musical benefit performance (e.g., concert, show, or gala) featuring musicians, comedians, or other performers that is held for a charitable purpose, often directed at a specific and immediate hu ...

for blind soldiers. In the ''Harrisburg Telegraph'', it was written that "Gladys Valerie sang at a concert given for the benefit of blind soldiers, and judging by the warm reception which the audience accorded her, Miss Valerie's voice has lost none of its original beauty since her sojourn in the silent drama. Miss Valerie sang on the operatic stage before taking up picture work." In a November 1919 issue of ''

Motion Picture News The ''Motion Picture News'' was an American film industry trade paper published from 1913 to 1930. History The publication was created through the 1913 merger of the ''Moving Picture News'' founded in 1908 and ''The Exhibitors' Times'', founded ...

'', it was written that "Gladys Valerie was somewhat surprised recently by the noticeable enthusiasm and pleasure evinced by a certain young lieutenant who had just returned from overseas, upon being presented to Miss Valerie. She ventured to ask the reason for his somewhat unusually cordial acknowledgement of the introduction, and was very much astonished to learn that she was considered the "Best Girl" of Company D - 105 Artillery A. E. F. It seems that when a picture show was given in camp, each company adopted some screen luminary who appealed to the voters as their "Best Girl" and Miss Valerie had been chosen by this lieutenant's company for that distinction." In a December 1919 issue of ''Motion Picture News'', it was written that "Gladys Valerie selected a certain dress from a wholesale house the other day. Hardly had the dress reached home, than Miss Valerie was called to the telephone, and an interested voice asked whether they might name the spring models that they intended making from the one she chose, the Gladys Valerie frocks. Miss Valeria, with her usual graciousness, replied that she had no objection whatever." In 1922-1923 Valerie appeared on stage in the play "Tiger Lily," which featured actor

Sessue Hayakawa , known professionally as , was a Japanese actor and a matinée idol. He was a popular star in Hollywood during the silent film era of the 1910s and early 1920s. Hayakawa was the first actor of Asian descent to achieve stardom as a leading man i ...

in the leading role. In 1932 it was reported that Gladys Valerie was working at the WINS radio station, acting multiple parts in sketches which she had also written and produced. According to the 1940 US Census, Valerie had no occupation, but in the 1950 US Census, she was working in the advertising industry.

Partial filmography

* '' The Heart of a Girl'' (1918) as Helen Murray *''

Marie, Ltd. ''Marie, Ltd.'' is a 1919 silent film romantic comedy directed by Kenneth S. Webb and starring Alice Brady. It was produced and distributed by the Select Pictures Corporation. This film survives in the Archives Du Film Fu CNC, Bois d'Arcy, Par ...

'' (1919) as Zelie * ''Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch'' (1919) as Maggie Duncan * ''The Mind the Paint Girl'' (1919) as Jimmie Birch * ''Dawn'' (1919) as Mazie Sanborn (a film directed by

J. Stuart Blackton James Stuart Blackton (January 5, 1875 – August 13, 1941) was a British-American film producer and director of the silent era. One of the pioneers of motion pictures, he founded Vitagraph Studios in 1897. He was one of the first filmmakers to ...

and based on a novel by Eleanor H. Porter) *'' Thoughtless Women'' (1920) as the sister * ''

Behind Masks ''Behind Masks'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by Frank Reicher. It was written by Kathryn Stuart based upon the 1909 novel ''Jeanne of the Marshes'' by E. Phillips Oppenheim. The film stars Dorothy Dalton, Frederick Vogeding, ...

'' (1921) as Kate Cansard * ''

A Pasteboard Crown ''A Pasteboard Crown'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by Travers Vale and starring Evelyn Greeley, Robert Elliott and Gladys Valerie.Munden p.593 Cast * Evelyn Greeley as Sybil Lawton * Robert Elliott as Stewart Thrall * Gladys ...

'' (1922) as Edna Thrall * ''

Tin Gods ''Tin Gods'' is a lost 1926 American silent drama film produced by Famous Players-Lasky, released by Paramount Pictures, and based on the play ''Tin Gods'' by William Anthony McGuire. Allan Dwan directed and Thomas Meighan Thomas Meighan ...

'' (1926) * ''

The Broadway Drifter ''The Broadway Drifter'' is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by Bernard McEveety and starring George Walsh, Dorothy Hall and Arthur Donaldson.Munden p.89 Synopsis A drifter who hangs around Broadway is disowned by his father. He tries ...

'' (1927) as Laura Morris

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Valerie, Gladys American silent film actresses 20th-century American actresses