Jobyna Ralston (born Jobyna Lancaster Raulston, November 21, 1899 – January 22, 1967) was an American stage and film actress. She had a featured role in ''Wings'' in 1927, but is perhaps best remembered today for her on-screen chemistry with

Harold Lloyd Harold Clayton Lloyd, Sr. (April 20, 1893 – March 8, 1971) was an American actor, comedian, and stunt performer who appeared in many silent comedy films.Obituary '' Variety'', March 10, 1971, page 55. One of the most influential film c ...

, with whom she appeared in seven films.

Early life and career

Ralston was born in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, on November 21, 1899 to Joseph Lancaster Raulston and Sarah E. Kemp Raulston. She was named after

Jobyna Howland Jobyna Howland (March 31, 1880 – June 7, 1936) was an American stage and screen actress. Early years Howland was born on March 31, 1880, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her parents were Joby Howland, a Civil War veteran who at age 11 was one ...

. She had a younger brother, Edward Angus (born 1905). Ralston's mother, a portrait photographer, carefully groomed her daughter for a show business career. At the age of 9, she gave her first stage performance as Cinderella during the grand opening of the Wilson theatre/Opera House in 1909. Around 1915, Ralston attended acting school in New York. She later danced chorus and sang in Broadway productions, her first being ''

Two Little Girls in Blue ''Two Little Girls in Blue'' is a musical theatre work composed by Paul Lannin and Vincent Youmans, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin (under the pseudonym "Arthur Francis") and a libretto by Fred Jackson. The musical premiered at George M. Cohan's ...

''. This production marked her Broadway debut, when she was 21. Comedian

Max Linder Max or MAX may refer to: Animals * Max (dog) (1983–2013), at one time purported to be the world's oldest living dog * Max (English Springer Spaniel), the first pet dog to win the PDSA Order of Merit (animal equivalent of OBE) * Max (gorilla) ...

saw her on stage and persuaded her to go to Hollywood, where she appeared in a number of his films. She also co-starred in ''

Humor Risk ''Humor Risk'', also known as ''Humorisk'', is a lost unreleased 1921 silent comedy short film that was the first film to star the Marx Brothers (Groucho Marx, Harpo Marx, Chico Marx and Zeppo Marx). Production ''Humor Risk'' was directed b ...

'' (1921), the fabled

lost Lost may refer to getting lost, or to: Geography *Lost, Aberdeenshire, a hamlet in Scotland * Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, or LOST, a hiking and cycling trail in Florida, US History *Abbreviation of lost work, any work which is known to have bee ...

comedy

short film A short film is any motion picture that is short enough in running time not to be considered a feature film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes ...

that was to be the film debut of the

Marx Brothers The Marx Brothers were an American family comedy act that was successful in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in motion pictures from 1905 to 1949. Five of the Marx Brothers' thirteen feature films were selected by the American Film Institute (AFI) ...

. Soon director

Hal Roach Harry Eugene "Hal" Roach Sr. Skretvedt, Randy (2016), ''Laurel and Hardy: The Magic Behind the Movies'', Bonaventure Press. p.608. (January 14, 1892 – November 2, 1992) was an American film and television producer, director, and screenwriter, ...

began to feature her in one-reel comedies. She abandoned the stage for the screen in 1922 when her mother's health began to decline, and she needed to make more money to help pay the medical bills.©Jobyna Ralston – Silent Movie Star – goldensilents.com
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Starring with Harold Lloyd

In 1923, she was named by the film industry as one of the

WAMPAS Baby Stars The WAMPAS Baby Stars was a promotional campaign sponsored by the United States Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers, which honored 13 (15 in 1932) young actresses each year whom they believed to be on the threshold of movie stardom. ...

. This award was given every year to the top up and coming female stars. This same year she starred with silent comedian

in ''

Why Worry? ''Why Worry?'' is a 1923 American silent comedy film directed by Fred Newmeyer and Sam Taylor and starring Harold Lloyd. Plot Harold Van Pelham (Harold Lloyd) is a young, wealthy American businessman who obsesses constantly about his hea ...

'', and over the next five years she appeared in six more of Lloyd's feature films as his leading lady. It is for these performances and her onscreen chemistry with Lloyd that she is best remembered today. She started the trend for romantic comedies with ''

Girl Shy ''Girl Shy'' is a 1924 romantic comedy silent film starring Harold Lloyd and Jobyna Ralston. The movie was written by Sam Taylor, Tim Whelan and Ted Wilde and was directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and Taylor. In 2020, the film entered the publi ...

'' (1924).

Silent film career

As a freelance actress, Ralston co-starred with

Richard Arlen Richard Arlen (born Sylvanus Richard Mattimore, September 1, 1899 – March 28, 1976) was an American actor of film and television. Biography Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Arlen attended the University of Pennsylvania. He served in Canada as a ...

, in the first Oscar-winning film, ''Wings'' (1927). She had a feature role in the film, which also featured

Clara Bow Clara Gordon Bow (; July 29, 1905 – September 27, 1965) was an American actress who rose to stardom during the silent film era of the 1920s and successfully made the transition to "talkies" in 1929. Her appearance as a plucky shopgirl in the ...

Gary Cooper Gary Cooper (born Frank James Cooper; May 7, 1901May 13, 1961) was an American actor known for his strong, quiet screen persona and understated acting style. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice and had a further three nominations, ...

, and Buddy Rogers. She starred in 11 more motion pictures, among them ''Special Delivery'' (1927) co-starring Eddie Cantor. Her film career ended after two early sound movies when she became a mother. Her last talkie, ''Rough Waters'' (1930), found her acting with

Rin Tin Tin Rin Tin Tin or Rin-Tin-Tin (September 1918 – August 10, 1932) was a male German Shepherd born in Flirey, France, who became an international star in motion pictures. He was rescued from a World War I battlefield by an American soldier, L ...

Personal life and death

Ralston was married twice, the first time to childhood beau John Campbell, the second in 1927 to actor Richard Arlen, whom she had met on the set of ''Wings''. They had one child, actor Richard Arlen Jr. The family appears together in '' Hollywood on Parade # A-4''. Ralston and Arlen divorced in late 1946. During the last five years of her life Ralston suffered from rheumatism and had a series of strokes. She died in 1967 from pneumonia at the

Motion Picture Country Home The Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) is a charitable organization that offers assistance and care to those in the motion picture and television industries and their families with limited or no resources, including services such as temp ...

in Woodland Hills, California. She was 67 years old.''The New York Times'', "Jobyna Ralston, 67, Ex-Screen Actress", January 23, 1967, Page 43.

Selected filmography

* ''

A Sailor-Made Man ''A Sailor-Made Man'' is a 1921 American silent comedy film directed by Fred Newmeyer and starring Harold Lloyd. Plot "The Boy" (Lloyd) is an idle playboy and heir to $20,000,000, relaxing at an exclusive resort. When he sees "The Girl" (Mildr ...

'' (Uncredited, 1921) * ''The Bride-to-Be'' (1922) * ''Friday, the Thirteenth'' (1922) * ''The Call of Home'' (1922) * ''Take Next Car'' (1922) * ''The Truth Juggler'' (1922) * ''Touch All the Bases'' (1922) * '' The Three Must-Get-Theres'' (1922) * '' The Call of Home'' (1922) * ''Wet Weather'' (1922) * ''The Landlubber'' (1922) * ''Soak the Shiek'' (1922) * ''Bone Dry'' (1922) * ''Face the Camera'' (1922) * ''The Uppercut'' (1922) * ''Shiver and Shake'' (1922) * ''The Golf Bug'' (1922) * ''Shine 'em Up'' (1922) * ''Washed Ashore'' (1922) * ''Harvest Hands'' (1922) * ''The Flivver'' (1922) * ''Blaze Away'' (1922) * ''I'll Take Vanilla'' (1922) * ''Fair Week'' (1922) * ''The White Blacksmith'' (1922) * ''Watch Your Wife'' (1923) * ''Mr. Hyppo'' (1923) * ''Don't Say Die'' (1923) * ''Jailed and Bailed'' (1923) * ''A Loose Tightwad'' (1923) * ''Tight Shoes'' (1923) * ''Do Your Stuff'' (1923) * '' Shoot Straight'' (1923) * ''For Safe Keeping'' (1923) * ''For Guests Only'' (1923) * ''For Art's Sake'' (1923) * ''

'' (1923) * ''Winner Take All'' (1923) * ''

'' (1924) * '' Hot Water'' (1924) * ''Whispering Lions'' (1925) * '' The Freshman'' (1925) * ''Are Parents Pickles?'' (1925) * ''Whistling Lions'' (1925) * ''Between Meals'' (1926) * ''Humor Risk'' (1926) * ''Don't Butt In'' (1926) * '' For Heaven's Sake'' (1926) * '' Sweet Daddies'' (1926) * ''

Gigolo A gigolo () is a male escort or social companion who is supported by a person in a continuing relationship, often living in her residence or having to be present at her beck and call. The term ''gigolo'' usually implies a man who adopts a lifes ...

'' (1926) * ''

The Kid Brother ''The Kid Brother'' is a 1927 American silent film, silent comedy film, comedy film starring Harold Lloyd. It was successful and popular upon release and today is considered by critics and fans to be one of Lloyd's best films, integrating el ...

'' (1927) * '' Special Delivery'' (1927) * ''

Lightning Lightning is a naturally occurring electrostatic discharge during which two electrically charged regions, both in the atmosphere or with one on the ground, temporarily neutralize themselves, causing the instantaneous release of an avera ...

'' (1927) * ''

Wings A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is expre ...

'' (1927) * '' A Racing Romeo'' (1927) * ''

Pretty Clothes ''Pretty Clothes'' is a 1927 American silent drama film, directed by Phil Rosen. It stars Jobyna Ralston, Gertrude Astor, and Johnny Walker, and was released on October 15, 1927. Cast list *Jobyna Ralston as Marion Dunbar *Gertrude Astor as R ...

'' (1927) * ''

Little Mickey Grogan ''Little Mickey Grogan'' is a 1927 American comedy-drama film directed by James Leo Meehan and written by Dwight Cummins, Dorothy Yost and Charles Kerr. The film stars Frankie Darro, Lassie Lou Ahern, Jobyna Ralston, Carroll Nye, Eugene Jack ...

'' (1927) * '' The Night Flyer'' (1928) * '' The Count of Ten'' (1928) * '' Black Butterflies'' (1928) * '' The Big Hop'' (1928) * '' The Toilers'' (1928) * ''

The Power of the Press ''The Power of the Press'' is a 1928 American silent drama film directed by Frank Capra and starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as an aspiring newspaper reporter and Jobyna Ralston as a young woman suspected of murder. In 2005, the film was select ...

'' (1928) * '' Some Mother's Boy'' (1929) * '' The College Coquette'' (1929) * ''

Rough Waters ''Rough Waters'' is a 1930 American pre-Code all-talking adventure drama film that directed by John Daumery and starring Rin Tin Tin. The film was adapted by James A. Starr from a story by Lillie Hayward, and was the last Rin Tin Tin film produc ...

'' (1930) *Lost film * '' Sheer Luck'' (1931) * '' Hollywood on Parade # A-4'' (1932)

References

External links

* *
Ralston's profile at goldensilents.com

Jobyna Ralston
at Virtual History * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ralston, Jobyna 1899 births 1967 deaths People from South Pittsburg, Tennessee Actresses from Tennessee American film actresses American stage actresses American silent film actresses Deaths from pneumonia in California 20th-century American actresses WAMPAS Baby Stars