Kathryn McGuire (December 6, 1903 – October 10, 1978) was an American dancer and actress.

Early life

Born in Peoria, Illinois, McGuire was said to be recognized by critics and fans alike as one of the rising stars in film. Selected 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. ...

in 1922, she was the first person in her family to enter the acting profession. At an early age, McGuire's family moved to Aurora, Illinois, and then to

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

. McGuire received her education from the Jennings Seminary in Aurora, and remained there even after her parents left that city. By the time she graduated at about the age of fourteen, her parents were ready to move to

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

. McGuire was highly interested in dancing, and took classes under the leading ballet masters when she arrived in California. Even after her film career kicked off and she became deeply interested in this new employment, she continued to keep up her dancing.

Career

While studying at the Hollywood High School, as well as her dancing, McGuire participated in a program exhibition at the Maryland Hotel in

Pasadena Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commercial district. ...

. She was seen by

Thomas H. Ince Thomas Harper Ince (November 16, 1880 – November 19, 1924) was an American silent film - era filmmaker and media proprietor. Ince was known as the "Father of the Western" and was responsible for making over 800 films. He revolutionized the mo ...

, who immediately offered McGuire a solo number in an upcoming film. Her dancing skills led her not only to find jobs at Ince, but also at

Universal Universal is the adjective for universe. Universal may also refer to: Companies * NBCUniversal, a media and entertainment company ** Universal Animation Studios, an American Animation studio, and a subsidiary of NBCUniversal ** Universal TV, a ...

and

Mack Sennett Mack Sennett (born Michael Sinnott; January 17, 1880 – November 5, 1960) was a Canadian-American film actor, director, and producer, and studio head, known as the 'King of Comedy'. Born in Danville, Quebec, in 1880, he started in films in the ...

. It was Sennett who realized that McGuire had genuine acting capabilities along the lines of her talent for dance after she performed a number in a comedy being produced by Sennett. She went on to become featured in Sennett's comedies. Kathryn McGuire (Feb 1923)

McGuire's first serious role came as the "only girl" in ''The Silent Call'' (1921). She also starred with Gladys Walton as a second lead in '' Playing with Fire'' (1921) for Universal Pictures, as well as in ''

The Flame of Life ''The Flame of Life'' (also known as ''That Lass o' Lowrie's'') is a 1923 American silent drama film starring Priscilla Dean, Robert Ellis, Kathryn McGuire, and Wallace Beery. The film was written by Elliott J. Clawson from the Frances Hodgso ...

'' (1923) with

Priscilla Dean Priscilla Dean (November 25, 1896 – December 27, 1987) was an American actress popular in silent film as well as in theatre, with a career spanning two decades. Biography She was born on November 25, 1896 in Manhattan, New York City to an activ ...

. McGuire did not advance to leading-lady status in dramas, because of her height (about 5 feet tall). However, this circumstance made her an ideal foil for the era's comedy stars, themselves slight in stature. She is probably best remembered today for her ingenue roles opposite Buster Keaton in ''

Sherlock Jr. ''Sherlock Jr.'' is a 1924 American silent comedy film directed by and starring Buster Keaton and written by Clyde Bruckman, Jean Havez, and Joseph A. Mitchell. It features Kathryn McGuire, Joe Keaton, and Ward Crane. In 1991, ''Sherlock J ...

'' and '' The Navigator'' (both 1924). By the late 1920s she was working steadily for

Educational Pictures Educational Pictures, also known as Educational Film Exchanges, Inc. or Educational Films Corporation of America, was an American film production and film distribution company founded in 1916 by Earle (E. W.) Hammons (1882–1962). Educational pr ...

in two-reel comedies, opposite Charley Bowers or

Lupino Lane Henry William George Lupino (16 June 1892 – 10 November 1959) professionally Lupino Lane, was an English actor and theatre manager, and a member of the famous Lupino family, which eventually included his cousin, the screenwriter/director/actr ...

. She left Educational in 1930, as did Lane.

Personal life

On September 18, 1927, McGuire married George W. Landy, a studio publicity director, in Hollywood. Their marriage ended in 1955 upon his death. They had a daughter, born July 14, 1936. After her husband's death, McGuire returned briefly to acting, playing character roles on television.

Death

McGuire died of cancer in 1978, at age 74, in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

. She was survived by a daughter and a sister.

Partial filmography

* ''

Salome vs. Shenandoah ''Salome vs. Shenandoah'' is a 1919 American silent film comedy short directed by Ray Grey, Erle C. Kenton, and Ray Hunt. It starred Ben Turpin, Charles Murray, and Phyllis Haver. It was produced by Mack Sennett and distributed by Famous Player ...

'' (1919) * '' Down on the Farm'' (1920) * '' Playing with Fire'' (1921) * '' Molly O'' (1921) * '' Home Talent'' (1921) * ''

Bucking the Line ''Bucking the Line'' is a 1921 American silent drama film directed by Carl Harbaugh and starring Maurice 'Lefty' Flynn, Molly Malone and Kathryn McGuire.Munden p.96 Cast * Maurice 'Lefty' Flynn as John Montague Smith * Molly Malone as Corona ...

'' (1921) * ''

The Silent Call ''The Silent Call'' is a 1961 American drama film directed by John A. Bushelman and written by Tom Maruzzi. The film stars Gail Russell (in her final role), David McLean, Roger Mobley, Roscoe Ates, Milton Parsons and Dal McKennon. It was rele ...

'' (1921) * ''

The Crossroads of New York ''The Crossroads of New York'' is a lost 1922 American silent comedy film directed by F. Richard Jones and an all-star cast of silent comedians. It was produced by Mack Sennett and released through First National Distributors. Plot As descri ...

'' (1922) * ''

'' (1923) * ''

The Love Pirate ''The Love Pirate'' is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Richard Thomas and starring Melbourne MacDowell, Carmel Myers and Kathryn McGuire.Munden p.459 Plot summary Cast * Melbourne MacDowell as Steve Carnan * Carmel Myers as Ruby ...

'' (1923) * '' The Printer's Devil'' (1923) * ''

The Woman of Bronze ''The Woman of Bronze'' is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by King Vidor and distributed through Metro Pictures. It is based on a 1920 Broadway play by Henry Kistemaeckers (adapted by Paul Kester) which starred Margaret Anglin, Joh ...

'' (1923) * ''

The Shriek of Araby ''The Shriek of Araby'' is a 1923 American silent film comedy starring Ben Turpin and directed by F. Richard Jones for producer Mack Sennett, who also wrote the screenplay. The film is a spoof of Rudolph Valentino’s hit 1921 film '' The She ...

'' (1923) * '' Phantom Justice'' (1924) * ''

'' (1924) * ''

Pioneer's Gold ''Pioneer's Gold'' is a 1924 American silent Western film directed by Victor Adamson and starring Kathryn McGuire, Pete Morrison and Virginia Warwick.Munden, p. 604. It was produced by the independent Sanford Productions. Synopsis An elderly ...

'' (1924) * '' The Navigator'' (1924) * '' Easy Going Gordon'' (1925) * ''

Two-Fisted Jones ''Two-Fisted Jones'' is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Edward Sedgwick and written by Scott Darling. The film stars Jack Hoxie, Kathryn McGuire, William Steele, Harry Todd, Frank Rice, and Paul Grimes. The film was release ...

'' (1925) * '' Tearing Through'' (1925) * ''

With Buffalo Bill on the U. P. Trail ''With Buffalo Bill on the U.P. Trail'', alternately called ''Buffalo Bill on the U.P. Trail'', is a 1926 American silent historical Western film starring Roy Stewart as Buffalo Bill Cody. It was directed by Frank Mattison and produced by Ant ...

'' (1926) * ''

With Davy Crockett at the Fall of the Alamo ''With Davy Crockett at the Fall of the Alamo'' is a 1926 American silent Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia ...

'' (1926) * '' Somebody's Mother'' (1926) * '' The Thrill Hunter'' (1926) * '' The Girl in the Pullman'' (1927) * '' Lilac Time'' (1928) * ''There it is'' (1928) * '' Synthetic Sin'' (1929) * '' The Long Long Trail'' (1929) * ''

The Lost Zeppelin ''The Lost Zeppelin'' is a 1929 sound adventure film directed by Edward Sloman and produced and distributed by Tiffany-Stahl. The film stars Conway Tearle, Virginia Valli and Ricardo Cortez. Tearle plays a navy officer modeled on U. S. Navy Com ...

'' (1929)

References

External links

*
Kathryn McGuire
at Virtual History {{DEFAULTSORT:McGuire, Kathryn 1903 births 1978 deaths American film actresses American silent film actresses Actors from Peoria, Illinois Deaths from cancer in California 20th-century American actresses WAMPAS Baby Stars