Mary McAllister, also known as Little Mary McAllister, (born Mary McAlister; May 27, 1908 – May 1, 1991) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

silent film actress of Hollywood's early years, and a pioneer of child actors.

Biography

McAllister was born in Los Angeles, California, and started her acting career at the early age of 6, starring opposite

Edna Mayo Edna Mayo (born Edna Lane; March 23, 1895 – May 5, 1970) was an American film actress of the silent film era. Biography Mayo was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and spent time as a stage actress before moving to Hollywood in 1914 to pur ...

and William Burns in the 1915 film ''Despair''. As a child actor she would star in thirty six films by the time she reached the age of 18. Her best known film during that time would be her lead role in ''Sadie Goes to Heaven'', which also starred Russell McDermott and Jenny St. George, which was St. George's first and only film role. In 1927 she was one of thirteen girls selected as " WAMPAS Baby Stars", alongside

Sally Phipps Sally Phipps (born Byrnece Beutler; May 25, 1911 – March 17, 1978) was an American actress. Early life and career The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Edward Bogdon, Sally Phipps was born Nellie Bernice Bogdon in Oakland, California on M ...

, Martha Sleeper and

Frances Lee Frances Lee (born Merna Phyllis Tibbetts; May 5, 1906 – November 5, 2000) was an American film actress during Hollywood's silent film era, and well into the sound film era of the 1930s. Dancing career Frances Lee was born Merna Phylli ...

, among others. The following year, in 1928, she would star in four films, the last of which would be ''Loves of an Actress'', starring

Rudolph Valentino Rodolfo Pietro Filiberto Raffaello Guglielmi di Valentina d'Antonguolla (May 6, 1895 – August 23, 1926), known professionally as Rudolph Valentino and nicknamed The Latin Lover, was an Italian actor based in the United States who starred ...

's former lover Pola Negri. In 1929 her career took a downward turn, and she had no roles that year. With the advent of "talking films", her transition was not successful. She had a minor supporting role in the 1930 film ''On the Level'', starring Victor McLaglen, and that same year she had an uncredited role in ''Madam Satan'', which would be her last. After fifteen years in the business as an actress and a total of 43 films to her credit, her career was over at the age of 21. She eventually settled in Del Mar, California, where she was living at the time of her death on May 1, 1991, aged 82.

Selected filmography

*'' On Trial'' (1917) *''The Little Missionary'' (1917) *''Young Mother Hubbard'' (1917) *''The Kill-Joy'' (1917) * ''

Sadie Goes to Heaven ''Sadie Goes to Heaven'' is a 1917 American silent comedy film directed by W.S. Van Dyke and starring Mary McAllister, Frances Raymond and Rod La RocqueConnelly p.405 Cast * Mary McAllister as Sadie * Jenny St. George as Sadie's Mother * Rus ...

'' (1917) *''Half a Chance'' (1920) *'' Ashes of Vengeance'' (1923) *'' The Measure of a Man'' (1924) *''A Roaring Adventure'' (1925) * '' The Boomerang'' (1925) *''

The Red Rider ''The Red Rider'' is a 1934 American Western film serial from Universal Pictures and starring Buck Jones. It has 15 chapters based on the short story "The Redhead from Sun Dog" by W. C. Tuttle, and is a remake of Buck Jones' earlier 1931 film ...

'' (1925) *'' Ace of Spades'' (1925) *'' The Sap'' (1926) *''

The Waning Sex ''The Waning Sex'' is a 1926 American silent romantic comedy film directed by Robert Z. Leonard. Based on the 1923 play of the same name by Fanny and Frederic Hatton, the film starred Norma Shearer and Conrad Nagel. Synopsis Nina Duane (Norma ...

'' (1926) *''One Minute to Play'' (1926) * ''

The Man in the Shadow ''The Man in the Shadow'' is a 1926 American silent drama film directed by David Hartford and starring David Torrence, Mary McAllister and Joseph Bennett.Munden p.482 Cast * David Torrence as Robert Rodman * Mary McAllister as Lucy Rodman * ...

'' (1926) *''

The Midnight Watch ''The Midnight Watch'' is a 1927 American silent crime film directed by Charles J. Hunt and starring Roy Stewart, Mary McAllister and David Torrence.Wlaschin p.141 Cast * Roy Stewart as Bob Breemer * Mary McAllister as Rose Denton * David ...

'' (1927) * '' Fire and Steel'' (1927) *''

Singed ''Singed'' is a 1927 American silent drama film produced and distributed by Fox Film Corporation. The film was directed by John Griffith Wray and stars Blanche Sweet. ''Singed'' is based on Adela Rogers St. Johns's story "Love o' Women". A pri ...

'' (1927) *''

Wickedness Preferred ''Wickedness Preferred'' is a lost 1928 American silent comedy film, directed by Hobart Henley, and written by Colin Clements, Robert E. Hopkins and Florence Ryerson. The film stars Lew Cody, Aileen Pringle, Mary McAllister, Bert Roach, and G ...

'' (1928) *'' The Devil's Skipper'' (1928) * ''

Into No Man's Land ''Into No Man's Land'' is a 1928 American silent war drama film directed by Cliff Wheeler and starring Tom Santschi, Betty Blythe, and Crauford Kent.Munden p.382 Synopsis A refined criminal keeps his life secret from his daughter. When he gets ...

'' (1928) *'' Loves of an Actress'' (1928) *''

On the Level ''On the Level'' is the eighth studio album by English rock band Status Quo. It features Francis Rossi, Richard Parfitt, Alan Lancaster and John Coghlan. The album's cover art features band members in an Ames room, and on the original vinyl rel ...

'' (1930) *'' Madam Satan'' (1930)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:McAlister, Mary American silent film actresses American child actresses Actresses from Los Angeles 1908 births 1991 deaths 20th-century American actresses People from Del Mar, California WAMPAS Baby Stars