Sally Long (December 5, 1901 – August 12, 1987) was an American dancer and actress.

Early years

Long was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis J. Long. She graduated from Eden Hall in

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

in 1921.

Dancer

Florenz Ziegfeld Florenz Edward Ziegfeld Jr. (; March 21, 1867 – July 22, 1932) was an American Broadway impresario, notable for his series of theatrical revues, the ''Ziegfeld Follies'' (1907–1931), inspired by the ''Folies Bergère'' of Paris. He also p ...

insured Long for $100,000 against the possibility of her falling in love or marrying when she danced for his

Ziegfeld Follies The ''Ziegfeld Follies'' was a series of elaborate theatrical revue productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 to 1931, with renewals in 1934 and 1936. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as ''The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air ...

in the early 1920s. (Long later revealed that at that time she was already married with two children.) After performing with the Follies, Long appeared in the

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

comedy production of ''Scandals''. Her rising popularity secured her a role in the cast of ''Kid Boots''. Composer

Milton Ager Milton Ager (October 6, 1893 – May 6, 1979) was an American composer, regarded as one of the top songwriters of the 1920s and 1930s. His most lasting compositions include "Ain't She Sweet?” and “Happy Days Are Here Again”. Biography Ag ...

said Long was his inspiration for the song, ''I Wonder What's Become of Sally''.

Film star

Long's first film experience came when

Jesse Lasky Jesse Louis Lasky (September 13, 1880 – January 13, 1958) was an American pioneer Film producer, motion picture producer who was a key founder of what was to become Paramount Pictures, and father of screenwriter Jesse L. Lasky Jr. Early life ...

secured fourteen of the prettiest women for parts in his ''

The Dressmaker from Paris ''The Dressmaker from Paris'' is a 1925 American silent romantic comedy drama film directed by Paul Bern. The story was written by Howard Hawks and Adelaide Heilbron. Heilbron also wrote the screenplay. The film starred Leatrice Joy and was her ...

'' (1925). Produced by

Famous Players Famous Players Limited Partnership, DBA Famous Players, is a Canadian-based subsidiary of Cineplex Entertainment. As an independent company, it existed as a film exhibitor and cable television service provider. Famous Players operated numerous m ...

, Long's character was noticed on the screen by filmmaker

D.W. Griffith David Wark Griffith (January 22, 1875 – July 23, 1948) was an American film director. Considered one of the most influential figures in the history of the motion picture, he pioneered many aspects of film editing and expanded the art of the na ...

. Soon she appeared in a motion picture with

Leatrice Joy Leatrice Joy (born Leatrice Johanna Zeidler; November 7, 1893 – May 13, 1985) was an American actress most prolific during the silent film era. Early life Joy was born in New Orleans, Louisiana to dentist Edward Joseph Zeidler, who was o ...

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 ...

picked Long to play the leading feminine role in ''The Hooded Falcon''. However her contract with Valentino expired before the film was made. Valentino changed his mind about the movie he wished to make. He decided to do a motion picture which called for a blond feminine lead. In 1926, Long signed a five-year contract with A. H. Sebastian,

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

producer and executive head of Sebastian-Belasco Productions. Her first part with Sebastian was in ''Fifth Avenue'' (1926), playing a

Greenwich Village Greenwich Village ( , , ) is a neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City, bounded by 14th Street to the north, Broadway to the east, Houston Street to the south, and the Hudson River to the west. Greenwich Village ...

girl. She next starred with

Buck Jones Buck Jones (born Charles Frederick Gebhart; December 12, 1891 – November 30, 1942) was an American actor, known for his work in many popular Western movies. In his early film appearances, he was credited as Charles Jones. Early life, milita ...

in a

Pathe Pictures Pathe or Pathé may refer to: * Pathé, a French company established in 1896 * Pathé Exchange, U.S. division of the French film company that was spun off into an independent entity * Pathé News, a French and British distributor of cinema newsr ...

production of the comedy, ''The Fighting Buckaroo'' (1926). She was selected 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. ...

of 1926 along with

Joan Crawford Joan Crawford (born Lucille Fay LeSueur; March 23, ncertain year from 1904 to 1908was an American actress. She started her career as a dancer in traveling theatrical companies before debuting on Broadway. Crawford was signed to a motion pict ...

Fay Wray Vina Fay Wray (September 15, 1907 – August 8, 2004) was a Canadian/American actress best known for starring as Ann Darrow in the 1933 film ''King Kong (1933 film), King Kong''. Through an acting career that spanned nearly six decades, Wray a ...

Mary Brian Mary Brian (born Louise Byrdie Dantzler, February 17, 1906 – December 30, 2002) was an American actress who made the transition from silent films to sound films. Early life Brian was born in Corsicana, Texas, the daughter of Taurrence J. ...

Joyce Compton Olivia Joyce Compton (January 27, 1907 – October 13, 1997) was an American actress. Biography Compton was born in Lexington, Kentucky, the daughter of Henry and Golden Compton. (Despite frequent reports to the contrary, her name was not ...

, and eight others. In 1927 she appeared in the serial '' King of the Jungle'' with

Elmo Lincoln Elmo Lincoln (born Otto Elmo Linkenhelt; February 6, 1889June 27, 1952) was an American stage and film actor whose career in motion pictures spanned the silent and sound eras. He performed in over 100 screen productions between 1913 and 1952 and ...

. Long's final screen appearances came in ''Cock o' the Walk'' (1930) and ''Traffic Tangle'' (1930). She studied voice beginning in 1932 with director

Mitchell Leisen James Mitchell Leisen (October 6, 1898 – October 28, 1972) was an American director, art director, and costume designer. Film career He entered the film industry in the 1920s, beginning in the art and costume departments. He directed his fir ...

Personal life

Long married Leo Bovette Tuey in Kansas City in 1916, when she was fifteen years old. The couple had two children. Long divorced Tuey on January 19, 1926. She explained that she kept her marriage to Tuey a secret because it might have inhibited her career advancement. She resided for a time with her mother in a large Spanish home at 628

Rodeo Drive Rodeo Drive is a street in Beverly Hills, California, with its southern segment in the City of Los Angeles. Its southern terminus is at Beverwil Drive, and its northern terminus is at its intersection with Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills. The ...

Beverly Hills, California Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. B ...

. In August 1926 she moved to a ''cozier'' home in the Mexican Village a few blocks away, at 251 Crescent Drive. Long died in

Newport Beach, California Newport Beach is a coastal city in South Orange County, California. Newport Beach is known for swimming and sandy beaches. Newport Harbor once supported maritime industries however today, it is used mostly for recreation. Balboa Island, Newport ...

in 1987, aged 85.

Selected filmography

* '' His Darker Self'' (1924) * ''

'' (1925) * '' The Fighting Buckaroo'' (1926) * ''

Fifth Avenue Fifth Avenue is a major and prominent thoroughfare in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It stretches north from Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village to West 143rd Street in Harlem. It is one of the most expensive shopping stre ...

'' (1926) * ''

The Border Whirlwind ''The Border Whirlwind'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by John P. McCarthy and written by Enid Hibbard. The film stars Bob Custer, Sally Long, Josef Swickard, Wilbur Higby Wilbur Higby (August 21, 1867 – December 1, ...

'' (1926) * '' Going the Limit'' (1926) * '' The Man in the Saddle'' (1926) * '' King of the Jungle'' (1927) * ''

The Thrill Seekers ''The Thrill Seekers'' is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by Harry Revier and starring Ruth Clifford, Gloria Grey and Robert McKim.Munden p.808 Cast * Jimmy Fulton as Gerald Kenworth * Ruth Clifford as Adrean Wainwright * Gloria ...

'' (1927) * ''

When Danger Calls ''When Danger Calls'' is a 1927 American silent thriller film directed by Charles Hutchison and starring William Fairbanks, Eileen Sedgwick and Ethan Laidlaw.Munden p.884 Cast * William Fairbanks as Ralph Spencer * Eileen Sedgwick as June Weld ...

'' (1927) * ''

The Kid Sister ''The Kid Sister'' is a 1945 American comedy drama film directed by Sam Newfield. The film is also known as ''All in the Family'' (American alternative title). Plot summary Joan Hollingsworth's mother orders her to remain in her bedroom du ...

'' (1927) * '' Cock o' the Walk'' (1930)

References

* ''Los Angeles Times'', ''Sally Is Found! Valentino Casts Her In New Film'', February 28, 1925, Page 14. * ''Los Angeles Times'', ''Star Draws Pay With No Work To Do'', August 11, 1925, Page A1. * ''Los Angeles Times'', ''Wampas Stars of 1926 Named'', December 8, 1925, Page A1. * ''Los Angeles Times'', ''Studio and Stage'', September 28, 1925, Page A7. * ''Los Angeles Times'', ''Studio and Stage'', August 6, 1926, Page A9. * ''Los Angeles Times'', ''Long Distance Separates Them'', August 7, 1937, Page A7. * ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

'', ''Love Insurance Of No Use'', December 9, 1926, Page 33.

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Long Sally 1901 births 1987 deaths Actresses from Kansas City, Missouri American female dancers American stage actresses American film actresses American silent film actresses Western (genre) film actresses 20th-century American actresses WAMPAS Baby Stars 20th-century American dancers