Edith Storey (March 18, 1892 – October 9, 1967) was an American actress during the

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized 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) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...

era.

Early life

Storey was born on March 18, 1892, in New York City to William Chase Storey and Minnie Storey (née Thorn). Her younger brother, Richard, also had a brief acting career. Storey began acting when she was a child. Her film career began with the film ''Francesca di Rimini'' (1908), also called ''The Two Brothers''. She would have two film roles in 1908, and a total of seventy-five by 1913. Many of these films were Westerns, as Storey was reportedly an excellent horseback rider and could perform her own stunts. Nicknamed Billy at the Star Film Ranch in Texas, she earned the good will of the seasoned cowboys in the Méliès film company for her ability to "ride anything with hair on it".

Career

Storey worked for New York-based

Vitagraph Studios Vitagraph Studios, also known as the Vitagraph Company of America, was a United States motion picture studio. It was founded by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith in 1897 in Brooklyn, New York, as the American Vitagraph Company. By 1907, ...

for most of her career except from 1910 to 1911, when she was under contract with

Star Film Company The Manufacture de films pour cinématographes, often known as Star Film, was a French film production company run by the illusionist and film director Georges Méliès. History On 28 December 1895, Méliès attended the celebrated first public ...

San Antonio, Texas ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , subdivision_ ...

.Thompson, Frank. ''The Star Film Ranch: Texas' First Picture Show''. Republic of Texas Press, 1996. She appeared in nearly 150 films between 1908 and 1921, including '' The Immortal Alamo'' (1911), '' A Florida Enchantment'' (1914), and '' The Christian'' (1914), the latter film based on the Hall Caine novel of the same name, first made in ''

1911 A notable ongoing event was the race for the South Pole. Events January * January 1 – A decade after federation, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory are added to the Commonwealth of Australia. * ...

'' and later remade in '' 1915'' and '' 1923''. In 1918, Storey signed with Metro; ''The Eyes of Mystery'' (1918) was her debut film for that studio. She was noted for taking on male impersonation roles, such as Lillian/Lawrence in '' A Florida Enchantment'' (1924), and was compared to

Vesta Tilley Matilda Alice Powles, Lady de Frece (13May 186416September 1952) was an English music hall performer. She adopted the stage name Vesta Tilley and became one of the best-known male impersonators of her era. Her career lasted from 1869 until 19 ...

. She also referred to herself as 'Billy'.

Later life

She would appear in another seventy-one films from 1913 to 1921, almost all of which were what are considered film shorts. In 1921, aged 29, she retired. She has a star on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Calif ...

for her work in the film industry at 1523 Vine Street. She was residing in Northport, Long Island, New York at the time of her death on October 9, 1967, aged 75. She was cremated at Fresh Pond Crematory D.B.A. U.S. Columbarium co. on October 13, 1967.

Selected filmography

* '' Oliver Twist'' (1909) * ''

The Life of Moses ''The Life of Moses'' is a 1909 American silent epic film directed by J. Stuart Blackton and starring Pat Hartigan, Julia Arthur and William J. Humphrey. A portrayal of the biblical story of Moses, it was one of a number of prestige film base ...

'' (1909) * '' The Immortal Alamo'' (1911) * '' A Tale of Two Cities'' (1911) * ''

The Military Air-Scout ''The Military Air-Scout'' (1911) is considered by some aviation film historians as one of the first aviation films recorded worldwide. William J. Humphrey directed the two-reeler in 1911, with the cooperation of the U.S. Army authorities who al ...

'' (1911) * ''An Aeroplane Elopement'' (1911) * ''Billy and His Pal'' (AKA: ''Bobby and His Pal)'' (1911) * '' Billy the Kid'' (1911) * '' The Child Crusoes'' (1911) * ''Never Again'' (1912) * '' Red and White Roses'' (1913) * ''

Hearts of the First Empire ''Hearts of the First Empire'' is an American two-reel silent film set during the Peninsular War of the First French Empire. It is thought to be lost. Release ''Hearts of the First Empire'' was released in the United States on April 28, 1913, in T ...

'' (1913) *'' The Forgotten Latchkey'' (1913) *'' The Christian'' (1914) * '' A Florida Enchantment'' (1914) * ''

Captain Alvarez ''Captain Alvarez'' is a 1914 Vitagraph's five-reel film, based on a stage play. Written by Marguerite Bertsch, and directed by Rollin S. Sturgeon. Plot A melodrama about an American who becomes a revolutionary leader battling evil governme ...

'' (1914) * ''

The Tarantula ''The Tarantula'' is a 1916 American silent drama film written and directed by George D. Baker and starring Edith Storey and Antonio Moreno.The Two Edged Sword'' (1916) * '' Money Magic'' (1917) * ''

Aladdin from Broadway ''Aladdin from Broadway'' is a 1917 silent adventure film directed by William Wolbert and starring Edith Storey, Antonio Moreno and Otto Lederer.Connelly p.7 Cast * Edith Storey as Faimeh * Antonio Moreno as Jack Stanton * William Duncan as Will ...

'' (1917) * '' Captain of the Gray Horse Troop'' (1917) * ''

Revenge Revenge is committing a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance, be it real or perceived. Francis Bacon described revenge as a kind of "wild justice" that "does... offend the law ndputteth the law out of office." P ...

'' (1918) * ''

The Eyes of Mystery ''The Eyes of Mystery'' is a lost 1918 American silent mystery film directed by Tod Browning starring Edith Storey. Plot As described in a film magazine, Carma Carmichael (Storey), who lives with her uncle Quincy Carmichael (Andrews), is kid ...

'' (1918) * '' The Legion of Death'' (1918) * '' The Claim'' (1918) * ''

Treasure of the Sea ''Treasure of the Sea'' is a 1918 American silent drama film directed by Frank Reicher and starring Edith Storey, Lew Cody, and Lewis Willoughby. It was released on April 22, 1918. Cast list * Edith Storey as Margaret Elkins * Lew Cody as Jim H ...

'' (1918) * '' The Demon'' (1918) * '' The Silent Woman'' (1918) * ''

As the Sun Went Down ''As the Sun Went Down'' is a 1919 American silent Western film directed by E. Mason Hopper and starring Edith Storey, Lew Cody, and Harry S. Northrup. It was released on February 10, 1919. Plot Colonel Billy is an ex-dance hall girl who has ...

'' (1919) * '' Moon Madness'' (1920) * ''

Beach of Dreams ''Beach of Dreams'' is a 1921 American silent adventure film directed by William Parke and starring Edith Storey, Noah Beery and Jack Curtis.St. Romain p.110 It is based on the 1919 novel '' The Beach of Dreams'' by Henry De Vere Stacpoole. Pl ...

'' (1921) * '' The Greater Profit'' (1921)

Early life

Career

Later life

Selected filmography

References

External links