Gertrude Olmstead (November 13, 1897 – January 18, 1975) was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 56 films between 1920 and 1929. Her last name was sometimes seen as Olmsted.

Career

Olmstead was born in

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

, Illinois, and was noticed after winning a 5,900-entrant contest to represent "The Spirit of America" at the 1920

Elks Club The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE; also often known as the Elks Lodge or simply The Elks) is an American fraternal order founded in 1868, originally as a social club in New York City. History The Elks began in 1868 as a soci ...

national convention. The victory included an opportunity to receive a $10,000 one-year contract to appear in films. Olmstead initially was signed by Universal Motion Picture company. Her first film was '' Tipped Off'' (1920), following which she became the leading lady in western films that starred

Hoot Gibson Edmund Richard "Hoot" Gibson (August 6, 1892 – August 23, 1962) was an American rodeo champion, film actor, film director, and producer. While acting and stunt work began as a sideline to Gibson's focus on rodeo, he successfully transitioned ...

. She appeared in her first credited film role in the 1921 film '' The Fox''. She obtained several more roles that same year, appearing in nine films in 1921, and another five in 1922. She appeared in 17 more films by the time she received what is today her best-known role, opposite Rudolph Valentino in the 1925 film '' Cobra''. Throughout the silent film era her career thrived. From 1925 through 1929 she appeared in twenty eight films, most often portraying the

heroine A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or a main fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or strength. Like other formerly gender-specific terms (like ''actor''), ''hero ...

. With the advent of

sound film A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed before ...

her career stalled, and she retired from acting in 1929.

Personal life and death

In 1926 she met

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...

director

Robert Z. Leonard Robert Zigler Leonard (October 7, 1889 – August 27, 1968) was an American film director, actor, producer, and screenwriter. Biography He was born in Chicago, Illinois. At one time, he was married to silent star Mae Murray with the two formin ...

and they were married in Santa Barbara on June 8 of that year. Leonard and Olmstead remained married until his death in 1968. After Leonard's death, Olmstead remained in the

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

area, and died in

Beverly Hills 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. ...

on January 18, 1975. She is interred at Glendale's

Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries is an American corporation that owns and operates a chain of cemeteries and mortuaries in Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties in Southern California. History The company was founded by a group of ...

, near her husband.

Partial filmography

* '' Tipped Off'' (1920, Short) - Marion Ross * '' The Driftin' Kid'' (1921, Short) * '' Sweet Revenge'' (1921, Short) * '' Kickaroo'' (1921, Short) * '' The Fightin' Fury'' (1921, Short) * '' Out o' Luck'' (1921, Short) * '' The Big Adventure'' (1921) - Sally * ''

The Fighting Lover ''The Fighting Lover'' is a 1921 American silent mystery comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a ...

'' (1921) - Jean Forsdale * '' The Fox'' (1921) - Stella Fraser * '' Shadows of Conscience'' (1921) - Winifred Coburn * '' The Scrapper'' (1922) - Eileen McCarthy * ''

The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe ''Robinson Crusoe'' ( es, Aventuras de Robinson Crusoe; also released as ''Adventures of Robinson Crusoe'') is a 1954 adventure film directed by Luis Buñuel, based on the 1719 novel of the same name by Daniel Defoe. It stars Dan O'Herlihy as ...

'' (1922, Serial) * '' The Loaded Door'' (1922) - Molly Grainger * ''Fighting Blood'' (1923) - Minor Role (uncredited) * ''

Trilby A trilby is a narrow-brimmed type of hat. The trilby was once viewed as the rich man's favored hat; it is sometimes called the "brown trilby" in Britain Roetzel, Bernhard (1999). ''Gentleman's Guide to Grooming and Style''. Barnes & Noble. and ...

'' (1923) - Miss Bagot * '' Cameo Kirby'' (1923) - Adele Randall * '' George Washington Jr.'' (1924) - Dolly Johnson * '' Ladies to Board'' (1924) * '' A Girl of the Limberlost'' (1924) - Edith Carr * ''

Babbitt Babbitt may refer to: Fiction * ''Babbitt'' (novel), a 1922 novel by Sinclair Lewis ** ''Babbitt'' (1924 film), a 1924 silent film based on the novel ** ''Babbitt'' (1934 film), a 1934 film based on the novel *Babbit, the family name of the titl ...

'' (1924) - Eunice Littlefield * ''

Lovers' Lane A lovers' lane is a secluded area where people kiss, make out, or engage in sexual activity. These areas range from parking lots in secluded rural areas to places with extraordinary views of a cityscape or other features. "Lovers' lanes" are t ...

'' (1924) - Mary Larkin * ''

Empty Hands ''Empty Hands'' is a 1924 American silent romantic drama film directed by Victor Fleming, and starring Jack Holt and Norma Shearer. The film was produced by the Famous Players-Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Cast Preservati ...

'' (1924) - Typsy * ''

Life's Greatest Game Life's Greatest Game is a 1924 American silent melodrama directed by Emory Johnson. FBO released the film in October 1924. The film's "All-Star" cast included Johnnie Walker, Tom Santschi, Jane Thomas, David Kirby, and Gertrude Olmstead. Emi ...

'' (1924) - Nora Malone * '' The Monster'' (1925) - Betty Watson * '' California Straight Ahead'' (1925) - Betty Browne * '' Time, the Comedian'' (1925) - Ruth Dakon * '' Cobra'' (1925) - Mary Drake * '' Sweet Adeline'' (1926) - Adeline * ''

Torrent Torrent or torrents may refer to: * A fast flowing stream Animals * Torrent duck, a species of the family Anatidae * Torrent fish * Torrent frog, various unrelated frogs * Torrent robin, a bird species * Torrent salamander, a family of s ...

'' (1926) - Remedios * ''

Monte Carlo Monte Carlo (; ; french: Monte-Carlo , or colloquially ''Monte-Carl'' ; lij, Munte Carlu ; ) is officially an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco, specifically the ward of Monte Carlo/Spélugues, where the Monte Carlo Casino is ...

'' (1926) - Sally Roxford * '' The Boob'' (1926) - Amy * ''

Puppets A puppet is an object, often resembling a human, animal or mythical figure, that is animated or manipulated by a person called a puppeteer. The puppeteer uses movements of their hands, arms, or control devices such as rods or strings to mov ...

'' (1926) - Angela * ''

The Cheerful Fraud ''The Cheerful Fraud'' is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Reginald Denny, Gertrude Olmstead, and Otis Harlan. It was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. It is based on a 1925 novel o ...

'' (1926) - Ann Kent * '' Mr. Wu'' (1927) - Hilda Gregory * ''

The Callahans and the Murphys ''The Callahans and the Murphys'' is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by George W. Hill. The film was based on a novel by Kathleen Norris, and was the first of several MGM films to star Marie Dressler and Polly Moran. The film was ...

'' (1927) - Monica Murphy * '' Becky'' (1927) - Nan Estabrook * ''

Buttons A button is a fastener that joins two pieces of fabric together by slipping through a loop or by sliding through a buttonhole. In modern clothing and fashion design, buttons are commonly made of plastic but also may be made of metal, wood ...

'' (1927) - Ruth Stratton * '' A Woman Against the World'' (1928) - Bernice Crane, Bride * ''

The Cheer Leader ''The Cheer Leader'' is a 1928 American silent drama film directed by Alan James and starring Ralph Graves, Gertrude Olmstead, and Shirley Palmer. Plot Cast * Ralph Graves as Jimmy Grant * Gertrude Olmstead as Jean Howard * Shirley Pal ...

'' (1928) - Jean Howard * ''

Sporting Goods Sports equipment, sporting equipment, also called sporting goods, are the tools, materials, apparel, and gear used to compete in a sport and varies depending on the sport. The equipment ranges from balls, nets, and protective gear like helmets. ...

'' (1928) - Alice Elliott * ''

Bringing Up Father ''Bringing Up Father'' is an American comic strip created by cartoonist George McManus. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, it ran for 87 years, from January 2, 1913, to May 28, 2000. The strip was later titled ''Jiggs and Maggie'' (or ...

'' (1928) - Ellen * '' Green Grass Widows'' (1928) - Betty Worthing * ''

Hit of the Show ''Hit of the Show'' is a 1928 comedy film directed by Ralph Ince and starring Joe E. Brown, Gertrude Olmstead and William Bailey.Quinlan, p. 152 It was originally released as a silent, with some sound added to later versions. Cast See als ...

'' (1928) - Kathlyn Carson * '' Midnight Life'' (1928) - Betty Brown * '' Sweet Sixteen'' (1928) - Patricia Perry * '' The Passion Song'' (1928) - Elaine Van Ryn * '' Hey Rube!'' (1928) - Lutie * ''

The Lone Wolf's Daughter ''The Lone Wolf's Daughter'' is a surviving 1919 American silent era crime/drama/thriller motion picture starring Bertram Grassby, Louise Glaum, and Thomas Holding. Directed by William P.S. Earle and produced by J. Parker Read, Jr., the scree ...

'' (1929) - Helen Fairchild * '' Sonny Boy'' (1929) - Mary * '' The Time, the Place and the Girl'' (1929) - Mae Ellis * ''

The Show of Shows ''The Show of Shows'' is a 1929 American pre-Code musical revue film directed by John G. Adolfi and distributed by Warner Bros. The all-talking Vitaphone production cost $850,000 and was shot almost entirely in Technicolor. ''The Show o ...

'' (1929) - Performer in 'Bicycle Built for Two' Number

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Olmstead, Gertrude 1904 births 1975 deaths Actresses from Chicago American film actresses American silent film actresses 20th-century American actresses Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)