Title supplied by cataloger. Frank Wiggins, the superintendent of events for the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, conceived of the idea to create a larger than life sized "walnut elephant" that was to be displayed at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. 850 pounds of unusually large California walnuts were needed to cover the wire framework used to create this famous pachyderm. Needless to say, it achieved lasting fame for the city and the Chamber. Mabel Normand (1892-1930), a popular silent film star, comedienne, and actress, started her film career with Keystone Studios at the age of 16. She is noted as one of the film industry's first female screenwriters, producers, and directors, and at the height of her career in the late 1910s and early 1920s, Normand had her own movie studio and production company. Unfortunately, Normand's life was not immune from scandal, and she was the subject of scrutiny in the 1922 murder of William Desmond Taylor, and the 1924 shooting of Courtland S. Dines, who was shot with her pistol. Mabel Normand retired after falling ill in 1928; passing away from tuberculosis two years later, on February 23, 1930 at the age of 37. Normand was interred at Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles. Her star is on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6821 Hollywood Boulevard. Silent star, Mabel Normand stands in front of a life-size "walnut elephant". The Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce exhibit of California agricultural products featured this life-sized figure, which was prominent in displays throughout the country.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;13 x 17 cm. on sheet 21 x 26 cm. Photographic prints
Normand, Mabel,--1894-1930 Agricultural exhibitions--California--Los Angeles Trade associations--California--Los Angeles Agriculture--California--Los Angeles Elephants--California--Los Angeles Actresses--United States
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