Title supplied by cataloger.; Photograph was edited for publication purposes, is slightly warped and has a tear on the lower left side. Gloria Swanson was born Gloria May Josephine Svensson in Chicago, Illinois on March 27th, 1897, into a military family that moved frequently. She was educated in Chicago, Puerto Rico and Florida. At age 15 she began acting, taking bit parts in films. Early on, she played mostly comedic roles and slapstick. Director Cecil B. DeMille noticed Gloria and took her under his wing as a dramatic actress. She starred in several successful films for DeMille and became one of the most popular actresses of the silent film era. Swanson also became known for her fashion style, on screen and off, becoming one of the most famous and photographed women in the world. Swanson also produced several films. After the silent film era, Swanson's popularity began to decline. She was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actress in 1929 and 1930, but acted sporadically during the 1930s and 40s. Her career was revived when she was nominated again for the Academy Award for Best Actress for the role of Norma Desmond in the 1950 film "Sunset Boulevard." After that she appeared mostly in television and theater. Swanson was married six times and had two daughters and one adopted son. She was active socially until her death on April 4, 1983. Photograph caption dated December 7, 1936 reads "Completing plans for a pre-holiday benefit concert to be given next Tuesday evening, Dec. 15, by Ervin Nyiregyhazi, Hungarian pianist, a group of the society set is pictured at a tea given for 70 guests by Gloria Swanson, film star, at her Beverly Hills home the other day. Left to right, Betty Jones, Miss Swanson, Mrs. Galen R. Goodson, and Mrs. Thomas W. Simmons. Nyiregyhazi will play at the Wilshire-Ebell theater and the concert is being sponsored by two charitable groups, Mrs. Abraham Lehr's Relief Guild and Miss Swanson's Friends' Fund." The group is pictured seated in front of a coffee table holding teacups and saucers. Two of the women are wearing furs.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;21 x 26 cm. Photographic prints
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