97-469: Charles William Haines (January 2, 1900 – December 26, 1973) was an American actor and interior designer . Haines was discovered by a talent scout and signed with Goldwyn Pictures in 1922. His career gained momentum when he received favorable reviews for his role in The Midnight Express . He was cast in the 1926 film Brown of Harvard and his performance solidified his screen persona as
194-450: A Theme" dedicated to William Haines. Haines' story is told in the 1998 biography Wisecracker: The Life and Times of William Haines, Hollywood's First Openly Gay Star by William J. Mann . His designs are the subject of Peter Schifando and Haines associate Jean H. Mathison's 2005 book Class Act: William Haines Legendary Hollywood Decorator . World of Wonder produced Out of the Closet, Off
291-436: A committed couple, though newspapers did not mention their relationship. Haines found box-office success with Little Annie Rooney (1925), co-starring Mary Pickford , and Show People (1928), costarring Marion Davies . He was a top-five box-office star from 1928 to 1932. He made a successful transition into " talkies " in the part-talking film Alias Jimmy Valentine (1928). He was forced to take elocution lessons for
388-621: A contract of actors from 10 October 1564, has been referred to as the first Italian actress known by name, with Vincenza Armani and Barbara Flaminia as the first primadonnas and the first well-documented actresses in Italy (and in Europe). After the English Restoration of 1660, women began to appear onstage in England. In modern times, particularly in pantomime and some operas, women occasionally play
485-547: A neighbor accused the two of propositioning her son, about 30 local residents including members of a white supremacist group called "The White Legion" dragged the two men from their home in El Porto near the city of Manhattan Beach (this was before El Porto became a part of that city) and beat them. The incident was widely reported at the time, but the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office never brought charges against
582-941: A note, inscribed: "Goodbye to all of you who have tried so hard to comfort me in my loss of William Haines, whom I have been with since 1926. I now find it impossible to go it alone, I am much too lonely." They are interred side by side in Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery in Santa Monica. For his contribution to the motion-picture industry, William Haines has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 7012 Hollywood Blvd. William Haines Designs remains in operation, with main offices in West Hollywood and an additional showroom in New York. In September 2023, Sunnylands Center & Gardens featured an exhibition titled "Variations to
679-583: A sensation and helped launch his interior design career, working for Carole Lombard next. Later in 1956, he would decorate Crawford’s newly renovated two-floor apartment purchased with her new husband, Alfred Steele . In the 60s and 70s, their clients included Betsy Bloomingdale and Ronald and Nancy Reagan when Reagan was governor of California. Haines and Ted Graber designed the interiors of Walter and Leonore Annenberg 's " Sunnylands " estate in Rancho Mirage . The Annenbergs also hired Haines to work on
776-458: A series. A co-star role is a small speaking role that usually only appears in one episode. A guest star is a larger role than a co-star role, and the character is often the central focus of the episode or integral to the plot. Radio drama is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance , broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help
873-574: A shift in acting techniques between 1913 and 1921, influenced by techniques found in German silent film. This is mainly attributed to the influx of emigrants from the Weimar Republic , "including film directors, producers, cameramen, lighting and stage technicians, as well as actors and actresses". Film actors have to learn to get used to and be comfortable with a camera being in front of them. Film actors need to learn to find and stay on their "mark". This
970-597: A variety of jobs and was for a time the kept man of an older woman before becoming a model. Talent scout Bijou Fernandez discovered Haines as part of the Goldwyn Pictures ' "New Faces of 1922" contest, and the studio signed him to a $ 40-a-week contract (~$ 700 in 2022 terms). He traveled to Hollywood with fellow contest winner Eleanor Boardman in March of that year. Haines' career began slowly, as he appeared in extra and bit parts, mostly uncredited. His first significant role
1067-589: A wisecracking, arrogant leading man. By the end of the 1920s, Haines had appeared in a string of successful films and was a popular box-office draw. Haines' acting career was cut short by the studios in the 1930s due to his refusal to deny his homosexuality . He quit acting in 1935 and started a successful interior design business with his life partner Jimmie Shields, and his work was widely patronized by friends in Hollywood . Haines died of lung cancer in December 1973 at
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#17330859330121164-575: A woman. Occasionally, the issue is further complicated, for example, by a woman playing a woman acting as a man—who then pretends to be a woman, such as Julie Andrews in Victor/Victoria , or Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love . In It's Pat: The Movie , film-watchers never learn the gender of the androgynous main characters Pat and Chris (played by Julia Sweeney and Dave Foley ). Similarly, in
1261-474: Is ὑποκριτής ( hupokritḗs ), literally "one who answers". The actor's interpretation of a role—the art of acting —pertains to the role played, whether based on a real person or fictional character. This can also be considered an "actor's role", which was called this due to scrolls being used in the theaters. Interpretation occurs even when the actor is "playing themselves", as in some forms of experimental performance art . Formerly, in ancient Greece and
1358-422: Is a position on the floor marked with tape. This position is where the lights and camera focus are optimized. Film actors also need to learn how to prepare well and perform well on- screen tests . Screen tests are a filmed audition of part of the script. Unlike theater actors, who develop characters for repeat performances, film actors lack continuity, forcing them to come to all scenes (sometimes shot in reverse of
1455-557: Is a young girl who spends her days wreaking havoc in the tenements with a gang of children and their rival gang, the Kid Kellys. They fight in the streets, accidentally scaring a fruit vendor's horse in the process. Annie's father is a respected neighborhood police officer, but her brother, Tim, is a member of the Big Kellys, a gang of older boys led by Joe Kelly. The gang raises money for themselves by selling tickets to an upcoming dance. Joe
1552-544: Is experiencing a revival. Little Annie Rooney (1925 film) Little Annie Rooney is a 1925 American silent comedy-drama film starring Mary Pickford and directed by William Beaudine . Pickford, one of the most successful actresses of the silent era, was best known throughout her career for her iconic portrayals of penniless young girls. After generating only modest box office revenue playing adults in her previous two films, Pickford wrote and produced Little Annie Rooney to cater to silent film audiences. Though she
1649-461: Is kind to Annie and she develops a crush on him. But when Joe visits the Rooney home later that day, Officer Rooney warns him that if he continues to lead his gang, he will no longer allow Tim to spend time with Joe. The fruit vendor arrives and informs Officer Rooney that Annie's activities that morning cost him five dollars' worth of fresh fruit. When each of the children claim responsibility for scaring
1746-460: Is particularly common in presentations of older plays, such as Shakespearean works with large numbers of male characters in roles where gender is inconsequential. Having an actor dress as the opposite sex for comic effect is also a long-standing tradition in comic theatre and film. Most of Shakespeare's comedies include instances of overt cross-dressing , such as Francis Flute in A Midsummer Night's Dream . The movie A Funny Thing Happened on
1843-742: The BBC produces and broadcasts hundreds of new radio plays each year on Radio 3 , Radio 4 , and Radio 4 Extra . Podcasting has also offered the means of creating new radio dramas, in addition to the distribution of vintage programs. The terms "audio drama" or "audio theatre" are sometimes used synonymously with "radio drama" with one possible distinction: audio drama or audio theatre may not necessarily be intended specifically for broadcast on radio. Audio drama, whether newly produced or OTR classics, can be found on CDs , cassette tapes , podcasts , webcasts , and conventional broadcast radio. Thanks to advances in digital recording and Internet distribution, radio drama
1940-1081: The Edo period ; this convention continues. In some forms of Chinese drama such as Beijing opera , men traditionally performed all the roles, including female roles, while in Shaoxing opera women often play all roles, including male ones. In modern times, women occasionally played the roles of boys or young men. For example, the stage role of Peter Pan is traditionally played by a woman, as are most principal boys in British pantomime . Opera has several " breeches roles " traditionally sung by women, usually mezzo-sopranos . Examples are Hansel in Hänsel und Gretel , Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro and Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier . Women playing male roles are uncommon in film, with notable exceptions. In 1982, Stina Ekblad played
2037-626: The Mocambo nightclub . The couple finally settled in the west Los Angeles community of Brentwood and their business prospered until their retirement in the early 1970s, except for a brief interruption when Haines served in World War II . Known for his impeccable taste in interior design and love for vintage pieces, Haines worked closely with his friend Joan Crawford — whom he teasingly called Cranberry — to renovate her Brentwood home. His unconventional choice of an all-white decor for her living room caused
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#17330859330122134-535: The OED , the first occurrence of the term actress was in 1608 and is ascribed to Middleton . In the 19th century, many viewed women in acting negatively, as actresses were often courtesans and associated with promiscuity. Despite these prejudices, the 19th century also saw the first female acting "stars", most notably Sarah Bernhardt . In Japan, onnagata , or men taking on female roles, were used in kabuki theatre when women were banned from performing on stage during
2231-499: The Western Roman Empire fell into decay through the 4th and 5th centuries, the seat of Roman power was moved eastward to Constantinople . Records show that mime , pantomime , scenes or recitations from tragedies and comedies , dances , and other entertainments were very popular. From the 5th century, Western Europe was plunged into a period of general disorder. Small nomadic bands of actors traveled around Europe throughout
2328-440: The actor-managers , who formed their own companies and controlled the actors, the productions, and the financing. When successful, they built up a permanent clientele that flocked to their productions. They could enlarge their audience by going on tour across the country, performing a repertoire of well-known plays, such as those by Shakespeare. The newspapers, private clubs, pubs, and coffee shops rang with lively debates evaluating
2425-402: The medieval world , and in England at the time of William Shakespeare , only men could become actors, and women's roles were generally played by men or boys. While Ancient Rome did allow female stage performers, only a small minority of them were given speaking parts. The commedia dell'arte of Italy, however, allowed professional women to perform early on; Lucrezia Di Siena , whose name is on
2522-674: The medieval world , it was considered disgraceful for a woman to go on stage; nevertheless, women did perform in Ancient Rome, and again entered the stage in the Commedia dell'arte in Italy in the 16th century; Lucrezia Di Siena became the perhaps first professional actress since Ancient Rome. France and Spain, too, also had female actors in the 16th century. In William Shakespeare's England, however, women's roles were generally played by men or boys. When an eighteen-year Puritan prohibition of drama
2619-470: The theatre of ancient Greece performed in three types of drama : tragedy , comedy , and the satyr play . This developed and expanded considerably under the Romans . The theatre of ancient Rome was a thriving and diverse art form, ranging from festival performances of street theatre , nude dancing, and acrobatics, to the staging of situation comedies , to high-style , verbally elaborate tragedies . As
2716-504: The "...men on Forbes' list of top-paid actors for that year made 2 + 1 / 2 times as much money as the top-paid actresses. That means that Hollywood's best-compensated actresses made just 40 cents for every dollar that the best-compensated men made." Actors working in theatre , film , television , and radio have to learn specific skills. Techniques that work well in one type of acting may not work well in another type of acting. To act on stage, actors need to learn
2813-496: The 100 top-grossing films of 2014 featured a female lead or co-lead, while only 28.1 percent of characters in 100 top-grossing films were female...". "In the U.S., there is an "industry-wide [gap] in salaries of all scales. On average, white women earn 78 cents to every dollar a white man makes, while Hispanic women earn 56 cents to a white male's dollar, black women 64 cents and Native American women just 59 cents to that." Forbes' analysis of US acting salaries in 2013 determined that
2910-560: The 13th century. At the end of the Late Middle Ages , professional actors began to appear in England and Europe. Richard III and Henry VII both maintained small companies of professional actors. Beginning in the mid-16th century, Commedia dell'arte troupes performed lively improvisational playlets across Europe for centuries. Commedia dell'arte was an actor-centred theatre, requiring little scenery and very few props. Plays were loose frameworks that provided situations, complications, and
3007-425: The Kid Kellys begin to suspect Tony as well. The rival gangs unite and manage to bring Tony to the police station, but Tim arrives shortly after them and announces that he has just shot Joe. Annie rushes to the hospital and learns that Joe will die unless he is given an immediate blood transfusion. Annie volunteers, though she mistakenly believes that she will die as a result. She is tested and donates her blood. After
William Haines - Misplaced Pages Continue
3104-503: The Screen: The Life of William Haines , which aired on American Movie Classics in 2001. In October 2015, Karina Longworth chronicled Haines in the episode William Haines and Hollywood's First Openly Gay Marriage , which she included in her 15-part series of MGM stories for her podcast You Must Remember This . Haines was voiced by actor Wil Wheaton . Playwright Claudio Macor created the biographical drama The Tailor-Made Man in
3201-506: The UK radio adaptation of the play starring Judd Hirsch as Mayer. In 2017, to tie-in with the anniversary production, the definitive playscript was published by theatrical publisher Oberon Books. Actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film , radio , and television . The analogous Greek term
3298-776: The United States , the gender-neutral term "player" was common in film in the silent film era and the early days of the Motion Picture Production Code , but in the 2000s in a film context, it is generally deemed archaic . However, "player" remains in use in the theatre , often incorporated into the name of a theatre group or company, such as the American Players , the East West Players , etc. Also, actors in improvisational theatre may be referred to as "players". In 2015, Forbes reported that "...just 21 of
3395-540: The United States recognized the different limitations and freedoms of the mediums of stage and screen by the early 1910s. Silent films became less vaudevillian in the mid-1910s, as the differences between stage and screen became apparent. Due to the work of directors such as D W Griffith , cinematography became less stage-like, and the then-revolutionary close-up shot allowed subtle and naturalistic acting. In America, D.W. Griffith's company Biograph Studios , became known for its innovative direction and acting, conducted to suit
3492-761: The Way to the Forum stars Jack Gilford dressing as a young bride. Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon famously posed as women to escape gangsters in the Billy Wilder film Some Like It Hot . Cross-dressing for comic effect was a frequently used device in most of the Carry On films . Dustin Hoffman and Robin Williams have each appeared in a hit comedy film ( Tootsie and Mrs. Doubtfire , respectively) in which they played most scenes dressed as
3589-487: The aforementioned example of The Marriage of Figaro , there is a scene in which Cherubino (a male character portrayed by a woman) dresses up and acts like a woman; the other characters in the scene are aware of a single level of gender role obfuscation, while the audience is aware of two levels. A few modern roles are played by a member of the opposite sex to emphasize the gender fluidity of the role. Edna Turnblad in Hairspray
3686-602: The age of 73. Haines was born on January 2, 1900 (he claimed he was born on January 1) in Staunton, Virginia , the third child of George Adam Haines, a cigar maker, and Laura Virginia Haines (née Matthews). Two older siblings died in infancy. He had four younger siblings: Lillian, born in 1902; Ann, born in 1907; George, Jr., born in 1908; and Henry, born in 1917. He was baptized at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Staunton at
3783-452: The age of eight, where he later sang in the choir. He became fascinated with stage performance and motion pictures at an early age, spending hours watching early silent films in local theatres. Haines ran away from home at the age of 14, accompanied by an unidentified young man whom Haines referred to as his "boyfriend". The pair went first to Richmond and then to Hopewell , which had a reputation for immorality. They both got jobs working at
3880-440: The attackers. The child molestation accusations against Haines and Shields were unfounded and the case was dismissed due to a lack of evidence. In reality, the boy had been chasing Haines' dog on the beach and Haines paid the child six cents to go home; this was misinterpreted as a proposition. When Jack L. Warner remodeled his estate in 1937, he hired Haines as interior decorator. He also designed an office for Frank Sinatra and
3977-416: The attention of Officer Rooney, who ventures inside. Tony fires a gun, but the bullet meant for Joe hits Officer Rooney instead, killing him. A week passes. The police still haven't discovered Officer Rooney's killer. Tony and Spider lie to Tim, telling him that Joe killed Officer Rooney. Tim intends to take revenge himself. Meanwhile, Annie is told that Tony was seen discarding a gun in an alley. Members of
William Haines - Misplaced Pages Continue
4074-469: The audio archives of collectors and museums, as well as several online sites such as Internet Archive . As of 2011 , radio drama has a minimal presence on terrestrial radio in the United States. Much of American radio drama is restricted to rebroadcasts or podcasts of programs from previous decades. However, other nations still have thriving traditions of radio drama. In the United Kingdom, for example,
4171-500: The cinema rather than the stage. Griffith realized that theatrical acting did not look good on film and required his actors and actresses to go through weeks of film acting training. Lillian Gish has been called film's "first true actress" for her work in the period, as she pioneered new film performing techniques, recognizing the crucial differences between stage and screen acting. Directors such as Albert Capellani and Maurice Tourneur began to insist on naturalism in their films. By
4268-439: The concept of "frame". "The term frame refers to the area that the camera's lens is capturing." Within the acting industry, there are four types of television roles one could land on a show. Each type varies in prominence, frequency of appearance, and pay. The first is known as a series regular —the main actors on the show as part of the permanent cast. Actors in recurring roles are under contract to appear in multiple episodes of
4365-520: The elaborate masques frequently presented at court, also contributed to the shaping of public theatre. Since before the reign of Elizabeth I, companies of players were attached to the households of leading aristocrats and performed seasonally in various locations. These became the foundation for the professional players that performed on the Elizabethan stage . The development of the theatre and opportunities for acting ceased when Puritan opposition to
4462-492: The eyebrow to create a believable character." Some theatre stars "...have made the theater-to-cinema transition quite successfully ( Laurence Olivier , Glenn Close , and Julie Andrews , for instance), others have not..." "On a television set, there are typically several cameras angled at the set. Actors who are new to on-screen acting can get confused about which camera to look into." TV actors need to learn to use lav mics ( Lavaliere microphones ). TV actors need to understand
4559-550: The film; he compared the coming of sound to "the discovery of clap in a nunnery." His first all-talking film, Navy Blues , was released the following year. He starred in Way Out West in 1930. The 1930 Quigley Poll, a survey of film exhibitors, listed Haines as the top box-office attraction in the country. In 1933, Haines was arrested in a YMCA with a sailor he had picked up in Los Angeles' Pershing Square . Louis B. Mayer ,
4656-507: The first time to appear on the English stage, exclusively in female roles. This period saw the introduction of the first professional actresses and the rise of the first celebrity actors. In the 19th century, the negative reputation of actors was largely reversed, and acting became an honored, popular profession and art. The rise of the actor as celebrity provided the transition, as audiences flocked to their favorite "stars". A new role emerged for
4753-431: The fruit vendor catches up with them, Joe pays him back with five dollars' worth of tickets to the dance. The night of the dance is also Officer Rooney's birthday; he is on patrol outside the dance hall. Back at home, Tim and Annie are preparing for their father's return. At the dance, a fight breaks out between Joe and two of his fellow gang members, Tony and Spider. The lights in the dance hall are switched off, attracting
4850-431: The hit music hall song "Little Annie Rooney" as the basis for her character. The song is referenced twice in the movie's intertitles; written in 1889 but now largely forgotten, it was very popular at the time, also inspiring a comic strip and an animated short film . Pickford wrote the story herself, credited under the name of her Irish grandmother, Catherine Hennessey. To help realize her story, Pickford hired some of
4947-479: The horse, Officer Rooney decides that they will all have to repay the fruit vendor together. The children decide to raise funds by staging a play set in the Wild West . Prompted by teasing from a heckler, Annie attempts to ride the same horse that the children had scared earlier, but it is spooked once again and gallops through the city with Annie on its back. Joe spots Annie and manages to catch her when she falls. When
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#17330859330125044-431: The late 1920s, movies were silent films . Silent film actors emphasized body language and facial expression , so that the audience could better understand what an actor was feeling and portraying on screen. Much silent film acting is apt to strike modern-day audiences as simplistic or campy . The melodramatic acting style was in some cases a habit actors transferred from their former stage experience. Vaudeville theatre
5141-546: The listener imagine the characters and story: "It is auditory in the physical dimension but equally powerful as a visual force in the psychological dimension." Radio drama achieved widespread popularity within a decade of its initial development in the 1920s. By the 1940s, it was a leading international popular entertainment. With the advent of television in the 1950s, however, radio drama lost some of its popularity, and in some countries has never regained large audiences. However, recordings of OTR ( old-time radio ) survive today in
5238-479: The local DuPont factory, producing nitrocellulose for $ 50 a week. To supplement their income, they opened a dance hall, which may have also served as a brothel. Haines' parents, frantic over his disappearance, tracked him through the police to Hopewell. Haines did not return home with them, remaining instead in Hopewell and sending money back home to help support the family. The couple remained in Hopewell until most of
5335-511: The local population. Amateur performers in England were exclusively male, but other countries had female performers. There were several secular plays staged in the Middle Ages, the earliest of which is The Play of the Greenwood by Adam de la Halle in 1276. It contains satirical scenes and folk material such as faeries and other supernatural occurrences. Farces also rose in popularity after
5432-463: The mid-1920s many American silent films had adopted a more naturalistic acting style, though not all actors and directors accepted naturalistic, low-key acting straight away; as late as 1927, films featuring expressionistic acting styles, such as Metropolis , were still being released. According to Anton Kaes, a silent film scholar from the University of Wisconsin, American silent cinema began to see
5529-630: The mid-1990s in London, telling the story of Haines' discovery in a talent contest, his movie career, its curtailment by Louis B. Mayer, and Haines' re-invention as an interior designer. The play tells the story of his 50-year relationship with Jimmie Shields. The play premiered at London's tiny Hen and Chickens theatre and quickly transferred to Battersea Arts Centre. Over the years the play has been produced at London's Cockpit Theatre, off-Broadway in New York, San Diego's Diversionary Theatre in California in 1995. It
5626-593: The mysterious Ismael Retzinsky in Fanny and Alexander , and Linda Hunt received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for playing Billy Kwan in The Year of Living Dangerously . In 2007, Cate Blanchett was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for playing Jude Quinn, a fictionalized representation of Bob Dylan in the 1960s, in I'm Not There . In the 2000s, women playing men in live theatre
5723-428: The neutral term dates to the post-war period of the 1950s and '60s, when the contributions of women to cultural life in general were being reviewed. When The Observer and The Guardian published their new joint style guide in 2010, it stated "Use ['actor'] for both male and female actors; do not use actress except when in name of award, e.g. Oscar for best actress". The guide's authors stated that "actress comes into
5820-423: The order in which they ultimately appear) with a fully developed character already. "Since film captures even the smallest gesture and magnifies it..., cinema demands a less flamboyant and stylized bodily performance from the actor than does the theater." "The performance of emotion is the most difficult aspect of film acting to master: ...the film actor must rely on subtle facial ticks, quivers, and tiny lifts of
5917-498: The outcome of the action, around which the actors improvised. The plays used stock characters . A troupe typically consisted of 13 to 14 members. Most actors were paid a share of the play's profits roughly equivalent to the sizes of their roles. Renaissance theatre derived from several medieval theatre traditions, such as the mystery plays , " morality plays ", and the "university drama" that attempted to recreate Athenian tragedy. The Italian tradition of Commedia dell'arte , as well as
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#17330859330126014-614: The period, performing wherever they could find an audience; there is no evidence that they produced anything but crude scenes. Traditionally, actors were not of high status; therefore, in the Early Middle Ages , traveling acting troupes were often viewed with distrust. Early Middle Ages actors were denounced by the Church during the Dark Ages , as they were viewed as dangerous, immoral, and pagan . In many parts of Europe, traditional beliefs of
6111-493: The power of star actors and celebrated roles to attract enthusiastic audiences. His knighthood in 1895 indicated full acceptance into the higher circles of British society. By the early 20th century, the economics of large-scale productions displaced the actor-manager model. It was too hard to find people who combined a genius at acting as well as management, so specialization divided the roles as stage managers and later theatre directors emerged. Financially, much larger capital
6208-408: The procedure, Annie learns that she is not going to die, and she states her intention to marry Joe one day. Later, Joe drives Annie and her friends through town. Tim, now a traffic officer, waves them through the intersection. "America's Sweetheart" Mary Pickford had built a successful career playing young ragamuffins , but was interested in playing roles that were more appropriate for her age. She
6305-521: The redecoration of Winfield House in London, where Walter was serving as U.S. Ambassador. General reference: Celebrities including Cameron Diaz , Courteney Cox , Anne Heche and Ellen DeGeneres purchased pieces of Haines' furniture in 1999. Haines and Shields (1905–1974) remained together until Haines' death. Joan Crawford described them as "the happiest married couple in Hollywood." In 1972 Shields and Haines both travelled to Europe. Haines
6402-614: The region and time meant actors could not receive a Christian burial. In the Early Middle Ages , churches in Europe began staging dramatized versions of biblical events. By the middle of the 11th century, liturgical drama had spread from Russia to Scandinavia to Italy. The Feast of Fools encouraged the development of comedy. In the Late Middle Ages , plays were produced in 127 towns. These vernacular Mystery plays often contained comedy , with actors playing devils , villains , and clowns . The majority of actors in these plays were drawn from
6499-403: The reign of Charles II in part because he enjoyed watching actresses on stage. Specifically, Charles II issued letters patent to Thomas Killigrew and William Davenant , granting them the monopoly right to form two London theatre companies to perform "serious" drama, and the letters patent were reissued in 1662 with revisions allowing actresses to perform for the first time. According to
6596-406: The relative merits of the stars and the productions. Henry Irving (1838–1905) was the most successful of the British actor-managers. Irving was renowned for his Shakespearean roles, and for such innovations as turning out the house lights so that attention could focus more on the stage and less on the audience. His company toured across Britain, as well as Europe and the United States, demonstrating
6693-451: The restoration's premiere, Jeffrey Vance observed: " Little Annie Rooney has always been overshadowed by the films that have chronologically surrounded it. The Academy Film Archive's restoration of Little Annie Rooney reveals the work to be one of her most accomplished efforts and a fine introduction to the art of Mary Pickford." Kevin Brownlow wrote of the film, "when you think that it
6790-621: The result contains longer scenes, different camera set-ups, and better shots of her, as well as special tinting effects not seen in any previously available versions. This restoration, with a new score composed by Andy Gladbach, has been presented at college campuses, by the American Cinematheque at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre , at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' annual "Mary Pickford Celebration of Silent Film", and on Turner Classic Movies . Writing in his program notes for
6887-411: The role of a young girl for Little Annie Rooney . The idea for the film's subject – a tough Irish girl from the streets – came to Pickford as she was wandering through a vacant city set on a Hollywood backlot. Seeking advice from a distinctly Irish-American perspective, she called Mabel Normand , who simply suggested, "I'd get an Irish title... and write something to go with it." Pickford selected
6984-658: The roles of boys or young men. The first recorded case of a performing actor occurred in 534 BC (though the changes in the calendar over the years make it hard to determine exactly) when the Greek performer Thespis stepped onto the stage at the Theatre Dionysus to become the first known person to speak words as a character in a play or story. Before Thespis' act, Grecian stories were only expressed in song , dance, and in third person narrative. In honor of Thespis, actors are commonly called Thespians . The exclusively male actors in
7081-414: The same category as authoress, comedienne, manageress, 'lady doctor', 'male nurse' and similar obsolete terms that date from a time when professions were largely the preserve of one sex (usually men)." (See male as norm .) "As Whoopi Goldberg put it in an interview with the paper: 'An actress can only play a woman. I'm an actor – I can play anything. ' " The UK performers' union Equity has no policy on
7178-520: The second half of the 17th century, they did appear in Italy, Spain and France from the late 16th-century onward. Lucrezia Di Siena , whose name is on an acting contract in Rome from 10 October 1564, has been referred to as the first Italian actress known by name, with Vincenza Armani and Barbara Flaminia as the first primadonnas and the first well-documented actresses in Italy (and Europe). After 1660 in England, when women first started to appear on stage,
7275-468: The stage banned the performance of all plays within London. Puritans viewed the theatre as immoral. The re-opening of the theatres in 1660 signalled a renaissance of English drama. English comedies written and performed in the Restoration period from 1660 to 1710 are collectively called "Restoration comedy". Restoration comedy is notorious for its sexual explicitness. At this point, women were allowed for
7372-413: The stage directions that appear in the script, such as "Stage Left" and "Stage Right". These directions are based on the actor's point of view as they stand on the stage facing the audience. Actors also have to learn the meaning of the stage directions "Upstage" (away from the audience) and "Downstage" (towards the audience). Theatre actors need to learn blocking, which is "...where and how an actor moves on
7469-454: The stage during a play". Most scripts specify some blocking. The Director also gives instructions on blocking, such as crossing the stage or picking up and using a prop. Some theater actors need to learn stage combat , which is simulated fighting on stage. Actors may have to simulate hand-to-hand fighting or sword-fighting. Actors are coached by fight directors , who help them learn the choreographed sequence of fight actions. From 1894 to
7566-609: The studio head at MGM, delivered an ultimatum to Haines: choose between a sham lavender marriage , his relationship with Shields or his relationship with the sailor. Haines chose Shields and they remained together in a private relationship for 47 years. Mayer then fired Haines and terminated his contract. He made a few minor films at Poverty Row studios and soon retired from acting. His final films were made in 1934 with Mascot Pictures , Young and Beautiful and The Marines Are Coming . Haines continued to receive offers for film roles. During production of Sunset Boulevard (1950), he
7663-458: The terms actor or actress were initially used interchangeably for female performers, but later, influenced by the French actrice , actress became the commonly used term for women in theater and film. The etymology is a simple derivation from actor with -ess added. When referring to groups of performers of both sexes, actors is preferred. Within the profession, the re-adoption of
7760-533: The time and known as the skid row of New York until the 1980s. An enormous set filled with realistic details was constructed in the Pickford-Fairbanks backlot to simulate the impoverished downtown neighborhood. Pickford's return as a scruffy young girl in Little Annie Rooney was a critical success as well as a triumph at the box office, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of 1925. This film
7857-408: The top-tier talent of the day: husband-and-wife screenwriting team Hope Loring and Louis Lighton , who also wrote Wings and It , adapted the story for the screen; Charles Rosher , who would later win an Academy Award for Sunrise , served as the film's cinematographer; William Beaudine , who had found much success working with children in films like Boy of Mine and Penrod and Sam ,
7954-456: The town was destroyed by fire in 1915. Haines moved to New York City. Whether his boyfriend accompanied him is unclear. Following the bankruptcy of the family business and the mental breakdown of George Sr., the family moved to Richmond in 1916. Haines moved there in 1917 to help support them. With his father recovered and employed, Haines returned to New York City in 1919, settling into the burgeoning gay community of Greenwich Village . He worked
8051-460: The use of "actor" or "actress". An Equity spokesperson said that the union does not believe that there is a consensus on the matter and stated that the "...subject divides the profession". In 2009, the Los Angeles Times stated that "Actress" remains the common term used in major acting awards given to female recipients (e.g., Academy Award for Best Actress ). With regard to the cinema of
8148-460: Was 33 years old, Pickford played the title role, an Irish girl living in the slums of New York City. The film was a critical and commercial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of 1925. Restored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2014, Little Annie Rooney is remembered today for Pickford's performance and the high quality associated with its production. Annie Rooney
8245-477: Was a minority of actresses in Rome employed in speaking roles, and also those who achieved wealth, fame and recognition for their art, such as Eucharis , Dionysia , Galeria Copiola and Fabia Arete , and they also formed their own acting guild, the Sociae Mimae , which was evidently quite wealthy. The profession seemingly died out in late antiquity. While women did not begin to perform onstage in England until
8342-543: Was a particular achievement for Pickford after the lukewarm reception given to her previous two starring efforts. Pickford biographer Eileen Whitfield wrote, "One watches in amazement as Pickford, at thirty-three, fresh from the seductions of Rosita and the stiff declamations of Dorothy Vernon , slips into the body of a twelve-year-old tomboy." Little Annie Rooney was restored by the Academy Film Archive in 2014 from Pickford's own 35mm tinted nitrate print;
8439-571: Was an especially popular origin for many American silent film actors. The pervading presence of stage actors in film was the cause of this outburst from director Marshall Neilan in 1917: "The sooner the stage people who have come into pictures get out, the better for the pictures". In other cases, directors such as John Griffith Wray required their actors to deliver larger-than-life expressions for emphasis. As early as 1914, American viewers had begun to make known their preference for greater naturalness on screen. Pioneering film directors in Europe and
8536-597: Was chosen by Pickford to direct. Little Annie Rooney probably owes a debt to the Our Gang franchise for its comedic cast of multi-ethnic children (including Irish, Greek, Jewish, Italian, Chinese, and African-American characters), but Little Annie Rooney takes place in a far grittier urban setting. One of the advertisements for the film identifies Annie as "the Princess of the Bowery ", an area home to many immigrant populations at
8633-457: Was diagnosed with lung cancer in the summer of 1973. By December, Haines's long-time doctor requested he move into St John's Hospital . He would spend the month in hospital until he passed away on December 26, 1973, at 6:45 pm, of sudden cardiac arrest with Shields beside him. Following Haines's death, his partner Shields struggled to cope. At 9:45 pm on March 6, 1974, Shields began drinking and died of acute barbiturate intoxication . He left
8730-583: Was in Three Wise Fools (1923). He attracted positive critical attention and the studio began building him up as a new star. However, he continued to play small, unimportant parts at Goldwyn. When his home studio lent him to Fox in 1923 for The Desert Outlaw , he got the opportunity to play a significant role. In 1924, MGM lent Haines to Columbia Pictures for a five-picture deal. The first of these, The Midnight Express (1924), received excellent reviews, and Columbia offered to buy his contract. The offer
8827-478: Was lifted after the English Restoration of 1660, women began to appear on stage in England. Margaret Hughes is often credited as the first professional actress on the English stage. Previously, Angelica Martinelli , a member of a visiting Italian Commedia dell'arte company, did perform in England as early as 1578, but such foreign guest appearances had been rare exceptions and there had been no professional English actresses in England. This prohibition ended during
8924-500: Was offered a cameo role in the film, which he declined. He later said, "It's a rather pleasant feeling of being away from pictures and being part of them because all my friends are. I can see the nice side of them without seeing the ugly side of the studios." Haines and Shields began a successful dual career as interior designers and antique dealers. Among their early clients were friends such as Joan Crawford , Gloria Swanson , Carole Lombard , Marion Davies , and George Cukor . After
9021-737: Was perhaps the most powerful woman in Hollywood at the time, and as one of the founders of United Artists , she was able to produce and star in films like Rosita and Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall . However, audiences were still clamoring for Pickford to return to screens as "the girl with the curls". In a 1925 interview with Photoplay magazine, she asked her fans what roles they would like to see her play; Photoplay received 20,000 letters in reply urging her to portray children, with suggestions including Anne of Green Gables , Heidi , and Alice in Wonderland . Despite being 33 years old, Pickford acquiesced to her public's wishes, once again stepping into
9118-511: Was played by Divine in the 1988 original film , Harvey Fierstein in the Broadway musical , and John Travolta in the 2007 movie musical . Eddie Redmayne was nominated for an Academy Award for playing Lili Elbe (a trans woman ) in 2015's The Danish Girl . In contrast to Ancient Greek theatre, Ancient Roman theatre did allow female performers. While the majority of them were seldom employed in speaking roles but rather for dancing, there
9215-619: Was refused and Haines continued in bit roles for Goldwyn. Haines scored his first big personal success with Brown of Harvard (1926) opposite Jack Pickford and Mary Brian . It was in Brown that he crystallized his screen image, a young arrogant man who is humbled by the last reel. He returned repeatedly to that formula for the next several years. On a trip to New York in 1926, Haines met James "Jimmie" Shields. Haines convinced Shields to move to Los Angeles, promising to get him work as an extra. The pair soon began living together and viewed themselves as
9312-545: Was required to operate out of a major city. The solution was corporate ownership of chains of theatres, such as by the Theatrical Syndicate , Edward Laurillard , and especially The Shubert Organization . By catering to tourists, theaters in large cities increasingly favored long runs of highly popular plays, especially musicals. Big name stars became even more essential. Formerly, in some societies, only men could become actors. In ancient Greece and ancient Rome and
9409-557: Was revived in a successful anniversary production in 2017 at London's White Bear Theatre, directed by Bryan Hodgson. In 2013 a musical adaptation of The Tailor-Made Man opened at London's Arts Theatre in the West End with pop star Faye Tozer (Steps) as Marion Davies and Mike McShane as Mayer. In 1994, The Tailor-Made Man was chosen for a workshop TV production for Thames Television Masterpiece Pilot Showcase, directed by Golden Rose of Montreux winner Chris Bould. Bould returned to direct
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