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Louise Glaum (September 4, 1888 – November 25, 1970)California Death Index, Name: Louise G. Harris, Birth Date: 09-04-1901 sic, Sex: Female, Birth Place: Maryland, Death Place: Los Angeles Co. (70), Death Date: 11-25-1970, SSN:571-01-5724, Age: 70 yrs. sic.1900 Los Angeles Co., CA, U.S. Federal Census, Pasadena, Precinct 4, 108 W. Walnut St., June 4 & 5, Enumeration Dist. 116, Sheet 2 A, Page 302 A, with parents, Lines 40 & 41, John W. & Lena K. Glaum, Line 44, Louisa L. Glaum, Daughter, White, Female, month born: September, year born: 1888, age: 11, Single, MD, MD sic, NY, At School, 9 mons., Y, Y, Y. was an American actor. Known for her roles as a femme fatale in silent film film drama film, she was credited in her early career with giving one of the best characterizations in such parts.
Glaum began her acting career on the theatre in Los Angeles, her hometown, in 1907. After a few years, she went on the road with a touring company and performed as an ingenue in the play Why Girls Leave Home. She stayed on in Chicago, where she appeared in a number of productions. After returning to Los Angeles in 1911 because of the death of her younger sister, Glaum found acting work at a movie studio. She appeared in over 110 movies from 1912 to 1925, her debut being in When the Heart Calls.
After starring in Greater Than Love (1921), she retired from the screen and moved to New York. In 1925, she sued for money owed her for movie work amounting to $103,000. The suit was ultimately dismissed by the court due to technicalities. Glaum made a final movie appearance in 1925. Under contract with Associated Exhibitors, she starred as the conniving other woman opposite Lionel Barrymore in a drama film director by Henri Diamant-Berger titled Fifty-Fifty.
For over three years, Glaum headlined on the vaudeville circuit in dramatic Straight play. She presented a play in which she starred, Trial Marriage, in Los Angeles in 1928. Continuing to act on the stage, she opened and appeared in her own theatre in Los Angeles in the mid-1930s and became a drama instructor. Glaum was active in music clubs over the following decades. She served as president of the Matinee Musical Club for many years and was also state president of the California Federation of Music Clubs.
Her father was born as Johannes Wilhelm Glaum in Germany, emigration with his family to the U.S. in 1869, and lived in Indiana, then Prince George's County, Maryland, while her mother was born in New York City to German-born parents. John and Lena Glaum and family moved to Southern California in the late 1890s, and lived in Pasadena for several years before moving into Los Angeles. Louise attended Berendo School on South Berendo Street in Pico Heights. Glaum began her acting career in repertory stage productions. She was in the cast of Crucifixus, a Passion play, which opened on November 12, 1907, at the Gamut Auditorium, 1044 South Hope Street, in Los Angeles, before a good-sized audience."Music And The Stage." Los Angeles Times. Nov. 13, 1907. p. II 5. In early June 1908, she appeared in the Owen Davis play How Baxter Butted In, a comedy, at the Los Angeles Theatre on Spring Street. The cast included Lule Warrenton and a number of others."Music And The Stage." Los Angeles Times. June 1, 1908. p. 17. Glaum then toured as an ingenue with a road show in Why Girls Leave Home. She earned $25 a week and furnished her own gowns, which she made herself. After reaching Chicago,1910 Cook Co., IL, U.S. Federal Census, Chicago, Ward 21, Palace Hotel, 518 N. Clark St., May 2, Enumeration Dist. 927, Sheet. 2 B, Page 185 B, Line 78, Louise Glaum, Lodger, Female, White, 20 sic, Single, CA sic, United States, United States, Engl., Actress, Theatre, Wages, N, Y, Y. she played ingenues in the Imperial Stock Company there for a year and a half, appearing in The Lion and the Mouse and The Squaw Man, among other plays. While performing in a summer stock engagement in Toledo, she created the ingenue role in Officer 666. Its playwright, Augustin MacHugh, who was also her theatre director in Toledo, tried it out there before Broadway theatre ever saw the successful farce."Louise Glaum." Los Angeles Herald. Nov. 13, 1919.
Upon the death of her younger sister, Margaret, in June 1911, Glaum resigned and returned home to Los Angeles. On July 29, the Los Angeles Times read, "Louise Glaum, ingenue, who made her professional start here a few years ago, is at home on a short visit. Of late she has been playing in Chicago.""Playgoers On Problem Rock." Los Angeles Times. Jul. 29, 1911. p. II 5.
Her mother wanted her to remain in Los Angeles, but the desire to return to the stage possessed her. She compromised, however; while acting as the ingenue in a local theatre company,"Louis Glaum, The ingenue of the Stoermer Company, at the Auditorium." Los Angeles Times. Sep. 6, 1911. p. III 4. she began making the rounds of the .
Signing with Thomas Ince, her first role as a femme fatale, and first starring role in the new five-reel features, was as Mademoiselle Poppea in The Toast of Death (1915) opposite Harry Keenan and Herschel Mayall. It was directed by Thomas Ince at his Inceville Studio in Topanga Canyon. That same year, she appeared in the role as cabaret star Kitty Molloy in The Iron Strain, the first American film adaptation of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, a modern version in which she starred opposite Dustin Farnum, Enid Markey, and Charles K. French.
Glaum played Milady de Winter in The Three Musketeers (1916). She appeared in six westerns opposite William S. Hart, including her roles as Dolly in Hell's Hinges (1916), Trixie in The Aryan (1916) and Poppy in The Return of Draw Egan (1916). She played Leila Aradella in The Wolf Woman (1916); and Marie Chaumontel in the war film drama Somewhere in France (1916) opposite Howard C. Hickman.
They were divorced on March 17, 1919."Louise Glaum's Now Free." Los Angeles Times. Mar. 18, 1919. p. II 6.
She played the role of Lola Montrose in the drama A Strange Transgressor (1917). She then starred in the title role as a gun-slinging heroine, the female equivalent to Bill Hart, in the Triangle Company's western Golden Rule Kate (1917).
She played Mary Thorne in the drama The Goddess of Lost Lake (1918), which she also co-produced through her own production company, the Louise Glaum Organization. It is the story of a young woman who is a quarter Native American and decides to pretend she is a full-blooded Indian princess when she visits her father's rustic cabin after completing college in the East.
Glaum then began working with J. Parker Read Jr. Productions, which she later described as J. Parker Read, Jr.'s unit as a subsidiary producing company for Thomas Ince. She signed a four-year contract, with a salary starting at $2,000 a week and increasing to $4,000, and some of the features she starred in for that company were as Mignon in Sahara (1919), a big financial success that was written especially for the star by C. Gardner Sullivan, with the production supervised by Allan Dwan; and the dual roles as Princess Sonia and as her daughter, Sonia, in the crime film/thriller The Lone Wolf's Daughter (1919).
She played the roles as Adrienne Renault in the provocatively titled Sex (1920), the story of a New York cabaret star who uses her sex appeal to end a marriage then leaves her lover for a wealthier prospect only to have her selfish way of life come back to haunt her; and the title role in The Leopard Woman (1920), a secret agent adventure film set in Africa. She then played the role as Natalie Storm in a romance film/drama titled Love (1920).
Glaum was maintaining her own household in Los Angeles, when the 1920 census was enumerated, with a married couple, housekeeper and caretaker, and a gardener.1920 Los Angeles Co., CA, U.S. Federal Census, Cahuenga Township - Arnaz Precinct, Hughes Rd., Jan. 26, Enumeration Dist. 33, Sheet 13 B, Page 223 B, Line 60, Louise Glaum, Head, Rented, Female, White, 26 sic, Div., Y, Y, MD, England sic (Native language) Engl. sic, NY, Y, Actress, Moving Pictures, Wages. Albert M. Fell, Caretaker; Emma M. Fell, Housekeeper; Suigi Imizie, Gardner. After starring in the role as Grace Merrill in the drama Greater Than Love (1921), directed by Fred Niblo, she retired from the screen and moved to New York.
On March 16, 1925, she filed suit in the Supreme Court of New York against producer J. Parker Read, Jr., for $103,000 and asked for an attachment against money owed him by various in New York City. The complaint stated she starred in several pictures under Read's direction, and on December 23, 1921, he made a promissory note to her for the money, payable in four installments. Nothing was paid, however, and in the fall of 1923, according to Glaum, he went to Paris without paying her. According to her attorney, Read's departure took the form of a flight and he had disguised himself as a stoker on a ship."Actress Sues For $103,000; Louise Glaum Says Producer Fled to Paris Without Paying Note." New York Times. Mar. 17, 1925. p. 13.
She then sued the estate of Thomas H. Ince, Read's partner, stating that Read was insolvent and asking for the $103,000 plus $290,000 for breach of contract. The Appellate Division, however, decided that she could not prosecute a suit in the state against the executors under the will of Ince on the grounds that the New York courts had no jurisdiction over the executors, who were appointed in California, in which state Ince was a resident at the time he died in November 1924."Louise Glaum Loses Plea." New York Times. Apr. 10, 1926. p. 14. She then filed suit in California, but a copy of the contract was not attached. By the time that arrived, the time had elapsed in which she was legally entitled to make a claim against the Ince estate and the court dismissed the suit on technicalities."Glaum Suit Thrown Out; Actress' Claim Against Ince Estate for $405,000 Dismissed on Technicalities." Los Angeles Times. May 13, 1926. p. A 1.
She made one screen comeback. Signing a contract with Associated Exhibitors, she played the role as Nina Olmstead, the conniving other woman, in the Henri Diamant-Berger directed drama Fifty-Fifty (1925) opposite Hope Hampton and Lionel Barrymore.
On January 19, 1926, Glaum and movie theater owner Zachary M. Harris were married in New York City."Actress Becomes Bride of Director; Film 'Vamp' Married in Manhattan; Louise Glaum Wedded to Picture Director at Gay Ceremony." Los Angeles Times. Jan. 20, 1926, from New York Jan. 19. p. 3."Louise Glaum Marries; Film Actress Weds Zachary M. Harris at Municipal Building." New York Times. Jan. 20, 1926. p. 23.
When she returned to Los Angeles, with her husband and business manager, Zack Harris, to visit her family and friends, they decided to stage the play Trial Marriage at the Egan Theatre, Note. In 1933, the Egan Theatre was renamed the Musart Theatre. 1320 South Figueroa Street, with Glaum in the starring role."Louise Glaum Comes Out of Retirement." Los Angeles Times. Nov. 18, 1928. p. C 31. When asked by a reporter for the Times whether she would be doing any picture work, she said she had not thought of it, but acknowledged that she was interested in sound film.
On November 16, 1928, Glaum opened in Trial Marriage, the story of a woman who wants to test the suitability of her prospective mate and herself to each other without the benefit of wedlock before they make it permanent. Although she received good reviews, the play did not fare so well."Miss Glaum Starred In Stage Play; 'Trial Marriage' at Egan Theater Inclines to Sordid Melodrama." Los Angeles Times. Nov. 17, 1928. p. A 11.
She and Harris lived at 2282 Cambridge Street in Los Angeles, in 1930.1930 Los Angeles Co., CA, U.S. Federal Census, Los Angeles, Dist. Assembly No. 58, Block No. 625, 2282 Cambridge St., April 15, Enumeration Dist. 215, Sheet 4 B, Page 254 B, Line 77, Zack M. Harris, Head, Rented, Owns Radio Set, Male, White, 48 sic, Marr., (Age wh. first m.?) 43 sic, N, Y, NY, SC, KY, Y, Manager, Theatre, Wages, Y, (Vet?) N. Louise G. Harris, Wife, Female, White, 35 sic, Marr., (Age wh. first m.?) 22 sic, N, Y, MD, Germany, NY, Y, None. Glaum continued to act on the stage and also became a drama instructor, opening and appearing in her own theatre in Los Angeles in the mid-1930s.
The little theatre generated a great deal of interest among local playwrights inasmuch as Glaum had received some 15 plays by January 27. One of the most intriguing was Eulalia Andreas's A Friendly Divorce, which went into rehearsal with Johnstone White directing."Studio and Theater Comings and Goings; Louise Glaum Theater." Los Angeles Times. Jan. 27, 1935. p. A 2. Noted stars were lured to perform. In March 1935, Glaum and Betty Blythe, another star of the silent screen, starred in Angel Cake, which was written by Ansella Hunter, who had three plays staged by the Shuberts."Stage Lures Noted Stars; Louise Glaum and Betty Blythe at Work." Los Angeles Times. Mar. 9, 1935. p. 5.
In May, the Union Square Players presented the comedy Ask Herbert, which was written by Katherine Kavanaugh and declared in the Los Angeles Times to be "a riot of laughs" and "a fast-paced farce of Broadway caliber." Among the cast that Glaum assembled was Herb Vigran,"Studio and Theater Comings and Goings; Riot of Laughs." Los Angeles Times. May 12, 1935. p. A 2. who went to New York and made his debut on Broadway later that year.
In 1936, Glaum joined the Matinee Musical Club. A drama department was introduced as an innovation to the club and Glaum was appointed the director. Plans for three one-act plays to be presented in November at the club were discussed by the department members on August 7, at the department chairman's home in Beverly Hills."Drama Club Chairman Named." Los Angeles Times. Aug. 7, 1936. p. A 8. She presented three one-act plays for the club on November 17, 1937, in the Creative Arts Center at 4950 Franklin Avenue in Hollywood."One-Act Plays to Be Offered Wednesday." Los Angeles Times. Nov. 15, 1937. p. A 6.
In late September 1939, Glaum took over a theatre at 11th Street and Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles, designating it the "Louise Glaum's Happy Hollow." Opening on Wednesday night, September 27, in the rural play Aaron Slick From Pumpkin Creek, which had a continuous run for three months in Long Beach,"On Approval; What's Doing in Little Theaters; Louise Glaum Theater." Los Angeles Times. Sep.24, 1939. p. C 4."Louise Glaum to Open Theater." Los Angeles Times. Sep.27, 1939. p. A 15. specialties were offered between the acts.
Another rural play with specialties was presented at the Happy Hollow Playhouse on January 11, 1940, for the Matinee Musical Club,"Rural Play To Be Seen." Los Angeles Times. Jan. 10, 1940. p. A 6. which had a Gay Nineties party at the theatre."Clubdom." Los Angeles Times. Jan. 11, 1940. p. A 6.
In September 1952, Glaum reopened the Beaux Arts Theatre, at the corner of West 8th Street and Beacon Avenue in Westlake, as the Louise Glaum Playhouse,"Beaux Arts Will Reopen." Los Angeles Times. Sep.19, 1952. p. 17. which was generally referred to as the Louise Glaum Beaux Arts Theatre. The initial attraction, which she produced, staged and directed, was a comedy farce titled O.K. By Me, which was written by Sheldon Sheppard."Stage Farce Offered At Beaux Arts Theater." Los Angeles Times. Oct. 11, 1952. p. 13. The play concluded a seven-week run on November 22."Comedy Will Close." Los Angeles Times. Nov. 21, 1952. p. B 6.
Louise Glaum died at age 82 of pneumonia in Los Angeles.California Death Index, Name: Louise G. Harris, Birth Date: 09-04-1901 sic, Sex: Female, Birth Place: Maryland, Death Place: Los Angeles Co. (70), Death Date: 11-25-1970, SSN:571-01-5724, Age: 70 yrs. sic. Her funeral service was held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 28, 1970, at Pierce Brothers Mortuary, 720 West Washington Boulevard."Louise Glaum Harris, Ex-Film Actress, Dies." Los Angeles Times. Nov. 27, 1970. p. F15. She is interred in Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery, along with her second husband, Zachary Harris, and others of her family. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 6834 Hollywood Boulevard, for her work in motion pictures.
Vaudeville and the stage
Glaum stayed away from Los Angeles for over three years as she headlined on the big-time vaudeville circuit in the East."Louise Glaum at Egan." Los Angeles Times. Nov. 2, 1928. p. 10. She did a tour of Loew's Theatres in two dramatic Straight play."Theatrical Notes." Los Angeles Times. Apr. 16, 1926. p. 20. One of them was The Sins of Julia Boyd by Paul Gerard Smith. The other was The Web, which Glaum wrote herself. She was the only character in the one person show, putting over the argument of the piece chiefly by a telephone conversation.
Glaum's theatres
On January 6, 1935, Glaum announced in the Los Angeles Times the opening of the Louise Glaum Little Theatre of Union Square,"Studio and Theater Comings and Goings: Louise Glaum to Head New Drama Group Union Square Players." Los Angeles Times. Jan. 6, 1935. p. A 2. which was inside a remodeled and redecorated movie theater with a seating capacity of 400 located at 1122 West 24th Street near Hoover in the West Adams District. The stated purpose was to provide drama with enlivening moments by way of scheduled plays of moment and actual integrity. Several New York plays were considered, and the intention was to present original manuscripts with motion picture possibilities, as well as tried plays from around the world. Both professionals and students were to be cast in productions, as well as some of the featured players of the past." Classes for students wanting to join the Union Square Players, and "learn by practical experience," began on January 21."Little Theater of Union Square Begins Classes." Los Angeles Times. Jan. 20, 1935. p. A 2.
Later life
Glaum was also a busy clubwoman over the last three decades of her life. She served as president of the Matinee Musical Club for many years and also as state president of the California Federation of Music Clubs.
Filmography
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See also
References and notes
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Categories: 1888 Births, 1970 Deaths, 20th-century American Actresses, Actresses From Baltimore, Actresses From Los Angeles, Actresses From Pasadena, California, American People Of German Descent, American Film Actresses, American Silent Film Actresses, American Stage Actresses, Deaths From Pneumonia In California, American Vaudeville Performers, Burials At Angelus-rosedale Cemetery
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