Pearl White's Final Episode

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 208, 3 September 1938, Page 7 (Supplement)

Pearl White's Final Episode

PEARL WHITE died recently in Paris, aged 49—-just a name to the younger generation of film fans. To me, and to a few million other addicts of the "Electric Palace" era of early silent screen days, Bhe was a reminder of endless thrills, of dark, stuffy halls where the weary pianist tinkled out "Hearts and Flowers" and the passionate movements of old overtures.

By P. L. Mannock

Of "effects machines" that imitated any noise from broken glass and musketry to waves on the shore. Oft the rattle of curtain-rings, and "This way out, please," as the lights went up. . . . ■ ' Above all, of the adventure serials, •The Exploits of Elaine," "Perils of Ifauline," "The Iron Claw," and "The Fatal Riflg/' ik which a dauntless young woman, in a fluffy yellow wig, left me gasping week after \week, and- in; snspense over her immiiieiit death byr- fire, water, guiifire, knives, wild beasts* and wilder men. Escape seemed utterly impossible—until next .Thursday* -rif

How many of to-day's stars would jump from buildings, clamber over the roofs of trains, cling to N balloon-ropes, leap ravines on horseback, and walk skyscraper girders t Pearl White did all these things; she did not employ a "double" till late in her career. The Girl with Ninety-nine Lives was born in the Middle West, of Irish-Italian parents. At six she played Little Eva in "Uncle Tom's Cabin." She worked as factory girl, waitress, and circus trapezist. In 1913 she broke into films at £5 a week. By 1916 this had become £1000 a week. Pearl was a world figure. Accidents affected her spine, but she carried on until in 1921 she retired from the screen, a wealthy woman. Two years later she appeared in. Paris music halls. Suddenly she announced that she was tired of the world, and entered a convent, but was out again in a few weeks. For the rest of her life she lived in great style. She maintained a racing stable in Ffance and entertained her small circle of friends lavishly in Paris) Monte Carlo and Egypt. But the strain of her career had left her a sick woman. It, hastened her end, in the American Hospital in Paris. . The Serial Queen has completed her final episode.