ESTHER RALSTON

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 522, 27 November 1928, Page 15

ESTHER RALSTON

A CAPABLE ACTRESS Esther Louise Ralston was practically brought up in the theatres. Her parents made quite a name for themselves as vaudeville performers travelling under the title of “The Ralston Family, Metropolitan Entertainers.” Esther was born in Bar Harbour, Maine, and at the age of two years had already made her debut before the footlights as part of the family act. Buring the slack periods Esther received her education in New York. At other times a private tutor was employed. When she was old -enough she appeared successfully in Shakespearean plays and Dickens's dramas, as well as modern dramas. It is only within recent years that she entered the field of motion pictures, being a great success from the start. Pier first role was that of the mother in “Peter Pan,” the delightful picturisation of Barrie’s novel. Then followed other important parts, notably that of the heroine in “Old Ironsides.” She was recently raised to stardom by Paramount, and is now engaged in the production of “The Case of Lena Smith.” Her latest picture just released in New Zealand is “Half a Bride.”

Claire Windsor will play the feminine lead opposite Victor McLaglen in a new Fox picture temporarily titled “The Wastrel.” J. G. Blystone. who recently completed “Mother Knows Best.” from Edna Berber’s popular novel, has been assigned to direct this production.