Viola Dana, Silent Movie Star in Metro pictures, original, vintage 8 x 10 press photo.    This is an original black and white vintage photo and not a modern day reproduction.  It includes the photographer logo “Apeda N.Y.” in the lower left corner and the number “MPX1-20” in the lower right corner.  She is holding a unique feather fan. The back includes a stamp that says “VIOLA DAVIS Star in Metro Pictures,” along with a handwritten note that says “did not meet her.”  There is also what appears to be an autograph or signature.  I cannot verify if this is her signature or not, and have not priced the photo as if it were.   The photo is in excellent condition.  

Viola Davis made her screen debut for Edison in 1910, and moved to Metro after the death of her director-husband John Collins in 1918. She stayed for eight years, then moved on to Paramount.

Viola Dana (real name Virginia Flugrath) was born in Brooklyn, NY, on June 26, 1897. She was the middle sister of three sisters (the other two were Edna Flugrath and Shirley Mason). She made her film debut in 1914 in Molly the Drummer Boy (1914). The following year she received top billing playing "Gladiola Bain" in Gladiola (1915). She was in top demand as evidenced by securing another lead in The Innocence of Ruth (1916). She continued to turn in great performances, particularly as Katie O'Doone in Bred in Old Kentucky (1926). Viola's final silver screen role was in 1929's One Splendid Hour (1929). The last the general public saw her was in a documentary about 'Buster Keaton' called Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow (1987).

She had a romantic relationship (1919-1920) with daredevil Hollywood pilot Ormer Locklear, who was married at the time. Locklearperished during a plane stunt that went wrong on August 2, 1920. She waspresent at the time of the incident.

Her firsthusband, director John H. Collins died during the influenza epidemic of 1918.

Screenland Magazine reported in January, 1922, that Dana and Bebe Daniels were more popular in Japanthan Mary Pickford and Mary Miles Minter.

Viola died on July 3, 1987, at age 90.


About this photo:

This photo is part of a family collection of photos of silent movie stars acquired through visits to movie stars andmanagement, movie sets and venues during the 1910’s, 1920s and 1930s.  The family’s access to the stars was aided by some family member(s) being in the movie and/or news business.  Many photographs in the collection include handwritten notes describing the background of the star or the circumstances of their meeting together.  These are all original, not reproductions.   If you have any questions, please contact me. 

The movie business has very humble beginnings. In the 1800’s, many inventors, such asThomas Edison and the Lumiere Brothers worked on machines that projected images. This led to the silent movie era which ranged from 1894 to 1929. During this time period, a number of moving pictures were created and shown in theaters on big screens.  Silent movies were just that – movies that did not have any talking or music in them. To provide drama and excitement to movies, live music was played in sync with the action on the screen, by pianos, organs, and other instruments.  The silent movie provided entertainment to people for decades and provided the industry with a springboard to talking pictures, and the movies we know today.