Bess Meredyth — Biographical Sketch (1927) 🇺🇸

Bess Meredyth, recognized as one of the greatest of scenario writers, started out in life to be a concert pianist. At present she is credited with a large number of leading screen successes.

After working on a newspaper in Buffalo, Miss Meredyth, who had been making an intensive study of music, made a concert tour throughout the United States which took her to Los Angeles. And there she started the career which took her entirely out of music and brought her fame and fortune.

Motion pictures were just beginning to assert themselves in and about Hollywood and Miss Meredyth decided to abandon her tour for a short while in order that she might spend the winter in California. She never resumed it.

She played extra parts with the Biograph company in scenes with Mary Pickford; the Gishes [Dorothy Gish, Lillian Gish]; Blanche Sweet and all the others of Griffith [D. W. Griffith] fame.

She then went to the Universal company to play leads and was eventually made a star with that company. All the time she was picking up experience which she knew she could capitalize later.

Her real ambition was to become a screen writer and while starring she wrote many original stories that were bought and produced.

Then she went into the scenario department, writing originals and continuities and was very successful from the start.

During the past five years she has reached the top of the screen writing profession and among her notable achievements are the adaptations and scenarios on “Don Juan,” “The Sea Beast,” and “When a Man Loves,” for John Barrymore, “The Noose” for Richard Barthelmess and the collaboration on the scenario of “Ben Hur.” Among others of her successes were “Strangers of the Night,” “The Famous Mrs. Fair,” “The Dangerous Age,” “One Clear Call,” “The Grim Comedian,” “Ladies Must Live,” “The Magic Flame,” “Rose of the Golden West,” “A Slave of Fashion.”

Miss Meredyth was born and educated in Buffalo, N. Y., and for some years she has not regretted that she gave up her musical career.

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Bess Meredyth

• The Sea Beast
• Don Juan
• When A Man Loves

for John Barrymore

• The Noose

for First National

Collection: Motion Picture News, October 1927 (Booking Guide and Studio Directory)