Betty Blythe — Blue Book of the Screen (1923) 🇺🇸

Betty Blythe was born in Los Angeles, and it is there that she received her early education in public and private schools, later in the University of Southern California.

In her early teens, she showed such promise as a singer that her parents sent her to Paris, France, for voice culture. In fact, a grand-opera career was the great ambition of Miss Blythe.

Her success in her musical studies at home and abroad doubtless would have led her far along this career, but shortly after her return to America the stage offered a glowing future in musical comedy and she spent two years under Morosco’s management and a season touring in “Experience Co.,” the morality drama by that name.

Vitagraph Company then claimed her and she became co-star in program pictures opposite Harry Money. Her earliest success was Arthur G. Empey’s “Over the Top,” in which Miss Blythe portrayed the role of a French martyr. A series of successful leading woman roles followed in the East and West.

It was in the state of her birth that she was selected for the title role in the far-famed Fox special, “The Queen of Sheba.” It was not until the meteoric success of this picture and Miss Blythe’s personal triumph in it that she abandoned her concert and musical ambitions. A starring contract with Whitman Bennett followed, Miss Blythe making “How Women Love,” “Darling of the Rich,” “The Garden of Desire,” “Fair Lady” and “His Wife’s Husband.”

Betty Blythe is perhaps the best known “personal appearer” among the screen stars. Not only does she deliver an interesting talk to her admirers, but sings a group of songs in a well-trained dramatic soprano voice.

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Betty Blythe was touring around in a King Tut chariot long before he became the rage. She has no trouble at all looking the part of a queen.

Portrait by George Millard Hessler, B. P. • New York

Collection: The Blue Book of the Screen (1923)