Claire Windsor — Blue Book of the Screen (1923) 🇺🇸

Roller-skating and a fall robbed the operatic stage of one who would have been notable for her beauty, but bestowed her upon the screen.

Claire Windsor’s aim and training were for a singing career until the fall. How really fortunate the accident was she did not realize at the time.

Miss Windsor was born in Cawker City, Kansas, on April 14. Though her childhood was uneventful, in her fondness for drawing, her aptitude for dancing and pantomime, she showed the outcroppings of an artistic impulse inherited from her mother, who had gained recognition as a painter in oils.

Before Claire had reached her ‘teens, the family moved to Topeka, where they lived several years while Claire attended school. At thirteen she entered the preparatory school of Washburn College. Even thus early, her beauty was subject for comment, and she was often asked to appear at various public gatherings, benefits and the like. She usually chose to dance, a form of expression in which she was quite at home. It was her lot often to be cast a “Beauty” or “Love” or “Princess Charming.”

In Seattle, the next home place, Claire’s charm and beauty were recognized by officials of the annual celebration, who chose her as “Queen of the Potlatch.”

It was while training her voice for opera at Topeka that the skating accident occurred, so affecting the larynx that she was forced to give up hope of a professional musical career.

With no experience save that of singing or dancing for charitable causes, Miss Windsor removed to Los Angeles and essayed motion pictures. This was about four years ago.

She appeared as extra girl four months before appearing in even a small part. Then Lois Weber gave her a contract and starred her. Among her feature productions were “To Please One Woman,” “Too Wise Wives” and “The Blot.”

Making a name for herself under this contract, she next was given a role in Neilan’s [Marshall Neilan] “Fools First.”

When Goldwyn [Samuel Goldwyn] cast “Grand Larceny,” Miss Windsor was chosen for a leading role, and immediately following the production was given a contract with the organization.

She has appeared since in “Broken Chains,” and The Strangers’ Banquet.

She is five feet six inches tall; has blonde hair and blue eyes. She weighs 130 pounds.

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This isn’t one of Claire Windsor’s regular pets. She has just adopted it for a feature picture.

Miss Windsor is smiling because she is leaving the studio to dash home to see her boy, little Billy Bowes.

Portrait by Witzel • Los Angeles

Collection: The Blue Book of the Screen (1923)