Edith Roberts — Blue Book of the Screen (1923) 🇺🇸

When she was but six years of age, Edith Roberts could draw an encore with the best of them, for she not only was a cute stage youngster, but had a piping voice that matched her clever performances in attraction. She was singing and dancing almost as soon as she could toddle, and both talents led her into professional life. Although she has forgotten to grow much since that time, sparkles just as brilliantly behind the footlights, although the screen claims all of her time now.

Born in New York City and educated in public schools and tutorage, she lived upon the same street as King Baggot, an early film star. While yet a little girl she used to watch Baggot ride past, and wished she also could appear in pictures, especially in his pictures.

Her dream came true, although long years of hard work, trials and discouragements intervened.

After infantile experience upon the stage, little Miss Roberts decided to pass the magic portals of the film studio, if she could manage it. She used to go out to the old Imp grounds and stand by the gate with the extras, holding up the directors as they appeared, and arguing her case.

She succeeded in appearing in the mobs, but it was only the elevated camera that found the diminutive young aspirant. But she persisted, and worked her way into small roles.

Only two or three small ingénues had fought to the front in those days, beside the more statuesque leading ladies, but little Miss Roberts accomplished the trip after a while, and King Baggot was her director in her first starring triumphs.

Universal gave her the first parts of importance. She appeared in “Lasca,” “The Triflers,” “Her Five-Foot Highness,” “Alias Miss Dodd” and “White Youth.” Roberts’ most recent appearance was in the Stahl [John M. Stahl] special production, “The Dangerous Age.”

Although she has grown to young womanhood as a film star, Miss Roberts has lost none of her stage charm. This was proven during the war, when she appeared in benefits before the footlights once more.

She is a trifle more than five feet tall, proudly boasts of tipping the beam just over the 100-pound mark, has brown hair and eyes. She lives in Hollywood.

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Edith Roberts is one of the poor-little-rich-girl characters of the screen.

Above she is saying, “Home, James!” after a hard day at the studio as a hired girl.

Below, her sable and ermine cape torn, she proclaims Jack Mower her hero for saving her life. (Of course, it’s just for a picture.)

Portrait by Witzel • Los Angeles

Collection: The Blue Book of the Screen (1923)