Edna Purviance — Interviewing Edna (1916) 🇺🇸
I could hardly believe that at last we were to meet Charlie Chaplin’s leading lady, Edna Purviance. I trembled as I thought of it. I spent the night trembling; at breakfast I trembled my cocoa upon the tablecloth; on the street car I trembled my change right out of my hand as far as the pavement; at the door of her exquisite apartment I trembled the door bell until it rang.
by Wilma Awstruck
“We are only the poor reporter.” My voice trembled as I spoke to the maid. But I need not have trembled so extensively. We were welcomed, cordially overwhelmed, by a person whom I am quite sure is the prettiest blonde in the world. So many, far, far more talented than contemptible little we, have spoken to the actress about her great art and majestic interpretations, that we determined to note only the absorbing eccentricities of her strange, novel life. These must have an important bearing on her genius. Doubtless they are a part of it.
I found, for instance, that Miss Purviance takes a beverage upon arising. No, it is not liquor which touches her lips. It is a concoction, dark brown in color, which is brewed from the pulverized seeds of a berry grown in Brazil. These are ground in a small mill, water is poured upon them in the ratio of a cup to a tablespoonful, and the whole brought to a boil. Sometimes she adds cream and sugar!
“And then,” whispered Miss Purviance, excitedly imparting to we a secret, “my favorite food in the morning is wheat dough which has been thoroughly baked — cut in slices and seared brown in front of wires heated white hot by an electric current.” Even science bows before this lovely princess!
“Next,” continued Miss Purviance to we, “I spread upon this a thin coating of concentrated cream — cream beaten until it is no longer cream, but a rich, golden semi-solid.” Sometimes she has, boiled in their natural limestone casings, the mere spiritual promise, the succulent souls of two fluffy little chickens that might have been!
We were also admitted into the thrilling secrets of the wonderful Purviance wardrobe. Shall we describe it to you? She has button boots of sixteen buttons, other boots with real laces, slippers with neither laces nor buttons! Isn’t it simply wonderful! There are other secrets, even more sensational, but of course these were admitted to we in the strictest confidence!
Presently, summoning all my courage, we asked Miss Purviance what she liked to do best in all the world. What low persons would refer to as a hobby.
“Oh — act, I guess!” she laughed.
Close-up of the word’s prettiest book-worm crawling right through a book
The photographer’s sleight-of-hand performance — and some kitties
Collection: Photoplay Magazine, September 1916
Edna Purviance is one of the loveliest of film comediennes, noted for her clever playing opposite Charlie Chaplin, toward whose success in fame and fortune she has tremendously contributed. She was born in Paradise Valley. Nev., was an Oakland (Cal.) stenographer, and her screen pranks have aroused the risibles of hundreds of thousands. She is now assisting in Mutual merriment.
Collection: Photoplay Magazine, August 1916
---
see also