Mae Busch — Blue Book of the Screen (1923) 🇺🇸

Mae Busch was born in Melbourne, Australia, on June 18, and spent early girlhood in that country and Tahiti. From infancy she was surrounded with artistic atmosphere, for her father was conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of Melbourne. Her mother, who came from a prominent family in England, had given up social life to go on the operatic stage, and it was while on one of these tours in Australia she had met Mr. Busch. Naturally, these two artists attracted other artists to their home, and Mae grew up in this environment. It is small wonder that she should have chosen the stage as a career.

When she was about twelve, she was sent to America to school, and for several years attended St. Elizabeth’s Convent in Madison, N. J. She evidently inherited a beautiful singing voice from her mother, for, even as young as she was, her voice was of great promise, and it was her ambition to use it on the stage after she graduated.

It was Elsie Janis who gave Miss Busch a letter of introduction to Charles Dillingham, then rehearsing Over the River with Eddie Foy. Mae was allowed to understudy Lillian Lorraine, the leading lady. A few days before the opening of the production, Miss Lorraine left the company suddenly, and the ambitious Australian girl found herself appearing in the lead.

Despite her lack of experience, she attacked the work bravely and succeeded so well that she played the role for the entire season on Broadway.

Next she appeared in The Beauties, a girl show on the Orpheum circuit. She played with the company for a year. While in Los Angeles a leading comedy manager noticed her and urged her to take up motion-picture work. Still considering the offer, she left for San Francisco, where she played the leading role in Damaged Goods at the Alcazar Theatre, with Edmund Lowe.

At the close of this engagement, she wired that she would accept his offer, and returned to Los Angeles, where she entered the motion pictures as one of the Sennett bathing girls. Later she played leads for Willie Collier [William Collier Sr.] and Sam Bernard.

In the latter part of 1918, Miss Busch married and retired from the screen. After two years she returned under the direction of Eric von Stroheim [Erich von Stroheim], and appeared in “The Devil’s Passkey.” Following her success in that, she was given a very exceptional role in “Foolish Wives.”

She is now under contract with Goldwyn, and has appeared in the leading role in “Brothers Under the Skin,” “The Christian” and “Souls for Sale.”

Miss Busch is five feet four inches tall. She has black hair and gray eyes.

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At the right Mac Busch is taking Dan O’Brien’s (San Francisco police chief) pulse and watch.

Above, With her Irish terrier.

Portrait by Roman Freulich (1898–1974) • Los Angeles

Collection: The Blue Book of the Screen (1923)