Theda Bara — Blue Book of the Screen (1923) 🇺🇸

Theda Bara, destined to create a very colorful character upon the screen, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1890.

No film director, with penetrating eye, being present, she was forced to turn her natural talents to the stage at first. After a brief career before audiences, her own inclinations led her to seek the film. She acknowledges this very frankly.

Like many another person who became famous afterwards, Miss Bara found the sledding difficult. Like hundreds of others, she haunted studios, waylaid directors and persisted in her quest until she was rewarded with a very small part in a photoplay. Even then success did not rush to meet her. She made her way forward slowly, until some very wise studio official cast her in the role of vampire in “A Fool There Was.”

A new character had been born in the cinema — the feminine “vamp,” which made both the “creature” and Miss Bara famous overnight.

William Fox immediately signed Miss Bara as a star. Then followed a long line of vampire features, which carried the actress’ name around the globe and gave her a distinctive niche in the cinema hall of fame.

The name “Theda Bara” is a nom-de-screen. Her real name was Theodosia Goodman. She is five feet six inches tall and weighs 135 pounds. Her hair and eyes are dark brown.

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While Miss Bara was the silent vampire of the modern age, off screen she is loved and admired by her friends, who know of her successful domestic life. Miss Bara is proud of the golden horseshoe that the 58th Infantry presented to her when she was their godmother.

Collection: The Blue Book of the Screen (1923)