Theda Bara, 1917
In 1918, Theda Bara was one of the three biggest stars in Hollywood. There was America’s Sweetheart, Mary Pickford, the biggest movie star in the world, and then the Little Tramp, Charlie Chaplin. After those two came The Vamp, Theda Bara.
She was the hottest sex symbol to hit the motion picture screen since, well, since the flickers started flickering. She was the sexually insatiable woman, the lethal seductress who sucks the life out of a man, then abandons him, leaving only chaos and destruction in her wake.
This was, of course, a carefully created image.
Theda Bara was Theodosia Burr Goodman, (1885-1955) a Jewish woman from Cincinnati who led a quiet and scandal free private life. In fact, she was a bookworm who liked nothing better than to curl up with a cup of tea and devour volume after volume of poetry and art history. She did not drink alcohol, go to night clubs, take drugs, or indulge in wild sexual escapades. She worked hard in the flourishing motion picture industry, saved money and wisely invested her considerable earnings.
A world-weary, hardened show-biz trooper who had failed all efforts at a legitimate stage career, Theda got a break in pictures and patiently cooperated with the outlandish publicity which claimed she was born in the shadow of the Egyptian pyramids, the pampered child of a beautiful French actress and an Italian sculptor.
Fox studio publicity men Al Selig and John Goldfrap—flamboyant geniuses who invented the playbook on celebrity publicity—further embellished this nutty tale as they coached Theda to speak to the press with a heavy French accent.
Draped in velvet cloaks in an overheated hotel room—the press was told that she was accustomed to the desert climate of her native Egypt—Theda dramatically announced to the assembled reporters: “Raised in a huge tent not far from the Sphinx, the oasis, our little home for years, was to us like the Garden of Eden. My mother taught me the languages, expression, and the art of pantomime. On the other hand, my father taught me how to paint, and the beauty and combination of colors. And through the instruction of both I learned the symphony of the soul.”
At the height of Theda’s career, while filming The Forbidden Path, and during World War I, Theda received a telegram that she lovingly preserved in one of her huge, crumbling scrapbooks:
Feb.11, 1918: 158th Infantry Regiment selected you for its Godmother by unanimous vote today. This regiment composed of Arizona men all sincere admirers of yourself. Mary Pickford has adopted 143rd Artillery Regiment here. Will be greatly disappointed if you turn us down. Please wire your acceptance at once.
Theda Bara’s brother Marque, was stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in the Signal Corps. In 1917 Theda was asked to sign the American flag carried by a company of volunteers from York, Pennsylvania. Graciously, Theda autographed the stars and stripes. In gratitude the regiment sent her an ebony communion cup—unaware that she was Jewish.
This request from the 158th was profoundly touching to the patriotic movie star. She adopted the troops as her boys and finally got to meet the entire regiment in June 1918. She broke down and wept as she spoke to the star-struck soldiers.
“My heart is too full—words can’t come. This has been the most glorious day of my whole life.”
The soldiers responded by rewriting their marching song, doing their maneuvers to “Vamp, Vamp, Vamp. The Boys are Marching!”
Theda, along with Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks were the most effective war bond salespeople in the United States. In 1917, on the steps of the New York Public Library, Theda sold $70,000 in bonds a single afternoon. She returned in November and sold another $300,000 worth of bonds during several rallies.
As a first generation American—her father, a tailor born in Poland, and her mother from Switzerland—Theda Bara loved America, was grateful for all the opportunities she was given, and this great movie star went out of her way to support her country and the brave troops who sacrificed so much on the bloody western front.
Theda Bara as Cleopatra, 1917, a lost film
In 1918-19 a flu epidemic swept across the United States. The motion picture business was hit hard. Film and stage shows closed, people wore cotton masks in the street. In October, one hundred and ninety-six thousand people died of influenza in America. World-wide, forty-million people lost their lives.
Theda Bara, the man-eating vamp who made love to men and then cruelly destroyed them, in an act of incredible bravery and compassion, visited veteran’s hospitals while the flu was still raging. She refused to wear a face mask, insisting that the veterans should have a chance to look their idol’s face.
That’s a genuine movie star.
During the mid 50’s, in one of her last interviews, she spoke with Hedda Hopper about silent films and the essence of Hollywood stardom: glamour and mystery.
To understand those days, you must consider that people believed what they saw on the screen. Nobody had destroyed the great illusion. Now they know it’s all make-believe… It’s the stars themselves who have been failing the fans. People have always been hungry for glamour—they still are. But it takes showmanship and a constant sense of responsibility to hold their interest. A star musn’t allow her public to see her in slacks. She should dress beautifully at all times—I don’t mean in a bizarre way. She must live their dreams for them and remain a figure of mystery. Glamour is the most essential part of Hollywood.
Theda Bara, Motion Picture Magazine
For the information in this brief profile, I am indebted to Eve Golden’s book Vamp: The Rise and Fall of Theda Bara. A fine biography of this important star, highly recommended.
Theda Bara: A Biography of the Silent Screen Vamp, With a Filmography by Ronald Genini. Yup, that’s the title. Haven’t read the book, so I don’t have a clue.
Tragically, almost all of Theda Bara’s films have been lost or destroyed. She made forty-two films, but the films and clips that do survive are, to judge by reviews and articles, not her best work.
A Fool There Was, 1915 DVD starring Theda Bara, May Allison, Victor Benoit. The film tha
t made Theda Bara an overnight sensation. And yup, this is the movie where Theda commands: “Kiss me, you fool!”
Theda Bara.net
Denny Jackson’s Theda Bara Page
Silent Ladies & Gents, Theda Bara: Photo Galleries
Theda Bara: Silent Star of the Month
Theda Bara IMDb
Theda Bara as The Vamp, publicity photo, 1915
Movie Magazines: They Don’t Print ’em Like They Used To
Alma Rubens: Dope Fiend, But Not a Jewess
Wallace Reid: Hollywood Shooting Star
Olive Thomas: Hollywood’s First Suicide
Mary Pickford: The Greatest Movie Star
Seraphic Secret Chats with Actress Coleen Gray about John Wayne, Howard Hawks, and Stanley Kubrick
Susan Peters: The Great Unknown and Tragic Actress
The Blond Machine Gun: Jean Harlow
Peg Entwistle & The Hollywood Sign
Brigitte Bardot & Sean Connery in Shalako—Sorta
I regularly read your blog and I love your silent film era reviews! I recently reviewed “A Fool There Was” and included a link back to your post about Theda Bara’s patriotism during WWI.
http://wp.me/pM47h-vg
Thank you for posting that inspiring story.
Absolutely Astonishing I My self am a 22 year old soldier here in AZ and i found this women by stumbling upon her and researchin an old creed, i myself am still tryin to find more out about her but the 158th infantry is right down the street here and its amazing how its still active and to know its very history to be apart of something that was bulk and bronze and have a godmother shine down on them thats mysterious beautiful smart and glamourious completely astonishing
Dave:
Thanks so much for writing. Fascinating about the letters from soldiers. Such anecdotal reviews are worth their weight in gold.
That’s a great story about Theda. I think that biographer Eve Golden points out that only a few of her movies were “vamp” films. Most of Theda’s films were historical dramas or stories with exotic settings. I’ve read a few letters from World War I soldiers writing home to their families indicating that they visited London or Paris or wherever and saw a Theda Bara movie. Never once did I read a negative comment about her. One soldier, I remember reading, commented typically about Theda’s role as Cleopatra that she was “grand as usual.”
Coming in quite late to this (got directed here from the Oraculations blog), but if Divad’s poster shows Bara in her “Cleopatra” outfit sort of leaning back against a low chair, it’s a cheap poster that came out by the hundreds in the 60’s. Lovely to look at and frame, but not worth anything.
I’m a huge TB fan, and am lucky to own two autographed photos. Genini’s book is interesting, but rather dry. I’d recommend Golden first. And if you have a moment, go to Timelinefilms.com – they did a wonderful DVD biography of Bara called “The Woman With The Hungry Eyes.”
Divad:
This is not our area of expertise. But for an evaluation we suggest that you take the poster to a reputable auction house, who have experts on movie posters. Good luck.
hi i have a poster of beautiful theda bara from personality posters inc, new york ny, 10011. 1967 numbered 101theda bara. size is 41inch by 30inch has anyone got any idea what it is worth? not that its for sale would just like to know
Bookworm:
I’m glad you found some measure of relief in my sketch of the wonderful Theda Bara.
In truth, my Hollywood profiles allow me to escape the black hole of world politics.
Thanks so much for the encouraging words.
Jeremiah:
You’re very welcome. We all need to breathe.
Thank you so much. I love your profiles about old Hollywood. This was especially refreshing, because I wept my way down to this portion of your blog after reading your beautiful (and appropriate angry) coverage of the Jerusalem massacre.
That’s why the lady is a vamp!
Seriously, what a breath of fresh air. Thanks.
Kishke:
Yes, aware of the anagram. It’s a myth that the publicity people thought it up. In truth, “Arab Death” was brought to their attention and they were delighted to capitalize on this whacky piece of serendipity. Another sign of true PR genius.
Regarding pic: hit your refresh button.
Thanks so much.
Sarah:
Theda’s weight was constantly in flux. Even at her thinnest, she’d not be considered thin by today’s lunatic standards. Theda loved to cook and eat. In retirement she was known for her gourmet meals.
Exdem:
Glad to take requests. Thanks so much.
Robert, were you aware that “Theda Bara” is an anagram for “Arab death?” So it says here:
http://www.ideofact.com/archives/000303.html
BTW, you might want to switch your second-to-last photo for the one he has here. So much nicer.
What I’m noticing is that, today, she’d be required to lose a good 20-30 pounds before she’d be considered for leading roles in motion pictures. Today, at that weight, she’d only be considered for the role of “fat best friend.”
“… Seraphic Secret Hollywood Profiles …”
if you’re taking requests for upcoming profiles… 😉
Claudette Colbert
(Wikipedia describes her as a ‘staunch republican and conservative
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudette_Colbert#Personal_life)
Marlene Dietrich
(described by Wikipedia as anti-Nazi, and very pro-American troops)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlene_Dietrich#World_War_II
Thanks
Pearl:
The frum Canadian Vamp!
“As a first generation American—her father, a tailor born in Poland, and her mother from Switzerland…”
Hmm, change “American” to “Canadian” and Theda and I have our backgrounds in common.