Elizabeth Jane May (1904–1949), was an actress during the silent film era in America.
Betty May | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Elizabeth Jane May June 22, 1904 Cripple Creek, Colorado, U.S. |
| Died | November 13, 1949 (aged 45) |
Biography
editBorn in Cripple Creek, Colorado, on 22 June 1904, May worked in cinema from the early 1920s until 1936, appearing in at least sixteen films.
May made her first appearance for Century Comedy (also known as Century Comedies), a production company founded by Abe and Julius Stern. She was signed to a long term contract by Julius Stern in 1922.[1] She was described in trade publications at the time as "the Century beauty" who was cast in ingenue roles but who "shows the ability to do more ambitious roles."[1]
Her debut was in the 1922 film Upper and Lower, a comedy directed by Alf Goulding.[2] With Century Comedy Films, she appeared in several film with Lee Moran as the lead, as well as several starring "Queenie The Human Horse."[1][3] By 1923 she had been contracted by Principal Pictures Corporations.[4][5]
After 1931, May tended to only appear in small, often un-credited, roles. In 1937 she was interviewed by the San Bernardino Sun for an article about breaking into acting in Hollywood, where she mentions she is studying voice and diction in hopes of getting more roles.[6]
She died in Los Angeles on November 13, 1949, at the age of 45.
Filmography
edit- Upper and Lower (1922)
- Ten Seconds (1922)
- True Blue (1922)[7]
- Me and My Mule (1922)[8][9]
- The American Plan (1923)
- The Home Plate (1923)
- Game Hunters (1923)
- East Side - West Side (1923)[10][11]
- Love on the Rio Grande (1925)
- Flaming Fury (1926)[12]
- Night Nurse (1931)
- Sisters Under the Skin (1934)
- Whom the Gods Destroy (1934)
- Broadway Bill (1934)
- Love Me Forever (1935)
- Case of the Missing Man (1935)
- Dangerous Intrigue (1936)
- Sisters Under the Skin (1934)
References
edit- ^ a b c ""Betty May Leading for Century"". Moving Picture World. August 26, 1922. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
- ^ East Side - West Side, retrieved 2020-01-01
- ^ "Queenie the Horse". IMDb. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- ^ "Sol Lesser Joins Will Hays' National Body". Moving Picture World. 1923-05-12. p. 166. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- ^ "Principal Pictures Starts Drive". Moving Picture World. 1923-06-09. p. 496. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- ^ Lockett, Doris (1937-03-07). "Youth Trying to "Crash" into Movies, Has One Chance in 100,000 to Succeed, But Still they Try, Try Again". San Bernardino Sun. p. 32. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- ^ "What Century Offers". Moving Picture World. 1922-10-14. p. 600. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- ^ "Newsy Notes". Moving Picture World. 1922-10-14. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- ^ "Finish Horse Comedy Begin Another". 1922-08-26. p. 672.
- ^ Ferri, Roger (1923-04-28). "East Side West Side Principal Pictures Corporation Can Well be Proud of This Clever Irving Cummings Special". Moving Picture World. p. 945. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- ^ EAST SIDE - WEST SIDE (SILENT FILM, 1923), retrieved 2020-01-02
- ^ "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved 2020-01-01.