Eve Southern (born Elva L. McDowell; August 23, 1900 – November 29, 1972)[1] was an American film actress. She appeared in 38 films from 1916 to 1936. In 1930 she was selected by portrait artist Rolf Armstrong as one of the film industry's 16 "screen beauties".[2]

Eve Southern
Southern in Screenland, February 1930
Born
Elva L. McDowell

(1900-08-23)August 23, 1900
DiedNovember 29, 1972(1972-11-29) (aged 72)
Resting placeValhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
OccupationActress
Years active1916–1936
Spouse
Robert F. Shepherd
(m. 1925; div. 1928)

Early years

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Southern studied music in Fort Worth, with her voice covering three octaves, "the lowest tones of the contralto as well as the high C of the soprano."[3] She also was interested in acting in films, however.[3]

Career

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Southern moved from Fort Worth to Hollywood and began working in films when she was 13 years old, but many of her parts were removed in editing.[4]

After appearing in several films in the late 1910s and early 1920s, Southern suffered an automobile accident in June 1929 that left her badly injured.[1] It was reported in July that year that she had "been in a plaster cast for weeks."[5] In 1932, she broke her back, after which she appeared in several roles before retiring from film.[1]

Death

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Southern died in Santa Monica, California, on November 29, 1972, after a battle with Parkinson's disease.[1] She is interred at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California.[1]

Selected filmography

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Further reading

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  • Michael G. Ankerich (2010). Dangerous Curves atop Hollywood Heels: The Lives, Careers, and Misfortunes of 14 Hard-Luck Girls of the Silent Screen. BearManor. ISBN 978-1-59393-605-1.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Wilson 2016, p. 704.
  2. ^ Armstrong, Rolf (January 1930). "What is Beauty?". Screenland. New York City: Screenland Magazine, Inc. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Fort Worth girl musician making good in California". Fort Worth Record-Telegram. December 3, 1916. p. 27. Retrieved February 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Eve wins out after ten years of ill luck". Times Colonist. Canada, British Columbia, Victoria. November 3, 1927. p. 7. Retrieved February 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "As We Go to Press". Photoplay. July 1929. p. 6. ISSN 0732-538X – via Internet Archive.

Works cited

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  • Wilson, Scott (2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons (Third ed.). Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-1-476-62599-7.
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