Originally posted in 2013.
June 22 is the birthday of silent screen comedienne Dorothy Devore (Alma Inez Williams, 1899-1976).
Originally from Texas, Devore moved with her family to the LA area when still in school. Her first show biz experience came from appearing in amateur revues and singing in vaudeville. In 1918, she began appearing in comedies with Eddie Lyons and Lee Moran at Universal’s “Joker” imprint. She then went over to Al Christie’s studio for the next five years. A brief stint in features at Warner Bros. in 1924 didn’t suit her taste (playing second fiddle to Rin Tin Tin) so she returned to two reel comedies at Educational through the end of the silent era.
For more on the history of vaudeville, where Dorothy Devore got her start, consult No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous, and for more on silent screen comedy please check out my book: Chain of Fools: Silent Comedy and Its Legacies from Nickelodeons to Youtube.
(Travalanche) 