Helene Chadwick

Helene Chadwick (November 25, 1897 – September 4, 1940) was an American actress in silent and in early sound films.

Helene Chadwick
Chadwick in 1921
Born(1897-11-25)November 25, 1897
Chadwicks, New York,
United States
DiedSeptember 4, 1940(1940-09-04) (aged 42)
Other namesHelen Chadwick
OccupationActress
Years active19161937
Spouse(s)William A. Wellman (July 1918September 5, 1923)
Parent(s)George W. Chadwick Jr.
Marie Louise Norton Chadwick

Early life and career

Chadwick was born in the small town of Chadwicks, New York, which was named for her great-grandfather. Her parents were George W. Chadwick Jr. and Marie Louise Norton Chadwick.[1] Her mother was a singer who performed on the stage and her father was a business man.

She began making films for Pathé Pictures in Manhattan, New York. Her first film was The Challenge (1916), which was produced by Astra Film Corporation and released by Pathé.[2] A director was impressed by Chadwicks's talent as an equestrian, thus she began acting as a western star but this did not continue with the exodus of film production from the east to the west coast. Signed by Samuel Goldwyn, Chadwick went to California in 1913 and entered silent movies in 1916. At the pinnacle of her acting career, she earned a salary estimated to have been $2,000 per week.[3] From 1929 until 1935, she found success as a character actress when sound was being introduced to films.

In the final five years of her life, she was reduced to taking roles as an extra, playing "atmospheric parts".[4] Helene made movies with Warner Brothers, Columbia Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Paramount Pictures, and other studios. Her final film was Mary Burns, Fugitive (1935).[5]

Her most noteworthy performances came in Heartsease (1919), The Long Arm of the Manister (1919), The Cup of Fury (1920), Godless Men (1920), Dangerous Curve Ahead (1921), From The Ground Up (1921), Yellow Men and Gold (1922), Dust Flower (1922), The Sin Flood (1922), The Glorious Fool (1922), and Quicksands (1923).

Personal life and death

Helene's great-grandparents were the founders of Chadwicks, NY, a small village in Oneida County, NY. Her great-grandfather built a cotton factory on Sauquoit Creek and was one of the premier manufacturers of textiles in the Mohawk Valley. Her family came from England, in Oldham, Lancashire County. She attended school at a one-room schoolhouse provided by her great-grandfather for the mill workers.

In January 1919, Chadwick became engaged to William A. Wellman, an American pilot with the Lafayette Flying Corps. He had just returned from France and was cited for bravery for his valor in World War I. The couple had met at a party at the house of a friend. Wellman was signed to play a prominent role in an upcoming movie with Douglas Fairbanks Sr. The couple wed in July 1921, but in the summer of 1923, Chadwick sued Wellman for divorce on grounds of desertion and nonsupport. At the time of their separation, William was directing movies for Fox Film.

Helene Chadwick died at St. Vincent's Hospital in Los Angeles, aged 42, in 1940. Her death was indirectly the result of an accident she suffered in June 1939. She stumbled over a chair and sustained injuries to her left side and eye. Doctors said her illness was exacerbated by "her highly nervous state."

Her funeral was conducted by Pierce Brothers Mortuary and attended by stage and screen friends. Her body was returned to Chadwicks and she is buried in the Sauquoit Valley Cemetery.[6]

Selected filmography

Helene Chadwick and Richard Dix in The Glorious Fool (1922)
Year Title Role Notes
1916 The Challenge Alberta Bradley
1917 The Iron Heart Grace
1917 Vengeance Is Mine Marion De Long
1918 Convict 993 Neva Stokes
1918 The Naulahka Kate Sheriff
1918 The Yellow Ticket Miss Seaton
1919 Girls Kate West
1919 Heartsease Margaret Neville
1919 Caleb Piper's Girl Mary Piper
1919 An Adventure in Hearts Countess D'Orano
1920 Godless Men Ruth Lytton
1920 Scratch My Back Madeline
1921 Dangerous Curve Ahead Phoebe Mabee
1921 Made in Heaven
1921 From the Ground Up Philena Mortimer
1921 The Old Nest Emily at 22
1922 The Sin Flood Poppy
1922 Brothers Under the Skin Millie Craddock
1923 Gimme Fanny Daniels
1924 The Masked Dancer Betty Powell
1924 Why Men Leave Home Irene Emerson
1925 The Golden Cocoon Molly Shannon
1926 Pleasures of the Rich Mary Wilson Lost; trailer survives Library of Congress
1926 Wise Guys Prefer Brunettes Helene
1927 Stage Kisses Fay Leslie
1927 Stolen Pleasures Doris Manning
1928 Say It With Sables Helen Caswell Lost film
1928 Women Who Dare Stella Mowbray
1928 Confessions of a Wife Marion Atwell
1928 Modern Mothers Adele Dayton
1929 Father and Son Miss White
1930 Men Are Like That Clara Fisher Hyland
1931 Hell Bound Sanford's Sister
1932 Night World Night Club Customer Uncredited
1933 Merrily Yours Mrs. Rogers
1935 School for Girls Larson
1935 Another Face Nurse Daniels Uncredited
Alternative title: It Happened in Hollywood
1936 San Francisco Uncredited
1937 A Star Is Born Woman at preview Uncredited

Sources

  • The Los Angeles Times, "Flashes, Picture Star To Wed", January 11, 1919, Page II3.
  • The Los Angeles Times, "She Could Ride", October 15, 1922, Page III30.
  • The Los Angeles Times, "Film Star Seeks Divorce", July 24, 1923, Page II1.
  • The Los Angeles Times, "Former Star of Films Dies", September 6, 1940, Page A1.
  • The Los Angeles Times, "Helene Chadwick Paid Last Honor", September 8, 1940, Page A2.
  • The Oakland Tribune, "Cinema Close-Ups", June 3, 1923, Page 92.

References

  1. Edwards, Evelyn R. (2000). The Sauquoit Valley. Arcadia Publishing. p. 80. ISBN 9780738502861. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  2. McCaffrey, Donald W.; Jacobs, Christopher P. (1999). Guide to the Silent Years of American Cinema. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 70. ISBN 9780313303456. Retrieved June 10, 2018. Helene Chadwick.
  3. "Star of Silent Films Helene Chadwick Dies". The Ottawa Journal. Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Associated Press. September 6, 1940. p. 21. Retrieved June 10, 2018 via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Helene Chadwick, Silent Film Star, Dies of Injury, 41". The Tampa Tribune. Florida, Tampa. Associated Press. September 6, 1940. p. 2. Retrieved June 10, 2018 via Newspapers.com.
  5. Katchmer, George A. (2009). A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses. McFarland. p. 56. ISBN 9781476609058. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  6. Women belong in history books : Herkimer and Oneida Counties, New York, 1700-1950. Spellman, Jane Sullivan,, Burtch, Shirley Tucker,, Buteux, Mary Anne Luebbert,, D'Ambrosio, Anna Tobin,, Dieffenbacher, Jane Winterbottom,, Dunadee, Barbara Sabo. [New York]: Jane Sullivan Spellman, Publisher. 2015. ISBN 978-1-4951-6778-2. OCLC 923853267.CS1 maint: others (link)
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