Hope Hampton

Hope Hampton (Mae Elizabeth Hampton; February 19, 1897 – January 23, 1982) was an American silent motion picture actress and producer, who was noted for her seemingly effortless incarnation of siren and flapper types in silent-picture roles during the 1920s. She also at one time was an aspiring opera singer.[1]

Hope Hampton
Born
Mae Elizabeth Hampton

(1897-02-19)February 19, 1897
Houston, Texas
DiedJanuary 23, 1982(1982-01-23) (aged 84)
OccupationActress, Producer
Years active1918-1938
Spouse(s)Jules Brulatour (m.1924-1946; his death)
Childrenat least one child, circa 1920

Early life

Texas-born, Philadelphia-bred beauty-contest winner Hampton, was discovered by U.S. silent cinema pioneer Jules Brulatour while working as an extra for director Maurice Tourneur. She made her screen debut in 1920's A Modern Salome, and went on to feature prominently in several Brulatour-financed films. Her last starring role was in The Road to Reno (1938) with Randolph Scott and Glenda Farrell. In 1923, Hampton wed her manager Brulatour, and they remained married until his death in 1946.

Later life

After retiring from motion pictures at the dawn of sound, Hampton turned to opera and made her debut with the Philadelphia Opera in Manon. The idea that she ever toured with the Metropolitan Opera is belied by a look at the company's online archives. She returned to the screen in The Road to Reno (1938), a film directed by her husband. Later she was known as The Duchess of Park Avenue, a leading member of New York's social set.

In 1978, she was crowned Queen of the Beaux Arts Ball.[2] She presided with King Arthur Tracy.

She died of a heart attack at the age of 84.

Personal life

Hampton and Brulatour took a honeymoon trip to Egypt, there a Sheikh offered Brulatour £10,000 British pounds to buy his wife. Brulatour smiled at the Sheikh and told him that Mrs. Brulatour's jewels were worth more than that.

Complete filmography
Hope Hampton on the cover of Motion Picture Classic magazine, Feb 1922, cover art by Benjamin Eggleston (1867-1937).

References
  1. The Opera Singer and the Silent Film by Paul Fryer, c.2005
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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