Born in Iowa in 1886, Margaret Fischer made her stage debut at the tender age of eight. By 1910, now called Margarita, she had embarked on a new and daring occupation—as an actress in the fledgling industry of motion pictures. Hugely popular through the following decade, she retired from the screen in 1921 but returned to make three more films in the mid–1920s. Her career has remained largely unknown to film buffs of a later age—until now. This biography details Fischer’s life and career, examining not only her work in front of the camera but also the broader issues—including her devotion to family and her shrewd management of her public image—which informed her decisions. It follows her sometimes difficult marriage to fellow performer Harry Pollard and her work with Pollard Picture Plays, a production company founded by the couple. Never-before-published photographs and a filmography listing over 170 projects complete this story of one of America’s earliest film stars.

Theresa St. Romain works as a freelance writer and editor in the Midwest. Her research interests include silent film and community health.

Theresa St. Romain
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 207
Bibliographic Info: 44 photos, filmography, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2012 [2008]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6933-8
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vi

Preface      1

Introduction: The Girl Who Dared      3

1. The Girl Who Couldn’t Grow Up      7

2. Where Paths Meet      19

3. The Land of Promise      28

4. The Rose of California      39

5. Mlle. La Mode      53

6. The Dangerous Talent      70

7. In Love and War      87

8. The Lure of the Mask      98

9. When Queenie Came Back      112

10. Uncle Tom’s Cabin      122

11. Beach of Dreams      133

12. Her Heritage      150

13. Conclusion: Any Woman      159

Filmography      165

Chapter Notes      175

Bibliography      193

Index      199

“a well-researched account of the actress’ life and career. I greatly admire writers who go after subjects that are little-known and are not adequately covered elsewhere…well-written…thank you, Ms. St. Romain. Well done!”—Classic Images.