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{{Short description|American actress (1897–1987)}}
{{refimprove|date=May 2013}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox person {{Infobox person
| name = Viola Dana | name = Viola Dana
| image = Violadana 2.jpg | image = Film actress Viola Dana (SAYRE 22664).jpg
| image_size = | image_size =
| alt = | alt =
| caption = | caption = Dana in 1922
| birth_name = Virginia Flugrath | birth_name = Virginia Flugrath
| birth_date = {{birth date|1897|6|26|mf=y}} | birth_date = {{birth date|1897|06|26}}
| birth_place = ], ], U.S. | birth_place = ], New York, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1987|7|3|1897|6|26|mf=y}} | death_date = {{death date and age|1987|07|03|1897|06|26}}
| death_place = ], ], U.S. | death_place = ], California, U.S.
| resting_place = ] | resting_place = ]
| nationality = American | nationality = American
| occupation = | occupation =
| years_active = 1900–1933 | years_active = 1900–1933
| spouse = {{marriage|John Hancock Collins|1915|1918}}<br>{{marriage|]|1925|1929}}<br>{{marriage|]|1930|1945}} | spouse = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|]|1915|1918|end=died}}
* {{marriage|]|1925|1929|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|]|1930|1945|end=divorced}}
}}
| children =
| relatives = ] (sister)<br>] (sister)
}} }}


'''Viola Dana''' (June 26, 1897 – July 3, 1987) was an American film actress who was successful during the era of ]. '''Viola Dana''' (born '''Virginia Flugrath'''; June 26, 1897 – July 3, 1987) was an American film actress who was successful during the era of ]s. She appeared in over 100 films, but was unable to make the transition to sound films.


== Career == ==Early life==
Born Virginia Flugrath on June 26, 1897, in Brooklyn, New York City, where she was raised, she was the middle sister of three siblings who all became actresses. Her sisters were known as ] and ].<ref name= "Stone"/> Dana appeared (billed as Viola Dana) in the Broadway play '']'' by ].<ref></ref>
Born '''Virginia Flugrath,''' Dana was a child actress, appearing on the stage at the age of three. She read ] and particularly identified with the teenage Juliet. She enjoyed a long run at the Hudson Theater in ]. A particular favorite of audiences was her performance in ]'s ''Poor Little Rich Girl'', when she was 16. She went into ] with ] in ''The Little Rebel'' and played a bit part in ''The Model'' by Augustus Thomas.


She began performing in ] with ] in ''The Little Rebel'' and played a bit part in ''The Model'' by ].<ref name= "Stone">Stone, Tammy. ''The Silent Collection''; retrieved October 22, 2014.</ref>
Dana entered films in 1910. Her first motion picture was made at a former Manhattan (New York) riding academy on West 61st Street. The stalls had been transformed to dressing rooms. Dana became a star with the ], working at their studio in the ]. She fell in love with Edison director ] and they married in 1915. Dana's success in Collins's Edison features such as '']'' (1915) and '']'' (1916) encouraged producer ] to offer the couple lucrative contracts with his company, ], which released through ]. Dana and Collins accepted Rolfe's offer in 1916 and made several important films for Rolfe/Metro, notably '']'' and '']'' (both 1917). Rolfe closed his New York-area studio down in the face of the ] and sent most of his personnel to California. Dana left before Collins, who was finishing work at the studio; however, Collins contracted influenza which rapidly turned into ] and died in a New York hotel room on October 23, 1918.


==Film career==
]
{{multiple image
|direction = vertical
|align = right
|width = 220
|footer =
|image1 = Motion Picture Studio Directory and Trade Annual (1916) (1916) (14783351623).jpg
|caption1 = ] advertisement for the filmmaking team of Viola Dana and John H. Collins (1916)
|image2 = Robert Walker Viola Dana 1917.jpg
|caption2 = ] and Dana in ] for ''Aladdin's Other Lamp'' (1917)
}}
With the stage name of Viola Dana, she entered films in 1910, including ''A Christmas Carol'' (1910). Her first motion picture was made at a former Manhattan (New York) riding academy on West 61st Street. The stalls had been transformed to dressing rooms. Dana became a star with the ], working at their studio in the Bronx. She fell in love with Edison director ], and they married in 1915. Dana's success in Collins's Edison features such as ''Children of Eve'' (1915) and ''The Cossack Whip'' (1916) encouraged producer ] to offer the couple lucrative contracts with his company, ], which was released through ]. Dana and Collins accepted Rolfe's offer in 1916 and made several films for Rolfe/Metro, notably '']'' and '']'' (both 1917). Rolfe closed his New York-area studio in the face of the ] and sent most of his personnel to California. Dana left before Collins, who was finishing work at the studio; however, Collins contracted influenza and died in a New York hotel room on October 23, 1918.{{Citation needed |date=August 2024}}


Dana remained in California acting for Metro throughout the 1920s, but her popularity gradually waned. One of her latter roles was in ]'s first film for ], '']'' (1928). She retired from the screen in 1929. Her final screen credits are roles in '']'' (1929), ''One Splendid Hour'' (1929), and with her sister Leonie Flugrath, better known as Shirley Mason (years earlier she had appeared with her older sister, Edna Flugrath, in the 1923 film '']''), in '']'' (1929). By the time she made her final film appearance in 1933, she had appeared in over 100 films. She briefly came out of retirement to appear in her first and only television role in a small part on '']'' in 1956.<ref>Lussier, Tim. ''silentsaregolden.com'', 1999. Retrieved: October 22, 2014.</ref>
Dana remained in California acting for Metro. In 1920, she became engaged to ], a daring aviator and military veteran. Locklear died when his plane crashed on August 2, 1920 during a nighttime film shoot for a serial, ''The Skywayman'', for Fox Studios. Dana witnessed the 1920 crash and would not fly again for 25 years.


More than 50 years after her retirement from the screen, Dana appeared in the ]/] documentary series '']'' (1980), discussing her career as a silent film star during the 1920s. Footage from the interview was used in the later documentary series '']'' (1987) from the same team.<ref> ''Golden Silents'', 2014. Retrieved: October 22, 2014.</ref>
Dana continued to act throughout the 1920s, but her popularity gradually waned. One of her last important roles was in ]'s first film for ], '']'' (1928). She retired from the screen in 1929. Her final screen credits are roles in '']'' (1929), ''One Splendid Hour'' (1929), and with her sister Leonie Flugrath, better known as ] (years earlier she had appeared with her older sister, ], in the 1923 film ''The Social Code''), '']'' (1929). By the time she made her final film appearance in 1933, she had appeared in over 100 films. She briefly came out of retirement to appear in her first and only television role in a small part on '']'', in 1956.

More than 50 years after her retirement from the screen, she appeared in the documentary '']'' in 1980, discussing her career as a silent film star during the 1920s. Footage from the interview sessions was used in the 1987 documentary ''Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow''.


==Personal life== ==Personal life==
Dana's first husband was Edison director John Collins who died in the Influenza epidemic of 1918. In 1920, she was engaged to aviator ] who died that year in a movie stunt plane crash in August 1920. Locklear was the ] for the ] movie, '']'' (1975), and Dana was an honored guest at its premiere. Dana's first husband was Edison director John Collins who died in the influenza pandemic of 1918. In 1920, she began a relationship with ], an aviator, military veteran and budding film star. Locklear died when his aircraft crashed on August 2, 1920, during a nighttime film shoot for '']''. Although married, Locklear had been dating Dana, and on the night before his death, in a premonition, gave her some of his personal effects. Dana witnessed the 1920 crash and did not fly again for 25 years.<ref name="Farmer p. 23">Farmer 1984, p. 23.</ref>{{#tag:ref|In the "Hazards of the Game" episode of ''Hollywood'' (1980), actresses ] and Viola Dana recalled Locklear and the making of his last film. Dana described his final flight.<ref name="Farmer p. 23"/>|group=N}}


Locklear was reputed to be the prototype for the character of Waldo Pepper played by ] in '']'' (1975). Dana was an honored guest at its premiere.<ref>Anderson, Nancy. "Viola Dana Loved the Real Waldo Pepper". ''] Daily Tribune'', April 28, 1975, p. 23. Retrieved: October 22, 2014.</ref>
Dana was married to Yale football star and actor ] in June 1925.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=M94gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9GwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3289,4804623&dq=viola+dana+maurice&hl=en|title=Viola Dana Marries Maurice "Lefty" Flynn|date=June 22, 1925|work=The Norwalk Hour|page=5|accessdate=May 1, 2013}}</ref> They divorced in February 1929.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MhVBAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FagMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4812,3327478&dq=viola+dana+death&hl=en|title=Viola Dana To Wed Professional Golfer|date=October 11, 1930|work=The Portsmouth Sunday Times|page=2|accessdate=May 1, 2013}}</ref> Her third and final marriage was to ]er ] from 1930 to March 1945.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JVAwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xk4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3083,560094&dq=viola+dana+jimmy+thomson&hl=en|title=Divorce Granted Viola Dana|date=March 31, 1945|work=St. Petersburg Times|page=8|accessdate=May 1, 2013}}</ref>

Dana was married to Yale football star and actor ] in June 1925.<ref> ''The Norwalk Hour'', June 22, 1925, p. 5. Retrieved: May 1, 2013.</ref> They divorced in February 1929.<ref> ''The Portsmouth Sunday Times'', October 11, 1930, p. 2. Retrieved: May 1, 2013.</ref> Her third and final marriage was to golfer ] from 1930 to March 1945.<ref> ''St. Petersburg Times'', March 31, 1945, p. 8. Retrieved: May 1, 2013.</ref> In later years, she volunteered at the ], and she moved there permanently in 1979.<ref> ''Chicago Tribune'', July 12, 1987. Retrieved: October 22, 2014.</ref> In 1986, one year before her death, she was the subject of a documentary short by Anthony Slide titled ''Vi: Portrait of a Silent Star,'' in which she talks of her life and career.


==Death== ==Death==
Dana died on July 3, 1987 at the ] in ] at the age of 90.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TrBPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wFEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2834,882120&dq=viola+dana+death&hl=en|title=Silent Movie Star Viola Dana Dies|date=July 11, 1987|work=The Bryan Times|page=3|accessdate=May 1, 2013}}</ref> She is interred at ] under her birth name, Virginia Flugrath. Dana died on July 3, 1987, at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles at the age of 90.<ref> ''The Bryan Times'', July 11, 1987, p. 3. Retrieved: May 1, 2013.</ref>


For her contribution to the motion picture industry, Viola Dana has a star on the ]. It is located at 6541 Hollywood Boulevard. For her contribution to the motion picture industry, Dana has a star on the ]. It is located at 6541 Hollywood Boulevard.<ref>{{cite web |title=Viola Dana |url=https://walkoffame.com/viola-dana/ |website=Hollywood Walk of Fame |access-date=August 8, 2024}}</ref>


==Filmography==
==Selected filmography==
<!--]-->


===Short subject===
*'']'' (1910 Edison)
{| class="wikitable sortable"
*'']'' (1917 Metro Pictures)
|-
*'']'' (1917 Metro Pictures)
! Year
*'']'' (1920 MetroPictures)
! Title
*'']'' (1924 Paramount)
! Role
*'']'' (1924 Paramount)
! class="unsortable" | Notes
*'']'' (1924 Metro-Goldwyn)
|-
*'']'' (1925 MGM)
*'']'' (1926 Universal) | 1910 || '']'' || ||
|-
*'']'' (1926 FBO)
| rowspan=5 | 1912 || ''Children Who Labor'' || The Immigrant's Older Daughter ||
*'']'' (1928 Columbia)
|-
*'']'' (1929 Warner Brothers)
| ''The Butler and the Maid'' || The Statue ||
|-
| ''How Father Accomplished His Work'' || The Second Daughter ||
|-
| ''The Lord and the Peasant'' || Mary's Sister ||
|-
| ''The Third Thanksgiving'' || ||
|-
| rowspan=7 | 1914 || ''Molly the Drummer Boy'' || Molly Mason ||
|-
| ''My Friend from India'' || Gertie Underholt ||
|-
| ''Treasure Trove'' || Cora Fairfield ||
|-
| ''The Blind Fiddler'' || The Fairy ||
|-
| ''The Adventure of the Hasty Elopement'' || Ruth ||
|-
| ''Seth's Sweetheart'' || Sally ||
|-
| ''Who Goes There?'' || Kate - Toppy's Sweetheart ||
|-
| rowspan=10 | 1915 || ''Lena'' || Euphemia Miggles ||
|-
| ''A Thorn Among Roses'' || ||
|-
| ''The Stone Heart'' || Nan Cowles ||
|-
| ''The Glory of Clementina'' || Etta Concanna ||
|-
| ''A Spiritual Elopement'' || Evelyn Banks ||
|-
| ''The Portrait in the Attic'' || Thelma ||
|-
| ''A Theft in the Dark'' || Lady Genevieve ||
|-
| ''The Stoning'' || Ruth Fenton ||
|-
| ''The Slavey Student'' || Alma Picket ||
|-
| ''Her Happiness'' || Viola Winters ||
|-
| 1933 || ''The Strange Case of Poison Ivy'' || ||
|}
]


===Features===
<center>
]
<gallery mode="packed-hover">
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| rowspan=5 | 1915 || '']'' || Dolores Edgerton || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Minnie Cohen || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Eleanor Thurston || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Gladiola Bain || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Fifty-Fifty Mamie ||
|-
| rowspan=5 | 1916 || '']'' || Ruth Travers ||
|-
| '']'' || Echo || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Tangletop || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Eve / Evelyn || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Darya Orlinsky ||
|-
| rowspan=8 | 1918 || '']'' || Dorothea || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Rosie O'Grady || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Jane Anderson || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Ameia || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Lakshima || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Patricia Smith (Patsy) || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Unity Beaumont / Priscilla Beaumont ||
|-
| '']'' || June ||
|-
| rowspan=7 | 1918 || '']'' || Audrey Graham || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Judith Sylvester || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Ruth Bowman || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Sally Castleton ||
|-
| '']'' || Nita ||
|-
| '']'' || Mary Willard ||
|-
| '']'' || Barbara North ||
|-
| rowspan=7 | 1919 || '']'' || Annice Paisch || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Diana Ardway ||
|-
| '']'' || Jeanne || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Madelon MacTavish ||
|-
| '']'' || Patricia Morley || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Happy O'Brien, The Microbe || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Muriel Ashley || '''Lost''' film
|-
| rowspan=5 | 1920 || '']'' || O-Riu ||
|-
| '']'' || Eliza || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Marcia Meadows || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Flossie Golden || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Connie McGill || '''Lost''' film
|-
| rowspan=6 | 1921 || '']'' || Ardita Farnam || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Sorrentina Palombra || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Madge Joy ||
|-
| '']'' || Zoe Roberts || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Jane Morgan || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Rosa Moreland || '''Lost''' film
|-
| rowspan=7 | 1922 || '']'' || Vi Marchmont ||
|-
| '']'' || Joy Duval || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Diana Webster ||
|-
| '']'' || Katherine || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Ruth || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Clytie Whitmore || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Mary Duffy || '''Lost''' film
|-
| rowspan=7 | 1923 || '']'' || Miss Emmy Lou || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Mary Bishop || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Viola Dana || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Norah MacPherson ||
|-
| '']'' || Babs Van Buren || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Ann Clemance ||
|-
| '']'' || Martha Mason || '''Lost''' film
|-
| rowspan=8 | 1924 || '']'' || Molly O'Hara || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Helen Blake || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Connie Du Bois || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Joline Hofer ||
|-
| '']'' || Sally Montague, 'Flips' || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Thérèse Duverne ||
|-
| '']'' || Ruth Ambrose || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Pandora La Croix || '''Lost''' film
|-
| rowspan=4 | 1925 || '']'' || Eleanor Butterworth || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Shirley Holmes || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Rouletta Kirby ||
|-
| '']'' || Minette Bunker || '''Lost''' film
|-
| rowspan=6 | 1926 || '']'' || Marie, the Girl || '''Lost''' film
|-
| '']'' || Juanita Calles ||
|-
| '']'' || Kitty Kelly || '''Incomplete''' film, missing a reel
|-
| '']'' || Marie O'Neill
|-
| '']'' || Scadsza ||
|-
| '']'' || Katie O'Doone ||
|-
| rowspan=4 | 1927 || '']'' || Barbara Page ||
|-
| '']'' || Salvation Jane ||
|-
| '']'' || Nanette Pearson ||
|-
| '']'' || Mary Murdock ||
|-
| 1928 || '']'' || Molly Kelly ||
|-
| rowspan=3 | 1929 || '']'' || Jean / Jane || '''Lost''' film
|-
|'']'' || Bobbie Walsh ||
|-
|'']'' || Performer in 'The Pirate,' 'Meet My Sister' & 'Ladies of the Ensemble' Numbers || Black-and-white version is extant, and the technicolor version is partially extant
|}

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
The Flower of No Man's Land still.jpg|''The Flower of No Man's Land'' (1916)
The Flower of No Man's Land.jpg|''The Flower of No Man's Land'' (1916)
The Light of Happiness.jpg|''The Light of Happiness'' (1916)
The Gates of Eden.jpg|''The Gates of Eden'' (1916)
Threads of Fate.jpg|''Threads of Fate'' (1917)
The Mortal Sin.jpg|''The Mortal Sin'' (1917)
God's Law and Man's.jpg|''God's Law and Man's'' (1917)
'Blue Jeans'.jpg|''Blue Jeans'' (1917)
A Weaver of Dreams (1918) 1.jpg|''A Weaver of Dreams'' (1918)
The Only Road.jpg|''The Only Road'' (1918) The Only Road.jpg|''The Only Road'' (1918)
Riders of the Night.jpg|''Riders of the Night (1918)]] Riders of the Night.jpg|''Riders of the Night'' (1918)
Viola Dana in Some Bride.jpg|''Some Bride'' (1919)]] Viola Dana in Some Bride.jpg|''Some Bride'' (1919)
</gallery> </gallery>
</center>

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}


==References== ==References==

* ''] Daily Tribune'', "Viola Dana Loved the Real Waldo Pepper", April 28, 1975, p.&nbsp;23.
===Notes===
* '']'', "Little Viola Dana Ambitious to Become Grown-Up Actress", January 15, 1914, p.&nbsp;13.
{{Reflist|group=N}}
* ''] News'', "Viola Dana In Person at Faurot", March 23, 1930, p.&nbsp;24.

* ''] Standard'', "From the Movies to Stardom", January 10, 1914, p.&nbsp;27.
===Citations===
* ''Rothwell-Smith, Paul. Silent Films! the Performers (2011) ISBN: 9781907540325
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* Farmer, James H. ''Celluloid Wings: The Impact of Movies on Aviation.'' Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania: Tab Books Inc., 1984. {{ISBN|978-0-83062-374-7}}.
* "From the Movies to Stardom". ''] Standard'', January 10, 1914, p.&nbsp;27.
* "Little Viola Dana Ambitious to Become Grown-Up Actress". ''], January 15, 1914, p.&nbsp;13.
* "Viola Dana In Person at Faurot". ''] News'', March 23, 1930, p.&nbsp;24.
{{Refend}}


== External links == == External links ==
{{commons category}} {{commons category}}
* *
*{{IMDb name|id=0199087|name=Viola Dana}} *{{IMDb name|0199087}}
*{{IBDB name|37229}} *{{IBDB name}}
*{{Find a Grave|7906}}
* at Virtual History * at Virtual History


{{Authority control|VIAF=37178609}} {{Authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see ]. -->
| NAME = Dana, Viola
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Flugrath, Virginia
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Actress
| DATE OF BIRTH = June 26, 1897
| PLACE OF BIRTH = ], ]
| DATE OF DEATH = July 3, 1987
| PLACE OF DEATH = ], ]
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dana, Viola}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Dana, Viola}}
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
] ]
] ]
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] ]
] ]
]
] ]
] ]
] ]

Latest revision as of 21:13, 26 October 2024

American actress (1897–1987)

Viola Dana
Dana in 1922
BornVirginia Flugrath
(1897-06-26)June 26, 1897
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedJuly 3, 1987(1987-07-03) (aged 90)
Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeHollywood Forever Cemetery
NationalityAmerican
Years active1900–1933
Spouses
John H. Collins ​ ​(m. 1915; died 1918)​
Maurice "Lefty" Flynn ​ ​(m. 1925; div. 1929)​
Jimmy Thomson ​ ​(m. 1930; div. 1945)​
RelativesEdna Flugrath (sister)
Shirley Mason (sister)

Viola Dana (born Virginia Flugrath; June 26, 1897 – July 3, 1987) was an American film actress who was successful during the era of silent films. She appeared in over 100 films, but was unable to make the transition to sound films.

Early life

Born Virginia Flugrath on June 26, 1897, in Brooklyn, New York City, where she was raised, she was the middle sister of three siblings who all became actresses. Her sisters were known as Edna Flugrath and Shirley Mason. Dana appeared (billed as Viola Dana) in the Broadway play The Poor Little Rich Girl by Eleanor Gates.

She began performing in vaudeville with Dustin Farnum in The Little Rebel and played a bit part in The Model by Augustus Thomas.

Film career

Metro Pictures advertisement for the filmmaking team of Viola Dana and John H. Collins (1916)Robert D. Walker and Dana in still for Aladdin's Other Lamp (1917)

With the stage name of Viola Dana, she entered films in 1910, including A Christmas Carol (1910). Her first motion picture was made at a former Manhattan (New York) riding academy on West 61st Street. The stalls had been transformed to dressing rooms. Dana became a star with the Edison Manufacturing Company, working at their studio in the Bronx. She fell in love with Edison director John Hancock Collins, and they married in 1915. Dana's success in Collins's Edison features such as Children of Eve (1915) and The Cossack Whip (1916) encouraged producer B.A. Rolfe to offer the couple lucrative contracts with his company, Rolfe Photoplays, which was released through Metro Pictures Corporation. Dana and Collins accepted Rolfe's offer in 1916 and made several films for Rolfe/Metro, notably The Girl Without a Soul and Blue Jeans (both 1917). Rolfe closed his New York-area studio in the face of the 1918 flu pandemic and sent most of his personnel to California. Dana left before Collins, who was finishing work at the studio; however, Collins contracted influenza and died in a New York hotel room on October 23, 1918.

Dana remained in California acting for Metro throughout the 1920s, but her popularity gradually waned. One of her latter roles was in Frank Capra's first film for Columbia Pictures, That Certain Thing (1928). She retired from the screen in 1929. Her final screen credits are roles in Two Sisters (1929), One Splendid Hour (1929), and with her sister Leonie Flugrath, better known as Shirley Mason (years earlier she had appeared with her older sister, Edna Flugrath, in the 1923 film The Social Code), in The Show of Shows (1929). By the time she made her final film appearance in 1933, she had appeared in over 100 films. She briefly came out of retirement to appear in her first and only television role in a small part on Lux Video Theatre in 1956.

More than 50 years after her retirement from the screen, Dana appeared in the Kevin Brownlow/David Gill documentary series Hollywood (1980), discussing her career as a silent film star during the 1920s. Footage from the interview was used in the later documentary series Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow (1987) from the same team.

Personal life

Dana's first husband was Edison director John Collins who died in the influenza pandemic of 1918. In 1920, she began a relationship with Ormer "Lock" Locklear, an aviator, military veteran and budding film star. Locklear died when his aircraft crashed on August 2, 1920, during a nighttime film shoot for The Skywayman. Although married, Locklear had been dating Dana, and on the night before his death, in a premonition, gave her some of his personal effects. Dana witnessed the 1920 crash and did not fly again for 25 years.

Locklear was reputed to be the prototype for the character of Waldo Pepper played by Robert Redford in The Great Waldo Pepper (1975). Dana was an honored guest at its premiere.

Dana was married to Yale football star and actor Maurice "Lefty" Flynn in June 1925. They divorced in February 1929. Her third and final marriage was to golfer Jimmy Thomson from 1930 to March 1945. In later years, she volunteered at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital, and she moved there permanently in 1979. In 1986, one year before her death, she was the subject of a documentary short by Anthony Slide titled Vi: Portrait of a Silent Star, in which she talks of her life and career.

Death

Dana died on July 3, 1987, at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles at the age of 90.

For her contribution to the motion picture industry, Dana has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It is located at 6541 Hollywood Boulevard.

Filmography

Short subject

Year Title Role Notes
1910 A Christmas Carol
1912 Children Who Labor The Immigrant's Older Daughter
The Butler and the Maid The Statue
How Father Accomplished His Work The Second Daughter
The Lord and the Peasant Mary's Sister
The Third Thanksgiving
1914 Molly the Drummer Boy Molly Mason
My Friend from India Gertie Underholt
Treasure Trove Cora Fairfield
The Blind Fiddler The Fairy
The Adventure of the Hasty Elopement Ruth
Seth's Sweetheart Sally
Who Goes There? Kate - Toppy's Sweetheart
1915 Lena Euphemia Miggles
A Thorn Among Roses
The Stone Heart Nan Cowles
The Glory of Clementina Etta Concanna
A Spiritual Elopement Evelyn Banks
The Portrait in the Attic Thelma
A Theft in the Dark Lady Genevieve
The Stoning Ruth Fenton
The Slavey Student Alma Picket
Her Happiness Viola Winters
1933 The Strange Case of Poison Ivy
The Adventure of the Hasty Elopement (1914)

Features

Lobby card from Naughty Nannette-1927
Year Title Role Notes
1915 The House of the Lost Court Dolores Edgerton Lost film
Cohen's Luck Minnie Cohen Lost film
On Dangerous Paths Eleanor Thurston Lost film
Gladiola Gladiola Bain Lost film
Children of Eve Fifty-Fifty Mamie
1916 The Innocence of Ruth Ruth Travers
The Flower of No Man's Land Echo Lost film
The Light of Happiness Tangletop Lost film
The Gates of Eden Eve / Evelyn Lost film
The Cossack Whip Darya Orlinsky
1918 Threads of Fate Dorothea Lost film
Rosie O'Grady Rosie O'Grady Lost film
The Mortal Sin Jane Anderson Lost film
God's Law and Man's Ameia Lost film
Lady Barnacle Lakshima Lost film
Aladdin’s Other Lamp Patricia Smith (Patsy) Lost film
The Girl Without A Soul Unity Beaumont / Priscilla Beaumont
Blue Jeans June
1918 The Winding Trail Audrey Graham Lost film
A Weaver of Dreams Judith Sylvester Lost film
Breakers Ahead Ruth Bowman Lost film
Riders of the Night Sally Castleton
The Only Road Nita
Opportunity Mary Willard
Flower of the Dusk Barbara North
1919 The Gold Cure Annice Paisch Lost film
Satan Junior Diana Ardway
The Parisian Tigress Jeanne Lost film
False Evidence Madelon MacTavish
Some Bride Patricia Morley Lost film
The Microbe Happy O'Brien, The Microbe Lost film
Please Get Married Muriel Ashley Lost film
1920 The Willow Tree O-Riu
Dangerous to Men Eliza Lost film
The Chorus Girl's Romance Marcia Meadows Lost film
Blackmail Flossie Golden Lost film
Cinderella's Twin Connie McGill Lost film
1921 The Off-Shore Pirate Ardita Farnam Lost film
Puppets of Fate Sorrentina Palombra Lost film
Home Stuff Madge Joy
Life's Darn Funny Zoe Roberts Lost film
The Match-Breaker Jane Morgan Lost film
There Are No Villains Rosa Moreland Lost film
1922 The Fourteenth Lover Vi Marchmont
Glass Houses Joy Duval Lost film
Seeing's Believing Diana Webster
They Like 'Em Rough Katherine Lost film
The Five Dollar Baby Ruth Lost film
June Madness Clytie Whitmore Lost film
Love in the Dark Mary Duffy Lost film
1923 Crinoline and Romance Miss Emmy Lou Lost film
Her Fatal Millions Mary Bishop Lost film
Hollywood Viola Dana Lost film
Rouged Lips Norah MacPherson
The Social Code Babs Van Buren Lost film
In Search of a Thrill Ann Clemance
A Noise in Newboro Martha Mason Lost film
1924 The Heart Bandit Molly O'Hara Lost film
Don't Doubt Your Husband Helen Blake Lost film
The Beauty Prize Connie Du Bois Lost film
Revelation Joline Hofer
Merton of the Movies Sally Montague, 'Flips' Lost film
Open All Night Thérèse Duverne
Along Came Ruth Ruth Ambrose Lost film
As Man Desires Pandora La Croix Lost film
1925 Forty Winks Eleanor Butterworth Lost film
The Necessary Evil Shirley Holmes Lost film
Winds of Chance Rouletta Kirby
The Great Love Minette Bunker Lost film
1926 Wild Oats Lane Marie, the Girl Lost film
Bigger Than Barnum's Juanita Calles
Kosher Kitty Kelly Kitty Kelly Incomplete film, missing a reel
The Ice Flood Marie O'Neill
The Silent Lover Scadsza
Bred in Old Kentucky Katie O'Doone
1927 Home Struck Barbara Page
Salvation Jane Salvation Jane
Naughty Nanette Nanette Pearson
Lure of the Night Club Mary Murdock
1928 That Certain Thing Molly Kelly
1929 Two Sisters Jean / Jane Lost film
One Splendid Hour Bobbie Walsh
The Show of Shows Performer in 'The Pirate,' 'Meet My Sister' & 'Ladies of the Ensemble' Numbers Black-and-white version is extant, and the technicolor version is partially extant

Gallery

  • The Flower of No Man's Land (1916) The Flower of No Man's Land (1916)
  • The Flower of No Man's Land (1916) The Flower of No Man's Land (1916)
  • The Light of Happiness (1916) The Light of Happiness (1916)
  • The Gates of Eden (1916) The Gates of Eden (1916)
  • Threads of Fate (1917) Threads of Fate (1917)
  • The Mortal Sin (1917) The Mortal Sin (1917)
  • God's Law and Man's (1917) God's Law and Man's (1917)
  • Blue Jeans (1917) Blue Jeans (1917)
  • A Weaver of Dreams (1918) A Weaver of Dreams (1918)
  • The Only Road (1918) The Only Road (1918)
  • Riders of the Night (1918) Riders of the Night (1918)
  • Some Bride (1919) Some Bride (1919)

References

Notes

  1. In the "Hazards of the Game" episode of Hollywood (1980), actresses Leatrice Joy and Viola Dana recalled Locklear and the making of his last film. Dana described his final flight.

Citations

  1. ^ Stone, Tammy. "Viola Dana." The Silent Collection; retrieved October 22, 2014.
  2. The Poor Little Rich Girl as presented on Broadway at the Hudson Theatre January 21, 1913 to June 1913; IBDb.com
  3. Lussier, Tim. "The tragic Flugrath sisters: Hard to believe, But all three experienced the same loss." silentsaregolden.com, 1999. Retrieved: October 22, 2014.
  4. "Viola Dana, 1897–1987." Golden Silents, 2014. Retrieved: October 22, 2014.
  5. ^ Farmer 1984, p. 23.
  6. Anderson, Nancy. "Viola Dana Loved the Real Waldo Pepper". Greeley Daily Tribune, April 28, 1975, p. 23. Retrieved: October 22, 2014.
  7. "Viola Dana Marries Maurice "Lefty" Flynn." The Norwalk Hour, June 22, 1925, p. 5. Retrieved: May 1, 2013.
  8. "Viola Dana To Wed Professional Golfer." The Portsmouth Sunday Times, October 11, 1930, p. 2. Retrieved: May 1, 2013.
  9. "Divorce Granted Viola Dana." St. Petersburg Times, March 31, 1945, p. 8. Retrieved: May 1, 2013.
  10. "Actress Viola Dana, 90, Star of 50 silent movies." Chicago Tribune, July 12, 1987. Retrieved: October 22, 2014.
  11. "Silent Movie Star Viola Dana Dies." The Bryan Times, July 11, 1987, p. 3. Retrieved: May 1, 2013.
  12. "Viola Dana". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Retrieved August 8, 2024.

Bibliography

  • Farmer, James H. Celluloid Wings: The Impact of Movies on Aviation. Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania: Tab Books Inc., 1984. ISBN 978-0-83062-374-7.
  • "From the Movies to Stardom". Ogden Standard, January 10, 1914, p. 27.
  • "Little Viola Dana Ambitious to Become Grown-Up Actress". Indianapolis Star, January 15, 1914, p. 13.
  • "Viola Dana In Person at Faurot". Lima News, March 23, 1930, p. 24.

External links

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