Time River Productions presents Looking For Early Hollywood: Theda Bara

Length

00:28:30

Producer

Time River Productions

Category

Informational Talk Show

Comments

Hollywood historian and author Marilyn Slater interviews author Joan Craig about her experiences growing up befriended by legendary silent film actress Theda Bara, motion picture's first femme fatale and the first female film vampire. Due to a tragic fire in 1937 in the film vault of Fox Film Corporation only a handful of Theda Bara's pictures are known to exist. Joan Craig's rememberances bring Theda Bara, and her husband, film director Charles Brabin, alive in ways they never have been for contemporary audiences. With great humor and a remarkable memory, Ms. Craig paints a fascinating picture of early Hollywood where, as a child, she hung out with Charlie Chaplln and his kids, Fred Astaire and his daughter Ava, and with Liza Minnelli and Geraldine Chaplin as 6 year-olds. Thanks to Theda Bara, Joan Craig was the only child present at the coronation dinner of England's Queen Elizabeth, and pariciapted in a whirlwind post-coronation progressive party hop at some of UK's oldest castles. With crystal clarity, she describes the horrors of living in Hollywood during the 1950s blacklisting. This show is as poignant in today's political climate as it was when the events happened, and is just full of delights. We sincerely hope you enjoy it.