Anna Luther

Anna Luther (July 7, 1897 – December 16, 1960), sometimes credited as Ann Luther or Anne Luther, was an American actress. She was known as "the Poster Girl".[2]

Anna Luther
Born(1897-07-07)July 7, 1897
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedDecember 16, 1960(1960-12-16) (aged 63)
Woodland Hills, California, U.S.
Other namesAnn Luther
Anne Luther
OccupationActress
Years active1913–1957
Spouse(s)
Samuel E. Driboen
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​
(m. 1913; div. 1913)​

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​
(m. 1923; div. 1924)​

Frank Mayo[1]

Career

Anna Luther was born in New Jersey on July 7, 1897, although some sources give her birthdate as 1893.[3][2] She was the daughter of a New York sewing machine sales representative, and her mother's maiden name was Limonick.[4]

Luther made her film debut in the 1913 short Hearts of the Dark, followed by The Fly Leaf of Fate (1913), and The Changeling (1914). Her first feature film was The Wolf (1914), which credited her as Ann Luther. She starred with William Garwood in Her Moment (1918). Among her other film credits include roles in Melting Millions (1917), The Governor's Lady (1923), and Sinners in Silk (1924). She appeared in 48 films from 1913 to 1957, her final screen appearance being in The Wayward Bus (1957), in which she played an uncredited role.

Newspapers described her hair as having an orange hue. In 1915, Motion Picture Classic said Luther had "one of the most magnificent bungalows in California."[5]

Court litigation

Luther named Peggy Hopkins Joyce as a friend and Los Angeles, California mine operator and millionaire, Jack White, as a lover. White accompanied Luther to California as a theatrical producer. In June 1924 the actress brought a $100,000 breach of contract suit against White for allegedly promising to star her in four motion pictures. In a countersuit White demanded a $10,000 refund spent on the Luther film and charged Luther with having a bad reputation. White contended that he did not violate the Mann Act merely by sharing the same drawing room with Luther on their journey west.

Some of the witnesses anticipated for the trial were Charlie Chaplin, Evelyn Nesbit, Pearl White, and Mabel Normand. White's attorneys brought up the death of murdered silent film director William Desmond Taylor. They claimed Luther told White to pay or "watch out for what happened to Taylor."

During court proceedings Luther admitted paying $2,500 in rent for her place in Great Neck, although she possessed a bank balance of only $141 at the time. White admitted having a contract with Luther but his lawyers succeeded in getting Luther to make a number of admissions which hurt her case. The presiding judge dropped Luther's suit because of her failure to prove a legal contract between herself and White. After the trial's conclusion Luther filed notice of motion for a new trial.

Marriage and scandals

Luther married Edward Gallagher of the Gallagher and Shean vaudeville comedy team on December 5, 1923.[6] She and Gallagher separated in February 1924, with her husband continuing to play on the road and Luther returning to making motion pictures.

In March 1925 she was named as co-respondent in a lawsuit brought by actress Dagmar Godowsky. Godowsky began divorce proceedings after claiming to have discovered Luther with her husband, actor Frank Mayo, in Mayo's apartment. Luther and Mayo later married, and Mayo's marriage to Godowsky was annulled in 1928 on the grounds that Mayo had another wife.

Luther and Juanita Hansen were named as two co-respondents in a divorce suit brought by Evelyn Nesbit against Jack Clifford. Clifford had left Nesbit in 1918, and she divorced him in 1933.[7][8]

Death

Luther died at the Motion Picture Country Home in Woodland Hills in 1960 at 63 years old. Her funeral was conducted by Pierce Brothers of Hollywood at Mount Sinai Cemetery Chapel.

Selected filmography

References
  1. "Anna Luther". geni_family_tree.
  2. Wlaschin, Ken (July 19, 2009). "The Silent Cinema in Song, 1896-1929: An Illustrated History and Catalog of Songs Inspired by the Movies and Stars, with a List of Recordings". McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers – via Google Books.
  3. Truitt, Evelyn Mack (July 19, 1977). "Who was who on Screen". Bowker – via Google Books.
  4. "ERBzine 2380: Faux Cave Girl". www.erbzine.com.
  5. "Motion Picture Classic". July 19, 1915 – via Google Books.
  6. "EDWARD GALLAGHER WEDS.; Shean Best Man at Partner's Marriage to Ann Luther". December 6, 1923 – via NYTimes.com.
  7. Baatz, Simon (January 16, 2018). "The Girl on the Velvet Swing: Sex, Murder, and Madness at the Dawn of the Twentieth Century". Little, Brown – via Google Books.
  8. "Time". Time Incorporated. July 19, 1924 – via Google Books.
  • Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Times, Producer Admits Contract With Ann Luther, Moving Picture Actress, August 13, 1924, Page 7.
  • Los Angeles Times, Ann Luther and Gallagher Decide To Part, February 15, 1924, Page A11.
  • Los Angeles Times, Notice of New Trial is Posted by Ann Luther, August 24, 1924, Page 16.
  • Los Angeles Times, Miss Ann Luther, December 18, 1960, Page J11.
  • Oakland, California Tribune, He Says She Did, She Says He Did, Who Made Love?, June 22, 1924, Page 83.
  • Oakland Tribune, Frank Mayo Accused By Screen Star Wednesday Evening, March 18, 1925, Page 1.
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