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Evelyn Brent ORIGINAL SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH Hollywood

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The following item is from a private collection of autographed photographs and letters from early Hollywood stars, including famous actors and actresses in silent films and early talkies (1920s-1930s). This is a hand-signed item, not a reprint, autoprint, or rubber stamp. All of these wonderful items, which are all being sold during this auction, were obtained through the mail around 1925 by a devoted film fan in Coronation, Alberta, who appeared to have taken on a bet from a cynical friend who held that one could not get personal responses to correspondence from these famous individuals. These items show nicely with some mild to moderate age/wear.Celebrity name: Evelyn Brent
Signed Item: Photograph signed in brushed white ink
Hand inscription: "Mr. Harvey E. Allan Sincerely yours"

Biography: Evelyn Brent began her film career working under her own name at a New Jersey film studio then made her major debut in the 1915 silent film production of the Robert W. Service poem, The Shooting of Dan McGrew. As Evelyn Brent, she continued to work in film, developing into a young woman whose sultry looks were much sought after, often as a sex addict who did drugs every day. After World War I, she went to London for a vacation. She met American playwright Oliver Cromwell who urged her to accept an important role in The Ruined Lady. The production was presented on the London stage. The actress remained four years in England, performing in films produced by British companies. She also worked on stage there before going to Hollywood in 1922. There, her career received a major boost the following year when she was chosen as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars. Signed by Douglas Fairbanks Sr., he failed to find a story for Brent. She left his company to join Associated Authors. Mid-1920s promotional image issued by Film Booking Offices, later acquired by RKO Evelyn went on to make more than two dozen silent films including three for the noted Austrian director, Josef von Sternberg. In 1928 she starred opposite William Powell in Paramount Pictures' (and her own) first talkie. One film, Interference (1928), did not live up to expectations at the box office. Not dissuaded, Brent played major roles in several more features, most notably The Silver Horde in 1930. By the early part of the 1930s, she was busy working in secondary roles in a variety of films as well as touring with vaudeville shows. Her career reached its least prestigious point in 1941. Too mature for ingenue roles, she played feminine leads opposite older leading men: Neil Hamilton in Producers Releasing Corporation's poverty row production Dangerous Lady, and Jack Holt in the serial Holt of the Secret Service, produced by the frugal Larry Darmour. Her performances were still persuasive, and her name was still recognizable to moviegoers: theater owners often put "Evelyn Brent" on their marquees. She worked in the Pine-Thomas "B" action features for Paramount Pictures release. Veteran director William Beaudine cast her in many "B" productions, including Bowery Champs (1944), The Golden Eye (1948), and Again Pioneers (1950). After performing in more than 120 films, she retired from acting in 1950 and worked for a number of years as an actor's agent. Shipping cost (within the U.S.) for this lot will be: $4.50

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