Edna May Sperl Explained

Edna May Sperl
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:1917–1924
Notable Works:Lonesome Corners
His Darker Self

Edna May Sperl (1899 1957) was an American silent film actress during the 1910s and 1920s. She was in actor and director Edgar Jones's films including Knight of the Pines and Cupid, Registered Guide, frequently as the leading woman. Alongside Jones, she also starred in the Holman Day series of seven two-reel films and the following series of films commissioned by Pathé Exchange. An avid enjoyer of the outdoors, Sperl stated that she loved the freedom of producing films in the wilderness and the thrill of the dangerous stunts she was able to perform.

Career

In 1919, Sperl became friends with actor Edgar Jones as he was beginning work on a series of new silent film productions for the photodrama company Big Woods. She accompanied him to his studio in Augusta, Maine, and the wooded regions of the state to work on becoming "known principally as a star of the great out-of-doors."[1] The first series of Jones's films were completed in August 1920, where Sperl then took a month's vacation before returning at the end of September to begin the second drama series.[2] She went on to become the leading woman in multiple Holman Day films.[3] The success of the Holman Day series resulted in the film company Pathé Exchange hiring Jones and Sperl in August 1921 to make a new series of films set in the woods of Maine, beginning with 1921s The Black Ace.[4]

During the filming of 1921s Caught in the Rapids with Jones, Sperl filmed a scene while on a raft in the middle of a river. Jones's role was to save her as a part of the film, but when the raft began breaking into pieces due to the rapids, he had to truly save her due to Sperl being a poor swimmer.[5] In an article for the Orlando Evening Star, Sperl acknowledged that she enjoyed doing outdoors films the most because of the "freedom of the woods and plains", along with the "thrill of a lifetime" from the dangerous stunts and performances she was in. Her favorite character role was playing as Lora Farrell in Single-Handed Sam.[6]

In October 1921, Sperl traveled with the other actors of Edgar Jones's studio to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where the United States Motion Picture Company had commissioned them to use the area as their new filming studio and location.[7]

Theater

Filmography

Personal life

While touring as a theater actress in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1916, Sperl met Sergeant William Caldwell Cottingham, son of Sherwin-Williams president Walter H. Cottingham. He was unaware that she was in theater at the time and they quickly became engaged. In March 1918, he attended her performance of The Rounder of Old Broadway for the first time and they planned to be married after the show. Cottingham's father, however, had obtained the help of the sergeant's commanding officer at Camp Sheridan to have a federal marshal to arrest him for abandoning his post in order to prevent the marriage from occurring.[28] [29]

Notes and References

  1. News: . September 15, 1920 . Edna May Sperl . . April 14, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  2. News: . September 28, 1920 . Returns To Work . . April 16, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  3. News: . March 27, 1921 . Daring Stunts Have No Terror for Edna May Sperl . . April 14, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  4. . A New Series of Holman Day Films Contracted for by Pathe . . The World Photographic Publishing Company . August 13, 1921 . 719 . April 19, 2024 . Internet Archive.
  5. News: . April 2, 1921 . Holman Day Perils . . April 18, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  6. News: Sperl . Edna May . June 27, 1921 . Why I Like To Play Outdoor Characters . . April 18, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  7. News: . October 24, 1921 . To Make Pictures In The Valley . . April 18, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  8. News: . July 31, 1917 . Musical Play at Cross Keys . . April 14, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  9. News: . September 3, 1918 . Temple - Vaudeville . . April 14, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  10. News: . May 8, 1920 . Imperial Presents Drama Acclaimed By Critics Of Both States And Canada . . April 19, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  11. News: . August 6, 1920 . Edgar Jones At The Jewel Today In "A Knight Of The Pines" . . April 19, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  12. News: . February 10, 1921 . Love Among the "Rum-runners" . . April 17, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  13. News: . February 24, 1921 . A Lively Mixed Bill at Hippodrome Today . . April 18, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  14. News: . February 25, 1921 . Bijou . . April 18, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  15. News: . April 30, 1921 . A Lively Mixed Bill at Hippodrome Today . . April 18, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  16. News: Collins . Steve . June 11, 2023 . Maine silent film festival is something to talk about . . B1, B7 . April 18, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  17. News: . May 28, 1921 . At the Dreamland . . April 18, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  18. News: . June 20, 1921 . Holman Day Picture . . April 18, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  19. News: . September 2, 1921 . Double Bill For Rialto Patrons . . April 18, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  20. Sewell . C. S. . The Flaming Trail . . The World Photographic Publishing Company . 947 . October 22, 1921 . April 19, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  21. News: . November 6, 1921 . New Film of Maine Woods . . April 18, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  22. . Cupid, Registered Guide . . Exhibitor's Trade Review Inc. . 1662 . 10 . 24 . November 12, 1921 . April 19, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  23. News: . March 10, 1922 . Century . . April 18, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  24. News: . April 7, 1922 . Century . . April 18, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  25. News: . April 30, 1922 . Lonesome Corners . . April 18, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  26. Oscar . John . August 19, 1922 . Lonesome Corners . . Motion Picture News, Inc. . 918 . April 19, 2024 . Internet Archive.
  27. Book: Wlaschin, Ken . 2009 . Silent Mystery and Detective Movies: A Comprehensive Filmography . . 109 . 9780786454297.
  28. News: . March 19, 1918 . Uncle Sam Separates Beauty And Soldier . . April 14, 2024 . Newspapers.com.
  29. News: . March 18, 1918 . Girl Fights For Her Soldier Boy Millionaire . . April 14, 2024 . Newspapers.com.

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