Florence Shirley Explained
| Florence Shirley |
| Birth Name: | Florence Isabell Splaine |
| Birth Date: | June 5, 1892 |
| Birth Place: | New York City, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Hollywood, California, U.S. |
| Occupation: | Actress |
| Years Active: | 1906–1952 |
Florence Shirley (born Florence Isabell Splaine; June 5, 1892 - May 12, 1967) was an American stage and film actress.
Early years
Born in New York City, Shirley was the daughter of Francis Splaine.
Career
Shirley began her stage career in Boston at age 14 when she said two lines in a Christmas play put on by John Craig's Castle Square Stock Company. Craig's interest led to her having children's parts in other plays, including boys' parts in productions of Shakespeare's plays. By 1914, she had become the ingenue of that company.[1]
She enjoyed moderate success on Broadway.[2] After the sinking of the Titanic in April 1912, she participated in a benefit concert for survivors held at the George M. Cohan Theatre.[3] Her last Broadway appearance was in Alice in Arms (originally called Star in the Window[4]) alongside Kirk Douglas.[5]
She appeared in more than 50 films throughout her film career.
Personal life and death
On February 14, 1917, Shirley married efficiency engineer A. J. Koehler in New York City.[6]
Works
Selected filmography
Shirley's film credits include the following:
- Stars and Stripes Forever (Navy nurse), 1952 (uncredited)
- Deadline - U.S.A. (Miss Barndollar), 1952 (uncredited)
- The Dancing Masters (Matron), 1943 (uncredited)
- Let's Face It (Woman in Sun Shell Cafe), 1943 (uncredited)
- A Yank at Eton (Mrs. Sampson), 1942 (uncredited)
- Her Cardboard Lover (Casino patron watching chemin de fer game), 1942 (uncredited)
- We Were Dancing (Mrs. Charteris), 1942
- It Started with Eve (Bit Role), 1941 (uncredited)
- When Ladies Meet (Janet Hopper), 1941
- Three Sons o' Guns (Mrs. Tyler), 1941
- Nice Girl? (Woman Gossip), 1941 (uncredited)
- Lady with Red Hair (Daisy Dawn), 1940 (uncredited)
- Third Finger, Left Hand (Agnes, dinner guest), 1940 (uncredited)
- Pier 13 (Mrs. Forrest), 1940
- New Moon (Guest), 1940 (uncredited)
- Private Affairs (Mrs. Gilkin), 1940
- Opened by Mistake (Elizabeth Stiles), 1940
- I Take This Woman (Mrs. Leila Bettincourt), 1940 (uncredited)
- Balalaika (Lily Allison (Paris tourist)), 1939 (uncredited)
- Ninotchka (Marianne, Swana's Phone Friend), 1939 (uncredited)
- The Women (Miss Archer), 1939 (uncredited)
Broadway
Shirley's Broadway credits include the following productions:
- Alice in Arms (Daisy), 1945
- Take My Tip (Mrs. Dolly Browning), 1932
- Fast Service (Doris Borden), 1931
- Doctor X (Eleanor Stevens), 1931
- Embers (Germaine Bie), 1926
- The Poor Nut (Julia Winters), 1925
- The Locked Door (Muriel Walling), 1924
- My Aunt From Ypsilanti (Peggy), 1923
- Why Men Leave Home (Fifi), 1923
- Apple Blossoms (Mrs. Anna Merton), 1920
- Oh, Lady! Lady!! (Fanny Welch), 1918
- Anthony in Wonderland, 1917
- His Majesty Bunker Bean, 1916
- The Wall Street Girl (Pearl Williams), 1912
Notes and References
- A Charming Stock Ingenue . National Magazine . May 1914 . 312–313 . April 30, 2021.
- News: Rites today for Florence Shirley . Los Angeles Times . 1967-05-15 . 26 .
- News: More benefits planned; many stage stars volunteer for Cohan Theatre concert to-night . The New York Times . 1912-04-21 . 2008-06-09 . 8 .
- News: Premiere tonight of 'Alice in Arms' . The New York Times . 1945-01-31 . 26 .
- News: Thin Man Proves Himself . The Wall Street Journal . 1945-01-29 . 4 .
- News: Splaine-Koehler Wedding . April 30, 2021 . The Miami Republican . February 23, 1917 . Kansas, Paola . 1. Newspapers.com.
