Lola May Explained

Lola May
Birth Name:May Purman
Birth Date:March 15, 1889
Birth Place:North Dakota, U.S.
Death Date:February 4, 1971 (aged 81)
Death Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation:Actress
Yearsactive:1914–1918 (film)

Lola May (born May Purman;[1] 1889–1971) was an American silent film and stage actress.

Life

May was born in North Dakota. She was a stage actress and appeared in seven films during the silent era including the historical drama The Beggar of Cawnpore.[2] She appeared in the 1908-1909 Broadway hit A Gentleman from Mississippi. Her other Broadway plays included The Lure (1913), Just Like John (1912), and An Old New Yorker (1911).[3]

Beginning in November 1913, May faced a lawsuit from Marie Crandell, who said that her estranged husband, Derby Crandell, had bought gifts for May and had dined with her. Mrs. Crandell said "My husband was a model husband and we were very happy until this other woman came between us." The suit asked for $50,000 damages.[4] The suit was dismissed on March 21, 1914, after Mrs. Crandell "failed to file a bill of particulars".[5]

In 1916 she appeared in Thomas H. Ince's anti-war film Civilization as Queen Eugenie.[6] The film reputedly cost $1 million to make.

Partial filmography

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. News: Hat for actress brings big suit . March 13, 2021 . The Washington Times . November 21, 1913 . D.C., Washington . 4. Newspapers.com.
  2. Katchmer p.184
  3. Web site: Lola May . Internet Broadway Database . The Broadway League . March 13, 2021 . https://archive.today/20210313202919/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/lola-may-51969 . March 13, 2021.
  4. News: Lost a 'Model Husband', Woman Sues an Actress In 'The Lure' for $50,000 . March 13, 2021 . Pittsburgh Daily Post . November 23, 1913 . 1. Newspapers.com.
  5. News: Pursued by Banker, Lola May Declares . March 13, 2021 . The Washington Times . March 22, 1914 . D.C., Washington . 1. Newspapers.com.
  6. https://books.google.com/books?id=HktIVRB7TGIC&pg=PA697 "The Stage"