Mary Pickford
Meet Gladys Marie Smith. Born here in Toronto, she eventually changed her name to Mary Pickford when she became a Broadway star. Here, on University Avenue, beside her statue, is an Archaeological and Historic Sites Board plaque which gives us this information:
Born in 1893 in a house which stood near this site, Gladys Marie Smith appeared on stage in Toronto at the age of five. Her theatrical career took her to Broadway in 1907 where she adopted the name Mary Pickford. The actress's earliest film, "Her First Biscuits", was released by the Biograph Company in 1909 and she soon established herself as the international cinema's first great star. Her golden curls and children's roles endeared her to millions as "America's Sweetheart". She was instrumental in founding and directing a major film production company and starred in over fifty feature-length films including "Hearts Adrift", "Pollyana" and "Coquette". For the last-named film, she received the 1929 Academy Award as the year's best actress.
Location Co-ordinates: 43.656571 -79.388747
Photo by Alan L Brown - March 2004
Related pages:
Site of Toronto's First Moving Picture Show
Loew's Yonge Street and Winter Garden Theatres
Nathan A. (Nat) Taylor
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