Rita Carewe
Encyclopedia
Rita Carewe was a motion picture actress from New York City
.
, was a film director/producer for United Artists
. Edwin was born Jay Fox in Gainesville, Texas
, on
March 5, 1853. He thought he would not succeed using his birth name. So he borrowed the name Carewe from a play character and took his first name from his favorite actor, Edwin Booth
. In 1914 he came to Hollywood as a director for Lubin Studios
. Later he worked for
Rolf-Metro, Selig Polyscope Company
, and First National Pictures.
He was married three times. His first wife, a nonprofessional, had
two daughters, Rita and Mary Jane. He died January 22, 1940 in Hollywood of a heart attack.
, Mary Astor
, and Lloyd Hughes
. Carewe was selected as one of thirteen actresses picked by Wampas (Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers) in 1927. Its one hundred members chose her along with Natalie Kingston, Sally Phipps
, Adamae Vaughn
, Iris Stuart
, and eight more. The actresses were viewed as most likely to
succeed in the film world.
A committee of twenty-five important people in the film industry promoted Carewe for the role of Lorelei Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1928). The part was eventually won by Ruth Taylor
. Carewe played the girl of the streets in Resurrection (1927). This was followed by a more important role, as Tina, in Revenge (1928). The film was based on a story written by gypsy author, Konrad Bercovici
.
Her first motion picture in the sound medium was Prince Gabby (1929).
She acted opposite Edward Everett Horton
in a screen adaptation of
an Edgar Wallace
novel. Her final movie appearance was in Radio
Kisses (1930).
, when the actress was on trial for disturbing the peace during a party on December 29, 1928. In March 1929 Carewe was in court to testify against Ralph Campbell, who was charged with a long list of burglaries. In both instances Carewe was residing in an apartment at 1473 3-4 North Havenhurst Street, Los Angeles, California
.
with actor Leroy Frankling Mason in July 1928. Mason had been discovered by Carewe's father at a sandwich counter. She was twenty-two-years old when she eloped. Carewe and Mason separated in December 1934, and she filed for divorce in November 1935. Mason collapsed in 1947 on a Republic Pictures
studio set. He died of a heart ailment a few hours later at the age of forty-four.
Rita Carewe died at age 45 in Torrance, California
. She is interred in Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Father
Her father, Edwin CareweEdwin Carewe
Edwin Carewe was an American motion picture director, actor, producer, and screenwriter. He was born in Gainesville, Texas, as Jay Fox.-Career:...
, was a film director/producer for United Artists
United Artists
United Artists Corporation is an American film studio. The original studio of that name was founded in 1919 by D. W. Griffith, Charles Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks....
. Edwin was born Jay Fox in Gainesville, Texas
Gainesville, Texas
Gainesville is a city in and the county seat of Cooke County, Texas, United States. The population was 15,538 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, on
March 5, 1853. He thought he would not succeed using his birth name. So he borrowed the name Carewe from a play character and took his first name from his favorite actor, Edwin Booth
Edwin Booth
Edwin Thomas Booth was a famous 19th century American actor who toured throughout America and the major capitals of Europe, performing Shakespearean plays. In 1869 he founded Booth's Theatre in New York, a spectacular theatre that was quite modern for its time...
. In 1914 he came to Hollywood as a director for Lubin Studios
Lubin Studios
The Lubin Manufacturing Company, was an American motion picture production company that produced silent films from 1902 to 1916. Lubin films were distributed with a Liberty Bell trademark.-History:...
. Later he worked for
Rolf-Metro, Selig Polyscope Company
Selig Polyscope Company
The Selig Polyscope Company was an American motion picture company founded in 1896 by William Selig in Chicago, Illinois. Selig Polyscope is noted for establishing Southern California's first permanent movie studio, in the historic Edendale district of Los Angeles...
, and First National Pictures.
He was married three times. His first wife, a nonprofessional, had
two daughters, Rita and Mary Jane. He died January 22, 1940 in Hollywood of a heart attack.
Movie star
Edwin signed Rita to a five-year motion picture contract with First National Pictures, in reward for her work in Joanna (1925), which he directed. Her first assignment under her new contract was in High Steppers (1926). The movie featured Dolores del RíoDolores del Río
Dolores del Río was a Mexican film actress. She was a star of Hollywood films during the silent era and in the Golden Age of Hollywood...
, Mary Astor
Mary Astor
Mary Astor was an American actress. Most remembered for her role as Brigid O'Shaughnessy in The Maltese Falcon with Humphrey Bogart, Astor began her long motion picture career as a teenager in the silent movies of the early 1920s.She eventually made a successful transition to talkies, but almost...
, and Lloyd Hughes
Lloyd Hughes
Lloyd Hughes was an American silent film actor.-Life and career:Born in Bisbee, Arizona, Hughes received his education at the Los Angeles Polytechnic School. He sought a career as an actor early in life, and his clean-cut appearance and ability soon gained him recognition...
. Carewe was selected as one of thirteen actresses picked by Wampas (Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers) in 1927. Its one hundred members chose her along with Natalie Kingston, Sally Phipps
Sally Phipps
Sally Phipps was an American actress.-Early life and career:Born Nellie Bernice Bogdon in Oakland, California, Phipps was a 1927 WAMPAS Baby Star who was discovered by Frank Borzage...
, Adamae Vaughn
Adamae Vaughn
Adamae Vaughn was a movie actress from Ashland, Kentucky.Her sister was film actress Alberta Vaughn. Adamae was at first Alberta's manager and chaperone. The studio needed a brunette and Adamae, a blonde, sent her sister....
, Iris Stuart
Iris Stuart
Iris Stuart was a motion picture actress of the silent film era.-Model:Born as Frances McCann, she attended secretarial school before becoming a magazine cover girl who was much favored by artists. Her picture was used as a model for a jewelry advertisement.-Film Actress:She was signed by...
, and eight more. The actresses were viewed as most likely to
succeed in the film world.
A committee of twenty-five important people in the film industry promoted Carewe for the role of Lorelei Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1928). The part was eventually won by Ruth Taylor
Ruth Taylor (actress)
Ruth Taylor was an American actress in silent films and early talkies. Her son is the writer Buck Henry.-Early years:Born Ruth Alice Taylor to Norman and Ivah Taylor in Grand Rapids, Michigan...
. Carewe played the girl of the streets in Resurrection (1927). This was followed by a more important role, as Tina, in Revenge (1928). The film was based on a story written by gypsy author, Konrad Bercovici
Konrad Bercovici
Konrad Bercovici was a Jewish-American writer.-Biography:Born in Romania into a Jewish family in 1882, he went to university in Paris, where he met his wife. Together, they moved to the Lower East Side, Manhattan, New York City. He worked in sweatshops and gave piano lessons. He went on to write...
.
Her first motion picture in the sound medium was Prince Gabby (1929).
She acted opposite Edward Everett Horton
Edward Everett Horton
Edward Everett Horton was an American character actor. He had a long career in film, theater, radio, television and voice work for animated cartoons. He is especially known for his work in the films of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.-Early life:Horton was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Isabella...
in a screen adaptation of
an Edgar Wallace
Edgar Wallace
Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace was an English crime writer, journalist, novelist, screenwriter, and playwright, who wrote 175 novels, 24 plays, and numerous articles in newspapers and journals....
novel. Her final movie appearance was in Radio
Kisses (1930).
Witness
Carewe testified against Alma RubensAlma Rubens
Alma Rubens was an American silent film actress and stage performer.-Early life:Born to John B. and Theresa Hayes Rueben in San Francisco, California, she performed since youth and became a star at the age of 19. She was educated at the Sacred Heart Convent in San Francisco...
, when the actress was on trial for disturbing the peace during a party on December 29, 1928. In March 1929 Carewe was in court to testify against Ralph Campbell, who was charged with a long list of burglaries. In both instances Carewe was residing in an apartment at 1473 3-4 North Havenhurst Street, Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
Marriage
Carewe eloped to Yuma, ArizonaYuma, Arizona
Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041....
with actor Leroy Frankling Mason in July 1928. Mason had been discovered by Carewe's father at a sandwich counter. She was twenty-two-years old when she eloped. Carewe and Mason separated in December 1934, and she filed for divorce in November 1935. Mason collapsed in 1947 on a Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures was an independent film production-distribution corporation with studio facilities, operating from 1934 through 1959, and was best known for specializing in westerns, movie serials and B films emphasizing mystery and action....
studio set. He died of a heart ailment a few hours later at the age of forty-four.
Rita Carewe died at age 45 in Torrance, California
Torrance, California
Torrance is a city incorporated in 1921 and located in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County, California, United States. Torrance has of shore-front beaches on the Pacific Ocean, quieter and less well-known by tourists than others on the Santa Monica Bay, such as those of neighboring...
. She is interred in Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles.