Wanda Wiley
Wanda Wiley | |
|---|---|
 Wanda Wiley, from a 1926 advertisement | |
| Born | April 20, 1901 New Boston, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | March 29, 1987 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Other names | Wanda Atkinson |
| Occupation | Actress |
Wanda Wiley Atkinson (April 20, 1901 – March 29, 1987)[1] was an American silent film actress who appeared in dozens of comedy shorts between 1924 and 1927.
Early life and education
Wiley was born in New Boston, Texas, the youngest of twelve children born to James Alexander Wiley Sr. and Ida Ione Barnett Wiley. Her mother was born in Mississippi.
Career
Wiley was a comedian who appeared in dozens of short films between 1924 and 1927. She was athletic, and her films often featured her performing slapstick physical stunts. She suffered an injury when she was thrown from a startled horse on one film set.[2] She played a football player in Gridiron Gertie (1925).[3]
Wiley signed with Bray Productions in 1926.[4] She starred in a series of "What Happened to Jane" shorts in 1926 (Jane's Inheritance, Jane's Troubles, Jane's Engagement Party, Jane's Predicament, Jane's Honeymoon, and Jane's Flirtation),[5] before she was replaced in the role by Thelma Daniels in 1927.[6]
Films
1927
- Lost in a Pullman
- Weak Knees
- Hot Tires
- The Speed Hound
- A Polo Bear
- Try and Do It
- Thanks for the Boat Ride
- Jane's Flirtation [7]
1926
1925
1924
- Present Arms
- Sweet Dreams
- Some Tomboy
- Snappy Eyes
- The Trouble Fixer
- Her Fortunate Face
- Her City Sport
- Starving Beauties
- Hello, 'Frisco
Personal life and legacy
Wiley married physician Donald Taylor Atkinson in 1935. A teenaged niece, Madelyn E. Wiley, lived with the couple in Bexar, Texas, in 1950. Wiley's husband died in 1956, and she died in 1987, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 85. Most, but not all, of her films are considered lost. A Thrilling Romance (1926) is in the collection of the Library of Congress.
References
- ^ Wiley's gravestone gives 1901 as her birth year; some sources give 1902 instead.
- ^ Balducci, Anthony (2023-01-11). Lloyd Hamilton: Poor Boy Comedian of Silent Cinema. McFarland. p. 66. ISBN 978-1-4766-5088-3.
- ^ "Scenes from the Wanda Wiley starring vehicle Gridiron Gertie, a Century comedy released through Universal". Motion Picture News: 1156. September 5, 1925 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "Bray Engages Wanda Wiley for Comedies Series" Motion Picture News 34(October 9, 1926): 1390. via Internet Archive.
- ^ "Stern Bros. List 1927-28 Films" Motion Picture News 34(September 18, 1926): 1097. via Internet Archive.
- ^ "Stern Brothers Start 'Jane', a New Series". Moving Picture World. 84 (8): 570. February 19, 1927.
- ^ Sewell, C. S. (January 1, 1927). "Timely Reviews of Short Subject Productions". Moving Picture World. 84 (1): 46.
- ^ Thompson, Paul. "Jane's Engagement Party" (review), Motion Picture News 34(October 30, 1926): 1682. via Internet Archive
- ^ "Opinions on Current Productions" Motion Picture News 34(October 9, 1926): 1392. via Internet Archive
- ^ "Short Feature Reviews" Exhibitors' Daily Review 19(May 15, 1926): 17.
- ^ Smith, Chester J. "A Winning Pair" (review), Motion Picture News (October 4, 1925): 1939. via Internet Archive.
- ^ "New Wanda Wiley Comedy is Released" Motion Picture News (October 3, 1925): 1586. via Internet Archive.
External links
- Wanda Wiley at IMDb
- A Thrilling Romance (1926), on YouTube
- John Bengtson, "Wonderful Wanda Wiley … Who? Part Two – lost on Beaudry" Chaplin-Keaton-Lloyd Film Locations (and More) (May 6, 2023); a blogpost about a Wiley film and its location, with photos
- Trav S.D., "Why I'm Kinda Fonda Wanda Wiley" Travalanche (April 20, 2023), blog post about Wiley