[Louise Lovely photographs and advertising leaflet, ca. 1918-ca. 1921]

P1/2233

fonds

[ca. 1918-ca. 1921]

Graphic Materials, Photographs, Ephemera

1009664

2 photographs - 25.3 x 20.4 cm or smaller - gelatin silver
1 item of ephemera - printed

Louise Nellie Lovely (1895-1980), Australian stage and film actress, producer and director, was born in Paddington. In 1904 aged nine, she acted under the name of Louise Carbasse with Sandford's American Company at the Lyceum Theatre, Sydney. Still nine, she appeared in Sydney and Melbourne with the Rickards Company. By age 14, in 1908, she created a sensation on a national tour in the Meynell-Gunn production of 'Two Little Sailor Boys', being described as 'the great child actress' and 'the youngest girl to have ever played leads in an established metropolitan dramatic company.' In 1911-12, Louise played the lead in the nine pictures produced by the Australian Life Biograph Company. In 1912, she married William Harry (Wilton) Welch and the couple went to the United States. In Hollywood, Louise was hired by Universal Pictures, starring in a successful series of pictures under the name of Louise Lovely. From 1918-22 she was one of the stars of Fox Film Corporation, and this collection dates from that period. In 1924, Lovely returned to Australia with her act, 'A Day in the Studio', and also directed and starred in 'Jewelled Nights' by Marie Bjelke-Petersen. Lovely divorced in 1928 and remarried Andrew Bertie Cowen. In 1949 they settled in Hobart and ran the Prince of Wales Theatre together.

Reference:
Library correspondence file

1. Studio photographic portrait of Louise Lovely, ca. 1920
2. Photographic portrait of Louise Lovely in Fox Studio's Partners of Fate, ca. 1921
3. Printed publicity leaflet for 'Painted Lips', starring Louise Lovely and produced by Louise Lovely Productions, ca. 1918

Out of copyright: Created before 1955 - applies to photographs
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales