Theda Bara: A Biography of the Silent Screen Vamp, with a Filmography

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Despite being a mediocre actress with less than classic beauty, Theda Bara was one of Hollywood’s leading performers in the early years of cinema. Her success was primarily due to Fox Studio’s publicity department; they created her image as a screen vamp and used it to titillate the public. And Bara, an ambitious actress who was nearing 30 when she made her first film, enthusiastically played the role designed for her. In real life, Theodosia Goodman bore little resemblance to the vampish Theda Bara character. But the studio-created persona, with the invented name, evil personality and fictional history, was a major star. Though Bara’s films were often trite, poorly acted, extravagant and crude, the public packed movie houses and even rioted over her. Bara’s film career ended once the public tired of the persona, though she went on to enjoy some success in regional theater. Through contemporary newspaper accounts, film reviews, interviews and other sources, this is a comprehensive account of the life and times of one of Hollywood’s first female stars.