Charlie Chaplin's Find - Edna Purviance, Graduates to Star

by Carlyle Robinson

Twenty-three years ago, in a beautiful little place called Paradise Valley, Nevada, a girl baby first saw the light of day and about a week later the happy parents had the child christened Edna Olga Purviance.

Statistics of the State of Nevada at that time showed that not more than seven thousand of the entire population of the whole state had been born there and that Paradise Valley could not boast of more than tweleve births. So with all of this information, the arrival of Edna Olga was some event.

A few years later the Purviance family was called to Lovelock, another small community in Nevada state and as was the custom, the Chamber of Commerce acted as a reception committee and the brass band hailed the new arrivals as they stepped from the train.

Edna was at the time just finishing the cutting of her teeth. The neighbors watched the progress of Edna, year in and year out, until she at last blossomed forth into her youth. At that time she was one of the chief attractions of Lovelock because she seemed more clever than the ordinary child and accomplishments as an elocutionist, piano player and singer always drew her the headline space on the church program at every entertainment in the parish.

At last Edna outgrew the form of education they provided in Lovelock and the first thing that was known she was speeding eastward and then the local papers carried headlines about her entrance inoto Vassar.

Having finished with the learning that she sought, Edna returned to her home and set the town "dippy" with the polish of her manners, and the new cut of her clothes caused much envy among the neighbors.

Then when Edna was almost eighteen years of age she took a little trip to San Francisco, the distance being just far enough for an over-night ride, for the purpose of bolstering up her wardrobe, the main mission being a new Easter hat.

About the third night of her stay in San Francisco she happened along at a social function held in the ballroom of the St. Francis hotel. She had not been there long when three-quarters of the gathering made a dash for one corner of the ballroom and Edna wondered what it was all about.

Her curiosity was soon satisfied when one of those wellposted characters informed her that the great Charlie Chaplin had arrived and that he was going to lead the grand march.

Well, when it came time for the grand march it seems that Charlie was casting his eye about for a companion to walk in step with him when he suddenly saw a beautiful blonde young lady seated in a corner in a sort of lonesome attitude.

Anyhow this beautiful blonde young lady was the same and none other than the girl baby that awakened the statisticians of Paradise Valley some twenty-odd years ago.

Now, Charlie Chaplin always enjoyed good eyesight. So when his tow optics were focussed on Edna he at once realized that he would be positively unable to lead that grand march with anyone other than the beautiful blonde and he los no time being properly introduced and soon the famous comedian and the young lady from Nevada were in deep conversation.

The next day Edna appeared at the Chaplin studios at Niles, Cal., and a few hours later she began her career before the camera. Ever since that time-and that's six years ago-Miss Purviance has held down the leading position among the memebers of the supporting company for Charlie. In all she has appeared in twenty-six pictures.

Then one day she was given even a greater opportunity to show her worth when Chaplin decided to make a picture called "The Kid". Edna had a bigger part to play and it called for some emotional work and she performed in such a manner as to cause glowing criticisms to be published about her.

Following all of this, thousands of letters started to pour into her mail bag from admirers everywhere who asked her to play in a picture where she would have a big part.

Motion picture producers started tempting Edna with contracts with all sorts of financial inducements included, but she still remained the leading woman for Charlie.

Charlie declared that Edna was indispensable to him just at the time, but hinted that it would not be long before she would undoubtedly star in here hown productions.

So now comes the announcement by Chaplin Studios, Inc. that Miss Edna Purviance has been graduated as leading woman for Charlie Chaplin and that there has been inaugurated the Edna Purviance Company.

Miss Purviance has is now giving her attention to her wardrobe again, not for Easter hats, but for a whole car-load of classy tings that she is going to doll herself up in when she starts out with her first starrring production.

A story is being prepared for her and a director is about to be engaged and supporting members are being selected for the Edna Purviance Company and within a shore time activities will be under way for the new star.

All of the Edna Purviance productions will be made right at the Charlie Chaplin plant in Hollywood, so even as a star Edna will be at home in the studio she knows so well.

So after all it is not such a bad thing to be born in a place like Paradise Valley and the State of Nevada can produce things just as valuable as gold.

To read more about Edna Purviance visit: www.ednapurviance.org