Denise Lowe, in "An Encyclopedic Dictionary of Women in Early American
Films," grants Lottie Pickford what is probably the only semi-favorable
notice she's received in the last seventy-odd years, concluding her
article with, "Sadly, film historians often ignore her, although her
brother, Jack, who was no more successful or influential than she, is
cited." Many would argue with this and perhaps Ms. Lowe is being too
generous. Still, Lottie does seem to have received some good
contemporary reviews.
The bit of Ms. Lowe's article that really got me, though, was her
somewhat dramatic description of Lottie as the "dark opposite" of Mary,
never allowed to be anything more than the "other" Pickford. Now I've
been as dismissive of Lottie as the next person, but for the first time
I began to wonder if there's a STORY here. I've read all of the
standard literature, where most mentions of her sound like paraphrases
from "Hollywood Babylon," falling in line with Donald Crisp's
perceptive summation, "Lottie was a tramp." Unfortunately, as Ms. Lowe
says, "the facts of her life are lost."
ANYWAY, the point of this ramble is twofold:
1) Has anyone around here actually SEEN Lottie Pickford in one of her
few leading roles? And, if so, what did you think?
2) Is there a hitherto unmined vein of Lottie lore that I've missed?
Again, I've read pretty much all of the standard popular works
(including all of the Pickford bios) so I'm looking for something where
I wouldn't expect to find it, as in an unpublished dissertation or some
such thing (and I can see all of you smirking as you read
"dissertation" and "Lottie Pickford" in the same post).
In spite of my optimism, my suspicion is that she she was as described:
a promiscuous, unambitious freeloader. I'd like to see if there's
evidence to the contrary.
--Jason Liller
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