Leah Baird

Leah Baird (born Ada Frankenstein; June 20, 1883 – October 3, 1971)[1] was an American actress and screenwriter.

Leah Baird
Baird in Stars of the Photoplay, 1916
Born
Ada Frankenstein

(1883-06-20)June 20, 1883
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedOctober 3, 1971(1971-10-03) (aged 88)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeHollywood Forever Cemetery
Years active1910–1957
Spouse
Arthur F. Beck
​
(m. 1914)​

Life

Baird was born in Champaign County, Illinois.[2] [3] on June 20, 1883, the daughter of William Frankenstein and Bertha Schreiver Frankenstein Rathjen. She had two older sisters, Augusta and Mathilda. Both her parents were alcoholics and her mother was one of the richest madams in Central Illinois.

An early star for Vitagraph Studios,[4] Baird began her film career in 1910 in Jean and the Waif opposite Jean, the Vitagraph Dog. She played several leads in William F. Brady's troupe, opposite Douglas Fairbanks. In the late 1910s she played in 15 episodes of the serial Wolves of Kultur. Baird wrote and produced film during the 1920s.[5]

Baird later became a screenwriter and contributed to a number of Clara Bow features. She was married to producer Arthur F. Beck.[3]

Baird was under contract to Warner Bros. for seventeen years, where she appeared in character roles and as an extra.[6]

Partial filmography
Photo from The First One Hundred Noted Men and Women of the Screen by Carolyn Lowrey pub. 1920
1920

Actress

Writer

Producer

References
  1. Ellenberger, Allan R. (2001). Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory. McFarland. p. 113. ISBN 978-0-7864-0983-9. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  2. She herself states her birthplace is Champaign County, Illinois New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 Author Ancestry.com Publisher Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2006.Original data - Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1820-1897; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M237, 675 rolls); Records of the U.S. Customs Service, R
  3. "Picture stars all work hard". The Daily Reporter. Indiana, Greenfield. November 3, 1923. p. 1. Retrieved August 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. Jungmeyer, Jack (August 30, 1924). "Famous author-actress, Leah Baird, has unique view; says don't discount 12-year-olds". Reading Times. Pennsylvania, Reading. NEA. p. 7. Retrieved August 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Blaetz, Robin. "Leah Baird". Women Film Pioneers. Columbia University Libraries. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  6. Slide, Anthony. Hollywood Unknowns: A History of the Extras, Bit Players, and Stand-Ins. Jackson: University of Missouri Press. p 167.
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