Mary Gish

Mary Robinson Gish (née McConnell; September 16, 1876 [1] – September 17, 1948)[2] was an American actress and the mother of screen stars Lillian and Dorothy Gish.

Mary Gish
Gish (middle) with her daughters Dorothy (left) and Lilian in 1900s
Born
Mary Robinson McConnell

(1876-09-16)September 16, 1876
Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
DiedSeptember 17, 1948(1948-09-17) (aged 72)
New York City, U.S.
OccupationActress
Spouse
James Leigh Gish
​
​
(m. 1893; died 1912)​
ChildrenLillian Gish
Dorothy Gish

Life

Mary Gish was born in Dayton, Ohio, as Mary Robinson McConnell.[3] On January 8, 1893, she married James L. Gish (son of David Edwin Gish and Diana Caroline Waltz) in Clark County, Ohio.[4] They were the parents of actresses Lillian and Dorothy.[5] The girls' father, James Leigh Gish, died on January 9, 1912, when his daughters were 18 and 13 years old.[6] (His christening record dated November 29, 1872, states his name as James Leonidas Gish.[7]) Around the 1890s Mary would operate a concession stand in Fort George Amusement Park in New York City.[8]

In 1917, Mary and her daughters traveled to England and France as members of D. W. Griffith's film company,"Biograph Studios", to make a film at the behest of the British Government. This film was almost certainly Hearts of the World (1918), which featured all three Gishes, rising star Bobby Harron, British Prime Minister Lloyd George, and Griffith himself. The purpose of this film was to change the neutral mindset of the American public regarding World War I.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Note
1912 Two Daughters of Eve Lady in theatre crowd Short
1914 Judith of Bethulia Extra Uncredited
1915 Letters Entangled Grace's Aunt Short, as Mary McDonnell
1918 Hearts of the World A Refugee Mother As Mrs. Mary Gish

References
  1. Affron 2001, p. 19.
  2. Affron 2001, p. 220.
  3. Affron 2001, p. 18.
  4. "Ohio Marriages, 1800–1958," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XDCQ-WZ7 : 10 February 2018), James L. Gish and Mae Mcconnell, 08 Jan 1893; citing Clark County, Ohio, reference 2:3LNXX8Q; FHL microfilm 465,394.
  5. Affron 2001, p. 19.
  6. Affron 2001, p. 39.
  7. "Pennsylvania Births and Christenings, 1709-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2NJ-LPH : 11 February 2018), Jas. Leonidas Gish, 11 Dec 1873; Christening, citing ZION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH,HUMMELSTOWN,DAUPHIN,PENNSYLVANIA; FHL microfilm 845,111.
  8. Gottlock, B.; Gottlock, W. (2013). Lost Amusement Parks of New York City: Beyond Coney Island. Lost. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-1-62584-556-6.

Sources
  • Affron, Charles (2001). Lillian Gish: Her Legend, Her Life. New York: Scribner. ISBN 978-0684855141
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