Re: Wallace Reid (1891-1923),Early Film Star
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In reply to:
Wallace Reid (1891-1923),Early Film Star
7/15/99
I saw your call for info about Wallace Reid.
This may not help much as it is only the same family name, place and time, but my Grandfather Albert Reid worked in Holywood at that time.
Here is an extract of the Family Memoirs which my father is compiling and I am typing:
California
After arriving in California he worked in the early motion pictures. Films in those days were inblack & white and silent. The film industry was the newest and most exciting form of entertainment, even though what was made then might seem ludicrousto our modern taste.
He worked at the United Artists Studios with D W Griffith, Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford. He wasin charge of filming and developing the moving pictures. The studios were very small then. It was all trial and error. Since it was new and silent they got by with anything.
Photo of Albert and his team
He was involved with manymovies including "Robin Hood", "Birth of a Nation", "Ben Hur", "Tess of Storm Country" etc..
France
He left in 1917 to rejoin the U S Army and served in France in the where he was wounded. While being treated in hospital he met Florence Hanley, who was in charge of the ward and cared for him. They fell in love. She was to become my (father's) mother.