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Mary Pickford born in Toronto

Broadcast Date: May 25, 1959

To her audiences, Mary Pickford is best known as America's Sweetheart — the endearing movie star with an expressive face and dramatic gestures. Canadians know her, however, as Gladys Louise Smith, the starlet who was born on April 8, 1892, in Toronto. In part one of this CBC Radio interview, Pickford discusses her love of Toronto and her ambitious ascent into silent movie celebrity.

In the continuation of this interview, Pickford reveals more of her steely resolve and describes her alliance with her co-partners Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and D.W. Griffith to establish the United Artists movie studio. A pioneer in the movie industry, Pickford describes the joys and challenges of being a silent movie actress, an artist and a producer. "The world has been wonderful to me," she says effusively.

Mary Pickford born in Toronto

• A historic plaque marks the site of Pickford's birth at 211 University Ave. in Toronto — now occupied by the Hospital for Sick Children. The plaque reads: "Her golden curls and children's roles endeared her to millions as "America's Sweetheart." She was instrumental in founding and directing a major film production company and starred in over fifty feature-length films including Hearts Adrift, Pollyanna and Coquette.

• Mary Pickford's father died when she was four years old. Her mother rented out the master bedroom in their house to the stage manager of the Valentine Stock Company. Pickford joined the acting company at age five.
• Pickford was 15 years old when her mother suggested she audition for a motion picture. After much prodding, she went to the Biograph Studio and auditioned for filmmaker D.W. Griffith. She was hired and paid $40 per week.

• In 1909, the Biograph Company released Pickford's first film Her First Biscuits.
• By 1917, Pickford earned approximately $350,000 per film.
• "I was terribly ambitious you see, I was the father of the family. I wanted security for my people." — Mary Pickford.

• Mary Pickford won a Best Actress Oscar for Coquette in 1929 and was the recipient of an honorary Oscar in 1976. She starred in four talking films before her retirement. Pickford's last film, Secrets, was released in 1933.

• Mary Pickford married fellow silent-film star Douglas Fairbanks in 1920. Pickford and Fairbanks combined their names to create the title of their sprawling 38-room Hollywood estate "Pickfair." They lived their lives in the public spotlight before their divorce in 1936. In 1937, she married actor Charlie Buddy Rogers.

• In 1951, Mary Pickford sold her shares in the United Artists company. Her films, to which she owned most of the rights, were deposited in the vaults of the Mary Pickford Foundation and the Library of Congress.
• Mary Pickford died on May 29, 1979.
• A star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto was dedicated to Pickford in May 1999.

Also on April 8:
• 1915: Ontario creates a board to handle liquor distribution. In 1927 it is named the Liquor Control Board of Ontario.
• 1946: The League of Nations assembles in Geneva for the last time before being replaced by the United Nations.
• 1963: The Liberals form a minority government under Lester Pearson. The Liberals promise to begin their term with "60 Days of Decision" by taking quick action on a number of pieces of legislation.

Mary Pickford born in Toronto

Medium: Radio

Program: CBC Radio News Special

Broadcast Date: May 25, 1959

Guest(s): Mary Pickford

Host: Tony Thomas

Duration: 21:48

Photo: National Archives of Canada PA-185967, Alfred Cheney Johnston

Last updated:
July 14, 2009