by Tim Gilmore, 6/17/2012
Miriam Cooper stayed there, the “big old house” in Fairfield, east of downtown, near Tallyrand Avenue and the Matthews Bridge. The Kalem Co. made a movie a week there, 1911, 1912, 1913.
Image from Miriam Cooper’s book Dark Lady of the Silents: My Life in Early Hollywood, 1973
“At the dramatic moment my cap fell off and, big surprise, I was a girl doing the dangerous job of a boy.”
The neighborhood will be replaced by sports stadiums. Most of Kalem’s movies will vanish.
Image from Miriam Cooper’s book Dark Lady of the Silents: My Life in Early Hollywood, 1973
“In another one-reeler I rowed a boat out to set fire to the bridge and cut off the Yankees.” Miriam Cooper had “large dreamy eyes” and was “expert in the use of boxing gloves.” She “ran trains, shot cannons, burned bridges, spied, all for the Confederates. I don’t see how the Yankees won the war.” She was 18 years old.
Image from Miriam Cooper’s book Dark Lady of the Silents: My Life in Early Hollywood, 1973
