You're right,not many people interested in this sort of topic, but
some are and this is the only way to talk about it. We must keep the
postings going! The Olive Thomas documentary with her movie, "The
Flapper," could generate some new interest. I for one would like to
see that happen!


In TheNewCovenOfOliveThomas@yahoogroups.com, "lexand51st"
<sillywok@a...> wrote:
>
> Interesting, that last comment about so many stars not remembered
> today. Seems to me that celebrities of any sort -- entertainment,
> sports, politics, whatever -- generally don't pass the "memory"
test
> for more than three generations or so. Of course, the "major
stars"
> are remembered, but with time, people basically recognize the
names
> but aren't necessarily sure why... they just know that the person
> was "big" in their time. Even the big names fade. Then a movie or
a
> book is written about major star or a "forgotten" name, and
> they're "big" again, for a time. It will be interesting to see if
> Olive Thomas is of general interest again when the movie comes out
> this spring. Who knows, our group may even add new members (and
how
> many remain past a few months). Then the names fade again as new
> movies and books are introduced. There's probably authoritative
> research that's been done on this subject (how long people are
> remembered past their deaths or eras). I'd be interested to learn
> if anyone in our group knows anything about that or has any
thoughts
> on it.
> Think about it -- there are very few people left alive today who
> even saw a FIRST RUN Olive Thomas movie in a theatre (or remember
> it, if they did). Other than groups like ours, there's nobody out
> there to keep the flame alive. We are a curious band, but thank
god
> there are folks like us out there. The internet definitely makes
it
> much easier, of course.
> When I tell my friends about Olive Thomas and the things I've
> learned or read on this group page, or why I visited her grave in
> NYC last fall and posted the pix on our site, they just kind of
roll
> their eyes and go off into never-neverland. They listen politely,
> but I know there's no real interest. While it's their loss, I
> realize that not everyone shares such interests. Fortunately,
> there's this group...
> You are right, there are so many that aren't remembered. I'm sure
> that within our group, there are many reasons for belonging -- a
> sense of history, an interest in silent films and their stars, a
> taste for the macabre -- whatever. I enjoy being a part of it,
and
> look forward to the postings and e-mails, no matter how sporadic.
> Sorry for rambling, just the random thoughts of an Ollie fan on a
> snowy Friday morning in Cleveland, Ohio.
>
> --- In
TheNewCovenOfOliveThomas@yahoogroups.com, "ollieofthefollies"
> <ollieofthefollies@y...> wrote:
> >
> > In the Florence Lawrence biography by Kelly R.Brown,Olive's
death
> is
> > mentioned along with Robert Harron's as bringing on
an "awareness
> of
> > how others viewed the film industry," and how the "problem
> continued
> > as the insiders did not like what they saw when they peered into
> the
> > mirror." Florence Lawrence preceded Ollie and was known as the
> first
> > movie star and the Biograph Girl. She ended up committing
suicide
> at
> > age 52, long after her career and popularity ended. Very good
read
> > about a little known star and one who was immensely popular
BEFORE
> > Mary Pickford came along and literally took her place in the
> > public's affections. So many sad stories.....and so many very
> early
> > stars not remembered today.