Annabelle Moore (born Annabella Whitford, July 6, 1878 – November 29, 1961), also known as Peerless Annabelle, was an American dancer and actress who appeared in numerous early

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized Sound recording and reproduction, recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) ...

s. She was the original

Gibson Girl The Gibson Girl was the personification of the feminine ideal of physical attractiveness as portrayed by the pen-and-ink illustrations of artist Charles Dana Gibson during a 20-year period that spanned the late 19th and early 20th centuries in th ...

in the 1907

Ziegfeld Follies The ''Ziegfeld Follies'' was a series of elaborate theatrical revue productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 to 1931, with renewals in 1934 and 1936. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as ''The Ziegfeld Follies of the Ai ...

Life and career

Annabelle Whitford was born in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

. She made her debut at age 15 dancing at the

World's Columbian Exposition The World's Columbian Exposition (also known as the Chicago World's Fair) was a world's fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. The centerpiece of the Fair, hel ...

in Chicago in 1893.''United Press International'' (December 1, 1961). 'Original Gibson Girl' dies at 83. ''

Pittsburgh Press ''The Pittsburgh Press'' (formerly ''The Pittsburg Press'' and originally ''The Evening Penny Press'') was a major afternoon daily newspaper published in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1884 to 1992. At one time, the ''Press'' was the second larg ...

''. She later moved to

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

, where she performed in several films for the Edison StudiosYumibe, Joshua (2012). ''Moving Color: Early Film, Mass Culture, Modernism.'' Rutgers University Press, and appeared on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

. Annabelle was quite popular in her youth. The sale of her films was further boosted in December 1896 when it was revealed that she had been approached to appear naked at a private dinner party at Sherry's Restaurant. It was said she introduced

eroticism Eroticism () is a quality that causes sexual feelings, as well as a philosophical contemplation concerning the aesthetics of sexual desire, sensuality, and romantic love. That quality may be found in any form of artwork, including painting, sc ...

in film. She married Edward James Buchan in 1910. He died in 1958. Although she was very popular before her marriage,André Gaudreault. ''American Cinema 1890-1909: Themes and Variations''. Annabelle died penniless in Chicago in 1961.Staff report (December 2, 1961). PEERLESS ANNABELLE, 83; Former Dancer and Showgirl Dies Penniless in Chicago. ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

''.Staff report (December 3, 1961). Obituary. ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television a ...

''.

Selected filmography

;1897 *'' Sun Dance - Annabelle'' *'' Butterfly Dance'' *''

Annabelle Serpentine Dance ''Annabelle Serpentine Dance'' is a short silent American film produced and distributed by Edison Manufacturing Company in 1895. It is one of several released by the studio the late 19th century. Each short film depicts the popular serpentine ...

'' ;1896 *'' Annabelle in Flag Dance'' *'' Butterfly Dance'' *'' Serpentine Dance by Annabelle'' *'' Tambourine Dance by Annabelle'' ;1895 *1895 ''

'' ;1894 *''

Annabelle Butterfly Dance ''Annabelle Butterfly Dance'' is an 1894 short film. It is one of the several silent films produced by the Edison Manufacturing Company starring Annabelle Moore. In the film, Annabelle performs one of her popular dances while wearing a butterfly c ...

'' *'' Annabelle Sun Dance''

Other work

*'' The Charity Girl'' (1912) *'' The Happiest Night of His Life'' (1911) *'' Ziegfeld Follies of 1909'' (in scene with Grace La Rue, Nora Bayes and Lucy Weston) *'' Ziegfeld Follies of 1908'' *''

The Belle of Mayfair ''The Belle of Mayfair'' is a musical comedy composed by Leslie Stuart with a book by Basil Hood, Charles Brookfield and Cosmo Hamilton and lyrics by George Arthurs. The story is inspired by the Shakespeare play ''Romeo and Juliet''. The orig ...

'' (1906) *'' A Venetian Romance'' (1904) *'' The Sleeping Beauty and the Beast'' (1901) *'' The Sprightly Romance of Marsac'' (1900)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Moore, Annabelle 1878 births 1961 deaths Actresses from Chicago Actresses from New York (state) American female dancers Dancers from New York (state) American film actresses 19th-century American actresses American stage actresses American silent film actresses 20th-century American actresses Articles containing video clips