Madlaine Traverse (born Mary Businsky; August 1, 1875 – January 7, 1964) was an American stage and screen actress. During the course of her career, she was alternately billed as "Madaline Traverse", "Madeline Traverse" and "Madeline Travers".''Pictorial History of the Silent Screen'' by Daniel Blum c. 1953 pages 37, 59 & 108

Career

Traverse was a leading lady of the

Fox Film The Fox Film Corporation (also known as Fox Studios) was an American independent company that produced motion pictures and was formed in 1914 by the theater "chain" pioneer William Fox. It was the corporate successor to his earlier Greater Ne ...

Corporation in the second decade of the twentieth century. In 1917 she played the mother of

Mary Pickford Gladys Louise Smith (April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979), known professionally as Mary Pickford, was a Canadian-American film actress and producer. A Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood, pioneer in the American film industry with a Hollywood care ...

in ''

The Poor Little Rich Girl ''The Poor Little Rich Girl'' is a 1917 American comedy-drama film directed by Maurice Tourneur. Adapted by Frances Marion from the 1913 play by Eleanor Gates. The Broadway play actually starred future screen actress Viola Dana. The film st ...

'' (1917). In ''What Would You Do?'' (1920) director Edmund Lawrence required Traverse to wear the clothes of a

Boer Boers ( ; ; ) are the descendants of the proto Afrikaans-speaking Free Burghers of the eastern Cape frontier in Southern Africa during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. From 1652 to 1795, the Dutch East India Company controlled the Dutch ...

woman of

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

. Lawrence stressed realism to the point of insisting that Traverse not wash her face for several days before her scenes were shot. Her most successful films are ''The Caillaux Case'' (1918) and ''Three Weeks'' (1914). In 1920 she made her first movie for Madlaine Traverse Productions, ''Snares of Paris'' (1919), in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

. Her wardrobe for the motion picture was purchased in Paris and she stayed in

Fort Lee, New Jersey Fort Lee is a Borough (New Jersey), borough at the eastern border of Bergen County, New Jersey, Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, situated along the Hudson River atop The Palisades (Hudson River), The Palisades. As of the 2020 Uni ...

while on location. Traverse was rescued from drowning while she was bathing at high tide in the Pacific Ocean in October 1918. A man who was swimming nearby noticed Traverse did not come to the surface after struggling with strong waves. He pulled her by her skirt and took her to safety from the water off the coast of Ocean Park, California. She became an avid duck hunter in southern

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

after settling there to make motion pictures. Madlaine Traverse died in Cleveland in 1964.

Early and personal life

Madlaine Traverse's birth name was Mary Businsky. She was born August 1, 1875. Madlaine began her acting career on the stage in England. She married Max Traverse, who died in 1906. The lights from filming permanently damaged her eyes, forcing her into retirement. Mary Pickford, who starred with her in ''Poor Little Rich Girl'', visited her in 1962, which was the highlight of her retirement years. She was 88 when she died January 7, 1964.

Filmography

* ''

Leah Kleschna ''Leah Kleschna'' is a drama in five acts by C.M.S. McLellan produced for the first time on Broadway by Minnie Maddern Fiske, Harrison Grey Fiske and the Manhattan Company with set design provided by Frank E. Gates and E. A. Morange. The play ...

'' (1913) * ' (1914) * '' The Closing Net'' (1915) * ''

Fruits of Desire ''Fruits of Desire'' is a lost 1916 American silent drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio ...

'' (1916) * ''

The Shielding Shadow ''The Shielding Shadow'' is a 1916 American action film serial directed by Louis J. Gasnier and Donald MacKenzie and starring Grace Darmond and Ralph Kellard. Plot The 15 chapter story involves the heroine being protected by a shadow with burn ...

'' (1916) * ''

'' (1917) (*Survives) * '' Sins of Ambition'' (1917) (*survives LoC) * ''

The Caillaux Case ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' ...

'' (1918) * '' The Danger Zone'' (1918) * ''

Gambling in Souls ''Gambling in Souls'' is a 1919 American silent crime drama film directed by Harry F. Millarde and starring Madlaine Traverse, Herbert Heyes, Murdock MacQuarrie, Lew Zehring, Mary McIvor, and Henry A. Barrows. The film was released by Fox Film Co ...

'' (1919) * '' The Love That Dares'' (1919) * ''

When Fate Decides ''When Fate Decides'' is a lost 1919 American silent drama film directed by Harry Millarde and starring Madlaine Traverse. It was produced and distributed by Fox Film Corporation. Plot Vera Loudon is married to a violent alcoholic who beats ...

'' (1919) * '' Rose of the West'' (1919) * '' The Splendid Sin'' (1919) * '' Snares of Paris'' (1919) * '' Lost Money'' (1919) * '' What Would You Do?'' (1920) * ''

The Hell Ship ''The Hell Ship'' is a 1920 American silent drama film directed by Scott R. Dunlap and starring Madlaine Traverse, Alan Roscoe, Betty Bouton, Dick La Reno, and Jack Curtis. The film was released by Fox Film Corporation in February 1920. Plo ...

'' (1920) * '' The Tattlers'' (1920) * '' The Iron Heart'' (1920) * ''

The Spirit of Good ''The Spirit of Good'' is a lost 1920 American silent drama film directed by Paul Cazeneuve and starring Madlaine Traverse. It was produced and distributed by Fox Film Corporation. Plot Nell Gordon is a New York City chorus girl who finds out ...

'' (1920) * '' The Penalty'' (1920)

References

*Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, ''Madlaine Traverse Hunts'', Sunday Morning, November 23, 1919, Section Four, Page 8. *

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...

, ''Flashes, Star Nearly Drowns'', October 4, 1918, Page II3. *Los Angeles Times, ''Madlaine Traverse Was Rather Shocked'', August 24, 1919, Page III15. *Los Angeles Times, ''Madlaine Traverse Plans Costume Innovation'', May 13, 1920, Page II7.

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Traverse Madlaine American stage actresses American silent film actresses Western (genre) film actresses Actresses from Cleveland 1875 births 1964 deaths 20th-century American actresses