Dan Maines
Actor
About Dan Maines
Dan Maines was a brief actor during the late silent film era, appearing in only two known films in 1927. His career appears to have been extremely short-lived, coinciding with the transition period between silent films and the emerging sound era. Maines appeared in 'Broke in China' and 'A Small Town Princess,' both released in 1927, but seemingly vanished from the film industry after this single year of activity. Like many supporting actors and bit players of the silent era, his career was likely cut short by the technological and industry changes that came with the advent of sound. Little documentation exists about his background, training, or what became of him after his brief film appearances. His story represents the thousands of performers who briefly graced the silver screen during Hollywood's formative years but left little trace in the historical record.
The Craft
Milestones
- Appeared in 'Broke in China' (1927)
- Appeared in 'A Small Town Princess' (1927)
Best Known For
Must-See Films
Why They Matter
Impact on Culture
Dan Maines represents the thousands of anonymous performers who contributed to early Hollywood cinema but left little lasting impact on the industry. His brief career during the pivotal year of 1927 places him at the cusp of the silent-to-sound transition, a period that saw the end of many careers as the industry adapted to new technologies. While his individual contributions were minimal, actors like Maines formed the essential backbone of studio productions, providing the supporting performances that allowed star actors to shine.
Lasting Legacy
Dan Maines' legacy is primarily as an example of the transient nature of early Hollywood careers, particularly for supporting actors during the silent era. His story illustrates how many performers briefly appeared in films during cinema's formative years but were quickly forgotten, their contributions lost to time except for the brief credits in surviving film archives. He represents the anonymous masses who helped build the film industry but whose names have faded into obscurity.
Who They Inspired
Given his extremely brief career with only two known film appearances, Dan Maines likely had minimal direct influence on other performers or the film industry. His career serves more as a historical example of the challenges faced by bit players during the transitional period of 1927, when many silent film actors found their careers ending as the industry moved toward sound pictures.
Off Screen
Very little is known about Dan Maines' personal life, which is typical for many bit players and supporting actors from the silent era who had brief careers. Like many performers of his era, he may have been drawn to Hollywood during the film boom of the 1920s but failed to establish a lasting career during the industry's transition to sound.
Did You Know?
- Dan Maines' entire known film career consists of only two movies, both released in 1927
- Both of his known films were produced during the pivotal transition year when 'The Jazz Singer' revolutionized cinema with sound
- Like many silent era actors with brief careers, no photographs or extensive biographical information about him appear to survive
- His career spanned exactly one year, making him one of Hollywood's most briefly active performers
- The lack of information about him is typical for supporting actors from the silent era who did not achieve star status
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Dan Maines?
Dan Maines was an American actor who had an extremely brief career in the late silent film era, appearing in only two known films in 1927 before disappearing from the industry.
What films is Dan Maines best known for?
Dan Maines appeared in only two known films: 'Broke in China' (1927) and 'A Small Town Princess' (1927), both silent features from his single year of activity.
When was Dan Maines born and when did he die?
Dan Maines' birth and death dates are unknown, which is common for many bit players and supporting actors from the silent era who left minimal historical records.
What awards did Dan Maines win?
Dan Maines did not receive any known awards or nominations during his brief film career, which was typical for supporting actors of his era.
What was Dan Maines' acting style?
There is no documented information about Dan Maines' acting style, as his career was too brief and his roles too minor to leave any lasting critical assessment.
Why did Dan Maines' career end after 1927?
While the exact reason is unknown, Dan Maines' career ended in 1927, likely due to the industry's transition to sound films which ended many silent era actors' careers.
Learn More
Films
2 films
