Ethelmary Oakland

Actor

Active: 1916

About Ethelmary Oakland

Ethelmary Oakland was a child actor during the silent film era, appearing briefly in 1916. Her only known credited role was in the Fox Film Corporation production 'The World and the Woman' starring the legendary Theda Bara. As a young performer in the early days of Hollywood, she was part of the transition from stage to screen that many child actors experienced during this period. Her career appears to have been extremely brief, spanning only the single year of 1916, which was not uncommon for child actors of the silent era who often appeared in just one or two films before returning to normal childhoods. The film she appeared in was a significant production for its time, featuring one of the era's biggest stars in Theda Bara, known as 'The Vamp.' Like many child performers from this period, detailed records of her life and career are scarce, reflecting the limited documentation kept for minor players in early Hollywood.

The Craft

Milestones

  • Appeared in 'The World and the Woman' (1916) starring Theda Bara
  • Worked with major silent film studio Fox Film Corporation

Best Known For

Iconic Roles

  • Little Girl in 'The World and the Woman' (1916)

Must-See Films

  • The World and the Woman (1916)

Working Relationships

Worked Often With

  • Theda Bara
  • Frank Lloyd (director)

Studios

  • Fox Film Corporation

Why They Matter

Impact on Culture

As a child actor from the silent era, Ethelmary Oakland represents the thousands of young performers who briefly participated in early Hollywood's formative years. While her individual impact was minimal due to her extremely brief career, she was part of the broader phenomenon of child actors in silent cinema who helped studios create family-friendly content and added emotional depth to dramatic narratives. Her appearance in a major Theda Bara film places her within the context of early Hollywood's star system and the era's fascination with melodramatic storytelling.

Lasting Legacy

Ethelmary Oakland's legacy is primarily that of a representative figure from the vast pool of child actors who populated silent films. Like many minor performers from this period, her contribution to film history is documented only through film archives and cast lists, serving as a reminder of the countless individuals who participated in cinema's early development. Her story illustrates the transient nature of child stardom in the silent era, where many young performers appeared briefly before disappearing from public record.

Who They Inspired

Due to her extremely brief career and limited documentation, there is no evidence of Ethelmary Oakland having influenced other performers or filmmakers. Her influence is limited to her contribution to a single film production during the silent era.

Off Screen

Very little is documented about Ethelmary Oakland's personal life, which is typical for child actors from the silent era who had brief careers. Like many young performers of this period, she likely returned to a normal childhood and education after her brief appearance in films.

Did You Know?

  • Her only known film appearance was in 1916, making her one of the briefest careers in Hollywood history
  • She appeared alongside Theda Bara, one of the silent era's biggest stars and original 'vamp'
  • The film she appeared in was produced by Fox Film Corporation, one of the major studios of the silent era
  • Her role was simply credited as 'Little Girl' in the film
  • Child actors in silent films often earned very little and were sometimes not even credited in films
  • The film she appeared in was directed by Frank Lloyd, who would later win multiple Academy Awards
  • Silent era child actors often worked without the legal protections that would later be established
  • Many child actors from this period returned to normal lives after brief film careers

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Ethelmary Oakland?

Ethelmary Oakland was a child actor from the silent film era who appeared in only one known film, 'The World and the Woman' (1916). She played the role of 'Little Girl' in this Fox Film Corporation production starring Theda Bara.

What films is Ethelmary Oakland best known for?

Ethelmary Oakland is known exclusively for her appearance in 'The World and the Woman' (1916), a silent drama starring Theda Bara and directed by Frank Lloyd. This appears to be her only credited film role.

When was Ethelmary Oakland born and when did she die?

Specific birth and death dates for Ethelmary Oakland are not documented in historical records, which is common for minor child actors from the silent era. Her only known film work dates from 1916.

What awards did Ethelmary Oakland win?

There are no records of Ethelmary Oakland receiving any awards or nominations for her brief film work. This was typical for child actors in minor roles during the silent era.

What was Ethelmary Oakland's acting style?

Due to the limited documentation of her work and the fact that only one film appearance is known, there is insufficient information to determine her specific acting style or techniques.

Why did Ethelmary Oakland's career end so quickly?

While specific reasons are unknown, it was common for child actors in the silent era to have extremely brief careers, often appearing in just one or two films before returning to normal childhoods and education.

Learn More

Films

1 film