Mary Carlisle (1912- )

[salus]

Happy 101st Birthday to Mary Carlisle who after a few bit roles in silent films, worked in talkies from 1930-1943

[westegg]

Mary Carlisle, if you're reading this--have a happy!

[missdupont]

She doesn't read Nitrateville, but she's doing well. A friend of mine visits her often and hosts the Mary Carlisle FB page. He took her out to lunch for her birthday Saturday and got her a mani/pedi. They watch her films from time to time too.

[westegg]

Nice to know! Thanks!

[Nick]

ls there a reliable source in which it states that Mary Carlisle was in silent films?

[Rob]

ls there a reliable source in which it states that Mary Carlisle was in silent films?

Not that I know of. I seem to remember - years ago - Mary telling me that her very first film work was in THE COLLEGIANS series of shorts in 1928 / 29. She got into films with the help of her distinguished film editor Uncles, Grant (Whytock) and Bob (Carlisle). Grant worked most notably for Rex Ingram, Bob worked at Universal. Since THE COLLEGIANS was a Universal series, It's likely you'd spot her in one or more of those shorts if you could see the entire series in good quality prints.

Later, Grant and Bob helped Mary's husband Jim Blakeley transition from his Hollywood acting and WW2 service into film editing, which he continued doing out at 20th Century Fox almost up until the day he died in 2007.

Rob

[Richard M Roberts]

ls there a reliable source in which it states that Mary Carlisle was in silent films?

Not that I know of. I seem to remember - years ago - Mary telling me that her very first film work was in THE COLLEGIANS series of shorts in 1928 / 29. She got into films with the help of her distinguished film editor Uncles, Grant (Whytock) and Bob (Carlisle). Grant worked most notably for Rex Ingram, Bob worked at Universal. Since THE COLLEGIANS was a Universal series, It's likely you'd spot her in one or more of those shorts if you could see the entire series in good quality prints.

Later, Grant and Bob helped Mary's husband Jim Blakeley transition from his Hollywood acting and WW2 service into film editing, which he continued doing out at 20th Century Fox almost up until the day he died in 2007.

Rob

Jim Blakeley was a hoot. At the last Cinecon Banquet I forced myself to endure (2002 I think), I sat next to him and Mary at a table along with Kathryn Crosby, Stanley Rubin and his wife, MIke Schlesinger and Terri Reiger. The thing was held at an 'Under 21 Club" in the Hollywood HIghland Shopping Mall and moving along at it's usual snails pace. Mary and Kathryn Crosby were happily chatting away about Bing and other stuff, and at one point Jim looks at me with this pained look on his face. I looked back at him and said "I'm bored too", which got a great laugh from him. We then started chatting, and at one point, he leans forward and says, "Can we get a drink in here anywhere? " They had set up an "Over 21" bar for the evening at the front, but no cocktail waiters apparently were taking orders. so I told him of this, and he slips me a $20 bill and says "What do you drink?" I say "margaritas", and he says "make it two!". So then I spent the rest of the evening guzzling margaritas and talking about film editing, the Batman TV show, and all sorts of stuff with JIm, one of the few good times I ever had at a Cinecon Banquet.


RICHARD M ROBERTS

[Rob]

Richard wrote: "Jim Blakeley was a hoot"

He sure was. One time when I was over at their house the phone started ringing and Jim ignored it, even though there was an extension right across from where he was sitting. Finally after about seven rings he yelled, "MARY! GET THE PHONE!"

I asked him why he did not pick it up and answer himself. "Everyone who calls is one of Mary's friends, and all they do is talk, talk talk for hours on end. I never answer the phone."

Another time I was over for dinner and Bill Bakewell was there as well. As soon as I was introduced to Bill, he said, "let me tell you about my experiences making ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT." Jim suddenly had this pained look on his face and said, "Oh GOD Bill, not AGAIN!"

But that marriage was one for the ages. Mary and Jim were absolutely and completely devoted to one another. If you count from the time they started going out with one another circa 1933/34, they were together for nearly 75 years.

Rob

[Frederica]

But that marriage was one for the ages. Mary and Jim were absolutely and completely devoted to one another. If you count from the time they started going out with one another circa 1933/34, they were together for nearly 75 years.

Rob

What a nice Valentine's Day story, thank you.

[Rob]

What a nice Valentine's Day story, thank you.

My pleasure.

Mary and Jim - two of the finest and most remarkable people I have ever had the good fortune to include as my friends.

Rob

[AuntieFran]

This is an inquiry. I'd been told my grandmother worked (as a maid) for "a movie actress". While going thru some of her papers (working on family tree) I found a card for Mary Carlisle, and some other documents w/the following addresses:
308 So. Highland Avenue
Los Angeles
805 N. Bedford Street
Los Angeles
(I believe, I also have another document w/Beverly Hills address.)

I'm wondering IF either of these was an address for Mary Carlisle. Needless to say, I was astounded to learn she is till alive?

AF

[Rob]

This is an inquiry. I'd been told my grandmother worked (as a maid) for "a movie actress". While going thru some of her papers (working on family tree) I found a card for Mary Carlisle, and some other documents w/the following addresses:
308 So. Highland Avenue
Los Angeles
805 N. Bedford Street
Los Angeles
(I believe, I also have another document w/Beverly Hills address.)

I'm wondering IF either of these was an address for Mary Carlisle. Needless to say, I was astounded to learn she is till alive?

AF

When I knew Mary and Jim they lived on the 500 block of North Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, and had been there for many years before I first met Mary in the mid 1970s.

Rob

[AuntieFran]

Rob,
Thanks, I realized later I should have given a time line. My g'mother worked as a house maid before and after WWII. OMG, I just went back and read the document for date... on the back, and found Mary Carlisle and a N.Camden Dr address in L.A. document dated 26 Feb 1942. (Mary is listed as employer). I started to write much more here... but deleted as this is really a "forum"? and not the place.

I seriously, doubt she would remember that far back, BUT I have a reason for wanting to talk to her IF she IS cognizant. To whom should I address my request (I WILL give reason for request and show documentations).

[AuntieFran]

Rob and others,

Apologize.. I sent request last night and in the morning light I realize my msg sound a bit "ominous"... it's really a simple selfish request. I have several pictures from G'mother that were UNidentified. I've managed to figure out some (one just yesterday). There are several pictures of one (Asian) lady, nicely dressed and one appears to have been taken in a "grand" house. As I said, our g'mother was a housemaid and over the years (she died @1959) we've wondered who this lady was. My thought was at least the one picture may have been taken in Mary's house. Main question is might Mary know if this lady was a relative and where (city) she was from. There is also a single picture of an older Causcasian man.. where might I see a later picture of Mary's husband. Interestingly, tho I found at least two cards w/Mary's name... NO pictures of her.

AF

[Rob]

You can write to her in care of the Motion Picture Country Home and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. Also, if you post your photos here on Nitrateville, maybe someone will be able to identify the people in them.

Rob

[AuntieFran]

Rob,

Thanks muchly, will send letter and copy of pictures and document (which has Mary Carlisle's name listed).

In the meantime... I'm NOT totally techie illiterate.. and I can't see where I attach a pix here?! OR can I "paste" it into this writing space?

AF

P.S. Wish I had thought to follow up on this years ago... and for the last eleven years I've been in So Cal often, usually at least once a month.

[AuntieFran]

Okay, I finally realized need to open reply box to see options. BUT first attempt= pdf not allowed, second file too large. Will have to consult my son when he comes Wed. FWIW: I found another card w/pix of a dog and "eh.fritty".. forgotten seeing that before.

AF

[silentfilm]

Here is some information on how to post photos. They must be hosted on a website like Flickr or Tumblr.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=15177

[AuntieFran]

Thanks, Bruce... will take a look at it

af

[AuntieFran]

Okay, my son helped me upload this pix (one of several I had of this lady). Actually, wanted to post the one on the "staircase". HOPE someone might know this lady. When I figure out, will post the pix of the Caucasian man. I'm assuming this lady might be Japanese.

Thanks, for your patience.

AF

[AuntieFran]

Okay... I'm w/o benefit of techie son and can't seem to follow directions... he'll be here Sat will try again. I DO have pix of Caucasian man and Mary Carlisle's card w/dog pix.

FWIW: I do now think the lady was just a well-dressed friend of G'ma... and suspect the man might be husband of another post war employer. Believe both pixs were taken either very late 30's or early 40's. "Document" indicates G'ma was employed by Mary @ 1942.

Would be interested in any info on the Mary's card w/dog.

[AuntieFran]

Here is the pix of the unidentified Caucausian man and also scanned the Mary Carlisle card w/dog ... would appreciate any info about this card... the other two are plain w/just her name.

[Rob]

Sorry, I have no idea who the man is.

Rob

[AuntieFran]

Rob,

Thanks, I'm not much on men's fashions... in keeping w/the "time" of these postings... from the man's suit, might you be able to guesstimate when this photo was taken?

AF

[FrankFay]

Judging from the suit & the general look of the photo, I'd say it was taken in the 40's but it's hard to pin it down- men would ( and still do) wear suits for many years and conservative men's styles didn't change radically.

[AuntieFran]

Eric,

Thanks, SIGH... I'm not doing well AND I've imposed on the kind folks here, who have indulged my queries.

THANKS to Y'ALL

af

[Jim Roots]

Judging from the suit & the general look of the photo, I'd say it was taken in the 40's but it's hard to pin it down- men would ( and still do) wear suits for many years and conservative men's styles didn't change radically.

That suit could be as early as the 1920s -- it looks like something Charley Chase might wear. It's definitely common among prosperous men of the 1930s, as you can see tonnes like it being worn in gangster films (police detectives seem to have been always wearing them in Cagney - Robinson films of the period). And as Frankie suggests, it was certainly common in the 1940s up until the end of the war. Not so much thereafter.

That's a pretty broad selection of time, but it's true men's business suits just never seem to change much. I'm still being complimented on a suit I bought in 1986!

Jim

[Rick Lanham]

A very short interview with Mary Carlisle is on YouTube. It is from May 2013:



Some of Mary's movies are on YouTube, just search for her name on a
page of the actual YouTube site.

Rick

[AuntieFran]

THANKS, I had looked around... DUH... didn't think to look on You Tube... WILL check it out. Mainly, I was trying to find other pictures of Mary and James Blakely.

WELLL... my cousin said I was BOLD... I think he meant NERVY... Short story short... I was able to lv msg for "anyone related to James Blakely family that lived at... @ WWII"... got a REPLY from James Blakely Jr... Mary's SON!! I will be sending him pictures and other info... hoping maybe the others were friends of Mary and/or James. He was very nice and understanding as he also is working on their family tree... ...

AGAIN... MANY THANKS for ALL of your PATIENCE... will check back later... and "report" on what my "long shot" results in... I am 74 and was born AFTER the events I'm trying to reconstruct... meaning not many still around and/remember!!

[Rob]

Just so you are aware, the proper spelling is "Blakeley", not "Blakely".

An easy mistake to make!

Rob