One For The Road: Happy Birthday, Gloria Swanson

By Samantha Abernethy in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 27, 2012 10:30PM

In this 1929 Chicago Daily News archival photo, actress Gloria Swanson is sitting in a desk in a classroom full of children in Chicago, holding a book in her left hand and holding up her right hand. Chicago History Museum.

Actress Gloria Swanson was born in Chicago on this date in 1899. As a child she traveled elsewhere with her father, who was in the Army. Swanson returned to Chicago, though, and her aunt took her to Essanay Studios for a visit where she got work as an extra working with the likes of Charlie Chaplin. Shortly after she moved to California, and her career took off from there.

Below is a silent comedy short from 1916 called The Danger Girl, starring Swanson. You can also watch Swanson's 1931 film Indiscreet in full on YouTube. She's also unbelievably delightful in interviews, as in this 1957 interview with Mike Wallace. Also, further below, is a video of Swanson on the Dick Cavett Show with... Janis Joplin?