#frank mayo biography written by me

[from1837to1945]

<Frank Mayo's biography> (written by me)

Frank Mayo's grandfather, Frank Mayo's father and Frank Mayo (Photoplay, May 1920)

Frank Mayo's grandfather Frank Maguire Mayo, one of the foremost American actors of a generation ago, is still remembered for his sterling characterizations in ''Davy Crockett" and "Puddin' Head Wilson." His son Edwin Frank Mayo also was a famous stage actor. In 12 September, 1888, he married an actress, Frances Graham. Her real name was Frances Johnstone. The daughter of George Lorimer Johnstone, Sr., and Frances Hoy.

Frank Mayo was born in 28 June, 1889. He was the only child. He had happened to be christened "Lorimer Frank." When he was young, he wanted his family to call him "Lorimer" instead of "Frank." So he was called "Lormy" when he was young. He was born in New York City, but during the years of his young boyhood home to him meant the little Pennsylvania town, Canton. He spent time there while his parents were "on tour."(*Motion Picture Magazine, Jan 1918)

Mr. Frank Lorimer Mayo in Wild Oranges (1924) / at age ten (Motion Picture Magazine, Jan 1919)

His grandfather was died June 9, 1896. Lormy was on the train with him when he died.(*Moving Picture World, 1 Jan 1916) Lormy was placed in a military school in Peekskill, New York.(*Motion Picture Magazine, Sep 1920) Lormy remembered Belle Stoddard Johnston (wife of Frank Mayo's uncle, Paul Manifee Johnstone) as “like a mother to me than aunt.” He said, "At the time I was sent to school at Peekskill my mother and father were both on the road, while my aunt had married Manifee Johnstone and decided to retire from the stage for a while. So I was left in my aunt's care for many years. Whenever my parents played in any city near New York my aunt would take me to visit them, and always on Christmas and at Easter time we would join my father and mother wherever they happened to be."(*The Canaseraga Times, Canaseraga, New York, Oct 1, 1920) Decades later, Lormy wrote "Isabelle Johnstone(aunt)" on the space 'Name and address of person who will always know your address' on his WW2 draft registration, and here 'Isabelle Johnstone' may have meant Belle Stoddard.

Later, his father died February 19, 1900. He and his mother left United States and spent several years traveling thru Europe. Few years later, they were settled in Liverpool, England. He attended Bebington college there.(*Motion Picture Magazine, Sep 1920)

According to England and Wales, Census, 1911, his mother, Frances Johnstone, may have remarried in England to a man named Palmer and had a child named Spencer Palmer in 1907.

Lormy's uncle, George Lorimer Johnston, Jr., who worked as a producer at the Santa Barbara Film Company(=American Film Manufacturing Company=Flying “A” Studios), invited Frank Mayo to join him, so Frank Mayo left his mother in England for the United States to join his uncle.(*Motion Picture Magazine, Sep 1920)

Lormy. (*The Moving Picture World, 1 Jan 1916)

In terms of his early career, Mayo worked first at American Film Manufacturing Company, then at Selig. And then, he was at Balboa during 1916-17. He was often co-starred with Ruth Roland at Balboa. Mr. Mayo was described as "a very quiet, unassuming young man."(*The Moving Picture World, 23 Jan 1915) During his early film career, Lormy, the sole survivor of the Mayo clan, unintentionally rode on his grandfather's coattails, being labeled "the grandson of theater actor Frank Mayo."

Lormy was likely signed with World in 1918. At World, Mr. Mayo was usually portrayed as villain characters and often co-starred with June Elvidge.

Since about 1919, Lormy started to work for Universal. But there wasn't enough insistent demand for Mayo to warrant owner of Universal Pictures, Carl Laemmle's giving him a raise and retaining his service.(*Screenland, Feb 1924) Anyway, Mayo reportedly worked at Universal Studios for three years. "Mayo is shaking the dust of Universal City from his feet forever."(*Photoplay, Jan 1923)

"Out of Universal, Mayo sold his services to Goldwyn for several times the amount he received at Universal City. But he didn't sign as a star; he signed as a supporting player. In other words, Goldwyn considers Frank Mayo several times more valuable to have around the studio than did Universal."(*Screenland, Feb 1924) His career took a downward spiral at least since 1925. "He's tall, dark, with grey eyes; has a most impressive manner, and looks just a wee bit bored with life in general," one person described him of the time.(*Screenland, May 1925)

<Mayo's complicated relationships with women> (written by me)

His first wife was Joyce Eleanor Moore. They were married in England.(*Photoplay, Apr 1917)

Joyce Moore and Frank Mayo in a group photo of Balboa Players at a ball at the Hotel Virginia. (*The Moving Picture World, 4 March 1916)

Later, they moved to America and worked at Balboa Studios. One article describes Joyce Moore's conjugal pastime was throwing lamps at her husband.(*Motion Picture Magazine, January 1922) In 1919, they are separated. In 1920, Joyce Moore charged Dagmar Godowsky, a vamp-type actress and a daughter of famous pianist Leopold Godowsky, with being the home-breaker.(*Photoplay, May 1920) Frank Mayo married Dagmar Godowsky in Tia Juana three days after his interlocutory decree. In other words, Mayo has gone through the ceremony before his divorce decree became final. The wedding day was October 1, 1921.

Like Rudolph Valentino, Henry Walthall (When Mr. Walthall was enjoined from marrying in that state for a year after his divorce from his wife Isabelle in California, after 5~10 days later he fled to Indiana and married his mistress, Mary Charleson, who had given birth to his baby Mary Patricia eight months earlier and was raising her.), Mayo was investigated for bigamy and had the disgrace of having his photo published in the newspapers alongside those two people.

Frank Mayo was against Dagmar working. "I don't believe a woman should work after she is married.(*Photoplay, June 1922) I personally think that home life is happier for a woman's remaining in the home and making a career of domestic life; yet I sympathize with my wife's ambitions, and I know we shall continue to be happy no matter what happens,"(*Picture-Play, April 1922) Mr. Mayo said.

Frank Mayo and Dagmar Godowsky (Picture-Play, April 1922)

Frank Mayo and Dagmar Godowsky (Motion Picture Magazine, July 1922)

Frank Mayo and Dagmar Godowsky (Photoplay, April 1923)

In 1923, for some reason, Frank Mayo and Joyce Moore believed they were legally divorced. In the same year, Joyce attempted to have the decree of divorce set aside. Joyce Moore said that she was not notified of the divorce proceedings. Frank Mayo said that she was.(*Photoplay, January 1923)

Anna Luther (Motion Picture Magazine, August 1918)

In 1925, one article reported that "Here it is almost the season for brides and not a single film star has announced her engagement. More of them seem to be contemplating divorce. Dagmar Godowsky is getting one from Frank Mayo but it seems to be that the papers have been full of that for years."(*Picture-Play, Jun 1925) The event that cemented Dagmar Godowsky's decision to divorce was her husband's involvement with Anna Luther.

"Anna Luther was a Keystone-Triangle leading lady during 1915-16, who left for Foxfilm comedies and feature films in the 1920s."(*Brent E. Walker, Mack Sennett's Fun Factory, p.591) Dagmar Godowsky named Anna Luther as co-respondent in a suit brought against Frank Mayo in March 1925. Dagmar Godowsky discovered her husband with Anna Luther in his apartment. She claimed that her husband was wearing only a bathrobe and Anna Luther was trying to get dressed in a hurry. Meanwhile, Anna Luther claimed that she had been friends with Frank Mayo since the days when she was still at Keystone Studios and was merely comforting Mayo, who was suffering from a headache. "It looks pretty funny to me, Don't forget that Dagmar herself was the co-respondent in Frank Mayo's first divorce suit," unashamed and witty Anna Luther said.

In the same year, 1925, Frank Mayo applied for $2500 attorney fees to permit Joyce Moore to appear in connection with a suit between them over a property settlement that they had entered into in 1923. Joyce Moore was said to be in England and without means to come to America and appear in the suit over the contract under which Frank Mayo was to pay her $150 a week alimony. Joyce Moore also filed a motion after the interlocutory decree was entered, asking her default be set aside on the ground that she had been unable to come to America and fight the divorce suit. She was said to have been working at the time in Paris, France, as a chorus girl at a salary of $25 a week. During the arguments in the new case it developed that a final decree of divorce had never been entered.(*Photoplay, January 1925)

But it was much later that the marriage between Frank Mayo and Dagmar Godowsky was annulled.

In May 29, 1925, He is granted a final decree of divorce from Joyce Moore.

An article about the preview of the 1927 film Ragtime, directed by Scott Pembroke, reveals that the hostess of the preview was Joyce Moore. The article describes Joyce Moore as “Mrs. Frank Mayo” and “known in stage and screen circles as Joyce Mayo”.(*Moving Picture World, 27 Aug 1927)

Margaret Shorey (The Evening Independent, St. Petersburg, Florida, Dec 7, 1925)

Later, Frank Mayo married vaudeville actress Margaret Louise Shorey in August 25, 1928. They lived together according to United States Census, 1930 and United States Census in 1940.

Nevertheless, Lormy wrote "Isabelle Johnstone(aunt)" on the space 'Name and address of person who will always know your address' on his WW2 draft registration.

Lormy may have married English-born woman named Evelyn according to the United States Census, 1950.

[alrightholdtight]

One day of my life

I regret that I don't find the motivation to write more often. Because when I come back to my old blog posts I  often surprised that I've written then. Sometimes I feel silly, sometimes I feel proud. Anyways I chose to spend my free time differently: cuddling in the evening with Asa on the small sofa and reading. I made a habit out of that in the cold months. I've finished last month Anne Frank's diary and I found it extremely interesting; one of the best books that I've read this year. I still catch my mind wondering about her life or thinking about some of her letters. A few of them were describing her family's daily life in the Secret Annex, minute by minute. I just thought it's such a funny idea. A few years from now It will be so hard to remember what our daily routine looked like, except obvious things like walking Asa, cooking and doing groceries. It's almost winter holiday period, so Korre has different shifts at work again. This week it was early. 04:00 Alarm goes off for the first time 04:15 After snoozing it for a couple of times we finally had to get out of the bed. It's almost freezing outside, but we often sleep with a window open. Due to my passion for weird experiments, this week we both wore beanies in bed ;) 04:20 While Korre is walking Asa, I'm making breakfast. I soak two pots of porridge every evening: one with just 3 scoops of oats and coconut milk (or water if we're out of milk), another one contains oats, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, ground flax and chia. I add frozen berries to Korre's oats and some preserved cranberries to mine. 04:35 Korre is back from the walk, getting dressed, packing his lunch box and apple and we're having breakfast. Normally we don't get up so early, we eat later and I take my coffee with me to work. But this week we drink it together. 05:00 Korre leaves for work and I  have about 1,5 hours free. I read or I watch some TED talks while sewing and so on. 06:25 Getting ready for my work, running around between 3 floors: bathroom and my make up table is upstairs, our dressing room is in the basement. 06:55 Giving Asa her peanut butter cone, a kiss on the nose and leaving. It is extremely cold in the car, so I cover myself with a bunch of scarves and blankets. 07:05 Tanking. We have a sort of game - we always try to tank for 30.00 EUR. Today I lost by 20 cents. My fingers and hands don't respond quickly enough when it's so cold (+1 in the before the sunrise) 07:50 Work! 16:34 Finally leaving the parking and heading home. Korre suppose to be with Asa already 17:22 I usually take "small roads" through the fields and industrial zone in the end, rather than the highway. I find it more interesting and relaxing. Driving with good music calms me down. This morning and evening it's Type O Negative's first album. I'm reading a biography of Peter Steele at the moment; it goes slow since it's an Ebook and I don't like to read from the screen. But super interesting. I wish I've seen TO- when they still were playing. But yeah. 17:30 Kissing Sassle, kissing Korre, quickly taking off my dusty work clothes ( I was sanding wood today) and rushing to the kitchen. 17:50 Our dinner tonight is: soup, hummus with bread (or corn waffles for me), falafel and brussel’s sprouts with mayo. I ate too much. 18:30 Reading and chilling on the sofa, while Korre is racing. Soup for tomorrow is slowly cooking in the kitchen and I can smell it. 19:27 We just watched a new episode of BoJack Horseman and it's hilarious. I'm going to shower, while Korre is doing another race and then we'll probably start another episode. Or a movie. I've got a few films based on Phillip Dick's novels. 21:19 I got inspired in the shower and so now I'm sitting in front of the big screen and writing. I broke the screen of my laptop in the fall, so now it's connected to a PC screen and wireless keyboard. The only issue is that the keyboard is with the German alphabet.

[from1837to1945]

<Frank Mayo's biography version 2> (written by me)

Frank Mayo's grandfather, Frank Mayo's father and Frank Mayo (Photoplay, May 1920)

Frank Mayo's grandfather Frank Maguire Mayo, one of the foremost American actors of a generation ago, is still remembered for his sterling characterizations in ''Davy Crockett" and "Puddin' Head Wilson." His son Edwin Frank Mayo also was a famous stage actor. In 12 September, 1888, he married an actress, Frances Graham. Her real name was Frances Johnstone. The daughter of George Lorimer Johnstone, Sr., and Frances Hoy.

Frank Mayo was born in 28 June, 1889. He was the only child. He had happened to be christened "Lorimer Frank." When he was young, he wanted his family to call him "Lorimer" instead of "Frank." So he was called "Lormy" when he was young. He was born in New York City, but during the years of his young boyhood home to him meant the little Pennsylvania town, Canton. He spent time there while his parents were "on tour."(*Motion Picture Magazine, Jan 1918)

His grandfather was died June 9, 1896. Lormy was on the train with him when he died.(*Moving Picture World, 1 Jan 1916) Lormy was placed in a military school in Peekskill, New York.(*Motion Picture Magazine, Sep 1920) Lormy remembered Belle Stoddard Johnston (wife of Frank Mayo's uncle, Paul Manifee Johnstone) as “like a mother to me than aunt.” He said, "At the time I was sent to school at Peekskill my mother and father were both on the road, while my aunt had married Manifee Johnstone and decided to retire from the stage for a while. So I was left in my aunt's care for many years. Whenever my parents played in any city near New York my aunt would take me to visit them, and always on Christmas and at Easter time we would join my father and mother wherever they happened to be."(*The Canaseraga Times, Canaseraga, New York, Oct 1, 1920) Decades later, Lormy wrote "Isabelle Johnstone(aunt)" on the space 'Name and address of person who will always know your address' on his WW2 draft registration, and here 'Isabelle Johnstone' may have meant Belle Stoddard.

Later, his father died February 19, 1900. He and his mother left United States and spent several years traveling thru Europe. Few years later, they were settled in Liverpool, England. He attended Bebington college there.(*Motion Picture Magazine, Sep 1920)

According to England and Wales, Census, 1911, his mother, Frances Johnstone, may have remarried in England to a man named Palmer and had a child named Spencer Palmer in 1907.

Lormy's uncle, George Lorimer Johnston, Jr., who worked as a producer at the Santa Barbara Film Company(=American Film Manufacturing Company=Flying “A” Studios), invited Frank Mayo to join him, so Frank Mayo left his mother in England for the United States to join his uncle.(*Motion Picture Magazine, Sep 1920)

In terms of his early career, Mayo worked first at American Film Manufacturing Company, then at Selig. And then, he was at Balboa during 1916-17. He was often co-starred with Ruth Roland at Balboa. Mr. Mayo was described as "a very quiet, unassuming young man."(*The Moving Picture World, 23 Jan 1915) During his early film career, Lormy, the sole survivor of the Mayo clan, unintentionally rode on his grandfather's coattails, being labeled "the grandson of theater actor Frank Mayo."

Lormy was likely signed with World in 1918. At World, Mr. Mayo was usually portrayed as villain characters and often co-starred with June Elvidge.

Since about 1919, Lormy started to work for Universal. But there wasn't enough insistent demand for Mayo to warrant owner of Universal Pictures, Carl Laemmle's giving him a raise and retaining his service.(*Screenland, Feb 1924) Anyway, Mayo reportedly worked at Universal Studios for three years. "Mayo is shaking the dust of Universal City from his feet forever."(*Photoplay, Jan 1923)

"Out of Universal, Mayo sold his services to Goldwyn for several times the amount he received at Universal City. But he didn't sign as a star; he signed as a supporting player. In other words, Goldwyn considers Frank Mayo several times more valuable to have around the studio than did Universal."(*Screenland, Feb 1924) His career took a downward spiral at least since 1925. "He's tall, dark, with grey eyes; has a most impressive manner, and looks just a wee bit bored with life in general," one person described him of the time.(*Screenland, May 1925)

<Mayo's complicated relationships with women version 2> (written by me)

His first wife was Joyce Eleanor Moore. They were married in England.(*Photoplay, Apr 1917)

Joyce Moore and Frank Mayo in a group photo of Balboa Players at a ball at the Hotel Virginia. (*The Moving Picture World, 4 March 1916)

Later, they moved to America and worked at Balboa Studios. One article describes Joyce Moore's conjugal pastime was throwing lamps at her husband.(*Motion Picture Magazine, January 1922) In 1919, they are separated. In 1920, Joyce Moore charged Dagmar Godowsky, a vamp-type actress and a daughter of famous pianist Leopold Godowsky, with being the home-breaker.(*Photoplay, May 1920) Frank Mayo married Dagmar Godowsky in Tia Juana three days after his interlocutory decree. In other words, Mayo has gone through the ceremony before his divorce decree became final. The wedding day was October 1, 1921.

Like Rudolph Valentino, Henry Walthall (When Mr. Walthall was enjoined from marrying in that state for a year after his divorce from his wife Isabelle in California, after 5~10 days later he fled to Indiana and married his mistress, Mary Charleson, who had given birth to his baby Mary Patricia eight months earlier and was raising her.), Mayo was investigated for bigamy and had the disgrace of having his photo published in the newspapers alongside those two people.

Frank Mayo was against Dagmar working. "I don't believe a woman should work after she is married.(*Photoplay, June 1922) I personally think that home life is happier for a woman's remaining in the home and making a career of domestic life; yet I sympathize with my wife's ambitions, and I know we shall continue to be happy no matter what happens,"(*Picture-Play, April 1922) Mr. Mayo said.

Lormy and Dagmar (Picture-Play, Jul 1923)

Lormy and Dagmar (Motion Picture Magazine, Sep 1923)

In 1923, for some reason, Frank Mayo and Joyce Moore believed they were legally divorced. In the same year, Joyce attempted to have the decree of divorce set aside. Joyce Moore said that she was not notified of the divorce proceedings. Frank Mayo said that she was.(*Photoplay, January 1923)

Anna Luther (Motion Picture Magazine, Nov 1918)

Anna Luther (Motion Picture Magazine, Feb 1920)

In 1925, one article reported that "Here it is almost the season for brides and not a single film star has announced her engagement. More of them seem to be contemplating divorce. Dagmar Godowsky is getting one from Frank Mayo but it seems to be that the papers have been full of that for years."(*Picture-Play, Jun 1925) The event that cemented Dagmar Godowsky's decision to divorce was her husband's involvement with Anna Luther.

"Anna Luther was a Keystone-Triangle leading lady during 1915-16, who left for Foxfilm comedies and feature films in the 1920s."(*Brent E. Walker, Mack Sennett's Fun Factory, p.591) Dagmar Godowsky named Anna Luther as co-respondent in a suit brought against Frank Mayo in March 1925. Dagmar Godowsky discovered her husband with Anna Luther in his apartment. She claimed that her husband was wearing only a bathrobe and Anna Luther was trying to get dressed in a hurry. Meanwhile, Anna Luther claimed that she had been friends with Frank Mayo since the days when she was still at Keystone Studios and was merely comforting Mayo, who was suffering from a headache. "It looks pretty funny to me, Don't forget that Dagmar herself was the co-respondent in Frank Mayo's first divorce suit," unashamed and witty Anna Luther said.

In the same year, 1925, Frank Mayo applied for $2500 attorney fees to permit Joyce Moore to appear in connection with a suit between them over a property settlement that they had entered into in 1923. Joyce Moore was said to be in England and without means to come to America and appear in the suit over the contract under which Frank Mayo was to pay her $150 a week alimony. Joyce Moore also filed a motion after the interlocutory decree was entered, asking her default be set aside on the ground that she had been unable to come to America and fight the divorce suit. She was said to have been working at the time in Paris, France, as a chorus girl at a salary of $25 a week. During the arguments in the new case it developed that a final decree of divorce had never been entered.(*Photoplay, January 1925)

But it was much later that the marriage between Frank Mayo and Dagmar Godowsky was annulled.

In May 29, 1925, He is granted a final decree of divorce from Joyce Moore.

An article about the preview of the 1927 film Ragtime, directed by Scott Pembroke, reveals that the hostess of the preview was Joyce Moore. The article describes Joyce Moore as “Mrs. Frank Mayo” and “known in stage and screen circles as Joyce Mayo”.(*Moving Picture World, 27 Aug 1927)

Margaret Shorey (The Evening Independent, St. Petersburg, Florida, Dec 7, 1925)

Later, Frank Mayo married vaudeville actress Margaret Louise Shorey in August 25, 1928. They lived together according to United States Census, 1930 and United States Census in 1940.

Nevertheless, Lormy wrote "Isabelle Johnstone(aunt)" on the space 'Name and address of person who will always know your address' on his WW2 draft registration.

Lormy may have married English-born woman named Evelyn according to the United States Census, 1950.