Neva Gerber
Encyclopedia
Neva Gerber was an American actress of the silent era
. She appeared in 128 films between 1912
and 1930
.
She was born in Chicago
, Illinois
to S. Nelson Gerber and Jean Pullman. Her parents were separated when she was young and her mother moved her to Los Angeles, California
. Neva was raised by nuns from the College of the Immaculate Heart. After her father died, Neva's impoverished mother gave guardianship of her daughter to an attorney.
After her graduation from high school, Neva became an actress and appeared in several one-reelers. Beginning in 1917, she starred in multiple serial films, and she is considered one of the top ten "serial queens" of the silent film
period. She teamed with director and actor Ben F. Wilson
in many of these productions, and starred in the first crude sound era serial, The Voice from the Sky
, also directed by Wilson. However, her career stalled after 1930 when Ben died from heart disease. She was married four times and had her first child by the age of 20. She died in Palm Springs, California
, and was buried in a pauper's grave.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
. She appeared in 128 films between 1912
1912 in film
The year 1912 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*Mack Sennett, who had previously worked as an actor and comedy director with D. W. Griffith, formed a new company with New York City entrepreneur Adam Kessel called Keystone Studios...
and 1930
1930 in film
-Events:* November 1: The Big Trail featuring a young John Wayne in his first starring role is released in both 35mm, and a very early form of 70mm film and was the first large scale big-budget film of the sound era costing over $2 million. The film was praised for its aesthetic quality and realism...
.
She was born in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
to S. Nelson Gerber and Jean Pullman. Her parents were separated when she was young and her mother moved her to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Neva was raised by nuns from the College of the Immaculate Heart. After her father died, Neva's impoverished mother gave guardianship of her daughter to an attorney.
After her graduation from high school, Neva became an actress and appeared in several one-reelers. Beginning in 1917, she starred in multiple serial films, and she is considered one of the top ten "serial queens" of the silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
period. She teamed with director and actor Ben F. Wilson
Ben F. Wilson
Ben F. Wilson , was an American film actor, director, producer and screenwriter of the silent era. He appeared in 212 films between 1911 and 1930...
in many of these productions, and starred in the first crude sound era serial, The Voice from the Sky
The Voice from the Sky
The Voice from the Sky is a science fiction film serial directed by Ben F. Wilson. The film was considered to be a lost film, but was recently rediscovered. This is the first serial film to have full sound.-Cast:...
, also directed by Wilson. However, her career stalled after 1930 when Ben died from heart disease. She was married four times and had her first child by the age of 20. She died in Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
, and was buried in a pauper's grave.
Selected filmography
- The Voice From the SkyThe Voice from the SkyThe Voice from the Sky is a science fiction film serial directed by Ben F. Wilson. The film was considered to be a lost film, but was recently rediscovered. This is the first serial film to have full sound.-Cast:...
(19301930 in film-Events:* November 1: The Big Trail featuring a young John Wayne in his first starring role is released in both 35mm, and a very early form of 70mm film and was the first large scale big-budget film of the sound era costing over $2 million. The film was praised for its aesthetic quality and realism...
) - Officer 444Officer 444Officer 444 is a 1926 film serial directed by Francis Ford and Ben F. Wilson.-Cast:* Ben F. Wilson - Officer 444* Neva Gerber - Gloria Grey* Ruth Royce - The Vulture* Al Ferguson - Dr. Blakely* Lafe McKee - Captain Jerry Dugan...
(19261926 in film-Events:*August - Warner Brothers debuts the first Vitaphone film, Don Juan. The Vitaphone system used multiple 33⅓ rpm disc records developed by Bell Telephone Laboratories and Western Electric to play back audio synchronized with film....
) - The Power God (19251925 in film-Events:*November 5: The Big Parade holds its Grand Premier*December 30: premier of Ben-Hur the most expensive silent film ever made costing 4-6 million dollars -Top grossing films :...
) - The Santa Fe TrailThe Santa Fe Trail (1923 film)The Santa Fe Trail is a 1923 Western film serial directed by Ashton Dearholt and Robert Dillon. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Jack Perrin - Kit Carson* Neva Gerber* Jim Welch * Elias Bullock* Wilbur McGaugh...
(19231923 in film-Events:*April 15 - Lee De Forest demonstrates the Phonofilm sound-on-film system at the Rivoli Theater in New York with a series of short musical films featuring vaudeville performers.-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1923:U.S.A...
) - The Screaming ShadowThe Screaming ShadowThe Screaming Shadow is a 1920 action film serial directed by Ben F. Wilson and Duke Worne. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Ben F. Wilson - John Rand * Neva Gerber - Mary Landers* Frances Terry - Nadia...
(19201920 in filmThe year 1920 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* November 27 - The Mark of Zorro, starring Douglas Fairbanks opens.-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1920:U.S.A. unless stated*The $1,000,000 Reward...
) - The Trail of the OctopusThe Trail of the OctopusThe Trail of the Octopus is a 1919 mystery film serial directed by Duke Worne.-Cast:* Ben F. Wilson - Carter Holmes* Neva Gerber - Ruth Stanhope* William Dyer - Sandy MacNab* Howard Crampton - Dr. Reid Stanhope* William A. Carroll - Omar...
(19191919 in filmThe year 1919 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*February 5 - Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and D.W. Griffith launch United Artists...
) - A Fight for LoveA Fight for LoveA Fight for Love is a 1919 Western film directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Harry Carey - Cheyenne Harry* Joe Harris - Black Michael* Neva Gerber - Kate McDougal* Mark Fenton - Angus McDougal...
(1919) - RopedRopedRoped is a 1919 Western film directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Harry Carey - Cheyenne Harry* Neva Gerber - Aileen* Mollie McConnell - Mrs. Judson-Brown...
(1919) - Three Mounted MenThree Mounted MenThree Mounted Men is a 1918 Western film directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Harry Carey - Cheyenne Harry* Joe Harris - Buck Masters* Neva Gerber - Lola Masters* Harry Carter - The Warden's Son...
(19181918 in filmThe year 1918 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*Following litigation for anti-trust activities, the US Supreme Court orders the Motion Picture Patents Company to disband....
) - Hell BentHell BentHell Bent is a 1918 Western film directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey. A print of the film exists in the Czechoslovak Film Archive.-Cast:* Harry Carey - Cheyenne Harry* Duke R. Lee - Cimmaron Bill * Neva Gerber - Bess Thurston...
(1918) - The Mystery ShipThe Mystery ShipThe Mystery Ship is a 1917 adventure film serial directed by Harry Harvey and Henry MacRae. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Ben F...
(19171917 in filmThe year 1917 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*Foundation of Universum Film AG , as a propaganda film company, in Berlin.*Technicolor System 1, a two-color process, is introduced...
) - The Voice on the WireThe Voice on the WireThe Voice on the Wire is an action film serial directed by Stuart Paton.-Cast:* Ben F. Wilson - John Shirley * Neva Gerber - Polly Marion* Joseph W. Girard - Dr. Reynolds* Francis McDonald - Red Warren* Kingsley Benedict...
(1917)