Rose Tapley
Encyclopedia
Rose Elizabeth Tapley was an American actress of the stage and an early heroine of silent films.
. She was the cousin of Captain Robert Bartlett, commander of the S.S. Roosevelt and the S.S. Karluk
. All of her relatives on her father's side for generations were sailors. Her grandfather's generation included nine sailing masters or captains. Tapley's mother's name was Elizabeth Stagg Riker. She was the granddaughter of Abram Polhemus, one of the founders of the old Dutch Reformed Church
in New York City
. He was a merchant marine prince as a young man. Tapley was educated in the public schools of Malden, Massachusetts
and at Boston University
.
, Chauncey Olcott, E.H. Sothern, and J.H. Stoddard. With Mansfield, Rose acted in Beau Brummel, Monsieur Beaucaire, A Parisian Romance, and First Violin. One of her most noted roles was in The Sign of the Cross.
Her first motion picture appearance was in 1905. Tapley was featured in the Thomas Alva Edison film, Wanted a Wife. Soon after she performed in the first standard two reeler, The Money Kings. She signed a contract with the old Vitagraph Company in May 1909, making her the first leading lady of movies. She was also the first star of the stage to begin a film career. She acted with Vitagraph, Famous Players-Lasky
, and for Fox Film until her retirement in 1931. Her credits number 175 films. Some of the titles are The Way of the Cross (1909), A Midsummer Night's Dream (1909), The Cave Man (1912), Every Inch A Man (1912), Mr Jarr and the Society Circus (1915), Her Majesty (1922), God's Great Wilderness (1927), His First Command (1929), and Resurrection (1931).
Tapley was frequently called the Mother of Movies. She served as official hostess at a number of motion picture expositions at different locales throughout the country. In 1916-1917 Rose toured America as a representative of the film industry. She made appearances in front of state legislatures, businesses, and women's clubs. All of this to promote interest in the quality of movies.
attorney Frank E. Holahan who died in October 1955.
She died at age 74 at the Motion Picture & Television Country Home and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California in 1956. She was survived by a daughter and three sisters. Her funeral was conducted at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, Canoga Park, California. She was buried at San Fernando Mission Cemetery.
Early life
Tapley was born in Salem, MassachusettsSalem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
. She was the cousin of Captain Robert Bartlett, commander of the S.S. Roosevelt and the S.S. Karluk
HMCS Karluk
The Karluk was an American-built brigantine which, after many years' service as a whaler, was acquired by the Canadian government in 1913 to act as flagship to the Canadian Arctic Expedition. While on her way to the expedition's rendezvous at Herschel Island, Karluk became trapped in the Arctic...
. All of her relatives on her father's side for generations were sailors. Her grandfather's generation included nine sailing masters or captains. Tapley's mother's name was Elizabeth Stagg Riker. She was the granddaughter of Abram Polhemus, one of the founders of the old Dutch Reformed Church
Dutch Reformed Church
The Dutch Reformed Church was a Reformed Christian denomination in the Netherlands. It existed from the 1570s to 2004, the year it merged with the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Kingdom of the Netherlands to form the Protestant Church in the...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He was a merchant marine prince as a young man. Tapley was educated in the public schools of Malden, Massachusetts
Malden, Massachusetts
Malden is a suburban city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 59,450 at the 2010 census. In 2009 Malden was ranked as the "Best Place to Raise Your Kids" in Massachusetts by Bloomberg Businessweek Magazine.-History:...
and at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
.
Career
Tapley performed on stage from 1900 to 1909. Her first theatrical engagement was with the Myron B. Rice Company, as Bernice, in My Friend From India. During the season of 1900 she played every other woman's part in this play. She starred with popular actors of the era such as Richard MansfieldRichard Mansfield
Richard Mansfield was an English actor-manager best known for his performances in Shakespeare plays, Gilbert and Sullivan operas and for his portrayal of the dual title roles in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....
, Chauncey Olcott, E.H. Sothern, and J.H. Stoddard. With Mansfield, Rose acted in Beau Brummel, Monsieur Beaucaire, A Parisian Romance, and First Violin. One of her most noted roles was in The Sign of the Cross.
Her first motion picture appearance was in 1905. Tapley was featured in the Thomas Alva Edison film, Wanted a Wife. Soon after she performed in the first standard two reeler, The Money Kings. She signed a contract with the old Vitagraph Company in May 1909, making her the first leading lady of movies. She was also the first star of the stage to begin a film career. She acted with Vitagraph, Famous Players-Lasky
Famous Players-Lasky
Famous Players-Lasky Corporation was an American motion picture and distribution company created on July 19, 1916 from the merger of Adolph Zukor's Famous Players Film Company -- originally formed by Zukor as Famous Players in Famous Plays -- and Jesse L...
, and for Fox Film until her retirement in 1931. Her credits number 175 films. Some of the titles are The Way of the Cross (1909), A Midsummer Night's Dream (1909), The Cave Man (1912), Every Inch A Man (1912), Mr Jarr and the Society Circus (1915), Her Majesty (1922), God's Great Wilderness (1927), His First Command (1929), and Resurrection (1931).
Tapley was frequently called the Mother of Movies. She served as official hostess at a number of motion picture expositions at different locales throughout the country. In 1916-1917 Rose toured America as a representative of the film industry. She made appearances in front of state legislatures, businesses, and women's clubs. All of this to promote interest in the quality of movies.
Personal life and death
Tapley was married to New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
attorney Frank E. Holahan who died in October 1955.
She died at age 74 at the Motion Picture & Television Country Home and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California in 1956. She was survived by a daughter and three sisters. Her funeral was conducted at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, Canoga Park, California. She was buried at San Fernando Mission Cemetery.