Winnie Lightner
Encyclopedia
Winnie Lightner was an American
motion picture actress. Perhaps her most famous role was as a gold-digger named Mabel, in Gold Diggers of Broadway (1929). Lightner was often typecast
as a wise-cracking gold-digger and was known for her talents as a comedienne and singer.
Winnie Lightner was born Winifred Reeves in Greenport, New York
, but was raised in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen
by her aunt and uncle Margaret and Andrew Hansen. She had a successful career in vaudeville and finally made it to Broadway. Winnie Lightner was the first movie performer in history ever to be censored for what she said or sang on screen rather than for anything she did visually. In 1928, she made a Vitaphone short in which she sang "We Love It", "God Help a Sailor on a Night Like This", "That Brand New Model of Mine", and "We've Got a Lot to Learn." A censorship board in Pennsylvania held the release of the film because of the content of Lightner's songs. According to film historian Alexander Walker, "Warners asked the censors to merely pass judgment on the visuals - the censors refused."
The musical Gold Diggers of Broadway was a triumph for Lightner in 1929, and made her an international star. The Warner Bros. quickly signed her up for a number of musical comedies. The first of these was Hold Everything
, a lavish all-Technicolor feature based on a Broadway hit. This was followed by She Couldn't Say No
(1930), in which Lighter was cast in a dramatic maudlin role which did not suit her talent. The picture, consequently, was not very successful. This was followed by another successful picture,The Life of the Party
which was also shot entirely in Technicolor
and was an even bigger hit than Hold Everything
. Unfortunately, by the end of 1930 audiences had grown tired of musicals. This occurred while Winnie Lightner was in the process of shooting three musicals: Sit Tight
(1931), Gold Dust Gertie
(1931) and Manhattan Parade (1932). They were all released with most of the music cut. This was especially noticeable on Sit Tight and Manhattan Parade, on which even the background music was completely removed.
In response to the change in public taste, Warner Bros. decided to try another dramatic role for Lightner; the result was a picture called Side Show
(1931), which proved to be unsuccessful. She starred in two more comedies in which she co-starred with Loretta Young
(without songs), before she left Warner Bros. In the first of these, Play-Girl
(1932), she was billed as the star with her name above the title, but in the second, She Had To Say Yes
(1933), Loretta Young received this privilege. Winnie Lightner left Warner Bros. after this to go freelance. She would play as a supporting actor in two more features, for MGM and Columbia Pictures respectively, before retiring in 1934.
She was buried in the San Fernando Mission Cemetery
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
motion picture actress. Perhaps her most famous role was as a gold-digger named Mabel, in Gold Diggers of Broadway (1929). Lightner was often typecast
Typecasting (acting)
In TV, film, and theatre, typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character; one or more particular roles; or, characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ethnic groups...
as a wise-cracking gold-digger and was known for her talents as a comedienne and singer.
Winnie Lightner was born Winifred Reeves in Greenport, New York
Greenport, New York
Greenport, New York may refer to:*Greenport, Columbia County, New York*Greenport, Suffolk County, New York...
, but was raised in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen
Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan
Hell's Kitchen, also known as Clinton and Midtown West, is a neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City between 34th Street and 59th Street, from 8th Avenue to the Hudson River....
by her aunt and uncle Margaret and Andrew Hansen. She had a successful career in vaudeville and finally made it to Broadway. Winnie Lightner was the first movie performer in history ever to be censored for what she said or sang on screen rather than for anything she did visually. In 1928, she made a Vitaphone short in which she sang "We Love It", "God Help a Sailor on a Night Like This", "That Brand New Model of Mine", and "We've Got a Lot to Learn." A censorship board in Pennsylvania held the release of the film because of the content of Lightner's songs. According to film historian Alexander Walker, "Warners asked the censors to merely pass judgment on the visuals - the censors refused."
The musical Gold Diggers of Broadway was a triumph for Lightner in 1929, and made her an international star. The Warner Bros. quickly signed her up for a number of musical comedies. The first of these was Hold Everything
Hold Everything
Hold Everything may refer to:*Hold Everything!, 1928 Broadway musical*Hold Everything *Hold Everything , defunct retail chain...
, a lavish all-Technicolor feature based on a Broadway hit. This was followed by She Couldn't Say No
She Couldn't Say No (1930 film)
She Couldn't Say No is a musical drama that stars Winnie Lightner, fresh from her success in Gold Diggers of Broadway . It was adapted from a play by Benjamin M. Kaye...
(1930), in which Lighter was cast in a dramatic maudlin role which did not suit her talent. The picture, consequently, was not very successful. This was followed by another successful picture,The Life of the Party
The Life of the Party (1930 film)
The Life of the Party is a 1930 American musical comedy film photographed entirely in Technicolor. The musical numbers of this film were cut out before general release in the United States because the public had grown tired of musicals by late 1930. Only one song was left in the picture...
which was also shot entirely in Technicolor
Technicolor
Technicolor is a color motion picture process invented in 1916 and improved over several decades.It was the second major process, after Britain's Kinemacolor, and the most widely used color process in Hollywood from 1922 to 1952...
and was an even bigger hit than Hold Everything
Hold Everything
Hold Everything may refer to:*Hold Everything!, 1928 Broadway musical*Hold Everything *Hold Everything , defunct retail chain...
. Unfortunately, by the end of 1930 audiences had grown tired of musicals. This occurred while Winnie Lightner was in the process of shooting three musicals: Sit Tight
Sit Tight
Sit Tight is an all-talking musical comedy film. It was originally completed as a full musical. Due to the backlash against musicals, however, all the songs were cut from the film except for one in all release prints in the United States.-Plot:Winnie Lightner is the head of a health clinic and...
(1931), Gold Dust Gertie
Gold Dust Gertie
Gold Dust Gertie is an All-Talking musical comedy released by Warner Brothers. It was originally completed as a full musical. Due to the backlash against musicals, however, all the songs were cut from the film in all release prints in the United States...
(1931) and Manhattan Parade (1932). They were all released with most of the music cut. This was especially noticeable on Sit Tight and Manhattan Parade, on which even the background music was completely removed.
In response to the change in public taste, Warner Bros. decided to try another dramatic role for Lightner; the result was a picture called Side Show
Side Show (film)
Side Show is a 1931 all-talking musical comedy film starring Winnie Lightner and Charles Butterworth and released by Warner Bros.-Production:...
(1931), which proved to be unsuccessful. She starred in two more comedies in which she co-starred with Loretta Young
Loretta Young
Loretta Young was an American actress. Starting as a child actress, she had a long and varied career in film from 1917 to 1953...
(without songs), before she left Warner Bros. In the first of these, Play-Girl
Play-Girl
Play-Girl is a 1932 romantic drama film starring Winnie Lightner, Loretta Young, and Norman Foster. A young woman marries a professional gambler.-Cast:*Winnie Lightner as Georgine Hicks*Loretta Young as Buster Green Dennis...
(1932), she was billed as the star with her name above the title, but in the second, She Had To Say Yes
She Had to Say Yes
She Had to Say Yes is a 1933 pre-Code film directed by George Amy and Busby Berkley. It was Berkley's directorial debut. Loretta Young stars as a secretary who receives unwanted sexual advances when she is sent out on dates with her employer's clients...
(1933), Loretta Young received this privilege. Winnie Lightner left Warner Bros. after this to go freelance. She would play as a supporting actor in two more features, for MGM and Columbia Pictures respectively, before retiring in 1934.
She was buried in the San Fernando Mission Cemetery
San Fernando Mission Cemetery
The San Fernando Mission Cemetery is a Catholic cemetery located at 11160 Stranwood Avenue in the Mission Hills community of the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, California, near the San Fernando Mission....
.