Ann Christy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ann Christy (b. May 31, 1905 - d. November 14, 1987) was a motion picture actress from Logansport, Indiana. After leaving Indiana, Christy attended Polytechnic High School in Los Angeles, California.
Harold Lloyd selected her from more than fifty applicants to play his leading lady in the comedy Speedy (1928). Christy had not previously appeared in a bathing beauty contest. At the time she was nineteen and was encouraged by some friends to try acting. Earlier she had been resolved to pursue a business career. Lloyd was impressed by her naive charm and requested that she be brought to the Metropolitan studio for a test. He had searched for six months to find a successor to Jobyna Ralston. Ralston, Mildred Davis, and Bebe Daniels came to prominence as leading ladies in his comedies. Lloyd saw Christy as a typical New York City girl from the Sheridan Square section. Speedy was filmed on location entirely in New York.
Christy was awarded an Al Christie comedy leading lady film contract in May 1927. She appeared in film comedies with Bobby Vernon and Neal Burns.
A personal goal of hers was to travel around the world before she reached the age of twenty-five. She played tennis and enjoyed swimming for exercise.
In 1928 Christy was selected one of thirteen Wampas Baby Stars. The actresses were chosen as the most likely candidates of the year to realize future stardom.
In 1930 she performed in a Mack Sennett short entitled Hello, Television. Following her success in Speedy, Christy vacationed in New York. When she returned to Hollywood she discovered that she had been forgotten. She returned to acting with parts in Collegian films with Universal Pictures.
Christy sued the Herbert M. Baruch Corporation for $100,730 in damages in 1931. She said she sustained multiple fractures and other injuries when she drove her car into a ditching machine, which she contended was left on the highway by the defendants, without the proper lights. It is not clear what the verdict was.
Ann Christy died in Vernon, Texas of a heart attack in 1987, aged 82.
[edit] References
- Los Angeles Times, Harold Lloyd Finds Lead In Ann Christy, July 9, 1927, Page A7.
- Los Angeles Times, Comedy Recruits, July 17, 1927, Page J4.
- Los Angeles Times, World Travel Is Cherished Ambition Of Leading Lady, July 24, 1927, Page C13.
- Los Angeles Times, Jury Hearing Ann Christy Tale of Crash, April 15, 1931, Page A5.
- Olean, New York Evening Times, Movie Chat, June 5, 1930, Page 11.
