Wanda Wiley

Wanda Wiley
A smiling young white woman with dark hair cut in a bob, hands resting next to her face
Wanda Wiley, from a 1926 advertisement
BornApril 20, 1901
New Boston, Texas, U.S.
DiedMarch 29, 1987 (aged 85)
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Other namesWanda Atkinson
OccupationActress
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Wanda Wiley Atkinson (April 20, 1901 – March 29, 1987)[1] was an American silent film actress who appeared in dozens of comedy shorts between 1924 and 1927.

Early life and education

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Wiley was born in New Boston, Texas, the youngest of twelve children born to James Alexander Wiley Sr. and Ida Ione Barnett Wiley. Her mother was born in Mississippi. She studied at the Texas Dental College before seeking a film career.[2][3]

Career

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Wiley was a comedian who appeared in dozens of short films between 1924 and 1927. She was athletic, and her films often featured her performing slapstick physical stunts. She suffered an injury when she was thrown from a startled horse on one film set.[4] She played a football player in Gridiron Gertie (1925).[5]

Wiley was under contract with the Century Film Corporation in 1925.[6] and was described that year as "one of the biggest individual moneymakers of all the comediennes in the picture business."[3] She signed with Bray Productions in 1926.[7] She starred in a series of "What Happened to Jane" shorts in 1926 (Jane's Inheritance, Jane's Troubles, Jane's Engagement Party, Jane's Predicament, Jane's Honeymoon, and Jane's Flirtation),[8] before she was replaced in the role by Thelma Daniels in 1927.[9]

In the 1960s, Wanda Wiley Atkinson exhibited her paintings in New Mexico, and went to Paris to paint while her niece Patricia Boward pursued a modeling career.[10]

Films

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1927

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  • Lost in a Pullman
  • Weak Knees
  • Hot Tires
  • The Speed Hound
  • A Polo Bear
  • Try and Do It
  • Thanks for the Boat Ride
  • Jane's Flirtation [11]

1926

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  • Blue Black
  • Jane's Predicament
  • Look Out Below
  • Jane's Engagement Party[12]
  • Jane's Troubles[13]
  • Punches and Perfume
  • The Fighting Fool
  • Jane's Inheritance
  • Mixed Brides
  • A Thrilling Romance
  • There She Goes
  • Twin Sisters
  • Playing the Swell[14]
  • Painless Pain
  • Yearning for Love
  • Flying Wheels
  • Her Lucky Leap

1925

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  • Going Good
  • The Speedy Marriage
  • A Winning Pair[15]
  • Cupid's Victory [16]
  • Won by Law
  • Just in Time
  • Gridiron Gertie
  • The Queen of Aces
  • Don't Worry
  • Nobody's Sweetheart [17]
  • Getting Trimmed
  • Looking Down
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1924

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  • Present Arms
  • Sweet Dreams
  • Some Tomboy
  • Snappy Eyes
  • The Trouble Fixer
  • Her Fortunate Face
  • Her City Sport
  • Starving Beauties
  • Hello, 'Frisco

Personal life and legacy

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Wiley was injured during her silent film career,[18] and in a 1925 car accident in Los Angeles.[19] She married eye surgeon Donald Taylor Atkinson in 1935. Wiley's husband died in San Antonio in 1959,[20] and she died in 1987, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 85. Most, but not all, of her films are considered lost. A Thrilling Romance (1926) is in the collection of the Library of Congress.

References

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  1. ^ Wiley's gravestone gives 1901 as her birth year; some sources give 1902 instead.
  2. ^ "Wanda Wiley Gets Much-Needed Rest". Universal Weekly. 19 (25): 35. August 2, 1924 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ a b "Takes Vacation; Wanda Wiley Goes to Parental Home in Texas". The Los Angeles Times. 1925-05-12. p. 29. Retrieved 2024-09-23 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Balducci, Anthony (2023-01-11). Lloyd Hamilton: Poor Boy Comedian of Silent Cinema. McFarland. p. 66. ISBN 978-1-4766-5088-3.
  5. ^ "Scenes from the Wanda Wiley starring vehicle Gridiron Gertie, a Century comedy released through Universal". Motion Picture News: 1156. September 5, 1925 – via Internet Archive.
  6. ^ "Wanda Wiley May be Loaned to Germany". Deseret News. 1925-03-21. p. 23. Retrieved 2024-09-23 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Bray Engages Wanda Wiley for Comedies Series" Motion Picture News 34(October 9, 1926): 1390. via Internet Archive.
  8. ^ "Stern Bros. List 1927-28 Films" Motion Picture News 34(September 18, 1926): 1097. via Internet Archive.
  9. ^ "Stern Brothers Start 'Jane', a New Series". Moving Picture World. 84 (8): 570. February 19, 1927.
  10. ^ "Mrs. Atkinson and Niece to Summer in Europe". Albuquerque Journal. 1964-07-05. p. 9. Retrieved 2024-09-23 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Sewell, C. S. (January 1, 1927). "Timely Reviews of Short Subject Productions". Moving Picture World. 84 (1): 46.
  12. ^ Thompson, Paul. "Jane's Engagement Party" (review), Motion Picture News 34(October 30, 1926): 1682. via Internet Archive
  13. ^ "Opinions on Current Productions" Motion Picture News 34(October 9, 1926): 1392. via Internet Archive
  14. ^ "Short Feature Reviews" Exhibitors' Daily Review 19(May 15, 1926): 17.
  15. ^ Smith, Chester J. "A Winning Pair" (review), Motion Picture News (October 4, 1925): 1939. via Internet Archive.
  16. ^ "New Wanda Wiley Comedy is Released" Motion Picture News (October 3, 1925): 1586. via Internet Archive.
  17. ^ "'Nobody's Sweetheart' Featuring Wanda Wiley Reaches the Screen" Universal Weekly 21(2)(February 21, 1925): 25. via Internet Archive.
  18. ^ "Movie Monthly Editor Interviews Wanda Wiley". Universal Weekly. 22 (18): 23. December 12, 1925 – via Internet Archive.
  19. ^ "Wanda Wiley Secures Publicity in Papers". Tampa Bay Times. 1925-06-21. p. 23. Retrieved 2024-09-23 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Dr. D. T. Atkinson, Eye Specialist, Dies". Shiner Gazette. 1959-03-26. p. 6. Retrieved 2024-09-23 – via Newspapers.com.
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