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Dorothy GibsonAmerican silent film actress, model and singer
Date of Birth: 17.05.1889
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Dorothy Gibson: A Life in Film, Fashion, and the Titanic
- Modeling and Early Film Career
- The Titanic and Its Aftermath
- "Saved from the Titanic" and Film Stardom
- Later Life and Death
Dorothy Gibson: A Life in Film, Fashion, and the Titanic
Early Life and Vaudeville CareerDorothy Gibson was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, on May 17, 1889, to John E. Brown and Pauline Bozen. After her father's death when she was three, her mother married Leonard Gibson. Dorothy began her entertainment career in 1906 as a vaudeville dancer, gaining popularity on Broadway in the 1907 Ziegfeld Follies. She also became a regular chorine in Shubert Brothers productions at the New York Hippodrome.
Modeling and Early Film Career
From 1909, Dorothy posed for New York advertising illustrator Harrison Fisher, appearing on posters, postcards, magazine covers (including Cosmopolitan, The Saturday Evening Post, and Ladies Home Journal), and book illustrations. She became his favorite model, and he created her signature Gibson Girl image. In 1909, she married George Baty Jr., but they separated shortly after and remained legally married until 1916.
Dorothy's film career began in 1911 with bit parts for Independent Moving Pictures Company and Lubin Manufacturing Company. Her breakthrough came in July 1911 when she became a leading lady for Eclair Studios in the United States. Her debut film was the historical drama "Hands Across the Sea," in which she played Molly Pitcher. While that film earned her recognition, she achieved greater popularity in comedic roles. She was one of the first film actresses to manage her own publicity.
The Titanic and Its Aftermath
Gibson's most famous role was in the 1912 film "Saved from the Titanic." This was the first film ever made about the Titanic, produced swiftly and released only a month after the disaster. On March 17, 1912, Dorothy completed filming and departed with her mother for a six-week vacation in Europe. While in Italy, she received a telegram from Eclair Studios producer Jules Brulatour requesting her return to shoot more films. From Italy, Dorothy and her mother sailed to Paris, France, where they boarded the Titanic on its last voyage.
On the fateful evening of April 14, Dorothy played bridge with New York bankers Frederick Kimber Seward and William T. Sloper. Despite stewards' objections, the trio remained engrossed in their game until nearly midnight. Dorothy finally joined her mother in their stateroom, only to hear a "prolonged, sickening crunch." Evacuating with her mother, Dorothy boarded lifeboat No. 7 with Seward and Sloper. She later testified that the lifeboat was nearly empty and had a hole that was fortunately plugged with clothing.
"Saved from the Titanic" and Film Stardom
Upon Dorothy's arrival in New York, her manager convinced her to star in a film based on the disaster. Dorothy co-wrote the screenplay for "Saved from the Titanic" and wore the same clothing she had worn when she escaped—a white silk evening gown with a polo coat and jacket. The film was an enormous success in both America and Europe, but all copies were destroyed in a studio fire in 1914. During her two years in films, Gibson appeared in 16 movies (becoming one of the highest-paid actresses alongside Mary Pickford) before retiring in May 1913 to perform in the Metropolitan Opera.
Later Life and Death
In May 1913, Dorothy struck a pedestrian while driving a sports car given to her by Jules Brulatour. Their affair, which had begun in 1911, became public knowledge during the ensuing legal proceedings. Brulatour's wife filed for divorce (though they had already separated informally), which was finalized in 1915. Under pressure from both public opinion and political authorities, Brulatour married Dorothy two years later. However, their marriage was annulled in 1928, and Dorothy moved to Paris to escape the attention. She remained there for the rest of her life, except for four years during World War II when she lived in Italy. Accused of anti-Fascist sentiments, she was imprisoned in Milan's San Vittore prison but escaped with journalist Indro Montanelli and General Bartolo Zamboni. She lived out her remaining years in Paris, dying of a heart attack at the Ritz Hotel on February 17, 1946. She was buried in the Saint-Germain-en-Laye Cemetery. Dorothy Gibson's estate was divided between her mother and her lover at the time, Italian embassy attaché Emilio Antonio Ramos.
