Actress Gloria Swanson was born Gloria May Josephine Swanson on March 27, 1899, in Chicago, the only child of Joseph Theodore and Adelaide Klanowsky Swanson. Her father's position as a civilian supply officer with the army took the family to Key West, FL and San Juan, Puerto Rico, but the majority of Swanson's childhood was spent in Chicago.
It was in Chicago at Essanay Studios in 1914 that she began her lifelong association with the motion picture industry. She moved to California where she worked for Sennett/Keystone Studios before rising to stardom at Paramount in such Cecil B. DeMille features as Male and Female (1919) and The Affairs of Anatol (1921). At the height of her career in 1925 (already a veteran of some fifty films), she ended her long association with Paramount in order to become a partner with United Artists, independently producing her own films. Though producing artistically successful films such as Sadie Thompson (1928) and her first talkie, The Trespasser (1929), both of which earned her Academy Award nominations, the financial strains of her production companies all but ended her career. After her final United Artists feature release in 1933, she made only one other film (for Fox Films) during the 1930s.
In 1938, Swanson relocated to New York City, where she began an inventions and patents company which occupied her during the years of World War II. She made another film for RKO Radio Pictures in 1941, began appearing in theatre productions, and also had her own television show in 1948, but it was not until 1950 when Sunset Boulevard was released (earning her another Academy award nomination), that she achieved mass recognition again. The boost provided by this film resulted in a number of successes, such as appearances on Broadway in Twentieth Century, and commercial ventures, such as her line of clothing for Puritan Fashions.
Swanson made only three films after Sunset Boulevard, but starred in numerous stage and television productions during her remaining years. She was active in various business ventures, travelled extensively, wrote articles, columns, and an autobiography, painted and sculpted, and became a passionate advocate of various health and nutrition topics.
Married six times (to Wallace Beery, Herbert K. Somborn, Marquis Henri de la Falaise, Michael Farmer, William M. Davey, and William Dufty), Swanson had two daughters (Gloria Somborn and Michelle Farmer), an adoptive son (Joseph Patrick Swanson), and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren by the time of her death in New York, on April 4, 1983.
For further information on the life of Gloria Swanson, see:
Swanson, Gloria. Swanson on Swanson. New York: Random House, 1980.
Quirk, Lawrence J. The Films of Gloria Swanson. Secaucus, NJ: Citadel Press, 1984.
1899
Born Mar. 27 at Chicago, IL to Adelaide Klanowsky and Joseph
Theodore Swanson
1907
Swanson family moved to Key West, FL
1910
Swanson family moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico
1914/15
Family returned to Chicago; Gloria graduated from Lincoln School
and began working for Essanay Company, where she made the following films:
His New Job; The Fable of Elvira; Farina and
the Meal Ticket (rel. Spr.);
Sweedie Goes to College (rel. Spr.);
The Romance of an American Duchess
(rel. Fall);
The Broken Pledge (rel. Fall)
1916
Moved to California after her father was transferred to Manila;
began making films at Sennett/Keystone:
A Dash of Courage (rel. Spr.);
Hearts and Sparks (rel. Spr.);
A Social Club (rel. Sum.);
The Danger Girl (rel. Sum.);
Love on Skates (rel. Sum.);
Haystacks and Steeples (rel. Fall);
The Nick-of-Time Baby (rel. Fall);
Married Wallace Beery Mar. 27 at Pasadena City Hall
1917
Features at Sennett/Keystone included:
Teddy at the Throttle (rel. Wint.);
Baseball Madness (on loan to
Universal-Victor, rel. Spr.);
The Dangers of a Bride (rel. Sum.);
The Sultan's Wife (rel. Sum.);
A Pullman Bride (rel. Fall)
1918
After leaving Sennett/Keystone, began working for the Triangle
Company, where her films included:
Society for Sale (rel. Apr.);
Her Decision (rel. May);
You Can't Believe Everything (rel.
Jul.);
Every Woman's Husband (rel. Jul.);
Shifting Sands (rel. Sep.);
Station Content (rel. Sep.);
Secret Code (rel. Oct.);
Wife or Country (rel. Dec.). After
divorcing Joseph Swanson, mother Adelaide married Matthew Burns; Swanson hired
by Famous Players-Lasky in November
1919
Features for Paramount/Famous Players-Lasky included:
Don't Change Your Husband (rel. Jan.);
For Better, For Worse (rel. May);
Male and Female (Nov.); Gloria
received a divorce from Wallace Beery, and on Dec. 20, married Herbert K.
Somborn
1920
Gloria's career at Paramount continued with these releases:
Why Change Your Wife? (rel. May);
Something to Think About (rel. Oct.);
The Great Moment (rel. Dec.); Matthew
Burns died in Aug.; first child, daughter Gloria Swanson Somborn was born Oct.
7;
1921
Upon return to work, Swanson's next Paramount vehicles were:
The Affairs of Anatol (rel. Sep.);
Under the Lash (rel. Oct.);
Don't Tell Everything (rel.
Dec.)
1922
Paramount films made included:
Her Husband's Trademark (rel. Mar.);
Beyond the Rocks (rel. May);
Her Gilded Cage (rel. Sep.);
The Impossible Mrs. Bellew (rel.
Nov.); traveled to Europe during Apr. and May
1923
Paramount releases for the year included:
My American Wife (rel. Feb.);
Prodigal Daughters (rel. Apr.);
Bluebeard's Eighth Wife (rel. Sep.);
Zaza (rel. Oct.); sued for divorce by
Somborn; adopted Sonny Smith (born Oct. 31, 1922), whom she named Joseph
Patrick Swanson; father Joseph died Oct. 2
1924
Films released included:
The Humming Bird (rel. Jan.);
A Society Scandal (rel. Mar.);
Manhandled (rel. Aug.);
Her Love Story (rel. Oct.);
Wages of Virtue (rel. Nov.)
1925
Swanson releases for Paramount were as follows:
Madame Sans-Gêne (rel. Apr.);
The Coast of Folly (rel. Sep.);
Stage Struck (rel. Nov.); while on
location in France for
Madame Sans-Gêne, Swanson met Marquis
Henri de la Falaise, whom she married January 28 (after the Somborn divorce
became final) in Passy; they returned to the United States in Apr.; Swanson
signed with United Artists on Jul. 15
1926
Swanson's contract obligations to Paramount were completed with
the release of:
Untamed Lady (rel. Mar.) and
Fine Manners (rel. Aug.); began
working at United Artists in Apr.; purchased rights to
The Eyes of Youth in Jul., which began
filming as
The Love of Sunya in Sep. at
Cosmopolitan Studios in New York and was completed in Dec.
1927
The Love of Sunya, her first United
Artists feature, was released in Mar.; purchased rights to "Miss Thompson"
and "Rain" in May; began shooting
Sadie Thompson on Jun. 29, finished
Sep. 24; previewed in San Bernardino in Nov.; met Joseph Kennedy in Nov. when
he was recommended to her as a financial advisor; began negotiations with Erich
von Stroheim in Nov. or Dec. for her next feature
1928
On the advice of Joseph Kennedy, restructured her finances and
personnel, forming Gloria Productions, Inc. on Jan. 25;
Sadie Thompson premiered in Jan. in
San Francisco; received von Stroheim's scenario for
The Swamp in Mar.; shooting on
Queen Kelly began in Nov.; received
Academy Award nomination for
Sadie Thompson
1929
von Stroheim fired Jan. 21;
Queen Kelly production continued with
Paul Stein during Mar. and Apr.; co-wrote (Apr. to May) and filmed (Jun. 4-29)
The Trespasser, her first
"talkie;" released in Oct.; production recommenced on
Queen Kelly during Nov. and Dec. with
Richard Boleslavsky; received Academy Award nomination for
The Trespasser
1930
What a Widow! began filming in Mar. or
May; released in Sep.;
Rock-a-Bye purchased in Jul.; work
continued on
Queen Kelly in Nov. with a new script
by Harry Poppe
1931
More work on
Queen Kelly during Jan., Mar., Nov.
and Dec.;
Indiscreet released in May;
Tonight or Never released in Dec.;
married Michael Farmer on Aug. 16 at Elmsford, NY
1932
Second daughter, Michelle Bridgit Farmer, born Apr. 5
1933
Final United Artists film
A Perfect Understanding released in
Feb.
1934
Herbert K. Somborn died Jan. 2; Swanson's first and only film
for Fox,
Music in the Air, released
Dec.
1937
Signed contract with Columbia Pictures in Apr.
1938
Moved to New York City where Multiprises, Inc., a patents and
invention firm, was organized on Jul. 6
1939
Daughter Gloria married Robert W. Anderson Jun. 30; sold
California home at 904 North Crescent Drive, Beverly Hills
1941
Filmed
Father Takes a Wife for RKO-Radio
Pictures, released in Sep.; moved to 920 Fifth Avenue, New York City
1942
First theatrical appearances in
Reflected Glory and
Three Curtains
1943
Appeared in play
Let Us Be Gay
1944
Appeared in play
A Goose for the Gander
1945
Married William Davey on Jan. 29
1947
Entered into an arrangement with the Haley Corporation as a
travel representative
1948
Theatrical appearance in
There Goes the Bride; hosted series
The Gloria Swanson Hour on WPIX-TV,
New York
1949
Son Joseph married Aug. 7; promoted
The Heiress for Paramount on tour;
filmed
Sunset Boulevard
1950
Sunset Boulevard released in Aug.,
Swanson went on promotional tour to support; received Neiman-Marcus Award;
attended Royal Command Performance of
Sunset Boulevard in Nov.; hosted her
own radio show,
The Gloria Swanson Show; entered into
an agreement with Puritan Fashion Corp. for a line of Gloria Swanson
dresses
1951
Nominated for an Academy Award for
Sunset Boulevard in Feb.; theatre
appearances in
Twentieth Century and
Nina; daughter Michelle married Robert
Amon Dec. 16
1952
Made
Three for Bedroom C for Warner Bros.,
released in Jun.
1953
Hosted television series
Crown Theatre; became a director of
the Independent Cancer Research Foundation
1954
Published newsletter,
Gloria Swanson's Diary
1955
Began work on a musical version of
Sunset Boulevard, to be called
Boulevard; trip to Europe on Puritan
Fashions business; wrote a series of articles for United Press while traveling;
began filming
Nero's Mistress in Nov. for
Titanus-Lux Films; named chairman of the Committee for Independent Cancer
Research
1956
Nero's Mistress released in Europe;
covered the Grace Kelly/Prince Rainier III of Monaco wedding for United
Press
1957
Again traveled in Europe on Puritan Fashions business; appeared
on
This is Your Life; performed songs
from
Boulevard on
The Steve Allen Show
1958
Recognized by Congressman James J. Delaney for her advocacy of
food additive legislation
1959
Appeared in play
Red Letter Day; incorporated Gloria
Swanson Enterprises, Inc.; became a director of the Patients' Aid Society,
Inc.
1960
Sunset Boulevard re-released
1961
Appeared in play
Between Seasons; endorsed a line of
Gloria Swanson Nylons for Sheffield Hosiery Mills
1962
Nero's Mistress released in the United States; appeared in play
The Inkwell
1963
Appeared on television show
Dr. Kildare and in play
Just for Tonight
1964
Appeared on
Kraft Suspense Theater
1965
Entered into new business venture, Gloria Swanson Essence of
Nature Cosmetics; negotiations began on proposed projects
The Duchess and the Smugs and
Here Kitty, Kitty
1966
George Eastman House held career retrospective,
A Tribute to Gloria Swanson; appeared
on
The Beverly Hillbillies and in play
The Women; Mother Adelaide died Oct.
24; work began on proposed project
Blackpoint
1967
Appearance for the New York Theater Organ Society,
From Silents to Sound; appeared in
play
Reprise
1968
Traveled to Russian and Sweden
1969
Purchased residence in Colares, Portugal
1970
Negotiations for appearance in
Coco fell through; starred on stage in
Butterflies are Free; began
arrangements for Gloria Swanson Products Corp.; puchased residence in Palm
Springs, CA
1972
Henri de la Falaise died; appeared before the House Ways and
Means Committee protesting tax rates for single persons
1973
Appeared on
The Carol Burnett Show; filmed
television movie
The Killer Bees
1974
Film retrospective at the Cinèmathéque Française in Mar.;
final feature film appearance,
Airport 1975 for Universal, released
in Oct.
1975
Son Joseph died Jul. 9; performed one-woman show
Look Back in Laughter
1976
Married William Dufty on Feb. 2; publicity tour for Dufty's book
Sugar Blues
1977
Swanson-Dufty Enterprises, Inc. formed
1978
Swanson's art exhibited in London gallery
1979
Traveled to Japan
1980
Autobiography
Swanson on Swanson published; designed
stamp cachet for the United Nations Postal Administration; chaired New York
chapter of Seniors for Reagan-Bush
1982
Sold her archive to the HRHRC in Dec.
1983
Died Apr. 4, New York City; auctions of furniture and
decorations, jewelry, fashion collection, career and personal memorabilia
Aug.-Sep. at William Doyle Gallery, New York
From the guide to the Gloria Swanson Papers TXRC93-A8., [18--]-1988, (bulk 1920-1983), (Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, University of Texas at Austin)
