Swanson, Gloria, 1899-1983

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)