At a very early age, Gladys started taking voice and dance lessons. She loved every minute of it. She was a natural performer . . . a natural comic.
Not long after her birth, her father left them and her mother, Ida, moved to Portland, Oregon to be with her sister, Minnie, and brother-in-law, Tommy. They would raise Gladys together, furthering her dreams to be a Star.
On a family vacation to Los Angeles, her Uncle Tommy kidded her about being a star, and said she should go to the Studios. They did. On the last day before they were to leave to return to Portland, Gladys was offered work with the Sunshine Comedy Company. A small two-reel comedy studio, Gladys leaped at the chance.
Her mother stayed with her as a chaperone, she was only 16 years old, and while she made quick film after film, she toured the Studios, looking for a big contract.
After just six months, Universal Studios put her under contract at $50/week. Catapulting into Stardom with her very first picture, Gladys was soon making $500/week. The ordinary blue collar working was making only $50/week.
April 13, 1903 ~ November 15, 1993
90 Exciting Years
Gladys Walton
Silent Screen Star
Her first paid performance was in The Wizard of Oz, a Fairylogue Play, when she was a child.
It was in her blood . . . she knew then that she wanted to become a Star in Silent Movies ~ but she sacrificed her career with Universal for her love affair with Al Capone!
