Film Decline and Stage Work
Baby Peggy's film career abruptly ended in 1925 when her father had a falling out with Sol Lesser over her salary and cancelled her contract. She found herself essentially blacklisted and was only able to land one more part in silent films, a minor role in the 1926 picture April Fool.
From 1925 to 1929, Peggy enjoyed a successful career as a vaudeville performer. While her routine, which included a comedy sketch, singing and a dramatic monologue, was initially met with skepticism, it soon became a popular and respected act. Although she was prohibited from "playing the Palace" due to her young age, she appeared onstage there as a special guest. Peggy and her family toured the United States and Canada, performing in major venues, until the family tired of touring. Cary's parents feared for her health which was another reason for leaving the rough life of touring.
Her father planned on buying a ranch to convert into a high-end getaway. However the stock market crash of 1929 put an immediate halt to the plans. Having made a $75,000 deposit on the land and current property, the Montgomerys were forced to move to rural Wyoming where they lived near the Jelm Mountains. Cary found the change in pace refreshing and hoped her stage days were over. However the family struggled to make a living, and as a last ditch effort returned to Hollywood in the early 30s to the young teenaged Cary's chagrin.
Cary posed for publicity photos with Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and signed on George Ullman as her manager. Hopes of a comeback were mostly dashed by vicious rumors of a bad screen test that never took place. The entire family was forced to take extra work while Cary attended Fairfax High School. Cary loathed screen work and retired after Having Wonderful Time (1938).
Read more about this topic: Diana Serra Cary
Famous quotes containing the words film, decline, stage and/or work:
“The obvious parallels between Star Wars and The Wizard of Oz have frequently been noted: in both there is the orphan hero who is raised on a farm by an aunt and uncle and yearns to escape to adventure. Obi-wan Kenobi resembles the Wizard; the loyal, plucky little robot R2D2 is Toto; C3PO is the Tin Man; and Chewbacca is the Cowardly Lion. Darth Vader replaces the Wicked Witch: this is a patriarchy rather than a matriarchy.”
—Andrew Gordon, U.S. educator, critic. “The Inescapable Family in American Science Fiction and Fantasy Films,” Journal of Popular Film and Television (Summer 1992)
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)