GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN - MAE BUSCH: THE VERSATILE VAMP

Since the advent of cinema, many well-known actors have faded from the public eye due to the changes reflected in popular culture and the passing of time. Today, we are going to take a look at the life and career of one of these actors, Mae Busch, by chronicling her journey through the entertainment industry. Please enjoy.





Full name: Annie May Busch / Occupation: Actress / Born: June 18, 1891, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia / Died: April 20, 1946, in the San Fernando Valley, California, USA (aged 54) / Years active: 1912 to 1946

What do we know about her life before she started her career? Mae's parents were both performers in vaudeville. Her mother, Dora Busch (also known as Elizabeth Maria Lay), was an opera singer, while her father, Frederick William Busch, was a musician and a conductor. Together, the two of them toured with numerous companies but temporarily slowed down when they had their two children. Their first child, Dorothy, was born in 1889 and only lived for four months, whereas Mae, their second child, was born in 1891 and was with them when they left Australia for the United States in 1896. But when they arrived there, Mae's parents decided to place her in St. Elizabeth's Convent School in New Jersey because she was only six years old at the time and they both continued touring.

How did she start her career? When she turned twelve, Mae left school to join her parents in their act and they became known as the Busch Devere Trio, performing in such shows as Guy Fletch Bragdon's 'The Fixer' and Tom Reeves' 'Big Show Burlesque'. Then in 1912, Mae got her big break when she was hired to replace Lillian Lorraine as the lead female actress in the Broadway play, 'Over the River', playing opposite the popular comedian, Eddie Foy, before setting her sights on the film industry.

What happened next? Despite some confusion surrounding her silent film debut, what we do know is that in 1915, Mae Busch began working at Keystone Studios, mainly starring in one-reel and two-reel comedies like 'Hogan, the Porter' (1915) with Charles Murray and 'Love in Armor' (1915) with Charley Chase. But when she was caught in bed with the head of the studio, Mack Sennett, by one of her friends, a fellow actress, and his fiancée, Mabel Normand, she was forced to leave Keystone and look elsewhere for work. This eventually led Mae to star in more dramatic films, such as 'The Devil's Pass Key' (1920) and 'Foolish Wives' (1922), both directed by Erich von Stroheim, as well as 'The Unholy Three' (1925), starring Lon Chaney. However, when things were looking good for her life and career, Mae suffered a nervous breakdown and had to take some time off to recuperate. When she returned, though, she found work with Keystone's rival, Hal Roach Studios, by starring in a number of their comedies. Most notably, their Laurel and Hardy comedies (fourteen in total), including 'Unaccustomed As We Are' (1929), 'Sons of the Desert' (1933), and 'The Bohemian Girl' (1936). She continued to act in films for several more years until she had to retire due to ill health.

What was she best known for? During the 1920s, people often referred to Mae as the 'versatile vamp' because her expressive features, her slender frame, and her creative acting style allowed her to play a variety of different female roles, ranging from villainous vixens to sassy shopworkers. But all of that changed when she began working with Laurel and Hardy, as she was so memorable at playing Oliver Hardy's shrewish wife, which she did in four different films, that she was generally known for playing this role for the remainder of her career.

Was she married? Yes, she was married three times in total. From 1915 to 1922, she was married to the actor, Francis McDonald. Then from 1926 to 1929, she was married to the salesman, John Earl Cassell. And finally, from 1936 until her death in 1946, she was married to the civil engineer, Thomas C. Tate. Mae never had any children, but she did leave behind a lasting legacy.

How did she pass away? At the end of 1945, Mae was diagnosed with colon cancer and she spent the next five months at a sanitarium in the San Fernando Valley until she finally succumbed to her illness.

Additional information:

• Many early film directors valued Mae for her expert skill at throwing crockery.
• At the height of her fame, Mae hired a cook, a chauffeur, a private secretary, a personal publicity man, a business agent, servants for her house, and even a maid who accompanied her to work.
• During the making of the Laurel and Hardy musical comedy, 'The Bohemian Girl' (1936), the boots she wore apparently caused blisters on her feet. Eventually, her blisters became infected and she decided to sue Hal Roach Studios for her injury. But unfortunately for Mae, she lost her case and never worked with them again.
• Several years after her death, Mae's popularity was boosted by the famous comedian, Jackie Gleason, who frequently referred to her as 'The ever-popular Mae Busch'.
• Her ashes weren't claimed until the 1970s when they were discovered by members of the Laurel and Hardy fan club, the Sons of the Desert's Way Out West Tent, who paid for them to be displayed publicly with a memorial plaque at the Chapel of the Pines.
• Mae has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame that's located at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard.
• In 2014, the seemingly lost film, 'The Grim Game' (1919), was discovered, restored, and then made available to the public by Turner Classic Movies. The film stars the famous escapologist, Harry Houdini, as well as Mae Busch.

So, there you have it, folks, a quick look at the life and career of the actress, Mae Busch. Out of curiosity, have you seen any of the films Mae starred in? And if you have, which one is your favorite and why? Either way, please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section below.