From canvases, the first felines in film entered the new dynamic art form of silent movies to eventually share the screen with such stars as Greta Garbo, Charlie Chaplin, Clara Bow, and Mary Pickford.
Greta Garbo and Cat
by Cecil Beaton
1951
Charlie Chaplin and Cat
Jean White and Cat
1920’s
Mary Pickford and Cat
A Maltese cat named Pepper became the first feline film star. Born under a sound stage at Keystone Studios in 1912, Pepper was discovered by Mack Sennett who introduced her to the silver screen in 1913 in “A Little Hero”.
In that film she was paired with her lifelong partner Teddy the Dog. Pepper appeared in 17 films throughout her career, and in one of her more demanding roles she played checkers with the comedian Ben Turpin.The cross eyed Turpin and Pepper appeared together in Are Waitresses Safe? (1917), Whose Little Wife are You (1918), When Love is Blind (1919), Trying to Get Along (1919), The Dentist (1919) and The Quack Doctor (1920).The cat also frequently appeared with Marie Prevost in His Hidden Purpose (1918), Never Too Old (1919), When Love is Blind (1919), and The Dentist (1919).
Marie Prevost and Pepper
Marie Prevost and Pepper
Sennett thought highly of Pepper insuring her for a record $5,000.00. Pepper remained at the studio for 16 years until her death in 1928.
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Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2014-2016 Laura Vocelle
The actress with cat labeled Clara Bow…is not Clara. It is twenties starlet , Jean White. She was not very well known but this picture keeps getting erroneously labeled as a Clara Bow pic on so many sites it’s dizzying!
Thanks for letting me know. I will check it out, and if wrong, will correct it.