Anita Garvin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Anita Garvin (February 11, 1907 – July 7, 1994) was an American actress and comedian who appeared in both silent and sound films. She is best known for her work with comedians Laurel and Hardy and Charley Chase. Garvin was born in New York City.] Her two sisters who danced in vaudeville encouraged her talents. At age 12, she lied to an agent saying she was "almost sixteen" and got a job being a bathing beauty for one of Mack Sennett's stage shows. The following year she joined the Ziegfeld Follies. She took pride in being the only woman allowed to touch Will Rogers's ropes. She also appeared in Earl Carroll Vanities. Garvin went on tour with the musical Sally staying with the show for two seasons, then decided to stay in California when the tour left that stop in 1924. In Hollywood, Garvin began working for Christie Film Company's comedies. She recalled her co-star Bobby Vernon dropping butter on the floor onto which she stepped and tumbled, cementing her career as a comedian. Charles Lamont brought her over to work for Educational Pictures. In 1926, Hal Roach took her under contract, where she appeared in many silent films with Charley Chase, James Finlayson, and Max Davidson as well as playing occasional supporting roles in feature films. Standing around 6 feet tall, "her regal countenance and deadpan expression" made her the perfect comic foil. Roach later considered her "one of his finest actresses." Reflecting upon her frequent co-star Stan Laurel, Garvin observed: "One thing about Stan--with apologies to a lot of directors--they thought they were directing him. And they thought they were directing the picture. But Stan was the one...He was very clever about it. The director was never cognizant of the fact that he was not doing all the directing. Stan's mind was going all the time, always thinking of gags and things to do. The script didn't mean a thing." Garvin appeared in a total of eleven Laurel and Hardy films. In 1928, she was teamed with Marion Byron as a short-lived female version of Laurel and Hardy. Along with Edgar Kennedy, Byron and Garvin appeared in A Pair of Tights, an "acknowledged masterpiece."
Filmography
Laurel & Hardy: Year Two
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
Laurel & Hardy: Year Two
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
Bested by a Beard
as Mrs. Vivian Errol
Bested by a Beard
as Mrs. Vivian Errol
A Chump at Oxford
as Mrs. Vandevere (uncredited)
A Chump at Oxford
as Mrs. Vandevere (uncredited)
Home Boner
Home Boner
Topper
Topper
Sleepless Hollow
as Harry's Wife
Sleepless Hollow
as Harry's Wife
While the Cat's Away
as Emma
While the Cat's Away
as Emma
Merry Wives of Reno
as Male-Seeking Woman in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
Merry Wives of Reno
as Male-Seeking Woman in Hotel Lobby (uncredited)
His Silent Racket
as Mrs. Finlayson
His Silent Racket
as Mrs. Finlayson
Asleep in the Feet
as Dance Hall Hostess
Asleep in the Feet
as Dance Hall Hostess
The Millionaire Cat
as Natalie
The Millionaire Cat
as Natalie
Yoo-Hoo
as Anita
Yoo-Hoo
as Anita
Show Business
as Anita Garvin
Show Business
as Anita Garvin
The Hollywood Handicap
The Hollywood Handicap
Murder at Midnight
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Murder at Midnight
as Party Guest (uncredited)
The Skulls
as Señora Laurel
The Skulls
as Señora Laurel
Be Big!
as Mrs. Laurel (uncredited)
Be Big!
as Mrs. Laurel (uncredited)
The Chiselers
as Mme. Laurel
The Chiselers
as Mme. Laurel
Whispering Whoopee
as Miss Garvin
Whispering Whoopee
as Miss Garvin
Blotto
as Mrs. Laurel
Blotto
as Mrs. Laurel
Sally
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Sally
as Party Guest (uncredited)
Dynamite
as Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Dynamite
as Undetermined Role (uncredited)
Red Hot Rhythm
as Mable
Red Hot Rhythm
as Mable
Stepping Out
as The Date
Stepping Out
as The Date
Hunting the Hunter
Hunting the Hunter
Our Modern Maidens
as Bridesmaid (uncredited)
Our Modern Maidens
as Bridesmaid (uncredited)
The Single Standard
as Packy's Jealous Girlfriend at Art Exhibition (uncredited)
The Single Standard
as Packy's Jealous Girlfriend at Art Exhibition (uncredited)
Modern Love
as Mrs. Weston - the Brunette
Modern Love
as Mrs. Weston - the Brunette
On With the Show!
as Chorine (uncredited)
On With the Show!
as Chorine (uncredited)
Movie Night
Movie Night
The Charlatan
as Mrs. Paynter
The Charlatan
as Mrs. Paynter
Trent's Last Case
as Ottilie Dunois
Trent's Last Case
as Ottilie Dunois
Off to Buffalo
as Mrs. Brown
Off to Buffalo
as Mrs. Brown
A Pair of Tights
as Anita
A Pair of Tights
as Anita
Going Ga-Ga
as Anita
Going Ga-Ga
as Anita
Feed 'em and Weep
Feed 'em and Weep
Imagine My Embarrassment
Imagine My Embarrassment
Roaming Romeo
as The Princess
Roaming Romeo
as The Princess
Their Purple Moment
as Oliver's Girlfriend
Their Purple Moment
as Oliver's Girlfriend
Fandango
Fandango
From Soup to Nuts
as Mrs. Culpepper
From Soup to Nuts
as Mrs. Culpepper
The Battle of the Century
as Slips on pie (uncredited)
The Battle of the Century
as Slips on pie (uncredited)
Fighting Fathers
as Mrs. Sniffleblaster
Fighting Fathers
as Mrs. Sniffleblaster
Assistant Wives
as Gwendolyn - the Flapjack Queen
Assistant Wives
as Gwendolyn - the Flapjack Queen
Hats Off
as Customer at top of stairs
Hats Off
as Customer at top of stairs
With Love and Hisses
as Captain Bustle's 1st girlfriend
With Love and Hisses
as Captain Bustle's 1st girlfriend
Why Girls Love Sailors
as Captain's Wife
Why Girls Love Sailors
as Captain's Wife
Baby Brother
as Amorous nursemaid
Baby Brother
as Amorous nursemaid
Many Scrappy Returns
as Wellington's Wife
Many Scrappy Returns
as Wellington's Wife
Bertha the Sewing Machine Girl
as Flo Mason
Bertha the Sewing Machine Girl
as Flo Mason
Creeps
Creeps
My Swedie
as Ethel Lorraine
My Swedie
as Ethel Lorraine
In the Grease
as Physical Culture teacher
In the Grease
as Physical Culture teacher