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Vola Vale

Feb 12, 1897 - Oct 17, 1970 (73 years old) in Buffalo, New York, USA

From Wikipedia

She was born Vola Smith in Buffalo, New York. Vale was educated in Chevy Chase, Maryland. She began her career in amateur theatricals in Rochester, New York. Then she played in stock companies for a while.

Her first movie experience was with Biograph, under the tutelage of the great film director D.W. Griffith. After a month of playing atmosphere parts, Vola was offered a genuine role. She wore a velvet gown with a train and a feathered hat. Soon she was appearing in short reel films for Biograph. Among the actors she was cast with were William S. Hart, Sessue Hayakawa, Tsuru Aoki, William Haines, Harry Carey, Tully Marshall and William Russell.

She was adept in playing Spanish, Italian, French, and Gypsy roles. Aside from Biograph Vola worked for Fox Film, Famous Players-Lasky, Universal Pictures, and Paramount Pictures.

Her ambition was to play Madame Butterfly with an actual Japanese company, as well as to act as Lorna Doone. She was most inspired by Hayakawa and hoped to learn to act inside, as he did. With Sessue Hayakawa she made Each To His Kind (1917). Before filming began it was decided that the name Smith was too common to be used by a motion picture star. She changed her professional name to Vola Vale.

Known For

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The Phantom of the Opera
Ballerina / Christines Maid (uncredited)
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One Rainy Afternoon
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Little Annie Rooney
Mamie
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The Soul of Pierre
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Who Cares
Tootles
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The Price of Silence
Aline Urmy (as Vola Smith)
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Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story
Self (uncredited)
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Alias Jimmy Valentine
Rose Lane
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Her Big Adventure
Countess Fontaine
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The Secret of Black Mountain
Miriam Vale

Credits

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