October Spotlight:

Theda Bara

"The Original Vamp"

Biography:

Born Theodosia Goodman, July 29, 1885 Cincinnati, Ohio, Theda Bara was the daughter of a Cincinnati tailor, Bernard Goodman, and his wife Pauline. In 1908 she appeared on Broadway in "The Devil" under the name Theodosia de Coppett. Her first film was THE STAIN, in 1915, but being an extra, she wasn't seen on camera. She was given the starring role in A Fool There Was. She became Hollywood's first publicity-created superstar. She cultivated a mysterious accent and was always decked out in her trademark makeup, veils, jewelry and furs. Theda Bara was was the original Goth Girl: before Vampira, Morticia or Elvira, there was Theda. While she was not quite the first female "vampire" on the screen, she was the first to become a huge star. And, as actresses were largely responsible for their own costumes and make-up at that time, she invented her own look. It was in her role in A Fool There Was (Fox, 1915) that Theda created the character she would always be known for - The Vamp. Wicked and worldly, sultry and seductive - the epitome of a Scarlet Woman. Our modern usage of the term "vamp" comes from Theda's studio nickname. At the time, her character was simply referred to as "the Vampire," but some folks on the set shortened it to "vamp," and it stuck. At first it was merely a humorous nickname, then its use spread to apply to any woman displaying the traits of a brazen seductress who lured men to their emotional doom. Unlike the roles she played, Theda herself was known to her friends and neighbors for being very kind and virtuous, a stark contrast to the character she developed on screen. Unfortunately, she had been indelibly typecast. A hot property, she made six more films in 1915, finishing up with CARMEN. In 1916 Theda starred in six more films. In 1917 Theda starred in the super-successful CLEOPATRA, which was a smash at the box-office. In 1918, Theda (allegedly) wrote the story and starred as the Priestess in THE SOUL OF BUDDHA. After seven films in 1919, Theda’s five-year contract with Fox was not renewed. Her career would never be the same again. On April 7, 1955, Theda died of abdominal cancer at the age of 69 in Los Angeles, California.