illian Gish was born October, 1893, an American from Springfield, Ohio. She was the first daughter of Mary McConnell and James De Guiche. James struggled with the responsibility of fatherhood and marriage, so he left Mary, Lillian and a very young Dorothy (who came along four and a half years after Lillian) to fend for themselves. Mrs. Gish took great care of her only two children, raising and supporting them on her own, and Lillian and Dorothy also looked after their mother! Lasting and reliable jobs eluded Mrs. Gish until one day a friend suggested that she try acting in the theatre. Theatre work was steady and soon the chance arose for Little Dorothy to join a touring theatre group, playing a small child in distress. Letting Dorothy go with the group go was not an easy decision – she would be traveling the country, apart from her mother and Lillian, under the surrogate care of a family friend and trusted theatre-folk, but they needed the money desperately and in the end it was agreed that she could and should go. Soon after, Lillian began touring in a separate company, often also cast as a young child facing peril. On occasion Mrs. Gish, Lillian and Dorothy were employed with the same touring theatre and were able to be together.
Anna and Lennox (Way Down East - 1920)
SPOILER!! Broken Blossoms - (1919) SPOILER!!
Susie Ponders Bettina - True Heart Susie (1919)
Anna Befriends A Bird - Way Down East (1920)
Tessa Dreams - Dorothy in Romola (1924)
The "Little Disturber" - Hearts Of The World (1918)
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HERE are some photos, taken in November 2005, of the original locations where the river scenes from "Way Down East" were filmed.
A Visit To WRJ Vermont: WAY DOWN EAST-THEN & NOW
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William Leaves For College (TRUE HEART SUSIE - 1919)
"Susie allows Lillian to be both comedienne and tragedienne, incorporating both skills into one of the sweetest and most moving performances ever committed to film – a time capsule of youthful sunshine to brighten as many ages as there are to come." -Charles Silver