Anna Lehr (November 17, 1890 – January 22, 1974) was an American silent film and stage actress.[1]

Anna Lehr
Lehr in The Truth About Husbands (1920)
Born(1890-11-17)November 17, 1890
New York City, U.S.
DiedJanuary 22, 1974(1974-01-22) (aged 83)
OccupationActress
SpouseEdwin McKim (divorced)
ChildrenAnn Dvorak

Biography

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Born in New York City to Austrian immigrant parents, Frank Lehr and Emilie Freisinger, Anna Lehr filmed Civilization's Child (1916) for Thomas Ince, a Triangle-Kay Bee feature.[1] The screenplay was written by C. Gardner Sullivan.[2] There is a scene in which Russian cavalry charge over her as she lies prostrate on the ground. Lehr's fear was abated somewhat by her belief that horses will not step on people except by accident.[1] She played "Doris Ames" in the silent film Grafters (1917), which was directed by Allan Dwan.[3]

 
Lehr and Taylor Holmes in Upside Down (1919)

In 1919 Lehr was chosen by David Powell to play in Teeth of the Tiger. She was forced to withdraw due to ptomaine poisoning. The movie was being filmed by Famous Players–Lasky in New York City. Lehr's continued absence necessitated the retaking of scenes which she had completed.[4]

She was sued by Chappell, Inc., in 1921 for nonpayment of $916.85 worth of hats, gowns, and cloaks. Lehr testified that she had intended to pay for the merchandise but delayed after a sheriff and collectors began bothering her. Chappell contended that when she did not return to their store to make arrangements for payment, they had a right to send out to collect the amount owed them. Her attorney sought dismissal of the case on the grounds that Edwin McKim was made a party to the suit, but had not been served; McKim was in New York City at the time. The case was carried out in the Los Angeles, California court of Judge J.P. Wood.[5]

Family

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She was married to Edwin McKim;[6] their daughter was actress Ann Dvorak.[5][7] The couple divorced when Dvorak was nine or ten years old, and she and her father had no contact with each other for nearly 14 years. She finally reconnected with him "through a newspaper appeal" in 1934.[8]

Death

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Lehr died in Santa Monica, California, aged 83, in 1974, predeceasing her daughter, Ann Dvorak, by only five years.

Partial filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1912 A Simple Life Marie Smith
1914 Should a Woman Divorce?
1915 The White Scar[9] Wehnonah
1916 Civilization's Child Berna
1917 Grafters Doris Ames
Parentage Mrs. Brown
1918 The Other Woman [10] Mrs. Harrington
My Own United States Agnes Churchill
Men Laura Burton Lost film
The Yellow Ticket Mary Varenka Lost film
Laughing Bill Hyde Ponotah
The Birth of a Race
1919 Thunderbolts of Fate Eleanor Brewster
1920 A Child for Sale Catherine Bell
The Truth About Husbands Janet Preece
The Valley of Doubt Annice
1921 Cheated Hearts Naomi Lost film
Mr. Barnes of New York Marina Paoli
1923 Ruggles of Red Gap Mrs. Belknap-Jackson

References

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  1. ^ a b c At The Majestic, Sheboygan Press, May 24, 1916, p. 2
  2. ^ "Smashing Photoplay", Ogden Standard, June 3, 1916, p. 9
  3. ^ "Palace Theater", Grand Rapids, Wisconsin Daily Leader, October 20, 1917, p. 2
  4. ^ News Notes From Movieland, Madison Capital Times, July 31, 1919, p. 4
  5. ^ a b "Wants Husband Protected", Los Angeles Times, July 23, 1921
  6. ^ "Biography | Ann Dvorak: Hollywood's Forgotten Rebel". November 11, 2007.
  7. ^ "Theatrical News; Regis Veiled Marriage", Trenton Evening Times, February 13, 1920, p. 15
  8. ^ "Ann Dvorak Finds Father After 14 Years' Silence". The New York Times. February 5, 1934. p. 19. ProQuest 101070794. Retrieved November 4, 2020 – via ProQuest.
  9. ^ Cozad, W. Lee. Those Magnificent Mountain Movies: (The Golden Years) 1911–1939, p. 17-18 (2002)
  10. ^ "The Other Woman". February 3, 1918 – via IMDb.
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