Norma Talmadge

Norma Talmadge started her career in onereelers in 1909 for Vitagraph playing bit roles as a young teenager starting As she continually worked at the studio over the next several years her parts grew until she frequently started as the leading lady Her young promising career got a huge boost after her marriage to exhibitor Joseph M Schenck Together they formed the Norma Talmadge Film Corporation in 1917 and began producing Star vechiles for Talmadge Specializing in melodramas and womans pictures Talmadge became one of the biggest stars of the 1920s starting in hits such as Smilin Through Secrets The Lady and Kiki With her star already fading when the talkie revolution swept Hollywood Talmadge made just two sound films before retiring from the screen Although largely forgotten today Talmadge was a pioneering producer and director who stood as one of the most popular and powerful women in early Hollywood