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Clara Horton

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Clara Horton
Horton, ca. 1920
Born
Clara Marie Horton

(1904-07-29)July 29, 1904
DiedDecember 4, 1976(1976-12-04) (aged 72)
Other names"The Eclair Kid"
OccupationActress
Years active1912–1942
Clara Horton, for Eclair, in 1914.

Clara Marie Horton (July 29, 1904 – December 4, 1976)[1] was an American actress of the silent film era.

Horton was born in Brooklyn. Her mother gave up a career as a piano soloist and instructor to raise her baby. She planned for Clara to have a career as a pianist and began teaching her when she had to lift the girl to the piano bench. When Clara was five years old, however, a director employed by the Eclair Company saw the girl and asked her mother to let her appear in a film. Her mother signed a contract, and the Hortons moved to Tucson, Arizona. When Eclair went out of business, they moved to Los Angeles, where work with other studios was available.[2] She appeared in more than 80 films between 1912 and 1942.

When Horton was 17, she got married and left the film business. The marriage did not last, and she returned to working in films. She joined the Warner stock company and as of 1934 she was playing bit parts and was a stand-in for stars.[3]

After her work in films ended, Horton was a saleslady in Whittier, California.[4] She is buried in Rose Hills Memorial Park.[5]

Selected filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1912 The Homecoming Little Miss Langdon
Darling of the Mounted The Darling
1913 The Spectre Bridegroom Master Van Altenberg
The Little Mother of Black Pine Trail Marie
1914 The Greatest of These Peter's Little Friend
The Violinist Ethel, age 7
1915 The Little Band of Gold
The Vengeance of Guido
1916 Under the Lion's Paw
Us Kids
1917 The Plow Woman Mary, as a child
Tom Sawyer Becky Thatcher
1918 Huck and Tom Becky Thatcher
The Yellow Dog Kate Cummings
1919 The Winning Girl Vivian Milligan Lost film
The Girl from Outside June Campbell
Everywoman Youth Lost film
Almost a Husband Jane Sheldon Lost film
1920 The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come Margaret Lost film
Blind Youth Bobo
1921 The Servant in the House Mary, The Drain Man's Daughter Lost film
Action Molly Casey Alternative title: Let's Go, Lost film
1922 Penrod Marjorie Jones Lost film
1923 Mind Over Motor Bettina Bailey
Judy Punch Judy Wilcox
1924 Wrongs Righted
1925 Speed Madness Alice Carey
The Wheel Nora Malone
All Around Frying Pan Jean Dawson
Makers of Men Lillian Gilman
1926 The Broadway Gallant Helen Stuart
Beyond the Trail Clarabell Simpkins
1927 The Fortune Hunter Betty Graham Lost film
Sailor Izzy Murphy Cecile Lost film
1936 Bengal Tiger Hospital Secretary Uncredited
1938 Girls on Probation Prisoner Uncredited
1942 Who Is Hope Schuyler? Secretary Uncredited
Time to Kill Maid Uncredited

References

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  1. ^ Katchmer, George A. (May 20, 2015). A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses. McFarland. pp. 168–169. ISBN 978-1-4766-0905-8. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  2. ^ "A Film Star Who Rose from Peasantry". Lincoln Journal Star. January 19, 1920. p. 14. Retrieved February 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Skolsky, Sidney (September 11, 1934). "Hollywood". Daily News. News Syndicate Co, Inc. p. 44. Retrieved February 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Clara Horton". AllMovie. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  5. ^ Silent Film Necrology, p.251 2nd Edition c.2001 by Eugene Michael Vazzana ...ISBN 0-7864-1059-0
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