Darling Alice White

 

This darling flapper girl had more sex appeal in the tip of her noses than some women had in their entire bodies. She rivaled jazz-age heroines such as Clara Bow and Colleen Moore although, she didn’t exactly reach the same level of popularity. One fan magazine called her “The Queen of the Hey-Hey Girls.” Not sure what that means but anyway. I've had her on my list of people to write about before 2024, not only because I personally adore her, but justice needs to be done on her part. She is very underrated regarding the type of personality she was. Most people see her as a blonde Clara Bow, and while I can definitely see the connection, she was uniquely different from the other flappers. Alice seemed to have a much more bubbly personality and she was enticing in a cute way! She wasn’t the kind of seductive screen personality that would destroy a man, she was more of the playing-around type. There was quite no one like her.   

Alice White was born Alva White on August 25, 1904, in Patterson, New Jersey (look's like someone's got a birthday coming soon!) Her mother was a former chorus girl and actress at one point, but she died when Alice was just three years old. As for her father, I haven't the faintest idea of what their relationship was like since Alice was raised by her maternal grandparents.   

She attended Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia. After leaving school, she became a secretary and script girl for Josef Von Sternberg and a switchboard operator at the Hollywood Writers' Club. After having some quarrels with Von Sternberg, Alice left him and started working for Charlie Chaplin. It was Chaplin, however, who suggested she should work in front of the camera instead.  

Alice took the word of advice from Chaplin and made her debut in The Sea Tiger (1927). Shortly after, she appeared in a dozen silent films (unfortunately most of them aren't available) including Gentleman Prefer Blondes and Show Girl, both released in 1928. By the way, If any of you know where I could find a copy of "Naughty Baby" (1928) I would be so eternally grateful!  

In her early darker hair days, the press compared her to Clara Bow so she bleached her hair. I guess she wanted to avoid drama and just be her own creation, you know?

Her most successful films were those used with Vitaphone in the early pre-code era for First National Pictures. She played flappers, golddiggers, and showgirls in her heyday, but was found in supporting roles for the rest of her acting career--many of which were uncredited. My favorite supporting role I have seen her in so far is Lulu Betts Malone in Sweet Music (1935) with Rudy Vallée and Ann Dvorak. 

The reason for her disappearance in leading roles had to do with a scandal. In 1933, Alice and her then-boyfriend, Sy Bartlett, were accused of arranging the beating of her ex John Warburton, a British actor. Even though they were innocent and the charges against them were dropped, the bad publicity hurt her career. Nonetheless, John Warburton got what he deserved. He once beat her so badly that she had to get cosmetic surgery. Something interesting I just found out was that he was married to Ruth Selwyn. He probably beat her too, and the rest of his wives (he's taking the l in hell right now).

Alice made her last appearance in the Joan Crawford film Flamingo Road (1949). Unfortunately, her health prevented her from returning to films so for the remainder of her career she worked as a secretary.   

Her final film role in Flamingo Road, 1949.

On February 19, 1983, Alice died from complications of a stroke at her Hollwood home, aged 78. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered at sea. I'm not even sure if there is any memorial site/grave for her in LA but she deserves to have one.