Alice Eyton

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Alice Eyton
Born
Alice Rose Eyton

1874
Hokitika, New Zealand
DiedNovember 3, 1929
Pasadena, California, USA
Cause of deathThird-degree burns
OccupationScreenwriter, novelist, playwright
Spouse(s)Robert von Saxmar
RelativesCharles Eyton (brother)
Kathlyn Williams (sister-in-law)
Vera Doria (sister)

Alice Eyton (1874 – November 3, 1929), sometimes credited under her married name Alice von Saxmar, was a New Zealand–born journalist, screenwriter, playwright, and novelist active in Hollywood between 1918 and 1922.

Biography[]

Origins[]

Eyton was born in New Zealand, to Robert Eyton and Eleanor Fosbury. Her father died when she was young. Her brother, Charles Eyton, became a prominent actor and producer in Hollywood.

By 1900, Eyton had already had a number of short stories published in New Zealand and Australia, under such titles as 'Behind the hills',[1] 'Queen Empress and the cotter's wife',[2] 'Down by the sea wall',[3] 'Woman in the clutches of the law: At the gaols',[4] and 'The girl he left behind him: An incident of the Transvaal war'.[5]

In January 1901, along with many of the Sydney Bohemian set such as sculptor Nelson Illingworth, writer Louise Mack, and poet Banjo Paterson, she attended the farewell dinner of Scottish-Australian poet and bush balladeer Will H. Ogilvie (1869–1963).[6] Following her own testimonial dinner, in February 1902, Eyton travelled to London on board P&O's RMS Arcadia.[7][8]

Hollywood career[]

She moved to Hollywood, California, by 1905, where she continued her literary efforts.[9] By April 1909, Eyton's first play, based on Victor Cherbuliez's 1877 novel Samuel Brohl et cie, was accepted for production in New York City.[10][11]

She married fellow writer around 1920 in Los Angeles, where she found work as a stenographer at Paramount. After working her way up the ranks,[12][13] she earned a spot on the studio's writing staff; her first known credit was on 1918's A Girl Named Mary. She wrote over a dozen scripts in the ensuing five years. By June 1921 she was listed as a writer for the Realart company.[14]

Death[]

Eyton died of burns sustained when her Halloween costume caught fire at a party being held in Pasadena, California.[15] The party was being held in a cabin in Arroyo Seco, where she was temporarily residing while working on a novel; a lit match or cigarette somehow landed on Eyton's cotton snow maiden costume, which quickly went up in flames.[15] She was rushed to the nearby Pasadena Hospital, but her burns were fatal.[15]

Selected filmography[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Behind the Hills". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. LXIII (1918). New South Wales, Australia. April 10, 1897. p. 791. Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "Queen Empress and the Cotter's Wife". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. LXIII (1928). New South Wales, Australia. June 19, 1897. p. 1311. Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Down by the Sea Wall". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. LXV (1967). New South Wales, Australia. March 19, 1898. p. 606. Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Woman in the Clutches of the Law". The Sunday Times (771). New South Wales, Australia. October 28, 1900. p. 10. Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "The girl he left behind him". Delegate Argus And Border Post. 5 (268). New South Wales, Australia. December 22, 1900. p. 1 (Christmas Supplement to the Delegate Argus.). Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Bohemia up to date". Freeman's Journal. LII (3239). New South Wales, Australia. February 2, 1901. p. 11. Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Personal". The Sunday Times (840). New South Wales, Australia. February 23, 1902. p. 7. Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Departure of the R. M. S. Arcadia". The Australian Star (4372). New South Wales, Australia. February 19, 1902. p. 3. Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "11 Mar 1909, 19 - The Los Angeles Times at Newspapers.com". Retrieved February 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Personal". The Sunday Times (1214). New South Wales, Australia. April 25, 1909. p. 3. Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "Australians' success abroad". The Referee (1184). New South Wales, Australia. July 14, 1909. p. 16. Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "23 Jan 1920, Page 4 - The Tennessean at Newspapers.com". Retrieved February 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "17 Apr 1919, 5 - The Tampa Times at Newspapers.com". Retrieved February 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Six writers now with Realart". Table Talk (1871). Victoria, Australia. June 9, 1921. p. 42. Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ a b c "4 Nov 1929, Page 18 - The Cincinnati Enquirer at Newspapers.com". Retrieved February 15, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "The silver screen". South Western Times. VII (43). Western Australia. April 12, 1924. p. 2. Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "Film Flashes". National Advocate. New South Wales, Australia. July 27, 1922. p. 1. Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "His Majesty's". The World. II (254). Tasmania, Australia. October 25, 1919. p. 8. Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
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