Baby Peggy: The Last Silent Star

A long time ago, I made a short video about Baby Peggy, but it was a bit lackluster, so I decided to read Diana Serra Cary's (aka Baby Peggy's) autobiography and make a better video covering her career in the 1920s

Пікірлер: 136

  • @The1920sChannel
    @The1920sChannel Жыл бұрын

    Small correction about the photo at 5:53: Joe Martin was, in fact, an orangutan, and the picture shows Mrs. Joe Martin, who was a chimpanzee

  • @kurtb8474
    @kurtb84742 жыл бұрын

    The 1920s. A century ago. Hard to believe. My parents were born in 1920 and '21. I love silent movies and I've seen loads of them. But, I've never heard of Baby Peggy until now. Yet, another star of the silent era that I must discover.

  • @TedBronson1918
    @TedBronson1918 Жыл бұрын

    What a family she had ! Parents lived off her work without sending her to school and the grandparents stealing from the parents ! Trusting people just because they're family is a huge mistake.

  • @EternalifeservingGod

    @EternalifeservingGod

    Ай бұрын

    So true so awful even after a family member has died they still steal and lie …I never trust family members of friends just because they happen to be related to my friend .The things I have seen .

  • @charliebrownie4158

    @charliebrownie4158

    Ай бұрын

    There's a movie called The Black Candle, I'm not sure if it's Irish or Scotish but the main character has a mother who was the spitting image of Satan. With her trying to get the authorities to arrest and kill her eldest son. It's quite moving. I've noticed there are many times water can be thicker than blood.

  • @SkyeFergus
    @SkyeFergus2 жыл бұрын

    The fact this young girl went without a proper education while earning a living for her own parents is just so crushingly sad. Even if that was all she had to put up with, her parents shamelessly used her. Great video friend!

  • @verity3616

    @verity3616

    Жыл бұрын

    It speaks so much to the need for protecting income and mental health. Look at how many times she was betrayed - her own grandfather stole a million dollars?! Her own husband profiteered off her childhood fame? This is why we need labor laws and income laws that can protect us from our own families! It's so sad.

  • @te-shauntv49

    @te-shauntv49

    5 ай бұрын

    Shes not the first and definitely won't be the last unfortunately

  • @charliebrownie4158

    @charliebrownie4158

    Ай бұрын

    A lot of parents back then were quite ruthless towards their children. I'm not sure the veracity of the claim of the person recalling that not only didn't they care about their children. In the persons account they claimed their mothers her down to be violated.

  • @harrymills2770

    @harrymills2770

    18 күн бұрын

    As long as she learned to read, that's not a huge handicap, considering the fortune she (should have) had to hire all kinds of teachers and learn anything she wanted, later. Luckily for her, she was very strong and resourceful in spite of terrible parents and grandfather.

  • @oliverbrownlow5615
    @oliverbrownlow56152 жыл бұрын

    In addition to her own autobiography, Diana Serra Cary also wrote a biography of child star Jackie Coogan, as well as a book called *Hollywood's Children,* which traces the history of child stardom in early Hollywood.

  • @debrakirby149

    @debrakirby149

    Жыл бұрын

    80

  • @elaineteeter9485

    @elaineteeter9485

    2 ай бұрын

    Thanks, I will look for those books.

  • @christieeady3027
    @christieeady3027Күн бұрын

    I just finished Diana's autobiography. You did a beautiful job covering Baby Peggy. She was an amazing woman.

  • @tinastar7951
    @tinastar79512 жыл бұрын

    Great documentry ! So sad that such a adorable girl had a sad childhood and parents who tolarate and put her into it

  • @QueenOfTheNorth65
    @QueenOfTheNorth65 Жыл бұрын

    Her autobiography is SO good! Her parents were so awful to her, and took such horrible advantage of her.

  • @videox222ify
    @videox222ify2 жыл бұрын

    rest in peace Baby Peggy

  • @sand2283
    @sand22832 жыл бұрын

    Very interesting and enjoyable video. It was so sad that she was used so terribly by her parents and studios.

  • @FaeDruid
    @FaeDruid2 жыл бұрын

    Dude, great job. Thank you for all the work you put into your videos. You are one of my favorite KZreadrs.

  • @calvinkatt662
    @calvinkatt6622 жыл бұрын

    This was a well done bio. I learned a lot. As an aside, I had never heard of the Hilton Twins. I did a little searching on them. Their treatment was far worse than Peggy's! A very sad story.

  • @nathaliebatiste8842

    @nathaliebatiste8842

    Жыл бұрын

    I’ve never heard of the Hilton Twins either. I’ll have to do some research.

  • @Zinervawyrm
    @Zinervawyrm2 жыл бұрын

    Peggy's Dad hates the idea of people turning their kids in movie stars. Also Peggy's Dad...

  • @JoMarieM

    @JoMarieM

    Жыл бұрын

    Yep. . .until he realized that his OWN kid was capable of earning some big bucks for the family -- and then he changed his tune pretty quickly!

  • @cautionTosser
    @cautionTosser2 жыл бұрын

    Baby Peggy is awesome, but let's take a moment to appreciate the young man dancing with her. He had great moves. Very expressive.

  • @kimlerner389

    @kimlerner389

    Ай бұрын

    Very true!

  • @tedhollandrcp
    @tedhollandrcp Жыл бұрын

    I can't believe that I just learned about Baby Peggy, Diana Serra Cary. What a terrific child talent. As well as a talented writer/historian. One of my dearest friends Marcia Mae Jones used to tell me her stories about making movies with Shirley Temple as a child. All so interesting. Thank for your great channel.

  • @REALcatmom

    @REALcatmom

    Жыл бұрын

    I loved Marcia Mae Jones in These Three!!

  • @elaineteeter9485
    @elaineteeter94852 ай бұрын

    I have the Baby Peggy documentary, "Baby Peggy: The Elephant In The Room," and also, "Captain January", made in 1924. Diana Serra Cary was a remarkable woman and I greatly recommend both of these. Her autobiography, "Whatever Happened To Baby Peggy," looks back over her incredible life as a child star. Her parents indeed squandered her fortune. Such a gifted actress, even as a little girl. Her documentary was co-written by Diana Serra Cary and is quite moving. It contains rare clips from her pictures and shows an intimate portrait of a woman who lost her childhood to the movies.

  • @PC-tz6kb
    @PC-tz6kb2 жыл бұрын

    Great job! I loved the story & you told it so well. Thank you!

  • @coreyking1009
    @coreyking10092 жыл бұрын

    Great video! Well done. I first became intrigued by Baby Peggy about 10 years ago when TCM aired the excellent documentary Baby Peggy: The Elephant in the Room in 2012 It's a great doc and she speaks her own story throughout most of the film. If you haven't yet seen it its a great watch for BP fans.

  • @robertsutton8894

    @robertsutton8894

    Жыл бұрын

    Where did the pachyderm come in?

  • @coreyking1009

    @coreyking1009

    Жыл бұрын

    @@robertsutton8894 It's using the antique phrase "The Elephant in the Room" which basically refers to something that's impossible to miss and very out of place yet no one acknowledges it. In this case its Baby Peggy and her questionable upbringing that fits that narrative

  • @yelloworangered
    @yelloworangered2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for this interesting video.I always have confused Baby Peggy and Baby Rose Marie, who was a star in the 30s. I wonder how many "Baby" screen actresses there were! It is so sad that life does not reward people who work hard and produce. Baby Peggy was a little trooper and the people around her stole from her and lived good lives at her expense.

  • @Archon2848
    @Archon284811 ай бұрын

    This was my great great grandma

  • @prudencepineapple9448
    @prudencepineapple94482 жыл бұрын

    It's great to see your channel grow. Kudos to you!

  • @sunshinelollipopunicorn8191
    @sunshinelollipopunicorn8191 Жыл бұрын

    What a beautiful, adorable wonder of nature on the earth. I’m so glad I stumbled across this video. also from the clips that I’ve seen which are not very long, she was actually extremely funny and talented!!!🎉

  • @ladyagnes9430
    @ladyagnes94302 жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much. I regret not getting one of her autographed pictures. She was a great star & a great lady.

  • @margaretadami6358
    @margaretadami6358 Жыл бұрын

    absolutely unthinkable what they put this child thru. glad she came to peace and productivity as an adult

  • @verity3616
    @verity3616 Жыл бұрын

    7:44 - if she says she doesn't remember her father beating her "at the studio even once" it does NOT mean that he didn't beat her at home.

  • @leonaheraty3760
    @leonaheraty3760 Жыл бұрын

    I think that the wonderful movie, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962), with the fabulous actresses, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, may have been inspired by the life of Baby Peggy. Thanks for this excellent podcast. Love your channel! 😃

  • @randysmailbox
    @randysmailbox2 жыл бұрын

    I love this channel . This is so well written, so well presented. All of your work is much appreciated .. I'm blown away. Onto the next Video.

  • @hamburgareable
    @hamburgareable2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks, dude! Youve done a great job researching things as usual, sir. 👍 👍 👍

  • @JoMarieM
    @JoMarieM Жыл бұрын

    Peggy's story contrasts sharply with that of Shirley Temple. Both were extremely talented child actresses, but Shirley at least had a loving family, and her parents protected her from exploitation and overwork, and ensured that she had an education. Plus, Shirley loved what she was doing and wasn't pushed into her work, while Peggy, as a toddler, really had no choice as to whether or not she wanted to be a child actress, and if she didn't want to do it, she wasn't given the choice to quit, especially after she became the family's principal breadwinner. Her father was a strict disciplinarian who expected instant obedience from both of his daughters, and they were expected to come to him whenever he snapped his fingers. Sad that this poor kid didn't seem to have much of a childhood, and at six, her acting career was pretty much over due to a combination of a long absence from Hollywood, other new child stars on the scene, and talking films, but I hope that she was able to find some happiness later on in her life!

  • @robkunkel8833
    @robkunkel88332 жыл бұрын

    This was wonderful. A great analysis. It is nice that your photos followed the age of the person being previewed. So many videos just keep showing photos without a concern about how they can be best used. You bring a story that follows (or leads) the visuals that we photo junkies all must have.

  • @sammysoppy3361
    @sammysoppy33612 жыл бұрын

    am i the only one who finds it weird that literal toddlers were top box office draws back then? super weird lol.

  • @MightyMezzo
    @MightyMezzo Жыл бұрын

    I had the honor of meeting Mrs Cary at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum. Wonderful lady. And her books are well worth reading.

  • @hakeemfullerton8645
    @hakeemfullerton86452 жыл бұрын

    Incredible video as always good sir

  • @armandoblackhill1355
    @armandoblackhill1355 Жыл бұрын

    Beautiful, you can see how grown ups act, yet today they still act the same way ,

  • @lindickison3055
    @lindickison3055Ай бұрын

    My mother (age 4) loved Baby Peggy - knew she did naughty things and people laughed. Once (visiting someone) she (my mom) climbed and sat on their piano! She knew it was wrong, but they all laughed at BP. Uh, nobody laughed at my mother. Hostess aghast, mother embarrassed, and (my mother) put in time out corner.

  • @laney3182
    @laney3182Ай бұрын

    I read her book. Excellent

  • @suzieroberts2203
    @suzieroberts2203 Жыл бұрын

    Wow! What an interesting life Little Peggy had and she was so pretty! Thank you for all your research! I never even heard of her until now!

  • @hamburgareable
    @hamburgareable2 жыл бұрын

    RIP Baby Peggy

  • @HUMDUDE
    @HUMDUDE Жыл бұрын

    What an unbelievable life! Great video, thanks for making it!

  • @fs357mag
    @fs357mag2 жыл бұрын

    Awesome job as always. BIG thumbs-up.

  • @cherilynjenkins479
    @cherilynjenkins47910 күн бұрын

    Awe, she was the cutest little girl. Awe precious sorry she went through so much.

  • @ardiffley-zipkin9539
    @ardiffley-zipkin953910 ай бұрын

    Great video, well done ! Thanks. RIP, Ms Baby Peggy

  • @libbylib1819
    @libbylib1819Ай бұрын

    Thank you very much for the detailed video ❤

  • @garynorton4647
    @garynorton46479 ай бұрын

    Thank you, you did a great job with this presentation.

  • @dismith73
    @dismith732 жыл бұрын

    Peggy Jean Montgomery 29 October 1918 - 24 February 2020

  • @caroltenge5147
    @caroltenge51472 жыл бұрын

    18:55 Give Peggy a pair of mouse ears and she would look the perfect mouseketeer.

  • @CarolAnn-gh9fl
    @CarolAnn-gh9flАй бұрын

    Keep in mind that child labor was very common in the 1900’s and early film was no exception. I remember watching her Peggy making the talk show circuit in the 80s; I had no idea who she was. It’s horrible that Hollywood still looks away when child actors are underpaid and abused. There are books and documentaries out today written by young actors, that were assaulted and robbed. Most child stars were given the bare minimum of education. It seems that few children have been protected by the Coogan act. She was equal to a Kardashian promoted family member….except no one cared if she benefited as well.

  • @lauraleigh5562
    @lauraleigh55629 ай бұрын

    Absolutely fascinating.

  • @mjemigh3304
    @mjemigh3304 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for another great post! Very well put-together and I'm sure very informative to those not familiar with her. Her book is a great read and I have no reason to think that it isn't accurate, although much of it had to be related to her by others. Surely, a kid that young knew nothing about contracts or other behind-the-scenes stuff that was going on, so there could be errors along the way. Thanks again!

  • @06BIBOI
    @06BIBOI2 жыл бұрын

    Damn sure did enjoy it !

  • @eileen1820
    @eileen1820 Жыл бұрын

    Love your channel!

  • @Booka60
    @Booka602 жыл бұрын

    Just Wonderful!

  • @voyaristika5673
    @voyaristika56739 ай бұрын

    Though I'd heard of her I knew nothing about her, so this is a treat. It's good to know she went on to claim a life of her own, and lived so many years. I've subscribed to your channel and look forward to more! BTW, I'd love to know who that little boy is in the dance scene. He's an incredible little dancer, and I wonder what became of him?

  • @luvnalaska44
    @luvnalaska449 ай бұрын

    I’d not heard of baby Peggy so this was fun.

  • @micheletaggart3274
    @micheletaggart32747 ай бұрын

    Really neat and interesting.

  • @waynejones750
    @waynejones7502 жыл бұрын

    That was very interesting.

  • @barbarapineda9062
    @barbarapineda9062 Жыл бұрын

    Lil Peggy, it's faced it's a abuse and also frightening, too..

  • @lelia660
    @lelia660 Жыл бұрын

    Excellent job!

  • @kc4cvh
    @kc4cvh Жыл бұрын

    8:57 It sounds like the story of Baby Peggy became the script for the feature film Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? (1962, Warner Bros.)

  • @kilgoretrout4491
    @kilgoretrout44912 жыл бұрын

    Thanks to you, I’ve gotten into silent movies.

  • @The1920sChannel

    @The1920sChannel

    2 жыл бұрын

    That’s great!

  • @kilgoretrout4491

    @kilgoretrout4491

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@The1920sChannel I love the history of movies and the silent and early sound era is the most interesting. I used to think “who would watch a silent film they are so boring”. Now I know that statement is wrong.

  • @h.calvert3165

    @h.calvert3165

    Жыл бұрын

    @@kilgoretrout4491 Aren't they wonderful? I have more than 60 full-length ones, plus many shorts. If you haven't seen Sunrise, get it for sure! 🌄

  • @kilgoretrout4491

    @kilgoretrout4491

    Жыл бұрын

    @@h.calvert3165 One of my favorites is intolerance from 1916

  • @tomdegan6924
    @tomdegan6924 Жыл бұрын

    This series is excellent.

  • @kathymartin7724
    @kathymartin77249 ай бұрын

    I read her book Whatever Happened to Baby Peggy. It was very informative and interesting.

  • @rixx46
    @rixx46 Жыл бұрын

    great stuff. She was remarkable

  • @cordiscoscorner
    @cordiscoscorner2 жыл бұрын

    Again an excellent video. I'm afraid you are being shadow banned (like my channel) VERY badly. You should have a ton more subs. Keep on keeping on young man. THANKS.....

  • @collettedobrocke4518
    @collettedobrocke4518 Жыл бұрын

    Nicely done.....

  • 2 жыл бұрын

    Amazing!!!

  • @promiscuous5761
    @promiscuous57612 жыл бұрын

    Thank you.

  • @vincentlospinuso7232
    @vincentlospinuso723211 ай бұрын

    She should have a star

  • @L-Anded
    @L-Anded Жыл бұрын

    She was the same age as my mother, roughly. Impressive life story.

  • @caramia4143
    @caramia4143 Жыл бұрын

    I wonder if she was the inspiration behind "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane". A century later, child stars are still being overworked, abused, and manipulated by the adults around them. Lots of "ran off with the money" in those times. Even had family members stealing from her. Sad.

  • @cherdiane
    @cherdiane2 күн бұрын

    Can you imagine why the elephant would have a grudge against that monster? 🤬

  • @Shianne264
    @Shianne2647 ай бұрын

    I actually watched an interview awhile ago where she definately did talk about her father giving her a spanking on set one time because she didn't obey him, ( which was unusual) and she recalled it hurt a lot.

  • @hangin-in-thereawesome4245
    @hangin-in-thereawesome4245 Жыл бұрын

    Very interesting story! I would have loved to seen some of her shorts! I don't suppose her parents and others that stole from her ever felt guilty! They not only stole her money but her childhood too!

  • @jmj7599
    @jmj7599 Жыл бұрын

    Great! Thank you!

  • @vincentlospinuso7232
    @vincentlospinuso723211 ай бұрын

    I feel for her

  • @arthurdalton517
    @arthurdalton517 Жыл бұрын

    The shameful way that Child actors were treated was astounding by the way that was all the way through the 19 50s and 60s

  • @toni-marieschofield3009
    @toni-marieschofield30092 жыл бұрын

    Thank you👏

  • @benjaminrussell9159
    @benjaminrussell91592 жыл бұрын

    Thank you!!!

  • @gailjackson8941
    @gailjackson8941 Жыл бұрын

    Very interesting

  • @Arcademan09
    @Arcademan09 Жыл бұрын

    Baby Peggy 2: RELOADED

  • @robt5818
    @robt58182 жыл бұрын

    Regarding spanking: most people don't realize that this was very common. I was spanked, and, unfortunately, adults sometimes didn't realize their own strength, especially when angry. This is just the way things were!

  • @sammysoppy3361

    @sammysoppy3361

    2 жыл бұрын

    I was a kid in the 80s and I got spanked. Spanking was seen as normal up until recently

  • @eileenbrazil8039
    @eileenbrazil8039Ай бұрын

    ❤❤❤

  • @Rawhide68
    @Rawhide682 жыл бұрын

    Thsnks

  • @kennethrouse7942
    @kennethrouse7942 Жыл бұрын

    I have read her book.. how tragic to be used like a trick pony to support your parents' extravagant lifestyle while your childhood development is denied. 😢

  • @annnee6818
    @annnee6818 Жыл бұрын

    It's harrowing to think this was normal treatment of children in the day. Just awful😢

  • @michaelmcgee8543
    @michaelmcgee8543 Жыл бұрын

    Interesting!

  • @fizzao1342
    @fizzao1342 Жыл бұрын

    This is so sad. Her parents financially abused her and overworked her. Poor little girl.

  • @bobbyokeefe4285
    @bobbyokeefe4285 Жыл бұрын

    I guess Peggy's dad got cancelled...nothing has changed I see.

  • @caramelo218
    @caramelo2183 ай бұрын

  • @sodality3970
    @sodality39702 жыл бұрын

    That's Hollywood for you...although we love her movies , the price of putting a youngster into films was hardly worth it .

  • @kit-ekat8139
    @kit-ekat81392 жыл бұрын

    i rly need to know the name of the short with the person in the bull costume.Its just so weird looking. loved the vid btw

  • @The1920sChannel

    @The1920sChannel

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much! That short is titled "Carmen, Jr." (1923)

  • @kit-ekat8139

    @kit-ekat8139

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@The1920sChannel God bless

  • @rocistone6570
    @rocistone6570 Жыл бұрын

    No "Coogan Law" back then. Poor kid :(

  • @nukathelandermotzfeldt1431
    @nukathelandermotzfeldt1431 Жыл бұрын

    do you know the silent movie star Asta Nilsen she have such a cool story

  • @dbo4852
    @dbo4852 Жыл бұрын

    The parents were not concerned about the children only greed!

  • @janiceaviles2226
    @janiceaviles2226 Жыл бұрын

    NEW SUBSCRIBER HERE 😁😀✌️ The Little Dog 🐶🐕 Passed Away In 1922 😭😭😢💔 The Chimpanzee 🐒😭😭😢💔 And The Elephant 🐘 😭😭😢💔

  • @robertsutton8894
    @robertsutton8894 Жыл бұрын

    Strangest thing to me was that it was the 1st 1/2 of 20s. Should have looked into that.

  • @adrianadealmeida1472
    @adrianadealmeida1472 Жыл бұрын

    👏👏👏👏👏

  • @dbo4852
    @dbo4852 Жыл бұрын

    I can't believe that parents were allowed to take advantage of their children's skills.

  • @LightFromWithin808
    @LightFromWithin808Ай бұрын

    😢

  • @misspm8157
    @misspm81572 жыл бұрын

    She was making huge money for the times. How and on what did her parents blow it all on?