PERHAPS the town of Carbondale, Ill., would prove less obscure in the
public mind if it were generally known that a scintillating screen star
was born there twenty-four years ago. As unusual as it may seem to the initiated,
her real name was Agnes Ayres, the cognomen which she carried to the silver
screen. It was not long before the young girl outgrew her surroundings and
was sent to Chicago for school training.
It was in the early, days of the film that Miss Ayres thought she heard
the screen calling her. She responded by applying for work at the Essanay
studio, then making one-reel pictures. She began in a minor part and gradually
increased her value by hard work and close application.
Next she signed with the Vitagraph and appeared in picturized versions
of twenty-five stories by O. Henry. Soon she became known to the screen
colony and the public as "the O. Henry girl." Her first starring
vehicle was one of this series. "The Defeat of the City," filmed
in 1917.
Greater things were to come. The Paramount players during the latter
part of the same year, numbered Miss Ayres prominently among them. Her first
picture here was "Held by the Enemy."
Miss Ayres constantly had revealed growing talent throughout her upward
climb. Now she scored her most distinctive triumph. up to that time, in
the special feature,"Forbidden Fruit."
Then she played opposite the late Wallace Reid in "The Love Special"
and "Too Much Speed" with equal success.
The all-star cast of"The Affairs of Anatol" brought more distinction
to this actress. She followed by appearances with Thomas Meighan in "Cappy
Ricks" and with Rudolph Valentino in "The Sheik."
Then she was especially starred in the vehicle, "The Lane That Had
No Turning." Other successes followed rapidly. Among these were "Bought
and Paid For," "The Ordeal," "Borderland" and "A
Daughter of Luxury."
But Miss Ayres began to do much more than wear gowns, register repression
and appear in society dramas. The later productions called upon her for
exciting action and dramatics, attended many times by actual danger. In
all these features Miss Ayres refused to allow doubles to replace her, but
revealed true courage by actually carrying through the risks personally.
This was well illustrated in the exciting production, "Racing Hearts,"
in which she drove a racing car at the rate of 100 miles an hour.
She is at her best in the drama depicting the high-spirited, modern American
girl, since her personality lends itself to the daring out-of- doors life.
Her home is in Hollywood, and rose culture holds first place among her
hobbies. To it she devoted a large portion of her leisure time, and her
garden is one of the most beautiful in Screendom's capital. Miss Ayres is
an ardent outdoor girl, and her favorite sports are riding and golf. Few
stars who frequent the splendid links near Hollywood can cover the course
with a better score than Miss Ayres.
Miss Ayres is 5 feet 4 1/2 inches in height; has blonde hair and blue-gray
eyes. |