Alice White

Pretty Alice White as she appeared in the 1928 film SHOW GIRL. White was born Alva Violet White on August 25, 1904 in Paterson, New Jersey. After leaving school, she became a secretary and "script girl" for director Josef von Sternberg. After clashing with von Sternberg, she left to work for Charlie Chaplin, who decided before long to place her in front of the camera. After playing a succession of flappers and gold diggers, she attracted the attention of director and producer Mervyn LeRoy, who saw potential in her. Her early films included “Show Girl” (1928) and its musical sequel “Show Girl in Hollywood” (1930), “Naughty Baby” (1928) and “Broadway Babies” (1929). She left films in 1931 to improve her acting abilities, returning in 1933 only to have her career hurt by a scandal that erupted over her involvement with ex-boyfriend actor Jack Warburton and future husband Sidney Bartlett. White and Bartlett were accused of arranging the beating of Warburton due to his violent abuse. Although she later married Bartlett, her reputation was tarnished and she appeared only in supporting roles after this, such as “Jimmy the Gent” (1934) and “Telephone Operator” (1937). She made her final film appearance in “Flamingo Road” (1949). With her movie star days behind her she went back to work as a secretary. In 1957, she fell off a ladder and landed on a pair of scissors. The accident left her blinded for several months. When she recovered she was offered a role on an episode of “The Ann Sothern Show” (1958). This was her final acting appearance. As she grew older, she stayed out of the spotlight but continued to answer fan mail. Alice White passed away on February 19, 1983 after suffering a stroke, aged 79.

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