Frances Teague

Frances Teague
Teague in 1925
Born(1905-04-12)April 12, 1905
Oakland, California, U. S.
DiedJuly 22, 1969(1969-07-22) (aged 64)
U.S.
OccupationActress
Spouse1922–1927

Frances Teague (April 12, 1905 — July 22, 1969) an American actress who worked in stage and films.

Early years

Teague was born in Oakland, California, but grew up in San Francisco after her family moved there when she was a child.[1] She came from a family of railroad men. Walter E. Teague, her father, worked for the Southern Pacific railroad,[2] Her grandfather, John Francis Teague, was a fireman and later an engineer on the Central Pacific Railroad.[3] Her mother was prominent in civic and social activities in San Francisco.[4] As a child, Teague staged plays for children in her neighborhood.[5] She graduated from Miss Hamlin's School for Girls,[4] a finishing school in San Francisco.[5] She prepared for a film career for four years, studying drama and interpretative dancing.[1] She was "an accomplished dramatic reader and ballroom dancer".[6]

Career

In 1922 Teague performed on stage with the Garret and Garden Players in San Francisco.[7][8]

Erich von Stroheim noticed Teague when she was 17 years old, and she made screen tests for him.[9] Her visit to on-location filming for The Iron Horse in January 1924 led to her acting in that film. She accompanied her father to the filming site in Nevada because he wanted to see how the film depicted the beginning of the railroad company for which he worked. Director John Ford asked Teague if she wanted a part in the film. When she said that she did, he cast her as a dance hall girl.[10] After a six months' probationary arrangement, she signed a long-term contract with Fox.[11]

Teague had the leading female role in three of her first five films for Fox.[12] Her work in films included portraying a telephone operator[13] in The Last Edition,[14] Miss Van Tuyler in Her Husband's Secret,[15] a bridesmaid[16] in Hearts of Oak,[17] Polly Ann Hadley in Wild Justice,[18] the society girl in Nellie,[4] and Polka Dot in The Iron Horse.[19] In 1928 she co-starred in the 10-episode film serial The Trail of the Tiger, portraying a bareback rider in a traveling circus.[20]

Critical response

Photoplay magazine described Teague's work in The Iron Horse as "an alluring characterization of Polka Dot".[21] Motion Picture News said, "Frances Teague lends charm and color" to The Last Edition.[22]

References

  1. ^ a b "Frances Teague, in Iron Horse film, belongs to great railroad family". Evening Vanguard. California, Venice. September 21, 1925. p. 2. Retrieved December 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Jungmeyer, Jack (October 9, 1924). "Girl Actress Keeps Up Traditions of Family by Entering Rail Film". Arizona Daily Star. Arizona, Tucson. p. 9. Retrieved March 29, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Actress' Kin Made Railroad History". Los Angeles Evening Express. September 29, 1924. p. 12. Retrieved December 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c "S. F. Girl proves new star in firmament of silver screen at Hollywood". The San Francisco Call and Post. August 19, 1924. p. 2. Retrieved December 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b "Rail official's daughter is movie actress". Sioux City Journal. Iowa, Sioux City. June 8, 1924. p. 20. Retrieved March 29, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Frances Teague, New Baby Star". Exhibitors Herald. August 2, 1924. p. 206. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  7. ^ "Garret, Garden players open tonight". The San Francisco Call and Post. January 14, 1922. p. 22. Retrieved December 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Amateurs in Novel Program". San Francisco Chronicle. March 5, 1922. p. D 1. Retrieved December 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Claims discovery rights in Frances". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. August 24, 1924. p. Part III 24. Retrieved March 29, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Frances Teague draws big salary; is 'Iron Horse' star". The News-Palladium. Michigan, Benton Harbor. April 7, 1926. p. 2. Retrieved December 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Stage and Screen Bits". The Philadelphia Inquirer. October 19, 1924. p. 38. Retrieved December 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Fox mystery girl reveals identity". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. August 17, 1924. p. Part III 36. Retrieved March 29, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Cobb, F. Heath (August 8, 1925). "Hollywood Notes". Exhibitors Trade Review. p. 29. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  14. ^ "Drama of Press And Battle for Right at Strand". Portland Press Herald. December 1, 1925. p. 4. Retrieved December 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Her Husband's Secret". Photoplay. April 1925. p. 98. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  16. ^ "Hearts of Oak". Photoplay. December 1924. p. 99. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  17. ^ "Fox". Exhibitors Herald. October 18, 1924. p. 87. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
  18. ^ "'Wild Justice' at the Family". The Daily Times. Iowa, Davenport. February 20, 1926. p. 8. Retrieved December 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Young Actress Rose Quickly". Los Angeles Evening Express. August 29, 1925. p. 14. Retrieved December 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "'Trail o' Tiger' a Circus Serial". The Evening Mail. Canada, Nova Scotia, Halifax. January 11, 1928. p. 12. Retrieved December 19, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "The Metallic Mustang". Photoplay. October 1924. p. 81. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
  22. ^ "(photo caption)". Motion Picture News. August 29, 1925. p. 1020. Retrieved December 20, 2025.
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