More on Mary Gordon
BILL CROUCH continues his research
For Bill's earlier article on Mary Gordon CLICK HERE
(1882-1963) HER STORY
I knew little of Mary’s life until I met freelance journalist and writer Alison Kerr whose great-grandmother was Mary’s cousin.
Alison has been carefully researching source material, documenting and curating Mary’s life over many years, and was happy to share Mary’s fascinating story with me one afternoon in Glasgow.
Mary Gordon was born Mary Clark Gilmour on the 16 May 1882 at 285 Main Street Bridgeton, in Glasgow’s east end, to parents Allan and Mary.
There are several addresses associated with her early life ranging from Glasgow’s city centre (Saltmarket and Trongate, near the Panopticon), to the southside of the city (Mount Florida and Battlefield).
After her father’s sudden death aged 57 in 1901, Mary began to make a name for herself as a singer. By her early 20s she was entering singing contests in numerous Glasgow music halls and theatres.
In 1904 she turned professional and the Evening Times of August 29 1904 reported:
“That versatile Scotch comedian Harry Lauder occupied the City Hall on Saturday evening and attracted a large crowd. Mr Lauder had the assistance of Miss M Gilmour, a winsome young lady, with a sweet soprano voice, who sang tastefully, her best effort being the Dear Little Shamrock.”
(Harry Lauder became the epitome of the romantic notion of ‘bonnie Scotland’ - kilts, tartan and bagpipes!)
She married commercial traveller William Gordon in March 1908, and daughter Mary (Molly) was born in October 1909 in the Battlefield area, on the south side of Glasgow. (Not far from where the Jeffersons, Arthur and Madge had lived). Mary’s marriage was not a success and broke up in 1914 when her husband deserted the family. (He died in Glasgow, taking his own life, two decades later in 1937, just as Mary was beginning to be in demand in Hollywood with appearances in no fewer than 17 movies.)
During the 1914-1918 war, she and her mother, with daughter Molly, ran a boarding house in the Clyde coast town of Rothesay, 40 miles from Glasgow.
As soon as the war ended the trio left Scotland for Victoria B.C. and entered the USA at Seattle Washington on September 21, 1919 on the vessel Princess Adelaide (which was built on the river Clyde, at the famous Fairfield shipbuilders yard.) Mary would have been 37 years old and would not see her native city of Glasgow for another 27 years.
For the next 15 years Mary was employed doing odd jobs and playing extra and small parts in Hollywood, often recognisable by her long black skirt and with her hair tied back.
In the early 30s she was living at 12431/2 North Vista Street Los Angeles, California.
Her big break came in 1934 in the Katharine Hepburn film The Little Minister. (Discussed in an earlier article.)
In her long career she went on to appear in over 200 movies and played, perhaps her most notable role, housekeeper Mrs Hudston in ten Basil Rathbone, Sherlock Holmes adventures starting in 1939.
She appeared in four Laurel and Hardy movies, Pack Up Your Troubles; Bonnie Scotland (discussed in an earlier article); Way Out West and Saps At Sea. She also appeared as Mrs Watts the undertaker’s wife in Pick a Star 1937. Often these roles were uncredited.
At the height of her career in 1946 she returned for a brief visit to Glasgow for a family reunion where, as the photo of her smiling between Harry Lauder and Irving Berlin after the premiere of Blue Skies in the Central Hotel shows, she was firmly centre stage, although she told the Glasgow Bulletin “Ah’m no’ really a star - but Hollywood has been good to me.”
Mary Gordon retired in 1950 and died thirteen years later on 23 August 1963, aged 81 at the famous Motion Picture Home in Los Angeles, which had been set up by the studios to look after those who had devoted their lives to the movies.
Alison said “She was undoubtedly the first Scottish woman to make it in Hollywood and I think her pioneering, independent spirit is to be admired. I believe that Glasgow should honour her achievements and honour her.”
We spoke about the possibility of having a plaque erected in Glasgow, in her name, and I assured her that the Sons of the Desert would happily assist her in this very worthy project.
Thanks again, Alison, for an engrossing afternoon and for sharing your research with the Sons.
P.S. Although Mary lived for a time in the 1930s close to Hollywood’s Famous Walk of the Stars she does not have a star.
The next article will feature a Scot who did achieve that honour.