Pauline Garon

Marie Pauline Garon was born in Montreal, Quebec on September 9, 1900, the daughter of Pierre and Victoria Garon. She was of French and Irish descent. Her father first worked for the Canadian postal department, then worked at an insurance agency, where he managed to gain enough money to send his youngest child (out of eleven children) to the Couvent Sacre-Coeur (Sacred Heart Convent) in Montreal, one of the most prestigious schools in the city. Garon attended this school for seven years. She was the first graduate of the institution to perform in the theater. Garon did not learn English until she was ten years old. Around age 20, Garon ran away to New York City where she began work on Broadway. She made her film debut in Remodeling Her Husband as a body double for Dorothy Gish.

She was associated with D.W. Griffith when she first came to Hollywood in 1920. Garon's first important role came in 1921's The Power Within. She also played the body double for Sylvia Breamer in Doubling for Romeo (1921).

Garon, 1923

In 1923, she was hailed as Cecil B. DeMille's big new discovery. He cast her in only two films. One was Adam's Rib (1923). She was selected as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars in 1923. Even before her "discovery", Garon had been a steadily rising star. She appeared opposite Owen Moore in Reported Missing (1922). Garon received much praise for her role in Henry King's adaptation of Sonny. She had been chosen for this role by King after he saw her portray the role in the stage production on Broadway. She co-starred with Richard Barthelmess in the First National Pictures release.[1]

Garon was making at least five films a year after her popularity soared. She was playing many lead roles in B movies and supporting roles in more glamorous films. She co-starred with Gloria Swanson and John Boles in The Love of Sunya (1927).

By 1928, Garon's career began to decline dramatically. She appeared mostly in French renditions of Paramount Pictures movies. She was cast in less popular English films as well. By the early 1930s, Garon was given small uncredited roles. By 1934, she had vanished from film. Garon played a bit part in How Green Was My Valley (1941) and appeared briefly in two westerns, Song of the Saddle (1936) and The Cowboy and the Blonde (1941).[1]

While filming The Average Woman in 1924 rumors began to spread that Garon had become engaged to Gene Sarazen, the professional golfer. In March 1924 she issued a complete denial of the rumors.[2]

Garon married three times. She wed Lowell Sherman in February 1926. Sherman's influence led Garon to refuse a long-term contract with Paramount.

In February 1928 Garon became a citizen of the United States. She separated from Sherman in August 1927. In February 1940 she eloped with radio star and actor, Clyde Harland Alban, to Yuma, Arizona. Garon and Alban divorced in 1942. She married Ross Forrester, widower of actress Marion Aye, in May 1953 and remained with him until he died.[1]

Garon died at Patton State Hospital, a psychiatric institution in San Bernardino, California, in 1965, ten days before her 65th birthday. The cause of death was a brain disorder. Garon's health had been precarious for some time. She collapsed at the 20th Century Fox studios in June 1952.

• Charleston Gazette, Movie Star Granted Citizenship Papers, Wednesday, February 22, 1928, p. 24.
• Englewood Economist, Petite Pauline Garon Reaches Fame Rapidly, October 10, 1923, p. 6.
• Hayward Daily Review, Actress Gets Divorce Decree, April 22, 1942, p. 2.
• Lethbridge Herald, Behind The Scenes In Hollywood, June 9, 1952, p. 9.
• Lincoln Star, Film Features From The Cinema World, Sunday, May 13, 1923, p. 31.
• Lincoln Star, Film Features From The Cinema World, September 16, 1923, p. 40.
• Los Angeles Times, One..In..A..Million, July 9, 1922, p. 32.
• Los Angeles Times, To Honor Actress, July 16, 1922, p. 35.
• New York Times, Pauline Garon Wed in Yuma, February 21, 1940, p. 21.
• Washington Post, World's Greatest Golfer, October 16, 1932, p. SM3.
• Washington Post, Sarazen's Ears Nicer Than Valentino's, Agents Told Gene, But He Wised Up In Time, May 4, 1950, p. 17.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pauline Garon.

• Pauline Garon on IMDb
• Photographs and literature
• Pauline Garon at Find a Grave