Eve Southern

Eve Southern
Southern in Screenland, February 1930
Born
Elva L. McDowell

(1900-08-23)August 23, 1900
Ranger, Texas, U.S.
DiedNovember 29, 1972(1972-11-29) (aged 72)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Resting place
Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
OccupationActress
Years active1916–1936
Spouse
Robert F. Shepherd
​
​
(m. 1925; div. 1928)​

Eve Southern (born Elva L. McDowell; August 23, 1900 – November 29, 1972) was an American film actress. She appeared in 38 films from 1916 to 1936. In 1930, she was selected by portrait artist Rolf Armstrong as one of the film industry's 16 "screen beauties".

Early years

Southern studied music in Fort Worth, Texas, with her voice covering three octaves, "the lowest tones of the contralto, as well as the high C of the soprano." However, she was also interested in acting in films.

Career

Southern moved from Fort Worth to Hollywood and began working in films when she was 13 years old, but many of her parts were removed in editing.

In 1924, Southern sang in vaudeville and concert performances. After appearing in several films in the late 1910s and 1920s, she signed a long-term contract to star in films for Tiffany-Stahl. She was first heard on film in Whispering Winds. On April 5, 1929, an automobile hit her car, causing it to turn over. Her hip was broken and her back was wrenched, leaving her badly injured. In July that year, she was reported to have "been in a plaster cast for weeks."

On March 6, 1932, a toboggan accident broke several vertebrae in her back. She had an operation to repair the damage on March 18, 1932. She later appeared in several roles before retiring from film.

Death

Southern died in Santa Monica, California, on November 29, 1972, after a battle with Parkinson's disease. She is interred at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California.

Selected filmography

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Wilson 2016, p. 704.
  2. ↑ Armstrong, Rolf (January 1930). "What is Beauty?". Screenland. New York City: Screenland Magazine, Inc. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Fort Worth girl musician making good in California". Fort Worth Record-Telegram. December 3, 1916. p. 27. Retrieved February 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Eve wins out after ten years of ill luck". Times Colonist. Canada, British Columbia, Victoria. November 3, 1927. p. 7. Retrieved February 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Echoes of Music Activity Here". Los Angeles Sunday Times. January 27, 1924. p. Part III, p. 26. Retrieved July 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Eve Southern Is Made a Star in T-S Films". Cleveland Plain Dealer. March 17, 1929. p. Amusement and Radio Section, p. 4. Retrieved July 23, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Eve Southern Hurt". The Buffalo Evening Times. April 6, 1929. p. 7. Retrieved July 24, 2026.
  8. ↑ "As We Go to Press". Photoplay. July 1929. p. 6. ISSN 0732-538X – via Internet Archive.
  9. ↑ "Eve Southern has operation". The South Bend Tribune. Associated Press. March 19, 1932. p. 5. Retrieved July 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.

Further reading