Volume III: Biographies

GREY, Doris **

Actress (1915-1917)

Thanhouser Career Synopsis: Doris Grey (screen name of Sophie Sandowsky) was signed by Thanhouser in December 1915 and appeared in Thanhouser films released in 1916 and 1917.

Biographical Notes: Born Sophie Sandowsky in Boston on July 13, 1897, Doris Grey was educated at the Dorchester (Massachusetts) High School, where she was occasionally seen on stage. While attending high school she took elocution acting lessons from a private instructor. On December 1, 1915 she attended the Boston Exhibitors' Ball, sponsored by the Boston American, and was selected from a total of 39 entrants as the most beautiful girl there. She had attended the affair with her younger cousin, who had secretly entered her in the contest. The judges spied Doris, who had not competed, and the rest is history. The prize, given by Thanhouser, was an opportunity for a motion picture career. (A picture taken at the ball was printed in the December 25, 1915 issue of The Moving Picture World.) The first film of the 19-year-old would-be actress, What Doris Did, was a re-enactment of the ball and her award and was released by Thanhouser early in 1916.

Her Discovery: The discovery of her screen acting potential was told in The New Rochelle Pioneer, September 30, 1916: "Doris Grey did not have to battle her way into motion pictures. The hand of George W. Opportunity reached out and dragged her in; now she is receiving a huge check from the Thanhouser Film Corporation every week and is a co-star with Wayne Arey. Miss Grey's case is much like that of John Alden, the famous matrimonial agent who went out to get a wife for Miles Standish. Instead of arranging matters for Miles, you remember, John got himself a wife. 'Why don't you speak for yourself, Doris?' they said to her, and, lo!, she became a movie star!

"It was at the Boston Motion Picture Exhibitor's Ball in Boston last fall. The Thanhouser Company had announced that the prettiest girl at the ball would be engaged by the company and featured in a five-reel play. Doris was there with her little cousin. 'You win it,' said Doris and led her cousin before the judges. Finally one of the judges came over, 'You are selected,' he said to Doris. 'Me!' she exclaimed. 'I'm not entered. I am only here with my little cousin.' 'You win,' the judge told her firmly. And so she did.

"Edwin Thanhouser tried her in a feature called What Doris Did. The sophisticated, who had seen scores of pretty girls try and fail, said that what Doris would do would be to act herself right out of the film business. But Doris didn't. What Doris Did was a success. Mr. Thanhouser tried her in more pictures. She was willing, she had brains, she was pliable and anxious to learn. Her success did not go to her head. The result: Soon upon the billboards you will see 'Doris Gray and Wayne Arey in HER BELOVED ENEMY.' It's the biggest thing she has ever done, and Ernest Warde, her director, says she is just starting. Mr. Thanhouser considers her to be of such promise that he has signed her to a long-time contract, and she has the finest of gowns, the finest of plays and the best productions that money can provide." Note: This article was generated by the Thanhouser publicity office and appeared in various newspapers across America.

Her Later Career: Following her appearance in several Thanhouser films, she went to Astra, which released through Pathé. Her work there included a role in Streets of Illusion. Directory listings 1916-1919 repeated the information that Doris Grey was with Thanhouser and lived in New Rochelle, was 5'6" tall, weighed 120 pounds, and had light brown hair and brown eyes. For recreation she "rides, swims, plays, and sings," according to the same accounts.

In April 1919 she was on stage in Ohio, in the role of a stage maid in a dancing act. The position was secured after she answered an advertisement in The Toledo Blade: "Wanted - Young, pretty girl to play part of stage maid, coming week, or longer if satisfactory. Apply Monday noon at stage door. Keith's Theatre. Gertrude Hoffman." As stated in the April 15, 1915 issue of the same paper, she told a reporter of her elation upon getting the job: "It was the chance I have been looking for for months. I've always wanted to become a dancer, but I knew I needed experience before I could climb very high. Mother and Dan would never let me go on the stage alone, so it was up to me to wait for the right kind of chance."

Note: Her surname was misspelled as "Gray" in some notices.

Thanhouser Filmography:

1916: What Doris Did (3-1-1916), Steven's Sweet Sisters (Falstaff 5-20-1916), Getting the Grafters (8-24-1916), A Flaw in the Evidence (9-22-1916), At the Edge of the Aqueduct (10-13-1916)

1917: Her Beloved Enemy (3-4-1917), Pots and Pans Peggie (3-18-1917)

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