Hollywood Walk of Fame Every Star Has A Story — Texas Guinan
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How many times have you walked down Hollywood Boulevard, and Vine Streets to see the stars and wonder who they are and what they were known for? Well at Hollywood Happenings we tell their story starting on Vine Street, and continuing until we have every star on the Walk of Fame’s Story told.
First, we will start at the corner of Vine & Yucca, with an actress named Texas Guinan. To see her star and learn more about the other stars’ stories on the walk of fame. Click the link to my channel to subscribe, hit the notification bell, and leave a comment. https://www.youtube.com/@HollywoodHappenings1
Who is Texas Guinan, was an American actress, producer, and entrepreneur. She is best remembered as her highly popular nightclub hostess during the Prohibition era of the early 20th century.
Guinan, career began on stage at a young age, where she barnstormed with stage companies and rodeos. She entertained the troops in France during World War I, as well as had a successful career as a film actress appearing in more than 200 silent two-reelers, the characters in which she portrayed were blunt, aggressive, blond Western heroines in the dime-novel tradition.
She was born in Waco, Texas to immigrants Michael and Bessie (nee Duffy) who had immigrated separately as adults, meeting and marrying in Colorado. Guinan, parents were both of Irish ancestry, and initially operated a wholesale grocery business, after her parents relocated I Texas they ran a horse and cattle ranch. She is one of four siblings, and was nicknamed “Mamie.”
Growing up on a ranch gave her basic cowboy skills and honed her marksmanship at a local shooting range. By 1898, her parents were successful in securing her a two-year scholarship to the American Conservatory of Music offered by Chicago businessman Marshall Field. She had been married and divorced twice by 1905.
Texas Guinan, born Mary Louise Cecelia Guinan, (born Jan. 12, 1884, Waco, Texas, U.S. — died Nov. 5, 1933, Vancouver, B.C., Can.).
There she won parts of increasing importance in a series of musical comedies and revues, including Miss Bob White, The Hoyden, The Gay Musician, and The Passing Show of 1913.
By 1924 after a spontaneous performance one night as mistress of ceremonies at a party following a show in New York Winter Garden, she had taken up by bootlegger and racketeer Larry Fay, who installed her as hostess of his El Fay Club. She was perched on a stool in the center of the club, armed with a whistle and her own booming voice, “Texas” Guinan single-handely created an atmosphere of camaraderie unique among nightclubs during the Prohibition-era in New York. She greeted each new customers with “Hello Sucker!”