Rose Elizabeth Tapley (June , â€" February , ) was an American
actress of the stage and an early heroine of silent films.Tapley was
born in Salem, Massachusetts. She was the cousin of Captain Robert
Bartlett, commander of the S.S. Roosevelt and the S.S. Karluk. All of
her relatives on her father's side for generations were sailors. Her
grandfather's generation included nine sailing masters or captains.
Tapley's mother's name was Elizabeth Stagg Riker. She was the
granddaughter of Abram Polhemus, one of the founders of the old Dutch
Reformed Church in New York City. He was a merchant marine prince as a
young man. Tapley was educated in the public schools of Malden,
Massachusetts and at Boston University.Tapley performed on stage from
to . Her first theatrical engagement was with the Myron B. Rice
Company, as Bernice, in My Friend From India. During the season of
she played every other woman's part in this play. She starred with
popular actors of the era such as Richard Mansfield, Chauncey Olcott,
E.H. Sothern, and J.H. Stoddard. With Mansfield, Rose acted in Beau
Brummel, Monsieur Beaucaire, A Parisian Romance, and First Violin. One
of her most noted roles was in The Sign of the Cross.Her first motion
picture appearance was in . Tapley was featured in the Thomas Alva
Edison film, Wanted a Wife. Soon after she performed in the first
standard two reeler, The Money Kings. She signed a contract with the
old Vitagraph Company in May , making her the first leading lady of
movies. She was also the first star of the stage to begin a film
career. She acted with Vitagraph, Famous Players-Lasky, and for Fox
Film until her retirement in . Her credits number films. Some of the
titles are The Way of the Cross (), A Midsummer Night's Dream (), The
Cave Man (), Every Inch A Man (), Seeing Double (), One Can't Always
Tell (), Mr. Jarr and the Society Circus (), Her Majesty (), God's
Great Wilderness (), His First Command (), and Resurrection ().
actress of the stage and an early heroine of silent films.Tapley was
born in Salem, Massachusetts. She was the cousin of Captain Robert
Bartlett, commander of the S.S. Roosevelt and the S.S. Karluk. All of
her relatives on her father's side for generations were sailors. Her
grandfather's generation included nine sailing masters or captains.
Tapley's mother's name was Elizabeth Stagg Riker. She was the
granddaughter of Abram Polhemus, one of the founders of the old Dutch
Reformed Church in New York City. He was a merchant marine prince as a
young man. Tapley was educated in the public schools of Malden,
Massachusetts and at Boston University.Tapley performed on stage from
to . Her first theatrical engagement was with the Myron B. Rice
Company, as Bernice, in My Friend From India. During the season of
she played every other woman's part in this play. She starred with
popular actors of the era such as Richard Mansfield, Chauncey Olcott,
E.H. Sothern, and J.H. Stoddard. With Mansfield, Rose acted in Beau
Brummel, Monsieur Beaucaire, A Parisian Romance, and First Violin. One
of her most noted roles was in The Sign of the Cross.Her first motion
picture appearance was in . Tapley was featured in the Thomas Alva
Edison film, Wanted a Wife. Soon after she performed in the first
standard two reeler, The Money Kings. She signed a contract with the
old Vitagraph Company in May , making her the first leading lady of
movies. She was also the first star of the stage to begin a film
career. She acted with Vitagraph, Famous Players-Lasky, and for Fox
Film until her retirement in . Her credits number films. Some of the
titles are The Way of the Cross (), A Midsummer Night's Dream (), The
Cave Man (), Every Inch A Man (), Seeing Double (), One Can't Always
Tell (), Mr. Jarr and the Society Circus (), Her Majesty (), God's
Great Wilderness (), His First Command (), and Resurrection ().
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