Baby Peggy: The Last Silent Star

A long time ago, I made a short video about Baby Peggy, but it was a bit lackluster, so I decided to read Diana Serra Cary's (aka Baby Peggy's) autobiography and make a better video covering her career in the 1920s

[@The1920sChannel]

Small correction about the photo at 5:53: Joe Martin was, in fact, an orangutan, and the picture shows Mrs. Joe Martin, who was a chimpanzee

[@kurtb8474]

The 1920s. A century ago. Hard to believe. My parents were born in 1920 and '21. I love silent movies and I've seen loads of them. But, I've never heard of Baby Peggy until now. Yet, another star of the silent era that I must discover.

[@TedBronson1918]

What a family she had ! Parents lived off her work without sending her to school and the grandparents stealing from the parents ! Trusting people just because they're family is a huge mistake.

[@FinishwithGod]

So true so awful even after a family member has died they still steal and lie …I never trust family members of friends just because they happen to be related to my friend .The things I have seen .

[@charliebrownie4158]

There's a movie called The Black Candle, I'm not sure if it's Irish or Scotish but the main character has a mother who was the spitting image of Satan. With her trying to get the authorities to arrest and kill her eldest son. It's quite moving. I've noticed there are many times water can be thicker than blood.

[@SkyeFergus]

The fact this young girl went without a proper education while earning a living for her own parents is just so crushingly sad. Even if that was all she had to put up with, her parents shamelessly used her. Great video friend!

[@verity3616]

It speaks so much to the need for protecting income and mental health. Look at how many times she was betrayed - her own grandfather stole a million dollars?! Her own husband profiteered off her childhood fame? This is why we need labor laws and income laws that can protect us from our own families! It's so sad.

[@te-shauntv15]

Shes not the first and definitely won't be the last unfortunately

[@charliebrownie4158]

A lot of parents back then were quite ruthless towards their children. I'm not sure the veracity of the claim of the person recalling that not only didn't they care about their children. In the persons account they claimed their mothers her down to be violated.

[@harrymills2770]

As long as she learned to read, that's not a huge handicap, considering the fortune she (should have) had to hire all kinds of teachers and learn anything she wanted, later. Luckily for her, she was very strong and resourceful in spite of terrible parents and grandfather.

[@oliverbrownlow5615]

In addition to her own autobiography, Diana Serra Cary also wrote a biography of child star Jackie Coogan, as well as a book called *Hollywood's Children,* which traces the history of child stardom in early Hollywood.

[@debrakirby149]

80

[@elaineteeter9485]

Thanks, I will look for those books.

[@tinastar7951]

Great documentry ! So sad that such a adorable girl had a sad childhood and parents who tolarate and put her into it

[@videox222ify]

rest in peace Baby Peggy

[@sand2283]

Very interesting and enjoyable video. It was so sad that she was used so terribly by her parents and studios.

[@tedhollandrcp]

I can't believe that I just learned about Baby Peggy, Diana Serra Cary. What a terrific child talent. As well as a talented writer/historian. One of my dearest friends Marcia Mae Jones used to tell me her stories about making movies with Shirley Temple as a child. All so interesting. Thank for your great channel.

[@REALcatmom]

I loved Marcia Mae Jones in These Three!!

[@calvinkatt662]

This was a well done bio. I learned a lot. As an aside, I had never heard of the Hilton Twins. I did a little searching on them. Their treatment was far worse than Peggy's! A very sad story.

[@nathaliebatiste8842]

I’ve never heard of the Hilton Twins either. I’ll have to do some research.

[@FaeDruid]

Dude, great job. Thank you for all the work you put into your videos. You are one of my favorite KZbinrs.

[@QueenOfTheNorth65]

Her autobiography is SO good! Her parents were so awful to her, and took such horrible advantage of her.

[@cautionTosser]

Baby Peggy is awesome, but let's take a moment to appreciate the young man dancing with her. He had great moves. Very expressive.

[@kimlerner389]

Very true!

[@PC-tz6kb]

Great job! I loved the story & you told it so well. Thank you!

[@yelloworangered]

Thank you for this interesting video.I always have confused Baby Peggy and Baby Rose Marie, who was a star in the 30s. I wonder how many "Baby" screen actresses there were! It is so sad that life does not reward people who work hard and produce. Baby Peggy was a little trooper and the people around her stole from her and lived good lives at her expense.

[@elaineteeter9485]

I have the Baby Peggy documentary, "Baby Peggy: The Elephant In The Room," and also, "Captain January", made in 1924. Diana Serra Cary was a remarkable woman and I greatly recommend both of these. Her autobiography, "Whatever Happened To Baby Peggy," looks back over her incredible life as a child star. Her parents indeed squandered her fortune. Such a gifted actress, even as a little girl. Her documentary was co-written by Diana Serra Cary and is quite moving. It contains rare clips from her pictures and shows an intimate portrait of a woman who lost her childhood to the movies.

[@coreyking1009]

Great video! Well done. I first became intrigued by Baby Peggy about 10 years ago when TCM aired the excellent documentary Baby Peggy: The Elephant in the Room in 2012 It's a great doc and she speaks her own story throughout most of the film. If you haven't yet seen it its a great watch for BP fans.

[@robertsutton8894]

Where did the pachyderm come in?

[@coreyking1009]

@@robertsutton8894 It's using the antique phrase "The Elephant in the Room" which basically refers to something that's impossible to miss and very out of place yet no one acknowledges it. In this case its Baby Peggy and her questionable upbringing that fits that narrative

[@christieeady3027]

I just finished Diana's autobiography. You did a beautiful job covering Baby Peggy. She was an amazing woman.

[@prudencepineapple9448]

It's great to see your channel grow. Kudos to you!

[@billyshepard5514]

I met her at the Silent Movie Theater in Los Angeles in the early 1990s. We were just two people in the audience. She said she was in silent movies but the Theater didn't have any of the films. I never saw any of them until much later.

[@Zinervawyrm]

Peggy's Dad hates the idea of people turning their kids in movie stars. Also Peggy's Dad...

[@JoMarieM]

Yep. . .until he realized that his OWN kid was capable of earning some big bucks for the family -- and then he changed his tune pretty quickly!

[@ladyagnes9430]

Thanks so much. I regret not getting one of her autographed pictures. She was a great star & a great lady.

[@sunshinelollipopunicorn8191]

What a beautiful, adorable wonder of nature on the earth. I’m so glad I stumbled across this video. also from the clips that I’ve seen which are not very long, she was actually extremely funny and talented!!!🎉

[@Archon2848]

This was my great great grandma

[@randysmailbox]

I love this channel . This is so well written, so well presented. All of your work is much appreciated .. I'm blown away. Onto the next Video.

[@leonaheraty3760]

I think that the wonderful movie, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962), with the fabulous actresses, Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, may have been inspired by the life of Baby Peggy. Thanks for this excellent podcast. Love your channel! 😃

[@margaretadami6358]

absolutely unthinkable what they put this child thru. glad she came to peace and productivity as an adult

[@hamburgareable]

Thanks, dude! Youve done a great job researching things as usual, sir. 👍 👍 👍

[@verity3616]

7:44 - if she says she doesn't remember her father beating her "at the studio even once" it does NOT mean that he didn't beat her at home.

[@robkunkel8833]

This was wonderful. A great analysis. It is nice that your photos followed the age of the person being previewed. So many videos just keep showing photos without a concern about how they can be best used. You bring a story that follows (or leads) the visuals that we photo junkies all must have.

[@JoMarieM]

Peggy's story contrasts sharply with that of Shirley Temple. Both were extremely talented child actresses, but Shirley at least had a loving family, and her parents protected her from exploitation and overwork, and ensured that she had an education. Plus, Shirley loved what she was doing and wasn't pushed into her work, while Peggy, as a toddler, really had no choice as to whether or not she wanted to be a child actress, and if she didn't want to do it, she wasn't given the choice to quit, especially after she became the family's principal breadwinner. Her father was a strict disciplinarian who expected instant obedience from both of his daughters, and they were expected to come to him whenever he snapped his fingers. Sad that this poor kid didn't seem to have much of a childhood, and at six, her acting career was pretty much over due to a combination of a long absence from Hollywood, other new child stars on the scene, and talking films, but I hope that she was able to find some happiness later on in her life!

[@MightyMezzo]

I had the honor of meeting Mrs Cary at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum. Wonderful lady. And her books are well worth reading.

[@armandoblackhill1355]

Beautiful, you can see how grown ups act, yet today they still act the same way ,

[@hakeemfullerton8645]

Incredible video as always good sir

[@hamburgareable]

RIP Baby Peggy

[@suzieroberts2203]

Wow! What an interesting life Little Peggy had and she was so pretty! Thank you for all your research! I never even heard of her until now!

[@fs357mag]

Awesome job as always. BIG thumbs-up.

[@sammysoppy3361]

am i the only one who finds it weird that literal toddlers were top box office draws back then? super weird lol.

[@libbylib1819]

Thank you very much for the detailed video ❤

[@ardiffley-zipkin9539]

Great video, well done ! Thanks. RIP, Ms Baby Peggy

[@cherilynjenkins479]

Awe, she was the cutest little girl. Awe precious sorry she went through so much.

[@HUMDUDE]

What an unbelievable life! Great video, thanks for making it!

[@dismith73]

Peggy Jean Montgomery 29 October 1918 - 24 February 2020

[@06BIBOI]

Damn sure did enjoy it !

[@CarolAnn-gh9fl]

Keep in mind that child labor was very common in the 1900’s and early film was no exception. I remember watching her Peggy making the talk show circuit in the 80s; I had no idea who she was. It’s horrible that Hollywood still looks away when child actors are underpaid and abused. There are books and documentaries out today written by young actors, that were assaulted and robbed. Most child stars were given the bare minimum of education. It seems that few children have been protected by the Coogan act. She was equal to a Kardashian promoted family member….except no one cared if she benefited as well.

[@garynorton4647]

Thank you, you did a great job with this presentation.

[@eileen1820]

Love your channel!

[@lindickison3055]

My mother (age 4) loved Baby Peggy - knew she did naughty things and people laughed. Once (visiting someone) she (my mom) climbed and sat on their piano! She knew it was wrong, but they all laughed at BP. Uh, nobody laughed at my mother. Hostess aghast, mother embarrassed, and (my mother) put in time out corner.

[@laney3182]

I read her book. Excellent

[@lauraleigh5562]

Absolutely fascinating.

[@caroltenge5147]

18:55 Give Peggy a pair of mouse ears and she would look the perfect mouseketeer.

[@Booka60]

Just Wonderful!

Amazing!!!

[@voyaristika5673]

Though I'd heard of her I knew nothing about her, so this is a treat. It's good to know she went on to claim a life of her own, and lived so many years. I've subscribed to your channel and look forward to more! BTW, I'd love to know who that little boy is in the dance scene. He's an incredible little dancer, and I wonder what became of him?

[@kilgoretrout4491]

Thanks to you, I’ve gotten into silent movies.

[@The1920sChannel]

That’s great!

[@kilgoretrout4491]

@@The1920sChannel I love the history of movies and the silent and early sound era is the most interesting. I used to think “who would watch a silent film they are so boring”. Now I know that statement is wrong.

[@h.calvert3165]

@@kilgoretrout4491 Aren't they wonderful? I have more than 60 full-length ones, plus many shorts. If you haven't seen Sunrise, get it for sure! 🌄

[@kilgoretrout4491]

@@h.calvert3165 One of my favorites is intolerance from 1916

[@waynejones750]

That was very interesting.

[@kc4cvh]

8:57 It sounds like the story of Baby Peggy became the script for the feature film Whatever Happened To Baby Jane? (1962, Warner Bros.)

[@luvnalaska44]

I’d not heard of baby Peggy so this was fun.

[@barbarapineda9062]

Lil Peggy, it's faced it's a abuse and also frightening, too..

[@mjemigh3304]

Thank you for another great post! Very well put-together and I'm sure very informative to those not familiar with her. Her book is a great read and I have no reason to think that it isn't accurate, although much of it had to be related to her by others. Surely, a kid that young knew nothing about contracts or other behind-the-scenes stuff that was going on, so there could be errors along the way. Thanks again!

[@tomdegan6924]

This series is excellent.

[@lelia660]

Excellent job!

[@micheletaggart3274]

Really neat and interesting.

[@caramia4143]

I wonder if she was the inspiration behind "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane". A century later, child stars are still being overworked, abused, and manipulated by the adults around them. Lots of "ran off with the money" in those times. Even had family members stealing from her. Sad.

[@promiscuous5761]

Thank you.

[@cordiscoscorner]

Again an excellent video. I'm afraid you are being shadow banned (like my channel) VERY badly. You should have a ton more subs. Keep on keeping on young man. THANKS.....

[@kathymartin7724]

I read her book Whatever Happened to Baby Peggy. It was very informative and interesting.

[@L-Anded]

She was the same age as my mother, roughly. Impressive life story.

[@rixx46]

great stuff. She was remarkable

[@jmj7599]

Great! Thank you!

[@collettedobrocke4518]

Nicely done.....

[@vincentlospinuso7232]

I feel for her

[@vincentlospinuso7232]

She should have a star

[@benjaminrussell9159]

Thank you!!!

[@toni-marieschofield3009]

Thank you👏

[@Shianne264]

I actually watched an interview awhile ago where she definately did talk about her father giving her a spanking on set one time because she didn't obey him, ( which was unusual) and she recalled it hurt a lot.

[@hangin-in-thereawesome4245]

Very interesting story! I would have loved to seen some of her shorts! I don't suppose her parents and others that stole from her ever felt guilty! They not only stole her money but her childhood too!

[@cherdiane]

Can you imagine why the elephant would have a grudge against that monster? 🤬

[@eileenbrazil8039]

❤❤❤

[@arthurdalton517]

The shameful way that Child actors were treated was astounding by the way that was all the way through the 19 50s and 60s

[@gailjackson8941]

Very interesting

[@Arcademan09]

Baby Peggy 2: RELOADED

[@caramelo218]

❤

[@Rawhide68]

Thsnks

[@robt5818]

Regarding spanking: most people don't realize that this was very common. I was spanked, and, unfortunately, adults sometimes didn't realize their own strength, especially when angry. This is just the way things were!

[@sammysoppy3361]

I was a kid in the 80s and I got spanked. Spanking was seen as normal up until recently

[@kit-ekat8139]

i rly need to know the name of the short with the person in the bull costume.Its just so weird looking. loved the vid btw

[@The1920sChannel]

Thanks so much! That short is titled "Carmen, Jr." (1923)

[@kit-ekat8139]

@@The1920sChannel God bless

[@michaelmcgee8543]

Interesting!

[@adrianadealmeida1472]

👏👏👏👏👏

[@sodality3970]

That's Hollywood for you...although we love her movies , the price of putting a youngster into films was hardly worth it .

[@bobbyokeefe4285]

I guess Peggy's dad got cancelled...nothing has changed I see.

[@nukathelandermotzfeldt1431]

do you know the silent movie star Asta Nilsen she have such a cool story

[@kennethrouse7942]

I have read her book.. how tragic to be used like a trick pony to support your parents' extravagant lifestyle while your childhood development is denied. 😢

[@fizzao1342]

This is so sad. Her parents financially abused her and overworked her. Poor little girl.

[@robertsutton8894]

Strangest thing to me was that it was the 1st 1/2 of 20s. Should have looked into that.

[@misspm8157]

She was making huge money for the times. How and on what did her parents blow it all on?

[@dbo4852]

I can't believe that parents were allowed to take advantage of their children's skills.

[@dbo4852]

The parents were not concerned about the children only greed!

[@LightFromWithin808]

😢

[@rocistone6570]

No "Coogan Law" back then. Poor kid :(

[@annnee6818]

It's harrowing to think this was normal treatment of children in the day. Just awful😢