Discover Toronto's history as told through its plaques

2004 - Now in our 15th Year - 2019

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Mary Pickford

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted March, 2004

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2011

Photo Source - Wikimedia Commons

Meet Gladys Marie Smith. Born here in Toronto, she eventually changed her name to Mary Pickford when she became a Broadway star. Here, on the northeast corner of University Avenue and Elm Street, beside her statue, is this Ontario Heritage Trust plaque which gives us this information:

Coordinates: 43.656566 -79.388818

Born in 1893 in a house which stood near this site, Gladys Marie Smith appeared on stage in Toronto at the age of five. Her theatrical career took her to Broadway in 1907 where she adopted the name Mary Pickford. The actress's earliest film, "Her First Biscuits", was released by the Biograph Company in 1909 and she soon established herself as the international cinema's first great star. Her golden curls and children's roles endeared her to millions as "America's Sweetheart". She was instrumental in founding and directing a major film production company and starred in over fifty feature-length films including "Hearts Adrift", "Pollyanna" and "Coquette". For the last-named film, she received the 1929 Academy Award as the year's best actress.

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Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

> Posted October 5, 2008
I'm so proud to be from the same city as her (:

> Posted August 14, 2008
thanks!

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