With this role, Ricksen cemented her future—for better or worse.
File:Edward Peil & Lucille Ricksen – Feb 1920 EH.jpg
Goldwyn Pictures Corporation, Wikimedia Commons
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10. She Left Her Childhood Behind
In total, Ricksen appeared in 11 short films as part of The Adventures of Edgar Pomeroy, the majority of which hit theatres in 1920, with four carrying over into 1921. The moment that Ricksen stepped into her role as female lead in the series, she left her childhood behind, also stepping firmly into the role of “actress” and “breadwinner”. However, initially, Ricksen loved it.
File:The Adventures and Emotions of Edgar Pomeroy (1920) – 1.jpg
Goldwyn Pictures Corporation, Wikimedia Commons
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11. She Kept Careful Records
Most of what is known about Lucille Ricksen survives through scrapbooks that Ricksen herself kept during the early days of her career. The excitement the young girl felt when she arrived in Hollywood can be seen in the meticulously kept photos and cuttings, all marked with playful and creative comments. Ricksen was too young to realize how she needed to cherish this small freedom.
File:Edgar’s Little Saw (1920) – Ad.jpg
Goldwyn Pictures Corporation, Wikimedia Commons
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12. She Didn’t Realize What She Had
Given her life up until this moment, one could argue that Lucille Ricksen never understood what it meant to be a child. However, Edgar Pomeroy gave her a small outlet for her childish creativity. At least while filming Pomeroy, Ricksen was surrounded by other children, playing as children often do. This brief period of childish freedom was short-lived.
File:Edgar’s Sunday Courtship (1920) – 1.jpg
Goldwyn Pictures Corporation, Wikimedia Commons
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13. Her Career Took Off
The Adventures of Edgar Pomeroy launched Ricksen into public view. On top of filming, the show required Ricksen to make even more public appearances, touring the country to appear in various theatres and celebrity events. Hollywood was taking notice of Ricksen, but this came with a dire cost.
File:Edgar Takes the Cake (1920) – 1.jpg
Goldwyn Pictures Corporation, Wikimedia Commons
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14. She Was The Youngest In The Room
Despite being no older than 11 while filming, Lucille Ricksen began making connections with the who’s who of Hollywood, from fellow actors to directors, all adults twice her age. One review of her Pomeroy performance declared her “one of the most promising Hollywood actresses”. However, at some point, “actress” began to replace a far more important descriptor for Ricksen.
File:Edward Peil & Lucille Ricksen – May 1920 EH.jpg
Goldwyn Pictures Corporation, Wikimedia Commons
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15. She Underwent A Transformation
Based on surviving records, Ricksen appeared in one other film in 1921, once she’d finished her Edgar commitments. Here she again played a child with her role being titled “Kate at 9”. Yet, her next role in The Married Flapper saw Ricksen undergo a sudden and concerning transformation.
File:The Married Flapper.jpg
Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Wikimedia Commons
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16. She’d Grown Up Overnight
The Married Flapper hit theaters in 1922. Depending on when filming occurred, Ricksen was likely 11 or 12. Despite being undeniably a child, the Lucile Ricksen that appears on film resembles a woman twice her age, dressed in the clothes and makeup of a grown woman. At some point between 1921 and 1922, the child disappeared and the “leading lady” took her place.
File:The Married Flapper (1922) – Harlan & Prevost.jpg
Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Wikimedia Commons
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17. She Was Playing Dressup
Following the success of The Married Flapper, Ricksen’s career began to take off. Opportunity after opportunity began to roll in, and each offer seemed to forget one convenient fact: despite her beauty and talent, Ricksen remained a child. It seemed that if you dressed her in enough makeup and clothes, the world never needed to know the truth.
File:Ricksen Evans.png
Evans Studio, LA, Wikimedia Commons
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18. She Became A Leading Lady
In 1923, Lucille Ricksen finally made it. Director Marshall Neilan selected Ricksen out of numerous girls to play the leading lady in his upcoming film The Rendezvous. Finally, Ricksen took her step out of the sidelines and onto center stage. However, whether the role was suitable for Ricksen proved highly questionable.
File:Marshall A Neilan, film director (SAYRE 7761).jpg
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
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19. Her Role Wasn’t Written For Her
Neilan cast Ricksen to play Vera, a traumatized Russian girl who’d spent her life in Siberia, where her family, former royal, had been exiled by the Tsar. Through the course of the movie, Vera marries twice, first to a horrid Cossack chief, and then, of course, to the hero. It’s a simple story and a good role—written for someone twice Ricksen’s age.
File:Ricksen Rendezvous.jpg
Goldwyn Pictures, Wikimedia Commons
20. Her Coworkers Were Twice Her Age
Vera is roughly 18 years old during the course of the movie. Her co-stars and movie husbands, John Nagel and Syd Chaplin (of that Chaplin family), were 26 and 38, respectively. As for Ricksen? She was 12 or 13, depending on the time of the filming. The oddity did not go without notice, even at the time.
Untitled Design (56)
Hennepin County Library, Wikimedia Commons
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21. She Was Obviously Too Young
Lucille Ricksen may have been a talented actress with perfect blonde curls and a captivating face. However, she was also a child, and no amount of makeup could truly hide that fact. One reporter, upon visiting the set of The Rendezvous, couldn’t help but remark upon this fact, his words leaving a haunting impression of Ricksen’s life.
File:Ricksen Hartsook.png
Fred Hartsook (1876-1930), Wikimedia Commons
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