Who was Mary Pickford?
In 1907, a young Mary Pickford arrived in the United Sates looking for work. A Vaudeville star since the age of six, she traveled alone from her home in Toronto, Canada hoping to land a job on Broadway. Talented and full of confidence, she was offered her first role in American theatre at the age of 15. Two years later, Pickford auditioned for her first motion picture role, a “Flicker” as they were called. It was 1909, and working actors were earning $5 a day. Pickford, a very confident 17 year-old actress asked for $10, and her request was granted. From that day on Mary Pickford never underestimated her worth as a working woman. By the age of 21 she had worked in over 156 motion pictures, and by the age of 24, she was earning over $1 million a year. • By the age of 27 she earned a prominent place in American business by co-founding Hollywood’s first independent film company, United Artists. • At the age of 29, she helped form the Motion Picture Relief Fund (now the Motion Picture & Te
