LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Gloria Swanson: Chicago Essanay
built 655 days ago
Gloria was born Gloria May Josephine Svensson in Chicago, Illinois on March 27, 1897, not long after the first images were beginning to be canned and seen. While many of her peers, having been born into showbiz families, were “destined” to enter the movies by way of vaudeville, Gloria had no such fate or aspiration, though she was about to become one of the most storied stars of her time.
Source:
One day in 1914, Aunt Inga took Gloria to visit Chicago's Essanay Movie Studios at 1333-1345 West Argyle Street. Essanay was named after its founders, James K. Spoor and Gilbert Anderson, using their last names' initials, S &A. Inga was a friend of Mr. Spoor. While at the studio, Gloria asked if she could be an extra in a crowd scene "just for the heck of it." A director who thought the 16-year-old girl was vibrant and pretty expanded a role for her in the short film At The End of a Perfect Day.
Source:
Her father was in the military and moved around a bit, so Gloria was raised in Chicago, Florida, Puerto Rico. The family moved back to Chicago when she was in her middle teens.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Chicago Essanay