Looking for Mabel Normand

I just found your site on Mabel Normand as I had been reading Adela Rogers St. Johns novel, The Honeycomb, and wanted to know more about her, especially since she writes so empathetically about Mabel Normand. I plan on driving into Los Angeles to her grave site, and also to see the Mabel Normand Film Studio. I had no idea it was still standing! I live in Riverside, California, so the trip isn't far for me. Thanks so much for putting all the work you have into this site. I have been listening the the piano music from the Sheet Music section all morning, as some just keep playing over and over. Is this music available on CD? You are definitely bright, whoever you are to have the knowledge and organization skills to have put this site with all its' information together! Cordially, Richard Davis McLeod

You have done a really good job with this website

Marilyn,

I had seen your sight when Google searching Mabel Normand, but dove more deeply into it after seeing Stephen Normand's recommendation of the site link on Facebook.

I cannot begin to tell you how very impressed I am with all of the work, research and love that you have put into this site. And not only have you pulled together wonderful information and images, but the site itself is so beautifully designed. All in all, an outstanding remembrance of a great, talented lady who is under appreciated in our time.

My highest congratulations on all that you have accomplished here. You may be certain that I will be back to search out every little nugget of goodies here and to see what you continue to add.

Thank you so much, for Mabel and for those of us who are her fans,

Sandra Fitzgerald (your new Facebook friend)

Ted
Email me at marilyn at mabelnormand dot com

Hi. I saw the pics you posted of Mabel on the Indian Powerplus motorcycle and wanted to write you. I have 4 of those photos from the same studio shoot, all are copies except for one close up of her which is an original 8X10. Two of them are of her attempting to kick start the machine which apparently she accomplished because the rear wheel is spinning in the one shot in which she's sitting on the bike. I can send you scans of the ones you don't have. Since I found the copies about 15 years ago I've been looking for the originals ever since. I am a Mabel fan as well as an Indian Motorcycle owner.

On the back of my one original the words 'Slim Princess' are written in pencil, which is one of her films. Though I've never seen that film, my original photo came from an old newspaper archive, so those motorcycle photos may have been taken as promotion for that film? Or, they may have been initiated by Indian to show that a small actress could manage the big motorcycle.

Where did you find the images you posted? Were they from originals? As I said, I would love to find any originals. BTW; you mention chrome a few times in your description of the Indian Powerplus, it was actually nickle plating, which is very beautiful. Chrome plating wasn't available until the later twenties. Also, the dual 'headlights' on her Indian are accessory spotlights, the real Indian headlight is missing for some reason. -Ted

Happy Birthday, Mabel! Love the home page with the chocolate cake!

Have enjoyed my visit to your excellent site on Mabel Normand. Been enjoying the parlour music very much and reading all the updated material...don't know how you keep up with it all! Thank you so much for the gift of your labour for the memory of aunt Mabel. Stephen Normand

I have wondered why I am a Mabel Normand's fan? I can see why: Hollywood have promoted actresses too "glamourus", "too sophisticated" and "too beautiful". Even in the early times of silent movies onwards with the likes of Theda Bara, Clara Bow, Bette Davis, Joan Crwford, Loretta Young, Marlene Dietrich and, more recently with Elizabeth Taylor. Yet Mabel Normand didn't seem to fit into that Hollywood's mold: she was simple, starightforward, pretty but not glamorous, somewhat homely and down to Earth. She never exhibited extreme beauty but a more modest looking that one can find in many "next door neighbor" girl. And she acted very straight like you can expect in any women in real life. No wonder why so many of us still admire her after so many decades she has been gone from this world.

I am quite thankful for this website dedicated to one of the first greatest actresses of laugh, Ms. Mabel Normand. Before Gracie Allen, before Joan Davis and before Lucille Ball, it was Mabel Normand the real female comedy pioneer. And she gave us the best of her talents. Besides making us laugh, she was a quite gifted actress. We should not forget that she started in serious dramas under D.W. Griffith in New York City in 1909. A good example of her acting abilities we can see in her Sennet's 1916 comedy with a dark side, "He did and He didn't" with "Fatty" Arbuckle. Sadly, she left this world too soon at the young age of 37. She will never be forgotten. As a devoted fan, I tend to speculate what Mabel would have given us if she had lived several decades more? Appearing with Laurel and Hardy or the Marx Brothers? Acting with Gracie Allen [and I see some similarities between them, if not much]? Appearing as the laugh relief landlady with Moe, Larry and Curly [or Shemp]?. With Abbot and Costello? Or in television with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz? Or in old age with Ruth Buzzi in "Laugh In"? We shall never know. May she be blessed in eternity. Rest in peace, Mabel. We still love you.