Anita Page
A luminous silent film star whose meteoric rise made her one of MGM's most popular faces before she walked away from Hollywood at its peak.
1910–2008 (age 98)·American actress·Birthday: August 4·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Anita Page arrived in Hollywood as a teenager and quickly became a symbol of late-silent-era glamour. With her blonde bob and expressive eyes, she projected a captivating mix of innocence and sophistication. Her breakthrough came opposite Lon Chaney in 'While the City Sleeps,' but it was her pairing with rising star Joan Crawford in 'Our Dancing Daughters' that cemented her status. The film was a sensation, making Crawford a superstar and Page a major box-office draw in her own right. She transitioned successfully into talkies, but the intense studio grind and personal disillusionment with the industry led her to a startling decision. At the height of her fame in the early 1930s, she retired from the screen, leaving behind a brief but brilliant filmography that captured the flapper spirit perfectly.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Anita was born in 1910, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Anita Was Born
The biggest hits of 1910
Anita's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1910Born
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1915Started school
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1923Became a teenager
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1926Could drive
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1928Could vote
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1931Turned 21
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1940Turned 30
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1950Turned 40
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1960Turned 50
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1970Turned 60
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1980Turned 70
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1990Turned 80
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2008Died at 98
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
Key Achievements
- Starred in the blockbuster silent film 'Our Dancing Daughters' (1928) with Joan Crawford, which defined the flapper era.
- Was one of the most popular actresses in Hollywood in 1929, receiving the most fan mail at MGM that year.
- Successfully transitioned to sound films with starring roles in early musicals like 'The Broadway Melody.'
- Made a celebrated return to acting in her later years, appearing in independent films nearly 60 years after her retirement.
Did You Know?
She was considered for the role of Ellie Andrews in 'It Happened One Night,' which went to Claudette Colbert and won an Oscar.
She turned down a long-term contract with MGM after her initial success, preferring short-term deals for more control.
In her later years, she lived in the same house she purchased at the height of her fame in the 1920s.
“The camera is a truth machine; it sees what you're feeling, not just what you're showing.”
