I thought she had a lower voice, like Pola Negri's. But I like it, it's very feminine and sweet. And, thanks a lot for this audio, I think it's a jewel for all of us that enjoy watching and looking for rare material of old movie legends like she :).
What movie was she going to do? Her voice is "veddy proper" but also youthful and girlie sounding. Not vamp-ish at all ;) that is the magic of silent movies.
@genia106 we so agree, she reminds us of many voices of the '30s and '40s films....so glad u mentioned this timeless piece was on here....ty for posting
It was their "Blue Ribbon Town" series in 1944. Virginia had an old acetate and played it for me once, but wouldn't let it out of her sight. Her daughter may have it now. I was intriqued by Theda's voice. She chats with Groucho, similar to the Lux show, and he calls her "Miss Bara" throughout.
Virginia O'Brien had a rare aircheck of the Groucho Marx wartime radio series "Blue Ribbon Town," on which Theda Bara was a guest. Groucho addressed her as "Miss Bara".
Fine voice. Should be rough because of her age. But, no! My question is was Theda a smoker? Because just listen to Bette Davis at 50. Theda had a non-smoker voice!
Pretty decent, attractive and sexy voice, I might say! I thought her voice would be horrid because most of the silent stars did have horrible voices and that's why they couldn't do talkies!
Why didn't she follow up on the plans she was talking about here? Why didn't she do another movie?
Her voice is fine. Not for the roles she was known for, obviously. But many other kinds of characters could have suited her. Especially that she was a bit older.
@LadyMissCoppertone There are plenty of us who are rebel souls, who scoff at the bastardization of the English language. I take great delight in pointing out that t's don't sound like d's. Slang is okay in it's place, but today, people genuinely don't know how to talk without it, and they can't even pronounce words correctly. My own use of the language needs polishing, but I take great pride in being able to speak it with greater proficiency than many peers.
@LadyMissCoppertone Not exactly--it was the trained and culture pronunciation of affluent, educated woman of the '30's . . . especially one trained in show business.
It's hard to imagine that voice belonging to that woman. It would have been hard for her to play a vamp role with such a delicate voice after the advent of talkies.
Wow.... didn't think she would sound like that. She would of been 51. I always imagined her to sound husky. Still, she is a legend though, and I think all actresses owe women like her a debt!
@nutsaboutclara You heard that show, too? That was a great one. Walter Pidgeon singing (he had a large chest, according to one of the hosts), Herbert Beerbohm Tree...
I miss Whitcomb on KPCC. I remember him reading down the current pop chart one broadcast and he deliberately mispronounced Dr. Dre as "Derr Dree"
Heavens to Murgatroid! What an utterly fascinating clip! Been reading about her & other silent screen icons for so many years....but never thought I'd hear the voice of Theda Bara! What a lovely speaking voice she has! MANY thanks for posting this! CHEERS! :-)
It's funny to look at the famous pictures of her with such serious, agressive expressons and then to hear her voice. It's so much higher and sweet sounding than I expected!
Oh my goodness, her voice reminds me of someone but I can't. think. who! Her pronunciation's a little British, though she might've caught some of Charles Brabin's accent easily.
I really wish there could have been another Theda picture.
I really enjoyed hearing her voice. I imagined it'd be a bit deeper, but she has a lovely voice and excellent pronunciation. I'd love to have a voice like that. (I do wonder if that is exactly as she sounded as when she was in her early 30s and in movies, or if her voice changed over the years.) She would have had little trouble transitioning from silents to talkies as many stars did. Her voice records well.
Thank you for uploading this video. This is the first time I've heard TB's voice! She has an excellent speaking voice--such clear and precise pronounciation, yet also so feminine, so sexy, so sweet and intelligent, all at the same time. She easily could have made the transition into talkies with that wonderful voice. IMO, I'm convinced the studios were set against her, and so many other great silent stars, who could have easily transitioned into talkies.
@DietrichMarlena I'm also a big fan of Theda. It's a pity she never appeared in a talkie, I think she could have made the transition without problems, her voice is marvelous!
Pretty voice.
TheTonyfromconey 6 days ago
Sweet voice. Wish she would have acted into her later age. Unless she didn't want to be a character actress?
dplomin1954 1 week ago
She's got a very nice voice - the interviewer's voice, on the other hand, is raspy and uninflected.
Too bad she didn't make any more movies, as she says she's going to in this interview.
hebneh 2 weeks ago
great voice for a vamp
siempremarisol 2 weeks ago
not the voice i was expecting. I thought it was going to be deep and mystical. Hers is so-average.
ccipollini1984 1 month ago
I thought she had a lower voice, like Pola Negri's. But I like it, it's very feminine and sweet. And, thanks a lot for this audio, I think it's a jewel for all of us that enjoy watching and looking for rare material of old movie legends like she :).
Karaoi 1 month ago
Seriously considering naming any daughter I may have Theodosia... I think Theda is a really cool name :D
BeautyBoyTV 1 month ago
WOW. I would not have thought her voice was like this. So normal. haha
BeautyBoyTV 1 month ago
@BeautyBoyTV She was from Cincinnati!
costernocht 1 month ago
She has a great voice.. wonder if she ever made a 'talkie ' ?
lisalynn47 2 months ago
Sweet, mellow voice and very good accent, too! Fantastic piece of modern history. Thanks for sharing.
Gavichap 2 months ago
she sounds like Vivien Leigh :)
TheGardner22 4 months ago 2
she has a great voice
1357Alison 4 months ago
she sounds exactally like i thought she would!
AstroZombieRapist 4 months ago
What movie was she going to do? Her voice is "veddy proper" but also youthful and girlie sounding. Not vamp-ish at all ;) that is the magic of silent movies.
Patrick3183 4 months ago
Uh, i gotta have that "bra".
gotch09 5 months ago
Very nice and interesting, thank you for sharing :o)
nyesteiran 5 months ago
What a cultured sweet vioce she had! Her image doesnt suggest that to me at all! Im delighted to hear her! Thanks for posting this rareity!
2reeler 5 months ago
How wonderful to hear her speak.
She would have transitioned to Talkie and been great.
genia106 5 months ago
@genia106 we so agree, she reminds us of many voices of the '30s and '40s films....so glad u mentioned this timeless piece was on here....ty for posting
FASHIONCONSPIRACY 5 months ago
She had a very pleasant , clear voice
wilburbonzo 6 months ago
It was their "Blue Ribbon Town" series in 1944. Virginia had an old acetate and played it for me once, but wouldn't let it out of her sight. Her daughter may have it now. I was intriqued by Theda's voice. She chats with Groucho, similar to the Lux show, and he calls her "Miss Bara" throughout.
aeichler 7 months ago
Virginia O'Brien had a rare aircheck of the Groucho Marx wartime radio series "Blue Ribbon Town," on which Theda Bara was a guest. Groucho addressed her as "Miss Bara".
aeichler 7 months ago
@aeichler How interesting I've never heard that before! Is it available anywhere? What year/series to look for?
theposhone 7 months ago
@theposhone I'd be interested in hearing that too. The Vamp & a Marx brother. What a combo! :)
amberlights1 6 months ago
What a wonderful surprise and treat to discover this. Thank you. What treasures one finds at youtube. Her voice was delightful.
globalman 7 months ago
That bra,I'd scowl too.
exeuroweenie 7 months ago
What a delight to listen to someone who takes the speaking of the English language seriously, even if its a 75 year old recording!
johnprovince 9 months ago
Thank you for posting this.
megaautumnal 10 months ago
Fine voice. Should be rough because of her age. But, no! My question is was Theda a smoker? Because just listen to Bette Davis at 50. Theda had a non-smoker voice!
ConfusedSponge 10 months ago
Pretty decent, attractive and sexy voice, I might say! I thought her voice would be horrid because most of the silent stars did have horrible voices and that's why they couldn't do talkies!
ConfusedSponge 10 months ago
Why didn't she follow up on the plans she was talking about here? Why didn't she do another movie?
Her voice is fine. Not for the roles she was known for, obviously. But many other kinds of characters could have suited her. Especially that she was a bit older.
archer1949 10 months ago
its almost british sounding at times with her pronunciation of some words
radicalsystems 10 months ago 3
@radicalsystems that is the trained and cultured pronunciation of the '30's. Shame that fell out of favor. Look at what we have now.
LadyMissCoppertone 9 months ago
@LadyMissCoppertone There are plenty of us who are rebel souls, who scoff at the bastardization of the English language. I take great delight in pointing out that t's don't sound like d's. Slang is okay in it's place, but today, people genuinely don't know how to talk without it, and they can't even pronounce words correctly. My own use of the language needs polishing, but I take great pride in being able to speak it with greater proficiency than many peers.
DarthVil 9 months ago
@DarthVil I am right with ya. =D
LadyMissCoppertone 8 months ago
@LadyMissCoppertone Not exactly--it was the trained and culture pronunciation of affluent, educated woman of the '30's . . . especially one trained in show business.
theresalwayscanada 6 months ago
So THAT'S what her voice sounds like, NICE. : )
AntiqueAngel44 10 months ago
It's hard to imagine that voice belonging to that woman. It would have been hard for her to play a vamp role with such a delicate voice after the advent of talkies.
vintagechica82 10 months ago
Wow.... didn't think she would sound like that. She would of been 51. I always imagined her to sound husky. Still, she is a legend though, and I think all actresses owe women like her a debt!
cjacja21 10 months ago 2
@nutsaboutclara You heard that show, too? That was a great one. Walter Pidgeon singing (he had a large chest, according to one of the hosts), Herbert Beerbohm Tree...
I miss Whitcomb on KPCC. I remember him reading down the current pop chart one broadcast and he deliberately mispronounced Dr. Dre as "Derr Dree"
gilgamess 11 months ago
Im sure her voice was beautiful..she did ALOT of theatre before she went into pictures..very very nice..thankyou for this oppurtunity to hear her!
joeblowthehot 1 year ago
Heavens to Murgatroid! What an utterly fascinating clip! Been reading about her & other silent screen icons for so many years....but never thought I'd hear the voice of Theda Bara! What a lovely speaking voice she has! MANY thanks for posting this! CHEERS! :-)
JubalCalif 1 year ago
She kinda sounds like Blanche from Street Car.
MrAdamWayneGistarb 1 year ago
she has a british RP accent.
ponylegg 1 year ago 3
slightly sounds like Claudette Colbert
wayydowneast 1 year ago
I was a little hesitant to listen to this
what if her voice didnt match my idea of what
i thought she should sound like... well i
had nothing to fear
just beautiful!
fangsteen 1 year ago
yesssssssssssssssss yesssssss thank you!!! T
VioletaBara 1 year ago 2
Theda Bara once described herself as "a nice Jewish girl from Cincinnati" ...
buddmar 1 year ago 3
It's funny to look at the famous pictures of her with such serious, agressive expressons and then to hear her voice. It's so much higher and sweet sounding than I expected!
KatarinaSu 1 year ago 28
Oh my goodness, her voice reminds me of someone but I can't. think. who! Her pronunciation's a little British, though she might've caught some of Charles Brabin's accent easily.
RockabillyAutopsy 1 year ago
I really wish there could have been another Theda picture.
I really enjoyed hearing her voice. I imagined it'd be a bit deeper, but she has a lovely voice and excellent pronunciation. I'd love to have a voice like that. (I do wonder if that is exactly as she sounded as when she was in her early 30s and in movies, or if her voice changed over the years.) She would have had little trouble transitioning from silents to talkies as many stars did. Her voice records well.
thesparklingdiamond 1 year ago
Thank you for uploading this video. This is the first time I've heard TB's voice! She has an excellent speaking voice--such clear and precise pronounciation, yet also so feminine, so sexy, so sweet and intelligent, all at the same time. She easily could have made the transition into talkies with that wonderful voice. IMO, I'm convinced the studios were set against her, and so many other great silent stars, who could have easily transitioned into talkies.
TheLadyMalfoy 1 year ago
she sounds sexy....
win2art 1 year ago 4
Imagine "A fool there was" with a voice like that... it would've made it even more legendary than it already is!!!
Eurodictionary 1 year ago 2
I luv Theda, she's amazing. :)
tickedoffnow 1 year ago 2
I'm her big, i can say, fan.
The first time i've heard this (and that was probably six months ago) I was completely shocked. She has an amazing voice!
DietrichMarlena 1 year ago 16
@DietrichMarlena I'm also a big fan of Theda. It's a pity she never appeared in a talkie, I think she could have made the transition without problems, her voice is marvelous!
loverofoldtimes 1 year ago 4
@loverofoldtimes sounds like she married very well.
thepixieful1 3 weeks ago