Tribute to Agnes Ayres: Eldorado: A Ragtime Odyssey

Agnes Ayres (April 4, 1892 – December 25, 1940) was an American actress who rose to fame during the silent film era.

Born as Agnes Eyre Henkel in Carbondale, Illinois to Solon and Emma Slack Henkel on April 4, 1892. She also had an older brother named Solon William Henkel born in 1888. She began her career in 1914 when she was noticed by an Essanay Studios staff director and cast as an extra in a crowd scene. After moving to New York City with her mother to pursue a career in acting, Ayres was spotted by actress Alice Joyce. Joyce noticed the physical resemblance the two shared which eventually led to Ayres being cast in Richard the Brazen (1917), as Joyce's character's sister. Ayres' career began to gain momentum when Paramount Pictures founder Jesse Laksy began to take an interest in her. Lasky gave her a starring role in the Civil War drama Held by the Enemy (1920), and also lobbied for parts for her in several Cecil B. DeMille productions. It was during this time that Ayres married, and quickly divorced, Captain Frank P. Schuker, an army officer whom she had wed during World War I. She also began a romance with Paramount executive Jesse Lasky.

In 1921, Ayres shot to stardom when she was cast as Lady Diana Mayo, an English heiress opposite "Latin lover" Rudolph Valentino in The Sheik. Ayres later reprised her role as Lady Diana in the 1926 sequel Son of the Sheik. Following the release of The Shiek, she went on to have major roles in many other films including The Affairs of Anatol (1921) starring Wallace Reid, Forbidden Fruit (1921), and Cecil B. DeMille's epic The Ten Commandments (1923).

By 1923, Ayres' career began to wane following the end of her relationship with Jesse Lasky. She married Mexican diplomat S. Manuel Reachi in 1924. The couple had a daughter before divorcing in 1927. In 1929, Ayres lost her fortune and real estate holdings in the Crash of ’29. That same year, she also appeared in her last major role in The Donovan Affair, starring Jack Holt. To earn money, she left acting and played the vaudeville circuit. She returned to acting in 1936, confident that she could make a comeback. Unable to secure starring roles, Ayres appeared in mostly uncredited bit parts and finally retired from acting for good in 1937.

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[Jesse Riehl]

She sure was beautiful!!!! 

[Shabannie]

I am so glad that you found this. I love to rediscover silent movie stars.

----------Ellen

[Juan Jose Cabrerizo]

Original homenaje a una de las grandes pioneras del cine.

Saludos cordiales desde Barcelona

[Shabannie]

Buenos dias. Thank you for your thoughtful comments.

--------Ellen

[Cathy Jackson]

Hmmm..i don't remember hearing her name before but she looks familar..I grew up watching Shirley temple, little rascals, charlie chaplin...showing my age lol darn it all haha...I love the misic... reminds me of the old movies when i was a kid!!

[Shabannie]

This channel is for movie star videos and some old jazz music. I don't remember much about silent movie stars either. I make the videos so that I can learn more about them. I selected Agnes because of the movie, The Sheikh, with Rudolph Valentino. I have been working on videos about his other leading ladies too. You might have already seen my other channel, ZPopZRock, which is very different from this one, more modern. Thank you for looking!

---------Ellen

[Shabannie]

@imagefactories You are really catching up tonight. I selected Agnes because she was in a movie with Valentino. The music is my friend's music. Thank you for your nice comments.

----------Ellen

[Angie Smitherman]

Great video Ellen. She was a great actress. :-)) Thanx.  :-))

[Cathy Jackson]

Sometime when I am watching TV next to my hubby I wish we could go back to the silent movies...haha Thanks for sharing your love of the Golden Years...It was a very pleasant era...Also nice to re live what our Great and Great Great grandparents grew up with. I work with the elderly and I love to listen to their stories of the past.

[Shabannie]

I did not know that she had died so young before I made the video. Thank you for your nice comments.

------------Ellen