Fritzi Ridgeway


Fredericka Berneice "Fritzi" Ridgeway was an American silent film actress, vaudeville performer, and hotelier. Though she starred in numerous films, she is perhaps best known for her work in silent Western films.
A native of Montana, Ridgeway worked as both a vaudeville performer and a professional trick rider before making her film debut in 1916. She appeared in 63 films between 1916 and 1934, with prominent roles in Western films populating much of her early career. Other notable roles include supporting parts in Tod Browning's drama The Unpainted Woman and The Enemy.
Ridgeway officially retired from acting in 1934, making her final screen appearance in Rouben Mamoulian's We Live Again. She spent the latter half of her life managing the Hotel del Tahquitz in Palm Springs, California, a hotel she built in 1928. She remained the proprietor of the Hotel del Tahquitz until her death in 1961. She was married to Russian composer Constantin Bakaleinikoff. In L.A. Exposed: Strange Myths and Curious Legends in the City of Angels, historian Paul Young noted Ridgeway as an "iconoclastic silent film star."

Early life

Ridgeway was born Frederick Berneice Hawkes on April 8, 1898 in Missoula, Montana, later moving with her family to Butte, Montana, where she attended primary school. Prior to establishing herself as a film actress, Ridgeway worked as both a vaudeville performer and as a trick rider. As a teenager, Ridgeway traveled with her family between Montana and California, and attended Hollywood High School in Los Angeles. She was also educated in Chicago.

Career

Early films

She made her film debut in the short The Bridesmaid's Secret, and appeared the following year in her first feature film role in the Western The Hero of the Hour. Ridgeway would appear in several silent Western shorts after, including The Wrong Man and The Soul Herder. Her appearances in Westerns earned her the name of the "cowgirl star" early in her career. She appeared as Evelyn Hastings in the 1917 picture The Learnin' of Jim Benton opposite Roy Stewart, and was noted in a review for her "delightful" performance in the film.
In 1919, Ridgeway appeared in Victor Schertzinger's comedy When Doctors Disagree, followed by a supporting part in Tod Browning's drama The Unpainted Woman for Universal Pictures. She would continue to play in silent pictures into the late 1920s, including roles in the drama The Old Homestead, the Western Ruggles of Red Gap, and the drama The Enemy, opposite Lillian Gish.

Later work and retirement

In 1932, she appeared in Ladies of the Big House, which received positive critical acclaim with a review in The New York Times noting: "the film manages to convey this terror with a fair measure of success." In 1934, she appeared in a supporting part in the horror film House of Mystery opposite Verna Hillie and John Sheehan. Ridgeway made her final screen appearance in a minor uncredited role in We Live Again, an adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's Resurrection, before retiring from acting.
Ridgefield spent her remaining years managing the Hotel del Tahquitz, a 100-room hotel which she had built in Palm Springs, California in 1928.

Personal life

Ridgeway married Russian composer Constantin Bakaleinikoff in Cincinnati, Ohio on December 23, 1925. In March 1928, Ridgeway commissioned architect Anthony Miller to design a home for her, which was built in Los Angeles, California. She would later marry Walter D. Simm, whom she remained married to until her death of a heart attack in 1961.
She is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1916The Bridesmaid's SecretHazel FieldShort film
1917Where Glory WaitsScyllaShort film
1917The Hero of the HourMildred Nebeker
1917A Blissful CalamityAnnie SmithShort film; as Fritzie Ridgeway
1917The Wrong ManAnice MaloneShort film
1917High Speed Susan
1917The Soul HerderJaneShort film
1917 The Calendar Girl MazieAs Fritzie Ridgeway
1917Up or Down?Esther Hollister
1917The Learnin' of Jim BentonEvelyn Hastings
1918The Law's OutlawRose Davison
1918Real Folks Joyce Clifton
1918Faith Endurin' Helen Dryer
1918The Danger Zone Marie FitzmauriceAs Fritzie Ridgeway
1918The Fire Flingers EllenAs Fritzie Ridgeway
1919When Doctors DisagreeViolet Henny
1919The Unpainted WomanEdnaAs Fritzie Ridgeway
1919The Petal on the CurrentCora KinealyAs Fritzie Ridgeway
1919Winning a Bride Mary Pendleton
1920Judy of Rogue's HarborOlive Ketchel
1921Bring Him InMary Mackay
1921The Fatal 30
1922The Hate Trail Mary Munger
1922Boomerang JusticeRuth Randolph
1922The Old HomesteadAnn
1923Trifling with Honor Ida Hunt
1923The Cricket on the HeartBertha Plummer
1923Ruggles of Red GapEmily Judson
1927Nobody's WidowMademoiselle Renée
1927Man Bait Gloria
1927Getting Gertie's GarterBarbara Felton
1927Girl in the Rain
1927Lonesome LadiesDorothy
1927Face ValueMuriel Stanley
1927The EnemyMitzi Winkelmann
1928Flying RomeosMinnie
1928Son of the Golden WestRita
1928Red Hot SpeedSlavey
1929This Is HeavenMamie Chase
1930Hell's HeroesMother
1930Prince of DiamondsLolah
1931The Mad ParadePrudence Graham
1931Ladies of the Big HouseReno Maggie
1932Frisco JennyMiss JessieUncredited
1934House of MysteryStella Walker
1934Little Man, What Now?Party GuestUncredited
1934No RansomMiss Price
1934We Live AgainRedheadUncredited

Works cited

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