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Hollywood's First Vamp Trivia Quiz

Theda Bara was considered by many to be Hollywood's first sex symbol. Here's a quiz that includes some interesting facts about her life and career.

A multiple-choice quiz by alisa888. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
alisa888

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
141,220

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
565

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Theda Bara was a stage name. What was Theda's real name? Hint

Theodosia Goodman

Gladys Smith

Alice Rosenbaum

Harlean Carpenter

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Question 2 of 10

2. When was Theda born? Hint

October 18, 1899

March 10, 1910

July 29, 1885

April 16, 1882

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Question 3 of 10

3. For which film company did Theda work? Hint

Keystone

Essanay

Fox

Biograph

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Question 4 of 10

4. When did Theda begin her film career? Hint

1910

1914

1922

1918

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Question 5 of 10

5. What was Theda's first starring role? Hint

Carmen

East Lynne

A Fool There Was

Salome

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Question 6 of 10

6. Advance publicity in the 1910s claimed Theda's nationality to be what? Hint

Russian

Arabian

Chinese

Spanish

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Question 7 of 10

7. What was Theda's most famous role?

Answer: ( One Word ... remade with Elizabeth Taylor)

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Question 8 of 10

8. What was Theda's last screen appearance? Hint

Salome

Destruction

Sin

Madame Mystery

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Question 9 of 10

9. Theda married which director? Hint

J. Gordon Edwards

Charles Brabin

Edmund Lawrence

Raoul A. Walsh

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Question 10 of 10

10. When did Theda pass away? Hint

1972

1935

1940

1955

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Theda Bara was a stage name. What was Theda's real name?

Answer: Theodosia Goodman

Theda was a childhood nickname; Bara was a shortened version of a family name, Baranger. It was only a coincidence that the name was an anagram of "arab death," but it added to her exotic appeal. Incidentally, Alice Rosenbaum became Ayn Rand, Gladys Smith became Mary Pickford, and Harlean Carpenter became Jean Harlow.

2. When was Theda born?

Answer: July 29, 1885

Theda shares her birthdate with fellow silent screen star Clara Bow, who was born in 1905.

3. For which film company did Theda work?

Answer: Fox

Essanay was partially created by cowboy star G.M. "Bronco Billy" Anderson, Biograph was headed by director D.W. Griffith, and Keystone filmed the comedies of director Mack Sennett.

4. When did Theda begin her film career?

Answer: 1914

Although she claimed to have come to the movies as a star, she was an extra in "The Stain," starring Virginia Pearson.

5. What was Theda's first starring role?

Answer: A Fool There Was

"A Fool There Was" (1915) still exists. However, it's estimated that over seventy-five percent of all films made before 1950 are lost or destroyed. Silent films were made on nitrate film, which is not only perishable, but extremely flammible. Many films were ruined before they could be restored onto celluloid, including the majority of Theda's.

6. Advance publicity in the 1910s claimed Theda's nationality to be what?

Answer: Arabian

Up to the time, there had not been an Arabian screen star, so Theda's faux ancestory appealed to the public. It was rumored that she was born in the shadow of the pyramids, and worked as a child actress in Paris, but she was actually Jewish and hailed from Ohio.

7. What was Theda's most famous role?

Answer: Cleopatra

Cleopatra was produced in 1917. It is one of the most looked-for silents still missing today.

8. What was Theda's last screen appearance?

Answer: Madame Mystery

"Madame Mystery" (1926) was a Hal Roach comedy short that parodied Theda's former screen image.

9. Theda married which director?

Answer: Charles Brabin

All four men directed Theda at various times in her career. J. Gordon Edwards directed her more than any other director at twenty-three times. Theda and Charles married in 1921. It was her first and only marriage.

10. When did Theda pass away?

Answer: 1955

She died of cancer four months before her seventieth birthday.

Source: Author alisa888

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor DakotaNorth before going online.
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