Looking for Mabel Normand

At the Herrick Library are 6 scrapbooks donated from James W. Craig created by Edna Vercor, 860 Sheridan Rd, Highland Park Ill starting July 22, 1914 in volume #6 are 2 pages (98-99) with clippings and magazine pictures of ROMAINE FIELDING. In one scrapbook was also an empty envelope addressed to Edna Vercor from Romaine Fielding at Lubin in Philadelphia. The Academy did have the personalized letter that had come in that envelope in a separate file, which I have copied and transcribed for you to read.  Just for the record ‘the letter is for private and/or scholarly research, you can read it but if you want to use it, you will need to get written permission from the Director of the Margaret Herrick’… so you have received the notice.  Now back to the fun stuff.

Romaine Fielding  (William Grant Blandin) born in Riceville, Iowa, May 22, 1868, he was married to Mabel van Valkenburg in 1907 for ten years and his second marriage was to Joan Arliss (Naomi Sachs), he had 3 children.  According to this very special and extremely rare letter, he was a doctor during the Mexican Revolution for the Red Cross and for two years, practiced medicine in Kansas City.  Researching someone with a stage name is difficult 80 years after their death, as information becomes muddy. 

First he was in the live theatre but in 1911 only starting in the movie at the rather grownup age of 43.  He was an actor in 73 films (8 after 1920), screenwriter of 29, 68 were directed by Romaine and yes, he was the General Manager of Lubin’s West Coast.  He made a number of westerns in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado before he wrote to Edna in 1914.

In his October 8, 1914 letter he writes about The Eagle’s Nest, which he, co-produced, co-directed, co-wrote and co-starred in, it was finally released in April 12, 1915.  He had made this film in Colorado Springs, Colorado; it is now among the ‘lost silents’.   Every critic who saw it before it was released were enthusiastically unanimous on two things; the wonderful setting for the story and the remarkable portrayal of the life during this early pioneer period.  This Western was done by Lubin sparing neither time or expenses, this was no typical Western.

Lubin Studio closed in 1917 and at that point Romaine Fielding retired from the movies but returned to the screen in 1920 for a short time as Romaine passed away December 15, 1927 of a blood clot.  He is buried at Forest Lawn in Glendale, Masonic (Section M), L-182

In the Blandin Family Records compiled by Romaine Fielding; himself references an April 8, 1897 obituary in Mitchell County, Iowa newspaper, showing Jeyhenda (Icybenda) Knowlton death March 30, 1897. It states that Chester J. and Wm G. (Romaine Fielding) attended their mother and grandmother (respectively) funeral in Riceville, Iowa. Chester Blandin was William’s father, described as a Rail Road Engineer, a Stationary Engineer, Traveling Sales Representative (power plant and farm equipment). "He married Almeda Bacon after she became pregnant in Aug 1867. Chester's father, William T., a devout Methodist and lay circuit-riding Minister, imposed on his friend Rev. John W. Klepper to perform the necessary wedding. Neither of Chester's parents, Wm. T. nor Icybenda, was present. Witnesses were two friends of Chester, Ed Markham and R. M. Judd. (R.F. Judd, undoubtedly a relative, was Sheriff of Houston County, Minn. at the time of the wedding!). Before the next quarterly meeting of the Caledonia Methodist Circuit on Dec 23, 1867, the Wm. T. Blandin family moved to New Haven, Douglas Twp., Mitchell County, Iowa.

William Grant Blandin was also known as "Royal A. Blanding", "Romanzo A. Blondin", and "Romaine Fielding.". He was born, May 22, 1868, in Mitchell County, Iowa, but there is a "fake birth certificate" showing "Royal A. Blandin" born in Albert Lea, MN, May 22, 1875, which was created by Chester J. (his father) to make him appear to be 7 years younger and the son of Chester's third wife, Emily Harlow, whom he married in 1873 or 1874. (See research can be a lot of fun.)

So after 1897 Chester, together with Wm G. attended the funeral of Chester's mother, Icybenda, in Riceville, following which William T. moved to Minneapolis where he lived until he died in December of 1900. During those years, entries for 'Royal A. Blandin' disappeared from the City Directories, as Romaine was known and 'Wm G.' 'returned to life'. After the death of his grandfather, Wm. G. disappears until the 1907 Kansas City, Mo directory (info from 1906) where he is 'Romanzo A. Blondin, clk (clerk) and physician, Auditorium Drug Co.'" - Almeda: Records from Romaine Fielding. Romaine (Wm G.) mother was daughter of Grant and Eliza (Streeter) Bacon. Almeda Bacon.

William Grant Blandin in 1907 married, Mabel Van Valkenburg, an actress, known as Mabel Vann, they were divorced in 1917 but in 1918, Wm G. (Romaine) married Naomi Mary Lillian Sachs, an actress known as Joan Arliss. William died 15 Dec 1927, Los Angeles, CA.

Under name "Romaine Fielding", from 1907-1927, Stage and Screen Actor, Producer, Director and Writer, he became known to the film audiences.

It seems that he was raised by paternal grandparents until about 18 years of age (1886). 1885 Census shows Wm. G. still living with grandparents, Wm. T. and Icybenda B. Blandin in Riceville, Ia. (1890 Census destroyed by fire; no record). First reference in 1891 Minneapolis City Director to, "Royal A. Blandin Asst. Property man" (theatre). 1895 Minnesota State Census shows, "Royal A. Blandin, student". "Royal A. Blandin" is listed in Minneapolis City Directories rooming or boarding with or near Chester J., his father, in 1891, 1893, 1894, 1895, & 1896. (At no time are Wm. G. and Royal A. found listed at the same place or time).

No listing in 1897 Minneapolis for Chester J., Royal A. (or Wm. G. Blandin). Commencing in 1898-1900, inclusive, Minneapolis City Directories list Chester J. and Wm G. Blandin and in 1900 (info actually acquired in 1899) lists also grandfather Wm T. Blandin, then a widower (who died Dec. 27, 1900). Following Wm. T. Blandin's death, the family separated, Chester J. and his third wife, Sarah Emily, moving to Kansas City, Mo. and Wm. G. (alias Royal A.) going up to the Klondike Region of the Yukon Territory Canada where the gold rush was on... and where he made acquaintance of budding authors like Rex Beach and Jack London.

From the information found Wm G. (Romaine) 3 children were  Chester James Blandin b. 21 May 1899; a baby son, Fielding born August 16, 1924 that died 5 days later; Warren Fielding b. December 23, 1925 that died at 4 years old, after Romaine’s death.