Timelines for year 1909
Mary Pickford
Her first starring appearance in a film was in Her First Biscuits (1909) for Biograph.
She started her film career at Biograph Company (American Mutoscope & Biograph) in 1909, when Biograph's director D.W. Griffith hired her. Her first film was Biograph's Pippa Passes; or, The Song of Conscience (1909), though she only was a face in the crowd. However, this launched her long and illustrious film career.
Donald MacBride
According to a January 1909 Victor Records catalog, boy soprano Donald Hugh MacBride is pictured with an announcement of his first 78 release.
Alan Reed
His long-time wife, former actress Finette Walker (1909-2005), appeared on stage in the early 1930s and was a chorus member in the original 1934 Broadway production of "Anything Goes" with Ethel Merman. They had three sons.
John Fante
Fante was born in Colorado in 1909. He attended school in Boulder, later attending college at The University of Colorado and Long Beach City College. He started his writing career in 1929, publishing his first story in "The American Mercury" in 1932. He published stories in "The Atlantic Monthly", "The Saturday Evening Post", "Collier's", "Harper's" and "Esquire".
Ty Cobb
1909 American League Triple Crown Winner.
In 1909, he used his earnings from that year's World Series to invest in a copper mine in Bisbee, Arizona. He bought stock in the mine for $3 per share, and later sold his interest for $1,000 per share. In an era when the best players were earning $6,000 per year, he was worth in excess of $300,000.
Eddie Collins
Led the American League in fielding percentage for second basemen in 1909 (.967), 1910 (.972), 1914 (.970), 1915 (.974), 1916 (.976), 1920 (.976), 1921 (.968), 1922 (.976), and 1924 (.977).
Bob Balaban
Son of Elmer Balaban (1909-2001), who was last surviving of seven Balaban brothers who dominated the theater business in Chicago and much of the Midwest. The Balaban boys, sons of immigrant Jewish grocery-store owners in Chicago, built city's first "supercolossal" theaters, the 700-seat Circle and the 2,000-seat Central Park. Bob's Uncle Barney Balaban became chairman of Paramount Pictures in Hollywood and wanted to pass the torch to Elmer, but he declined. Elmer has been credited with devising an early version of pay-TV, based on a set-top box that would show first-run movies at home by accepting quarters.
D.W. Griffith
Pioneered the technique of parallel editing, which he used extensively after 1909.
Although Griffith was thought by many to be a bigot and racist, he detested the manner in which whites and the "white man's government" treated and oppressed Native Americans. This was a theme that he explored in several of his early short films, most notably in The Red Man's View and Ramona , which are very strong denouncements of the oppression of Native Americans by whites.
By 1909 he was turning out 2 to 3 films per week.
Although Griffith was thought by many to be a bigot and racist, he detested the manner in which whites and the "white man's government" treated and oppressed Native Americans. This was a theme that he explored in several of his early short films, most notably in The Red Man's View (1909) and Ramona (1910), which are very strong denouncements of the oppression of Native Americans by whites.
Jon Voight
His father Elmer Voytka, later Voight (born 29 Oct 1909 and died June 1973), was a professional golfer.
Judy Canova
Sister of players Anne Canova (1909-1994), Pete Canova (1904-1947, and Zeke Canova (1898-1980). Non-professional siblings included Isable Desilva Canova (1905-1981), Donald and George Paul.