Olive Mary Borden was an American film and stage actress who began her career during the silent film era. She was nicknamed "the Joy Girl", after playing the lead in the 1927 film of that same title. Borden was known for her jet-black hair and stunning overall beauty.
Poverty Row is a slang term for small Hollywood studios that produced B movies from the 1920s to the 1950s, typically with much smaller budgets and lower production values than those of the major studios. Although many of these studios were based in the vicinity of Gower Street in Hollywood, the term does not necessarily relate to any specific physical location.
Riot Squad is a 1933 American pre-Code crime film directed by Harry S. Webb and starring Madge Bellamy, Pat O'Malley and Addison Richards. It was produced as a second feature and distributed by the independent company Mayfair Pictures.
Docks of San Francisco is a 1932 American pre-Code crime film directed by George B. Seitz and starring Mary Nolan, Jason Robards Sr. and Marjorie Beebe. It was originally released by Mayfair Pictures, and later re-released by Commonwealth Pictures in 1948. The film was long considered to be a lost film but is now on YouTube.
Million Dollar Racket is a 1937 American crime film directed by Robert F. Hill and starring Bruce Bennett, Joan Barclay and Bryant Washburn.
One in a Million is a 1934 American drama film directed by Frank R. Strayer and starring Dorothy Wilson, Charles Starrett and Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams.
City Park is a 1934 American comedy drama film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Sally Blane, Henry B. Walthall and Matty Kemp. It was produced and distributed by the independent studio Chesterfield Pictures, which was later merged into Republic Pictures.
St. Louis Woman is a 1934 American pre-Code musical drama film directed by Albert Ray and starring Jeanette Loff, Johnny Mack Brown and Earle Foxe. It is also known by the alternative title of Missouri Nightingale.
Fighting Hero is a 1934 American pre-Code Western film directed by Harry S. Webb and starring Tom Tyler and Edward Hearn.
School for Girls is a 1935 American drama film directed by William Nigh and starring Sidney Fox, Paul Kelly and Lois Wilson.
Mayfair Pictures was an American film production and distribution company active between 1931 and 1934 during the early sound era. It grew out of Action Pictures, another low-budget studio location on Poverty Row. It was established by the producer Ralph M. Like and was located at the former Charles Ray Studios in Hollywood.
Ralph M. Like (1894–1955) was an American film producer. He was involved with several independent film companies producing low-budget releases on Poverty Row. In 1932 he established Mayfair Pictures. Other companies he was involved with were Action Pictures and Progressive Pictures. After his studios folded in 1934, he produced only one further film You Can't Beat the Law for Monogram in 1943. Like also worked as a sound engineer at some of the major studios.
Fanchon Royer (1902–1986) was an American film producer, active during the 1930s. She was one of the few woman producers in Hollywood during the era, associated with low-budget independent studios such as Mayfair Pictures.
I Demand Payment is a 1938 American drama film directed by Clifford Sanforth and starring Betty Burgess, Jack La Rue and Matty Kemp. It is based on Rob Eden's 1932 novel Second Choice. Sherman L. Lowe wrote the screenplay. It was produced by Poverty Row company Imperial Pictures.
Secret Sinners is a 1933 American drama film directed by Wesley Ford and starring Jack Mulhall, Sue Carol and Nick Stuart.
What's Your Racket? is a 1934 American Pre-Code crime film directed by Fred Guiol and starring Regis Toomey, Noel Francis and J. Carrol Naish. It was produced on Poverty Row by independent studio Mayfair Pictures.
Beggar's Holiday is a 1934 American drama film directed by Sam Newfield and starring Hardie Albright, J. Farrell MacDonald and Sally O'Neil. It was produced on Poverty Row as a second feature. Scenes were shot at the Talisman Studios. In Britain it was distributed by Universal Pictures.
Unknown Blonde is a 1934 American pre-Code crime drama film directed by Hobart Henley and starring Edward Arnold, Barbara Barondess and Dorothy Revier. It was released by the independent Majestic Pictures. It was based on the 1932 novel Collusion by Theodore D. Irwin. The film's sets were designed by the art director Ralph Oberg.
Frontier Days is a 1934 American western film directed by Robert F. Hill and starring Bill Cody, Ada Ince and Wheeler Oakman. It was produced by independent Poverty Row outfit Altmount Pictures for release as a second feature. Location shooting took place in the Alabama Hills in California.
The Quitter is a 1934 American drama film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Charley Grapewin, Emma Dunn and Barbara Weeks. It was produced and distributed by the Poverty Row studio Chesterfield Pictures, later absorbed into Republic.
