Shirley Mason

Shirley Mason (born Leonie Flugrath, June 6, 1901 – July 27, 1979) was an American actress of the silent era. Mason was born in 1901 in Brooklyn, New York, to Emil and Mary (née Dubois) Flugrath. She and her two sisters Edna and Virginia became actresses at the insistence of their mother, who had first enrolled them in dance classes at a very young age. The sisters spent much of their childhood touring with companies at Coney Island, Elks Clubs and other venues.

Mason, and her sister Virginia (changed professionally to Viola Dana), made their film debuts at the ages of 10 and 13, respectively, in the film A Christmas Carol (1910). Mason's next film was 1911's The Threshold of Life (1911).

As a child actress, Mason was not in high demand. It was not until 1915 that she played her role in Vanity Fair. She acted for Edison studios in 1916, starring in The Littlest Magdalene. In 1917, her career saw a major advance as she was cast in 13 films that year alone, and was given the title role in the film The Awakening of Ruth. Mason continued a vibrant acting career through the 1920s, landing several major roles. In the 1929 film, The Flying Marine, she appeared in her final role (along with her sister Viola) capping her career at 109 films between the years of 1910 and 1929.

All three Flugrath sisters were hired by Edison Studios. It was here that she became Shirley Mason, a name selected for her for her role in the film series Seven Deadly Sins (1917). Viola met her husband, John Collins, at Edison, and the young director and actress became a successful husband-wife team. Edna also met her future husband Harold Shaw at the Edison Studios, and when he went to the UK in 1913 to direct at the London Film Company. Edna accompanied him; however, they did not marry until 1917 when they were producing films in South Africa. Shirley had appeared in several films and had met her future husband, Bernard Durning. Durning was a fellow actor and also director, and although eight years her senior, the two were married when Mason was only 16 years old. Mason and Durning enjoyed a very happy marriage, his directing films back East, and Shirley acting in them. All was well until 1923 when Bernard contracted typhoid fever and died, leaving 22-year-old Shirley a widow. Mason was remarried once more in 1927 to director Sidney Lanfield. The two remained married until Lanfield died of a heart attack in 1972.

On July 27, 1979, Mason died of cancer at age 78 in Los Angeles.