Author Archives: Sherri

My July 30 Barbara La Marr Program at the Old Town Music Hall

Silent screen actress Barbara La Marr was a legend in her time, leading an astounding life described by newspapers of the day as “a wilder story than she ever helped to film.” Join me, Sherri Snyder, at the Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo as I portray Barbara in a self-authored performance piece, then present a slideshow lecture about her, detailing her oftentimes scandalous life from her humble beginnings to her tragic death at age twenty-nine in 1926. Barbara’s banishment from Los Angeles at age seventeen for being “too beautiful”; her notable careers as a dancer, a vaudevillian, a screenwriter, and an actress; her impact upon cinematic history; and her fierce determination to forge her own destiny amid the constant threat of losing it all to scandal and, ultimately, death will be spotlighted. The program, beginning at 2:30 p.m. and roughly an hour and a half long, will also feature clips from some of Barbara’s films, musical accompaniment by Pete Eveland, and a question-and-answer session. The Old Town Music Hall, a cherished cultural landmark, is located at 140 Richmond Street, El Segundo, CA 90247. Click here to purchase tickets.

Built in the 1920s, the theater became the Old Town Music Hall in the 1960s.

Watch Barbara La Marr in THE WHITE MOTH (1924) Free Online

The White Moth, directed by Maurice Tourneur and starring Barbara La Marr as Mona Reid (aka the White Moth), a famous dancer caught in a love tangle with Ben Lyon, Charles De Roche, and Conway Tearle, may now be viewed for free online here. The photo below, from one of the film’s scenes, features Barbara in what was considered in 1924 to be a very provocative scenario in a film: a woman in a bathtub. Though she was completely covered, censors in some states cut the scene before allowing the film in theaters. Still, one critic raved that “Barbara is scintillating as she has never scintillated before” in the film.

My April 1 Barbara La Marr Event at the Los Angeles Central Library

Silent screen actress Barbara La Marr was a legend in her time, leading an astounding life described by newspapers of the day as “a wilder story than she ever helped to film.” Join me, Sherri Snyder, on Saturday, April 1 at the Los Angeles Central Library as I portray Barbara in a self-authored performance piece, then present a slideshow lecture about her, detailing her oftentimes scandalous life from her humble beginnings to her tragic death at age twenty-nine in 1926. Barbara’s banishment from Los Angeles at age seventeen for being “too beautiful”; her notable careers as a dancer, a vaudevillian, a screenwriter, and an actress; her impact upon cinematic history; and her fierce determination to forge her own destiny amid the constant threat of losing it all to scandal and, ultimately, death will be spotlighted.

A question-and-answer session will follow the performance and lecture. I will also be signing copies of my biography, Barbara La Marr: The Girl Who Was Too Beautiful for Hollywood (a limited number of books will be available for $35 each, cash only).

The event, beginning at 2:00 p.m. and roughly an hour and ten minutes long, is being held in Meeting Room A on the first floor of the Los Angeles Central Library (630 West 5^th Street, Los Angeles) and is FREE to attend.

(Left to right) Barbara La Marr, me as Barbara, and my book.

Fun Fact: Barbara La Marr and Hedy Lamarr

Barbara La Marr was one of film producer Louis B. Mayer’s favorite actresses. They made four films together (Harriet and the Piper, Strangers of the Night, The Eternal Struggle, and Thy Name Is Woman) in the 1920s. In the late 1930s, over a decade after Barbara’s untimely passing, Mayer discovered a gorgeous, talented, intelligent young actress named Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler. He christened her Hedy Lamarr in honor of Barbara.

Barbara La Marr (on left) and Hedy Lamarr

Splash Magazines Review of my Barbara La Marr Biography

A big thank you to photographer and author Greg Autry for reviewing my Barbara La Marr biography in Splash Magazines.

“Some may say [Barbara La Marr] was destined for a life of ruin, but in Sherri Snyder’s skillfully written biography about the ‘too beautiful’ silent screen vamp of the 1920s, La Marr’s story becomes a compelling look into a young, beautiful woman’s brief journey to fulfill her destiny.”—Greg Autry, Splash Magazines

The entire review may be read here.

October 2 Hollywood Forever Tour and My Performance as Barbara La Marr

Silent screen actress Barbara La Marr was a legend in her time, leading an astounding, oftentimes scandalous life described by newspapers of the day as “a wilder story than she ever helped to film.” Join me, Sherri Snyder, at Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Sunday, October 2 as I once again portray Barbara in a one-woman performance piece that I wrote about her. Barbara’s banishment from Los Angeles at age seventeen for being “too beautiful”; her notable careers as an actress, a dancer, a vaudevillian, and a screenwriter; her tragic death at age twenty-nine in 1926; and more will be spotlighted.

My performance is part of the Los Angeles Art Deco Society’s 39th Hollywood Forever Cemetery walking tour. Also featured on the tour are the stories—told by performers and historians—of silent screen god Rudolph Valentino, matinee idol Douglas Fairbanks Jr., actress and William Randolph Hearst mistress Marion Davies, filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille, slain director William Desmond Taylor, and over twenty other Old Hollywood stars, movie moguls, and pioneers interred at Hollywood Forever.

In addition to portraying Barbara on the tour for many years, I have had the honor of producing it since 2017.

Click here for tickets and additional details. This event typically sells out.

Barbara La Marr (on left) and me as Barbara

My May 19 Barbara La Marr Event at El Segundo Public Library

Silent screen actress Barbara La Marr was a legend in her time, leading an astounding life described by newspapers of the day as “a wilder story than she ever helped to film.” Join me, Sherri Snyder, author of Barbara La Marr: The Girl Who Was Too Beautiful for Hollywood, on Thursday, May 19 at the El Segundo Public Library in El Segundo, California, as I portray Barbara in a self-authored performance piece, then present a slideshow lecture about her, detailing her oftentimes scandalous life from her humble beginnings to her tragic death at age twenty-nine in 1926. Barbara’s banishment from Los Angeles at age seventeen for being “too beautiful”; her notable careers as a dancer, a vaudevillian, a screenwriter, and an actress; her impact upon cinematic history; and her fierce determination to forge her own destiny amid the constant threat of losing it all to scandal and, ultimately, death will be spotlighted.

A question-and-answer session and book signing will follow the performance and lecture (a limited number of books will be available for sale, cash only).

The event, beginning at 6:30 p.m. and roughly an hour and ten minutes long, is being held in the library’s Reading Lounge and is FREE to attend.