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The Forgotten Fall of Olive Borden: The Silent Era Star Fired by FOX

Forgotten Black Aristocracy

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In the 1920s, Olive Borden was the highest-paid star at the Fox Film Corporation, generating millions for the studio while living in a sprawling, opulent mansion. But when she bravely refused an extortionate fifty percent pay cut, the ruthless Hollywood cartel permanently blacklisted her, forcing the former "Joy Girl" to scrub floors on Skid Row before dying in absolute poverty at just forty-one.

#OliveBorden #DarkSideOfHollywood #HollywoodExploitation #SilentFilmEra #LaborRights #WageTheft #ClassicHollywood #StudioSystem #HollywoodHistory #TheJoyGirl

6 Comments

@coco1990s 5 months ago (edited)

I have heard Olive's tragic story on another channel, the studio labelled her as temperamental. The more I find out about Hollywood, the more I realise it was and continues to be a dark place.

@JanetAguilar-c4b 5 months ago

Such a sad story. It is a cautionary tale. Pay cuts happen in every business. I'm a retired teacher; and other teachers told be about 1989 teachers agreeing to pay cut; it took almost 20 years to get enough raises to recover. Trust is a hard thing in any business. I taught history, have an MA in history; humans haven't changed in 5,000 years.

@NYC1927 5 months ago

After seeing her movie, "Half Marriage" made in 1929 back in the mid 80s, I have always been fascinated by her. I never knew her story. She was truly one of the most beautiful women out there.

@heidibee501 5 months ago

The studio bosses understood that standing together multiplied their strength. If they let even one employee assert their own position, others might follow. Olive should have known that half a salary is better than none. She could have sold her mansion...downsized to basics, and exuded the image of a dedicated employee. Instead she ran into an impenetrable wall with full force.

@1RaceTheHuman 5 months ago

I wonder had Olive known that the studio execs would band together and black list her. Would she still have asked for higher pay? 🤔 This was unfair and sad how Hollywood treated her..🙏🌹🌹