Existing comment:
Patria
Irene Foote Castle, 1893-1969
Born New Rochelle, New York
One of the most popular dancers of the early twentieth century, Irene Foote Castle entered motion pictures as the star of the World War I drama Patria (1917). Prior to her acclaim as a screen actor, she and her husband Vernon Castle were widely known for their performance in Irving Berlin's musical Watch Your Step, which appeared at the height of a dance craze in the United States. The couple popularized African American music among their well-heeled white followers, as their dances were often set to jazz and ragtime. Irene was also an iconic fashion figure, introducing the "bob" haircut worn by flappers in the 1920s. Vernon, who was a military flying instructor, died in an airplane accident in 1918, just before the end of World War I. Irene married three more times, continuing to make a name for herself in film. She spent her later years advocating for animal rights.
Unidentified artist, 1917 |