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Henry Clive

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the British politician, see Henry Bayley Clive.
Sketch of Clive, 1911
Sultana by Henry Clive

Henry Clive (born Clive O'Hara,[1] October 3, 1883–December 12, 1960) was an Australian-born magician, actor, graphic artist and illustrator who created illustrations for The American Weekly and cover series, which were posed for by screen celebrities.

Life and works

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Clive was born in Melbourne, Australia, the son of a prominent doctor,[2] and spent his childhood on a sheep ranch outside Melbourne. As Clive O'Hara he became well-known as a magician; Melbourne Punch said in 1900 that 'As an amateur young O'Hara has paralysed audiences around Melbourne by the dexterity of his card tricks and the weirdness of his experiments.' [3] In 1913 the same magazine told readers that:

Mr. Clive O'Hara, now known as Henry Ciive, after a highly successful season in America, left New York last month for a seven months' vaudeville season with a new act of his own designing! As a hobby, Mr. O'Hara has taken up oil painting, in which he shows remarkable results after two years' study.[4]

In later years Clive moved to Hollywood, acted in silent films, became an art director for First National Pictures and went on to work in Charlie Chaplin's productions for United Artists, including City Lights.[5] Clive was chosen by Chaplin to play the part of the millionaire in the film, but was fired during production for refusing to jump into cold water and replaced by Harry C. Myers.

Clive married Helen Sevilla Cunningham[6] in New York in 1922,[7] claiming he had done so as Cunningham had 'the most beautiful nose in the world'.[8] Cunningham had previously worked as a model and it was reputed the two met when Clive painted her portrait and each divorced their spouses and were married a fortnight later.[9] However, Clive had also been judge in a beauty contest which Cunningham won in December 1921.[10] They had a daughter, Helen O'Hara on 8 November 1922.[11] Helen O'Hara would go on to play minor roles in Hollywood films in the 1940s.

In 1950, Clive married former actress Acquanetta who then returned to acting for several years.[12][13] When she retired from the movies in 1953, she became a disk jockey for radio station KPOL (AM) in Los Angeles.[12]

Clive's 1925 Art Deco illustration Sultana for the Louis F. Dow Calendar Company was once sold for $22,705.[14] Housed in the Estate of Charles Martignette, in 2010 Sultana was put on sale again at Heritage Auctions.[15] Sultana was reproduced in The Great American Pin-Up by Charles G. Martignette and Louis K. Meisel.

Selected filmography

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References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Henry Clive.
  1. ^ 'Married in America' Everyone's Vol 3, 109, 5 April 1922 p.8
  2. ^ 'Touchstone', 'Dramatic Notes', Perth Daily News 30 July 1904 p. 2
  3. ^ 'Touchstone', 'Greenroom Gossip', Melbourne Punch 11 October 1900 p. 26
  4. ^ Untitled item, Melbourne Punch, 19 July 1913 p. 27
  5. ^ "Henry Clive". American Art Archives. Retrieved 5 Oct 2015.
  6. ^ 'As a Guide to Character Your Nose is in a Class by Itself' New York Sunday News 2 April 1922 p. 67
  7. ^ 'Married in America', Everyone's, 5 April 1922 p. 8
  8. ^ 'Inquirer', 'There's a Type: If it's not Yours, Keep Your Locks' New York Sunday News, 9 April 1922 p. 20
  9. ^ 'How the Famous Artist Won the Girl He Crowned the Queen of Beauty', Portland Oregon Sunday Journal 19 February 1922 p. 61
  10. ^ 'On the Boardwalk and at the Broadway Brevities Ball', St Louis Star and Dispatch, 5 December 1921 p.3
  11. ^ 'Daily graphic review of news and events', Lebanon, PA Evening Report, 19 November 1922 p. 8; https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0641259/?nm_dyk_trv
  12. ^ a b Richard Beland (2009-10-15). "Jungle Frolics: Acquanetta". Junglefrolics.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2016-12-10.
  13. ^ "Hollywood Jungle Girl - The Actress Aquanetta". Jet Magazine. February 14, 1952. Retrieved July 6, 2013.
  14. ^ "Elvgren, Bolles and Bonestell lead record-breaking $3.4M illustration art auction". Antique Trader. 24 May 2010. Retrieved 5 Oct 2015. link dead March 2020
  15. ^ "Description". Heritage Auctions. Retrieved 5 Oct 2015.
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