The Movie Ball 9 August 1923
This was the event of the year for motion pictures. ‘Australia’s Own Fair Daughters of the Southern Cross’ are remembered at The First Annual Movie Ball of the Motion Picture Industry, held at the swanky Palais Royal, at Moore Park in Sydney.
Enid Bennett, who looked very young in the photography above was actually born in 1893 so she was 11 years older than Lotus. Enid was an impressive Australian stage and screen actress, however she left Australia in 1916 to continue working with performer and director, Fred Niblo, with whom she had been working with in Sydney. They eventually married and both continued their careers in film, befriending Lotus in late July, 1924. There were rumours that Lotus would be given a part in a new Niblo production. Given the likelihood that it was a small role, it’s possible, however without being credited, there is no evidence that this occurred.
Theatre, film, stage, or screen – the performing arts are about expanding the mind, believing in possibilities, suspending one’s disbelief, escaping the everyday, to be another.
While all guests were encouraged to partake of the frivolity and enjoy ‘dressing up’ as Mary Pickford or Charlie Chaplin and competing for cash prizes, this was the networking event of the year, organised by ‘prominent men’ in the film industry for other prominent men in the film industry, as well as performers, their management, and studio representatives.
Film companies such as Paramount, Fox, Universal, Hoyts, Australian Films, Union Theatres Limited, Exhibition Alliance, United Artists, Co– ops Films, First National, Selected Superior Films, Australian Films, were all represented at this exclusive ball, as well as the Olympic and Tivoli Theatres.
It wasn’t all industry people, the general public could buy tickets from Palings. It had been announced earlier that year that Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks, and Mary Pickford would be in attendance that night but ‘a change of plans occurred.’
At the time, Robin Hood, starring Enid Bennett and Douglas Fairbanks, was showing in theatres in America, and was released in Australia just over a week later to a very select audience on the 17th August at the Crystal Palace in George Street, Sydney.
Of all the industry figureheads, one stands out: Hercules C McIntyre, Head of Universal Pictures in Australia. McIntyre was praised by founder and Head of Universal Pictures, Carl Laemmle, as the best salesman he had ever encountered. Moreover, McIntyre believes in the infinite possibilities of motion pictures, and that ‘all is an appeal to the imagination of the masses.’
Studio representatives within Australia were extremely important to the career trajectories of local performers who intended to ‘try their luck’ overseas. While I cannot be sure that Lotus attended, despite her photograph in the invitation, I can’t imagine why she would not attend. If so, the connections made on this evening by an 18 year old Lotus Thompson, of the Dinkum Bloke and Townies and Hayseeds films were, very possibly, advantageous for her future career in America.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-562066987
Lotus Thompson: Silent Film Star 
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