Lotus Thompson: Silent Film Star

Ambassadors, Sydney, February, 1924

Beneath the bustling heart of Sydney’s central business district, tucked away in the basement of the grand Strand Arcade, lay a jazz palace – the Ambassador Cafe. The venue was often in the newspapers and rarely for respectable reasons. It was a den of revelry and scandal, a dazzling haunt for those who craved dancing, sly grog, and thrills, and it was the perfect stage for an actress needing publicity.

Norman Stewart Dawson, the owner’s wayward son, managed the venue. An ex-major- turned irresponsible playboy, he had a thing for Lotus, even though he was much too old for her. Nevertheless, this was the place where a ‘Goodbye Australia’ party lingered into a humid February evening in 1924 and the papers made sure that everyone knew about the grand departure to come.

Circular Quay, Sydney, March 5^th, 1924.

Beyond the kisses and the streamers, the papers write:

‘A young Australian who leaves by the Ventura today to seek fame in the film world at Los Angles. Her armaments are a few letters of introduction, a beautiful face, and brains.’

Circular Quay is frantic, abuzz with people, streamers, flowers, and noise as the SS Ventura prepares to depart. The grand departure is afoot on this exceedingly fine day as news cameras capture film of young Australian actress, Lotus Thompson, preparing to try her luck in Hollywood. 

Lotus doesn’t look directly into the camera, appearing natural and unaffected as she kisses and hugs her family, friends, and well-wishers goodbye. The sun is remarkably bright, causing her to squint, and she looks nothing like her modelling photographs – a trick of the light? Her mother, Sarah, a warm character by all accounts, hugs all in sight as she’s also leaving to serve as chaperone.

The story of a young actress, on the evening news, leaving for Hollywood intrigues hopeful young people with little to no theatrical experience, who leave Australia with ‘film fever’ in hopes that they too will be discovered.

All of this is staged, and it is just the beginning of a coordinated campaign to promote Lotus Thompson’s journey to Hollywood, courtesy of her management at  J. C. Williamson Limited who expect big things from her.

Screen-struck sheilas are warned not to go. On his return from Hollywood, Union Theatres’ boss, Edwin Geach, tells the Australian public that Hollywood is full of beautiful girls and heading there would only lead to their ruin. Boys arrive in equal numbers hoping to be the next Chaplin or Rudolph Valentino, but their failures draw far less concern.

William H. Hays warns hopefuls that many would give everything to be back home washing dishes for mother. Lotus does not see herself as naïve but as a trained actress with eight films behind her, industry backing, letters of introduction, and copies of her films – and she is determined to try her luck.

The ambition of a young girl in a dying Australian film industry is cited as the reason for such a grand departure but perhaps there is another story to tell.