Ep. 012– Evelyn Nesbit in My Little Sister
After her friend W.T. Stead died in the sinking of the Titanic, (see Season 1, Episode 4 blog for more details), Elizabeth used her skills as a writer to spread awareness of human trafficking. Her novel on the subject, My Little Sister, became a bestseller and was developed into a silent film.
No surviving copies of the film are known to have survived the 1937 Fox Films fire, so our knowledge of the adaptation is limited to written narratives about it.
My Little Sister film advertisement
The film starred Evelyn Nesbit. After sky-rocketing to fame as a model and actress, Evelyn married a coal and railroad millionaire and then became part of the trial of the crime of the century (think OJ Simpson or Johnny Depp trials times 1000%). Although My Little Sister was released over ten years after the trial, many people still connected Evelyn primarily with that event. Advertising for the film alternated between downplaying Evelyn’s involvement to making her the reason to see the film.
Insider publication for theater owners regarding publicity strategies for My Little Sister
After listening to the episode, check out our subscriber-only Patreon article which provides more fascinating photos and documents about the My Little Sister and Evelyn Nesbit.
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American Eve by Paula Uruburu
Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow
Paula's Recommendations:
Prodigal Days by Evelyn Nesbit
The Traitor by Harry Thaw
The Madison Square Tragedy by Rick Geary
The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing by Charles Samuels
Credits:
Producer & Editor Lief Thomason, Odd Life Studios
Recorded at GFWC Historic Brooksville Woman’s Club
Web Design by Roots Creative Co
“Time is Whispering” Writer and Recording Artist Randi Olsen, Live Oak Theatre
Elizabeth Robins Papers housed at NYU’s Fales Library
University of Florida Smathers Library Margaret Dreier Robins Papers
Host Natalie Kahler Natalie Kahler | Facebook
