| Biography |
| A very big "THANK YOU" goes out to Delane Darby Moore and Susan Henry Darby for sharing some great pictures and information on the relative they affectionately call "Big Dot" |
| Another very big "THANK YOU" goes out to Susie Hatch for sharing more wonderful information about Dorothy's genealogy and family history! |
In one magazine article interview she is quoted as saying "When, as, and if you write me up tell the truth. From
what I can gather through extensive reading, all movie stars are beautiful or handsome, strong and noble,
talented, artistic, and addicted to their hearths and firesides. Let's make this different from the usual thing. I was
not reared in a dressing room, with Modjeska as a godmother. When I was 6 years old I did not run away from
home. I haven't nursed a lifelong ambition to act ever since reciting 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' at a church
bazaar, and I've never spent months and months, nor even a month, waiting on the extra bench. I wasn't
discovered by D.W. Griffith, and I was never so much a runner-up in a beauty contest." It was written that when
she spoke she was open and honest (maybe to a fault sometimes) but none-the-less a seemingly real person.
The fast life with dinners, parties and drinking with a crowd that included Joan Crawford and Renee Adoree
among others, was where Dorothy liked to spend her free time. She was popular with friends and even many in
the press. "A good scout" as they would say back then. Nice clothes, furs, perfume and jewelery were also a few of
her favorite things!
what I can gather through extensive reading, all movie stars are beautiful or handsome, strong and noble,
talented, artistic, and addicted to their hearths and firesides. Let's make this different from the usual thing. I was
not reared in a dressing room, with Modjeska as a godmother. When I was 6 years old I did not run away from
home. I haven't nursed a lifelong ambition to act ever since reciting 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' at a church
bazaar, and I've never spent months and months, nor even a month, waiting on the extra bench. I wasn't
discovered by D.W. Griffith, and I was never so much a runner-up in a beauty contest." It was written that when
she spoke she was open and honest (maybe to a fault sometimes) but none-the-less a seemingly real person.
The fast life with dinners, parties and drinking with a crowd that included Joan Crawford and Renee Adoree
among others, was where Dorothy liked to spend her free time. She was popular with friends and even many in
the press. "A good scout" as they would say back then. Nice clothes, furs, perfume and jewelery were also a few of
her favorite things!
According to articles from the 20's and 30's, Dorothy was described
as being 5' 3" tall, weighing between 105 and 117 pounds, having
brown curly hair and depending on which magazine you read
either deep hazel eyes or brown eyes. Some favorite hobbies of
hers were history, painting, music and interior decorating.
as being 5' 3" tall, weighing between 105 and 117 pounds, having
brown curly hair and depending on which magazine you read
either deep hazel eyes or brown eyes. Some favorite hobbies of
hers were history, painting, music and interior decorating.
On August 27, 1946 Dorothy Sebastian became Dorothy Sebastian
Shapiro after she married Herman Shapiro. They remained
together until her death from colon cancer in 1957.
Shapiro after she married Herman Shapiro. They remained
together until her death from colon cancer in 1957.
| Dorothy with Herman, getting kissed by her dog ca late 1940's/50's) |
Dorothy's maternal grandparents had been missionaries in
China, Turkey, Persia and Korea. Her grandfather founded the
first Presbyterian church in Alabama. "Religion is closely related
to the drama. And preaching is related to acting. They both
require the same flair. My grandfather and grandmother were
missionaries in China. When I was a kid, collecting gold stars for
regular attendance in Sunday School, I couldn't make up my
mind whether I wanted to be a missionary or an actress. The line
between them was so fine that I couldn't make up my mind."
When she was finally allowed to go the theatre she decided then
and there she would be an actress. Something she would keep to
herself as she knew the family would not approve.
The Sabiston's had four children: Elizabeth (Bessie) Christine
was the oldest, then Robert James, third was Stella Dorothy and
the youngest was Mary Helen. Sadly three of the four Sabiston
children would die fairly early, two of whom were very tragic
deaths.
China, Turkey, Persia and Korea. Her grandfather founded the
first Presbyterian church in Alabama. "Religion is closely related
to the drama. And preaching is related to acting. They both
require the same flair. My grandfather and grandmother were
missionaries in China. When I was a kid, collecting gold stars for
regular attendance in Sunday School, I couldn't make up my
mind whether I wanted to be a missionary or an actress. The line
between them was so fine that I couldn't make up my mind."
When she was finally allowed to go the theatre she decided then
and there she would be an actress. Something she would keep to
herself as she knew the family would not approve.
The Sabiston's had four children: Elizabeth (Bessie) Christine
was the oldest, then Robert James, third was Stella Dorothy and
the youngest was Mary Helen. Sadly three of the four Sabiston
children would die fairly early, two of whom were very tragic
deaths.
Bill and Dorothy eloped to Las Vegas, Nevada on December 19,
1930. One interview has her saying: "Sit steady" she warned
hysterically. "Hold onto something tight. In ten minutes Bill and
I are flying off to Arizona or New Mexico or some funny place to
get married. I told him he'd have to make it snappy before I
changed my mind." It was such a rush affair that they didn't even
stop to buy rings, they used one with a star sapphire that one had
given to the other as a gift:
1930. One interview has her saying: "Sit steady" she warned
hysterically. "Hold onto something tight. In ten minutes Bill and
I are flying off to Arizona or New Mexico or some funny place to
get married. I told him he'd have to make it snappy before I
changed my mind." It was such a rush affair that they didn't even
stop to buy rings, they used one with a star sapphire that one had
given to the other as a gift:
Her second marriage was to fellow actor William Boyd. As they do
today, the press kept an eye on the couple to see when and if they
would marry. They met while filming His First Command in 1929
and then immediately worked together again in Officer O'Brien.
This movie turned out to be somewhat of a flop, and as the
magazine story goes, they fell in love while consoling each other.
Not to mention Boyd's marriage to actress Elinor Fair was ending
and Dorothy's engagement to Clarence Brown was over, as was
her affair with Buster Keaton. The last movie they worked
together in was The Big Gamble and by that point they were man
and wife.
today, the press kept an eye on the couple to see when and if they
would marry. They met while filming His First Command in 1929
and then immediately worked together again in Officer O'Brien.
This movie turned out to be somewhat of a flop, and as the
magazine story goes, they fell in love while consoling each other.
Not to mention Boyd's marriage to actress Elinor Fair was ending
and Dorothy's engagement to Clarence Brown was over, as was
her affair with Buster Keaton. The last movie they worked
together in was The Big Gamble and by that point they were man
and wife.
| Wedding day December 19, 1930 with studio photographer Al 'Whitey' Schaffer and his wife. |
| Undated photo circa 1924 |
Stella Dorothy Sabiston was born on April 26, 1903 in the
Woodlawn area of Birmingham Alabama. She grew up in what
seems to have been a very normal upbringing. She was a typical
girl who liked to dance and took pride in doing well in school. Of
her first crush she commented: When I was 15 I thought boys
were bores. I tried to be very highbrow and read books I couldn't
understand. An old bachlor friend of the family was the only one
who pretended to take me seriously, and I'm sure he deserved a
medal when I remember what a pest I must have been. I used to
tell my schoolmates that my best beau was a 'Man who
understood me'."
Woodlawn area of Birmingham Alabama. She grew up in what
seems to have been a very normal upbringing. She was a typical
girl who liked to dance and took pride in doing well in school. Of
her first crush she commented: When I was 15 I thought boys
were bores. I tried to be very highbrow and read books I couldn't
understand. An old bachlor friend of the family was the only one
who pretended to take me seriously, and I'm sure he deserved a
medal when I remember what a pest I must have been. I used to
tell my schoolmates that my best beau was a 'Man who
understood me'."
Alabama was home until she headed up north to New York City to try and
make it as a dancer. Something she had wanted to do for a very long time. In
order to prove to her parents she could support herself, thus making her case
to go to NYC, Dorothy would do portrait sketches, parchment lamp shades and
sew cushion covers, even going as far as opening her own little shop in an
apartment in Birmingham. "It was the best looking place. I got old rugs and
had them dyed black. Then I did the place in robin's egg blue with touches of
orange. I couldn't take care of all the orders I had at the studio. But all the time
in the back of my mind was the idea of being an actress. I used to spend my
lunch money on pictures- it was always pictures more than the stage that
interested me."
make it as a dancer. Something she had wanted to do for a very long time. In
order to prove to her parents she could support herself, thus making her case
to go to NYC, Dorothy would do portrait sketches, parchment lamp shades and
sew cushion covers, even going as far as opening her own little shop in an
apartment in Birmingham. "It was the best looking place. I got old rugs and
had them dyed black. Then I did the place in robin's egg blue with touches of
orange. I couldn't take care of all the orders I had at the studio. But all the time
in the back of my mind was the idea of being an actress. I used to spend my
lunch money on pictures- it was always pictures more than the stage that
interested me."
| Dorothy has her own star on Hollywood's famous "Walk of Fame". It can be found at 6655 Hollywood Blvd. |
Dorothy was married three times. Her first marriage was November 9, 1920
when she married Al Stafford in Birmingham, Alabama. Their marriage
ended in divorce in February 1924. I have been told that Dorothy gave birth
to a little girl during her marriage to Al and I would love to find out if this is
true. After the divorce, Dorothy made her way to NYC and then to Hollywood.
when she married Al Stafford in Birmingham, Alabama. Their marriage
ended in divorce in February 1924. I have been told that Dorothy gave birth
to a little girl during her marriage to Al and I would love to find out if this is
true. After the divorce, Dorothy made her way to NYC and then to Hollywood.
"It was sweet wasn't it? Somehow it seemed lovelier than using any other sort of ring. And Bill is everything to me -
everything that lover and husband should be." Early on the sympathetic relationship was a happy one, but since it
was more a friendship than a love match it slowly unraveled due to incompatibility and pressure to keep up
appearances of a press covered 'perfect marriage'. They divorced in May 1936.
everything that lover and husband should be." Early on the sympathetic relationship was a happy one, but since it
was more a friendship than a love match it slowly unraveled due to incompatibility and pressure to keep up
appearances of a press covered 'perfect marriage'. They divorced in May 1936.
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| Birmingham circa 1915. |
Dorothy's parents were Lycurgus (Lawrence) Robert Sabiston and Stella Armstrong Sabiston. Her mother was
a "...really fine painter. She used oils and her portraits and landscapes were far from amateur. I have always
regretted that she gave it up. Whatever little knack I have for sketching comes from her, but in a very modified
form."
a "...really fine painter. She used oils and her portraits and landscapes were far from amateur. I have always
regretted that she gave it up. Whatever little knack I have for sketching comes from her, but in a very modified
form."
After the divorce, Dorothy made her way to NYC and then to Hollywood. After getting a taste of the movie star life,
Dorothy decided not to marry again until she felt she had succeeded in her acting career. "I'm sure that I could
never do two things well. I could not have a career and marriage both and I would not stop now to marry. It
would be a great injustice to a man, because I would always think, 'Now if I had not married I might be at the top
of my profession'. I would only marry after I have gotten where I want to be and am ready to retire permantly
from the screen".
Another philosophy of hers was much more simple: "I don't want to get married. Why spoil a good friend by
making a bad husband out of him?"
Dorothy decided not to marry again until she felt she had succeeded in her acting career. "I'm sure that I could
never do two things well. I could not have a career and marriage both and I would not stop now to marry. It
would be a great injustice to a man, because I would always think, 'Now if I had not married I might be at the top
of my profession'. I would only marry after I have gotten where I want to be and am ready to retire permantly
from the screen".
Another philosophy of hers was much more simple: "I don't want to get married. Why spoil a good friend by
making a bad husband out of him?"
| New York City in the 1920's |