Esther Ralston

She appeared mainly in comedies usually with her name billed above the title, often portraying spirited society girls, and also received good reviews for her forays into dramatic roles.

On radio, Ralston portrayed Kathy Marsh in Portia Faces Life[1] and Marcella Hudnall in Our Gal Sunday.

Her last leading role was in To the Last Man in 1933, directed by Henry Hathaway and starring Randolph Scott with a supporting cast featuring Noah Beery Sr., Buster Crabbe, Shirley Temple and John Carradine.

[6] In the book, she mentions that her career was sabotaged by Louis B. Mayer when she refused to sleep with him at the beginning of a swiftly abortive contract at his studio.

She was graylisted and soon found herself toppled from the height of the industry to being predominantly relegated to supporting roles, mainly at minor studios, solving the mystery of why her career faltered at the dawn of sound despite her having had a lifetime of theatrical stage experience and a superb speaking voice.

Ralston in 1925
Ralston in 1934
Ralston in 1941
Ralston, 1930s
Ralston (seated, left) in Our Five Daughters (1961); all five of the actresses playing her daughters resembled Ralston in her heyday
Esther Ralston cover art from Picture-Play Magazine
Tom Mix and Ralston in 1924
Ford Sterling and Ralston in 1927
Ralston and Neil Hamilton in 1928
Lobby card, 1928
Lobby card, 1931