Monthly Archives: Dec 2018

Agnes Ayres died 25 Dec 1940, in Hollywood of a cerebral hemorrhage and her body was cremated interment was at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.  Legend has it that her family disowned her after she appeared in silent pictures.  Beverly Rendleman, Alto Pass, Illinois and a family genealogist has found the opposite to be true.  “Her family was very supportive of her moving to Hollywood once came from California in her own private railroad car to visit he cousins May Rendleman Hammer and Frankie Rendleman McClure of Murphysboro.  “She remained very close to her cousins often sending them her clothes she no longer wore” When Frances Alice the 17 year old daughter of May Hammer was killed in the 1925 Murphysboro tornado, she was buried in a dress provided by Ayres, Rendleman said.

In contrast to the throngs her name once drew when she co-starred with Silent Film Star Rudolph Valentino. Agnes Ayres a star in her own right was mourned by a small crowd at her funeral service late yesterday.  At her funeral there were only ten floral pieces, and of these only one was from the movie colony. A spray from the Screen Actor’s Guild.   The “Kashmiri” song from Valentino’s picture, “The Sheik” in which she played the heroine and “Son of the Sheik” was played during her service.  Miss Ayres ashes were laid to rest near those of the great Latin star at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.  Maria Reachi daughter of Miss Ayres, was the only relative present and only three were connected with the business in which her name had become a household word.  Once a wealthy woman, Miss Ayres lost her fortune in the stock market crash of 1929 and died in obscurity on Christmas Day.

Agnes Ayres, 42 who rocketed to movie stardom in the silent screen days, retired to cinematic sidelines when the talkie era started and later made an unsuccessful comeback attempt died Christmas Day of a cerebral hemorrhage.  Miss Ayres, a film contemporary of Gloria Swanson and starred opposite of Rudolph Valentino in “The Sheik” had been in failing health for some time.   She was stricken suddenly on Christmas Eve and died later in a hospital without regaining consciousness.  Surviving is a daughter Maria now reported to be in Mexico City with her father Manuel Reachi from whom the actress was divorced in 1927.