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1919: Photo of Anna Mae Wong by Alla’s Pool

Anna Mae Wong by the pool at the Garden of Alla, circa 1919

Joyce Ralston Payton, who is a member of the Hollywood’s Garden of Allah Novels Facebook Group, posted this photo of Anna Mae Wong to the group. She rightly suspected the photo was taken at the Garden of Alla.

Anna Mae Wong’s first appearance in movies was in Nazimova’s “The Red Lantern,” which was released by Metro Pictures in May 1919. We know that Alla had installed the pool at Hayvenhurst estate not long after she leased it in August 1918, so it’s likely the photo could have been taken in the spring of 1919.

The pool at the Garden of Alla — note the pool house to the left in this shot that is in the background of the photo of Anna Mae Wong

4 Responses »

  1. Joyce Payton July 19, 2018 @ 5:21 am

    What a thrill to bring up this website and see my name jump out at me!! haha I love Anna Mae Wong and to see her at Nazimova’s pool was just too delightful. I’ve been bewitched by the Garden of Allah since High School and that’s a very long time.

  2. Martin Turnbull August 6, 2018 @ 4:10 am

    Hey Joyce, just giving credit where credit is due!

  3. Lucie June 11, 2020 @ 9:02 am

    Bewitched is perfect- thanks for sharing

  4. Lori Hoop November 12, 2020 @ 1:04 am

    Thanks for this. Love your novels, and now I’m obsessed with her.

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