Canadian-born Nell Shipman starred in, wrote, directed and/or independently produced movies from 1912 to 1925. The most popular were outdoor adventures noted for strong, self-willed heroines, breathtaking scenery and the inspired use of trained wild animals. Interest in her life and work has resulted in academic research, numerous magazine articles, a feature story on television's "Entertainment Tonight," and the showing of her films in festivals from Berkeley to Paris.
Nell's son Barry Shipman notified The Glendale Historical Society that the restored museum was his one-time home and generously provided information for an exhibit. According to Barry, Nell chose the home in Glendale to please her parents, who came from upper-middle-class British families, loved the Victorian style and couldn't get used to Hollywood's faster, more "modern" way of life.
Boise State University, supplied many of the materials for the Glendale exhibit. Due primarily to the efforts of Tom Trusky, an English professor and director of the Hemingway Western Studies Center, BSU published Shipman's autobiography, The Silent Screen & My Talking Heart, and maintains an archive of her films, photographs, scripts, letters, and other documents.
Panelists - Saturday Morning, April 18, 2026, Elks Screening Room
