Writing
Zelda Sears
Zelda Sears (née Paldi; January 21, 1873 — February 19, 1935) was a prominent American stage actress, screenwriter, novelist, and entrepreneur.
Before establishing herself in the entertainment industry, Zelda held various jobs, including a writer for a Chicago newspaper. She moved to New York, where she excelled in comic roles on stage, honed her shorthand skills, and founded a typewriting business. Her writing career took off when she started transcribing scientific articles for the renowned surgeon Dr. William Bull, which inspired her to craft a fictional narrative titled The Name Above The Door. This work offered readers a glimpse into the life at Bull's sanitarium and marked the start of her successful writing endeavors.
After returning to Chicago, Sears joined John Stapleton's acting troupe, gaining recognition for her performance in Lovers Lane. Her stage credits included notable productions such as Women and Wine, Girls, The Blue Mouse, and Keeping Up Appearances. Over time, playwrights began to rely on her talent for dialogue, and she revised numerous plays, ultimately embellishing ten for production.
Sears expanded her career in the early 1930s by moving to Hollywood, where she worked as a scenarist for Cecil B. DeMille and MGM. Among her notable contributions was co-writing the 1930 film The Divorcee, alongside Nick Grindé and John Meehan. She passed away at the age of 62 at her home in Hollywood, survived by her second husband, Louis Wiswell, and her sister, Marie Paldi. Zelda adopted her professional surname from her first husband, Herbert E. Sears.
