Non Fiction • Nov 07, 2024 • 8 min read

Phantom of the Amsterdam

Olive Thomas was a real-life American silent film actress and a celebrated beauty of the early 20th century. Born in 1894, she gained fame as a Ziegfeld Follies showgirl before transitioning to film. Tragically, she died in 1920 at the age of 25 under mysterious circumstances while on a trip to Paris, reportedly from accidentally ingesting mercury bichloride, which led to speculation about her death. Her story and legacy have made her an enduring figure, sometimes associated with Hollywood’s "cursed" figures, and she is often remembered as one of the first movie stars.