In 2006, I started "The Midnight Palace", a website that focuses on classic and obscure movies from 1900-1955. Two months after launching, I became a proud affiliate of Warner Brothers. The website was built as a testament to my love for classic cinema and as a place where like-minded people could come together for a common interest. Naturally, you're exposed to a wide variety of talented actors and actresses when you watch so many classic films. That is how I first discovered Leila Hyams.
Like most people, my first understanding of Leila's talent came from watching her in Freaks (1932). I would, on occasion, buy a DVD in the store without having seen it. It was around Halloween when I decided to add a few horror movies to my collection, and after looking through some interesting prospects, I settled on Freaks. Aside from the film's cult-status and commentary on the morality of people, I found myself captivated by Leila's portrayal of Venus. She seemed to possess the only light on a canvas of dark undertones. I watched the bonus documentary on the disc hoping to gain a better perspective on Leila as an actress, but sadly, she was only mentioned in passing.
I began to research her short career and looked for any other films she appeared in. With some difficulty, I've acquired roughly 15 of her 50 films and continue to search for the others. In 2007, I launched LeilaHyams.com, the only website on the internet dedicated to the green-eyed blond. It is my hope to expose a wide audience to Leila's work and to earn her the respect of those who've never seen her films. I would love to hear from other fans and any family members of Leila's who would like to participate in making this the definitive Leila Hyams website. Thank you for visiting!
Gary Sweeney
The Midnight Palace & LeilaHyams.com
