Mona Rico
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mona Rico was a Mexican actress who was born in Mexico City, Mexico on July 15, 1907. Her real name was Enrigueta Di Valenzuela. Among her films include Eternal Love (1929), Shanghai Lady (1929), A Devil With Women (1930), and Zorro Rides Again (1937). She came to Hollywood at the age of 19 in April 1928. Official records show that Mona and her mother walked across the Mexican border.
She secured a nice five-year-contract and her first role of significance came opposite John Barrymore as the second lead in a United Artists motion picture, Eternal Love. It was reported that Miss Rico was sitting in the casting room of the studio when a girl's hands were needed in a film test Ernst Lubitsch was making. She was sent to Lubitsch and, after her hands were recorded, he made an entire test of her. The following day she obtained her contract. Mona's first all-talkie feature was in support of Mary Nolan. She was cast as a Spanish dancing girl in Shanghai Lady.
Mona married wealthy sportman James N. Crofton in 1932. Crofton was part owner of the Agua Caliente Club resort located in Lower California. Their romance began in Hollywood and they married in Washington, DC. On July 14 of this year Mona was with Crofton on a plane which crashed near Mexico City. A terrific rain caused the pilot of their honeymoon plane to fly against a mountain. The pilot/air lines owner was killed and the Mexican actress was severely cut and bruised.
Mona filed suit for separate maintenance in March 1933 and asked for a sum of $2,000 monthly from Crofton. In the action Miss Rico stated she was a motion picture actress who earned $375 per week in 1931. However she was no longer able to make her living as an actress because of facial injuries sustained in the airplane crash. The proceedings were later withdrawn and a reconciliation was followed by a second honeymoon to Hawaii. In October 1933 it was rumored that Crofton had established residence in Reno, Nevada to obtain a divorce. He denied this, saying that he was in Reno for a business trip and planned to visit Mona in San Diego, California afterwards. The same month Rico obtained a divorce decree in San Diego. She obtained a substantial property settlement and $500 a month alimony. She said that her husband frequently used bad language and once struck her in the face.
At the age of twenty-three the actress became an American citizen, taking the oath to support the government of the United States.
Mona Rico died in Los Angeles, California on July 15, 1994.
[edit] References
- Daily Northwestern, Hollywood Film Shop, Saturday, September 8, 1928, Page 12.
- Los Angeles Times, Mona Rico Has Just Finished Third Talkie, October 27, 1929, Page 24.
- Los Angeles Times, Gilpin Dies In Crash, July 14, 1932, Page 1.
- Los Angeles Times, Turfman Accused In Wife's Action, March 25, 1933, Page A1.
- Los Angeles Times, Mona Rico Wins Divorce Decree, October 19, 1933, Page 6.
- Los Angeles Times, She Plans Bid For Citizenship, May 27, 1934, Page 17.
- Oakland, California Tribune, Actress' Mate Denies Divorce, Wednesday, October 11, 1933, Page 9.
