Adela Rogers St. Johns Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Adela Rogers St. Johns was born on May 20, 1894. She was an American journalist. She was also a novelist and a screenwriter. Adela was renowned as The World’s Greatest Girl Reporter. She died at the age of Ninety Four years.

Early Life

Adela Rogers St. Johns was born Adela Nora Rogers in May 20, 1894, in Los Angeles, California, United States. She was born to Earl Rogers and Harriet Belle Greene. Adela was brought up as the only child. She later joined Hollywood High School. In 1910, she graduated from the school.

Career

Journalism Career

In 1912, Adela Rogers St. Johns sparked off her career by working for a San Francisco Examiner Hearts as a reporter. She was a Politics, crime, and sports news reporter. In 1913, she transferred and started working for the Los Angeles Herald. She later worked for the Photoplay Magazine as a writer. She then engaged some of her time in writing short stories for the Saturday Evening Post, Cosmopolitan.

In 1927, she reported on Jack Dempsey-Gene Tunney “Long-count” Fight. She also wrote on the treatment of the poor during the Great Depression. In 1935, she wrote on Bruno Richard Hauptmann’s trial for kidnapping and murdering Charles Lindbergh’s son.

In the 1930s, she went to Washington, D.C. She later reported for Washington Herald all about the national politics. In 1935, she reported on the assassination of Senator Huen Long. The following year, she reported on the abdication of King Edward VIII. In 1940, she reported on the Democratic National Convention. Eight years later, she took a break in journalism and devoted her time in teaching Journalism at the UCLA as well as writing books. In 1976, she went back to working as a reporter for the Examiner. She reported on the bank robbery and conspiracy trial of Patty Hearst.

Career as a Novelist

In 1925, Adela Rogers St. Johns wrote her first novel ‘The Skyrocket.’ In 1927, she wrote the novel ‘A Free Soul.’ The following year, she wrote ‘The Single Standard.’ In 1938, she wrote ‘Field of Honor.’ In 1940, she wrote ‘The Root of All Evil.’ Nine years later, she wrote ‘Never Again, and Other Stories.’ In 1956, she wrote ‘How to Write a Story and Sell It.’ In 1957, she wrote the novel ‘Affirmative Prayers in Action.’

Two years later, she wrote, ‘First Step up Toward Heaven: Hobert Eaton and Forest Lawn.’ In 1962, she wrote the novel ‘Final Verdict.’ Four years later, she wrote ‘Tell No Man.’ In 1969, she wrote ‘The Honey Comb.’ In 1974, she wrote the novel ‘Some are Born Great.’ Four years later, she wrote ‘Love, Laughter, and Tears: My Hollywood Story.’ In 1982, she wrote her final novel ‘No Goo-Byes: My Search into Life Beyond Death.’

Career as a Screenplay Writer

In 1918, Adela Rogers St. Johns wrote the screenplays for the films ‘Old Love for New’, ‘Marked Cards’ and ‘The Secret Code.’ In 1924, she wrote the screenplays for the films ‘Broken Laws’ and ‘Inez from Hollywood.’  The following year, she wrote the screenplays for the films ‘Lady of the Night’ and ‘The Red Kimona.’

In 1926, she wrote the screenplays for the films ‘the Skyrocket’ and ‘The Wise Guy.’  In 1927, she wrote screenplays for the films ‘The Arizona Wildcat,’ ‘The Broncho Twister,’ ‘Singed,’ ‘Children of Divorce’ and ‘The Patent Leather Kid.’ Two years later, she wrote the screenplays for the films ‘Scandal’ and ‘The Single Standard.’

In 1931, Adela Rogers St. Johns wrote a screenplay for ‘A Free Soul’ film. In 1932, she wrote a screenplay for ‘What Price Hollywood?’. Two years later, she wrote the screenplays for the films ‘A Woman’s Man,’ and ‘Miss Fane’s Baby Is Stolen.’ In 1937, her screenplay works were seen in the films ‘A Star Is Born’ and ‘Back in Circulation.’

In 1942, she wrote the screenplay for the film ‘The Great Man’s Lady.’ The following year, she wrote the screenplay for the film ‘Government Girl.’ In 1946, she wrote the screenplay for ‘Tat Brennan Girl.’ Two years later, she wrote a screenplay for the film ‘Smart Woman.’ In 1953, her last screenplays work was in the film ‘The Girl Who Had Everything.’

Awards and Achievement

In 1970, Adela Rogers St. Johns received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Personal Life

In 1914, Adela Rogers St. Johns got married to William Ivan with whom she had two children. In 1927, they divorced. The following year, she got remarried to Richard Hyland with whom she had one child. They divorced in 1934. In 1936, she again got remarried to F. Patrick O’Toole with whom she divorced in 1942. She later adopted a son and lived the rest of her life as a single mother.

Adela died on August 10, 1988, in South County Convalescent Hospital situated in Arroyo Grande, California. She died at the age of Ninety Four years.