While working as a model, Imogene Robertson was discovered by Broadway impresario Florenz Ziegfeld and immediately he put her into his famous follies, performing under the name “Imogen ‘Bubbles’ Wilson.” Entertainment columnist Mark Hellinger noted that only two people in the country could draw out every reporter in New York — The President of the United States and Imogene Robertson. Imogene began a tumultuous affair with married comedian Frank Tinney, in which Tinney frequently beat her. The affair, coupled with Imogene’s suspected drug use, forced Ziegfeld to fire her.
Imogen moved to Germany where she appeared in a number of films to much success. After a few years, she decided to return to Hollywood, using the name “Mary Nolan” to disassociate herself from previous scandals. She made a couple of pictures for United Artists before signing with Universal. While at Universal, “Mary” began an affair with married studio executive Eddie Mannix. On several occasions, Mannix severely beat “Mary.” The results of one beating landed “Mary” in the hospital for six months. While recovering, she became addicted to morphine. Her addiction caused a decline in her desirability as an actress. “Mary” was relegated to bit parts in low-budget movies produced by Poverty Row studios. She made her final screen appearance in 1933.
Bad investments and a failed attempt at operating a Hollywood dress shop led to a deep depression for “Mary.” She moved to New York to try her hand at the vaudeville circuit. Unpaid bills caught up with her and she was sent to jail and later to Bellevue for psychiatric evaluation. In 1937, “Mary” returned to Hollywood. She sold her life story to American Weekly — a Hearst publication — and appeared in several issues.
In late 1948, “Mary” was discovered dead in her apartment from an overdose of Seconal. She was 45. Her few personal possessions — including Rudolph Valentino‘s piano — were sold at an estate sale.