Leona Aronson, a gifted vocalist and thespian, was the youngest of a brood of seven siblings born to the esteemed Mr. and Mrs. Harry Aronson, whose roots were deeply embedded in the rich cultural heritage of Arkansas and Missouri. A notable exception to the family's Arkansas upbringing was Leona herself, who would go on to experience a unique upbringing outside of her family's native state.
Leona's formative years were marked by an insatiable fascination with the world of cinema, a passion that would ultimately propel her to make a bold decision to abandon her educational pursuits in Denver and strike out on her own to California, where her brother Gilbert was already well-established in the industry. This fateful move was driven by Leona's unwavering determination to carve out a career for herself in the movies.
Upon arriving in California, Leona found solace and guidance in her brother's experienced hands. Gilbert, who had already made a name for himself in the industry, took his young sister under his wing and nurtured her burgeoning talent. He even went so far as to dress her up and secure her a role in a film alongside the renowned Ben Turpin, under the visionary direction of the legendary Charles Chaplin.
Leona was entrusted by the illustrious Charlie Chaplin to engage in a peculiar task, which entailed wading into a serene body of water, a pond, as it were. With a certain degree of trepidation, she submerged herself into the aquatic environment, subsequently emerging dripping wet and vocalizing her discontent, remarking that she failed to appreciate the humor inherent in the situation. Despite her initial reluctance, the audience of the time appeared to derive amusement from the scene, which likely contributed to its enduring popularity. Nevertheless, her brother soon intervened, persuading her to rejoin her academic pursuits, where she formed a lasting friendship with Grace Moon, the daughter of the prominent entrepreneur and manufacturer of the esteemed Moon automobile in St. Louis.
It was only after a considerable passage of time had elapsed that Leona was presented with the chance to embark on a journey to the esteemed city of London, with the primary intention of dedicating herself to the study of voice.
It was her brother, Bronco Billy, who generously provided the financial backing necessary to facilitate her trip, thereby enabling Leona to pursue her aspirations in the world of music.
