Sarah Bow was the mother of famed, Old Hollywood "It Girl" Clara Bow and the wife of Robert Bow. Sarah had 2 other daughters, born in 1903 and 1904, who died in infancy. Sarah was told by a doctor not to become pregnant again, because this time she might die as well. In spite of this Clara was conceived in fall of 1904. According to Clara Bow her mother became "almost mad with apprehension and fear." The delivery proved to be as difficult as feared; "At first, they thought I was dead... I don't suppose two people ever looked death in the face more clearly than my mother and I the morning I was born. We were both given up, but somehow we struggled back to life."
At sixteen, Sarah fell from the second floor and suffered a severe blow to the head, from which she later developed epilepsy. Sarah was diagnosed with "psychosis due to epilepsy", which apart from the seizures cause disordered thoughts, delusional ideas, paranoia and even aggressive behavior.
From her earliest years, Clara Bow learned how to care for her mother during seizures and how to deal with psychotic and hostile episodes. She described that her mother could be mean to her but "I know she didn't mean to be and that it was because she couldn't help it". Still, Clara felt deprived of her childhood, stating "As a kid I took care of my mother, she didn't take care of me". Sarah Bow worsened gradually, and when she realized her daughter was set for a movie career, she felt it so disgraceful she must end her daughter's life. One night Clara awoke with a butcher knife against her throat but managed to fend off her mother and lock her up. In the morning, Sarah had no recollection of the episode and was eventually committed.
Between 1905 and 1923, the Bows lived at least 14 different addresses. Aside from being a weak provider, Robert was often absent, leaving his family without means to survive.
Clara Bow: "It was snowing. My mother and I were cold and hungry. We had been cold and hungry for days. We lay in each others arms and cried and tried to keep warm. It grew worse and worse. So that night my mother - but I can't tell you about it. Only when I remember it, it seems to me I can't live."
When Sarah Bow died in January 1923, and relatives gathered for the funeral, Clara made a scene and accused the attendees of not being supportive when it counted. She was so angry she even tried to jump after her mother down the grave.
At sixteen, Sarah fell from the second floor and suffered a severe blow to the head, from which she later developed epilepsy. Sarah was diagnosed with "psychosis due to epilepsy", which apart from the seizures cause disordered thoughts, delusional ideas, paranoia and even aggressive behavior.
From her earliest years, Clara Bow learned how to care for her mother during seizures and how to deal with psychotic and hostile episodes. She described that her mother could be mean to her but "I know she didn't mean to be and that it was because she couldn't help it". Still, Clara felt deprived of her childhood, stating "As a kid I took care of my mother, she didn't take care of me". Sarah Bow worsened gradually, and when she realized her daughter was set for a movie career, she felt it so disgraceful she must end her daughter's life. One night Clara awoke with a butcher knife against her throat but managed to fend off her mother and lock her up. In the morning, Sarah had no recollection of the episode and was eventually committed.
Between 1905 and 1923, the Bows lived at least 14 different addresses. Aside from being a weak provider, Robert was often absent, leaving his family without means to survive.
Clara Bow: "It was snowing. My mother and I were cold and hungry. We had been cold and hungry for days. We lay in each others arms and cried and tried to keep warm. It grew worse and worse. So that night my mother - but I can't tell you about it. Only when I remember it, it seems to me I can't live."
When Sarah Bow died in January 1923, and relatives gathered for the funeral, Clara made a scene and accused the attendees of not being supportive when it counted. She was so angry she even tried to jump after her mother down the grave.
Sarah Bow was the mother of famed, Old Hollywood "It Girl" Clara Bow and the wife of Robert Bow. Sarah had 2 other daughters, born in 1903 and 1904, who died in infancy. Sarah was told by a doctor not to become pregnant again, because this time she might die as well. In spite of this Clara was conceived in fall of 1904. According to Clara Bow her mother became "almost mad with apprehension and fear." The delivery proved to be as difficult as feared; "At first, they thought I was dead... I don't suppose two people ever looked death in the face more clearly than my mother and I the morning I was born. We were both given up, but somehow we struggled back to life."
At sixteen, Sarah fell from the second floor and suffered a severe blow to the head, from which she later developed epilepsy. Sarah was diagnosed with "psychosis due to epilepsy", which apart from the seizures cause disordered thoughts, delusional ideas, paranoia and even aggressive behavior.
From her earliest years, Clara Bow learned how to care for her mother during seizures and how to deal with psychotic and hostile episodes. She described that her mother could be mean to her but "I know she didn't mean to be and that it was because she couldn't help it". Still, Clara felt deprived of her childhood, stating "As a kid I took care of my mother, she didn't take care of me". Sarah Bow worsened gradually, and when she realized her daughter was set for a movie career, she felt it so disgraceful she must end her daughter's life. One night Clara awoke with a butcher knife against her throat but managed to fend off her mother and lock her up. In the morning, Sarah had no recollection of the episode and was eventually committed.
Between 1905 and 1923, the Bows lived at least 14 different addresses. Aside from being a weak provider, Robert was often absent, leaving his family without means to survive.
Clara Bow: "It was snowing. My mother and I were cold and hungry. We had been cold and hungry for days. We lay in each others arms and cried and tried to keep warm. It grew worse and worse. So that night my mother - but I can't tell you about it. Only when I remember it, it seems to me I can't live."
When Sarah Bow died in January 1923, and relatives gathered for the funeral, Clara made a scene and accused the attendees of not being supportive when it counted. She was so angry she even tried to jump after her mother down the grave.
At sixteen, Sarah fell from the second floor and suffered a severe blow to the head, from which she later developed epilepsy. Sarah was diagnosed with "psychosis due to epilepsy", which apart from the seizures cause disordered thoughts, delusional ideas, paranoia and even aggressive behavior.
From her earliest years, Clara Bow learned how to care for her mother during seizures and how to deal with psychotic and hostile episodes. She described that her mother could be mean to her but "I know she didn't mean to be and that it was because she couldn't help it". Still, Clara felt deprived of her childhood, stating "As a kid I took care of my mother, she didn't take care of me". Sarah Bow worsened gradually, and when she realized her daughter was set for a movie career, she felt it so disgraceful she must end her daughter's life. One night Clara awoke with a butcher knife against her throat but managed to fend off her mother and lock her up. In the morning, Sarah had no recollection of the episode and was eventually committed.
Between 1905 and 1923, the Bows lived at least 14 different addresses. Aside from being a weak provider, Robert was often absent, leaving his family without means to survive.
Clara Bow: "It was snowing. My mother and I were cold and hungry. We had been cold and hungry for days. We lay in each others arms and cried and tried to keep warm. It grew worse and worse. So that night my mother - but I can't tell you about it. Only when I remember it, it seems to me I can't live."
When Sarah Bow died in January 1923, and relatives gathered for the funeral, Clara made a scene and accused the attendees of not being supportive when it counted. She was so angry she even tried to jump after her mother down the grave.
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