Александр Александрович (Волошин) Voloshin (abt. 1886 - 1960)

Born about 20 Apr 1886 in Anan'ev, Kherson, Russian Empire

Husband of Bertha (Flöter) Petersen — married 2 Aug 1928 in Los Angeles, California, United States

Died 23 Nov 1960 at about age 74 in Los Angeles, California, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Anonymous Jones [send private message]

Biography

Alexander Voloshin was born in what is now Ananiv, near Odesa, Ukraine, to Alexander Voloshin^[1][2] and Olga Okhrimenko^[1][2]. It is said that his parents belonged to an “artistically inclined petty gentry family”.^[3] There are various dates for his birth, but 1886 appears most likely (see Research Notes below).

He was attracted to the theatre but in the First World War fought in Kyiv in a volunteer squad under Pavlo Skoropadskyi.^[4] Later he joined the anti-Bolshevik Volunteer Army, emigrating to Berlin via Crimea, Gallipoli, and Bulgaria when they were defeated in the Russian Revolution.^[4][3] In Berlin he acted at the Firebird Theatre and took part in productions of the Vanka-Vstanka cabaret.^[4]

On 27 December 1923, he is found embarking on the S.S. Vauban from Rio de Janeiro to New York, having previously been staying in São Paulo at the Palace Theatre with E. Jose Laurenzo, with many other actors of Russian origin.^[5] On 13 January 1924 he landed in New York, passing through Ellis Island under the name “Alexandre Volochini-Volchinoff”.^[5] The same group of actors from São Paulo were to stay with Tatiana Smirnoff of 65 W 25th Street, just off Broadway, indicating that they were possibly part of a travelling production.^[5] However, almost immediately (on 18 January) Alexander declared his intention to apply for U.S. citizenship,^[6] which he would go on to attain in 1929.^[7]

He made his way to Hollywood, where he found work as an extra in movies. IMDB has a list of his roles, spanning the years 1928–1939.^[8] A contract recently appeared on Ebay, signed 18 May 1928, regarding a role as “Cronie” in the Samuel Goldwyn production “The Awakening”.^[9]

In 1953, Alexander published a volume of poetry, “На путях и перепутьях” (“Na putiakh i pereput’iakh”, “On the Tracks and at Crossroads”), in which his life story is woven into an epic poem narrating the life of a typical Russian immigrant in Hollywood.^[10]

Marriages and residences

On 2 August 1928, Alexander married Bertha Ehrlich (née Flöter).^[1] Both were living at 6711 Leland Way, Hollywood, both were actors, and both had been married once before. (The details of Alexander’s first marriage are currently unknown).

By 1929, when Alexander naturalized, he had decided to change his name to Alexander Skif.^[11] On the 1930 census, Alexander had already divorced from Bertha and was living at 4312 Melbourne Avenue, the home of Ruby Holloway, a movie studio secretary.^[12] He was to marry Ruby a year later, on 3 April 1931.^[13]

By the 1940 census Alexander is still married but living alone (whether temporarily or permanently is not clear).^[14] He is certainly listed as separated on the 1950 census, however,^[15] by which time he was going by the surname Voloshin-Skif and had listed his occupation as taxi driver rather than actor.

Some time between 1950 and 1960, Alexander married (for a fourth time) Helen Rynkiewicz. He also appears to have abandoned the Skif surname in this period.

Alexander died on 23 November 1960^[2], at Los Angeles County Hospital, 1200 North State St. He was buried at Hollywood Cemetery (now Hollywood Forever cemetery) on 26 November.^[2] His wife was later buried with him when she died in 1962. An image of the grave can be found at this citation.^[16]

Chronological list of known residences:

• 1924-01-18: 65 W 25th Street, New York^[6]
• 1928-05-18: 2116½ Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles^[9]
• 1928-08-02: 6711 Leland Way, Hollywood^[1]
• 1930-04-10: 4312 Melbourne Avenue^[12]
• 1931-04-03: 5122½ Raleigh Street, Hollywood^[13]
• 1940-04-17: 1123½ N. Kingsley Dr., Hollywood^[14]
• 1950-04-11: same^[15]
• 1960-11-23: same^[2]

Research Notes

Records in the U.S.A. give his birth as either 10 April 1884^[6] or 20 April 1886.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} "California, County Marriages, 1850-1953," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8NL-Z47 : 9 March 2021), Alexander Woloshin and Bertha Floter Ehrlich, 02 Aug 1928; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 2,074,718.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP7N-W9V7 : Sun Mar 10 07:15:45 UTC 2024), Entry for Alexander A Voloshin and Alexander Volshin, 23 November 1960.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Boris Dralyuk, “A White Russian on the rocks”. The New Criterion, 41(8):23, April 2023.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} Алекс Волошин. kino-teatr.ru, online database. Information in Russian. Accessed 2024-03-16.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} "New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JN82-5MR : Sun Mar 10 01:22:26 UTC 2024), Entry for Alexandre Volochini-Volchinoff and E Joes Laurenzo, 1924.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2} "New York, County Naturalization Records, 1791-1980", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP8L-3N2N : Sun Mar 10 21:32:03 UTC 2024), Entry for Alexander Woloshin, 1924.
7. ↑ "California, Southern District Court (Central) Naturalization Index, 1915-1976", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KX3T-LF9 : Sat Mar 09 16:45:54 UTC 2024), Entry for Alexander or Alexander Alexander Woloshi Skif, 1929.
8. ↑ Alex Woloshin (1886-1960). Internet Movie Database, accessed 2024-03-16.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Standard Form Artist’s Contract between Alex Woloshin and Samuel Goldwyn Inc. regarding a role in “Production No. 16” (later identified as “The Awakening”, 18 May 1928. Sold on Ebay, 7 February 2024.
10. ↑ Boris Dralyuk, “With the Help of Hunger”: Alexander Voloshin’s Mock Epic of Russian Hollywood. Published online, 2021-11-10. Accessed 2024-03-16.
11. ↑ "California, Southern District Court (Central) Naturalization Index, 1915-1976", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KX3P-44J : Sat Mar 09 15:55:00 UTC 2024), Entry for Alexander or Alexander Alexander Skif Of Wolshin, 1929.
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} "United States Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCJT-DY1 : Sat Mar 09 23:45:01 UTC 2024), Entry for Ruby Holloway and Alexander Skif, 1930.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} "California, County Marriages, 1850-1953," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8JS-665 : 9 March 2021), Alexander Skif and Ruby E Holloway, 03 Apr 1931; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 2,074,885.
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1} "United States Census, 1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9H4-DPQ : Sun Mar 10 11:00:32 UTC 2024), Entry for Alexander H Skif, 1940.
15. ↑ ^{15.0 15.1} "United States 1950 Census", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XGD-LKQM : Fri Oct 06 17:55:30 UTC 2023), Entry for Alexander Voloshin-Skif, 11 April 1950.
16. ↑ ВОЛОШИН Александр Александрович. Cemetery Records of Russians Buried in the San Francisco Bay Area. Museum of Russian Culture, San Francisco.

See also

• Wikidata: Item Q116740878
• Find A Grave: Memorial #261731008. Does not contain an image of a memorial or grave.
• Profile on Familysearch