- Winnie Lightner was the first movie performer in history ever to be censored for what she said or sang on screen rather than for anything she did visually. In 1928 she made a Vitaphone short in which she sang "We Love It," "God Help a Sailor on a Night Like This," "That Brand New Model of Mine," and "We've Got a Lot to Learn." A censorship board in Pennsylvania held the release of the film because of the content of Lightner's songs. According to film historian Alexander Walker, "Warners asked the censors to merely pass judgment on the visuals - the censors refused.".
- Mother of Thomas Del Ruth. Step-mother of Richard Del Ruth'.
- Sister of Fred Lightner.
- Copped the surname Lightner from an professional association with Thea Lightner, who became a talent manager. Though billed in vaudeville as "The Lightner Sisters" (a dance act), they were not actually sisters.
- Born Winifred Reeves in Greenport, New York, but was raised in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen by her aunt and uncle Margaret and Andrew Hansen.
- Grandmother of Matthew A. Del Ruth and Sean W. Del Ruth.
- Father: Chauncey Daniel Reeves; Mother: Winifred Touhey.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content