Leona Aronson, a talented singer and actress, was the youngest of seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Aronson, residing in Arkansas and Missouri. Interestingly, Leona was the only one of her siblings born outside of Arkansas. Her older brother, Gilbert M. 'Broncho Billy' Anderson, born Maxwell Henry Aronson, held a significant age and size advantage over her.
As a young girl, Leona had a strong desire to explore the world beyond her hometown. She ran away from Denver and school to join her brother in California, where he was actively involved in the film industry. At a young age, Leona was old enough for her brother to dress her up and feature her in a film alongside Ben Turpin, under the direction of Charles Chaplin.
The scene unfolded near a pond, where Chaplin instructed Turpin to "shove her in the water." Turpin, following the director's orders, did so, leaving Leona to emerge from the pond, dripping wet and visibly unamused. Despite her initial reservations, the moviegoers of the time seemed to find the scene entertaining.
After this experience, Leona's brother encouraged her to return to school, where she befriended Grace Moon, the daughter of the manufacturer of the Moon automobile in St. Louis. When Leona finally had the opportunity to travel to London to study voice, it was her brother, Broncho Billy, who provided the financial support for her trip.
