William P. S. Earle

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William Pitt Striker Earle
William P S Earle - Apr 1921 FD.jpg
Earle in 1921
Born(1882-12-28)December 28, 1882
DiedNovember 30, 1972(1972-11-30) (aged 89)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Burial placeForest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale
OccupationFilm director
Years active1915–1926
Spouse(s)Valerie Damon De Blois (m.1905–div.1915)
Blanche Earle (m.–1952; her death)
Evangeline Russell (m.–1966; her death)
Parent(s)

William Pitt Striker Earle (December 28, 1882 – November 30, 1972) was an American director of the silent film era. He attended Columbia University and worked for a time as a photographer before breaking into the movie business by sneaking onto the lot of Vitagraph Company of America to observe how directors worked. After a few days of this, Earle approached the studio president and was given his first movie to direct, For the Honor of the Crew, a short about a crew race at Columbia University.[1] He subsequently directed a number of features and shorts for Vitagraph. Later he worked with producer David O. Selznick. Earle founded his own, short-lived production company called Amex Production Corporation with J. S. Joffe, and shot the final two films of his career in Mexico.[2]

Personal life[]

Earle was born in New York City. He was the son of Ferdinand P. Earle, a hotelier and military officer.[3]

He married Valerie Damon De Blois in 1905. They divorced in 1915.[4] He next married English actress Blanche Taylor, who later went by the name "Bonnie Earle", and was with him until her death in 1952.[5] Earle's last wife was former actress Evangeline Russell Blackton, the widow of Vitagraph executive J. Stuart Blackton. She died in 1966.[6]

Feature filmography[]

References[]

  1. ^ Shields, David S. (2013). Still: American Silent Motion Picture Photography. University of Chicago Press. p. 223. ISBN 978-0-226-01343-5.
  2. ^ Garcia Riera, Emilio (1998). Breve historia del cine mexicano : primer siglo, 1897-1997. Mexico City: Ediciones Mapa. p. 69 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ "Obituaries". The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. New York Genealogical and Biographical Society. 34 (2): 145. April 1903.
  4. ^ "Wife Sues W.P.S. Earle". The New York Times. June 29, 1915. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.open access
  5. ^ "Actress of Silent Films". The Kansas City Times. January 23, 1952. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.open access
  6. ^ "Former Star of Silent Films Dies". Pasadena Independent. February 24, 1966. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.open access

External links[]

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