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{{short description|American film director}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Refimprove|date=June 2007}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = John Emerson
| name = John Emerson
| image = John Emerson & Frank Stockdale.jpg
| image = John Emerson & Frank Stockdale.jpg
| imagesize = 240px
| caption = John Emerson gluing a moustache on Frank Stockdale in 1921
| caption = Emerson gluing a moustache on Frank Stockdale, 1921
| birth_name = Clifton Paden
| birth_name = Clifton Paden
| birth_date = {{birth date|1874|5|29}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1874|5|29}}
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| restingplace = Etna Cemetery, Etna, California
| restingplace = Etna Cemetery, Etna, California
| occupation = Actor, playwright, director, producer, writer
| occupation = Actor, playwright, director, producer, writer
| spouse = [[Anita Loos]] (1919–1956) (his death)
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Anita Loos]]|1919}}
| module2 = {{infobox officeholder |embed=yes
| office = 2nd [[President (corporate title)|President]] of the [[Actors' Equity Association]]
| term_start = 1919
| term_end = 1928
| predecessor = [[Francis Wilson (actor)|Francis Wilson]]
| successor = [[Frank Gillmore]]
}}
}}
}}


'''John Emerson''' (born '''Clifton Paden''' on May 29, 1874 – March 7, 1956) was an American stage actor, playwright, producer, and director of [[silent film]]s (many featuring [[Douglas Fairbanks]]). Emerson was married to [[Anita Loos]] from June 15, 1919 until his death; prior to that they had functioned as a writing team for motion pictures and would continue to be credited jointly, even as Loos pursued independent projects.
'''John Emerson''' (born '''Clifton Paden'''; May 29, 1874 – March 7, 1956) was an American stage actor, playwright, producer, and director of [[silent film]]s (many featuring [[Douglas Fairbanks]]). Emerson was married to [[Anita Loos]] from June 15, 1919, until his death, and prior to that the couple had worked together as a writing team for motion pictures. They would continue to be credited jointly, even as Loos pursued independent projects.


==Biography==
Born and educated in Ohio, Emerson's earliest documented acting credits date from 1904, however like [[D. W. Griffith]] he probably played in regional stock companies before then. By 1912—the earliest known year for his involvement in film, as a writer—Emerson was working regularly as a director and writer on the Broadway stage. After periods with [[American Film Manufacturing Company]], where he worked with [[Allan Dwan]] and [[Famous Players-Lasky]], Emerson collaborated with [[George Nichols (actor)|George Nichols]] in making ''[[Ghosts (1915 film)|Ghosts]]'', a Griffith production made for [[Reliance-Majestic Studios]] during the waning days of work on ''[[The Birth of a Nation]]''. The result impressed Griffith to such an extent that Emerson stayed on as Reliance-Majestic changed its name to [[Fine Arts Film Company]] and came under the [[Triangle Film Corporation]] banner.
Born and educated in Ohio, Emerson's earliest documented acting credits date from 1904, however like [[D. W. Griffith]] he probably played in regional stock companies before then. By 1912—the earliest known year for his involvement in film, as a writer—Emerson was working regularly as a director and writer on the Broadway stage. After periods with [[American Film Manufacturing Company]], where he worked with [[Allan Dwan]] and [[Famous Players–Lasky]], Emerson collaborated with [[George Nichols (actor)|George Nichols]] in making ''[[Ghosts (1915 film)|Ghosts]]'', a Griffith production made for [[Reliance-Majestic Studios]] during the waning days of work on ''[[The Birth of a Nation]]''. The result impressed Griffith to such an extent that Emerson stayed on as Reliance-Majestic changed its name to [[Fine Arts Film Company]] and came under the [[Triangle Film Corporation]] banner.


John Emerson became one Triangle's best-known directors, primarily after the partnership with writer [[Anita Loos]] began in 1916; Griffith also valued the pair as being among the best film editors in the business, and they also worked on editing Griffith's massive ''[[Intolerance (film)|Intolerance]]'' in addition to light, breezy and athletic comedies starring [[Douglas Fairbanks]]. Emerson seemed to lose interest in direction around 1919, and afterward worked as a producer and writer, though commonly in projects more readily associated with Loos' taste than his own. Loos wrote extensively, and often disparagingly, of Emerson in her memoirs, but in her early career insisted on maintaining the appearance of partnership with Emerson even if there was none.<ref>[[Anita Loos]]{{circular reference|date=December 2014}}</ref> Emerson's later years were marked by mental illness and long institutionalizations; Loos never divorced him.
John Emerson became one Triangle's best-known directors, primarily after the partnership with writer [[Anita Loos]] began in 1916; Griffith also valued the pair as being among the best film editors in the business, and they also worked on editing Griffith's massive ''[[Intolerance (film)|Intolerance]]'' in addition to light, breezy and athletic comedies starring [[Douglas Fairbanks]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anita Loos |url=https://wfpp.columbia.edu/pioneer/ccp-anita-loos/ |website=WFPP}}</ref> Emerson seemed to lose interest in direction around 1919, and afterward worked as a producer and writer, though commonly in projects more readily associated with Loos' taste than his own. Loos wrote extensively, and often disparagingly, of Emerson in her memoirs, but in her early career insisted on maintaining the appearance of partnership with Emerson even if there was none. Emerson's later years were marked by mental illness and long institutionalizations;<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Emerson (1874-1956) Film Actor - Obscure Hollywood |url=https://obscurehollywood.net/john-emerson.html |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=obscurehollywood.net}}</ref> Loos never divorced him.


Although Anita Loos' memoirs may not paint Emerson in the most flattering of terms, the silent films he directed from 1915–19 were important ones. Most of them survive, and several – notably ''[[The Mystery of the Leaping Fish]]'' and ''[[The Americano (1916 film)|The Americano]]'' remain among the most frequently seen films from this period.
Although Anita Loos' memoirs may not paint Emerson in the most flattering of terms, the silent films he directed from 1915 to 1919 were important ones. Most of them survive, including notably ''[[The Mystery of the Leaping Fish]]'' and ''[[The Americano (1916 film)|The Americano]].''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rosanne |first=Welch |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GfljDwAAQBAJ&dq=The+Americano+Loos+emerson&pg=PA39 |title=When Women Wrote Hollywood: Essays on Female Screenwriters in the Early Film Industry |publisher=[[McFarland & Company|Mc Farland]] |page=32}}</ref>


Emerson was president of the [[Actors' Equity Association]] during its strike against the Producing Managers Association in 1919. The strike began on August 7. At one point he declared, "If the strike is not settled within a month, a cooperative plan will be the outcome. The whole theatre situation of the country will be revolutionized, and the actors will be associated with the authors. The only non-essential element is the manager."<ref>{{cite journal |journal=New York Times |date=August 27, 1919 |pages=2}}</ref> The strike ended in early September, establishing Actors Equity as a potent union. Emerson remained its president until 1928.
⚫
He was president of the [[Actors' Equity Association]] from 1920–1928.


==Selected filmography==
==Filmography==
[[File:John Emerson Anita Loos 1918.jpg|thumb|right|John Emerson and Anita Loos look over a script on a film set in 1918.]]
[[File:John Emerson Anita Loos 1918.jpg|thumb|right|Emerson and [[Anita Loos]] examine a script on a film set, 1918.]]
* ''[[Geronimo's Last Raid]]'' (1912, writer)
* ''[[Geronimo's Last Raid]]'' (1912, writer)
* ''[[Ghosts (1915 film)|Ghosts]]'' (1915, adaptation of Ibsen's play<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ghosts |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/16632-GHOSTS?sid=ac8b8427-45d1-4bde-8492-80582c90f263&sr=9.96843&cp=1&pos=0 |website=[[American Film Institute]]}}</ref>)
⚫
* ''[[Ghosts (1915 film)|Ghosts]]'' (1915, director)
* ''[[Old Heidelberg (1915 film)|Old Heidelberg]]'' (1915, director)
* ''[[Old Heidelberg (1915 film)|Old Heidelberg]]'' (1915, director)
⚫
* ''[[The Failure (1915 film)|The Failure]]'' (1915, actor)
* ''[[His Picture in the Papers]]'' (1916, director)
* ''[[His Picture in the Papers]]'' (1916, director)
* ''[[The Flying Torpedo]]'' (1916, director)
* ''[[The Flying Torpedo]]'' (1916, director)
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* ''[[Less Than the Dust]]'' (1916, director)
* ''[[Less Than the Dust]]'' (1916, director)
* ''[[The Americano (1916 film)|The Americano]]'' (1917, director)
* ''[[The Americano (1916 film)|The Americano]]'' (1917, director)
* ''[[Wild and Woolly]]'' (1917, director)
* ''[[In Again, Out Again]]'' (1917, director)
* ''[[Wild and Woolly (1917 film)|Wild and Woolly]]'' (1917, director)
* ''[[The Isle of Conquest]]'' (1919, writer)
* ''[[The Isle of Conquest]]'' (1919, writer)
* ''[[A Virtuous Vamp]]'' (1919, writer)
* ''[[A Virtuous Vamp]]'' (1919, writer)
* ''[[Mama's Affair]]'' (1921, writer)
* ''[[Search of a Sinner]]'' (1920, writer)
* ''[[The Perfect Woman (1920 film)|The Perfect Woman]]'' (1920, writer)
* ''[[Dangerous Business (1920 film)|Dangerous Business]]'' (1920, writer)
* ''[[Mama's Affair (1921 film)|Mama's Affair]]'' (1921, writer)
* ''[[Woman's Place]]'' (1921, scenario)
* ''[[Woman's Place]]'' (1921, scenario)
* ''[[Red Hot Romance]]'' (1922, writer)
* ''[[Red Hot Romance]]'' (1922, writer)
* ''[[Camille (Barton film)|Camille]]'' (1926)(short subject; as guest along with Anita Loos)
* ''[[Dulcy (1923 film)|Dulcy]]'' (1923, writer)
* ''[[Three Miles Out]]'' (1924)
⚫
* ''[[Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (lost film)|Gentlemen Prefer Blondes]]'' (1928, writer)
* ''[[The Struggle (film)|The Struggle]]'' (1931, co-scenario with Loos)
* ''[[Camille (Barton film)|Camille]]'' (1926) (short subject; as guest along with Anita Loos)
⚫
* ''[[Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1928 film)|Gentlemen Prefer Blondes]]'' (1928, writer)
* ''[[The Fall of Eve]]'' (1929, story)
* ''[[The Struggle (1931 film)|The Struggle]]'' (1931, co-scenario with Loos)
* ''[[San Francisco (1936 film)|San Francisco]]'' (1936, producer)
* ''[[San Francisco (1936 film)|San Francisco]]'' (1936, producer)
* ''[[Saratoga (1937 film)|Saratoga]]'' (1937, producer)
* ''[[Saratoga (1937 film)|Saratoga]]'' (1937, producer)
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* {{IMDb name|0256221}}
* {{IMDb name|0256221}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{IBDB name}}
*[http://www.flickr.com/photos/puzzlemaster/2862008442/in/set-72157605223652067 1920 passport photo of John Emerson]
*[https://www.flickr.com/photos/puzzlemaster/2862008442/in/set-72157605223652067 1920 passport photo of John Emerson]
*{{cite book |last=Emerson |first=John |authorlink=John Emerson (filmmaker) |last2=Loos |first2=Anita |author2-link=Anita Loos |title=Breaking into the Movies |publisher=G.W. Jacobs |year=1921 |location=Philadelphia |url=https://openlibrary.org/books/OL7253927M/Breaking_into_the_movies}}
*{{cite book |last1=Emerson |first1=John |authorlink=John Emerson (filmmaker) |last2=Loos |first2=Anita |author2-link=Anita Loos |title=Breaking into the Movies |publisher=G.W. Jacobs |year=1921 |location=Philadelphia |ol=7253927M }}


{{John Emerson}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


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[[Category:1874 births]]
[[Category:1874 births]]
[[Category:1956 deaths]]
[[Category:1956 deaths]]
[[Category:American film directors]]
[[Category:People with hypochondriasis]]
[[Category:Hypochondriacs]]
[[Category:Film directors from Ohio]]
[[Category:American silent film directors]]
⚫
[[Category:Presidents of the Actors' Equity Association]]

Latest revision as of 02:01, 27 August 2024

John Emerson
Emerson gluing a moustache on Frank Stockdale, 1921
Born
Clifton Paden

(1874-05-29)May 29, 1874
Sandusky, Ohio, United States
DiedMarch 7, 1956(1956-03-07) (aged 81)
Pasadena, California, United States
Resting placeEtna Cemetery, Etna, California
Occupation(s)Actor, playwright, director, producer, writer
Spouse
​
(m. 1919)​
2nd President of the Actors' Equity Association
In office
1919–1928
Preceded byFrancis Wilson
Succeeded byFrank Gillmore

John Emerson (born Clifton Paden; May 29, 1874 – March 7, 1956) was an American stage actor, playwright, producer, and director of silent films (many featuring Douglas Fairbanks). Emerson was married to Anita Loos from June 15, 1919, until his death, and prior to that the couple had worked together as a writing team for motion pictures. They would continue to be credited jointly, even as Loos pursued independent projects.

Biography

[edit]

Born and educated in Ohio, Emerson's earliest documented acting credits date from 1904, however like D. W. Griffith he probably played in regional stock companies before then. By 1912—the earliest known year for his involvement in film, as a writer—Emerson was working regularly as a director and writer on the Broadway stage. After periods with American Film Manufacturing Company, where he worked with Allan Dwan and Famous Players–Lasky, Emerson collaborated with George Nichols in making Ghosts, a Griffith production made for Reliance-Majestic Studios during the waning days of work on The Birth of a Nation. The result impressed Griffith to such an extent that Emerson stayed on as Reliance-Majestic changed its name to Fine Arts Film Company and came under the Triangle Film Corporation banner.

John Emerson became one Triangle's best-known directors, primarily after the partnership with writer Anita Loos began in 1916; Griffith also valued the pair as being among the best film editors in the business, and they also worked on editing Griffith's massive Intolerance in addition to light, breezy and athletic comedies starring Douglas Fairbanks.[1] Emerson seemed to lose interest in direction around 1919, and afterward worked as a producer and writer, though commonly in projects more readily associated with Loos' taste than his own. Loos wrote extensively, and often disparagingly, of Emerson in her memoirs, but in her early career insisted on maintaining the appearance of partnership with Emerson even if there was none. Emerson's later years were marked by mental illness and long institutionalizations;[2] Loos never divorced him.

Although Anita Loos' memoirs may not paint Emerson in the most flattering of terms, the silent films he directed from 1915 to 1919 were important ones. Most of them survive, including notably The Mystery of the Leaping Fish and The Americano.[3]

Emerson was president of the Actors' Equity Association during its strike against the Producing Managers Association in 1919. The strike began on August 7. At one point he declared, "If the strike is not settled within a month, a cooperative plan will be the outcome. The whole theatre situation of the country will be revolutionized, and the actors will be associated with the authors. The only non-essential element is the manager."[4] The strike ended in early September, establishing Actors Equity as a potent union. Emerson remained its president until 1928.

Selected filmography

[edit]
Emerson and Anita Loos examine a script on a film set, 1918.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Anita Loos". WFPP.
  2. ^ "John Emerson (1874-1956) Film Actor - Obscure Hollywood". obscurehollywood.net. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  3. ^ Rosanne, Welch. When Women Wrote Hollywood: Essays on Female Screenwriters in the Early Film Industry. Mc Farland. p. 32.
  4. ^ New York Times: 2. August 27, 1919. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ^ "Ghosts". American Film Institute.
[edit]
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