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Bronson, Betty, 1906-1971
Another young star who got her start in silent films, Elizabeth "Betty" Bronson was born in Trenton, New Jersey in 1906. She is best known for portraying Peter Pan in the 1924 silent film of that name. She was chosen for the role over more well-known actresses by the story's author, J. M. Barrie. Following the success of Peter Pan, she continued acting in silent and sound films until 1933, when she married and retired to private life. In 1961, Bronson returned to roles on stage, in film, and on television; she died in 1971.
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Broughton, Cliff
Cliff Broughton was born in Iowa in 1898 and resident in Los Angeles, California by 1924. In 1925, he is credited with his work as production manager in his first film, The Red Kimono. He worked primarily on independent productions until 1942, when he took the role of production supervisor for RKO/Hughes Productions. As a director, he made his last film, The Bat, for Universial Studios in 1959. Broughton died in 1979.
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Buckingham, Tom, -1934
Thomas Putnam Buckingham was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1894. His family moved to Los Angeles, California around 1910, and Buckingham was working as a camera operator for the Triangle Film Company by 1917. Between 1920 and 1932, Buckingham directed over twenty films and wrote screenplays for fifty more, including Howard Hughes' air comedy Cock of the Air. He died from surgical complications in 1934.
Source:
The Long Beach Sun. "Movie Director Dies". Long Beach, California. 07 Sep 1934. Pg. 12
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Catlett, Walter, 1889-1960
Walter Leland Catlett was born to a locally prominent San Francisco, California family in 1889. He won his first stage role as a thirteen year-old in a comedic opera; this early stage career lasted over twenty years. He moved to Hollywood in the early 1920s to make films and by 1930 was in demand as a character actor. After a foray behind the camera, directing a series of comedy shorts for RKO, Catlett returned to acting. His film career spanned another thirty years and 163 films. Catlett died in 1960.
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Charters, Spencer, 1875-1943
Born in Pennsylvania as Harvey Francis Charters in 1875, Spencer Charters had spent thirty-six years on stage before he made the move to Hollywood. Between 1930 and his death in 1943, he appeared in 220 films, largely playing small character roles.
Source:
The Los Angeles Times. "Actor Charters Called Suicide". Los Angeles, California. January 26, 1943. pg. 12.
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Wilson, Clarence, 1876-1941
In kind with many character actors of his generation, Clarence Hummell Wilson spent the first decades of his acting career touring in stage productions. Born Wilson Hummell in 1876, Clarence Wilson launched his film career in 1920 with Duds, eventually accumulating 198 films to his credit. Wilson died in Los Angeles, California in 1941.
Source:
Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. "Funerals Set for Three N.H. Citizens". Hollywood, California. October 7, 1941. pg. 2.
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