Volume III: Biographies

GERCKE, Charles *

Studio employee, actor (1910-1915)

Thanhouser Career Synopsis: Charles Gercke was an employee at the Thanhouser studio circa 1910-1915.

Biographical Notes: Charles Gercke was an electrician with Thanhouser in 1912. With Bert Adler and Charles Van Houten, he headed the committee which planned the Thanhouser employees' outing held on September 7, 1912. In January 1914 he was among the employees on the committee to observe the first anniversary of Thanhouser's January 13, 1913 studio fire. He may have acted in Thanhouser films, but if he did, he was not included in publicity. The 1912 and 1913 New Rochelle city directories noted that he was an actor and lived at 45 North Avenue. In 1915 and 1916 his occupation was listed as a foreman, and he lived at 8 Lincoln Street.

The Moving Picture News, March 23, 1912, told of events in his life: "Charlie's gone and made the jump! He has taken unto himself a wife, and the bunch needn't look for him any more nights, for he will be comfortably toasting his feet by his own fireside. And they say he really has got some fireside, up in New Rochelle. Charlie, of course, since we mention New Rochelle, can be none other than Mr. Charles Gercke, of the Thanhouser Company. The wife was Anita Aanstoos. It happened February 10th, but somehow the news only just leaked out. But, then, Charlie always was a modest soul and he had to do the hitch act the way he went about everything else - real quiet. Gercke is a pretty old man in the film business, although he is a pretty young man at that. But, then, the whole industry is a pretty new one. Gercke started in the business at the Lubin plant in Philadelphia and left there to take charge of the printing room in New Rochelle when the Thanhouser Company started operations."

The New Rochelle Evening Standard gave additional details in its March 22, 1912 issue: "After four weeks of secrecy on the part of Charles Gercke, an attaché of the Thanhouser Company, and Miss Anita E. Aanstoos, 163 Franklin Avenue, their marriage is announced as having taken place on February 10. The young couple, living at 45 North Avenue, were tendered a reception Sunday evening by about 30 members of the Mohawk Athletic Association of which Mr. Gercke is a member, the secret having leaked out. The young man said no reason for the secrecy could be given other than a wish to be free from the 'jollying of his fellow workers and friends.'... The family, when told that Miss Aanstoos and Mr. Gercke were man and wife, made light of the affair and were unbelieving until the marriage license was produced as evidence. Mr. Gercke has been in the employ of the Thanhouser Company since its establishment and is a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. A native of Philadelphia, and formerly in the employ of the Lubin Motion Picture Company of that city, he has many friends. Miss Aanstoos, a former New Rochelle High School student, is well and favorably known among the younger set."

The New Rochelle Pioneer, June 19, 1915, related: "Charles Gercke has been engaged as consulting expert in laying out the photographic equipment of the Brown & Dawson Moving Picture Company's studio at Stamford, Connecticut, but it in no way affects his work at the local studio."

Note: His name was misspelled as "Corcke" and "Gerke" in some notices.

# # #