Volume III: Biographies

CLARK, Champ *

Cameo appearance (1914)

Thanhouser Career Synopsis: Champ Clark, speaker of the House of Representatives, was seen in a cameo role in Episode 21 of Thanhouser's The Million Dollar Mystery serial.

Biographical Notes: James Beauchamp ("Champ") Clark was born near Lawrenceburg, Kentucky in 1850. He was educated at Kentucky University and Bethany College, graduating from the latter in 1873, after which he went to Cincinnati Law School. Launching his career, he hung his shingle out as an attorney. Soon, Clark was editing Democratic newspapers, and in 1889-1891 he served in the Missouri legislature. For a long span, 1893-1921, except for the 1895-1897 term, he was a Democratic congressman. In 1912 he was a contender for the Democratic nomination for the presidency, but after seemingly interminable balloting he lost to Woodrow Wilson. From 1911 to 1919 he was speaker of the House of Representatives. In 1914, while he was holding this position, he appeared with certain other government officials in a segment of Episode 7 of The Million Dollar Mystery. He died in Washington, D.C. on March 1, 1921.

Note: He is not to be confused with Judge Bennett ("Champ") Clark, who married Violet Heming, the former Thanhouser actress.

Thanhouser Filmography:

1914-1915 Serial: The Million Dollar Mystery

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