Volume III: Biographies

GILMOUR, John H. *

Actor (1915-1917)

Thanhouser Career Synopsis: John H. Gilmour joined Thanhouser by late 1915 and played in many films released through 1917.

Biographical Notes: John H. Gilmour was born in Ottawa, Canada in 1857, and was on the stage early in his career, one of his first important appearances being the role of Valentine in Twelfth Night, with the Montreal Stock Company. He subsequently joined Felix Morris' stock company in Montreal, appearing with George Rignold for a summer season. From 1878 to 1880, he spent a season with the Halifax Stock Company, later going to Wallack's Theatre in New York City. Under the management of Eugene A. McDowell, he went in stock to the West Indies, where he played such roles as Ingomar, Pygmalion, Elliot Grey in Rosedale, Julian Gray in The New Magdalen, Hugh Chalcott in Ours, George D'Alroy and Captain Hawtree in Caste, Lord Beaufort in School, Rudolph Chandose in Led Astray, and Talbot Champneys in Our Boys, as well as leading roles in Augustin Daly's productions of Pique, Rose Michel, and The Two Orphans.

In 1881 Gilmour returned to New York City, where he joined a Madison Square Theatre traveling company and supported Carrie Turner in the famous melodrama, Hazel Kirke. He then organized his own company and went to Montreal for the summer season, where he played Andreas in Lillian Olcott's production of Victorien Sardou's Theodora. This same role was recreated by him in New York City in 1886. Gilmour's appearances shortly after that time included the title role in Mr. Barnes of New York and Earl Dorincourt in Little Lord Fauntleroy. Later, he supported Rose Coghlan at the Union Square Theatre, New York City, and Julia Marlowe in Barbara Frietchie, and appeared as Flambeau with Maude Adams in Frohman's production of Rostand's L'Aiglon. Subsequently he was seen in The Price of Peace, The Suburban, Mizpah, La Belle Marsellaise, and other plays, including work in San Francisco and Denver with local stock companies. During the season of 1905-1906 he appeared with Charlotte Walker in Stanley Rosenfeld's The Optimist, later playing Iachimo in Viola Allen's production of Shakespeare's Cymbeline. Early in 1907 he was named to head the Chicago Musical College School of Acting.

Years later, John H. Gilmour appeared in many Thanhouser films. His arrival with that company was announced belatedly in the March 18, 1916 issue of Reel Life, which described him as "the well-known artist who has recently been added to the Thanhouser forces," although he had been in New Rochelle since the preceding autumn. Gilmour was seen in various 1916 and 1917 releases. After Thanhouser's film activities diminished, he went to Astra (which released through Pathé), where he appeared in A Crooked Romance (1917), The Streets of Illusion (1917), Over the Hill (1917), Waifs (1918), The Naulahka (1918), and Convict 993 (1918). Later, he was in Impossible Catherine (Virginia Pearson Photoplays for Pathé). John H. Gilmour remained in films until his death, which occurred in New York City on November 24, 1922. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter.

Note: His name occasionally appeared as "Gilmore" or "Jack Gilmore" in news notices; also as "Joseph" Gilmour.

Thanhouser Filmography:

1916: The Burglar's Picnic (1-26-1916), The Reunion (2-23-1916), The Whispered Word (3-15-1916), The Fifth Ace (3-22-1916), The Girl From Chicago (4-18-1916), A Man of Honor (4-25-1916), The Spirit of '61 (5-4-1916), Other People's Money (6-1-1916), Divorce and the Daughter (12-3-1916), King Lear (12-17-1916)

1917: Her Beloved Enemy (3-4-1917), Mary Lawson's Secret (4-1-1917), The Woman and the Beast (Graphic Features 4-17-1917), The Candy Girl (5-20-1917), The Woman in White (7-1-1917), The Man Without a Country (Jewel 9-9-1917)

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