Volume III: Biographies

HALL, Alexander *

Actor (1914-1915)

Thanhouser Career Synopsis: Alexander Hall was an actor with Thanhouser circa 1914-1915.

Biographical Notes: Alexander Hall was born in Boston, Massachusetts on January 11, 1894 (one account says 1895). In 1898 he made his stage debut in New York City as a gnome in Rip Van Winkle, under the auspices of two aunts who were actresses, Edith and Nellie Black. Next he was seen in Gus Edwards' vaudeville act, School Days. His formal education was accomplished at Morris High School and at Columbia University, in New York.

He appeared in the 1914 Thanhouser serial, The Million Dollar Mystery, and played the part of the gunman in the 1914-1915 Thanhouser serial, Zudora. During the World War he was with the Navy in the Submarine Transport Service, after which he entertained in a troupe with the American Expeditionary Forces in France. When the conflict ended, he worked in France with the Joinville movie studio. Later, in America, he was seen in the 1920s in Nick Carter serials, Tol'able David, and numerous other productions. He acted in, then directed various films through at least the 1950s, and worked with First National, Paramount, and Columbia.

He recognized Shirley Temple's talents when as a director he selected her in 1934 for the lead role in Little Miss Marker. At one time he was married to Lola Lane, the former wife of screen actor Lew Ayres, divorcing her in 1936. His subsequent marriage to Mrs. Marjorie M. Hunter also ended in divorce. According to an obituary in The New York Times, August 1, 1968, in 1942 Columbia Pictures Corporation paid him $151,208, which amounted to precisely $5,608 more than the studio's president received. His pastimes included golf, tennis, handball, sports, poker, drinking 7-Up, listening to radio personality Parkyakarkus (Harry Einstein), and taking icy showers, according to an article published in the 1950s. Alexander Hall died at the University of California Hospital in San Francisco, California on July 30, 1968, following a stroke on July 5th. At the time he was a resident of Beverly Hills. Surviving him were his son, Robert; a sister, Betty Edsberg; and three granddaughters.

Thanhouser Filmography:

1914-1915 Serials: The Million Dollar Mystery; Zudora

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