Ella Hall

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Ella Hall
Hall c. 1918
Born	(1896-03-17)March 17, 1896 Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	September 3, 1981(1981-09-03) (aged 85) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Years active	1912–1933
Spouses	Emory Johnson ​ ​ (m. 1919; div. 1930)​ Charles Clow ​ ​ (m. 1934; ann. 1936)​
Children	4, including Ellen Hall and Richard Emory

Ella Augusta Hall (March 17, 1896 – September 3, 1981) was an American actress. She appeared in more than 90 films between 1912 and 1933.

Ella Augusta Hall was born in Hoboken, New Jersey on March 17, 1896. Her family moved to Hollywood in the early days of silent films so her mother could pursue an acting career. Her mother was May Hall, a struggling actress who never reached any level of notoriety.^{[citation needed]}

Ella Hall's first credited film appearance was the lead role in the 1913 film Memories. Her career took off after that film, and she appeared in thirty-seven films from 1913 through the end of 1914. She had another thirty-nine film appearances from 1915 through 1919. She did not appear in another film until 1921. Her career had slowed considerably during this two-year break, and she starred in only seven more films. Her best-known film was The Flying Dutchman, released in 1923, which was her final silent film.

She had a minor appearance, uncredited, in the 1930 Cecil B. DeMille film Madam Satan. Her final film appearance was in 1933's The Bitter Tea of General Yen.

Ella Hall with 3 children Oct 1924

Ella Hall with 3 children Jul 1924

On June 13, 1917, the President of Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Carl Laemmle, held a gala for his employees. He had spent considerable time managing the affairs at Universal City in California. Now he was about to return to his headquarters in New York. "The occasion promised to be one of the most noteworthy in the history of film functions." Three thousand guests showed up, including Emory Johnson.^[1][2] Johnson, 23, attended the ball escorting another fellow Universalite, Hall.

Hall had recently turned 20 years old. The petite, blue-eyed blond beauty first found work as a Universal ingénue. She had grown up in the movies. By 1915, Hall had become one of the hottest box-office attractions at Universal. Johnson had acted in his last picture of 1916, My Little Boy. The movie was the first film with his future bride. They fell in love during the making of this motion picture. But they had saved their big announcement for the Laemmle ball. At an appropriate moment during the ball, glasses were clinked, and Emory and Hall professed their love and announced their engagement.^[3]

Fast-forward to Thursday, September 6, 1917. Hall and Johnson were busy finishing their day's work for Universal. They worked until 2  pm. After they cleaned up, Johnson and Hall were married in a private ceremony at 3 o'clock. After the ceremony, they hopped in Johnson's Hupmobile and drove off on their honeymoon. They were scheduled to return to work on October 1.^[4][5] After the honeymoon was over, the couple moved into Johnson's house along with Johnson's mother Emilie Johnson. Thus, we had a girl from New Jersey married to a laid-back Californian while living with a strict Scandinavian mother, all under one roof.^{[citation needed]}

Their first son (Richard), Walter Emory, was born on January 27, 1919, in Santa Barbara, California.^[6] Their second son Bernard Alfred was born on September 26, 1920, in Santa Barbara, California.^[7] Their daughter Ellen Joanna was born in Los Angeles, California, on April 18, 1923.^[8]

By 1924, their marriage was on the rocks. The conflict resulted in their first separation. Hall cited the main problem was the conflict between her and Johnson's overbearing mother. Hall filed for divorce.^[9] Tragedy struck in March 1926. While Hall and the kids were walking down a street in Hollywood, little Bernard was run over and killed by a truck.^[10] He was five years old. Bernard's death would provide a catalyst for the couple's first reconciliation.^[11]

A second separation occurred in 1929. Later that year, the couple decided to have another child. Diana Marie (Dinie) was born in Los Angeles, California, on October 27, 1929. She would be their last child together.^[12]

From 1924 onwards, the couple had engaged in highly publicized disputes revolving around alimony payments, child support, visitation rights, and living arrangements. Their relationship was also characterized by a constant cycle of breaking up and getting back together. Hall had difficulty reconciling her emotions regarding Johnson's status as an only child and what she perceived as his excessive attachment to his mother. She viewed Emory as a "mother's boy," suggesting that his close bond with his mother interfered with their relationship. She believed that the presence and influence of her mother-in-law in their daily lives went beyond what she considered acceptable. Hall succinctly captured her frustration with the statement, "Too much mother-in-law!"^[14]

In 1930, their stormy relationship came to an end. The divorce between Johnson, 36, and Hall, 34, was finalized in Los Angeles, California. At one time, they were considered one of Hollywood's ideal marriages. After the divorce, they would continue to battle over money.^{[citation needed]}

She wed Charles Clow in October 1934, but the marriage was annulled on January 21, 1936, because Clow's divorce from his first wife had been set aside, making his marriage to Hall illegal.^[15]

Two of their children became actors, Ellen Hall and Richard Emory.^[16]

She was residing in Los Angeles, California at the time of her death on September 3, 1981.^[17]

◆   Filmography of Ella Hall (92 films)   ◆
Year	Title	Role	Director	Production	Distribution	Released	Genre	Length	Notes
1912	Hot Stuff	Party Guest (unconfirmed)	Sennett	Biograph	General Film	1912-03-21	Comedy	Short	8 mins
1912	The School Teacher and the Waif	Schoolgirl (unconfirmed)	Griffith	Biograph	General Film	1912-06-27	Comedy	Short	17 mins
1913	Parson Jim's Baby		Miles	Kinemacolor of America	Kinemacolor of America	1913-05-01	Western	Short
1913	Love in the Dark		Miles	Kinemacolor of America	Kinemacolor of America	1913-05-31	Romance	Short
1913	Local Color		Miles	Kinemacolor of America	Kinemacolor of America	1913-06-21	Comedy	Short	Kinemacolor movie
1913	When Love Grows Up		Miles	Kinemacolor of America	Kinemacolor of America	1913-07-01	Drama	Short
1913	Memories	Personification of Youth	Smalley-Weber	Rex	Universal Studios	1913-10-16	Romance	Short
1913	The Haunted Bride	The Maid	Smalley-Weber	Rex	Universal Studios	1913-11-09	Comedy	Short
1913	The Blood Brotherhood	The Crippled Girl	Smalley-Weber	Rex	Universal Studios	1913-11-16	Drama	Short
1913	James Lee's Wife	The Milkmaid	Smalley-Weber	Rex	Universal Studios	1913-12-07	Drama	Short
1913	The Mask	Lois' Invalid Sister	Smalley-Weber	Rex	Universal Studios	1913-12-14	Crime	Short
1913	The Jew's Christmas	Eleanor - Isaac's Granddaughter	Smalley-Weber	Rex	Universal Studios	1913-12-18	Drama	Short
1914	The Female of the Species	The Sheriff's Sweetheart	Smalley-Weber	Rex	Universal Studios	1914-01-01	Drama	Short
1914	A Fool and His Money	Ella - the Waitress	Smalley-Weber	Rex	Universal Studios	1914-01-04	Comedy	Short
1914	The Coward Hater		Smalley-Weber	Rex	Universal Studios	1914-02-08	Drama	Short
1914	Woman's Burden	Peggy's Sister	Weber	Rex	Universal Studios	1914-02-22	Drama	Short
1914	The Weaker Sister		Weber	Rex	Universal Studios	1914-03-01	Drama	Short
1914	A Modern Fairy Tale	The Princess	Weber	Rex	Universal Studios	1914-03-08	Drama	Short
1914	The Man Who Slept	Mary	Weber	Rex	Universal Studios	1914-04-09	Drama	Short
1914	An Episode		Smalley-Weber	Rex	Universal Studios	1914-04-30	Romance	Short
1914	The Career of Waterloo Peterson		Smalley-Weber	Rex	Universal Studios	1914-05-10	Comedy	Short
1914	The Triumph of Mind	Crooked Trill	Weber	Bison		1914-05-23	Drama	Short
1914	The Stone in the Road		Weber	Rex	Universal Studios	1914-05-31	Drama	Short
1914	The Spy	Frances Wharton	Turner	Universal	Universal Studios	1914-06-01	Drama	Short
1914	The Pursuit of Hate	The Graves' Daughter	Weber	Rex	Universal Studios	1914-06-14	Drama	Short
1914	Lost by a Hair	Another Summer Girl	Smalley-Weber	Rex	Universal Studios	1914-06-28	Comedy	Short
1914	The House Discordant	Mary - he Son's Sweetheart	Leonard	Rex	Universal Studios	1914-07-02	Drama	Short	1st w/Leonard
1914	When Fate Disposes	Ella	Leonard	Rex	Universal Studios	1914-07-08	Romance	Short	w/Leonard
1914	Out of the Darkness	The Thief's Daughter		Rex	Universal Studios	1914-07-19	Drama	Short	w/Leonard
1914	At the Foot of the Stairs	The Maid	Turner	Rex	Universal Studios	1914-07-23	Drama	Short	w/Leonard
1914	An Awkward Cinderella	Ella - the New Maid	Turner	Rex	Universal Studios	1914-07-26	Comedy	Short	w/Leonard
1914	The Symphony of Souls	Elaine	Ingram	Rex	Universal Studios	1914-08-06	Romance	Short	w/Leonard
1914	The Hedge Between	Ella	Leonard	Rex	Universal Studios	1914-08-16	Drama	Short	w/Leonard
1914	The Bowl of Roses		Leonard	Rex	Universal Studios	1914-08-20	Comedy	Short	w/Leonard
1914	For the Secret Service	Constance Chambers	Leonard	Rex	Universal Studios	1914-08-27	Drama	Short	w/Leonard
1914	The Boob's Nemesis	The Farmer's Daughter	Leonard	Rex	Universal Studios	1914-09-06	Drama	Short	w/Leonard
1914	The Mistress of Deadwood Basin	Eveline Danvers	Leonard	Rex	Universal Studios	1914-09-17	Western	Short	w/Leonard
1914	The Little Sister	The Little Sister		Rex	Universal Studios	1914-09-24	Drama	Short	w/Leonard
1914	The Boob's Legacy	The Boob's Country Sweetheart	Leonard	Rex	Universal Studios	1914-10-01	Comedy	Short	w/Leonard
1914	Olaf Erickson, Boss	The Stranger's Daughter		Rex	Universal Studios	1914-10-22	Drama	Short	w/Leonard
1914	The Decision	The Younger Sister		Rex	Universal Studios	1914-10-25	Drama	Short	w/Leonard
1914	White Roses	The Newsgirl		Rex	Universal Studios	1914-10-29	Drama	Short
1914	The Master Key	Ruth Gallon	Leonard	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1914-11-16	Drama	Serial (15)	w/Leonard
1914	His Uncle's Will	The Country Girl		Rex	Universal Studios	1914-11-19	Drama	Short	w/Leonard
1915	Mavis of the Glen	Mavis Graham	Leonard	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1915-04-21	Drama	Short	w/Leonard
1915	Shattered Memories	Jane Marsh	Leonard	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1915-05-25	Drama	Short	w/Leonard
1915	The Silent Command	Ella - the Daughter	Leonard	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1915-06-02	Mystery	Short	w/Leonard
1915	A Boob's Romance	The Boob's Sweetheart	Leonard	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1915-06-23	Comedy	Short	w/Leonard
1915	Betty's Dream Hero	Betty	Leonard	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1915-07-07	Romance	Short	w/Leonard
1915	Heritage	Kate	Leonard	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1915-07-29	Drama	Feature	w/Leonard
1915	The Little Blonde in Black	The Blonde in Black	Leonard	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1915-08-19	Romance	Short	w/Leonard
1915	Jewel	Jewel	Smalley-Weber	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1915-08-30	Drama	Feature
1915	Both Sides of Life	Ella - a Waif of Circumstance	Leonard	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1915-09-09	Drama	Short
1915	Idols of Clay	The Little Girl Next Door	Leonard	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1915-12-07	Drama	Short	w/Leonard
1915	Christmas Memories	Little Sunshine	Leonard	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1915-12-21	Drama	Feature	w/Leonard
1916	The Boob's Victory	The Detectress	Leonard	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1916-01-11	Comedy	Short	w/Leonard
1916	The Silent Member	Undetermined Role	Leonard	Rex	Universal Studios	1916-01-18	Drama	Short	w/Leonard
1916	Secret Love	Arnice	Leonard	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1916-01-31	Drama	Feature
1916	A Child of Circumstances	The Little Thief		Rex	Universal Studios	1916-02-04	Crime	Short
1916	Yust from Sweden	Hilda Jensen	Leonard	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1916-02-08	Drama	Short	w/Leonard
1916	The Winning of Miss Construe	Ella Construe	Kirkland-Leonard	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1916-03-07	Drama	Short	w/Leonard
1916	The Crippled Hand	The Little Girl	Leonard	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1916-05-01	Drama	Feature	w/Leonard
1916	The Silent Man of Timber Gulch	The Silent Man's Wife	Leonard	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1916-05-30	Drama	Short	w/Leonard
1916	The Love Girl	Ambrosia	Leonard	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1916-07-10	Comedy	Feature
1916	Little Eve Edgarton	Eve Edgarton	Leonard	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1916-08-21	Comedy	Feature
1916	The Heart of a Show Girl	Elspeth Marner	Worthington	Rex	Universal Studios	1916-08-28	Drama	Short
1916	The Unfinished Case		Leonard	Rex	Universal Studios	1916-10-09	Drama	Short	w/Leonard
1916	The Bugler of Algiers	Gabrielle	Rupert Julian	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1916-11-27	Drama	Feature
1917	Her Soul's Inspiration	Mary Weston	Conway	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1917-01-15	Drama	Feature
1917	Polly Redhead	Polly Redhead	Conway	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1917-03-19	Comedy	Feature
1917	A Jewel in Pawn	Nora Martin	Conway	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1917-04-16	Drama	Feature
1917	The Little Orphan	Rene Lescere	Conway	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1917-06-18	Drama	Feature
1917	The Charmer	Ambrosia Lee	Conway	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1917-08-27	Drama	Feature
1917	The Spotted Lily	Yvonne	Solter	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1917-10-01	Drama	Feature
1917	My Little Boy	Clara	Wilson	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1917-12-17	Drama	Feature	w/Johnson
1918	New Love for Old	Daphne Sawyer	Wilson	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1918-02-11	Drama	Feature	w/Johnson
1918	Beauty in Chains	Rosarita	Wilson	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1918-03-11	Drama	Feature	w/Johnson
1918	A Mother's Secret	Angela	Douglas Gerrard	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1918-04-29	Drama	Feature	w/Johnson
1918	Which Woman?	Doris Standish	Browning-Pollard	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1918-06-10	Mystery	Feature
1918	Three Mounted Men	Undetermined Role	John Ford	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1918-10-07	Western	Feature
1918	The Heart of Rachael	Billy	Hickman	Barriscale	General Film	1918-10-14	Drama	Feature
1919	Under the Top	Pansy O'Neill	Crisp	Lasky	Lasky	1919-01-12	Comedy	Feature
1921	The Great Reward	The Princess	Ford*	Burston Films	National Exchange	1921-05-09	Drama	Serial	Serial
1922	In the Name of the Law	Mary - age 18	Emory Johnson	FBO	FBO	1922-08-16	Drama	Feature	w/Johnson
1922	The Heart of Lincoln		Ford*	New Era	Anchor Film	1922-11-01	War	Feature
1923	The Third Alarm	June Rutherford	Emory Johnson	FBO	FBO	1923-01-07	Drama	Feature
1923	The West~Bound Limited	Esther Miller	Emory Johnson	FBO	FBO	1923-04-15	Drama	Feature
1923	The Flying Dutchman	Zoe	Carleton	FBO	FBO	1923-07-29	Drama	Feature
1930	Madam Satan	uncredited	DeMille	MGM	MGM	1930-09-24	Musical	Feature
1931	Street Scene	uncredited (part of mob)	King Vidor	Goldwyn	Goldwyn	1931-08-26	Drama	Feature
1932	Taxi	Trial Spectator (uncredited)	Ruth	Warner	Warner	1932-01-23	Drama	Feature
1933	The Bitter Tea of General Yen	Mrs. Amelia Hansen (uncredited)	Capra	Columbia	Columbia	1933-01-06	War	Feature

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ella Hall.

• Ella Hall at IMDb