Bertram Lytell (February 24, 1885 – September 28, 1954) was an American actor in theater and film during the

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...

era and early

talkies A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed before ...

. He starred in romantic, melodrama, and adventure films.

Background

Born in New York City, Lytell was the son of actor, author, and producer William H. Lytell and Blanche Mortimer. His mother was an actress before she married, and her father and grandfather were actors. Lytell left Upper Canada College at age 16 to become an actor. Lytell's acting debut came with the Columbia Stock Company in Newark, New Jersey, when he was 17 years old. He went on to appear with stock theater companies in Boston, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Rochester, in addition to heading his own stock troupes in Albany, New York, and San Francisco. He appeared with

Marie Dressler Marie Dressler (born Leila Marie Koerber, November 9, 1868 – July 28, 1934) was a Canadian stage and screen actress, comedian, and early silent film and Depression-era film star. In 1914, she was in the first full-length film comedy. She ...

in her 1914 Broadway play, ''A MIX-UP''. He also performed in

vaudeville Vaudeville (; ) is a theatrical genre of variety entertainment born in France at the end of the 19th century. A vaudeville was originally a comedy without psychological or moral intentions, based on a comical situation: a dramatic composition ...

in the 1920s with the one-act play '' The Valiant''.(18 May 1929)
Bert Lytell's Old Act A Hit As Motion Picture
''Vaudeville News'' In 1917, Lytell made his film debut starring as Michael Lanyard in ''

The Lone Wolf The Lone Wolf may refer to: * ''The Lone Wolf'', a 1914 novel by Louis Joseph Vance Louis Joseph Vance (September 19, 1879 – December 16, 1933) was an American novelist, screenwriter and film producer. He created the popular character M ...

''. He subsequently made four Lone Wolf sequels, ending with '' The Last of the Lone Wolf'' (1930). He also starred as

Boston Blackie Boston Blackie is a fictional character created by author Jack Boyle (1881–1928). Blackie, a jewel thief and safecracker in Boyle's stories, became a detective in adaptations for films, radio and television—an "enemy to those who make him an ...

in ''

Boston Blackie's Little Pal ''Boston Blackie's Little Pal'' is a 1918 American silent drama film, directed by E. Mason Hopper. It stars Bert Lytell, Rhea Mitchell, and Rosemary Theby, and was released on August 26, 1918. Plot Boston Blackie is a notorious crook who has set ...

'' (1918) and ''

Blackie's Redemption ''Blackie's Redemption'', also known by its working title ''Powers That Pray'', is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by John Ince. It stars Bert Lytell, Alice Lake, and Henry Kolker, and was released on April 14, 1919. Plot Boston Bla ...

'' (1919). On

old-time radio The Golden Age of Radio, also known as the old-time radio (OTR) era, was an era of radio in the United States where it was the dominant electronic home entertainment medium. It began with the birth of commercial radio broadcasting in the early ...

, Lytell had the title role in '' Alias Jimmy Valentine'' – a role he had played in the 1920 film of the same name, and was host of ''Bert Lytell Dramas'' and ''Stage Door Canteen''. His younger brother Wilfred Lytell (1891–1954) also became a stage and screen actor. Bert Lytell married the silent film actress

Claire Windsor Claire Windsor (born Clara Viola Cronk; April 14, 1892 – October 24, 1972) was an American film actress of the silent screen era. Early life Windsor was born Clara Viola Cronk (nicknamed "Ola") in 1892 in Marvin, Phillips County, Kansas to ...

in 1925; they divorced in 1927. Like many other silent screen stars, Lytell's career collapsed after the advent of

talking pictures A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed before ...

. He worked on NBC daytime shows in the early 1950s while he was Shepherd (President) of the actors club

The Lambs The Lambs, Inc. (also known as The Lambs Club) is a social club in New York City for actors, songwriters, and others involved in the theatre. It is America's oldest theatrical organization. "The Lambs" is a registered trademark of The Lambs, Inc ...

from 1947 to 1952. Lytell was named an Immortal Lamb. Lytell died in New York City, aged 69. His brother Wilfred died 18 days before. He has a star at 6417 Hollywood Avenue in the Motion Picture section of the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Californ ...

Selected filmography

* ''

'' (1917) – Michael Lanyard * ''

Empty Pockets ''Empty Pockets'' is a lost 1918 American mystery silent black and white film directed by Herbert Brenon and written by George Edwards Hall. It is based on the novel by Rupert Hughes. Cast * Bert Lytell Bertram Lytell (February 24, 1885 & ...

'' (1918) – Dr. Clinton Worthing * ''

The Trail to Yesterday ''The Trail to Yesterday'' is a 1918 American silent Western film directed by Edwin Carewe and starring Bert Lytell and Anna Q. Nilsson. It was produced by and distributed by Metro Pictures. It is based on a novel, ''The Trail to Yesterday'' (1 ...

'' (1918) – Ned 'Dakota' Keegles * ''

No Man's Land No man's land is waste or unowned land or an uninhabited or desolate area that may be under dispute between parties who leave it unoccupied out of fear or uncertainty. The term was originally used to define a contested territory or a dump ...

'' (1918, also co-wrote scenario) – Garrett Cope * ''

'' (1918) – Boston Blackie * '' Unexpected Places'' (1918) – Dick Holloway * ''

Hitting the High Spots ''Hitting the High Spots'' is a 1918 American silent comedy-drama film, directed by Charles Swickard. It stars Bert Lytell, Eileen Percy, and Winter Hall, and was released on December 9, 1918. Cast list *Bert Lytell as Bob Durland *Eileen Percy ...

'' (1918, also co-wrote scenario) – Bob Durland * '' The Spender'' (1919) – Dick Bisbee * ''

Faith Faith, derived from Latin ''fides'' and Old French ''feid'', is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or In the context of religion, one can define faith as "belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion". Religious people often ...

'' (1919) – George Farrelly * ''

Blind Man's Eyes ''Blind Man's Eyes'' is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by John Ince and starring Bert Lytell, Frank Currier, and Naomi Childers, based on the 1916 novel '' The Blind Man's Eyes'' by Edwin Balmer and William MacHarg. It was released ...

'' (1919) – Hugh Overton, aka Philip D. Eaton * ''

'' (1919) – Boston Blackie * '' The Lion's Den'' (1919) – Reverend Sam Webster * ''

One-Thing-at-a-Time O'Day ''One-Thing-at-a-Time O'Day'' is a lost film, lost 1919 American silent comedy film, directed by John Ince (actor), John Ince. It stars Bert Lytell, Joseph Kilgour, and Eileen Percy, and was released on June 23, 1919. Cast * Bert Lytell as Strad ...

'' (1919) – Stradivarius O'Day * ''

Easy to Make Money ''Easy to Make Money'', originally titled ''It's Easy to Make Money'' is a 1919 American silent comedy film directed by Edwin Carewe. It stars Bert Lytell, Gertrude Selby, and Frank Currier Frank Currier (September 4, 1857 – April 22 ...

'' (1919) – James 'Jimmy' Frederick Slocum Jr. * ''

Lombardi, Ltd. Lombardi, Ltd. (also sometimes styled ''Lombardi Limited'' in publicity materials) is a surviving 1919 American silent feature comedy film. It was adapted by June Mathis from a 1917 play of the same name by Frederick and Fanny Hatton, and directe ...

'' (1919) – Tito Lambardi * '' The Right of Way'' (1920) – Charley Steele * '' Alias Jimmy Valentine'' (1920) – Lee Randall / Jimmy Valentine * ''

The Price of Redemption ''The Price of Redemption'' is a lost 1920 American silent crime film directed by Dallas M. Fitzgerald and starring Bert Lytell, Seena Owen and Cleo Madison.The Misleading Lady'' (1920) – Jack Craigen * '' A Message from Mars'' (1921) – Horace Parker * ''

The Man Who ''The Man Who'' is the second studio album by the Scottish rock band Travis. The album was released on 24 May 1999 through Independiente. It saw a change in musical direction for the band, moving away from the rockier tone of their debut '' ...

'' (1921) – Bedford Mills * '' A Trip to Paradise'' (1921) – 'Curley' Flynn * '' Alias Ladyfingers'' (1921) – Robert Ashe – Ladyfingers * ''A Trip to Paradise'' (1921, an adaptation of ''

Liliom ''Liliom'' is a 1909 play by the Hungarian playwright Ferenc Molnár. It was well known in its own right during the early to mid-20th century, but is best known today as the basis for the Rodgers and Hammerstein 1945 musical ''Carousel''. P ...

'') * '' The Idle Rich'' (1921) – Samuel Weatherbee * ''

The Right That Failed ''The Right That Failed'' is a 1922 American silent melodrama film directed by Bayard Veiller. Based on a short story by John Phillips Marquand, the film stars Bert Lytell, Virginia Valli, and De Witt Jennings. It was released by Metro Picture ...

'' (1922) – Johnny Duffey * ''

A Trip to Paramountown ''A Trip to Paramountown'' is a 1922 American short silent documentary film produced by Famous Players-Lasky and released through Paramount Pictures, to celebrate 10 years of Paramount's founding. The film runs about 20 minutes and features m ...

'' (1922, Documentary short) – Himself * '' The Face Between'' (1922) – Tommy Carteret Sr. * ''

Sherlock Brown ''Sherlock Brown'' is a 1922 American silent comedy-drama film. Directed by Bayard Veiller, the film stars Bert Lytell, Ora Carew, and Sylvia Breamer. It was released on June 26, 1922. Cast list * Bert Lytell as William Brown * Ora Carew as B ...

'' (1922) – William Brown * '' To Have and to Hold'' (1922) – Captain Ralph Percy * '' Kick In'' (1922) – Chick Hewes * ''

Rupert of Hentzau ''Rupert of Hentzau'' is a sequel by Anthony Hope to ''The Prisoner of Zenda'', written in 1895 but not published in book form until 1898. The novel was serialized in ''The Pall Mall Magazine'' and ''McClure's Magazine'' from December 1897 thr ...

'' (1923) – King of Ruritania / Rudolph Rassendyll * ''

The Meanest Man in the World Not to be confused with the 1920 George M. Cohan play or The Meanest Man in the World (1923 film) ''The Meanest Man in the World'' is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Sidney Lanfield, starring Jack Benny and Priscilla Lane, based upon ...

'' (1923) – Richard Clark * '' The Eternal City'' (1923) – David Rossi * ''

A Son of the Sahara ''A Son of the Sahara'' is a 1924 American silent drama film produced and directed by Edwin Carewe and co-directed with René Plaissetty. It stars Claire Windsor and Bert Lytell. First National handled the distribution of the film. Plot As de ...

'' (1924) – Raoul Le Breton * '' Sandra'' (1924) – David Waring * '' Born Rich'' (1924) – Jimmy Fairfax * ''

The Boomerang ''The Boomerang'' was a weekly newspaper published in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. History The newspaper was established by William Lane in 1887, publishing its first issue on 19 November 1887. James Drake, future Attorney-General of A ...

'' (1925) – Dr. Sumner * ''

Steele of the Royal Mounted ''Steele of the Royal Mounted'' is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by David Smith and starring Bert Lytell, Stuart Holmes and Charlotte Merriam. It is based on a novel by James Oliver Curwood about the Royal Canadian Mounted Polic ...

'' (1925) – Philip Steele * '' Eve's Lover'' (1925) – Baron Geraldo Maddox * '' Never the Twain Shall Meet'' (1925) – Dan Pritchard * '' The Sporting Life'' (1925) – Lord Woodstock * '' The Ship of Souls'' (1925) – Langley Barnes * ''

Lady Windermere's Fan ''Lady Windermere's Fan, A Play About a Good Woman'' is a four-act comedy by Oscar Wilde, first performed on Saturday, 20 February 1892, at the St James's Theatre in London. The story concerns Lady Windermere, who suspects that her husband i ...

'' (1925) – Lord Windermere * ''

The Gilded Butterfly ''The Gilded Butterfly'' is a 1926 American silent film, silent drama film directed by John Griffith Wray and starring Alma Rubens, Bert Lytell, and Huntley Gordon. Plot As described in a film magazine review, Linda Haverhill is left penniless a ...

'' (1926) – Brian Anestry * '' The Lone Wolf Returns'' (1926) – Michael Lanyard / The Lone Wolf * ''

That Model from Paris ''That Model from Paris'' is a 1926 American silent comedy film directed by Louis J. Gasnier and starring Marceline Day, Bert Lytell, and Eileen Percy Eileen Percy (August 1902 – 29 July 1973) was an Irish-born American actress of the ...

'' (1926) – Robert Richmond * '' Obey The Law'' (1926) – Phil Schuyler * ''

The First Night "The First Night" is a song by American singer Monica for her second studio album, '' The Boy Is Mine'' (1998). It was written by Tamara Savage and Jermaine Dupri, featuring production and additional vocals from the latter. Built around a sample ...

'' (1927) – Dr. Richard Bard * ''Alias the Lone Wolf'' (1927) – Michael Lanyard / The Lone Wolf * ''

Women's Wares ''Women's Wares'' is a 1927 American silent romantic drama film directed by Arthur Gregor and starring Evelyn Brent. Plot Salesgirl Dolly Morton becomes disillusioned about men after an incident with her boyfriend, so she becomes, with the he ...

'' (1927) – Robert Crane * '' On Trial'' (1928) – Robert Strickland * ''

The Lone Wolf's Daughter ''The Lone Wolf's Daughter'' is a surviving 1919 American silent era crime/drama/thriller motion picture starring Bertram Grassby, Louise Glaum, and Thomas Holding. Directed by William P.S. Earle and produced by J. Parker Read, Jr., the scree ...

'' (1929) – Michael Lanyard / The Lone Wolf * ''The Last of the Lone Wolf'' (1930) – Michael Lanyard * ''

Brothers A brother is a man or boy who shares one or more parents with another; a male sibling. The female counterpart is a sister. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer to non-familia ...

'' (1930) – Bob Naughton / Eddie Connolly * ''

The Stolen Jools ''The Stolen Jools'' is a 1931 American pre-Code comedy short produced by the Masquers Club of Hollywood, featuring many cameo appearances by film stars of the day. The stars appeared in the film, distributed by Paramount Pictures, to raise fu ...

'' (1931) – Joe Strickland * ''

Stage Door Canteen The Stage Door Canteen was an entertainment venue for American and Allied servicemen that operated in the Broadway theatre district of New York City throughout World War II. Founded by the American Theatre Wing (ATW) in 1942, the entertainers we ...

'' (1943) – Canteen Master of Ceremonies

References

External links

* * *
Bert Lytell
at Virtual History {{DEFAULTSORT:Lytell, Bert 1885 births 1954 deaths American male film actors American male silent film actors 20th-century American male actors Male actors from New York City The Lambs presidents Vaudeville performers Presidents of the Actors' Equity Association