Ethel Shannon (May 22, 1898 – July 10, 1951) was an American actress. She appeared in over 30

silent movies 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 ...

in the early 20th century.

Early life and career

Ethel Shannon was born in

Denver Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...

Colorado Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of t ...

, the daughter of James and Agnes (Knight) Shannon. After finishing school, she moved to

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood, ...

. Not long afterward, she was asked by a friend if she wanted to work as an

extra Extra or Xtra may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Film * ''The Extra'' (1962 film), a Mexican film * ''The Extra'' (2005 film), an Australian film Literature * ''Extra'' (newspaper), a Brazilian newspaper * ''Extra!'', an American me ...

in a

movie A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

and she readily said yes. The extra part lasted several days and, before she left the

studio A studio is an artist or worker's workroom. This can be for the purpose of acting, architecture, painting, pottery (ceramics), sculpture, origami, woodworking, scrapbooking, photography, graphic design, filmmaking, animation, industrial design ...

, Shannon was offered a role in a

Bert Lytell Bertram Lytell (February 24, 1885 – September 28, 1954) was an American actor in theater and film during the silent film era and early talkies. He starred in romantic, melodrama, and adventure films. Background Born in New York City, Lyt ...

comedy Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...

, ''

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), which sparked her career. After playing the role as Gwendolyn, the American, in

Tsuru Aoki was a Japanese stage and screen actress whose career was most prolific in the United States during the silent film era of the 1910s through the 1920s. Aoki may have been the first Asian actress to garner top billing in American motion pictures. ...

Universal Studios Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...

production, ''

The Breath of the Gods ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (1920), Shannon replaced

Josephine Hill Josephine Hill (October 3, 1899 – December 17, 1989) was an American film actress, primarily during the silent era. She appeared in more than 100 films between 1917 and 1933. Before she worked in films, Hill performed in Gus Edwards's ' ...

leading lady A leading actor, leading actress, or simply lead (), plays the role of the protagonist of a film, television show or play. The word ''lead'' may also refer to the largest role in the piece, and ''leading actor'' may refer to a person who typica ...

with Universal's

western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

star,

Hoot Gibson Edmund Richard "Hoot" Gibson (August 6, 1892 – August 23, 1962) was an American rodeo champion, film actor, film director, and producer. While acting and stunt work began as a sideline to Gibson's focus on rodeo, he successfully transitione ...

. Shannon later signed a contract with B.P. Schulberg and became a featured player. She was selected by Schulberg to play the principal feminine role in the most extravagantly produced picture at Schulberg Studios, ''

Daughters of the Rich ''Daughters of the Rich'' is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Louis J. Gasnier and starring Miriam Cooper, Gaston Glass, and Ethel Shannon based upon the 1900 novel of the same name by Edgar Saltus. Cast * Miriam Cooper as Maud Bar ...

'' (1923), from the book of the same title by

Edgar Saltus Edgar Evertson Saltus (October 8, 1855 – July 31, 1921) was an American writer known for his highly refined prose style. His works paralleled those by European decadent authors such as Joris-Karl Huysmans, Gabriele D'Annunzio and Oscar Wild ...

. In her first production, Shannon had a supporting cast that included at least half a dozen players who either had appeared as stars in their own right, or had seen their names in lights as featured players. Shannon was chosen as one of the

WAMPAS Baby Stars The WAMPAS Baby Stars was a promotional campaign sponsored by the United States Western Association of Motion Picture Advertisers, which honored 13 (15 in 1932) young actresses each year whom they believed to be on the threshold of movie stardom. ...

of 1923, along with

Eleanor Boardman Olive Eleanor Boardman (August 19, 1898 – December 12, 1991) was an American film actress of the silent era. Early life and career Olive Eleanor Boardman was born on August 19, 1898, the youngest child to George W. Boardman and Janice Merriam ...

Evelyn Brent Evelyn Brent (born Mary Elizabeth Riggs; October 20, 1895 – June 4, 1975) was an American film and stage actress. Early life Brent was born in Tampa, Florida, and known as Betty. When she was age 10, her mother Eleanor (née. Warner) died, ...

Dorothy Devore Dorothy Devore (born Alma Inez Williams; June 22, 1899 – September 10, 1976) was an American silent film actress and comedian. Early life Born as Alma Inez Williams in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 22, 1899, her family soon moved to Los Angele ...

Virginia Browne Faire Virginia Brown Faire (born Virginia Cecelia Labuna; June 26, 1904 – June 30, 1980) was an American silent film actress, appearing in dramatic films and, later, in sound westerns. Early years Virginia Cecelia Labuna was born in Brooklyn, New Yo ...

Betty Francisco Betty Francisco (born Elizabeth Barton; September 26, 1900 – November 25, 1950) was an American silent-film actress, appearing primarily in supporting roles. Her sisters Evelyn and Margaret were also actresses. Early years Francisco w ...

Pauline Garon Marie Pauline Garon (September 9, 1900 – August 30, 1965) was a Canadian American silent film, feature film, and stage actress. Early life Marie Pauline Garon was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on September 9, 1898, the daughter of Pierre-A ...

Kathleen Key Kathleen Key (born Kitty Lanahan; April 1, 1903 – December 22, 1954) was an American actress who achieved a brief period of fame during the silent era. She is best remembered for playing Tirzah in the 1925 film '' Ben-Hur''. Early life and ca ...

Laura La Plante Laura La Plante (born Laura Laplante; November 1, 1904 – October 14, 1996) was an American film actress, whose more notable performances were in the silent era. Early life La Plante was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on November 1, 1904, the dau ...

Margaret Leahy Margaret Leahy (17 August 1902 – 17 February 1967) was a British actress. After winning a beauty contest, Leahy made only one film. Life and film career In 1922, sisters Constance Talmadge and Norma Talmadge, Joseph Schenck and film directo ...

Helen Lynch Helen Lynch (April 6, 1900 – March 2, 1965) was an American silent film actress, mainly known for her roles playing gun molls and other morally dubious characters. Biography Lynch was born in 1900 in Billings, Montana, where she was also rai ...

Derelys Perdue Derelys Perdue (born Geraldine Perdue; March 22, 1902 – September 30, 1989) was an American silent-film actress and popular dancer during the 1920s. Biography Born Geraldine Perdue in Kansas City, Missouri, following high school, she atten ...

, and

Jobyna Ralston Jobyna Ralston (born Jobyna Lancaster Raulston, November 21, 1899 – January 22, 1967) was an American stage and film actress. She had a featured role in ''Wings'' in 1927, but is perhaps best remembered today for her on-screen chemistry with H ...

. In the mid-1920s she appeared in several films produced by

Gotham Pictures Gotham Pictures Company was an American movie production business established in San Antonio in 1916 during the silent film era. Marshall W. Taggart was the company's president. Property in Hot Wells, Texas near San Antonio was planned as an area ...

. She appeared opposite

Harry Carey Harry Carey may refer to: *Harry Carey (actor) (1878–1947), American actor * Harry Carey Jr. (1921–2012), American actor * Harry Carey (footballer) (1916–1991), Australian rules footballer See also * Henry Carey (disambiguation) * Harry Car ...

in ''

The Texas Trail ''The Texas Trail'' is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Scott R. Dunlap and featuring Harry Carey. Plot As described in a film magazine reviews, when Betty Foster comes West, she finds that real cowboys are not a match to what ...

'' (1925) and ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' proclaimed her "one of the best leading women you could imagine for this kind of photoplay." Despite good reviews and a promising future, Shannon's last movie role was as Ruth Morris in '' Through Thick and Thin'' (1927) opposite

William Fairbanks William Fairbanks (born Carl Ullman; May 24, 1894 – April 1, 1945) was an American actor. He appeared in over 65 silent era films between 1916 and 1928. Biography Fairbanks was born Carl Ullman in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Charles ...

. She then retired from the screen to become a wife and "take up a home-making career."

Personal life

She was first married to broker Robert Cary and divorced. She and Joseph Jackson (June 8, 1894 – May 26, 1932),

screenwriter A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based. ...

and former

press agent In marketing, publicity is the public visibility or awareness for any product, service, person or organization (company, charity, etc.). It may also refer to the movement of information from its source to the general public, often (but not always) ...

, were married April 10, 1927, at the Wilshire Boulevard Congregational Church,

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

. The couple then moved into a new home on Tuxedo Terrace in the

Hollywood Hills The Hollywood Hills are a residential neighborhood in the central region of Los Angeles, California. Geography The Hollywood Hills straddle the Cahuenga Pass within the Santa Monica Mountains. The neighborhood touches Studio City, Univer ...

. They had one son, Joseph Shannon Jackson (born September 11, 1928). At a

housewarming party A housewarming party is a party traditionally held soon after moving into a new residence. It is an occasion for the hosts to present their new home to their friends, post-moving, and for friends to give gifts to furnish the new home. House-warm ...

for newlyweds Charles Kenyon and

Jane Winton Jane Winton (October 10, 1905 – September 22, 1959) was an American film actress, dancer, opera soprano, writer, and painter. Early years Winton was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1905. The deaths of her father when she was four year ...

in October 1927, Shannon was there "looking altogether too pretty to quit the screen," but declared herself quite contented. "On the way over here," she joked, "I thought of all the famous red heads of history, so as to be able to forget the fact that I had cooked the dinner at home myself! 'What,' I said to myself, 'would my public think of me if they knew I had really peeled the potatoes myself?' " Her marriage to Joe Jackson ended when he drowned while swimming at

Laguna Beach Laguna Beach (; ''Laguna'', Spanish for "Lagoon") is a seaside resort city located in southern Orange County, California, in the United States. It is known for its mild year-round climate, scenic coves, environmental preservation efforts, and a ...

in 1932.

Later years

Although it was announced a couple of times that Shannon was to marry again, she apparently never did. In August 1935, an article in the ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...

'' stated that the "piquant red-haired" actress was coming out of her retirement to resume her career as she was signed to a long-term contract by

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

and given, as her first assignment, an important part in ''

Stars Over Broadway ''Stars Over Broadway'' is a 1935 American musical film directed by William Keighley, written by Jerry Wald, Julius J. Epstein, & Pat C. Flick, and starring Pat O'Brien, Jane Froman, James Melton, Jean Muir, Frank McHugh, and Eddie Conrad. It was ...

'' and was to be billed as Ethel Shannon Jackson. The occurrence that changed her comeback to the screen is uncertain, but Shannon's final movie appearance turned out to be an uncredited role as "a woman" in ''Stars Over Broadway'' (1935), starring

Pat O'Brien Pat O'Brien may refer to: Politicians * Pat O'Brien (Canadian politician) (born 1948), member of the Canadian House of Commons *Pat O'Brien (Irish politician) (c. 1847–1917), Irish Nationalist MP in the United Kingdom Parliament Others *Pat O'Br ...

and

Jane Froman Ellen Jane Froman (November 10, 1907 – April 22, 1980) was an American actress and singer. During her thirty-year career, she performed on stage, radio and television despite chronic health problems due to injuries sustained in a 1943 plane cra ...

Death

Ethel Shannon died at age 53 in

. She is interred in Forest Lawn Cemetery,

Glendale, California Glendale is a city in the San Fernando Valley and Verdugo Mountains regions of Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, California, United States. At the 2020 United States Census, 2020 U.S. Census the population was 196,543, up from ...

Partial filmography

* ''

John Petticoats ''John Petticoats'' is a 1919 American silent action film directed by Lambert Hillyer and written by C. Gardner Sullivan. The film stars William S. Hart, Walt Whitman, George Webb, Winifred Westover, Ethel Shannon, and Andrew Arbuckle. The fi ...

'' (1919) * ''

Roarin' Dan ''Roarin' Dan'' is a 1920 American short silent Western film directed by Phil Rosen and featuring Hoot Gibson. Cast * Hoot Gibson * Leo Pattee * Ethel Shannon * Mrs. Kruge See also * Hoot Gibson filmography This is a complete filmograph ...

'' (1920) * ''

A Master Stroke ''A Master Stroke'' is a 1920 American silent comedy film directed by Chester Bennett and starring Earle Williams, Vola Vale and Lee Hill.Spehr & Lundquist p.45 Cast * Earle Williams as Yale Durant * Vola Vale as Minnie Patton * Lee Hill as J ...

'' (1920) * ''

An Old Fashioned Boy ''An Old Fashioned Boy'' is a surviving 1920 American silent comedy romance film directed by Jerome Storm and starring Charles Ray. Famous Players-Lasky produced along with producer Thomas Ince. It was released by Paramount Pictures. Plot As ...

'' (1920) * '' Beware of the Bride'' (1920) * ''

The Hope Diamond Mystery ''The Hope Diamond Mystery'' is a 1921 American 15-chapter action film serial directed by Stuart Paton and featuring Grace Darmond, George Chesebro, May Yohe, and Boris Karloff. The screenplay was written by Charles Goddard and John B. Clymer, b ...

'' (1921) * '' Top o' the Morning'' (1922) * ''

Man's Law and God's ''Man's Law and God's'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by Finis Fox and starring Jack Livingston, Ethel Shannon and Rose Melville.Munden p.490 Cast * Jack Livingston as Bruce MacDonald * Ethel Shannon as Kitty Roshay * Kate And ...

'' (1922) * '' Watch Him Step'' (1922) * '' Maytime'' (1923) * '' The Girl Who Came Back'' (1923) * ''

'' (1923) * '' The Hero'' (1923) * ''

Lightning Romance ''Lightning Romance'' is now not considered a lost film. This 1924 American silent action film was directed by Albert S. Rogell and starring Reed Howes, Ethel Shannon and Wilfred Lucas.Langman p.259 Cast * Reed Howes as Jack Wade * Ethel Shan ...

'' (1924) * ''

Riders Up ''Riders Up'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by Irving Cummings and starring Creighton Hale, George Cooper, and Kate Price.The Texas Trail ''The Texas Trail'' is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Scott R. Dunlap and featuring Harry Carey. Plot As described in a film magazine reviews, when Betty Foster comes West, she finds that real cowboys are not a match to what ...

'' (1925) * ''

Speed Wild ''Speed Wild'' is a 1925 American silent action film directed by Harry Garson and starring Maurice 'Lefty' Flynn, Ethel Shannon Ethel Shannon (May 22, 1898 – July 10, 1951) was an American actress. She appeared in over 30 silent movi ...

'' (1925) * ''

Stop Flirting ''Stop Flirting'' is a 1925 American silent comedy film directed by Scott Sidney and starring Wanda Hawley, John T. Murray, and Ethel Shannon. It is based on the 1923 play of the same title by Frederick J. Jackson.High and Handsome ''High and Handsome'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Harry Garson and starring Maurice 'Lefty' Flynn, Ethel Shannon, and Tom Kennedy Thomas or Tom Kennedy may refer to: Politics *Thomas Kennedy (Scottish judge) (1673–175 ...

'' (1925) * ''

The Phantom Express The Phantom Express is a 1932 American pre-Code mystery crime-drama directed by Emory Johnson and based on the Emory Johnson story. The film stars William Collier, Jr. as Bruce Harrington, Sally Blane as Carolyn Nolan and Hobart Bosworth as Mr ...

'' (1925) * ''

Charley's Aunt ''Charley's Aunt'' is a farce in three acts written by Brandon Thomas. The story centres on Lord Fancourt Babberley, an undergraduate whose friends Jack and Charley persuade him to impersonate the latter's aunt. The complications of the plot inc ...

'' (1925) * ''

The Buckaroo Kid ''The Buckaroo Kid'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by Lynn Reynolds and starring Hoot Gibson. It was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures and is based on the short story ''Oh, Promise Me'' by Peter B. Kyne that app ...

'' (1926) * ''

Danger Quest ''Danger Quest'' is a 1926 American silent action film directed by Harry Joe Brown and starring Reed Howes, Ethel Shannon and J.P. McGowan.Munden p.164 Cast * Reed Howes as Rob Rollins * Ethel Shannon as Nan Colby * J.P. McGowan as Col. Sp ...

'' (1926) * ''

The Speed Limit ''The Speed Limit'' is a 1926 American silent romantic comedy film directed by Frank O'Connor and starring Raymond McKee, Ethel Shannon, and Bruce Gordon. It was produced by the independent company Gotham Pictures. Plot As described in a film m ...

'' (1926) * '' The Sign of the Claw'' (1926) * '' The High Flyer'' (1926) * '' Oh, Baby!'' (1926) * '' The Silent Power'' (1926) * ''

Babe Comes Home ''Babe Comes Home'' is a 1927 American silent sports comedy film produced and distributed through First National and directed by Ted Wilde. The film is a baseball-styled sports film centering on Babe Ruth and Anna Q. Nilsson. The film was rele ...

'' (1927) * '' Through Thick and Thin'' (1927) * '' Backfire'' (1935)Yeaman, Elizabeth (November 27, 1935)
"Paula Stone Gets Lead Role in Warner Bros. Film With Dick Foran"
''Hollywood Citizen News''. p. 6. Retrieved February 16, 2022.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Shannon, Ethel 1898 births 1951 deaths Actresses from Denver American film actresses American silent film actresses Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) Actresses from Los Angeles 20th-century American actresses WAMPAS Baby Stars American Congregationalists

Early life and career

Personal life

Later years

Death

Partial filmography

References

Further reading

External links