Ruth Stonehouse (September 28, 1892 – May 12, 1941) was an actress and film director during the
silent film era
A silent film is a film with no synchronized Sound recording and reproduction, 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) ...
. Her stage career started at the age of eight as a dancer in Arizona shows.
Early life
Ruth Stonehouse was born to James Wesley Stonehouse and Georgia C. Worster on September 28, 1892, in Denver, Colorado. Her father was the founder of Stonehouse Signs Inc. According to the 1900 Census for Laurence Town, Teller County, Colorado, she lived with her father, James, a sign writer, and her grandmother, Eda Stonehouse, along with her sister, Hazel, who was a year younger. By 1910, she was living with her mother, Georgia Stonehouse, a stenographer, and her sister, Hazel, in
Chicago, Illinois
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
. Curiously, her mother lists herself as a widow on the 1910 Census, while James Stonehouse can be found residing in Arizona.
Film career
Stonehouse worked for
Triangle Film Corporation
Triangle Film Corporation (also known as Triangle Motion Picture Company) was a major American motion-picture studio, founded in July 1915 in Culver City, California and terminated 7 years later in 1922.
History
The studio was founded in July 1 ...
and
Universal Pictures
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 ...
during a career which extended from 1911 until 1928. A few years prior in 1907, she was a founding member of
Essanay Film Manufacturing Company. She also signed on to work on
Cyrus J. Williams' productions. Having experience here helped Stonehouse begin her directing career later on as she moved to different stations.
Her
androgynous
Androgyny is the possession of both masculine and feminine characteristics. Androgyny may be expressed with regard to biological sex, gender identity, or gender expression.
When ''androgyny'' refers to mixed biological sex characteristics i ...
appearance was most apparent in the role of ''Nancy Glenn'' and in the 1917 motion picture, ''The Edge of the Law''. She performed in comedies and dramas such as the patriotic film ''Doing Her Bit'' (1917), which was directed by
Jack Conway.
In 1917, Stonehouse directed the films ''Daredevil Dan'', ''A Walloping Time'', ''The Winning Pair'', ''A Limb of Satan'', ''Puppy Love'',
and ''Tacky Sue's Romance''. These movies were one-reel ''orphan asylum pictures'', the first of which was entitled ''Mary Ann''.
Personal life
Stonehouse owned a cabin in Santa Anita Canyon in the Sierra Madre Mountains. Here she entertained men and women of prominence in the film world, cooking culinary masterpieces which her friends deemed superior to most chefs. Stonehouse was a fan of the
Owen Magnetic
1920 Owen Magnetic Touring Car ad, from '' House Beautiful'' magazine
The Owen Magnetic was a pioneering American brand of hybrid electric luxury automobile manufactured between 1915 and 1922. Car models of the brand were notable for their use of ...
Auto and promoted it in newspapers. Stonehouse was an avid gardener who grew fibrous-rooted
begonias
''Begonia'' is a genus of perennial flowering plants in the family Begoniaceae. The genus contains more than 2,000 different plant species. The Begonias are native to moist subtropical and tropical climates. Some species are commonly grown ind ...
, pleromas, fuchsias, cinerias, and
hyacinths. Her home, located at 204 North Rossmore Avenue in
Los Angeles, California
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' ...
, was an adaptation of a Spanish design that was situated well to the front of a large lot. She was an active worker in the Children's Home Society for twenty-five years and also a member of the Garden Club of California.
Death
Stonehouse died in
Hollywood, California
Hollywood is a neighborhood in the central region of Los Angeles, California. Its name has come to be a shorthand reference for the U.S. film industry and the people associated with it. Many notable film studios, such as Columbia Pictures, ...
of a cerebral hemorrhage on May 12, 1941, at the age of 48. She was listed as Mrs. Felix Hughes in her obituary. Her funeral services were conducted from Wee Kirk o' the Heather. She was interred in a mausoleum at
Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
Selected filmography
* ''Mr. Wise, Investigator'' (1911) *short
* ''
When Soul Meets Soul
''When Soul Meets Soul'' is a 1913 silent film romantic fantasy short directed by Norman MacDonald and produced by the Essanay Studios out of Chicago. It starred Francis X. Bushman and Dolores Cassinelli. It was produced by the Essanay Studios a ...
'' (1913) *short
* ''
The Spy's Defeat
''The Spy's Defeat'' is a 1913 silent film drama short directed by Harry McRae Webster and starring Francis X. Bushman and Ruth Stonehouse. It was produced by the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company and released by the General Film Company.''Picto ...
'' (1913) short with
Francis X. Bushman
* ''Blood Will Tell'' (1914) short with Bushman
* ''Ashes of Hope'' (1914,
Essanay
The Essanay Film Manufacturing Company was an early American motion picture studio. The studio was founded in 1907 in Chicago, and later developed an additional film lot in Niles Canyon, California. Its various stars included Francis X. Bushman, ...
) short with Bushman
* ''The Masked Wrestler'' (1914) *short
* ''No. 28, Diplomat'' (1914) *short
* ''
The Slim Princess
''The Slim Princess'' is a 1920 American silent comedy film starring Mabel Normand, directed by Victor Schertzinger, produced by Samuel Goldwyn, and written by Gerald C. Duffy based on a musical play of the same name by Henry Blossom and Lesl ...
'' (1915) with
Wallace Beery
Wallace Fitzgerald Beery (April 1, 1885 – April 15, 1949) was an American film and stage actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Bill in ''Min and Bill'' (1930) opposite Marie Dressler, as General Director Preysing in ''Grand Hotel'' (193 ...
* ''
The Romance of an American Duchess
''The Romance of an American Duchess'' is a 1915 American Short film, short silent film, silent drama film starring Richard Travers, Richard C. Travers. Gloria Swanson had an uncredited role.''Pictorial History of the Silent Screen'' p. 56 c.195 ...
'' (1915)
* ''The Papered Door'' (1915) *short
* ''
The Alster Case
''The Alster Case'' is a lost 1915 silent film drama directed by J. Charles Haydon and starring Bryant Washburn and Ruth Stonehouse. It was based on a novel, ''The Alster Case'', by Rufus Gillmore. It was produced by the Essanay Company.
Plot
...
'' (1915)
* ''The Gilded Cage (1915)
* ''
The Adventures of Peg o' the Ring
''The Adventures of Peg o' the Ring'' is a 1916 American drama film serial directed by Francis Ford and Jacques Jaccard. It is now considered to be lost.
Cast
* Grace Cunard as Peg
* Francis Ford as Dr. Lund, Junior
* Mark Fenton as Dr. Lund, ...
'' (1916) *serial
* ''
A Limb of Satan
A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes'' ...
'' (1917) *short Directed & starring Ruth Stonehouse with Jack Dill and Charles Bennett
* ''A Phantom Husband'' (1917)
* ''
The Edge of the Law
''The Edge of the Law'' is a 1917 American silent crime drama film directed by Louis Chaudet and starring Ruth Stonehouse, Lloyd Whitlock and Lydia Yeamans Titus.Connelly p.343
Cast
* Ruth Stonehouse as Nancy Glenn
* Lloyd Whitlock as Ralph Hardi ...
'' (1917)
* ''
Love Aflame
''Love Aflame'' is a 1917 American silent comedy drama film directed by James Vincent and Raymond Wells and starring Ruth Stonehouse and Stuart Holmes and Jack Mulhall.Connelly p.155 Prints and/or fragments were found in the Dawson Film Find in 1 ...
'' (1917)
* ''
Follow the Girl
''Follow the Girl'' is a 1917 American silent Western film directed by Louis Chaudet and starring Ruth Stonehouse, Jack Dill and Roy Stewart.
Cast
* Ruth Stonehouse as Hilda Swanson
* Jack Dill as Olaf
* Roy Stewart as Larry O'Keefe
* Mattie W ...
'' (1917)
* ''
The Saintly Sinner
''The Saintly Sinner'' is a 1917 American silent crime drama film directed by Raymond Wells and starring Ruth Stonehouse, Jack Mulhall and Alida Hayman.Connelly p.405
Cast
* Ruth Stonehouse as Jane Lee
* Jack Mulhall as George Barnes
* Alida Ha ...
'' (1917)
* ''
Fighting for Love'' (1917)
* ''Rosalind at Redgate'' (1919) *short
* ''
The Master Mystery
''The Master Mystery'' is a 1918 American mystery silent serial film told in 15 installments. The film was directed by Harry Grossman and Burton L. King and written by Arthur B. Reeve and Charles Logue. The film stars Harry Houdini, Marguerite ...
'' (1919)
* ''
The Masked Rider
The Masked Rider is the primary mascot of Texas Tech University. It is the oldest of the university's mascots still in existence today. Originally called "Ghost Rider", it was an unofficial mascot appearing in a few games in 1936 and then became ...
'' (1919)
* ''
The Four-Flusher
''The Four Flusher'' is a lost 1919 American silent comedy film directed by Harry L. Franklin and starring Hale Hamilton and Ruth Stonehouse. It was produced and distributed by Metro Pictures.
Cast
*Hale Hamilton as Lon Withers
*Ruth Stonehouse ...
'' (1919,
Metro Pictures
Metro Pictures Corporation was a Film, motion picture production company founded in early 1915 in Jacksonville, Florida. It was a forerunner of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The company produced its films in New York, Los Angeles, and sometimes at leas ...
)
* ''The Red Viper'' (1919 Tyrad Pictures)
* ''
Parlor, Bedroom and Bath'' (1920 Metro Pictures)
* ''
The Hope'' (1920 Metro Pictures)
* ''
Are All Men Alike?
''Are All Men Alike?'' is a lost 1920 American silent comedy-drama film directed by Phil Rosen. It stars May Allison, Wallace MacDonald, and John Elliott, and was released on November 8, 1920.
Plot
Theodora Hayden, who gave herself the nick ...
'' (1920 Metro Pictures)
* ''
The Land of Jazz
''The Land of Jazz'' is a 1920 American silent comedy film produced and distributed by Fox Film Corporation. Directed by Jules Furthman and written by Barbara La Marr, it starred Eileen Percy and Ruth Stonehouse.
Cast
*Eileen Percy as Nina Dumba ...
'' (1920
Fox Film Corporation
The Fox Film Corporation (also known as Fox Studios) was an American Independent film production studio formed by William Fox (1879–1952) in 1915, by combining his earlier Greater New York Film Rental Company and Box Office Attractions Film ...
)
* ''
Cinderella's Twin
''Cinderella's Twin'' is a lost 1920 silent film comedy directed by Dallas M. Fitzgerald and starring Viola Dana. It was produced and distributed by Metro Pictures to poor audience reception.
Cast
*Viola Dana as Connie McGill
*Wallace MacDonald ...
'' (1920 Metro Pictures)
* ''
I Am Guilty
''I Am Guilty'' (german: Falscher Bekenner) is a 2005 German drama film directed by Christoph Hochhäusler. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival.
Cast
* Constantin von Jascheroff - Armin Steeb
* ...
'' (1921 Associated Producers)
* ''
Don't Call Me Little Girl
''Don't Call Me Little Girl'' is a 1921 American silent comedy film directed by Joseph Henabery and starring Mary Miles Minter. It was adapted by Edith Kennedy from the stage play "Jerry" by Catherine Chisholm Cushing. As with many of Minter's ...
'' (1921 Paramount Pictures)
* ''The Wolver'' (1921 Pathe Exchange) (*short)
* ''
Mother o' Dreams'' (1921 Pathe Exchange) (*short)
* ''
Lorraine of the Timberlands
''Lorraine of the Timberlands'' is a 1921 American silent short Western melodrama film produced by Cyrus J. Williams and distributed by Pathé Exchange. It was directed by Robert North Bradbury and stars Tom Santschi and Ruth Stonehouse.
Th ...
'' (1921 Pathe Exchange) (*short)
* ''
The Honor of Rameriz
''The Honor of Rameriz'' (often incorrectly referred to with the correct spelling of ' Ramirez': ''The Honor of Ramirez'') is a 1921 American silent short Western film produced by Cyrus J. Williams and distributed by Pathé Exchange. It was d ...
'' (1921 Pathe Exchange) (*short)
* ''
The Spirit of the Lake
''The Spirit of the Lake'' is a 1921 American short silent Western film produced by Cyrus J. Williams and distributed by Pathé Exchange. It was directed by Robert North Bradbury and stars Tom Santschi, Bessie Love, and Ruth Stonehouse.
This ...
'' (1921 Pathe Exchange) (*short)
* ''
The Heart of Doreon'' (1921 Pathe Exchange) (*short)
* ''The Flash'' (1923 Russell Productions)
* ''Flames of Passion'' (1923 Independent Pictures)
* ''
Lights Out'' (1923 Film Booking Offices of America; FBO)
* ''The Way of the Transgressor'' (1923 Independent Pictures)
* ''A Girl of the Limberlost'' (1924 Film Booking Office of America; FBO)
* ''
Broken Barriers'' (1924 Metro-Goldwyn)
* ''Straight Through'' (1925 Universal Pictures)
* ''
A Two-Fisted Sheriff
''A Two-Fisted Sheriff'' is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Ben F. Wilson and starring Yakima Canutt, Ruth Stonehouse and Joe Rickson.Connelly p.110
Cast
* Yakima Canutt as Jerry O'Connell
* Ruth Stonehouse as Midge Blair
* Ar ...
'' (1925 Arrow Film Corp.)
* ''Fifth Avenue Models'' (1925 Universal Pictures)
* ''
The Fugitive'' (1925 Arrow Film Corp.)
* ''
Blood and Steel'' (1925 Independent Pictures)
* ''
The Scarlet West
''The Scarlet West'' is a 1925 American silent historical drama film directed by John G. Adolfi and starring Robert Frazer and Clara Bow. It was distributed by the First National company.
This was an ambitious silent film made by an independ ...
'' (1925 First National)
* ''
Ermine and Rhinestones
''Ermine and Rhinestones'' is a 1925 silent film, written by Louise Winter, and directed by Burton L. King
Synopsis
Billy Kershaw, the son of a manufacturer in a small western town, comes to New York City on business. He becomes engaged to we ...
'' (1925 Jans Film Service)
* ''
False Pride
''False Pride'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by Hugh Dierker and starring Owen Moore, Faire Binney, Ruth Stonehouse, and J. Barney Sherry.
Plot
As described in a film magazine review, a young man who prefers legal practice to a ...
'' (1925 Astor Pictures)
* ''
The Wives of the Prophet
''The Wives of the Prophet'' is a 1926 American silent drama film directed by James A. Fitzgerald and starring Orville Caldwell, Alice Lake, and Violet Mersereau.
Plot
As described in a film magazine review, a religious sect in the Tennessee m ...
'' (1926 Lee-Bradford)
* ''
Broken Homes'' (1926 Astor Pictures)
* ''
The Ladybird
''The Ladybird'' is a long tale or novella by D. H. Lawrence.
It was first drafted in 1915 as a short story entitled ''The Thimble''. Lawrence rewrote and extended it under a new title in December 1921 and sent the final version to his Engli ...
'' (1927 First Division Pictures)
* ''
Poor Girls
''Poor Girls'' is a 1927 silent film drama directed by William James Craft and starring Dorothy Revier. It was produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures.
The film is preserved in the Library of Congress collections.
Cast
*Dorothy Revier - P ...
'' (1927 Columbia Pictures)
* ''
The Satin Woman
''The Satin Woman'' is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by Walter Lang and starring Dorothy Davenport, also known as Mrs. Wallace Reid. The film is preserved in the Library of Congress collection.
Cast
* Dorothy Davenport as Mrs. Jea ...
'' (1927 Lumas Film Corp.)
* ''The Ape'' (1928 Collwyn Pictures Corp.)
* ''
The Devil's Cage'' (1928
Chadwick Pictures
Chadwick Pictures was an American film production and distribution company active during the silent and early sound eras. It was originally established in New York by Isaac E. Chadwick (1884 – 1952) in 1920 to release films, but from 1924 als ...
)
References
;Notes
;Citations
;Further reading
*
*
*
*
*
*
* 1900 United States Federal Census, Precinct 39, Teller, Colorado; Roll T623_130; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 136.
External links
*
Ruth Stonehouseat the Women Film Pioneers Project
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stonehouse, Ruth
American film actresses
American silent film actresses
American women film directors
20th-century American women writers
Actresses from Denver
1892 births
1941 deaths
Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)
20th-century American actresses
American film directors
Women film pioneers