Emory Johnson

Alfred Emory Johnson (March 16, 1894 – April 18, 1960) was an American actor, director, producer, and writer. As a teenager, he started acting in silent films. Early in his career, Carl Laemmle chose Emory to become a Universal Studio leading man. He also became part of one of the early Hollywood celebrity marriages when he wed Ella Hall.

Emory Johnson
Johnson in 1940
Born	Alfred Emory Johnson (1894-03-16)March 16, 1894 San Francisco, California, U.S.
Died	April 18, 1960(1960-04-18) (aged 66) San Mateo, California, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale
Occupations	Actor Director Producer Writer
Years active	1912–1932
Known for	The Third Alarm
Spouse	Ella Hall ​ ​ (m. 1919; div. 1930)​
Children	4, including Ellen Hall and Richard Emory
Signature

In 1922, Emory acted and directed his first feature film – In the Name of The Law. He would continue to direct more feature films until the decade's end. By the early 1930s, his Hollywood career had faded, and Johnson became a portrait photographer. In 1960, he died from burns sustained in a fire.

Early years

Emory Johnson was the son of Swedish parents. His father, Alfred Jönsson (later anglicized to Johnson), was born in Veinge, Halland, Sweden on February 7, 1864. Emory's mother was born Emilie Matilda Jönsdotter in Gothenburg, Västra Götaland, Sweden on June 3, 1867.

Her writing skills impressed a Church of Sweden minister when she was eight. The minister adopted her and became responsible for her education. The minister became a bishop. Over time, the bishop became an adviser to the King of Sweden.^[1]

Emilie Jönsdotter's education continued until the bishop died. After the bishop's passing, Emilie migrated to America. She arrived in San Francisco, California, on September 24, 1891, 25 years old and unmarried. While living in San Francisco, she met Alfred Johnson. Alfred and Emilie fell in love. They married at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church in San Francisco, California, on May 11, 1893. Their only child, Alfred Emory Johnson, was born in San Francisco on March 16, 1894.

In 1900, the Johnson family lived comfortably on Bush Street in San Francisco, California. Emory's father owned a famous Turkish bathing house. The family lived in a fine house and had live-in servants.^[2] In 1906, a catastrophic event changed everything – the San Francisco earthquake. The quake caused many fires to break out throughout the city. One fire destroyed Johnson's bathhouse. The Johnson family survived the quake and resettled nearby Alameda, California. In 1910, Emory's father supported the family by establishing the famous Piedmont baths.^[3]

Emory attended Crocker Highlands Elementary School and Oakland High School. Upon graduation (public school Alumni), he enrolled in the Architecture program at the University of California at Berkeley. After he had invested a year and a half in college, he dropped out in his second year. He said – "I just got tired of pushing a slide rule around." He began looking for a job.^[4]

Career

Essanay years 1912–1914

 

Broncho Billy

In 1912, Emory took an outing in California through scenic Niles Canyon. While driving, he heard noises like gunfire. Suddenly, "a gang of cowboys rode up, firing at a stagecoach."^[4] He had "stumbled" across a film crew shooting a new silent Western movie. The Essanay Studios based in Niles was creating one of their famous Broncho Billy westerns.

These early Western films would feature the first cowboy star of the silver screen – Gilbert Anderson. All future Western movie stars would owe a debt to this pioneer. At the time, Essanay Studios were co-owned by Anderson and George K. Spoor.^[5][6]

Emory became enthralled with the movie-making business. He started hanging around the film crews, offering to do odd jobs. Eventually, the founder of Essanay – Gilbert Anderson, noticed Emory. In September 1912, Anderson offered to give the 19-year-old an entry-level job as an assistant cameraman, paying $8.50 per week. His new job would allow him to learn about the movie business from the ground up.^[4][7]

Emory's parents moved into one of the new Essanay company bungalows to support their son.^[8]

By September 1913, Essanay's latest " most handsome actor"^[8] had signed a movie contract. He was landing more significant parts in Essanay Westerns.^[7] He made four Western shorts in 1913.

In 1914, Emory honed his acting chops by making nineteen films for Essanay. The year would mark his first top billing in a short drama film titled Italian Love. Later, he would earn another top billing in a short comedy, The Warning. His costar was Marguerite Clayton, Broncho Billy's first leading lady. He would also continue to act in more Broncho Billy westerns. He also earned roles in the Snakeville comedy series and the Sophie series of comedies. 1914 would become the highest movie output of his entire career.

His last film made for Essanay was a Broncho Billy short Western released in June 1914. Emory Johnson would act in 23 short films for Essanay, including nine Broncho Billy Westerns.

Essanay's embrace of short films would take its toll. Moviegoers were beginning to request more feature-length films. Essanay claimed they were not equipped to handle that type of change. Emory Johnson's last film for Essanay was released in June 1914. After a brief respite in 1915, the Niles Essanay studio closed and locked its doors On February 16, 1916.^[9]

Transition year: 1915

Emory's last film for Essanay was released in June 1914. There would be a year's lapse before releasing his next movie. In 1915, Emory turned 21 and invested in his own motion picture company – Liberty Motion Picture Company. Liberty Film Company was formed in June 1914 and is based in Germantown, Pennsylvania. The company was reorganized in November 1914. The new owners relocated the offices and lots to San Mateo and Glendale, California. The Alaskan Millionaires that purchased the company had plenty of cash and state-of-the-art facilities. Emory jumped from Essanay to Liberty films.

Because of his late start, Emory's film output dropped substantially. Emory made only four motion pictures in 1915. His first was His Masterpiece, a two-reeler released in September 1915, and another two-reeler would follow – Her Devoted Son (Several alternative listings show Devoted Son). In the waning months of 1915, he acted in his last two films for Liberty. He would share top billing with Marguerite Clayton for making the feature films – The Birthmark and The Black Heart. Both films were Dramas. By December 1915, Emory had left Liberty.

In December 1915, a receiver was appointed. Liberty burned to the ground in 1916.^[10][11]

Universal years 1916–1918

In January 1916, Emory signed a contract with Universal Film Manufacturing Company. He would make 17 movies that year, including six shorts and 11 feature-length Dramas. This year would become the second-highest movie output of his entire acting career.

At Universal, Emory met Hobart Bosworth. Hobart Bosworth was a well-known actor and director. He took young Emory under his wing.^[4] Emory's first two movies for Universal were the Westerns – The Yaqui and Two Men of Sandy Bar. Both films were feature-length and starred Hobart Bosworth. Later in the year, Emory would make two more films with Hobart. They would continue collaborating in other films in the coming years, including the last film Emory would direct. The film was the 1932 talkie The Phantom Express.

 

Lobby poster

Searching for a leading man

In early 1916, after Emory Johnson had signed his Universal contract, Carl Laemmle of Universal Film Manufacturing Company thought he saw a potential leading man in Johnson. Laemmle sought a leading man comparable to Wally Reid. He also hoped to create a movie couple that could make sparks fly on the silver screen. Laemmle chose Johnson to be his new leading man. Laemmle chose Dorothy Davenport to generate the screen chemistry with Johnson. She was a Universal contract player who happened to be the wife of Wally Reid. Johnson and Davenport made 13 films together. The series started with the feature production of Doctor Neighbor in May 1916 and ended with another feature production, The Devil's Bondwoman, in November 1916. Over half the films were feature-length; all were dramas. Johnson and Davenport shared top billing in most. Davenport got pregnant in October 1916, and her film output took a steep nosedive at the beginning of 1917.^[12]

Ultimately, Laemmle thought Johnson did not have the talent or screen presence he wanted. He wasn't going to become Universal's answer to Wally Reid. Laemmle also believed that even though the pairing with Davenport had been financially successful, the films didn't have the screen chemistry he had sought.^[13][12]

Searching for screen chemistry

Title	Released	Director	Davenport role	Johnson role	Type	Time	LOC	Brand	Notes
Doctor Neighbor	May-01	L. B. Carleton	Hazel Rogers	Hamilton Powers	Drama	Feature	Lost	Red Feather	^[14]
Her Husband's Faith	May-11	L. B. Carleton	Mabel Otto	Unknown	Drama	Short	Lost	Laemmle	^[15]
Heartaches	May-18	L. B. Carleton	Virginia Payne	S Jackson Hunt	Drama	Short	Lost	Laemmle	^[16]
Two Mothers	Jun-01	L. B. Carleton	Violetta Andree	2nd Husband	Drama	Short	Lost	Laemmle	^[17]
Her Soul's Song	Jun-15	L. B. Carleton	Mary Salsbury	Paul Chandos	Drama	Short	Lost	Laemmle	^[18]
The Way of the World	Jul-03	L. B. Carleton	Beatrice Farley	Walter Croyden	Drama	Feature	Lost	Red Feather	^[19]
No. 16 Martin Street	Jul-13	L. B. Carleton	Cleo	Jacques Fournier	Drama	Short	Lost	Laemmle	^[20]
A Yoke of Gold	Aug-14	L. B. Carleton	Carmen	Jose Garcia	Drama	Feature	Lost	Red Feather	^[21]
The Unattainable	Sep-04	L. B. Carleton	Bessie Gale	Robert Goodman	Drama	Feature	1 of 5 reels	Bluebird	^[22]
Black Friday	Sep-18	L. B. Carleton	Elionor Rossitor	Charles Dalton	Drama	Feature	Lost	Red Feather	^[23]
The Human Gamble	Oct-08	L. B. Carleton	Flavia Hill	Charles Hill	Drama	Short	Lost	Laemmle	^[24]
Barriers of Society	Oct-10	L. B. Carleton	Martha Gorham	Westie Phillips	Drama	Feature	1 of 5 reels	Red Feather	^[25]
The Devil's Bondwoman	Nov-11	L. B. Carleton	Beverly Hope	Mason Van Horton	Drama	Feature	Lost	Red Feather	^[26]

 

The last movie of
Emory and Ella

In March 1917, Emory Johnson turned 23 years old. He completes his WWI draft registration but claims exception due to a "Nervous heart" and "Chronic stomach trouble."^[27] His 1917 film output drops to 4 pictures. He made "The Gift Girl" released in March 1917. He puts three more in the can before June 1917. At the end of 1917, Emory and Ella Hall were cast together playing husband and wife in – "My Little Boy" The film was released in December 1917. They would make three more films together in 1918, including their last Universal film – "A Mothers Secret," released in April 1918.

In June 1918, Universal failed to renew the contracts of Ella Hall and Emory Johnson. The news was a minor announcement buried deep in the Hollywood trade newspapers.^[28] In reality, Laemmle thought Emory did not have the talent or screen presence he wanted. He wasn't going to become Universal's answer to Wally Reid. After all, Wally Reid was well on his way to becoming "The screen's most perfect lover."^[29] Ella Hall was pregnant with their first child at their release. The last movie the couple filmed together also became Emory's last movie for Universal – A Mother's Secret. Ella's last movie for Universal was Three Mounted Men released in October 1918. Emory made 27 films for Universal, mostly dramas with a sprinkling of comedies and Westerns.

Independent years: 1919–1921

 

Lobby poster

 

Magazine Ad

As explained previously, Emory's Universal contract ended in May 1918. Thus, in 1918, 24-year-old Emory Johnson became a free agent. He could now pick and choose his projects. Emory's first movie was released in August 1918. The movie was – Green Eyes with Dorothy Dalton. Next would follow the very successful Johanna Enlists with Mary Pickford. Then A Lady's Name with Constance Talmadge followed by The Ghost Flower with Alma Rubens.

In 1919, Emory acted in seven movies, including The Woman Next Door with Ethel Clayton. Emory ended 1919 with a role in the successful Alias Mike Moran featuring Wallace Reid and Ann Little.

In 1920, Emory acted in five films, including Polly of the Storm Country, sharing top billing with Mildred Harris. Emory's film output for 1921 would be two films. In January 1921, he acted in Prisoners of Love starring Betty Compson. Finally, the successful The Sea Lion was released in December 1921. Emory shared top billing with Hobart Bosworth and Bessie Love.^[30][31] It is noteworthy, the writing credit for the movie was his mother, Emilie Johnson. The movie credit would become Emilie's second writing credit after Blind Hearts.

Between June 1918 and June 1922, Emory bounced between 14 production companies, including Pickford Films, Chaplin-Mayer Picture Company, Famous Players–Lasky, and Betty Compson Productions. Emory also acted with and often shared top billing with the following leading ladies: Marguerite Clayton, Dorothy Davenport, Louise Lovely, Mary Pickford, Constance Talmadge, Ethel Clayton, Margarita Fischer, Mildred Harris, Ella Hall, Eileen Percy, Bebe Daniels, Bessie Love and Betty Compson.

Directorial years: 1922–1932

1922

 

Newspaper Ad

 

Magazine Ad

Emory made the equivalent of indie films in the 1920s. 1922 proved to be a watershed year, creatively and financially. First, the independent actor started the year with a March release of Don't Doubt Your Wife, sharing top billing with Leah Baird. In July, Always the Woman starring Betty Compson was released. Now the year would head in a different direction.

A 28-year-old actor with no directing experience convinced a studio to let him direct and produce a melodrama written by his mother about a San Francisco beat cop. Emilie and her son had initially contracted with Robertson-Cole to write, produce and direct The Midnight Call. Then R-C was acquired by FBO. On July 1, 1922, the Robertson-Cole (R-C) Distribution company became known as FBO. All R-C contracts were honored, especially with independent producers like Emory Johnson.^[32]

The first Johnson collaboration under the renamed FBO contract was The Midnight Call. The film's title transformed into In the Name of the Law. The film was released in August 1922—credit Emilie Johnson for the story and screenplay for this melodrama. The story is about a San Francisco policeman trying to keep his family together while facing continuing adversity.^[33][34]

When the movie finished, it laid the first building block toward attaining the title of "Hero of the Working Class." This wasn't the only reason FBO released the movie. They saw tremendous potential for exploitation. Making a movie about the working class opened itself to exploitation. Thus, Emory also cemented his reputation towards becoming the "King of Exploitation."^[35]

The hit led to the next Emory Johnson file – The Third Alarm. In December, FBO released The Third Alarm formerly titled The Discard. This film is the second under the FBO contract. Emory directed this Emilie Johnson story.^[36][37] The film would become the most financially successful movie produced in Emory Johnson's career. The movie earned Emory $275,000 (equivalent to $4,251,839 in 2020).^[4]

1923

 

Magazine Ad

 

Newspaper Ad

The third film in the FBO contract was The West~Bound Limited. Emilie Johnson wrote both the story and screenplay for this Emory Johnson film. The film earned $225,697 (equivalent to $3,489,554 in 2020).^[4][38][39]

The fourth film in the FBO contract was The Mailman. Once again, Emilie Johnson wrote both the story and the screenplay. Emory earned This movie earned Emory $179,476 (equivalent to $2,774,920 in 2020).^[4][40] The mailman epitomizes an over-the-top melodrama and displays Emilie's flair for this genre.^[41][42]

In September, Emilie and Emory Johnson signed a new contract with FBO. The contract was for 2.5 years. Emory Johnson agreed to make eight attractions for FBO, including the previous four he had completed. FBO agreed to invest upwards of 2.5 million dollars (equivalent to $37,973,633 in 2020) on future productions.^[43] Another part of the signed contract stipulated – "The contract also provides that Emory Johnson's mother, Mrs. Emilie Johnson, shall prepare all of the stories and write all the scripts for the Johnson attractions in addition to assisting her son in filming the productions."^[43]

1924

 

Newspaper Ad

 

Newspaper Ad

The year started with Johnson's fifth film for FBO – The Spirit of the USA. The film was released in May. Emilie wrote both the story and the screenplay.^[44][45][46]

Emory finished the year with the sixth film under the FBO contract – the September release of Life's Greatest Game. Emilie Johnson had created a story about America's favorite pastime – baseball.^[47][48]

1925

 

Lobby Card

 

Magazine Ad

The seventh film for the FBO contract was The Last Edition, released in October. This movie was Johnson's "last hurrah" for the working man series of movies.^[49][50]

1926

In March, Johnson released his last picture for FBO – The Non-Stop Flight.^[51][52]

Emory and Emilie were then working on a movie titled Happiness. Work had supposedly started in December 1925. Emory, Emilie, and the cast and crew had sailed for Sweden to film the movie. The fate of the movie remains unknown.^[53]

In April, FBO decided to let Emory and Emilie Johnson's contracts expire; there is no published reason for this.^[54]

In June, Emory Johnson signed a new eight-picture deal with Universal.^[55]

Johnson also suffered a major tragedy. Emory and Ella's son were run over by a truck in Los Angeles. Alfred Bernard Johnson was only five years old when he died in March 1926. The couple was not living together at the time of his death. His death devastated both parents.^[56]

1927

 

Lobby Card

 

Lobby Card

Johnson, now filming under his new Universal contact, released The Fourth Commandment.^[57]

In September, he released The Lone Eagle.^[58][59] This movie title is confusing, maybe even misleading. A film title cannot be protected by copyright.^[60] In May 1927, Charles A. Lindberg completed his solo flight across the Atlantic. He acquired the nickname "The Lone Eagle." The Johnson movie The Lone Eagle was initially titled War Eagles. The copyright office got involved and forced Universal to change its name.

1928

 

Lobby Card

In February, Johnson released The Shield of Honor.^[61][62]

After completing three successful movies for Universal, Johnson reneged on the remainder of his eight-picture contract. He negotiates a new contract with Poverty Row studio, Tiffany-Stahl Productions.^[63][64] Tiffany-Stahl Productions was more than happy to sign Johnson. They knew his films always made a profit and that the Johnson brand on the marquee drew paying customers.

1929

Movie-wise, the year was not productive for Johnson. He spent significant portions of 1929 trying to reunite with Ella Hall to repair their marriage. Because they had lost their son, Alfred Bernard, in 1926, Emory and Ella decided to have one last child. Emory's daughter, Diana Marie (Dinie), was born in October 1929.^[65]

1930

 

Newspaper Ad

 

Newspaper Ad

In November 1930, Emory Johnson released his first Tiffany-Stahl Productions contract production, The Third Alarm. Although its name was the same as the 1922 version, the similarity ended there. As the quote below shows, T–S was trying to capitalize on the popular 1922 film's name recognition. This film would become Johnson's first talkie.

A significant news item appeared in a 1930 issue of Variety magazine.

Emory Johnson, engaged by Tiffany to direct "The Third Alarm" on the strength of his silent film of the same title for FBO, has been off the picture since the first day's shooting. Martin Cohn, the editorial supervisor at Tiff, is finishing it, although direction credit will go to Johnson, beside a piece of the picture. Johnson objected to the supervision.

— Page 4 of the September 4, 1930 issue of, Variety Magazine^[66]

Emory reneges on the remainder of his Tiffany contract and signs a new contract with Poverty Row studio – Majestic Pictures. Note – Tiffany-Stahl Productions filed for bankruptcy in 1932.

1932

With his new contract in hand, Emory releases his first movie for Majestic Pictures – The Phantom Express. It would become the last movie he would ever direct. It was the final curtain call for Emory's independent directing years and his mother's collaborative writing.^[67][68] Emory was contracted to make one last picture for Majestic Pictures – Air Patrol, but the project never came to fruition.^[69]

End of an era

The movies Emory Johnson's completed or planned to start for poverty row studios had one common thread—the would-be remakes of previous successful silent films. For example, the 1930 version of The Third Alarm was supposed to be an updated version of the highly successful 1922 The Third Alarm. The new version would also be a Talkie. Using the same criteria, the 1932 film – The Phantom Express. This Talkie would be a remake of the moderately successful The West~Bound Limited. Even the canceled film – Air Patrol was supposed to be an updated sound version of The Shield of Honor.^[70]

Post Hollywood

His life of luxury and the high Society of Hollywood had caught up with him. On March 7, 1932, Emory Johnson filed for bankruptcy, listing liabilities as $4,500 and assets as $480.^[71] It is possible a contributing reason for this bankruptcy was to lower support payments for Ella and kids.

Emory's mother, Emilie, died in Los Angeles, California, on September 23, 1941. She was 75. In 1944, Emory moved from Los Angeles to San Mateo, California. He established a photo portrait studio in the area – Portraits by Emory. The studio would close in 1950.

Marriage, children and divorce

 

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.^[72][73] Emory, 23, attended the ball escorting another fellow universalite – Ella Hall.

Ella Hall had recently turned 20 years old. The petite, blue-eyed blond beauty first found work as Universal Ingénue. She had grown up in the movies. By 1915, Ella Hall had become one of the hottest box-office attractions at Universal. Emory 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 Ella professed their love and announced their engagement.^[74]

Fast-forward to Thursday, September 6, 1917. Ella Hall and Emory Johnson were busy finishing their day's work for Universal. They worked until 2  pm. After they cleaned up, Emory Johnson and Ella Augusta Hall were married in a private ceremony at 3 o'clock. After the ceremony, they hopped in Emory's Hupmobile and drove off on their honeymoon. They were scheduled to return to work on October 1.^[75][76] After the honeymoon was over, the couple moved into Emory'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.

 

Emory Johnson family in 1923

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

By 1924, their marriage was on the rocks. The conflict resulted in their first separation. Ella cited the main problem was the conflict between her and Emory's overbearing mother. Ella filed for divorce.

In March 1926, tragedy strikes – while Ella and the kids were walking down a street in Hollywood, little Bernard is run over and killed by a truck.^[56] He was five years old. Bernard's death would provide a catalyst for the couple's first reconciliation.

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.

"Two in a family can't be picture folk and stay married, and sometimes one can't either. So I'm in neither picture nor marriage"

Ella Hall
September 1931^[77]

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. Ella had difficulty reconciling her emotions regarding Emory'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. Ella succinctly captured her frustration with the statement, "Too much mother-in-law!"

In 1930, their stormy relationship came to an end. The divorce between Alfred Emory Johnson, 36, and Ella Augusta 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. Neither would ever remarry.^[77]

Death

On Wednesday, March 16, 1960, Emory Johnson turned 66. Now partially disabled, Emory supported himself with Social Security and small pension checks. He rented a first-floor studio in a rooming house on North Ellsworth Street in San Mateo, California.^[78]

Shortly after 8 pm on Wednesday, March 30, 1960, a neighbor living directly above Emory's first-floor studio smelled smoke. He rushed downstairs, entered the smoke-filled apartment, found a badly-burned Emory, and dragged him to the walkway outside. Firemen responding to the alarm spotted him lying on the ground and called an ambulance. They rushed him to San Mateo Community Hospital in critical condition. Emory Johnson suffered 2nd, and 3rd degree burns over a third of his body. The fire inspector later noticed cigarettes and matches scattered throughout the apartment. It was determined the fire had probably started in some bed clothing and had been burning for a half-hour before the neighbor entered his apartment.^[78]

Emory lingered in the hospital until Monday, April 18, when he died of burns from the fire.^[79] Even though he was 30 years removed from his Hollywood glory years, his death was still front-page news in the San Mateo Times.^[80] It's ironic his death by fire had the common thread of his greatest movie – The Third Alarm.

Emory Johnson chose interment in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Daisy Columbarium, located in Glendale, California. In 1981, his ex-wife Ella Hall died and was laid to rest in Forest Lawn's Columbarium of Sunlight. His only surviving son died in 1994. When his two daughters died, they chose interment next to their mother. The bronze marker on Emory Johnson's Forest Lawn mausoleum niche reads "JOHNSON."^[81]

Filmography

◆   Filmography of Emory Johnson 78 Films   ◆
Year	Title	Role	Act / Dir	Production	Distribution	Released	Genre	Notes
1913	Hard Luck Bill	Unknown	Actor	Essanay Studios	General Film Co.	4 September 1913	Western	short
	The Naming of the Rawhide Queen	Unknown	Actor	Essanay Studios	General Film Co.	27 November 1913	Western	short
	Broncho Billy's Squareness	Unknown	Actor	Essanay Studios	General Film Co.	6 December 1913	Western	short
	Broncho Billy's Christmas Deed	Unknown	Actor	Essanay Studios	General Film Co.	20 December 1913	Western	short
1914	What Came to Bar Q	Clarence Clemens	Actor	Essanay Studios	General Film Co.	29 January 1914	Western	short
	Broncho Billy and Settler's Daughter	A Soldier	Actor	Essanay Studios	General Film Co.	31 January 1914	Western	short
	A Gambler's Way	Unknown	Actor	Essanay Studios	General Film Co.	5 February 1914	Western	short
	Sophie Picks a Dead One	Guitar Player	Actor	Essanay Studios	General Film Co.	13 February 1914	Comedy	short
	The Calling of Jim Barton	J Barton's Bro	Actor	Essanay Studios	General Film Co.	14 February 1914	Western	short
	Italian Love	Sylvana	Actor	Essanay Studios	General Film Co.	19 February 1914	Drama	short
	Snakeville's Fire Brigade	Unknown	Actor	Essanay Studios	General Film Co.	21 February 1914	Comedy	short
	Sophie's Birthday Party	Unknown	Actor	Essanay Studios	General Film Co.	7 March 1914	Comedy	short
	The Warning	Larry Dale	Actor	Essanay Studios	General Film Co.	12 March 1914	Comedy	short
	Single Handed	Unknown	Actor	Essanay Studios	General Film Co.	19 March 1914	Western	short
	A Hot Time in Snakeville	Unknown	Actor	Essanay Studios	General Film Co.	21 March 1914	Comedy	short
	The Atonement	Unknown	Actor	Essanay Studios	General Film Co.	26 March 1914	Drama	short
	Broncho Billy's True Love	The Escort	Actor	Essanay Studios	General Film Co.	28 March 1914	Western	short
	Broncho Billy—Gun Man	Emery Rawlins	Actor	Essanay Studios	General Film Co.	25 April 1914	Western	short
	A Snakeville Epidemic	Zeke	Actor	Essanay Studios	General Film Co.	7 May 1914	Comedy	short
	Sophie Starts Something	Unknown	Actor	Essanay Studios	General Film Co.	28 May 1914	Comedy	short
	The Good-for-Nothing	uncredited	Actor	Essanay Studios	General Film Co.	8 June 1914	Comedy	short
	Sophie Finds a Hero	Unknown	Actor	Essanay Studios	General Film Co.	25 June 1914	Comedy	short
	Broncho Billy's Jealousy	Roy Turner	Actor	Essanay Studios	General Film Co.	27 June 1914	Western	short
1915	His Masterpiece	Higgins	Actor	Liberty Motion Pic	Associated Film	13 September 1915	Drama	short
	Her Devoted Son	Paul Thomas	Actor	Liberty Motion Pic	Associated Film	20 September 1915	Drama	short
	The Birthmark	Unknown	Actor	Liberty Motion Pic	Associated Film	1 October 1915	Drama
	The Black Heart	Unknown	Actor	Liberty Motion Pic	Associated Film	1 October 1915	Drama
1916	The Yaqui	Flores	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal studios	16 March 1916	Western
	Two Men of Sandy Bar	Sandy Morton	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	3 April 1916	Western
	Doctor Neighbor	Hamilton Powers	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal Studios	1 May 1916	Drama
	Her Husband's Faith	Richard Otto	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal Pictures	11 May 1916	Drama	short
	Heartaches	S Jackson Hunt	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal Pictures	18 May 1916	Drama	short
	Two Mothers	Viol 2nd Husb	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal Pictures	1 June 1916	Drama	short
	Her Soul's Song	Paul Chandos	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal Pictures	15 June 1916	Drama	short
	The Way of the World	Walter Croyden	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal Pictures	3 July 1916	Drama
	No. 16 Martin Street	Jacques Fournier	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal Pictures	13 July 1916	Drama	short
	A Yoke of Gold	Jose Garcia	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal Pictures	14 August 1916	Drama
	The Unattainable	Robert Goodman	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal Pictures	4 September 1916	Drama
	Black Friday	Charles Dalton	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal Pictures	18 September 1916	Drama
	The Human Gamble	Charles Hill	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal Pictures	8 October 1916	Drama	short
	Barriers of Society	Westie Phillips	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal Pictures	16 October 1916	Drama
	The Devil's Bondwoman	Mason Van Horton	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal Pictures	20 November 1916	Drama
	The Morals of Hilda	Stephen	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal Pictures	11 December 1916	Drama
	The Right to Be Happy	Scrooge's Nephew	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal Pictures	25 December 1916	Drama
1917	The Gift Girl	Marcel	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal Pictures	26 March 1917	Drama
	The Circus of Life	Tommie	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal Pictures	4 June 1917	Drama
	A Kentucky Cinderella	Tom Boling	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal Pictures	25 June 1917	Drama
	The Gray Ghost	Wade Hildreth	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal Pictures	30 June 1917	Drama
	My Little Boy	Fred	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal Pictures	17 December 1917	Drama
1918	New Love for Old	Kenneth Scott	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal Pictures	11 February 1918	Drama
	Beauty in Chains	Pepe Rey Jose	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal Pictures	11 March 1918	Drama
	A Mother's Secret	Howard Grey	Actor	Universal Studios	Universal Pictures	29 April 1918	Drama
	Green Eyes	Morgan Hunter	Actor	Thomas Ince	Lasky	11 August 1918	Drama
	Johanna Enlists	Lt. Frank Le Roy	Actor	Pickford Films	Artcraft Pictures	16 September 1918	Drama
	A Lady's Name	Gerald Wantage	Actor	Select Pictures	Select Pictures	10 December 1918	Drama
	The Ghost Flower	Duke Chaumont	Actor	Triangle Film	Triangle Film	18 August 1918	Drama
1919	Put Up Your Hands	Emory Hewitt	Actor	American Film	Pathé Exchange	16 March 1919	Western
	Charge It to Me	Elmer Davis	Actor	American Film	Pathé Exchange	14 May 1919	Comedy
	The Woman Next Door	Chester Calhoun	Actor	Lasky	Lasky	18 May 1919	Drama
	Trixie from Broadway	John Collins	Actor	American Film	Pathé Exchange	15 June 1919	Drama
	The Tiger Lily	David Remington	Actor	American Film	Pathé Exchange	27 July 1919	Drama
	The Hellion	George Graham	Actor	American Film	Pathé Exchange	1 October 1919	Drama
	Alias Mike Moran	Mike Moran	Actor	Lasky	Paramount Pictures	2 March 1919	Drama
1920	The Walk-Offs	Robert Winston	Actor	Screen Classics	Metro Pictures	1 February 1920	Comedy
	Polly of the Storm Country	Robert Robertson	Actor	Chaplin-Mayer Pic	1st National Pics	1 April 1920	Drama
	Children of Destiny	Edwin Ford	Actor	Weber Productions	Republic Distrib	1 May 1920	Drama	^[82]^[83]
	The Husband Hunter	Kent Whitney	Actor	Fox Film Corp	Fox Film	19 September 1920	Comedy	^[84]^[85]
	She Couldn't Help It	William Lattimer	Actor	Realart Pictures	Realart Pictures	14 December 1920	Comedy	^[86]^[87]
1921	Prisoners of Love	James Randolph	Actor	Compson Prod	Goldwyn Pictures	16 January 1921	Drama	^[88]^[89]
	The Sea Lion	Tom Walton	Actor	Bosworth Prod	Assoc Producers	5 December 1921	Drama	^[90]^[91]
1922	Don't Doubt Your Wife	Herbert Olden	Actor	Leah Baird Prod	Assoc Exhibitors	12 March 1922	Drama
	Always the Woman	Herbert Boone	Actor	Compson Prod	Goldwyn Pictures	9 July 1922	Drama	^[92]^[93]
	In the Name of the Law	Harry O'Hara	Director	Johnson Prod	FBO	16 August 1922	Drama	^[94]
	The Third Alarm		Director	Johnson Prod	FBO	1 December 1922	Drama	^[95]^[96]
1923	The West~Bound Limited		Director	Johnson Prod	FBO	15 April 1923	Drama	^[97]^[98]
	The Mailman		Director	Johnson Prod	FBO	9 December 1923	Drama	^[99]
1924	The Spirit of the USA		Director	Johnson Prod	FBO	18 May 1924	Drama	^[100]^[101]^[102]
	Life's Greatest Game		Director	Johnson Prod	FBO	28 September 1924	Drama	^[103]
1925	The Last Edition	uncredited	Director	Johnson Prod	FBO	8 November 1925	Drama	^[104]^[105]^[106]
1926	The Non-Stop Flight		Director	Johnson Prod	FBO	28 March 1926	Drama	^[107]^[108]^[109]
1927	The Fourth Commandment		Director	Johnson Prod	Universal Pictures	20 March 1927	Drama	^[110]^[111]^[112]
	The Lone Eagle		Director	Johnson Prod	Universal Pictures	18 September 1927	Drama	^[113]
1928	The Shield of Honor		Director	Johnson Prod	Universal Pictures	19 February 1928	Drama	^[114]^[115]^[116]
1930	The Third Alarm		Director	Johnson Prod	Tiffany-Stahl	17 November 1930	Drama	^[117]^[118]
1932	The Phantom Express		Director	Johnson Prod	Reliance-Majestic	15 August 1932	Drama	^[119]^[120]
1941	I Wanted Wings	uncredited	Actor	Paramount Pictures	Paramount Pictures	26 March 1941	Drama	^[121]^[122]
1948	Romance on the High Seas	uncredited	Actor	Warner Bros	Warner Bros	25 June 1948	Comedy	^[123]

Links to surviving films

• 1918 Johanna Enlists is available for free download at the Internet Archive
• 1921 The Sea Lion is available for free download at the Internet Archive
• 1922 The Third Alarm is available on YouTube
• 1923 The West~Bound Limited is available on YouTube
• 1924 The Spirit of the USA is available from various vendors
• 1925 The Last Edition is available on YouTube
• 1926 The Non-Stop Flight is available from various vendors
• 1927 The Shield of Honor is available from various vendors
• 1932 The Phantom Express is available for free download at the Internet Archive

See also

• List of rediscovered films

References

1. "THIS WRITER HAS PRODUCED 19 SCENARIOS Tells How She Began Weaving Plots for the Silver Screen". Riverside Independent Enterprise. May 14, 1922. p. 5 – via genealogybank.com.
2. "United States Census, 1900". Ancestry.com. June 6, 1900. Provided in association with National Archives and Records Administration
3. "United States Census, 1910". Ancestry.com. April 16, 1910. Provided in association with National Archives and Records Administration
4. "Famed Movie Producer Lives Quietly in S.M. He Loves". The Times (San Mateo, California). July 25, 1959. p. 21 – via genealogybank.com.
5. Swanson, Stevenson (1996). Chicago Days. Contemporary Books. pp. 88–89. ISBN 978-1-890093-04-4.
6. Heise, Kenan (1986). Hands on Chicago. Bonus Books. pp. 60. ISBN 978-0-933893-28-3.
7. "Emory Johnson Picture a Broadway success". Motion Picture News. New York, Motion Picture News, Inc. August 12, 1922. p. 733.
8. "ESSANAY CLOSE-UPS". The New York Clipper. January 1914. p. 65.
9. . Nilesfilmmuseum.org. Archived from the original on March 18, 2009. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
10. "Liberty Plant, In Philadelphia, Wiped Out by Fire". Motion Picture News. Publisher Exhibitors' Times, inc. April 22, 1916. p. 2328.
11. "Film Fire cost $150,000". Motography. Electricity Magazine Corp. April 22, 1916. p. 918.
12. E.J. Fleming (July 27, 2010). Wallace Reid: The Life and Death of a Hollywood Idol. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-8266-5.
13. "Plays and Players". Exhibitors Herald. Chicago, Exhibitors Herald. June 1, 1918. p. 1050.
14. Doctor Neighbor at IMDb
15. Her Husband's Faith at IMDb
16. Heartaches at IMDb
17. Two Mothers at IMDb
18. Her Soul's Song at IMDb
19. The Way of the World at IMDb
20. Number 16 Martin Place at IMDb
21. A Yoke of Gold at IMDb
22. The Unattainable at IMDb
23. Black Friday at IMDb
24. The Human Gamble at IMDb
25. Barriers of Society at IMDb
26. The Devil's Bondwoman at IMDb
27. "U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917–1918". Ancestry.com. June 2, 1917. Provided in association with National Archives and Records Administration
28. "Universal Players' Contracts Expire". Motion Picture World. New York, Chalmers Publishing Company. June 1, 1918. p. 675.
29. "Girls I Have Made Lover To". Motion Picture Magazine. The Motion Picture Publishing Co. September 1919. p. 33.
30. The Sea Lion @ IMDb.com
31. The Sea Lion @ allmovie.com
32. "R – C Plans Distribution Under New Name July 1". Motion Picture News. New York, Motion Picture News, Inc. June 24, 1922. p. 3316.
33. In the Name of the Law @ IMDb.com
34. In the Name of the Law the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
35. Exploiting in the Name of the Law
36. The Third Alarm @ IMDb.com
37. The Third Alarm The AFI Catalog of Feature Films
38. The West~Bound Limited @ allmovie.com
39. The West~Bound Limited @ TCM.com
40. "Originator of 'The Mailman' reveals Story". San Francisco Chronicle. December 15, 1923. p. 8 – via genealogybank.com.
41. The Mailman The AFI Catalog of Feature Films
42. The Mailman @ IMDb.com
43. "F.B.O. Signs Emory Johnson for Eight Productions". Motion Picture News. New York, Motion Picture News, Inc. September–October 1923. p. 1185.
44. "Idealism of Woodrow Wilson Inspired Theme of New Film". The Moving Picture World. The World Photographic Publishing Company. March 1, 1924. p. 31.
45. The Spirit of the USA @ TCM.com
46. The Spirit of the USA @ allmovie.com
47. Greatest Game Emory Johnson at the American Film Institute Catalog
48. Life's Greatest Game at AllMovie
49. The Last Edition @ TCM.com
50. The Last Edition @ allmovie.com
51. The Non-Stop Flight @ TCM.com
52. The Non-Stop Flight @ allmovie.com
53. "F.B.O. Features Are Under Way". Motion Picture News (Nov–Dec 1925). Motion Picture News, Inc. December 19, 1925. p. 3013.
54. "Emory Johnson leaves F.B.O." The Film Daily. April 18, 1926. p. 2.
55. "Hollywood Studio Gossip". San Francisco Chronicle. June 4, 1926. p. 11. Retrieved March 11, 2019 – via Genealogybank.
56. "Truckman is Held in Death of Child". Los Angeles Times. March 28, 1926. p. 122 – via Newspapers.com.
57. "Entire Issue dedicated to the Fourth Commandment". Universal Weekly. Universal Pictures. October 30, 1926. pp. 46–89.
58. The Lone Eagle @ allmovie.com
59. The Lone Eagle @ TCM.com
60. "Multiple works" (PDF). Library of Congress. March 2019.
61. The Shield of Honor @ allmovie.com
62. The Shield of Honor @ TCM.com
63. "Johnson and McCarthy Reported with T.-S". The Film Daily. New York, Wid's Films and Film Folks, Inc. January 16, 1928. p. 125.
64. "Johnsons Join T–S as Writing, Directing Team". The Film Daily. New York, Wid's Films and Film Folks, Inc. February 14, 1928. p. 324.
65. "California Birth Index, 1905–1995". Ancestry.com. 2005. Provided by State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics.
66. "Objected to Supervision". Variety. September 4, 1930. p. 4.
67. The Phantom Express @ IMDb.com
68. The Phantom Express @ TCM.com
69. "Majestic has 26 lined up for the new season". Motion Picture Herald. Quigley Publishing Co. July 23, 1932. p. 50.
70. "Emory Johnson Plans Reissuing Films With Sound". Internet Archive. Motion Picture News (Jan-Mar 1929). January 5, 1929. p. 35. Retrieved December 20, 2020. Johnson figures synchronized sound effect can be easily added
71. "Emory Johnson Broke". Variety. March 8, 1932. March 8, 1932. p. 10.
72. "Carl Laemmle entertains Universal City". The Moving Picture Weekly. Moving Picture Weekly Pub. Co. June 23, 1917. p. 733.
73. "Light Fantastic Note". Los Angeles Times. June 12, 1917. p. 15 – via newspapers.com.
74. "Plays and Players". Photoplay. Chicago, Photoplay Magazine Publishing Company. September 1917. p. 111.
75. "Ella Hall Takes the Step". Motion Picture News. Motion Picture News, inc. September–October 1917. p. 2203.
76. "Cupid Note". Los Angeles Times. September 7, 1917. p. 15 – via newspapers.com.
77. "Divorce Was The Cure". Movie Classic. Motion Picture Publications, Inc. September 1931.
78. "Semi-Invalid Rescued by His Neighbor". San Mateo Times. March 31, 1960. p. 1 – via newspapers.com.
79. "Pioneer Film Director Dies". The Times (San Mateo). April 19, 1960. p. 19 – via newspapers.com.
80. "Movie Vet is Hurt in Fire". The Times (San Mateo). March 30, 1960. p. 1 – via newspapers.com.
81. Emory Johnson, American actor in the silent era at Find a Grave
82. "Children of Destiny". catalog.afi.com.
83. "Children of Destiny". tcm.com.
84. "The Husband Hunter". loc.gov/film-and-videos/. 1920.
85. "The Husband Hunter". tcm.com.
86. The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: She Couldn't Help It
87. Progressive Silent Film List: She Couldn't Help It at silentera.com
88. The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: Prisoners of Love
89. "Prisoners of Love". IMDb.
90. "The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Sea Lion". 1921.
91. "The Sea Lion available for download at Internet Archive". January 1921.
92. Progressive Silent Film List: Always the Woman at silentera.com
93. The AFI Catalog of Feature Films: Always the Woman
94. "The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: In the Name of the Law". 1922.
95. "The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Third Alarm". 1922.
96. "The third Alarm is available on You Tube". YouTube.
97. "The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Westbound Limited". 1923.
98. "The Westbound Limited is available on You Tube". YouTube.
99. "The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Mailman". 1923.
100. "The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Spirit of the U.S.A". 1924.
101. "The Spirit of the U.S.A. is available for download at Internet Archive". 1924.
102. "Complete movie available on DVD from video distributor".
103. "The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: Life's Greatest Game". 1924.
104. "The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Last Edition". 1925.
105. "Informative website dedicated to The Last Edition restoration".
106. "The Last Edition is available on You Tube". YouTube.
107. "The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Non-Stop Flight". 1926.
108. "Complete movie available on DVD from video distributor".
109. "Excerpt of the Non-Stop Flight available on You Tube". YouTube.
110. "The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Fourth Commandment". 1927.
111. The Fourth Commandment (1927) at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
112. The Fourth Commandment @ allmovie.com
113. "The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Long Eagle". 1927.
114. "The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog: The Shield Of Honor". 1927.
115. "Copies of film exist at Eastman Collection".
116. "Copies of film exist at UCLA Archive".
117. The Third Alarm details @ IMDb.com
118. The Third Alarm synopsis at AllMovie
119. The Phantom Express at IMDb
120. The Phantom Express is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
121. Emory Johnson at the TCM Movie Database
122. I Wanted Wings at IMDb
123. "Romance on the High Seas". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner).

External links

• Emory Johnson at IMDb
• Emory Johnson at AllMovie
• Essay on Emory Johnson
• "Emory Johnson". Actor. Find a Grave. March 16, 1960.