Cleo Madison
Encyclopedia
Cleo Madison was a theatrical and silent film
actress from Bloomington, Illinois
. Madison attended what is now Illinois State University
in Normal, Illinois
. Her family moved to California
after she left school.
She made her first professional appearances on the Burbank and Belasco stages in 1911. Her initial engagement was in Santa Barbara, California
. She played the role of the mother in Captain Swift. In March 1912 she debuted as the leading woman of Ernest
Shipman's stock company in Phoenix, Arizona
. Her first production was
When We Were Twenty-One.
For a few years Madison appeared in western films with Dave Hartford
and Walter Kerrigan. She became the head of her own company, during which time she was directed ably by Wilfred Lucas
.
Madison demonstrated her dedication and versatility in The Trey o' Hearts
(1914), which was produced by Universal Pictures
. The film featured the actress in shipwreck scenes. The filming was done in Bear Canyon
, Devil's Canyon
, San Diego, California
, Coronado, California
, Tijuana, Mexico, Point Loma, California, San Pedro, California, and Dead Man's Island
. Madison played three roles in the movie's fifteen instalments. Two of the characters she portrayed were Judith Trine and Rose Trine.
She was enthusiastic about cars and driving. Madison purchased a 1915 auto manufactured by the Haynes Automobile Company
in December 1914. In her work for the Universal Gold Seal Company she occasionally drove a car.
In November 1916 Madison married Don Peake of San Francisco, California
. He was western sales manager of the Briscoe Motor Corporation. Before her marriage she resided with her sister, Helen,
in a bungalow
in Hollywood. Helen was disabled and used a wheelchair. She was nicknamed Sunshine for her bright disposition.
By 1916 she had been an invalid for eight years. Madison was especially devoted to her care.
Madison was signed by Metro Pictures
in June 1920 to play in Big Game. Written by Willard Robertson and Kilbourn Gordon, the play was first produced at the Hudson Theater in New York City
. It was adapted for the screen by Ruth Baldwin. She is buried in Glendale's Grand View Memorial Park Cemetery
.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
actress from Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
. Madison attended what is now Illinois State University
Illinois State University
Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
in Normal, Illinois
Normal, Illinois
Normal is an incorporated town in McLean County, Illinois, United States. It had a population of 52,497 as of the 2010 census. Normal is the smaller of two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
. Her family moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
after she left school.
She made her first professional appearances on the Burbank and Belasco stages in 1911. Her initial engagement was in Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
. She played the role of the mother in Captain Swift. In March 1912 she debuted as the leading woman of Ernest
Shipman's stock company in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. Her first production was
When We Were Twenty-One.
For a few years Madison appeared in western films with Dave Hartford
and Walter Kerrigan. She became the head of her own company, during which time she was directed ably by Wilfred Lucas
Wilfred Lucas
Wilfred Lucas was a Canadian stage and film actor, film director, and screenwriter.-Career:A native of Ontario, Canada, Lucas headed to New York City to work in the theater, making his Broadway acting debut in 1904 at the Savoy Theater in the production of The Superstition of Sue...
.
Madison demonstrated her dedication and versatility in The Trey o' Hearts
The Trey o' Hearts
The Trey o' Hearts is a 1914 action film serial directed by Wilfred Lucas and Henry MacRae. It was based on the novel of the same name by Louis Joseph Vance...
(1914), which was produced by Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
. The film featured the actress in shipwreck scenes. The filming was done in Bear Canyon
Bear Canyon
Bear Canyon, located in the Sabino Canyon recreation area of the Coronado National Forest near Tucson, Arizona, offers views of the Santa Catalina Mountains to the north. Accessible by tram or foot from the Sabino Canyon visitors' center, Bear Canyon contains such attractions as the seasonal Seven...
, Devil's Canyon
Devil's Canyon
Devil's Canyon may refer to:*Devil's Canyon , a 1935 Western film*Devil's Canyon , a 1953 3-D Western film*Devil's Canyon , a film scheduled for release in 2006...
, San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, Coronado, California
Coronado, California
Coronado, also known as Coronado Island, is an affluent resort city located in San Diego County, California, 5.2 miles from downtown San Diego. Its population was 24,697 at the 2010 census, up from 24,100 at the 2000 census. U.S. News and World Report lists Coronado as one of the most expensive...
, Tijuana, Mexico, Point Loma, California, San Pedro, California, and Dead Man's Island
Dead Man's Island
Dead Man's Island is a television film made in 1996 starring William Shatner and Barbara Eden. In it, a journalist is called to a mysterious island by her old friend who fears that someone is trying to kill him. It shares similarities with Agatha Christie's famous novel And Then There Were None....
. Madison played three roles in the movie's fifteen instalments. Two of the characters she portrayed were Judith Trine and Rose Trine.
She was enthusiastic about cars and driving. Madison purchased a 1915 auto manufactured by the Haynes Automobile Company
Haynes Automobile Company
The Haynes Automobile Company was a United States automobile manufacturing company which produced automobiles in Kokomo, Indiana, from 1905 to 1924. The company was related to the Haynes-Apperson company which produced automobiles from 1896-1905...
in December 1914. In her work for the Universal Gold Seal Company she occasionally drove a car.
In November 1916 Madison married Don Peake of San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. He was western sales manager of the Briscoe Motor Corporation. Before her marriage she resided with her sister, Helen,
in a bungalow
Bungalow
A bungalow is a type of house, with varying meanings across the world. Common features to many of these definitions include being detached, low-rise , and the use of verandahs...
in Hollywood. Helen was disabled and used a wheelchair. She was nicknamed Sunshine for her bright disposition.
By 1916 she had been an invalid for eight years. Madison was especially devoted to her care.
Madison was signed by Metro Pictures
Metro Pictures
Metro Pictures Corporation was an American motion picture production company founded in late 1915 by Richard A. Rowland . Louis B. Mayer who worked for Metro Pictures Corporation early on. It is not to be confused with MGM which is a much later franchise concerning itself, Goldwyn and Louis B....
in June 1920 to play in Big Game. Written by Willard Robertson and Kilbourn Gordon, the play was first produced at the Hudson Theater in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It was adapted for the screen by Ruth Baldwin. She is buried in Glendale's Grand View Memorial Park Cemetery
Grand View Memorial Park Cemetery
Grand View Memorial Park Cemetery at 1341 GlenwoodRoad in Glendale, California was established in 1884 as Grand View Cemetery.The cemetery was purchased by Len C. Davis in the 1920s, renamed Grand View Memorial Park, and extensively remodeled. A 40 foot entrance arch was added on what is now...
.