Louise Lester
Encyclopedia
Louise Lester was an American
silent film
actress. She was the first feminine star of Western
films.
, Lester came to California in 1910 with one of the first companies assembled to make motion pictures. She made her debut in movies as a member of the Flying A Company in Santa Barbara, California
after a noteworthy career on stage. She starred in over 150 films before her retirement in 1935.
Louise Lester is most famous for starring as Calamity Anne in the film series playing the lead role in films such as Calamity Anne's Inheritance
, Calamity Anne's Vanity
, Calamity Anne's Beauty
and Calamity Anne, Heroine
all in 1913. The Calamity Anne series was the beginning of horse operas. She also starred with William Garwood
in films such as The Oath of Pierre
.
The actress' married name was Louise Lester Beal. She was the widow of Frank Beal, an innovative film director. Louise was one of the best-dressed women in motion pictures.
Louise Lester died at the Motion Picture Country Home in 1952 at the age of 85 years old. Her funeral was conducted in the chapel of the Utter-McKinley Strouthers Mortuary, 6240 Hollywood Boulevard
. The services were conducted by the Bahá'í
World Faith. Her interment was in the Inglewood, California
Park Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
silent film
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. She was the first feminine star of Western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
films.
Biography
Born in Milwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, Lester came to California in 1910 with one of the first companies assembled to make motion pictures. She made her debut in movies as a member of the Flying A Company 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...
after a noteworthy career on stage. She starred in over 150 films before her retirement in 1935.
Louise Lester is most famous for starring as Calamity Anne in the film series playing the lead role in films such as Calamity Anne's Inheritance
Calamity Anne's Inheritance
Calamity Anne's Inheritance is a 1913 American silent short romantic western directed by Allan Dwan starring Louise Lester, J. Warren Kerrigan, and Charlotte Burton.-Cast:* Louise Lester as Calamity Anne* J. Warren Kerrigan as The Agent...
, Calamity Anne's Vanity
Calamity Anne's Vanity
Calamity Anne's Vanity is a 1913 American silent short Western directed by Allan Dwan starring Charlotte Burton and Louise Lester as Calamity Anne.-Cast:*J. Warren Kerrigan*Robert Lane*Rose Lathan*Jack Richardson*Jessalyn Van Trump...
, Calamity Anne's Beauty
Calamity Anne's Beauty
Calamity Anne's Beauty is a 1913 American silent short Western comedy film directed by Allan Dwan and starring Louise Lester as Calamity Anne.-Other cast:* Charlotte Burton* J. Warren Kerrigan* Phyllis Gordon* Jack Richardson* Jessalyn Van Trump...
and Calamity Anne, Heroine
Calamity Anne, Heroine
Calamity Anne, Heroine is a 1913 American silent short Western directed by Allan Dwan starring Louise Lester as Calamity Anne. It is the fourth film in the Calamity Anne series.-Other cast:* Charlotte Burton* J. Warren Kerrigan* Jack Richardson...
all in 1913. The Calamity Anne series was the beginning of horse operas. She also starred with William Garwood
William Garwood
William Garwood was an American stage and film actor and director of the early silent era in the 1910s....
in films such as The Oath of Pierre
The Oath of Pierre
The Oath of Pierre is a 1913 American silent short film directed by Sydney Ayres starring William Garwood and Charlotte Burton. The film was based on a story by M.H. McKinstry -Cast:*Charlotte Burton as Julia Naughton, of the border line...
.
The actress' married name was Louise Lester Beal. She was the widow of Frank Beal, an innovative film director. Louise was one of the best-dressed women in motion pictures.
Louise Lester died at the Motion Picture Country Home in 1952 at the age of 85 years old. Her funeral was conducted in the chapel of the Utter-McKinley Strouthers Mortuary, 6240 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood Boulevard
-Revitalization:In recent years successful efforts have been made at cleaning up Hollywood Blvd., as the street had gained a reputation for crime and seediness. Central to these efforts was the construction of the Hollywood and Highland shopping center and adjacent Kodak Theatre in 2001...
. The services were conducted by the Bahá'í
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
World Faith. Her interment was in the Inglewood, California
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
Park Cemetery.
Selected filmography
- The Opium Smuggler (1911)
- Calamity Anne's Ward (1912)
- Calamity Anne's InheritanceCalamity Anne's InheritanceCalamity Anne's Inheritance is a 1913 American silent short romantic western directed by Allan Dwan starring Louise Lester, J. Warren Kerrigan, and Charlotte Burton.-Cast:* Louise Lester as Calamity Anne* J. Warren Kerrigan as The Agent...
(1913) - Calamity Anne's VanityCalamity Anne's VanityCalamity Anne's Vanity is a 1913 American silent short Western directed by Allan Dwan starring Charlotte Burton and Louise Lester as Calamity Anne.-Cast:*J. Warren Kerrigan*Robert Lane*Rose Lathan*Jack Richardson*Jessalyn Van Trump...
(1913) - Calamity Anne, Detective (1913)
- Calamity Anne's Beauty (1913)
- Calamity Anne's Parcel Post (1913)
- Calamity Anne Takes a Trip (1913)
- Calamity Anne, HeroineCalamity Anne, HeroineCalamity Anne, Heroine is a 1913 American silent short Western directed by Allan Dwan starring Louise Lester as Calamity Anne. It is the fourth film in the Calamity Anne series.-Other cast:* Charlotte Burton* J. Warren Kerrigan* Jack Richardson...
(1913) - Calamity Anne's Sacrifice (1913)
- Calamity Anne's DreamCalamity Anne's DreamCalamity Anne's Dream is a 1913 American silent short Western directed by Allan Dwan starring Louise Lester as Calamity Anne. The film also stars Harry von Meter, Dorothy Eliason Jacques Jaccard, Charles Morrison, Jack Richardson and Vivian Rich....
(1913) - Rose of San JuanRose of San JuanThe Rose of San Juan is a 1913 silent era short drama motion picture starring Sydney Ayres, Charlotte Burton, and Louise Lester.Directed by Sydney Ayres for the American Film Manufacturing Company, The Rose of San Juan was distributed by Mutual Film....
(1913) - Calamity Anne in Society (1914)
- Calamity Anne's Love Affair (1914)
- The Strength o' TenThe Strength o' TenThe Strength o' Ten is a 1914 American silent drama short film directed by Tom Ricketts. The film stars William Garwood and Harry von Meter.-Cast:* William Garwood as Jep* Vivian Rich as Betty* Harry von Meter as Betty's father...
(1914) - The Poet of the PeaksThe Poet of the PeaksThe Poet of the Peaks is a 1915 short film directed by B. Reeves Eason.-Cast:* Louise Lester* David Lythgoe* Jack Richardson* Vivian Rich* Harry von Meter...
(1915) - The Day of ReckoningThe Day of Reckoning (film)The Day of Reckoning is a 1915 American short drama film produced by the American Film Manufacturing Company, released by Mutual Film and directed by B. Reeves Eason. It stars Vivian Rich and David Lythgoe.-Cast:* Vivian Rich as Martha True...
(1915) - Mountain MaryMountain MaryMountain Mary is a 1915 short film directed by B. Reeves Eason.-Cast:* Joseph Galbraith* Louise Lester* Charles Newton* Jack Richardson* Vivian Rich...
(1915) - The Honor of the District AttorneyThe Honor of the District AttorneyThe Honor of the District Attorney is a 1915 American silent short film directed by Reaves Eason.-Cast:* Vivian Rich as Dora Mortimer* Louise Lester as Nora Mortimer - Dora's Mother* Josephine Ditt as Mrs. Dean Mortimer...
(1915) - The Newer WayThe Newer WayThe Newer Way is a 1915 short film directed by B. Reeves Eason.-Cast:* Joseph Galbraith* Louise Lester* Jack Richardson* Vivian Rich...
(1915) - The Exile of Bar-K RanchThe Exile of Bar-K RanchThe Exile of Bar-K Ranch is a 1915 short Western film directed by B. Reeves Eason.-Cast:* Jack Richardson* Charles Newton* Walter Spencer* Louise Lester* Jimsy Maye* Vivian Rich* Roy Stewart...
(1915) - The Assayer of Lone GapThe Assayer of Lone Gap-Cast:* Perry Banks* Louise Lester* Jack Richardson* Vivian Rich* Walter Spencer...
(1915) - Drawing the LineDrawing the LineDrawing the Line is a 1915 short film directed by B. Reeves Eason.-Cast:* Lillian Buckingham* Webster Campbell* Louise Lester* Vivian Rich* Walter Spencer...
(1915) - In TrustIn Trust-Cast:* Bessie Banks* Perry Banks* Charles Bartlett* Louise Lester* Jack Richardson* Vivian Rich...
(1915) - The Little Lady Next DoorThe Little Lady Next Door-Cast:* Perry Banks* Harry Edmondson* Virginia Fordyce* Louise Lester* Jack Richardson* Vivian Rich* Walter Spencer...
(1915) - The Barren GainThe Barren GainThe Barren Gain is a 1915 American silent short drama film directed by Henry Otto and B. Reeves Eason.-Cast:* Charlotte Burton* Nan Christy* Teddy Lynch* Jack Richardson* Vivian Rich* Walter Spencer...
(1915) - Hearts in ShadowHearts in ShadowHearts in Shadow is a 1915 short film directed by B. Reeves Eason....
(1915) - Profit from LossProfit from LossProfit from Loss is a 1915 short Western film directed by B. Reeves Eason.-Cast:* Vivian Rich* Walter Spencer* Jack Richardson* Louise Lester...
(1915) - The Silken Spider (1916)
- Calamity Anne, Guardian (1916)
- Calamity Anne's New Job (1917)
- Calamity Anne's Protégé (1917)
- The Reckoning Day (1918)
- The Mayor of Filbert (1919)
- The Outcasts of Poker FlatThe Outcasts of Poker Flat (1919 film)The Outcasts of Poker Flat was a 1919 Western film directed by John Ford and featuring Harry Carey. The film is considered to be lost. -Cast:* Harry Carey - Square Shootin' Harry Lanyon/John Oakhurst* Cullen Landis - Billy Lanyon/Tommy Oakhurst...
(1919) - The Luck of the Irish (1920)
- Her Reputation (1923)
- The Desert Hawk (1924)
- Galloping On (1925)
- Second ChoiceSecond ChoiceSecond Choice is a 1930 American black-and-white film released by Warner Bros. and starring Dolores Costello and Chester Morris. It is a lost film.-Cast:*Dolores Costello - Valery Grove*Chester Morris - Don Warren*Jack Mulhall - Mallory...
(Uncredited, 1930) - Wide Open (Uncredited, 1930)
- Straight from the Heart (Uncredited, 1935)