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- Allan Pinkerton was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1819. As a young man he became involved in the struggle for voting rights for Scots. Disappointed with the movement's failure, and chafing under the political restrictions existing in the U.K. at the time, he emigrated to the U.S. Traveling throughout the Midwest, he finally settled in Chicago and secured a job as a deputy sheriff. He discovered that he had a real knack for catching criminals, and in 1852 formed his own company, the Pinkerton Detective Agency--the first of its kind in the country--and was soon hired to track down and capture a bandit gang responsible for a series of train robberies. His success in that endeavor resulted in his getting more business and his agency expanded. Pinkerton was extremely careful in the selection of his agents and the Pinkerton Agency soon developed a reputation--among both law-abiding citizens and criminals--as being tough, tenacious and incorruptible, which was more than could be said for many of those in "official" law enforcement at that time, especially in the West and Southwest. The agency's reputation--it never gave up until its quarry was either captured or killed, no matter how long it took--was such that merely a rumor that "the Pinkertons are after you" was enough to cause many a bandit gang to break up and flee the area (the company's logo, a large black and white eye, was responsible for the coining of the term "private eye").
After the Civil War Pinkerton set out to capture the infamous James Gang led by the notorious brothers Frank James and Jesse James, a task that took the agency the better part of ten years. Several times they came close to capturing the gang. On one occasion they raided the James homestead, missing the brothers by just minutes; frustrated, one Pinkerton man tossed a lit stick of dynamite into the James home. The resulting explosion severely injured Mrs. James, who lost an arm. Eventually Jesse was murdered for the reward by two of his own gang members, and Frank surrendered not long after that.
Allan Pinkerton died in 1884, leaving the agency - which is still in business - to his two sons. - Thomas Archer was born on 27 February 1823 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, UK. Thomas was married to Grace Lindsay Morison. Thomas died on 9 December 1905 in London, England, UK.
- Henry Campbell-Bannerman was born on 7 September 1836 in Kelvinside House, Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was married to Sarah Charlotte Bruce. He died on 22 April 1908 in 10 Downing Street, Westminster, London, England, UK.
- James MacArthur was born on 18 February 1866 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was a writer, known for The Bonnie Brier Bush (1921) and The Spoilers (1923). He was married to Elizabeth Henderson. He died on 11 February 1909 in New York City, New York, USA.
- Writer
- Director
Edmund Mitchell was born in 1861 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was a writer and director, known for The Lone Star Rush (1915), The Man Beneath (1919) and Aileen o' the Sea (1913). He died on 31 March 1917 in New York City, New York, USA.- Murray Carson was born on 17 March 1865 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was a writer, known for Rosemary (1915). He was married to Mary E.S. Donald. He died on 19 April 1917 in Canterbury, Kent, England, UK.
- Billie Ritchie was born in Scotland in 1874 and joined the world-renowned Karno Fun Factory and Comedy Troupe traveling the world with Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel, among others. In 1914 he left Karno and began making silent films for director Henry "Pathe" Lehrman's L-Ko Comedy studios and then his Fox/Sunshine Studios. Ritchie always claimed that Charlie Chaplin imitated his on-stage character of a rag-bedecked "little tramp," although he himself was saddled with the description of being one of the many Chaplin imitators. In late 1919 Ritchie was injured while making a Lehrmann comedy when several ostriches used in filming attacked the unfortunate actor. He was severely injured, and over the next two years was confined to his bed with serious back and internal injuries. He eventually succumbed to his injuries on July 6, 1921, dying in bed at his Hollywood home at 1200 North McCadden Place. He was only 42.
- William Dooley was born on 15 October 1881 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was an actor, known for Palm Missed (1921). He was married to Zena Morin (dancer) and Ada May Dilts. He died on 29 September 1921 in New York, New York, USA.
- Scottish born William H. Thompson immigrated to America with his family at the age of six. In 1865 he began his theatrical career by working as a callboy at the old Broadway Theater in New York. Within two years he would embark on an acting career that would span over 55 years and earn him a reputation as one of the premier character actors in America. Much of his early career was spent in association with the theatrical genius Augustin Daly, appearing in plays like: "Dollars and Cents", Seven-Twenty-Eight and "The Girl Left Me Behind". In 1903 Thompson received some of the best reviews of his career when he appeared in James K. Hackett's productions of, "The Bishop's Move" and "The Secret of Polichinelle". Thompson also had for a dozen years a very successful relationship with Broadway producer Charles Frohman. His portrayal of the cardinal in Frohman's "The Royal Family" won him national critical acclaim.
On 19 October, 1899 Thompson married Isabel Irving (1873-1944), one of the leading Broadway actresses of the day. At the time of their marriage she was appearing on Broadway with John Drew in "The Tyranny of Tears".
Thompson often enjoyed playing eccentric characters like the wicked miser in "Mankind" or Svengali in "Trilby". Toward the end of his career, Thompson appeared in Arthur Hopkins' productions of "Night Lodging" and "The Gentile Wife" and the George M. Cohan productions, "The Miracle Man" and "The Guest of Honor". His last role was that of the disloyal general in "The Czarina".
William H. Thompson died after a cold he caught while on an outdoor movie shoot turned into pneumonia. He was survived by his wife Isabel. - Sam Austin was born on 8 December 1872 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was an actor, known for Silver Blaze (1923), Long Odds (1922) and The Fifth Form at St. Dominic's (1921). He died on 19 October 1923 in Lambeth, London, England, UK.
- David Powell was born on 17 December 1883 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was an actor, known for Missing Millions (1922), The Dawn of a Tomorrow (1915) and Fine Feathers (1915). He died on 16 April 1925 in New York City, New York, USA.
- Johnny Dooley was born on 20 November 1886 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was an actor, known for East Side, West Side (1927), Skinning Skinners (1921) and When Knighthood Was in Flower (1922). He was married to Maria Fruscella (aka Constance Madison), Yvette Rugel and Florence Harris (first). He died on 7 June 1928 in Yonkers, New York, USA.
- Dennis Eadie was born on 14 January 1869 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was an actor, known for Disraeli (1916), The Man Who Stayed at Home (1915) and Unmarried (1920). He died on 10 June 1928 in England, UK.
- Cinematographer
- Director
- Producer
John MacIntyre was born on 2 October 1857 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. John was a cinematographer and director, known for X-Ray Cinematography of Frog's Legs (1896). John died on 29 October 1928.- J. Nelson Ramsay was born on 19 November 1862 in Tradeston, Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was married to Gwynne Herbert. He died on 5 April 1929 in Kensington, London, England, UK.
- Nelson Ramsey was born on 19 November 1862 in Tradeston, Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was an actor, known for The Second Mrs. Tanqueray (1916), Tom Jones (1917) and The Broken Melody (1916). He was married to Gwynne Herbert. He died on 5 April 1929 in London, England, UK.
- Malcolm Watson was born on 22 October 1853 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was a writer, known for Sanctuary (1916). He died on 8 August 1929 in Holborn, London, England, UK.
- Kathleen Russell was born on 13 February 1878 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. She was an actress, known for A Daughter of Romany (1913), Stanton's Last Fling (1914) and The Antique Brooch (1914). She was married to Oswald Tilson Dinnick. She died on 30 October 1930 in Kensington, London, England, UK.
- Thomas Lipton was born on 10 May 1850 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He died on 2 October 1931 in London, England, UK.
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Eugen D'Albert was born on 10 April 1864 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was a composer, known for Lowlands (1954), Tiefland (1923) and Hegyek alján (1920). He was married to Teresa Carreño. He died on 3 March 1932 in Riga, Latvia.- David Miller was born on 31 March 1871 in Hutchesontown, Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was an actor, known for Sleepless Nights (1932), Shirley (1922) and Verdict of the Sea (1932). He died on 1 January 1933 in Golders Green, London, England, UK.
- Kathlyn Hilliard was born on 17 April 1892 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. She was an actress, known for Lily of Killarney (1927) and Maritana (1927). She was married to George Baker. She died on 7 October 1933 in Worthing, Sussex, England, UK.
- George Tawde was born on 2 January 1883 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was an actor, known for Fancy Dress (1919) and The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol (1920). He died on 3 July 1934 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
- John Joy Bell was born on 7 May 1871 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. John Joy was a writer, known for Wee MacGregor's Sweetheart (1922) and Beyond London Lights (1928). John Joy was married to Helen R. Geddes. John Joy died on 14 November 1934 in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK.
- Cinematographer
John Urie was born on 5 October 1854 in Gorbals, Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was a cinematographer, known for The Queen of Hearts (1918), The Law of Compensation (1917) and The Prima Donna's Husband (1916). He died on 16 May 1938 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, USA.- Edward A. Paulton was born on 23 March 1866 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was a writer, known for Get Off My Foot (1935), Niobe (1915) and Her Temporary Husband (1923). He was married to Jessie Storey (actress). He died on 20 March 1939 in Hollywood, California, USA.
- James R. Cowan was born on 25 August 1889 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. James R. was a producer, known for The Cocoanuts (1929). James R. died on 26 March 1940 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Lila Leslie was born on 1 January 1890 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. She was an actress, known for What's to Do? (1933), The Third Degree (1913) and A Little Brother of the Rich (1919). She was married to Joseph W. Smiley. She died on 8 September 1940 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Margaret Turnbull was born on 17 November 1872 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. She was a writer, known for The World to Live In (1919), My Cousin (1918) and Public Opinion (1916). She died on 12 June 1942 in Yarmouthport, Massachusetts, USA.
- Billy Bennett was born on 21 November 1887 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was an actor, known for Almost a Gentleman (1938), Radio Parade of 1935 (1934) and Young Man's Fancy (1939). He died on 30 June 1942 in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, UK.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Birth registration reads as follows (in part):
1876 LOFTUS, MARIE CECILIA B (Statutory registers Births 644/11 1971):
1876 BIRTHS in the District of Hutchesontown in the County of Lanark, No. (#) 1971
Name and Surname: Marie Cecilia Brown LOFTUS, Illegitimate.
When and where born: 1876, October Twenty second 10 h. 30m a.m., 40 Rose Street, Hutchesontown, Glasgow.
Name, Surname & Rank or Profession of Father (none listed).
Name and Maiden Surname of Mother: Mary Loftus, Vocalist.
Date and Place of Marriage (no listing).- Adelaide Grace was born on 26 December 1862 in Blythswood, Glasgow, Scotland, UK. She was an actress, known for Once Upon a Time (1918), The Duchess of Seven Dials (1920) and The Lackey and the Lady (1919). She died on 27 December 1943 in Orpington, Kent, England, UK.
- Director
- Writer
- Actor
Stuart Paton was born on 23 July 1883 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was a director and writer, known for The Gray Ghost (1917), 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1916) and Clipped Wings (1937). He was married to Ethel Patrick. He died on 16 December 1944 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA.- Scott McKee was born on 9 May 1881 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was an actor, known for Oliver Twist, Jr. (1921), Macbeth (1916) and Ten Scars Make a Man (1924). He died on 17 April 1945 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
One Hollywood stalwart whose screen incarnations more than lived up to his name was bald-domed character actor Donald Meek, forever typecast as mousy, timorous or browbeaten Casper Milquetoasts. He stood at 5 ft. 6 in. in his boots and weighed a mere 81 pounds. However, the little Glaswegian's personal history rather belied his gormless image on the silver screen. By the age of fourteen, Donald had joined an acrobatic team ("The Marvells") on the piano wire as a top mounter. He accompanied the troupe on their tour of the U.S. but sustained several compound fractures in a fall and had to quit. After spending six months on crutches, he joined the U.S. 6th Pennsylvania Regiment and saw action during the Spanish-American War in Cuba, was wounded and lost his hair after a bout of yellow fever. This did not deter him from re-enlisting at the onset of World War I. He went on to serve with the Canadian Highlanders as a corporal, but, to his consternation, never got any further than Toronto.
Donald had been infatuated with acting since early childhood. At the age of eight, he first performed publicly in the comic pantomime "Le Voyage en Suisse". Later, he toured Australia, South Africa, India and England in "Little Lord Fauntleroy". During his wartime sojourn in Cuba he had learned to "listen to those Yankees" and imitated their manner of speech, losing his Scottish accent in the process. When he was forced to abandon his career as an acrobat, he devoted more time to acting with various traveling stock companies and in New York. He made the first (of many) appearances on Broadway in 1903. Until the late 1920s, Donald remained quite gainfully employed in droll comical roles. Having flirted with screen acting since 1923, he made the move to the celluloid media by the end of the decade. Filmed at the Warner Brothers Eastern Vitaphone Studio in Brooklyn, he found himself an unlikely star, as amateur sleuth Dr. Amos Crabtree in The Clyde Mystery (1931), the first of eleven detective two-reelers, averaging just over twenty minutes in length. In 1933, Donald and wife Belle relocated to Hollywood.
Moving from studio to studio (his only long-tern tenure was at MGM from 1940 to 1944), Donald Meek quickly emerged as one of the most prolific, sought-after character players in the business. Invariably, he was respectability personified, all prim and proper. The role of eccentric toy maker Mr. Poppins in You Can't Take It with You (1938) was specially written for him. Other memorable performances included the nervy little whiskey salesman Samuel Peacock, losing his samples to Thomas Mitchell in Stagecoach (1939) ("the cutest coach rider in the wagon", according to a New York Times review); shady gambler Amos Budge in My Little Chickadee (1940); Mr. Wiggs thinking himself to sleep in Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch (1934); the eccentric little bee-keeper Bartholomew, helping the crime fighting exploits of Nick Carter, Master Detective (1939); and the intoxicated food taster and mince-meat enthusiast Hippenstahl of State Fair (1945). On odd occasions, Donald managed to step out of character, notably as the courageous Scottish prospector McTavish standing up to the villains of Barbary Coast (1935); scene-stealing, as miserly financier Daniel Drew in The Toast of New York (1937); as a rather loony citizen determined to collect a reward by unmasking Edward G. Robinson in The Whole Town's Talking (1935); or as tough railroad executive McCoy in Jesse James (1939) and The Return of Frank James (1940).
Donald Meek crammed more than 120 screen roles into a mere one and a half decades. His performances were consistently a joy to watch. He was never able to realise his ambition of retiring to raise hybrid roses, dying in November 1946 at the age of 68. Fourteen years later, he was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.- Arthur Whitten Brown was born on 23 July 1886 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He died on 4 October 1948 in Swansea, Wales, UK.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Nellie Wallace was born on 18 March 1870 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. She was an actress, known for Radio Parade of 1935 (1934), The Golden Pippin Girl (1920) and The Wishbone (1933). She was married to William Henry Liddy. She died on 24 November 1948 in London, England, UK.- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Bob Williamson was born in 1885 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was an actor and director, known for Huntin' Trouble (1924), King's Creek Law (1923) and The Ghost Rider (1925). He died on 13 March 1949 in Amityville, New York, USA.- Isobel Jamieson was born on 29 January 1880 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. She was an actress, known for The Old Lady Shows Her Medals (1937). She died on 13 June 1949 in Prestwick, Scotland, UK.
- Elliott Mason was born on 29 January 1888 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. She was an actress, known for Footsteps in the Sand (1939), Return to Yesterday (1940) and Campbell of Kilmhor (1939). She died on 20 June 1949 in Lingfield, Surrey, England, UK.
- Stanley Harrison was born in 1877 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was an actor, known for The Stubbornness of Geraldine (1915) and Pierwsze lata (1947). He died on 16 February 1950 in New York City, New York, USA.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Joe Yule was born on 30 April 1892 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was an actor, known for Jiggs and Maggie Out West (1950), Jiggs and Maggie in Court (1948) and Jiggs and Maggie in Society (1947). He was married to Leota Hullinger and Nell Ruth Waite "Nellie W." Carter. He died on 30 March 1950 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA.- Nan Taylor was born on 25 March 1876 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. She was an actress, known for The Man from Snowy River (1920), Our Friends the Hayseeds (1917) and Pacific Adventure (1946). She died on 23 June 1950 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- George McNaughton was born on 23 June 1878 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was an actor, known for Film Pie, No. 10 (1920), Film Pie, No. 1 (1920) and Film Pie, No. 2 (1920). He died on 10 September 1950 in Kew, Surrey, England, UK.
- James Bridie was born on 3 January 1888 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was a writer, known for Under Capricorn (1949), Storm in a Teacup (1937) and Folly to Be Wise (1952). He was married to Rona Locke Bremner. He died on 29 January 1951 in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
- Hector MacGregor was born on 16 May 1909 in Partick, Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was an actor, known for Stage Fright (1950), Love at Sea (1936) and 13 East Street (1952). He died on 29 August 1951 in Possilpark, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Ivan F. Simpson was born on 4 February 1875 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was an actor, known for The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), Captain Blood (1935) and Maid of Salem (1937). He died on 12 October 1951 in New York City, New York, USA.- Writer
- Director
- Actor
Graham Moffat was born on 21 February 1866 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was a writer and director, known for Till the Bells Ring (1926) and Bunty Pulls the Strings (1921). He was married to Margaret Moffat. He died on 12 December 1951 in Cape Town, South Africa.- Molly McIntyre was born in 1886 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. She was an actress, known for Her Great Hour (1916). She died on 29 January 1952 in New York City, New York, USA.
- Director
- Soundtrack
Songwriter ("You Can't Beat the Luck of the Irish"), composer, director, producer, librettist and author, educated at the Great Yarmouth Academy. He came to the USA as the director of Lillian Russell productions, and went on to direct many New York Hippodrome spectacles. He composed the stage scores, wrote the librettos for, and directed the Broadway productions "The Tourists", "Fascinating Flora" (which he also produced), "Jack o' Lantern", "Happy Days", "Good Times", "Tip Top", and "Better Times". He was the librettist and director for "A Trip to Japan" (which he also produced), "The International Cup", "Chin Chin", "Hip Hip Hooray!", "The Big Show", "Cheer Up", "Everything", "Stepping Stones", and "Three Cheers". Joining ASCAP in 1914 as a charter member, he collaborated musically with Raymond Hubbell and Gustave Kerker. His other song compositions include "Ladder of Roses", "Nice to Have a Sweetheart", and "Annabelle Jerome".