Ella Hall

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Silent American actress (1897–1981)

title: "Ella Hall" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1896-births", "1981-deaths", "20th-century-american-actresses", "actors-from-hoboken,-new-jersey", "actresses-from-hudson-county,-new-jersey", "american-child-actresses", "american-film-actresses", "american-silent-film-actresses", "american-stage-actresses", "american-women-film-producers", "burials-at-forest-lawn-memorial-park-(glendale)", "universal-pictures-contract-players", "women-film-pioneers"] description: "Silent American actress (1897–1981)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ella_Hall" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Silent American actress (1897–1981) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]

FieldValue
nameElla Hall
imageElla Hall by Fred Hartsook (extracted).jpg
captionHall 1918
altElla Hall
birth_nameElla Augusta Hall
birth_date{{Cite web
urlhttps://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/3693/records/24840233?tid=119229561&pid=370182611463&ssrc=pt
birth_placeHoboken, New Jersey, U.S.
death_date
death_placeLos Angeles, California, U.S.
resting_placeForest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale
occupation
yearsactive1906–1933
known_for
spouse{{plainlist
* {{marriageEmory Johnson
* {{marriageCharles Clow
motherMary Hall actress
children4, including Ellen Hall and Richard Emory
signatureEllaHallSig.jpg
signature_altCursive signature in ink
::

|name = Ella Hall |image =Ella Hall by Fred Hartsook (extracted).jpg |caption = Hall 1918 |alt = Ella Hall |birth_name = Ella Augusta Hall |birth_date = {{Cite web|title=California, Death Index, 1940-1997 |url=https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/3693/records/24840233?tid=119229561&pid=370182611463&ssrc=pt|year=2000|publisher=Ancestry.com|url-access=subscription|access-date=November 2, 2025|quote=Birth date shows at March 17, 1897}} |birth_place = Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S. |death_date = |death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. |resting_place = Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale |occupation = |yearsactive = 1906–1933 |known_for = |spouse = {{plainlist|

|mother = Mary Hall actress |children = 4, including Ellen Hall and Richard Emory |signature = EllaHallSig.jpg |signature_alt = Cursive signature in ink

Ella Augusta Hall (March 17, 1897 – September 3, 1981) was an American actress. She appeared in more than 90 films between 1912 and 1933.

Early years

Ella Augusta Hall was born in Hoboken, New Jersey on March 17, 1897. Her family moved to Hollywood in the early days of silent films so her mother, May Hall, could pursue an acting career.

Career

Ella Hall's first credited film appearance was the lead role in the 1913 film Memories. Her career took off after that film, and she appeared in thirty-seven films from 1913 through the end of 1914. She had another thirty-nine film appearances from 1915 through 1919. She did not appear in another film until 1921. Her career had slowed considerably during this two-year break, and she starred in only seven more films. Her best-known film was The Flying Dutchman, released in 1923, which was her final silent film.

She had a minor appearance, uncredited, in the 1930 Cecil B. DeMille film Madam Satan. Her final film appearance was in 1933's The Bitter Tea of General Yen.

Marriage, children and divorce

Carl Laemmle, head of Universal, went to Universal City to oversee the California plant. Once he wrapped up his business, he was slated to return to Universal's New York offices on the Santa Fe train. Before he left, he chose to host a gala on June 13, 1917. Invitations were sent out, and three thousand guests took advantage of Laemmle's offer. "The occasion promised to be one of the most noteworthy in the history of film functions."

Among the guests was Emory Johnson, 23, a Universal leading man currently in the third year of his contract. At an appropriate moment during the ball, glasses were clinked, and Emory Johnson and fellow universalite Ella Hall professed their love and announced their engagement. Hall had recently turned years old.

Fast-forward to Thursday, September 6, 1917. Hall and Johnson were busy finishing their day's work for Universal. They worked until 2 pm. After they removed their makeup, they left the studios and were married in a private ceremony at 3 o'clock. After the ceremony, they hopped in Johnson's Hupmobile and drove off on their honeymoon. They were scheduled to return to work on October 1. After the honeymoon was over, the couple moved into Johnson's house along with Johnson's mother Emilie Johnson.

After their marriage, Johnson and Hall acted in four pictures together. They made their first together playing husband and wife in – My Little Boy released in December 1917. The movie was Johnson's first film with his bride. Johnson and Hall followed the release of that film with acting in New Love for Old (Feb 1918) and then, Beauty in Chains (Mar 1918). Their last film together was A Mother's Secret released on April 4, 1918.

In June 1918, Universal failed to renew the contracts of Ella Hall and Emory Johnson. Ella Hall was pregnant with their first child at the time of their release. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/JohnsonFamily1923.jpg" caption="Hall with husband Emory Johnson and children 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 falling apart, and they separated. Hall initially filed for divorce, but ultimately, they reconciled. A series of separations and reconciliations would follow.

The couple's disagreements about money, children, and their living situation were very public, from 1924 on. Their relationship was defined by repeated separations and reunions. It was difficult for Hall to reconcile her emotions toward Johnson's only-child status and what she viewed as his overdependence on his mother. She considered Emory to be overly attached to his mother, which strained their relationship. She thought her mother-in-law had too much control. Hall's frustration was summed up perfectly with the words, "Too much mother-in-law!"

In the 1920s, Johnson and her son became famous as Hollywood's only mother-son directing/writing team. She wrote all the stories and screenplays her son used to build his successful career directing melodramas.

Tragedy struck in March 1926. While Hall and the kids were walking down a street in Hollywood, the couple's five-year-old son, Bernard, was fatally struck by a truck. Bernard's death would provide a catalyst for another reconciliation.

Early 1929 saw another split, followed by a reconciliation. The pair decided to have a baby to make their relationship stronger. Dinie, or Diana Marie, was born on October 27, 1929, in Los Angeles, California. They would have no more children together. ::quote

::

In 1930, their stormy relationship came to an end. The divorce between Johnson, , and Hall, , was finalized in Los Angeles, California. At one time, they were considered one of Hollywood's ideal marriages. After the divorce, their public and legal battles would continue.

Two of their children would follow their parents in the movie industry, Ellen Hall and Richard Emory.

In October 1934, Hall briefly wed weathy sportsman Charles Clow. Legal complications arose in 1936. Appearing before Los Angeles superior court judge, Hall explained that her husband's first wife, Linda Lee Clows of Chicago, had his divorce from her set aside last April for the purpose of interposing a cross-Complaint making his marriage to Hall illegal. "I left my husband upon learning her action made our marriage illegal," Hall testified in court. The marriage was officially annulled on January 21, 1936.

Death

Ella Hall, , was living in Los Angeles, California, when she died on September 3, 1981. Per her request, she was cremated. Her ashes were interred at Forest Lawn's Columbarium of Sunlight in Glendale, California.{{efn|Death certificate - Ella Augusta Hall death certificate is available for purchase from the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk for Birth, Death & Marriage Records in Norwalk, California

Certificate of Death 0190 040428;

Ella Hall Died: September 3, 1981, 07:07; Born New Jersey March 17, 1897,

Age – 84 yrs old; Father – Unk; Mother – Mary Muller, New York

Occupation – Housemaker

Usual residence: 22437 Victory Blvd, Los Angeles

Informant H. Edward Moxley, Son-in-law, same address

Death Certificate signed September 3, 1981

Death caused by massive cardiovascular accident Stroke}}

In November 1984, Hall's youngest daughter, Diana Marie (Dinie) Moxley, died in Los Angeles at .{{cite web|title=California, U.S., Death Index|url=https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/5180/records/5200688?tid=119229561&pid=370182611469&ssrc=pt |publisher=State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics|date=2000|url-access=subscription |access-date=December 15, 2025}} Her only surviving son, Richard Emory , died in 1994.{{cite web|title=Social Security Death Index|url=https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/5180/records/5200688?tid=119229561&pid=370182611469&ssrc=pt|publisher=Social Security Administration, Master File. Social Security Administration |date=2014|url-access=subscription|access-date=December 15, 2025}} In March 1999, Hall's oldest daughter, Ellen Hall, died in Bellevue, Nebraska. She was and living with her son. Like her mother, she was cremated, and then her ashes were transported west to Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Hall's former spouse, Emory Johnson died in San Mateo, California on April 18, 1960, from burns suffered in a fire.

Filmography

Introduction

This film catalogue is the verified filmography of Ella Hall. The sources used to compile this listing are trustworthy and were verified through archives and historical records, including trade publications, newspaper reviews, and published filmography references.

However, some of Hall's film work may have been missed, especially her early uncredited roles and her cameos after 1923. These omissions stem from imperfect record-keeping, particularly in the film industry's early days, when credits were not consistent, and documentation was often lacking.

As ongoing research and archival discoveries continue to shed new light on early cinema, this filmography may be revised to reflect additional verified findings.

Film authentication

The films in this compilation were verified using the following references.

  • Hall's known appearances in Short films were verified using the following sources: {{efn|
  1. The American Film Institute website - AFI Catalog contains entries for over 17,000 short films from the early days of cinema
  2. American Film Personnel and Company Credits, 1908–1920
  3. A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses
  4. An Encyclopedic Dictionary of Women in Early American Films: 1895–1930
  5. The Encyclopedia of Feature Players of Hollywood
  6. Lois Weber: The Director who Lost Her Way in History
  7. The Braff silent short film working papers 1903–1929
  8. The Internet Archivelocated @ Internet Archive is a non-profit library of millions of free texts, movies, software, music, websites, and more
  9. The Universal Silents: A Filmography of the Universal Motion Picture Manufacturing Company, 1912–1929
  • Hall's known appearances in Feature films were verified using the following sources:{{efn|
  1. The American Film Institute website
  2. An Encyclopedic Dictionary of Women in Early American Films: 1895–1930

|}

Gallery

EmoryJohnsonColorized1925.jpg|Emory Johnson Father 1925 EllaHall1915.png|Ella Hall Mother 1915 Richard Emory 1952.jpg|Richard Emory Oldest son 1952 GOLDWYN GIRL OF 1943 Ellen Hall.png|Ellen Hall Oldest daughter 1944

EllaHall1914a.tif|1914 Ella Hall calendar.jpg|1918 Ella Hall The Blue Book of the Screen.jpg|1923 Ella Hall is granted an annulment.jpg|1936

SecretLove1916.png|Secret Love Jan 1916 The Crippled Hand.jpg|The Crippled Hand May 1916 The Love Girl 1916.jpg|The Love Girl Jul 1916 Little Eve Edgarton.jpg|Little Eve Edgarton Aug 1916 The Bugler of Algiers 2.jpg|The Bugler of Algiers Nov 1916 Her Soul's Inspiration.jpg|Her Soul's Inspiration Jan 1917 Polly Redhead.jpg|Polly Redhead Mar 1917 AJewelinPawn1917.png|A Jewel in Pawn Apr 1917 TheLittleOrphan1917p.jpg|The Little Orphan Jun 1917 The Charmer1917.tif|The Charmer Aug 1918 The Spotted Lily (1917) - 2.jpg|The Spotted Lily Oct 1917 My Little Boy.png|My Little Boy Dec 1917 New Love for Old.jpg|New Love for Old Feb 1918 AMothersSecret1918.jpg|A Mother's Secret Apr 1918 Whichwoman-newspaper-1918.jpg|Which Woman? Jun 1918

Notes

References

Links to surviving films

Bibliography

References

  1. (2011). "New Jersey, Births and Christenings Index, 1660-1931". Ancestry.com.
  2. (June 23, 1917). "Carl Laemmle entertains Universal City". Moving Picture Weekly Pub. Co..
  3. (June 12, 1917). "Light Fantastic Note". Los Angeles Times.
  4. (September 1917). "Plays and Players". Chicago, Photoplay Magazine Publishing Company.
  5. (Sep–Oct 1917). "Ella Hall Takes the Step". Motion Picture News, inc..
  6. (September 7, 1917). "Cupid Note". Los Angeles Times.
  7. (June 1, 1918). "Universal Players' Contracts Expire". New York, Chalmers Publishing Company.
  8. (2005). "California Birth Index, 1905-1995". State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics..
  9. (2005). "California Birth Index, 1905-1995". State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics..
  10. (2005). "California Birth Index, 1905-1995". State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics..
  11. (November 19, 1924). "Ella Hall Johnson Through with Husband". New York, NY: Variety Publishing Company.
  12. (May 27, 1925). "News from the Dailies - Pacific Coast". Variety Inc..
  13. (June 4, 1926). "Hollywood Studio Gossip". San Francisco Chronicle.
  14. [[Emilie Johnson]] ([[Special:Permalink/1327930287. this version]])
  15. (March 28, 1926). "Truckman is Held in Death of Child". Los Angeles Times.
  16. (June 1926). "Maybe sorrow will bring them happiness". Chicago, Photoplay Magazine Publishing Company.
  17. (2005). "California Birth Index, 1905-1995". State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics.
  18. (September 1931). "Divorce Was The Cure". Motion Picture Publications, Inc..
  19. (May 27, 1925). "News from the Dailies". Variety Publishing Company.
  20. "Ella Hall".
  21. (January 22, 1936). "Tie slashed by actress". Los Angeles Times.
  22. (2000). "California, U.S., Death Index". California Department of Public Health – Vital Records.
  23. (2014). "Social Security Death Index 1935-2014". Social Security Administration, Master File. Social Security Administration.
  24. (March 29, 1999). "1940s Starlet dies in Bellevue". Lincoln Journal Star.
  25. (April 19, 1960). "Pioneer Film Director Dies". The Times (San Mateo).
  26. {{AFI film. 66101. PARSON JIMS BABY
  27. {{AFI film. 66099. LOVE IN THE DARK
  28. {{AFI film. 66097. LOCAL COLOR
  29. {{AFI film. 66103. WHEN LOVE GROWS UP
  30. {{AFI film. 76560. THE CAREER OF WATERLOO PETERSON
  31. {{AFI film. 16998. THE SPY
  32. {{AFI film. 72714. AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS
  33. (May 1, 2020). "Progressive Silent Film List: ''The Master Key''". Carl Bennett and the Silent Era Company.
  34. Cergol, Greg. (February 4, 2025). "'The Heart of Lincoln': Long-lost early 1900s silent film found on Long Island".
  35. {{AFI film. 13902. THE SILENT COMMAND
  36. {{AFI film. 13795. HERITAGE
  37. {{AFI film. 16556. JEWEL
  38. "The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Database: ''Idols of Clay''". Library of Congress.
  39. {{AFI film. 77289. CHRISTMAS MEMORIES
  40. {{AFI film. 16816. SECRET LOVE
  41. (October 10, 2023). "Progressive Silent Film List: ''Secret Love''". Carl Bennett and the Silent Era Company.
  42. "Progressive Silent Film List: Secret Love". Silent Era.
  43. {{AFI film. 110931. THE WINNING OF MISS CONSTRUE
  44. {{AFI film. 14042. THE CRIPPLED HAND
  45. {{AFI film. 1869. THE LOVEGIRL
  46. {{AFI film. 16752. LITTLE EVE EDGARTON
  47. {{AFI film. 85775. THE HEART OF A SHOW GIRL
  48. {{AFI film. 16687. THE BUGLER OF ALGIERS
  49. {{AFI film. 16946. HER SOULS INSPIRATION
  50. {{AFI film. 17143. POLLY REDHEAD
  51. {{AFI film. 2041. A JEWEL IN PAWN
  52. {{AFI film. 14687. THE LITTLE ORPHAN
  53. {{AFI film. 15666. THE CHARMER
  54. {{AFI film. 15891. THE SPOTTED LILY
  55. {{AFI film. 14768. MY LITTLEBOY
  56. {{AFI film. 15113. NEW LOVE FOR OLD
  57. {{AFI film. 17023. BEAUTY IN CHAINS
  58. {{AFI film. 15091. A MOTHERS SECRET
  59. {{AFI film. 18242. WHICH WOMAN
  60. {{AFI film. 15224. THREE MOUNTED MEN
  61. {{AFI film. 17124. THE HEART OF RACHAEL
  62. {{AFI film. 15586. UNDER THE TOP
  63. {{AFI film. 9917. IN THE NAME OF THE LAW
  64. {{AFI film. 9616. THE HEART OF LINCOLN
  65. {{AFI film. 12634. THE THIRD ALARM
  66. {{AFI film. 13137. THE WEST BOUND LIMITED
  67. {{AFI film. 9121. THE FLYING DUTCHMAN
  68. (March 30, 1999). "Ellen Hall Langer". The Modesto Bee.
  69. (January 2022). "Madam Satan – Cast & Crew".
  70. {{AFI film. 10502. MADAM SATAN
  71. {{AFI film. 1057. STREET SCENE
  72. {{AFI film. 5227. TAXI!
  73. (January 22, 1933). "Former cinema stars, grateful for minor roles by Rosalyn Schaeffer". Chicago Tribune.
  74. {{AFI film. 6070. Rasputin and the Empress
  75. {{AFI film. 4708. THE BITTER TEA OF GENERAL YEN
  76. (December 25, 1915). "New Feature Organization Announced". New York, The Moving Picture Weekly.
  77. (April 28, 1917). "New universal brand". Electricity Magazine Corp..
  78. Stanca Mustea, Cristina. (June 8, 2011). "Carl Laemmle (1867–1939)". German Historical Institute.

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1896-births1981-deaths20th-century-american-actressesactors-from-hoboken,-new-jerseyactresses-from-hudson-county,-new-jerseyamerican-child-actressesamerican-film-actressesamerican-silent-film-actressesamerican-stage-actressesamerican-women-film-producersburials-at-forest-lawn-memorial-park-(glendale)universal-pictures-contract-playerswomen-film-pioneers