John Emerson (born Clifton Paden on May 29, 1874, Sandusky, Ohio - March 7, 1956, Pasadena, California) was a stage actor, playwright, producer, and director of silent films (many featuring Douglas Fairbanks). Emerson was married to Anita Loos from June 15, 1919 until his death; prior to that they had functioned as a writing team for motion pictures and would continue to be credited jointly, even as Loos pursued independent projects.
Born and edu...
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John Emerson (born Clifton Paden on May 29, 1874, Sandusky, Ohio - March 7, 1956, Pasadena, California) was a stage actor, playwright, producer, and director of silent films (many featuring Douglas Fairbanks). Emerson was married to Anita Loos from June 15, 1919 until his death; prior to that they had functioned as a writing team for motion pictures and would continue to be credited jointly, even as Loos pursued independent projects.
Born and educated in Ohio, Emerson's earliest documented acting credits date from 1904, however like D.W. Griffith he probably played in regional stock companies before then. By 1912—the earliest known year for his involvement in film, as a writer—Emerson was working regularly as a director and writer on the Broadway stage. After periods with American Film Manufacturing Company, where he worked with Allen Dwan and Famous Players Lasky, Emerson collaborated with George Nichols in making Ghosts, a Griffith production made for Reliance-Majestic Studios...
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