Louise Lester

American actress (1867–1952)

Louise Lester

Born	(1867-08-08)August 8, 1867 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Died	November 18, 1952(1952-11-18) (aged 85) Hollywood, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Spouse(s)	Frank Beal (?-1934) (his death) 3 children Jack Richardson (?-1914) (divorce)
Children	3, including Scott Beal

Louise Lester (August 8, 1867 – November 18, 1952) was an American silent film actress. She was the first female star of Western films.

Biography

Lester was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on August 8, 1867.^[1]

In 1884, Lester headed the Louise Lester Opera Company.^[2]

Lester made her debut in movies as a member of the Flying A Company in Santa Barbara, California^[3] after a career on stage. She starred in over 150 films before her retirement in 1935.^{[citation needed]}

Lester is most famous for starring as Calamity Anne in a series of films based around the character. 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, a film director.^[3] She was also married to actor Jack Richardson.^[1]

On November 18, 1952,^[3] Lester died at the Motion Picture Country Home, aged 85. Her funeral was conducted in the chapel of the Utter-McKinley Strouthers Mortuary, 6240 Hollywood Boulevard. The services were conducted by the Baháʼí Faith.^[4]

Calamity Anne

Lester created the Calamity Anne character and was dramatist for the series.^[5] She starred as Calamity Anne in a series of fifteen short films based around the character, 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 series continued for another four years, with the final film being Calamity Anne's Protégé, released in 1917.

Selected filmography

The Opium Smuggler (1911, Short) - Mrs. Watson
Calamity Anne's Ward (1912, Short) - Calamity Anne
Calamity Anne's Inheritance (1913, Short) - Calamity Anne
Calamity Anne's Vanity (1913, Short) - Calamity Anne
Calamity Anne, Detective (1913, Short) - Calamity Anne
Calamity Anne's Beauty (1913, Short) - Calamity Anne
Calamity Anne's Parcel Post (1913, Short) - Calamity Anne
Calamity Anne Takes a Trip (1913, Short) - Calamity Anne
Calamity Anne, Heroine (1913, Short) - Calamity Anne
Calamity Anne's Sacrifice (1913, Short) - Calamity Anne
Calamity Anne's Dream (1913, Short) - Calamity Anne
Rose of San Juan (1913, Short) - Ozozco's Mother
Calamity Anne in Society (1914, Short) - Calamity Anne
Calamity Anne's Love Affair (1914, Short) - Calamity Anne
The Strength o' Ten (1914, Short) - Betty's Mother
The Poet of the Peaks (1915, Short) - Mrs. Davis
The Day of Reckoning (1915, Short) - Mrs. Crew
Mountain Mary (1915, Short) - Mary Doone - Ivan's Mother
The Honor of the District Attorney (1915, Short) - Nora Mortimer - Dora's Mother
The Newer Way (1915, Short) - Mrs. Bates
The Exile of Bar-K Ranch (1915, Short) - Mrs. Jack Donald - Millie's Mother
The Assayer of Lone Gap (1915, Short) - Mrs. Dugan - Belle's Mother
Drawing the Line (1915, Short)
In Trust (1915, Short) - Molly
The Little Lady Next Door (1915, Short) - The Housekeeper
The Barren Gain (1915, Short) - Mrs. Cameron - Philip's Mother
Hearts in Shadow (1915, Short) - Mrs. Burke
Profit from Loss (1915, Short) - Mrs. Dean
The Silken Spider (1916, Short) - Ursula Jacques
April (1916) - Martha Fagan
Tangled Skeins (1916, Short) - Mrs. Wellington
Dust (1916) - Mina's mother
Calamity Anne, Guardian (1916, Short) - Calamity Anne
Calamity Anne's New Job (1917, Short) - Calamity Anne
Calamity Anne's Protégé (1917, Short) - Calamity Anne
The Reckoning Day (1918) - Mrs. Schram
The Mayor of Filbert (1919) - Belle Glover
The Outcasts of Poker Flat (1919)
The Luck of the Irish (1920) - The Landlady
Her Reputation (1923) - Consuelo
The Desert Hawk (1924) - Bridget
Galloping On (1925) - Mrs. Moore - Wally's Mother
Second Choice (1930) - Minor Role (uncredited)
Wide Open (1930) - Office Worker (uncredited)
Straight from the Heart (1935) - Woman (uncredited) (final film role)

References

^ ^a ^b Katchmer, George A. (20 May 2015). A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses. McFarland. pp. 207–208. ISBN 978-1-4766-0905-8. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
^ "Opera at Houck's to-night". The Cincinnati Enquirer. June 19, 1884. p. 11. Retrieved October 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Louise Beal dies at 85". The New York Times. November 19, 1952. p. 29. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
^ "Services set for actress Louise Lester". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. 20 Nov 1952. p. 53. Retrieved Sep 25, 2016.
^ "Louise Lester Is Well-Known as Writer of Photoplays Which She Also Stages and Helps Enact". The Sacramento Bee. November 14, 1914. p. 27. Retrieved October 20, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.