Riley Chamberlin

Chamberlin joined Thanhouser in the spring of 1912 and appeared in many films from then until his death. His role as Conductor 786, the friendly captain of a streetcar, was a part of several films. Chamberlin was well known for his comedy roles. Around the studio he was a friend and favorite of many other employees.

A notice in the June 26, 1912 issue of The New York Dramatic Mirror stated: “Riley Chamberlin is another addition to the Thanhouser forces. While never with Mr. Thanhouser in his film enterprise, he was principal comedian in the Thanhouser Stock Company at Milwaukee for many years. He is a finished performer of comedy parts and, as real funnymen’ are scarce articles’ in moving pictures, Chamberlin will be popular. His first appearance will be as Tom’s father in Why Tom Signed the Pledge, June 14, and the farmer in Farm and Flat, June 28.”

Reel Life, June 6, 1914, carried this item: “Mr. Chamberlin is proud of his beautiful horses.... But best of everything in the world he loves children. Every day at rehearsals he is the center of attraction for the little actors and actresses—the Thanhouser Twins, the two little Turners, the Kidlet, Marie Eline and Leland Benham. They all cling around him, listening to his funny stories, and wherever he moves, the children’s laughter follows. Character comedy is Mr. Chamberlin’s favorite work in pictures. He puts fun and pathos into his part. An enthusiast recently has written him: The Jefferson of picturedom is Riley Chamberlin.’”

In 1914, the Photoplay Arts Portfolio of Thanhouser Motion Picture Stars noted: “Riley Chamberlin is called the veteran’ of the Thanhouser studio, having been with the company since its infancy.... He is 5’7” in height, has blue eyes, brown hair slightly tinged with gray, and weighs 148 pounds.... He is fond of all outdoor sports and excels any member of the Thanhouser company in playing golf. On his estate in New Rochelle he has many beautiful horses which are blue-ribbon winners and of which Riley is very proud. Mr. Chamberlin prefers to play character comedy parts. Mr. Chamberlin is noted for his comedy work in the Thanhouser pictures, and is a great favorite with the public, especially the kiddies, who are always ready for a laugh.”

Chamberlin was the subject of an article by John William Kellette in The New Rochelle Pioneer, November 14, 1914: “Riley Chamberlin, principal comedian of the Thanhouser Corporation, is the Jefferson of the photoplay screen,’ that honor falling to Riley after years of popularity in the legitimate and his final entrance into the motion picture story art. Riley’s big card is comedy, where he scintillates alone, but at times his lines fall in pleasant places,’ and he’s cast for heart-interest pictures where he brings forth all the pathos of the script, and leaves moist eyes for those who view the scenes.

“Riley has reached the pinnacle of fame and is resting with the laurel wreath in his grasp. It didn’t come in a minute, nor a month, nor a year. It came after vicissitudes and heartaches, and cycles of labor. All the glamour of the footlights had vanished when Edwin Thanhouser, who had Riley in stock in Milwaukee, brought him to New Rochelle to pose before the Kleigl lights and the camera, and the applause of the multitudes was missed, but far back in his sub-conscious mind came glints of crowds to urge him on to even better work.

“Riley’s voice used to be an asset as he trod the boards, and he still retains a singable tone that prevents him being shot when he would chant his muse, but in the silent drama all that is nil and he must depend upon his actions and mannerisms, of which he has many that grants him a pedestal for himself. It is not all peaches and cream to do one’s best in a three flat side scene, with a director urging on the action, an assistant spotting the footage, and a cameraman cranking a Pathé, and it doesn’t help a bit to have the usual onlooker slanting glances one’s way and watching scenes where a man of Riley’s temperament is booked for such slapstick work as getting kicked in the 18th rib and having his nose tweaked by an irate somebody, nor in being thrown down coal chutes and having coal dumped on one, but to Riley it comes in the game, and he’s as willing and ready to be dropped from a roof into a life net, despite his 60 odd years young, as to dress in evening clothes and adopt a monocle. It was because of this fitting himself to his many unpleasant places that gave Riley Chamberlin the large following he has. And he’s going to retain them. He’s an Elk and is in love with New Rochelle. So what more could one ask?”

The New Rochelle Evening Standard, November 18, 1914, printed the following: “There is a lot of trouble in the movie world over a $250 diamond ring which Mrs. Edna Reynolds claims Riley Chamberlin gave her, and which the latter claims she is forcibly detaining.’ The young woman was arrested at her home, 29 West 126th Street, New York City, yesterday by Detective John McGowan on a warrant charging her with second degree grand larceny. She had a hearing before Judge Swinburne this morning and has been held to await the action of the grand jury and paroled in the custody of counsel. Mr. Chamberlin, a character actor employed at the Thanhouser studio, told Judge Swinburne that he fell in love with her last summer when she was working as an actress for Thanhouser, and they became engaged. He said he gave her presents and lent her money which she never paid back, and as an engagement ring he allowed her to wear his $250 diamond until he should get her a more suitable ring. Since then,’ he said, I found that she was working me and getting all she could out of me, and I would have been a silly old man to have given her that ring.’

“Mrs. Reynolds, who says that she is 26 years old and a character woman and leading lady for a motion picture concern in Bayonne, New Jersey, claimed Chamberlin gave her the ring and that he told many people so. She had two friends from Bayonne testify that he told him he had made her a present of it. She admitted the engagement was broken and said the reason was he had stipulated that she would have to cut off all home ties after marriage. She said she refused, though she loved him.”

Riley Chamberlin was a mainstay in Falstaff comedies 1915-1916, including pictures produced at the Jacksonville studio in 1916. While in Jacksonville he lived in an apartment on Main Street and kept some pet chickens.

The Sunday Times-Union, Jacksonville, Florida, January 23, 1916, printed this fascinating item: “One of the evening papers of Worcester, Massachusetts, a few weeks ago published a news item headed President Pro Tem of U.S. Senate, Senator J.P. Clarke.’ Not having a picture of the senator they went through their files of cuts, and selected the most distinguished-looking gentleman, a half-tone of Riley Chamberlin, one of the Thanhouser character men. The picture was coupled with the article, which was syndicated to newspapers all over New England. All went well until a number of movie fans recognized the Mutual Movie’ trademark on the Chamberlin cut and recognized their movie friend Riley, and immediately Riley’s mail became flooded with applications for political jobs.

“On leaving New York for the Jacksonville studio, Chamberlin decided to spend a day in Worcester, visiting his cousin, and was continually stopped on the street by applicants for political jobs. Finally tired of the annoyance, he inquired as to the reason for so much attention, and was shown a copy of the Worcester paper. Riley thinks the laugh is on the senator.’’

In 1917 the actor was seen in the release of Her New York. He remained with Thanhouser until his death in New Rochelle on January 23, 1917. His survivors included two sisters, Mrs. H.M. Winslow, of New York City, and Belle Chamberlin, a contralto with the Boston Opera Company. From 1913 to 1915, New Rochelle city directories gave his home address as 74 Main Street.

The New Rochelle Evening Standard, January 24, 1917, printed this item: “Though toddering and feeble, Riley C. Chamberlin would not surrender to the inevitable and retire from active life. He clung to his career as an actor and his friends believe that his forced retirement, which was to take place today, broke his heart. He was found dead in his room in his boarding place, 3 Prospect Street, lying on his bed fully dressed about 4:30 o’clock yesterday afternoon. Health officer Edwin H. Codding, who examined the body, decided that his heart just stopped, probably due to some emotion. He had been a sufferer from valvular heart disease and diabetes for some time and was in the New Rochelle Hospital for a while. Mr. Chamberlin was to have been sent to the Elks Home at Bedford, Virginia and was to start today. He had worried over his forced retirement and did not wish to leave New Rochelle. A few days ago he wept when he was talking of it with a friend. His feeble condition, which became more pronounced in the last year, was another source of sorrow, and it is said that more than once he told friends he would kill himself.

“It is said Mr. Chamberlin never married [sic] because of his mother who is living in Grand Rapids, Michigan and who is 90 years of age. He is also survived by two sisters, Miss Belle Chamberlin, Detroit, and Mrs. Mary C. Winslow, New York City. In his will, which was prepared by Jacob S. Ruskin, he strictly enjoins both his sisters to use the property he leaves for the support of their mother. It is said he leaves about $1,000 in cash. The will requests an Elk funeral, the Elk service to be performed by New Rochelle Lodge BPO Elks. He directs that he will be buried in New Rochelle. The will was made about five years ago. Chamberlin was a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and was 62 years of age. He became an actor more than 25 years ago and played with many prominent actors, including Edwin Booth and had parts with many Shubert and Frohman productions. His last stage appearances were in Blue Mouse and Excuse Me. He was a clever comedian and character actor. During his stage career he spent some time in the stock company of Edwin Thanhouser in Milwaukee. It was because of this connection with Mr. Thanhouser that he finally turned to the movies. He joined the Thanhouser forces six and a half years ago and remained with them continuously. One of the big productions in which he was prominent was In a Garden, one of the first two-reel pictures produced. He has starred in many Thanhouser productions including Conductor 756 [sic]. His body has been taken to Davis Mortuary Chapel, where the funeral will take place.”

The January 26th issue of The Evening Standard told more: “Many friends attended the funeral of Riley Chamberlin, a Thanhouser actor, in Davis Chapel yesterday afternoon. The local lodge of Elks performed the service led by exalted ruler Richard Leo Fallon and Hugh C. Harris as chaplain. At the conclusion the members of the lodge passed the open casket and placed on his breast white carnations and ivy. Among the flowers were two standing wreaths, one from the Elks and the other from the Thanhouser Relief Fund. The interment was in Beechwood Cemetery. The casket was of solid chestnut with silver mountings. Among the mourners was Mr. Chamberlin’s sister, Miss Belle Chamberlin, who came from Detroit, Michigan. Among the others were Edwin Thanhouser, president of the Thanhouser Film Corporation, Miss Jessie B. Bishop, secretary of the corporation, Lloyd Lonergan, chief of the scenario department, Phil Lonergan, scenario editor, Frank Grimmer, director of casts, Charles Gercke, factory superintendent, F.L. Zimmerman, head of the joining room, Mrs. Frank Farrington, Nick Woods, Arthur Bauer, Lindsay Morison, Dr. George S. Lion, Dr. S. Henry Disow, civil service commissioner, George E. Maxcy, and former police commissioner, Andrew J. Rosch.”

The New Rochelle Evening Standard, July 9, 1917, reported: “The will of the late Riley C. Chamberlin of New Rochelle has been filed for probate with surrogate Sawyer. He leaves $1,000 worth of personal property and gives all of his personal effects and money and bank to his sister, Mrs. Belle Ellsler and he enjoins her to use the bequest in supporting his mother, Mrs. Martha R. Chamberlin, during her lifetime. The will appoints his sister, Mrs. Belle Ellsler executrix of his will, which was dated September 18, 1916.”

Note: His surname was often misspelled as “Chamberlain” in news articles and publicity notices, including official Thanhouser advertisements.