Volume III: Biographies

RUSSELL, Harry

Studio employee (1914-1915)

Thanhouser Career Synopsis: Henry ("Harry") Russell, a scenic artist, worked with the Thanhouser studio in 1914 and 1915.

Biographical Notes: The New Rochelle Pioneer, September 5, 1914, carried this item: "Harry Russell, a scenic artist, is suffering from blood poisoning, one of his fingers having become infected. He is recovering at last reports." The same newspaper, issue of October 17, 1914, noted that he was building a motorboat, to be called the Demi-Tasse, which he hoped would achieve a speed of 45 miles per hour. Apparently, Russell owned several boats over a period of time. In 1914 he lived at 150 Main Street, New Rochelle. The New Rochelle Pioneer, January 30, 1915 stated that Harry Russell, scenic artist at Thanhouser, had as a cousin 'Big Irish Bill' Johnson, of Chicago, who had been head stage carpenter of the Selig Polyscope Company for four years. Harry Russell named his boat Little Marie after Miss Marie Johnson, 'Big Irish Bill' Johnson's daughter. Johnson was put to work helping to construct The Scallawag, Mr. Russell's new houseboat, which was christened two months later, during the last week of March.

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