Volume III: Biographies

HOWARD, Ernest *

Actor, director (1915-1917)

Thanhouser Career Synopsis: Ernest Howard was an actor with Thanhouser, circa 1915-1917. In 1916 he was directing Falstaff comedies at Thanhouser's Jacksonville studio.

Biographical Notes: Ernest Howard was the professional name of Ernest Ladd, who was born in Falls Village, Connecticut in 1875. He was educated in schools in New England. His first stage appearance was in the 1890s with Julie Arthur. He spent 18 years before the footlights, in vaudeville, drama, and stock. Among his stage successes were roles in Lysistrata, The Bat, and Hamlet. His vaudeville sketch, Friday Evening at Home, drew favorable notices. His screen career commenced with Thanhouser, for whom he played character leads and heavies. In the spring of 1916 he was directing Falstaff comedies for Thanhouser in Jacksonville, Florida.

Directory listings 1916-1918 noted that he weighed 150 pounds and had gray hair and brown eyes. At the time he lived in New Rochelle, New York. In the summer of 1917 he was one of just a few players remaining in the Thanhouser stock company. Ernest Howard died in Brooklyn, New York on November 8, 1940. He was survived by his wife, two sons, four daughters, and 12 grandchildren.

Thanhouser Filmography:

1915: The Picture of Dorian Gray (7-20-1915), Snapshots (8-24-1915), The Twins of the G.L. Ranch (9-19-1915), The Dead Man's Keys (9-21-1915), At the Patrician Club (10-24-1915), The Conscience of Juror No. 10 (10-26-1915), Beneath the Coat of a Butler (11-21-1915)

1916: Belinda's Bridal Breakfast (Falstaff 1-10-1916), The Woman in Politics (1-13-1916), The Five Faults of Flo (1-20-1916), The Traffic Cop (4-8-1916), The Romance of the Hollow Tree (4-11-1916), When She Played Broadway (5-9-1916), John Brewster's Wife (6-6-1916), Saint, Devil and Woman (9-25-1916), Arabella's Prince (10-6-1916)

1917: Her Beloved Enemy (3-4-1917), Pots and Pans Peggie (3-18-1917), Fires of Youth (6-17-1917), The Man Without a Country (Jewel 9-9-1917)

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