Volume III: Biographies

MORISON, Lindsay *

Actor (1915-1916)

Thanhouser Career Synopsis: Lindsay Morison was an actor with Thanhouser in 1915 and 1916.

Biographical Notes: David Lindsay Morison, a native of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England, came to the United States in 1884 with the D'Oyley Carte Opera Company. He played in stock for a number of years, and settled in Boston, where he became a well-known stage personality. Around 1901 he was seen as Captain Redwood in Jim the Penman, at Boston's Castle Square Theatre, in a production which featured J.H. Gilmour as Jim Ralston. For several years he was a member of the stock company there, and at one time was manager. Lindsay Morison managed a company at Boston's Empire Theatre, circa 1905, in performances of The Crisis. A leading player in the company was Howell Hansel, who a decade later was a Thanhouser film director.

Morison went to New York City for the season of 1906-1907, where he managed Keith's Union Square Theatre, after which he returned to Boston to direct Keith's Theatre the following season. In the summer of 1909 he organized a stock company which played at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston. Among the leading players were Howell Hansel, Edna Bruns, Mary Saunders, Rose Morison, and James Seely. The season of 1909-1910 saw him in the position of general manager of William Morris' New England circuit and manager of the Orpheum Theatre (later known as the American Music Hall). He then became seriously ill following a hemorrhage of the stomach, spent three weeks in the Charlesgate Hospital, where he nearly died. After his recovery he organized a stock company for the American Music Hall for the summer of 1910, which produced St. Elmo and The Squaw Man. The following autumn he managed a troupe of players at the Auditorium in Lynn, Massachusetts. In 1911 and 1912 he managed the Majestic Theatre in Boston. In August 1912, Lindsay Morison filed a voluntary petition of bankruptcy, stating liabilities of $6,347.39 against assets of $125.

In 1915, Morison went to Thanhouser in New Rochelle, after which he was seen in various regular and Falstaff releases. Although he was primarily credited as an actor, he may have directed as well. He was the stage and music director for the Thanhouser Benefit Ball held in New Rochelle on April 27, 1916. The New Rochelle Pioneer, June 3, 1916, announced that he was among nearly two dozen important players, directors, and cameramen whose employment was terminated by the studio on May 27, 1916, when the outlook for the Thanhouser Film Corporation was dismal. Lindsay Morison died in New Rochelle, New York, on February 22, 1917, following lingering ill health. His wife, Rose Bregazzi Morison, whom he had married in Cleveland on July 8, 1895, survived him, as did a son. His obituary in Variety incorrectly stated that he was a Thanhouser director at the time of his death.

The New Rochelle Evening Standard, February 23, 1917, printed this item: "David Lindsay Morison, an actor and director with the Thanhouser forces died of heart disease yesterday at the hotel where he lived. He had been ill but a few days. Mr. Morison leaves a wife and one son in Boston. He was born in England about 51 years ago and was an actor for many years. More than 25 years ago he had a stock company in Boston, and Howell Hansel, formerly of the Thanhouser, was his leading man. He was well known in Boston not only in theatrical circles but also in social and fraternal circles. He was a 32nd degree Mason in both the York and Scottish rites and was an active Knight Templar and Shriner. He was well known on the road as an actor stage director. At one time he is reported to have been well to do. He came to New Rochelle about four years ago and at once became popular. He was a director of one of the Thanhouser companies until the recent curtailment. Since then he was employed there as an actor. Many times he volunteered his services at local entertainments where he sang, recited or appeared in sketches. Huguenot Lodge F. and A.M. is arranging for the funeral."

Note: His name was often misspelled as "Morrison" in publicity.

Thanhouser Filmography:

1915: Fifty Years After Appomattox (7-4-1915), Bessie's Bachelor Boobs (Falstaff 9-16-1915), The Commuted Sentence (11-2-1915), The Film Favorite's Finish (Falstaff 11-11-1915)

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