Volume III: Biographies

NORTON, Alfred *

Actor (1914)

Thanhouser Career Synopsis: Alfred Norton, a character actor, appeared in the 1914 Thanhouser serial, The Million Dollar Mystery.

Biographical Notes: The following appeared in the May 9, 1914 issue of Reel Life: "Alfred Norton, while acting in pictures recently for the Thanhouser Company, narrowly escaped death. He was rescued by Leo A. Stevens, the aeronaut. Mr. Norton was making his first ascension in a balloon and was required to do some perilous work in mid-air. In his eagerness to keep within the scope of the camera lens, Mr. Norton leaned far out of the balloon basket, contrary to Mr. Stevens' instructions. At the same instant the great gas bag made a tremendous sweep, and the actor lost his hold. Throwing himself half way out of the basket, Mr. Stevens, at great personal risk, caught his companion by the arm and shoulder and pulled him back into the basket.

"A crowd of New Rochelle people had gathered on the shore at the foot of Cedarcliffe Hill to watch the balloon ascension. Mr. Norton's peril, barely kept from serious consequences by Mr. Stevens' presence of mind and ready action, made the program even more thrilling than had been anticipated. By the time motorists along Pelham Road had raced to the spot where the balloon descended, Mr. Stevens and Mr. Norton had climbed out of the basket, unruffled and smiling."

More information concerning this incident appeared in The New York Dramatic Mirror, June 10, 1914: "Alfred Norton, the character actor engaged by Charles J. Hite to play Stanley Hargreave in The Million Dollar Mystery, will enter the Panama-Pacific balloon race. Mr. Norton recently made an ascension with A. Leo Stevens, the famous aviator, and came very near losing his life. The scene required Mr. Norton to be rescued from the room of a house by Aviator Stevens. It was the first time that such a picture had ever been attempted, because of the difficulty in guiding a balloon accurately. This rescue provides one of the thrills in the great Thanhouser serial, and for that reason Aviator Stevens agreed to make the dangerous house-top landing, which was accomplished successfully. Now Mr. Norton wants to become an aviator.

"'After Leo Stevens rescued me in mid-air,' Mr. Norton said in commenting on his proposed ballooning, 'I felt that when I landed I would never again get into a balloon basket. But I soon changed my mind when I looked down and saw the Hudson River lying under me, seemingly like a great silver thread. There was no danger, and I began to love the flight through space. Before we landed I became a regular air fan, and that I am now. I have made arrangements to enter the balloon race to be held at the Panama-Pacific Exposition. Mr. Stevens will build my balloon for me and he will be the pilot."

Note: His name appeared as "Albert" Norton in several notices.

Thanhouser Filmography:

1914-1915 Serial: The Million Dollar Mystery

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