Volume III: Biographies

NOEL, William ("Billy") **

Actor, studio employee (1912-1916)

Studio portrait of William Noel (L), known as "Billy," was an actor, assistant cameraman, and all-around helper. Courtesy of Dominick Bruzzese (P-276)

Billy Noel (R), holding a watering can to the extreme left on the roof, in a photo captioned "making rain," from his personal effects. Courtesy of Dominick Bruzzese (P-275)

Thanhouser Career Synopsis: Billy Noel was working for Thanhouser by 1912 and subsequently appeared in Thanhouser films through 1916.

Biographical Notes: William ("Billy") Noel was by profession a chauffeur and, in the summer, a lifeguard at Hudson Park in New Rochelle, but he found time to act in numerous Thanhouser films and was a stuntman or double in others. A man of many interests and talents, he also worked behind the scenes as an assistant cameraman, as an originator of special effects, and in other studio capacities. From 1911 through at least 1918 he lived in New Rochelle at 39 North Avenue. His given name appeared in many forms in trade notices, including Billy, Bill, and William. To his friends in New Rochelle he was often known as "Pep." In 1918 and 1919 he was active in films in New Rochelle with companies which occupied the Thanhouser studio facilities after the Thanhouser Film Corporation ceased business. He later went to California, and for several years was employed as a cameraman, actor, and stuntman.

Billy Noel, who never married, apparently enjoyed the company of men more than that of women, for many of his vacations were spent with male companions in various spas and resorts, especially in Colorado and on the coast of Maine. During the dead of winter he was fond of taking icy swims in Hudson Park, which earned him the sobriquet of "human polar bear." Such wintry swims were part of the 1913 film, Her Nephew From Labrador, and the 1914 film, One Hour of Youth. A well-known local "character," Billy Noel was widely liked by the citizens of New Rochelle. Tom Hoctor, New Rochelle historian, recalled that Billy Noel stated that in the 1914-1915 serial, The Million Dollar Mystery, he doubled for certain other players, including a scene where Noel floated as a corpse in a creek. Following Billy Noel's death, a number of his photographic albums were acquired by Dominick Bruzzese.

His Passing: The following obituary appeared in the New Rochelle Standard-Star, August 14, 1969: "William Francois 'Pep' Noel, a vigorous individualist all his life, lost his battle for life last night at New Rochelle Hospital. He died at 7 p.m. The 84-year-old longtime resident who was a familiar figure in this city had been stricken August 5 with a cerebral hemorrhage at the New Rochelle Tennis Club, where he had been groundskeeper for more than 20 years. The stories about 'Pep' were legion. A native of Canada, he was a man who believed in long walks and the outdoor life. He neither drank nor smoked and was a vegetarian all his life. Known to residents for his constant hiking (he never rode anywhere) he grew up in the pioneer days of the motion picture industry. He was a stunt man and cameraman (in those days actors did everything) and was the original 'Tarzan' in the silent films.

"He made movies with D.W. Griffith when he had a studio in Mamaroneck and also worked for Thanhouser studios in New Rochelle in those early days of film making. When the industry moved to California, Pep went along as a cameraman and stuntman, but eventually returned to New Rochelle, probably when movies changed to big business and glamor in the '20s. He was once the rowing coach for the New Rochelle Rowing Club, and according to a former club member, now living in California, he fought the board of governors of the Rowing Club when they reportedly blackballed a number of Italian-American boys who wanted to become members. The same man says that Pep did all his life what the hippies and flower people are trying to do, in the best sense. He saw the unfairness and wickedness in our society and wanted no part of it, becoming a 'free soul.' 'You might say he was a Gandhi without followers,' his old friend said. Another resident recalls how Pep had taught her children to ice skate at Huguenot Lake a number of years ago.

"The stories of his frugality, part of his philosophy of life, are many. Pep, so the story goes, refused to pay the nickel fare on the ferry of Long Island Sound many years ago and always swam across, a considerable distance. He was proud and although he was eligible years ago to collect Social Security, he refused to collect it. He was a daily visitor to the Fire Station on North Avenue at Eastchester Road, where he cooked his simple supper, and socialized for a few hours. Wherever he went he was followed by his cocker spaniel, Taffy. The present Taffy is the third one and old himself. He is being cared for by Mr. and Mrs. Philip Lautkin at the Tennis Club, who said they will continue to do so as long as Taffy lives. The dog refuses to eat but they are feeding him by hand as best they can. Pep was one of the founders of the old Polar Bear Club, an informal group of men who swam daily in Long Island Sound, whether the weather was freezing or not. He has no family. He never married. His mother is buried here in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery."

Notes: The New Rochelle Pioneer, April 22, 1916, listed a Frank E. Noel among the Thanhouser players who were to stage a minstrel show on April 27th. However, the same account contained many misspellings of names, "Eugene Mohr" for Eugene Moore, for example, and it may be the case that William Noel was intended for the Frank E. Noel listing. If not, then Frank E. Noel represents another employee. In some accounts, William Noel's middle name was given as Eugene; in others, as Francois.

Thanhouser Filmography:

1913: Her Nephews from Labrador (1-26-1913), Brethren of the Sacred Fish (7-20-1913), The Farmer's Daughters (9-28-1913), The Henpecked Hod Carrier (11-30-1913), What Might Have Been (12-5-1913)

1914: An Elusive Diamond (1-23-1914), The Success of Selfishness (2-6-1914), The Skating Master (2-15-1914), Billy's Ruse (Princess 3-13-1914), The Eugenic Boy (3-15-1914), Their Cousin from England (3-22-1914), A Seminary Consumed By Flames (3-4-1914), An Hour of Youth (4-12-1914), The Strategy of Conductor 786 (4-26-1914), From the Flames (4-28-1914), Beating Back (released by Direct-From-Broadway Features 6-9-1914), For Her Child (6-23-1914), The Tell-Tale Scar (8-9-1914), The Varsity Race (9-22-1914), The Rescue (10-11-1914)

1914-1915 Serial: The Million Dollar Mystery

1916: The Professor's Peculiar Precautions (Falstaff 4-8-1916), Simple Simon's Schooling (Falstaff 4-22-1916)

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