Creighton Hale (born Patrick Wills Fitzgerald; May 24, 1882 – August 9, 1965)Hollywood Star Walk, Los Angeles Times was an Irish-American theatre, film, and television actor whose career extended more than a half-century, from the early 1900s to the end of the 1950s.Creighton Hale at Silent Hollywood.com (includes seven glossy photographs)
Career Hale was born in County Cork, Ireland,Willis, John, ed. (1966; 1983). Screen World, 1966. Cheshire, CN: Biblo-Moser. p. 37. . one of two children of Maud V. Hale and Daniel Fitzgerald."California, County Marriages, 1850-1952," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8JQ-SKY : 9 March 2021), Creighton Hale and Kathleen E Bering, 01 Aug 1931; citing Los Angeles, California, United States, county courthouses, California; FHL microfilm 2,074,934."New York Passenger Arrival Lists (Ellis Island), 1892-1924", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JJ81-1PG : 2 March 2021), Patrick Creighton Hale, 1910. Educated in Dublin and London, he later attended Ardingly College in Sussex.The Motion Picture Almanac. New York: Quigley Publishing Company. 1931. p. 169.
He emigrated to the United States in 1910, with a company headed by Gertrude Elliott. Remaining in the country, he acted in stock theater in Hartford, Indianapolis, and other cities, billed initially as Pat Creighton Hale. While starring in Charles Frohman's Broadway production of Indian Summer, Hale was spotted by a representative of the Pathe Film Company."Creighton Hale, the Pathe Actor". The Moving Picture World. Vol. 25, No. 2; July 10, 1915. p. 289. Retrieved January 26, 2023.Slide, Anthony (1988). The Cinema and Ireland. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company pp. 86–87. . He eventually became known simply as Creighton Hale, although the derivation of "Creighton" remains unknown. Making his screen debut in The Exploits of Elaine (1914), Hale had prominent supporting roles in films like D.W. Griffith's Way Down East, Orphans of the Storm, and The Idol Dancer,"News and Views of Stage and Screen; Famous Screen Players Appear in 'The Idol Dancer'". The Daily Ontario. p. 3. Retrieved January 24, 2023. and later starred in such films as The Marriage Circle, Seven Footprints to Satan and The Cat and the Canary. Regarding the latter, Picture Show wrote of Hale's performance, "He makes no attempt to be impressive. He is just natural."
It was thought that in 1923 Hale starred in an early pornographic "stag" film On the Beach ( Getting His Goat and The Goat Man).Penley, Constance. "Crackers and Whackers: The White Trashing of Porn" in Williams, Linda, ed. (2004). Porn Studies. Durham, NC: Duke University Press. p. 314. . In the film, three nude women agree to have sex with him, but only through a hole in a fence. Photographs of the scene clearly show that the man in the film is not Hale, but is another actor who also wore glasses.Biography with comparison photos of Hale and "The Goat Man", UnsungJoe website. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
When talkies came about, Hale's career declined. He made several appearances in Hal Roach's Our Gang series (School's Out, Big Ears, Free Wheeling), and also played uncredited bits in major talking films such as Larceny, Inc., The Maltese Falcon, and Casablanca.
Personal life Hale's two sons, Creighton Hale Jr. and Robert Lowe Hale, from his first marriage to Victoire Lowe, were adopted by Lowe's second husband, actor John Miljan. After his divorce, Hale married Kathleen Bering in Los Angeles in 1931.
Hale's sister-in-law, Isabelle Lowe,Patterson, Ada (December 20, 1919). "The Love Romance That Began With a Bet; A Challenge to Cupid". The Tampa Tribune. p. 19. Retrieved January 25, 2023."Isabelle Lowe Lauds Creighton Hale". The Courier (Harrisburg, PA). p. 6. Retrieved January 26, 2023. was both an accomplished stage actress and a published author and aspiring playwright."The Dancer". Cosmopolitan. p. 68. Retrieved January 25, 2023.Isabelle Lowe: Credits. IBDb.Lowe, Isabelle (1907). Lillian, the Beautiful Typewriter: A Thrilling Tale of Modern City Life. Baltimore, MD: I. Ottenheimer Publishers.Library of Congress Copyright Office (1918). Dramatic Compositions Copyrighted in the United States, 1870 to 1916, Volume 1. U.S. Government Printing Office. She and Hale performed together at least twice during the early 1920s—co-starring in revivals of Rida Johnson Young's Little Old New York and A.E. Thomas's Just Suppose"Theatrical Notes". The New York Times. July 1, 1922. p. 16. Retrieved January 29, 2023."Isabelle Lowe in the character of Patricia O'Day and Creighton Hale in the role of Larry Delvan in 'Little Old New York'". The San Francisco Examiner. p. 11. Retrieved January 29, 2023."Isabelle Lowe and Creighton Hale in 'Just Suppose'". Los Angeles School Journal. February 16 1923. p. 32. Retrieved January 25, 2023.—and co-authored two never-produced plays.Library of Congress Copyright Office (February 1, 1921). "Catalogue of Copyright Entries; Part 1, Group 2: Pamphlets, Leaflets, Contributions to newspapers or Periodicals, Etc.; Lectures, Sermons, Addresses for Oral Delivery; Dramatic Compositions; Maps; Motion Pictures; 1921: New series, Volume 18, No. 1. U.S. Government Printing Office.Library of Congress Copyright Office (1921). "Catalog of Copyright Entries. Part 1. [B Group 2. Pamphlets, Etc. New Series"]. U.S. Government Printing Office.
Hale died at the Motion Picture Country Home on August 9, 1965, at age 83. In accordance with his wishes, no funeral service was held, his remains were cremated at Chapel of the Pines, and his ashes were brought to rest at Duncans Mills Cemetery in Northern California."Creighton Hale, Pioneer Motion Picture Actor, Dies". The Valley News. August 12, 1965. p. 38. Retrieved January 24, 2022.Wilson, Scott (2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 307. .
Selected filmography
The Million Dollar Mystery (1914) – Gang Member (film debut) The Stain (1914) – Office Clerk The Taint (1914) – Walter, Madame Bartlett's Son The Three of Us (1914) – Clem The Exploits of Elaine (1914, Serial) – Walter Jameson (Ep. 1, 2, 3, 6) A Fool There Was (1915) – Minor Role The New Exploits of Elaine (1915) – Walter Jameson The Romance of Elaine (1915, Serial) – Reuben Whitcomb Hazel Kirke (1916) – Pittacus Greene The Iron Claw (1916, Serial) – Davey Charity (1916) – Jimmie Fleming (Mary's brother) Snow White (1916) – Prince Florimond The Seven Pearls (1917) – Harry Drake Mrs. Slacker (1918) – Robert Gibbs For Sale (1918) – Waverly Hamilton Annexing Bill (1918) – Billy Waifs (1918) – Fitzjames Powers His Bonded Wife (1918) – Philip Hazard The Woman the Germans Shot (1918) – Frank Brooks The Great Victory (1919) – Conrad Le Brett Oh, Boy! (1919) – George Budd The Thirteenth Chair (1919) – Willy Grosby The Love Cheat (1919) – Henry Calvin A Damsel in Distress (1919) – George Bevan The Black Circle (1919) – Andrew MacTavish Ferguson The Idol Dancer (1920) – Walter Kincaid A Child for Sale (1920) – Charles Stoddard Way Down East (1920) – Professor Sterling Forbidden Love (1921) – Harold Van Zandt Orphans of the Storm (1921) – Picard Fascination (1922) – Carlos de Lisa (her brother) Her Majesty (1922) – Ted Harper Mary of the Movies (1923) – The Boy Three Wise Fools (1923) – Young Trumbull Trilby (1923) – Little Billee Broken Hearts of Broadway (1923) – An Outcast Tea: With a Kick! (1923) – Art Binger The Marriage Circle (1924) – Dr. Gustav Mueller Name the Man (1924) – Alick Gell How to Educate a Wife (1924) – Billy Breese Riders Up (1924) – Johnny, a.k.a. Information Kid Wine of Youth (1924) – Richard (1897 prologue) The Mine with the Iron Door (1924) – St. Jimmy This Woman (1924) – Bobby Bleedon The Bridge of Sighs (1925) – Billy Craig Seven Days (1925) – Jim Wilson The Circle (1925) – Arnold Cheney Exchange of Wives (1925) – Victor Moran Time, the Comedian (1925) – Tom Cautley The Shadow on the Wall (1925) – George Walters Wages for Wives (1925) – Danny Kester Beverly of Graustark (1926) – Prince Oscar A Poor Girl's Romance (1926) – Wellington Kingston The Midnight Message (1926) – Billy Dodd Oh, Baby! (1926) – Arthur Graham Speeding Through (1926) Should Men Walk Home? (1927, Short) – The Gentleman Crook Why Girls Say No (1927, Short) – Becky's Boyfriend One Hour Married (1927, Short) Annie Laurie (1927) – Donald Thumbs Down (1927) – Richard Hale The Cat and the Canary (1927) – Paul Jones Rose-Marie (1928) – Etienne Doray Riley of the Rainbow Division (1928) – Riley Sisters of Eve (1928) – Leonard Tavernake The House of Shame (1928) – Harvey Baremore Seven Footprints to Satan (1929) – James Kirkham The Great Divide (1929) – Edgar Blossom Holiday (1930) – Pete Hedges School's Out (1930, Short) – Jack Crabtree – Miss Crabtree's Brother Big Ears (1931, Short) – Wheezer's father Grief Street (1931) – Ted Prestige (1931) – Lieutenant at Engagement Party (uncredited) The Greeks Had a Word for Them (1932) – Wedding Supervisor (uncredited) Shop Angel (1932) – Maxie Morton Free Wheeling (1932, Short) – Dickie's Father Sensation Hunters (1933) – Fred Barrett The Masquerader (1933) – Bobby Blessington (uncredited) Only Yesterday (1933) – (uncredited) What's Your Racket? (1934) – Chief Gambling Lady (1934) – Funeral Attendee (uncredited) George White's Scandals (1934) – Theatre Treasurer (uncredited) The Thin Man (1934) – Reporter (uncredited) Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back (1934) – Wedding Guest (uncredited) The President Vanishes (1934) – Wardell's Secretary (uncredited) Helldorado (1935) – Newspaper Reporter (uncredited) Mystery Woman (1935) – Radio Operator (uncredited) One More Spring (1935) – Minor Role (uncredited) Life Begins at 40 (1935) – Drug Clerk (uncredited) Million Dollar Haul (1935) – Arthur 'Curley' Roberts Becky Sharp (1935) – British Officer (uncredited) Men Without Names (1935) – Groom Death from a Distance (1935) – Witness (uncredited) Your Uncle Dudley (1935) – Auto Salesman (uncredited) Custer's Last Stand (1936, Serial) – Hank The Music Goes 'Round (1936) – Man on the Street (uncredited) The Millionaire Kid (1936) – Thomas Neville Till We Meet Again (1936) – English Artillery Officer (uncredited) The Country Beyond (1936) – Mountie (uncredited) The Crime of Dr. Forbes (1936) – Student Doctor (uncredited) 36 Hours to Kill (1936) – Ticket Agent (uncredited) Hollywood Boulevard (1936) – Himself – Actor at Trocadero Bar Under Your Spell (1936) – Bailiff (uncredited) Find the Witness (1937) – Bell Captain Step Lively, Jeeves! (1937) – Reporter (uncredited) Midnight Taxi (1937) – G-Man (uncredited) Charlie Chan on Broadway (1937) – Reporter (uncredited) Big Town Girl (1937) – Desk Man (uncredited) International Settlement (1938) – Clerk (uncredited) One Wild Night (1938) – Bank Teller (uncredited) Meet the Girls (1938) – Assistant Bartender (uncredited) Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939) – Draftsman (uncredited) Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter (1939) – Man in Sheriff's Office (uncredited) Indianapolis Speedway (1939) – Racetrack Official (uncredited) The Cowboy Quarterback (1939) – Broadcaster (uncredited) Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite (1939) – Hotel Desk Clerk Everybody's Hobby (1939) – Hatfield's Reporter (uncredited) Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939) – Reporter Dust Be My Destiny (1939) – Nick's Second Customer (uncredited) On Your Toes (1939) – First Stage Manager (uncredited) Pride of the Blue Grass (1939) – English Announcer (uncredited) On Dress Parade (1939) – Doctor Telling Cadets 'No Visitors' (uncredited) The Roaring Twenties (1939) – Customer (uncredited) Kid Nightingale (1939) – Man Answering Telephone at Lessernan's Gymnasium (uncredited) The Return of Doctor X (1939) – Hotel Manager