Alfred Emory Johnson (March 16, 1894 – April 18, 1960) was an American actor, director, producer, and writer. As a teenager, he started acting in silent films. Early in his career, Carl Laemmle chose Emory to become a Universal Studio leading man. He also became part of one of the early Hollywood celebrity marriages when he wed Ella Hall.
In 1922, Emory acted and directed his first feature film – In the Name of The Law. He would continue to direct more feature films until the decade's end. By the early 1930s, his Hollywood career had faded, and Johnson became a portrait photographer. In 1960, he died from burns sustained in a fire.
Early years Emory Johnson was the son of Swedish immigrants. Johnson's father, Alfred (Alf) Jönsson, was born in Veinge, Halland, Sweden, on February 7, 1864. In 1884, his father emigrated to America when he was 20. After his arrival, Jönsson anglicized his name to Johnson. Johnson's mother, Emilie Mathilda Jönsdotter, was born in Gothenburg, Västra Götaland, Sweden, on June 3, 1867. At age , Emilie Jönsdotter departed for America and reached Ellis Island in New York Harbor, on September 24, 1891. While Emilie Jönsdotter was living in San Francisco, she met Alfred Johnson. Following a brief romance, they exchanged vows at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church in San Francisco, California, on May 11, 1893. Their only son, Alfred Emory Johnson, was born in San Francisco on March 16, 1894.
According to the 1900 census, the Johnson family rented a large house on Bush Street in San Francisco, California. The same census listed Emory's father as a On Wednesday, April 18, 1906, San Francisco suffered a major earthquake. In the quake's aftermath, fires broke out, destroying 80% of the city and resulting in 3,000 deaths. The Turkish bath, managed by Alf Johnson, was destroyed. Following the quake, the Johnson family moved to nearby Alameda, California in 1908. Emory's father established the Piedmont Baths in 1910 to provide for the family.
Johnson attended Oakland High School, then studied architecture at the University of California, Berkeley. After spending a year and a half in college, he quit his studies and searched for employment. Johnson would later say,
Career Essanay years
In 1912, -year-old Johnson began a motorcar journey through the picturesque Niles Canyon in the San Francisco Bay Area. While driving, he heard noises that sounded like gunshots. Out of nowhere, As events unfolded, he encountered a film crew shooting a Western movie. The Essanay Studios, based in Niles, was creating one of their famous Broncho Billy westerns.
These early Essanay Westerns showcased the first cowboy star of the silver screen, Gilbert Anderson. Future Western stars were forever indebted to this During that period, Essanay Studios was co-owned by Anderson and George Kirke Spoor.
Emory became captivated by the Film industry. He began hanging around the film crews, offering to do odd jobs. Eventually, Gilbert Anderson noticed Johnson. In September 1912, Anderson offered to give the 18-year-old an entry-level job as an assistant cameraman, paying $8.50 per week ( or $13,400 yr). His new job allowed him to learn about the movie business from the ground up.
Johnson operated in that capacity until September 1913, when he signed his first movie contract with Essanay. He appeared in his first film, as an uncredited extra. Johnson was when this film came out on September 13, 1913. He made three more Western short films in 1913.
Johnson, now Essanay's latest received his first movie credit on in January 1914 when he was years old. Johnson started landing more crucial roles in Essanay Westerns. He marked his first top billing in a short drama, released on February 19, 1914. Later, he earned another top billing in a short comedy, released on March 12, 1914. He landed roles in the Snakeville comedy series and the series of comedies. In 1914, Johnson made nineteen short films for Essanay. 1914 became the highest movie output of Johnson's entire career. The last film Johnson, now , made for Essanay, was the short Western, released on June 27, 1914.
Emory Johnson worked for Essanay for two years, from 1912 through 1914. Johnson's rapid ascent at Essanay was achieved in ten months, from September 1913 until June 1914. Johnson acted in 23 short films for Essanay, including nine Broncho Billy Westerns.
However, Essanay relied on producing short films, but this dependence had consequences. Moviegoers requested feature-length movies, and Essanay lacked the resources to produce these types of films. The bottom line is that Essanay was losing money. In late 1914 and early 1915, Essanay hemorrhaged talent, including Marguerite Clayton, Carl Stockdale, Emory Johnson, Vera Hewitt, True Boardman, and Virginia True Boardman. The Liberty Film Company in San Mateo hired many actors and actresses who quit Essanay.
The main factors fueling the talent exit were Essanay's inability to produce feature-length movies and the company's decline in revenue. Following a short pause in 1915, the Niles Essanay studio closed its doors on February 16, 1916.
The Liberty Film Company
Emory's last film for Essanay was released in June 1914. There would be a year's lapse before releasing his next movie. In 1915, Emory turned 21 and invested in his own motion picture company – Liberty Motion Picture Company. Liberty Film Company was formed in June 1914 and is based in Germantown, Pennsylvania. The company was reorganized in November 1914. The new owners relocated the offices and lots to San Mateo and Glendale, California. The Alaskan Millionaires that purchased the company had plenty of cash and state-of-the-art facilities. Emory jumped from Essanay to Liberty films.
Because of his late start, Emory's film output dropped substantially. Emory made only four motion pictures in 1915. His first was His Masterpiece, a two-reeler released in September 1915, and another two-reeler would follow – Her Devoted Son (Several alternative listings show Devoted Son). In the waning months of 1915, he acted in his last two films for Liberty. He would share top billing with Marguerite Clayton for making the feature films – The Birthmark and The Black Heart. Both films were Dramas. By December 1915, Emory had left Liberty.
In December 1915, a receiver was appointed. Liberty burned to the ground in 1916.
Universal years In January 1916, Emory signed a contract with Universal Film Manufacturing Company. He would make 17 movies that year, including six shorts and 11 feature-length Dramas. This year would become the second-highest movie output of his entire acting career.
At Universal, Emory met Hobart Bosworth. Hobart Bosworth was a well-known actor and director. He took young Emory under his wing. Emory's first two movies for Universal were the Westerns – The Yaqui and Two Men of Sandy Bar. Both films were feature-length and starred Hobart Bosworth. Later in the year, Emory would make two more films with Hobart. They would continue collaborating in other films in the coming years, including the last film Emory would direct. The film was the 1932 talkie The Phantom Express. After Emory Johnson signed his Universal contract in early 1916, Carl Laemmle, the owner of Universal Pictures, thought he had found a new leading man. Laemmle was looking for a male lead like Wallace Reid. He also wanted to develop a cinematic pair that would captivate audiences.
Johnson became Laemmle's choice for his new leading man. Laemmle chose Dorothy Davenport to spark screen chemistry with Johnson. She was a Universal contract player who was Wallace Reid's wife. Universal's top director, Lloyd B. Carleton, was tasked by Laemmle to direct all of this pair's films.
The collaboration of Johnson and Davenport resulted in 13 films, beginning with the release of Doctor Neighbor in May 1916. The last film in the series was The Devil's Bondwoman, released in November 1916. The majority of the movies were feature films. All the films featured Johnson and Davenport as the main stars.
Davenport became pregnant in October 1916, and her film output dropped sharply in early 1917. In the end, Laemmle felt Johnson was not talented nor charismatic enough. He would not be Universal's version of Wally Reid. Laemmle felt that the films needed more screen chemistry, even if they made money. In June 1918, Universal failed to renew the contract of Emory Johnson.
The table below lists the 13 films Johnson and Davenport collaborated on. TitleReleasedDirectorDavenport roleJohnson roleTypeTimeLOCBrandNotesDoctor NeighborCarletonHazel RogersHamilton PowersDramaFeature lostRed FeatherHer Husband's FaithCarletonMabel OttoRichard OttoDramaShort lostUniversalHeartaches CarletonVirginia PayneS Jackson HuntDramaShort lostUniversalTwo MothersCarletonVioletta Andree2nd HusbandDramaShort lostUniversalHer Soul's SongCarletonMary SalsburyPaul ChandosDramaShort lostUniversal The Way of the World Carleton Beatrice Farley Walter Croyden Drama Feature lost Red Feather No. 16 Martin Street CarletonCleoJacques FournierDramaShort lostUniversalA Yoke of Gold CarletonCarmenJose GarciaDramaFeature lostRed FeatherThe UnattainableCarletonBessie GaleRobert GoodmanDramaFeature1 of 5 reelsBluebirdBlack Friday CarletonElionor RossitorCharles DaltonDramaFeature lostRed FeatherThe Human Gamble CarletonFlavia HillCharles HillDramaShort lostUniversalBarriers of SocietyCarletonMartha GorhamWestie PhillipsDramaFeature1 of 5 reelsRed FeatherThe Devil's BondwomanCarletonBeverly HopeMason Van HortonDramaFeature lostRed Feather
In March 1917, Emory Johnson turned 23 years old. He completes his WWI draft registration but claims exception due to a "Nervous heart" and "Chronic stomach trouble." Provided in association with National Archives and Records Administration His 1917 film output drops to 4 pictures. He made The Gift Girl released in March 1917. He puts three more in the can before June 1917. At the end of 1917, Emory and Ella Hall were cast together playing husband and wife in – My Little Boy The film was released in December 1917. They would make three more films together in 1918, including their last Universal film – A Mothers Secret, released in April 1918.
In June 1918, Universal failed to renew the contracts of Ella Hall and Emory Johnson. The news was a minor announcement buried deep in the Hollywood trade newspapers. In reality, Laemmle thought Emory did not have the talent or screen presence he wanted. He wasn't going to become Universal's answer to Wally Reid. After all, Wally Reid was well on his way to becoming "The screen's most perfect lover." Ella Hall was pregnant with their first child at their release. The last movie the couple filmed together also became Emory's last movie for Universal – A Mother's Secret. Ella's last movie for Universal was Three Mounted Men released in October 1918. Emory made 27 films for Universal, mostly dramas with a mixture of comedies and Westerns.
Independent years As explained previously, Emory's Universal contract ended in May 1918. Thus, in 1918, 24-year-old Emory Johnson became a free agent. He could now pick and choose his projects. Emory's first movie was released in August 1918. The movie was – Green Eyes with Dorothy Dalton. Next would follow the very successful Johanna Enlists with Mary Pickford. Then A Lady's Name with Constance Talmadge followed by The Ghost Flower with Alma Rubens.
In 1919, Emory acted in seven movies, including The Woman Next Door with Ethel Clayton. Emory ended 1919 with a role in the successful Alias Mike Moran featuring Wallace Reid and Ann Little.
In 1920, Emory acted in five films, including Polly of the Storm Country, sharing top billing with Mildred Harris.