Burr McIntosh
Encyclopedia
William Burr McIntosh had an eclectic career. He was known, at different points in his life, to be a lecturer, photographer, movie studio owner, silent film
actor, author, publisher of Burr McIntosh Monthly
, reporter and a pioneer in the early movie and radio business.
, the son of William Ambrose and Minerva McIntosh. His father was the president of a public utility, New York and Cleveland Gas Coal Company, and a member of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club
. The club's activities were blamed (but the members were not held legally responsible) for the failure of the South Fork Dam
, which caused the Johnstown Flood
in 1889 that resulted in the loss of over 2,200 lives in Johnstown, Pennsylvania
. His sister Nancy McIntosh
, an operatic soprano
, was the protégée, adopted daughter and heiress to the estate and royalties of W. S. Gilbert
of Gilbert and Sullivan
.
McIntosh graduated from Lafayette College
in 1884, where he became a member of the Sigma Chi
fraternity.
He began as a stage actor and then moved into silent films. His most enduring role was Squire Bartlett, who banished the character played by Lillian Gish from his home and into the cold Maine winter in D.W. Griffith's classic film, Way Down East
(1920). Miss Gish described McIntosh as a gentle giant, "always apologizing for having to treat me so cruelly…". He appeared in 53 films between 1914
and 1934
.
He died in Hollywood, California from a heart attack
.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
actor, author, publisher of Burr McIntosh Monthly
Burr McIntosh Monthly
Burr McIntosh Monthly was a monthly magazine started by Burr McIntosh and lasted from 1903-1910. It consisted mainly of photographs of famous people and landscapes, and was bound by string so as to encourage framing of the photographs.-External sources:...
, reporter and a pioneer in the early movie and radio business.
Life and career
He was born in Wellsville, OhioWellsville, Ohio
Wellsville is a village in Columbiana County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 4,133 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, the son of William Ambrose and Minerva McIntosh. His father was the president of a public utility, New York and Cleveland Gas Coal Company, and a member of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club
South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club
The South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club was a Pennsylvania corporation which operated an exclusive and secretive retreat at a mountain lake near South Fork, Pennsylvania for more than fifty extremely wealthy men and their families...
. The club's activities were blamed (but the members were not held legally responsible) for the failure of the South Fork Dam
South Fork Dam
The South Fork Dam was located on Lake Conemaugh, an artificial body of water located near South Fork, Pennsylvania, United States. On May 31, 1889, the South Fork Dam failed catastrophically and 20 million tons of water from Lake Conemaugh burst through and raced 14 miles downstream, causing the...
, which caused the Johnstown Flood
Johnstown Flood
The Johnstown Flood occurred on May 31, 1889. It was the result of the catastrophic failure of the South Fork Dam situated upstream of the town of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA, made worse by several days of extremely heavy rainfall...
in 1889 that resulted in the loss of over 2,200 lives in Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
. His sister Nancy McIntosh
Nancy McIntosh
Nancy McIntosh was an American-born singer and actress who performed mostly on the London stage. Her father was a member of the notorious South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, which had been blamed in connection with the 1889 Johnstown Flood that resulted in the loss of over 2,200 lives in...
, an operatic soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
, was the protégée, adopted daughter and heiress to the estate and royalties of W. S. Gilbert
W. S. Gilbert
Sir William Schwenck Gilbert was an English dramatist, librettist, poet and illustrator best known for his fourteen comic operas produced in collaboration with the composer Sir Arthur Sullivan, of which the most famous include H.M.S...
of Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the librettist W. S. Gilbert and the composer Arthur Sullivan . The two men collaborated on fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S...
.
McIntosh graduated from Lafayette College
Lafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
in 1884, where he became a member of the Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi
Sigma Chi is the largest and one of the oldest college Greek-letter secret and social fraternities in North America with 244 active chapters and more than . Sigma Chi was founded on June 28, 1855 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio when members split from Delta Kappa Epsilon...
fraternity.
He began as a stage actor and then moved into silent films. His most enduring role was Squire Bartlett, who banished the character played by Lillian Gish from his home and into the cold Maine winter in D.W. Griffith's classic film, Way Down East
Way Down East
Way Down East is a silent film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Lillian Gish. It is the best known of four film adaptations of the melodramatic 19th century play Way Down East by Lottie Blair Parker...
(1920). Miss Gish described McIntosh as a gentle giant, "always apologizing for having to treat me so cruelly…". He appeared in 53 films between 1914
1914 in film
The year 1914 in film involved some significant events, including the debut of Cecil B. DeMille as a director.-Events:*The 3,300-seat Mark Strand Theatre opens in New York City....
and 1934
1934 in film
-Events:*January 26 - Samuel Goldwyn purchases the film rights to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from the L. Frank Baum estate for $40,000.*February 19 - Bob Hope marries Dolores Reade...
.
He died in Hollywood, California from a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
.
Selected filmography
- The New Adventures of J. Rufus WallingfordThe New Adventures of J. Rufus Wallingford-Cast:* Burr McIntosh - J. Rufus 'Jim Wallingford* Max Figman - Blackie Daw* Lolita Robertson - Violet Warden* Frances White - Fanny Warden* Edward O'Connor - Onion Jones* Harry Mainhall - Benzy Falls Jr.* Allan Murnane - Andre Perigourd...
(1915) - Restless WivesRestless WivesRestless Wives is a 1924 silent melodrama, directed by Gregory La Cava.-Plot:Polly, is a wealthy wife neglected by her husband James Benson. When a business engagement causes James to miss their wedding anniversary, Polly goes with admirer Curtis Wilbur to a cabaret, and later she decides to go...
(1924) - The Green ArcherThe Green Archer (1925 serial)The Green Archer is a 1925 mystery film serial directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet.-Cast:* Allene Ray - Valerie Howett* Walter Miller - Jim Featherstone* Burr McIntosh - Abel Bellamy* Frank Lackteen - Julius Savini* Dorothy King - Gay Savini...
(1925) - The Golden StallionThe Golden StallionThe Golden Stallion is a 1927 Western film serial directed by Harry S. Webb.-Cast:* Maurice Bennett Flynn - Wynne Randall* Joe Bonomo - Ewart Garth* Jay J...
(1927)