Charles Winchester Breedlove
Encyclopedia
Charles Winchester Breedlove (1898–1934) was an invalided U.S. Marine, an actor and a motion picture director who died in office while a member of the Los Angeles City Council in the 1930s.
| |}>
Breedlove was born on November 14, 1898, in Fort Smith, Arkansas
, to John Breedlove and Carrie Bruton. He was one of 12 siblings, the others being James Willoughby, John Chisholm, Wharton Hicks, Napoleon, Otho, Robert Bruton, William Otway, Cassie, Walton David and Willard Stapler.
After graduating from Fort Smith High School, Breedlove joined the U.S. Marine Corps in June 1917 and went to officer training school
in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, after which he was commissioned as a second lieutenant
. He was injured in action during World War I and spent six months in Walter Reed Hospital. He was discharged in July 1919.
He moved to Los Angeles in August 1919, where he was married to Ester Egan in 1919; they had two daughters, Signa and June. In that city he joined Metro Goldwyn Studios, where he was an actor and assisted in directing motion pictures, then became a director of educational features. He left MGM in January 1929, and moved to Duluth, Minnesota
, where for six months he directed play revivals for a little theater group. He next went to China to direct educational film
s, then returned to Los Angeles, where he directed films with Educational Studio.
Breedlove died at his home, 3003 Chesapeake Avenue, in the West Adams district on April 26, 1934, after two heart attacks that day, his cardiac condition having been diagnosed when he was discharged from the Marines. His funeral service at Patriotic Hall
with full military honors, was attended by more than a thousand mourners. Burial followed at Rosedale Cemetery.
Breedlove was identified as an "outspoken liberal" who was "never in doubt about where he stands—nor reluctant to make it known." He was called "an expert public speaker" whose campaign for Los Angeles City Council District 11 in 1933 against incumbent Clarence E. Coe
"made considerable headway by reason of this talent." In 1933, the 11th District council member represented the Westside and Palms areas, from the ocean as far east as La Brea Avenue
. Breedlove beat Coe in the final election by 11,275 votes to 9,082.
, but returned seven months later. He then went to Tulsa, Oklahoma
, "to fulfill a theatrical engagement," and in March 1931 went to China but returned "after a few months abroad." He did admit that in obtaining his passport, he gave Muldrow, Oklahoma
, as his "permanent home." The judge hearing the case ruled in Breedlove's favor.
Breedlove was a determined supporter of the tango card games being run at Venice Beach in his district "and spreading throughout the city." He made appearances before women's clubs, where he compared the games to "old-fashioned lotto
and to the elements of chance in bridge
games, which he intimated some of the ladies probably played for '25 cents a corner.'" He said that taxing the tango parlors would bring needed revenue to the city.
He similarly opposed a City Council decision to outlaw the fad of "walkathons" within the city of Los Angeles—similar to a dance marathon
.
Biography
Breedlove was born on November 14, 1898, in Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. With a population of 86,209 in 2010, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents which encompasses the Arkansas...
, to John Breedlove and Carrie Bruton. He was one of 12 siblings, the others being James Willoughby, John Chisholm, Wharton Hicks, Napoleon, Otho, Robert Bruton, William Otway, Cassie, Walton David and Willard Stapler.
After graduating from Fort Smith High School, Breedlove joined the U.S. Marine Corps in June 1917 and went to officer training school
Officer training
Officer training refers to the training that most military officers must complete before acquiring an officer rank. A potential recruit becomes an officer cadet, someone in training. An officer in training can either be trained in a military college like West Point, or taken from the enlisted ranks...
in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, after which he was commissioned as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
. He was injured in action during World War I and spent six months in Walter Reed Hospital. He was discharged in July 1919.
He moved to Los Angeles in August 1919, where he was married to Ester Egan in 1919; they had two daughters, Signa and June. In that city he joined Metro Goldwyn Studios, where he was an actor and assisted in directing motion pictures, then became a director of educational features. He left MGM in January 1929, and moved to Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
, where for six months he directed play revivals for a little theater group. He next went to China to direct educational film
Educational film
An educational film is a film or movie whose primary purpose is to educate. Educational films have been used in classrooms as an alternative to other teaching methods.-Cultural significance:...
s, then returned to Los Angeles, where he directed films with Educational Studio.
Breedlove died at his home, 3003 Chesapeake Avenue, in the West Adams district on April 26, 1934, after two heart attacks that day, his cardiac condition having been diagnosed when he was discharged from the Marines. His funeral service at Patriotic Hall
Bob Hope Patriotic Hall
Bob Hope Patriotic Hall is a 10 story building that was dedicated as Patriotic Hall by the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors in 1925 and was built to serve veterans of Indian Wars, Spanish American War, World War I and to support the Grand Army of the Republic...
with full military honors, was attended by more than a thousand mourners. Burial followed at Rosedale Cemetery.
Election
See also List of Los Angeles municipal election returns, 1933Breedlove was identified as an "outspoken liberal" who was "never in doubt about where he stands—nor reluctant to make it known." He was called "an expert public speaker" whose campaign for Los Angeles City Council District 11 in 1933 against incumbent Clarence E. Coe
Clarence E. Coe
Clarence Elliot Coe , known as Clarence E. Coe, was one of the first settlers and farmers in Palms, California, and a member of the Los Angeles Police Commission from 1929 to 1931 and of the Los Angeles City Council from 1931 to 1933....
"made considerable headway by reason of this talent." In 1933, the 11th District council member represented the Westside and Palms areas, from the ocean as far east as La Brea Avenue
La Brea Avenue
La Brea Avenue is a prominent north/south thoroughfare in Los Angeles. Several museums are located along La Brea, and it is known for having many stores and eateries.-Description:...
. Breedlove beat Coe in the final election by 11,275 votes to 9,082.
Controversies
In his first few months in office, Breedlove's eligibility to hold his seat was challenged by a taxpayer, John S. Carll, who said that Breedlove had not lived in the district for the preceding two years, as required by law. Breedlove testified he left Los Angeles early in 1929, went to Duluth, MinnesotaDuluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
, but returned seven months later. He then went to Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
, "to fulfill a theatrical engagement," and in March 1931 went to China but returned "after a few months abroad." He did admit that in obtaining his passport, he gave Muldrow, Oklahoma
Muldrow, Oklahoma
Muldrow is a town in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,104 at the 2000 census....
, as his "permanent home." The judge hearing the case ruled in Breedlove's favor.
Breedlove was a determined supporter of the tango card games being run at Venice Beach in his district "and spreading throughout the city." He made appearances before women's clubs, where he compared the games to "old-fashioned lotto
Lotto
Lotto can refer to the following:* Lottery, a form of gambling; lottery refers to a collection of games, while certain specific games have Lotto or Loto as the name....
and to the elements of chance in bridge
Contract bridge
Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table...
games, which he intimated some of the ladies probably played for '25 cents a corner.'" He said that taxing the tango parlors would bring needed revenue to the city.
He similarly opposed a City Council decision to outlaw the fad of "walkathons" within the city of Los Angeles—similar to a dance marathon
Dance marathon
A dance marathon is an event in which people stay on their feet for a given length of time. It started as a popular fad in the 1920s and 1930s, when organized dance endurance contests attracted people to compete to achieve fame or win monetary prizes...
.