Jack J. Clark
Encyclopedia
Jack Clark was an American director and actor of the early motion picture industry.
Born John J. Clark in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
he became a theatrical actor and was induced to enter motion pictures in 1907 by Sidney Olcott
of the New York based Kalem Studios
during the silent film era. He traveled through 24 countries with the film company becoming one of the first American film stars to go on foreign location. While in the Holy Land, Kalem Studios produced the first passion play, From the Manger to the Cross
, casting Jack Clark as John the Apostle.
In 1912, Jack Clark married actress and co-star Gene Gauntier
in Palestine
. They divorced in 1918.
During a three-year leave from the film industry in the early 1920’s, Jack was instructor of dramatic arts at Villanova University
. He organized a dramatic workshop and produced the mystical play Vision. About the same time he staged a pageant Charity with a cast of 600 persons, which established new records at the Philadelphia Metropolitan Opera House. He also wrote and produced a dramatic musical pageant Columbus which, with a cast of more than 1000 was staged at the Philadelphia Academy of Music for the Knights of Columbus
.
In 1929, Jack Clark married Francis Rose Musolf.
Among Jack Clark’s plays were The Prince of Pilsen and 45 Minutes from Broadway. Among the films he acted in were The Colleen Bawn
(1911), From the Manger to the Cross
(1912), The Shaughraun
(1912), The Last of the Mafia (1915), A Fool’s Paradise (1916), Audrey (1916), Pajamas (1927), Love and Learn (1928), and Broadway Howdy (1929). Among the films he directed were The Yankee Girl (1915) and The Mad Maid of the Forest (1915).
Jack Clark died in 1947 in Hollywood, California.
Born John J. Clark in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
he became a theatrical actor and was induced to enter motion pictures in 1907 by Sidney Olcott
Sidney Olcott
Sidney Olcott was a Canadian-born film producer, director, actor and screenwriter.-Biography:Born John Sidney Alcott in Toronto, he became one of the first great directors of the motion picture business...
of the New York based Kalem Studios
Kalem Company
The Kalem Company was an American film studio founded in New York City in 1907 by George Kleine, Samuel Long , and Frank J. Marion.The company immediately joined other studios in the Motion Picture Patents Company that held a monopoly on production and distribution...
during the silent film era. He traveled through 24 countries with the film company becoming one of the first American film stars to go on foreign location. While in the Holy Land, Kalem Studios produced the first passion play, From the Manger to the Cross
From the Manger to the Cross
From the Manger to the Cross or Jesus of Nazareth is a 1912 American motion picture filmed on location in Palestine which tells the story of Jesus' life. Directed by Sidney Olcott who also appeared in the film, actress and screenwriter Gene Gauntier wrote the script and portrayed the Virgin Mary...
, casting Jack Clark as John the Apostle.
In 1912, Jack Clark married actress and co-star Gene Gauntier
Gene Gauntier
Gene Gauntier was an American screenwriter and actress who was one of the pioneers of the motion picture industry. A writer, director and actress in films from early 1906 to 1920, she wrote screenplays for 31 films...
in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
. They divorced in 1918.
During a three-year leave from the film industry in the early 1920’s, Jack was instructor of dramatic arts at Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
. He organized a dramatic workshop and produced the mystical play Vision. About the same time he staged a pageant Charity with a cast of 600 persons, which established new records at the Philadelphia Metropolitan Opera House. He also wrote and produced a dramatic musical pageant Columbus which, with a cast of more than 1000 was staged at the Philadelphia Academy of Music for the Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
.
In 1929, Jack Clark married Francis Rose Musolf.
Among Jack Clark’s plays were The Prince of Pilsen and 45 Minutes from Broadway. Among the films he acted in were The Colleen Bawn
The Colleen Bawn
The Colleen Bawn, or The Brides of Garryowen is a melodramatic play written by Irish playwright Dion Boucicault. It was first performed at Miss Laura Keene's Theatre, New York, on 27 March 1860 with Laura Keene playing Anne Chute and Boucicault playing Myles na Coppaleen. It was most recently...
(1911), From the Manger to the Cross
From the Manger to the Cross
From the Manger to the Cross or Jesus of Nazareth is a 1912 American motion picture filmed on location in Palestine which tells the story of Jesus' life. Directed by Sidney Olcott who also appeared in the film, actress and screenwriter Gene Gauntier wrote the script and portrayed the Virgin Mary...
(1912), The Shaughraun
The Shaughraun
The Shaughraun is a melodramatic play written by Irish playwright Dion Boucicault. It was first performed at Wallack's Theatre, New York, on 14 November 1874. Boucicault played Con in the original production...
(1912), The Last of the Mafia (1915), A Fool’s Paradise (1916), Audrey (1916), Pajamas (1927), Love and Learn (1928), and Broadway Howdy (1929). Among the films he directed were The Yankee Girl (1915) and The Mad Maid of the Forest (1915).
Jack Clark died in 1947 in Hollywood, California.