Pete Morrison
Encyclopedia
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
silent
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...
western film actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
born August 8, 1890 in Westminster, Colorado
Westminster, Colorado
Westminster is a Home Rule Municipality in Adams and Jefferson counties in the U.S. state of Colorado. Westminster is a northwest suburb of Denver. The Westminster Municipal Center is located north-northwest of the Colorado State Capitol. The United States Census Bureau that the city population...
. During his childhood he lived at Morrison, Colorado
Morrison, Colorado
The historic Town of Morrison is a Home Rule Municipality in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. The population was 430 at the 2000 census...
(named for his grandfather George Morrison) and Idaho Springs
Idaho Springs, Colorado
The City of Idaho Springs is a municipality in the U.S. state of Colorado that is the most populous settlement in Clear Creek County, Colorado. Idaho Springs is located in Clear Creek Canyon, in the mountains upstream from Golden, some thirty miles west of Denver...
, and got his early tastes of horsemanship riding with his father Thomas during the summer. They drove cattle and sheep from the summer ranges in Middle Park and Fall River in Colorado to supply beef and mutton to the mining camps of Georgetown
Georgetown, Colorado
The historic town of Georgetown is a Territorial Charter Municipality that is the county seat of Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States. The former silver mining camp along Clear Creek in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains was established in 1859 during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush...
, Idaho Springs, Nevadaville, Black Hawk
Black Hawk, Colorado
The historic City of Black Hawk is a Home Rule Municipality located in Gilpin County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 118 at U.S. Census 2000, making Black Hawk the least populous city in Colorado...
and Central City
Central City, Colorado
Central City is a home rule municipality in Clear Creek and Gilpin counties in the U.S. state of Colorado, and the county seat of Gilpin County. The city population was 515 in the 2000 United States Census...
. During his mid-teens Pete worked in the mining industry, with his older brothers driving in sections of the Argo Tunnel
Argo Tunnel
The Argo Tunnel, originally called the Newhouse Tunnel , is a mine drainage and access tunnel with its portal at Idaho Springs, Colorado, USA...
where Pete was a motorman, hoist operator, topside helper, teamster hauler, assisting several of the larger miners in the Idaho Springs area. In the summer of 1910 Pete Morrison was an engine fireman for the Colorado Southern Railroad when he was lured away by the early western movies. Pete began working as a stunt man for the Essanay Studios
Essanay Studios
The Essanay Film Manufacturing Company was an American motion picture studio. It is best known today for its series of Charlie Chaplin comedies of 1915.-Founding:...
of Broncho Billy films, soon discovering he could make more money working in movies in 2 weeks than he could make working for a month on the railroad. Pete followed his older brother Chick Morrison
Chick Morrison
Charles Pacific Morrison, an American silent film actor, was born April 3, 1878 in Morrison, Colorado. The grandson of pioneer town founder George Morrison, he was known as "Chick" to many who knew him, a nickname conjunction of his first and middle names. A keen horse rider, he often appeared in...
to California, where he also became a star in early western pictures. Through his career, Morrison transcended from very early film in 1909 to sound in 1935 starring in some 132 pictures.
Film career
American Film Manufacturing Company
The American Film Manufacturing Company, also known as Flying "A" Studios, was founded in Chicago in fall 1910. In 1915, the formal name was changed to the American Film Company....
, but soon was signed by Universal Studios
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
and appeared in western serials and short films. Over time Morrison worked with many of the famous actors of his time, including Tom Mix
Tom Mix
Thomas Edwin "Tom" Mix was an American film actor and the star of many early Western movies. He made a reported 336 films between 1910 and 1935, all but nine of which were silent features...
, Wallace
Wallace Beery
Wallace Fitzgerald Beery was an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Bill in Min and Bill opposite Marie Dressler, as Long John Silver in Treasure Island, as Pancho Villa in Viva Villa!, and his titular role in The Champ, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor...
and Noah Beery, and John Barry. He starred with Charlotte Burton
Charlotte Burton
Charlotte Burton was an American silent film actress.-Career:Born in San Francisco, Burton was signed by the American Company in 1912 where she worked for several years. She joined Essanay Studio which she sued in 1919 for $25,000 for breach of contract...
in films such as The Bruiser
The Bruiser
The Bruiser is a 1916 American silent drama film directed by Charles Bartlett. The film stars Charlotte Burton and William Russell.-Cast:* William Russell as "Big Bill" Brawley* Charlotte Burton as Fen Bernham* George Ferguson as Modest Tim...
in 1916. He took some time away from movies to travel the country in a Wild West Show, then returned and did numerous Westerns for Triangle and Universal. He agreed to make a series of pictures in Central and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, but eventually returned to Universal. With the arrival of sound pictures, his career declined somewhat and he went into supporting roles in movies including "Scarface," "Cleopatra," and "The Big Trail" where he met a young newcomer who happened to share his name, Marion "Duke" Morrison, and reputedly taught the rising star Morrison some of his moves. The younger Morrison gained fame as John Wayne
John Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
.
In 1935 Pete Morrison retired and settled on his ranch near Golden, Colorado
Golden, Colorado
The City of Golden is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Golden lies along Clear Creek at the edge of the foothills of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush on 16 June 1859, the mining camp was...
which he had purchased in 1926. There his lived with his family including wife Lillian whom he married in 1912, and sons Clifford E. and Douglas K. Morrison. Pete became a deputy sheriff of Jefferson County, Colorado
Jefferson County, Colorado
Jefferson County , whose slogan is the "Gateway to the Rocky Mountains", is the fourth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. Located along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, Jefferson County is adjacent to the west side of the state capital, Denver....
in 1936, and remained so for 37 years. He was also a member of the Golden Masonic Lodge, the Genesee Group and Jefferson County Sheriff's Posse. He ranched and farmed along with several outside jobs until his final retirement in the early 1960s. Pete Morrison died in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
on February 5, 1973, of an abdominal aneurysm at the age of 82. He is buried in the Golden Cemetery, along with other members of his family.
The Pete Morrison Collection of his movie career paraphernalia now resides at the Golden Landmarks Association in Golden, Colorado
Golden, Colorado
The City of Golden is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Golden lies along Clear Creek at the edge of the foothills of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush on 16 June 1859, the mining camp was...
.
Selected filmography
- Black Gold (1924)
- The Ghost CityThe Ghost CityThe Ghost City is a 1923 Western film serial directed by Jay Marchant. The film is considered to be lost.-Cast:* Pete Morrison - Laughing Larry Newton* Margaret Morris - Alice Sinclair* Al Wilson - Raymond Moreton* Frank Rice - Sagebrush Hilton...
(19231923 in film-Events:*April 15 - Lee De Forest demonstrates the Phonofilm sound-on-film system at the Rivoli Theater in New York with a series of short musical films featuring vaudeville performers.-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1923:U.S.A...
) - Kingdom ComeKingdom Come (1919 film)Kingdom Come is a 1919 short Western film directed by George Holt and featuring Hoot Gibson....
(19191919 in filmThe year 1919 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*February 5 - Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and D.W. Griffith launch United Artists...
) - By Indian PostBy Indian PostBy Indian Post is a 1919 short Western silent film directed by John Ford. One of the two reels survive.-Cast:* Pete Morrison - Jode MacWilliams* Duke R. Lee - Pa Owens* Magda Lane - Peg Owens* Edward Burns- * Jack Woods - Dutch...
(1919) - The Gun PackerThe Gun PackerThe Gun Packer is a 1919 short Western film directed by John Ford.-Production:Filming began on March 25, 1919 under the working title Out Wyoming Way. Just two months later, The Gun Packer was released by Universal Studios as a 20-minute silent film on two reels...
(1919) - Gun LawGun Law (film)Gun Law is a 1919 short Western film directed by John Ford.-Cast:* Pete Morrison - Dick Allen* Helen Gibson - Letty* Hoot Gibson - Bart Stevens, aka Smoke Gublen* Jack Woods - Cayuse Yates* Otto Myers - Gang Member* Harry Chambers - Gang Member...
(1919) - RustlersRustlers (film)Rustlers is a 1919 short Western film directed by John Ford....
(1919) - Ace HighAce High (1919 film)Ace High is a 1919 short Western film directed by George Holt and featuring Hoot Gibson.-Cast:* Pete Morrison* Magda Lane* Hoot Gibson* Helene Rosson - * Jack Walters* Martha Mattox...
(1919) - The RustlersThe RustlersThe Rustlers is a 1919 short Western film directed by Reginald Barker and featuring Hoot Gibson....
(1919) - His BuddyHis BuddyHis Buddy is a 1919 short Western film directed by George Holt and featuring Hoot Gibson....
(1919) - The Fighting BrothersThe Fighting BrothersThe Fighting Brothers is a 1919 short Western film directed by John Ford. The film is now considered to be lost.-Cast:* Pete Morrison - Sheriff Pete Larkin* Hoot Gibson - Lonnie Larkin* Yvette Mitchell - Conchita* Jack Woods - Ben Crawly...
(1919) - The Black Horse BanditThe Black Horse BanditThe Black Horse Bandit is a 1919 short Western film directed by Harry Harvey and featuring Hoot Gibson.-Cast:* Hoot Gibson* Helen Gibson* Pete Morrison* Vester Pegg* Buck Connors...
(1919)