Born Today January 1: Frank Hall Crane

1873-1948

Born on New Year's Day, Frank Hall Crane was primarily an actor of the stage and screen, though he also directed around 50 films and even penned a few scenarios. He was born in San Francisco, California.  He made he film debut in 1909 in Chicago 's own Essanay studios' Ten Nights in a Barroom; he made his directorial debut two years later directing the short drama The Late Mrs. Early (1911) for Comet Film Co.  In the time in between, he appeared in more than 20 of the 80 some odd films that he acted in during his career--1910 was probably the most prolific in his long career.  Amongst some of the more interesting productions that he appeared in during this time were numerous films based on famous works of fiction, including:  Jane Eyre, The Winter's Tale, Uncle Tom's Cabin and Rip Van Winkle--all Thanhouser productions (interestingly, he would, himself, direct a version of Jane Eyre in 1914 for IMP). After he got into directing, his acting work slowed, as he was apparently a director who did not feel comfortable directing himself.  In 1915, Crane directed his own written adaptation of a Edgar Smith play, a comedy entitled Old Dutch (the film stars Lew Fields, who was also born on January 1st). Between 1911 and 1926 he directed more than 50 titles; and even though his acting slowed--mostly notably during the earliest years of his directing career--it never ceased completely; though there is a sizable hole between the years of 1922 and 1926; and, in fact, it was in 1926 that he directed his last film.  Tons of Money was a comedy directed in the UK for the independent company Walls & Henson. His acting career, however, continued well into the sound era. The first film that he appeared in that had any sort of sound was a partial silent from 1929 entitled Children of the Ritz, a First National picture directed by John Francis Dillion (the film was more widely distributed in a fully silent version). The first full sound film in which he appeared was the b-grade "Mountie western" Mason of the Mounted in 1932 in an uncredited role. In fact, most of his roles in the 1930's were in small uncredited parts. His last screen appearance came in 1938 in the Melvyn Douglas comedic mystery There's That Woman Again.  Crane then retired to Woodland Hills, where he passed away ten years later in 1948 on the 1st of September at the age of 75.  I can find no information at this time as to a burial site or memorial.

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