Louise Lester

Louise Lester
Born	(1867-08-08)August 8, 1867 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Died	November 18, 1952(1952-11-18) (aged 85) Hollywood, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Spouse(s)	Frank Beal (?-1934) (his death) 3 children Jack Richardson (?-1914) (divorce)
Children	Scott Beal Dolly Beal Katherine Beal

Louise Lester (August 8, 1867 – November 18, 1952) was an American silent film actress. She was the first female star of Western films.

Biography

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lester came to California in 1910 with one of the first companies assembled to make motion pictures. She made her debut in movies as a member of the Flying A Company in Santa Barbara, California after a noteworthy career on stage. She starred in over 150 films before her retirement in 1935.

Louise Lester is most famous for starring as Calamity Anne in the film series, playing the lead role in films such as Calamity Anne's Inheritance, Calamity Anne's Vanity, Calamity Anne's Beauty, and Calamity Anne, Heroine – all in 1913. The Calamity Anne series was the beginning of horse operas. She also starred with William Garwood in films such as The Oath of Pierre.

The actress' married name was Louise Lester Beal. She was the widow of Frank Beal, a film director.

Louise Lester died at the Motion Picture Country Home in 1952 at the age of 85 years. Her funeral was conducted in the chapel of the Utter-McKinley Strouthers Mortuary, 6240 Hollywood Boulevard. The services were conducted by the Baháʼí Faith. Her interment was in the Inglewood, California Park Cemetery.

Selected filmography

• The Opium Smuggler (1911, Short) - Mrs. Watson
• Calamity Anne's Ward (1912, Short) - Calamity Anne
• Calamity Anne's Inheritance (1913, Short) - Calamity Anne
• Calamity Anne's Vanity (1913, Short) - Calamity Anne
• Calamity Anne, Detective (1913, Short) - Calamity Anne
• Calamity Anne's Beauty (1913, Short) - Calamity Anne
• Calamity Anne's Parcel Post (1913, Short) - Calamity Anne
• Calamity Anne Takes a Trip (1913, Short) - Calamity Anne
• Calamity Anne, Heroine (1913, Short) - Calamity Anne
• Calamity Anne's Sacrifice (1913, Short) - Calamity Anne
• Calamity Anne's Dream (1913, Short) - Calamity Anne
• Rose of San Juan (1913, Short) - Ozozco's Mother
• Calamity Anne in Society (1914, Short) - Calamity Anne
• Calamity Anne's Love Affair (1914, Short) - Calamity Anne
• The Strength o' Ten (1914, Short) - Betty's Mother
• The Poet of the Peaks (1915, Short) - Mrs. Davis
• The Day of Reckoning (1915, Short) - Mrs. Crew
• Mountain Mary (1915, Short) - Mary Doone - Ivan's Mother
• The Honor of the District Attorney (1915, Short) - Nora Mortimer - Dora's Mother
• The Newer Way (1915, Short) - Mrs. Bates
• The Exile of Bar-K Ranch (1915, Short) - Mrs. Jack Donald - Millie's Mother
• The Assayer of Lone Gap (1915, Short) - Mrs. Dugan - Belle's Mother
• Drawing the Line (1915, Short)
• In Trust (1915, Short) - Molly
• The Little Lady Next Door (1915, Short) - The Housekeeper
• The Barren Gain (1915, Short) - Mrs. Cameron - Philip's Mother
• Hearts in Shadow (1915, Short) - Mrs. Burke
• Profit from Loss (1915, Short) - Mrs. Dean
• The Silken Spider (1916, Short) - Ursula Jacques
• April (1916) - Martha Fagan
• Tangled Skeins (1916, Short) - Mrs. Wellington
• Dust (1916) - Mina's mother
• Calamity Anne, Guardian (1916, Short) - Calamity Anne
• Calamity Anne's New Job (1917, Short) - Calamity Anne
• Calamity Anne's Protégé (1917, Short) - Calamity Anne
• The Reckoning Day (1918) - Mrs. Schram
• The Mayor of Filbert (1919) - Belle Glover
• The Outcasts of Poker Flat (1919)
• The Luck of the Irish (1920) - The Landlady
• Her Reputation (1923) - Consuelo
• The Desert Hawk (1924) - Bridget
• Galloping On (1925) - Mrs. Moore - Wally's Mother
• Second Choice (1930) - Minor Role (uncredited)
• Wide Open (1930) - Office Worker (uncredited)
• Straight from the Heart (1935) - Woman (uncredited) (final film role)

References

• The Los Angeles Times, "Services Set for Actress Louise Lester", November 20, 1952, Page A13.
• The New York Times, "Louise Beal Dies At 85", November 19, 1952, Page 29.

External links

• Louise Lester at IMDb
• Louise Lester at AllMovie