Bessie Barriscale

Bessie Barriscale (born Elizabeth Barry Scale, June 9, 1884 – June 30, 1965) was an American actress who gained fame on the stage and in silent films.

Bessie Barriscale
Barriscale in 1918
Born
Elizabeth Barry Scale

(1884-06-09)June 9, 1884
Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedJune 30, 1965(1965-06-30) (aged 81)
Kentfield, California, U.S.
Resting placeMount Tamalpais Cemetery
OccupationActress
Years active1906–1934
Spouses
Sumner Gard
​
(m. 1902)​
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1907; died 1949)​
    Children1
    RelativesMabel Taliaferro
    Edith Taliaferro (cousins)

    Early life

    Barriscale was born Elizabeth Barry Scale in Hoboken, New Jersey,[1] to Irish immigrants from County Cork. Her father came to the United States with a London company that presented The Lights of London.[2] Her cousins were actresses Edith and Mabel Taliaferro.[3] At age 5 she debuted on stage with James A. Hearn.[4]

    Career

    As a young woman, Barriscale was the Proctor Stock Company's ingenue at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York, after which she portrayed Madge in In Old Kentucky for two years.[4] In 1902, she married actor Sumner Gard. She did not tell her parents until January 1, 1903.[5] That was followed by two years as Lovey Mary in Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch. She became leading woman with the Belasco Stock Company in Los Angeles after performing for a year in Belasco's Rose of the Rancho. She went on to portray Luna in The Bird of Paradise and to have the lead in We Are Seven.[4] In the first decade of the 20th century Barriscale worked in the legitimate theater on Broadway and on the road as movies were not popular for stage actors yet.[3]

    Barriscale began her film career in 1913, debuting on-screen in Lasky Picture Company's Rose of the Rancho.[4] She worked intensively for New York Motion Picture Company and Triangle Film Corporation (among other studios) until she announced her retirement in the early 1930s. In 1917, she had her own production company, the Bessie Barriscale Feature Company.[6] Barriscale announced the formation at a news conference on May 1, 1917.[7] Plans called for the company to produce six to eight features each year. Another new company, Paralta Plays, was designated to distribute the films.[8] James Young was hired as one of three directors for Barriscale's new company.[9]

    In 1918, Barriscale was contracted by J.L. Frothingham of B.B. Features and the Roberson Cole Company to make 16 films. B.B. Features was an Arizona corporation. The movies were to be completed, produced, and delivered by January 21, 1921. At this time, Miss Barriscale's managers insured her life for a half million dollars against eventualities. The total cost of the features totaled more than $1,000,000.

    Barriscale and her husband Howard Hickman, 1915

    Barriscale was enthusiastic about William Shakespeare and wanted to bring one of his plays to the screen. The actress was also an excellent swimmer. In The Woman Michael Married (1919), she was featured in a movie adapted from a novel by Annette Kellermann. Barriscale went so far as to hire a swimming and diving instructor and took lessons in Venice, California. A 90-foot pool was constructed at Brunton Studios where the scenes were shot. The film was directed by Henry Kolker.

    Barriscale in 1916

    In 1919, she traveled with her husband—actor, director, and film producer—Howard C. Hickman[10] and their small son on a world tour. They anticipated producing motion pictures during their journey and traveled with a cameraman.

    In 1921, Barriscale came east to play in The Skirt. The play was to travel to Philadelphia and Boston after opening in Washington, D.C.. Later the production appeared in New York City. In prior years, Barriscale participated in plays for the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles and once appeared in Belasco productions, notably Bird of Paradise written by Richard Walton Tully. She played a princess named Luana. During the early years, Barriscale was in vaudeville, with two-a-day, three-a-day, and even four-a-day performances not uncommon.

    Wooden Shoes ad in Motion Picture News, 1917

    Actor Jackie Coogan and his parents purchased the home of Bessie Barriscale in Pellisier Square, Los Angeles in February 1922. The residence was valued at $45,000.

    Barriscale returned to the stage in Women Go On Forever. She had been married 21 years and had a son age 20 at this time. The production opened at the Hollywood Music Box in March 1928. She played a "housewife type," and confessed to having rehearsed for the role in a gingham dress she took from the wardrobe of her home in Santa Monica, California. Her feet were slightly smaller than her shoes. She said she had been working at home for several years and had just learned to cook. [11]

    Death

    Barriscale died in Kentfield, California on June 30, 1965. She is interred next to her husband, Howard C. Hickman, at the Mount Tamalpais Cemetery in San Rafael, California.[12]

    Honors

    For her contributions to the film industry, Barriscale received a motion pictures star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. Her star is located at 6652 Hollywood Boulevard.[13]

    Filmography
    Original caption: "Howard C. Hickman, husband and director of Bessie Barriscale, shows leading man Jack Holt how to make love to Mrs. Hickman." This appears to be a production still from Kitty Kelly, M.D. (1919). If so, the cameraman behind the Bell & Howell model 2709 is Eugene Gaudio.
    The Payment (1916)
    A Trick of Fate (1919)
    Heart's Asleep (1919)

    References
    Citations
    1. Commire, Anne; Klezmer, Deborah (1999). Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. Waterford, CT: Yorkin Publications. p. 184. ISBN 978-0-7876-4061-3.
    2. Brodie, Allan Douglas (August 1915). "Bessie Barriscale, of the N. Y. M. P. Corporation". Motion Picture. X: 106–108.
    3. Bessie Barriscale; IBDb.com
    4. Lowrey, Carolyn (1920). The First One Hundred Noted Men and Women of the Screen. Moffat, Yard. pp. 16–17. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
    5. "Actress kept her marriage a secret". The Standard Union. New York, Brooklyn. January 15, 1903. p. 2. Retrieved December 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
    6. "Bessie On Her Own". Los Angeles Times. May 8, 1917. p. 15. Retrieved December 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
    7. Lund, Maria Fosheim. "Bessie Barriscale". Women Film Pioneers Project. Columbia University Libraries. Archived from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
    8. "Greenroom Jottings". Motion Picture Magazine. XIII (6): 107. July 1917. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
    9. "Jimmy Young to direct Miss Barriscale". Moving Picture World. 32 (10): 1590. June 9, 1917. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
    10. Anthony, Walter (July 14, 1912). "Bessie Barriscale in transit to starship". San Francisco Call. p. 31. Retrieved December 24, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
    11. "Bessie Barriscale". Women Film Pioneers Project. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
    12. Wilson, Scott (2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons (3rd ed.). McFarland. p. 338. ISBN 978-1-4766-2599-7.
    13. "Hollywood Walk of Fame – Bessie Barriscale". walkoffame.com. Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
    Bibliography
    • "Bessie Barriscale in B.B. Features". Los Angeles Times. November 10, 1918. p. III.
    • "Flashes, New $1,000,000 Star". Los Angeles Times. December 6, 1918. p. II3.
    • "Flashes, Star Will Travel, Bessie Barriscale Will Circle the Globe". Los Angeles Times. February 14, 1919. p. II3.
    • "High Dive Special". Los Angeles Times. May 14, 1919. p. III4.
    • "Flashes, Film Stars on Stage". Los Angeles Times. June 4, 1921. p. II7.
    • "Boosting for a Bard". Los Angeles Times. September 21, 1919. p. III 1.
    • "Bought by Film Star". Los Angeles Times. February 12, 1922. p. V2.
    • "New Bessie Barriscale Is in Play". Los Angeles Times. March 11, 1928. p. C13.
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