Helen Gibson
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Helen Gibson (August 27, 1892 - October 10, 1977) was an American rodeo rider and film actress.
[edit] Early Life and Career Rise
Born Rose August Wenger in Cleveland, Ohio, she became a stunt rider in a "Wild West" rodeo working in the Pacific Northwest and California. On the rodeo circuit she met and fell in love with Hoot Gibson. Rose changed her name to Helen Gibson to make lodging easier to come by. There is considerable debate whether or not Rose actually married Hoot Gibson, but it is certain that she knew him and that she used his last name.
Hoot Gibson had worked as a stuntman in motion pictures during the off season. Because of her riding skills and athleticism, Kalem Studios tested Rose Wenger-Gibson for the lead role in The Hazards of Helen adventure film serial. The highly successful series had begun with actress Helen Holmes in the lead role for the first 48 episodes. Rose now going by the name Helen Gibson took over the role from episodes 49-119. The Hazards of Helen is considered the longest serial in history.
Helen Gibson proved to be a capable actress and the movie-going public made her a star. She filmed another 69 The Hazards of Helen episodes until the series ended in February 1917. Her horsemanship skills led to starring roles in a number of action westerns for producer Thomas Ince and Universal Pictures.
[edit] Difficulties, Divorce and Later Career
In the early part of the 1920s, she created Helen Gibson Productions as a vehicle to star in but encountered severe financial difficulties that led to a six year absence from the screen. Rose as Helen Gibson separated from Hoot in 1920. In 1922, Hoot married a woman named Helen Johnson, who is often confused for this Helen Gibson. In 1923, Hoot and Helen Johnson Gibson had their only child, Lois Charlotte Gibson. Those two divorced in 1930.
Helen Gibson, once a shining star of the Silent Serial, continued to work for the next 30 years earning a living with appearances in a variety of small film roles.
Following a stroke, Helen Gibson died of heart failure in 1977 in Roseburg, Oregon, aged 85.
