Bessie Barriscale
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Bessie Barriscale (born Elizabeth Barriscale, daughter of Irish immigrants from County Cork) (30 September 1884 - 30 June 1965) was an American silent-screen actress, and a major star for producer Thomas Ince in the late 1910s. She was also a star of the stage. Barriscale was blonde with big brown eyes.
She began her film career in 1913, and 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 1918 Bessie was contracted by J.L. Frothingham of B.B. Features and the Roberson Cole Company to make sixteen 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.
Bessie was enthusiastic about William Shakespeare and wanted to bring one of his plays to the screen. The actress was an excellent swimmer. In The Woman Michael Married (1919) she was featured in a movie adapted from a novel by Annette Kellerman. Barriscale went so far as to hire a swimming and diving instructor and took lessons in Venice, California. A ninety-pool was constructed at Brunton Studios where the scenes were shot. The film was directed by Henry Kolker.
In 1919 Bessie traveled with her husband, actor, director, and film producer Howard C. Hickman and their small son, on a world tour. They anticipated producing motion pictures during their journey and carried a camera man with them.
In 1921 the actress came east to play in The Skirt. The play was to travel to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Boston, Massachusetts after opening in Washington, DC. Later the production would appear in New York City, New York. In prior years Bessie participated in plays for the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles, California and once appeared in Melasco productions, notably Bird of Paradise written by Richard Walton Tully. She played a princess named Luana. During the early years Bessie was in vaudeville, with two-a-day, three-a-day, and even four-a-day performances not uncommon.
Actor Jackie Coogan purchased the home of Bessie Barriscale in Pellisier Square, Los Angeles in February 1922. The residence was valued at $45,000.
Miss Barriscale returned to the stage in Women Go On Forever. She had been married 21 years and had a son age twenty 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 Santa Monica, California home. She said she had been working at home for several years and had just learned to cook.
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[edit] Filmography
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[edit] Trivia
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- Barriscale was actresses Edith and Mabel Taliaferro's cousin.
[edit] Death
Barriscale died in Kentfield, California on June 30, 1965. She is buried with her husband, Howard C. Hickman at the Mount Tamalpais Cemetery, in San Rafael, California
[edit] References
- Los Angeles Times, Bessie Barriscale In B.B. Features, November 10, 1918. Page III.
- Los Angeles Times, Flashes, New $1,000,000 Star, December 6, 1918, Page II3.
- Los Angeles Times, Flashes, Star Will Travel, Bessie Barriscale Will Circle The Globe, February 14, 1919, Page II3.
- Los Angeles Times, High Dive Special, May 14, 1919, Page III4.
- Los Angeles Times, Flashes, Film Stars On Stage, June 4, 1921, Page II7.
- Los Angeles Times, Boosting For A Bard, September 21, 1919, Page III 1.
- Los Angeles Times, Bought By Film Star, February 12, 1922, Page V2.
- Los Angeles Times, New Bessie Barriscale Is In Play, March 11, 1928, Page C13.
