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Monroe Salisbury

 
Actor: Monroe Salisbury
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Actors
  • Born: May 08, 1876 in Angola, New York
  • Died: Aug 07, 1935 in San Bernardino, California
  • Occupation: Actor
  • Active: teens
  • Major Genres: Drama, Western
  • Career Highlights: Great Alone, Barbarian
  • First Major Screen Credit: Barbarian (1921)

Biography

With his rugged looks and imposing frame -- he was well over six feet tall and weighed two hundred pounds -- Monroe Salisbury was well suited for the Westerns and Northwoods dramas of the 1910s. While Salisbury was quite popular in his time, his work is little known even to modern-day film historians because only a few of the motion pictures in which he appeared are known to exist. Salisbury's father, who bred racehorses, was able to send his son to various New York boarding schools, and then to Yale, where he graduated in three years. When young Salisbury decided to make the stage his profession, he had an easy time finding roles because of his father's popularity among the theatrical set. For 15 years, the actor appeared alongside such luminaries as Minnie Maddern Fiske, John Drew, Nance O'Neil, and William Farnum. He entered films in 1913 when he was cast as Henry, Earl of Kerhill, in Cecil B. DeMille's The Squaw Man, after which he abandoned the stage and worked exclusively in motion pictures. Salisbury appeared in a number of films for producer Jesse Lasky including The Master Mind, The Goose Girl, and After Five. DeMille frequently used him in such early films as Brewster's Millions, The Virginian, and Rose of the Rancho. He also appeared alongside Douglas Fairbanks in The Lamb and Double Trouble. But the film that really brought Salisbury fame was 1916's 12-reel epic, Ramona, in which he starred as Allesandro. The role brought him to the attention of Carl Laemmle, who signed him to the Bluebird unit of Universal Studios. He played a variety of roles alongside such actors as Ruth Clifford, Colleen Moore, Lon Chaney, and Rupert Julian (who also directed several of the features in which he appeared). Salisbury did well enough financially to buy a 40-acre ranch outside of the Saboda Indian Reservation in Hemet Valley, California. He took up the cause of Native Americans, and only hired Native American labor at his ranch. While Salisbury appeared in a variety of films, his image was best suited to films of the great outdoors. In the press, however, he voiced his need to stretch himself creatively, and in 1920 he formed his own production company. He produced and starred in The Barbarian, but it was not well reviewed. Salisbury's last starring role was in 1922's The Great Alone in which, at the age of 45, he played a Native American college student. His career faded after that, although he made a brief comeback in 1930 in the Universal serial The Jade Box as the father of the serial's star, Jack Perrin. Five years later, Salisbury was admitted to Patton State Hospital For the Insane under an assumed name, where he died a month later from a fall that fractured his skull. He never married, and his sole survivors were two sisters. ~ Janiss Garza, All Movie Guide
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Wikipedia: Monroe Salisbury
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Monroe Salisbury
Born Orange Salisbury Cash
May 8, 1876(1876-05-08)
Angola, New York, USA
Died August 7, 1935 (aged 59)
San Bernardino, California, USA
Occupation Actor
Years active 1898 to 1930

Monroe Salisbury (May 8, 1876 – August 7, 1935) was an American actor. He appeared on the stage for several years and then became an early movie star.

Salisbury was a matinee idol. He began his acting career on the stage in 1898, appearing in numerous romantic leads. He also appeared in five Broadway productions. He was in 42 silent movies between 1914 and 1922, working frequently with director Cecil B. DeMille. Salisbury, who appeared in several western movies, also appeared in two talkies, in 1929 and 1930.

After his career was at an end, Salisbury died at a mental hospital from a fractured skull sustained in a tragic fall.

Contents

Early life

He was born Orange Salisbury Cash in Angola, New York,[1] the son of David Cash (c. 1840–?) and Ellen Louise Salisbury (1842–1929). Orr's two elder sisters were Adelaide Mary Cash (1864–1956), who married John C. Bosche, and Anna Louise Cash (1868–1951), whose married name was Clark.

His mother had a younger brother named Orange James Salisbury (1844–1907). She also had an elder brother named Monroe Salisbury (1835–1905), a government contractor and well-known turfman who bred racehorses.

Stage career

Orr took the name Monroe Salisbury as his stage name. He appeared behind the footlights with such notables as Richard Mansfield, Eleonora Duse, John Drew, Nance O'Neil, Minnie Maddern Fiske and Kathryn Kidder.

While he was performing in Providence, Rhode Island, in June 1900, Salisbury and his mother were staying in a hotel on Weybosset Street when the U.S. Federal Census was taken.[2] His debut on Broadway was in the play Marta of the Lowlands (1903).

Movie career

Salisbury's movie debut was in the uncredited role as Sir Henry, Earl of Kerhill, in DeMille's The Squaw Man (1914). He also worked for DeMille in such movies as Brewster's Millions, The Master Mind, The Virginian, and Rose of the Rancho, which were all released in 1914. He also appeared alongside Douglas Fairbanks in The Lamb and Double Trouble (both 1915).

Salisbury scored his greatest success when he starred as Alessandro in Ramona (1916) opposite Adda Gleason in the title role. He then signed with Universal Studios, where he was among the top movie stars for several years.

When he registered for the draft of World War I, in late 1918, Salisbury and his mother were living in the Mountain View Inn at 5956 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood.[3]

In the late 1910s, he bought a 40-acre citrus ranch near Hemet, and, between pictures, it was his habit to drive out and drop in unexpectedly on the Native American overseer and his family who lived on the place and worked in the groves.[4]

In 1920, Salisbury and his mother were still living at the Mountain View Inn on Hollywood Boulevard.[5] He formed his own production company, that same year, and produced and starred in The Barbarian (1921). His final starring role was in the drama Great Alone (1922), in which he played a half-Native American college student and football player, a character presumably half his age. He then retired from the screen.

In June 1928, he returned to the U.S. at the Port of San Francisco, from Kobe, Japan, aboard the S.S. Taiyo Maru, and gave his U.S. address as Hemet, California.[6]

Comeback

With the advent of sound in the late 1920s, Salisbury returned to the screen in two talkies. He appeared in a Christie comedy short, Her Husband's Woman (1929). He then played John Lamar in Universal's 10 chapter serial The Jade Box (1930).

The Jade Box serial was Salisbury's final movie appearances. In 1930, he was living at the Warner Kelton Hotel at 6326 Lexington Avenue, just west of Vine Street, in Hollywood.[7]

In February 1932, he returned to Southern California, at San Pedro, from Ensenada, Mexico, aboard the S.S. Ruth Alexander, and gave his U.S. address as 6326 Lexington Hollywood.[8]

Final years

On July 2, 1935, Salisbury entered Patton State Hospital, a mental facility near San Bernardino, as a patient. He may have been admitted under his real name, Orr Cash. His occupation was given as hotel clerk. A month later, he suffered a bad fall at the institution and was fatally injured.

Monroe Salisbury died at age 59 from a fractured skull sustained in his fall at the institution.[9][10] He was at a local mortuary for a day before his true identity was discovered. Only four mourners were present at his funeral on August 9, 1935, at the mortuary in San Bernardino.[11] His body was returned to Los Angeles, for cremation and his ashes interred with his mother in the family plot at Rosedale Cemetery.[12]

Selected filmography

References

  1. ^ 1880 Erie Co., NY, U.S. Federal Census, Evans, July 14, Enumeration Dist. 91, Sheet 18, Page 347 B, Line 33, David Cash; Line 34, Ellen Cash; Line 37, Orange Cash, White, Male, 4, Son, Single, NY, NY, NY.
  2. ^ 1900 Providence Co., RI, U.S. Federal Census, Providence, Ward 4, 205 Weybosset St., June 5, Enumeration Dist. 37, Sheet 2 A, Page 297 A, Line 22, O.S. Cash, Boarder, White, Male, May, 1876, 24, Single, NY, NY, NY, Actor, 0, Y, Y, Y; Line 23, E.L. Cash.
  3. ^ World War I Draft Registration Card, Serial No. 2410, Order No. 901, Name: Orange Salisbury Cash, Address: 5956 Hollywood Bl., Hwd., Los Angeles Co., Age in Years: 42, Date of Birth: May 8, 1876, Race: White, Citizenship: Native Born, Present Occupation: Actor, Employer's Name: Universal Film Co., Employer Location: Universal City, Los Angeles Co., Cal., Nearest Relative: Mrs. Ellen Louise Cash 5956 Hollywood Bl., Hwd., Los Angeles Co., Signed: Orange Salisbury Cash (signature below: Monroe Salisbury), Registrar's Report: Description of Registrant: Height: Tall, Build: Medium, Color of Eyes: Hazel, Color of Hair: Dark Brown, Any physical problems: No, Registrar Note: "Professionally known only as "Monroe Salisbury." This name used as his 15 years." Dated Sept. 15, 1918, Local Draft Board: 14, Los Angeles, Cal.
  4. ^ Los Angeles Times, Oct. 24, 1919, "Droll Stories --- No Proof There," p. II 4.
  5. ^ 1920 Los Angeles Co., CA, U.S. Federal Census, Los Angeles, Precinct 403, Mountain View Inn, 5956 Hollywood Blvd., January 9, Enumeration Dist. 169, Sheet 6 B, Page 215 B, Line 57, Monroe Salisbury, Boarder, Male, White, 42, Single, Y, Y, NY, NY, NY, Y, Actor, Motion Pictures; Line 58, Ellen Louise Cash.
  6. ^ California Passenger and Crew Lists, List of United States Citizens (For the Immigration Authorities), No. 108, S.S. Taiyo Maru, Sailing from: Kobe, Japan, June 5, 1928, Arriving at Port of San Francisco, Calif., June 22, 1928, Name in Full: Monroe Salisbury, Age: 52, Sex: Male, Married or Single: S, Date and Place of Birth: New York [sic], N.Y. May 8, 1876, Address in U.S.: Hemet, Calif.
  7. ^ 1930 Los Angeles Co., CA, U.S. Federal Census, Los Angeles, Assembly Dist. 55, Warner Kelton Hotel, 6326 Lexington Ave., April 14, Enumeration Dist. 47, Sheet 23 B, Page 157 B, Line 84, Monroe Salisbury, Head, Rented, $60, Male, White, 49 [sic], Single, N, Y, NY, NY, NY, Y, Actor, Theatrical, Wages, Y, (Vet.?) N.
  8. ^ California Passenger and Crew Lists, List of United States Citizens (For the Immigration Authorities), No. 1562, S.S. Ruth Alexander, Sailing from: Ensenada, Mexico, Feb. 28, 1932, Arriving at Port of San Pedro, Calif., Feb. 28, 1932, Name in Full: Monroe Salisbury, Age: 55, Sex: Male, Married or Single: M, Date and Place of Birth: Buffalo [sic], N.Y. May 8, 1877 [sic], Address in U.S.: 6326 Lexington Hollywood.
  9. ^ Los Angeles Times, Aug. 9, 1935, "End Tragic --- Ex-Film Idol Dies In Fall --- Body of Monroe Salisbury, Long Unidentified, Held in San Bernardino," p. 1.
  10. ^ New York Times, Aug. 9, 1935, from San Bernardino, Calif., Aug. 8, "Monroe Salisbury --- Former Star of Films, 59, Was Injured Fatally in Fall," p. 17.
  11. ^ Los Angeles Times, Aug. 10, 1935, "Four Attend Last Rites For Salisbury, Ex-Actor," p. A 1.
  12. ^ Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles, California, Sexton Records, Orr S. Cash.

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