Ella Hall

Ella Augusta Hall (March 17, 1896 – September 3, 1981) was an American actress. She appeared in more than 90 films between 1912 and 1933.

Early years
Ella Augusta Hall was born in Hoboken, New Jersey on March 17, 1896. Her family moved to Hollywood in the early days of silent films so her mother could pursue an acting career. Her mother was May Hall, a struggling actress who never reached any level of notoriety.

Career
Ella Hall's first credited film appearance was the lead role in the 1913 film Memories. Her career took off after that film, and she appeared in thirty-seven films from 1913 through the end of 1914. She had another thirty-nine film appearances from 1915 through 1919. She did not appear in another film until 1921. Her career had slowed considerably during this two-year break, and she starred in only seven more films. Her best-known film was The Flying Dutchman, released in 1923, which was her final silent film.

She had a minor appearance, uncredited, in the 1930 Cecil B. DeMille film Madam Satan. Her final film appearance was in 1933's The Bitter Tea of General Yen.

Marriage, children and divorce
On June 13, 1917, the President of Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Carl Laemmle, held a gala for his employees. He had spent considerable time managing the affairs at Universal City in California. Now he was about to return to his headquarters in New York. "The occasion promised to be one of the most noteworthy in the history of film functions." Three thousand guests showed up, including Emory Johnson. Johnson, 23, attended the ball escorting another fellow Universalite, Hall.

Hall had recently turned 20 years old. The petite, blue-eyed blond beauty first found work as a Universal ingénue. She had grown up in the movies. By 1915, Hall had become one of the hottest box-office attractions at Universal. Johnson had acted in his last picture of 1916, My Little Boy. The movie was the first film with his future bride. They fell in love during the making of this motion picture. But they had saved their big announcement for the Laemmle ball. At an appropriate moment during the ball, glasses were clinked, and Emory and Hall professed their love and announced their engagement.

Fast-forward to Thursday, September 6, 1917. Hall and Johnson were busy finishing their day's work for Universal. They worked until 2 pm. After they cleaned up, Johnson and Hall were married in a private ceremony at 3 o'clock. After the ceremony, they hopped in Johnson's Hupmobile and drove off on their honeymoon. They were scheduled to return to work on October 1. After the honeymoon was over, the couple moved into Johnson's house along with Johnson's mother Emilie Johnson. Thus, we had a girl from New Jersey married to a laid-back Californian while living with a strict Scandinavian mother, all under one roof.

Their first son (Richard), Walter Emory, was born on January 27, 1919, in Santa Barbara, California. Their second son Bernard Alfred was born on September 26, 1920, in Santa Barbara, California. Their daughter Ellen Joanna was born in Los Angeles, California, on April 18, 1923.

By 1924, their marriage was on the rocks. The conflict resulted in their first separation. Hall cited the main problem was the conflict between her and Johnson's overbearing mother. Hall filed for divorce. Tragedy struck in March 1926. While Hall and the kids were walking down a street in Hollywood, little Bernard was run over and killed by a truck. He was five years old. Bernard's death would provide a catalyst for the couple's first reconciliation.

A second separation occurred in 1929. Later that year, the couple decided to have another child. Diana Marie (Dinie) was born in Los Angeles, California, on October 27, 1929. She would be their last child together.

From 1924 onwards, the couple had engaged in highly publicized disputes revolving around alimony payments, child support, visitation rights, and living arrangements. Their relationship was also characterized by a constant cycle of breaking up and getting back together. Hall had difficulty reconciling her emotions regarding Johnson's status as an only child and what she perceived as his excessive attachment to his mother. She viewed Emory as a "mother's boy," suggesting that his close bond with his mother interfered with their relationship. She believed that the presence and influence of her mother-in-law in their daily lives went beyond what she considered acceptable. Hall succinctly captured her frustration with the statement, "Too much mother-in-law!"

In 1930, their stormy relationship came to an end. The divorce between Johnson, 36, and Hall, 34, was finalized in Los Angeles, California. At one time, they were considered one of Hollywood's ideal marriages. After the divorce, they would continue to battle over money.

She wed Charles Clow in October 1934, but the marriage was annulled on January 21, 1936, because Clow's divorce from his first wife had been set aside, making his marriage to Hall illegal.

Two of their children became actors, Ellen Hall and Richard Emory.

Death
She was residing in Los Angeles, California at the time of her death on September 3, 1981.