W. H. Clifford Explained

William H. Clifford (died October 9, 1938)^{[1] [2]} was a writer, director, and film company head during the silent film era. He was a production manager for Monogram Film Company.^[3] He worked for Marcus Loew and Thomas Ince.^[4]

He was born in Washington, D.C., and wrote vaudeville sketches before linking up with film producer Thomas Ince. Clifford wrote stories for the Famous Players studio before coming to California. He organized his own studio in 1917.^[5]

Victor Kremer managed his W. H. Clifford Photoplay Company film production business. It produced several Shorty Hamilton westerns and planned to produce more.^[6] It was located in Los Angeles.^[7]

Clifford wrote the scenarios for the studio's films.^[8]

Theater

• Trapping Santa Claus (1912), a vaudeville act^[9]
• Mr. Aladdin (1914), written with Thomas H. Ince^[10]

Partial filmography

• The Ranger (in five parts) starting Shorty Hamilton.^[11]
• The Snail (1918) the second offering from the W. H. Clifford Photoplay Company.^[12]
• The Pen Vulture (1918), writer and director. This was the fourth in the Shorty Hamilton series from the W. H. Clifford Photoplay Company.^[13]
• Denny from Ireland (1918), director^{[14] [15]}
• Man Alone (1923)
• Souls in Bondage (1923)
• Missing Daughters (1924)

Notes and References

1. Book: Silent Film Necrology: Births and Deaths of over 9000 Performers, Directors, Producers, and Other Filmmakers of the Silent Era, Through 1993. Vazzana. Eugene Michael. 1995. 9780786401321.
2. "Obituaries." Variety. Vol. 132, Iss. 5, (Oct 12, 1938): 54.
3. Book: Mason, Bill. A Holmes by Any Other Name. January 9, 2019. Wildside Press LLC. 9781479449217. Google Books.
4. Web site: The Book News Monthly. May 16, 1915. J. Wanamaker. Google Books.
5. "Pictures: W.H. Clifford Organizes." The Billboard. Vol. 29, Iss. 25,  (Jun 23, 1917): 58.
6. Web site: Motography. May 16, 1917. Google Books.
7. Web site: Billboard. May 16, 1917. Billboard Publications. Google Books.
8. Web site: The Editor: The Journal of Information for Literary Workers. 1917.
9. Web site: Catalogue of Copyright Entries: Pamphlets, leaflets, contributions to newspapers or periodicals, etc.; lectures, sermons, addresses for oral delivery; dramatic compositions; maps; motion pictures. Part 1, group 2. August 18, 1912. U.S. Government Printing Office. Google Books.
10. Book: Taves, Brian. Thomas Ince: Hollywood's Independent Pioneer. January 6, 2012. University Press of Kentucky. 978-0813139982. Google Books.
11. News: 17 Sep 1918, Page 6 - Bisbee Daily Review at Newspapers.com . 18 August 2020 . Newspapers.com . en.
12. News: 28 Apr 1918, Page 10 - The Star Press at Newspapers.com . 18 August 2020 . Newspapers.com . en.
13. News: 26 Feb 1920, Page 5 - The Pioneer at Newspapers.com . 18 August 2020 . Newspapers.com . en.
14. Web site: Denny from Ireland. May 16, 1919.
15. Book: Within Our Gates: Ethnicity in American Feature Films, 1911-1960. America Film Institute. Staff. Alan. Gevinson. American Film. Institute. American Film. Afi. May 16, 1997. University of California Press. 9780520209640. Google Books.