Over 25 years before Earl Holliman trekked to Hollywood, and 55 years before the locally-shot "Creature From Black Lake," folks from the area made their acting debuts in a silent feature filmed in and around Caddo Lake, Mooringsport, and Shreveport. "Belligerent Betty" (sometimes spelled "Bettie") was the first (and apparently only) film of the newly created Esale Motion Picture Company; founded by two local businessmen, both former Mooringsport mayors. A local lady penned the script - the tale of a young woman leaving home and family for the allures of the big city and high society, only to realize what mattered most to her was back home.
After completion, there were legal disputes over ownership, apparently settled as the film was reported to have been shown on at least four occasions. What became of it is not known.
After completion, there were legal disputes over ownership, apparently settled as the film was reported to have been shown on at least four occasions. What became of it is not known.
Below the story unfolds as it appeared in the Shreveport Times and other publications. Additionally, what could be found about the principals and cast is disclosed at the end.
Filming Completed
- Filming of the last reel to begin upon arrival of director and cameraman from Chicago
- First of Esale Picture Company
- Director and photographer are from Chicago
- Company composed of Mooringsport businessmen
- Studio planned to be built in Shreveport at Pennsylvania and Underwood Streets.
- Esale sales manager is George E. (actually "T.") Martin
- Release to be in May-1920
Shreveport Times 29-Apr-1920, Page 12
Film Ready For Release
- The May premier did not occur, but by July it was reported ready for release.
- A private showing was held for cast and close friends, with another possibly in the works
- Film professionals viewing the work rate it on par with other commercial presentations
- A commercial debut was expected in a few weeks
Shreveport Times 02-Jul-1920, Page 6
Copyright information shows Mrs. Grace Mel Murray as author and producer.
Catalog of Copyright Entries, Part I Group 2: Pamphlets, Leaflets...., Classes L and M Motion Pictures, Page 1009
Film Sequestered
- Film was reported to have been comprised of six reels
- Ownership is claimed by Esale owners W. H. Morefield and J. T. Tanner, who apply for writ of sequestration
- Film, negatives and script were in possession of cameraman, Charles Henderson; who they feared would hide or destroy
- Judge Judge John R. Land issued an order and Caddo Parish Deputy Spike Dockery was to hold until dispute is settled.
Shreveport Times 18-Jul-1920, Page 7
Betty's Grand Debut
Dispute of ownership was apparently settled, as this advertisement touted the film's upcoming showing at Shreveport's Saenger Theater.
Shreveport Times 16-Dec-1920, Page 7
Another article about the film listed cast members. The only other character identified by name is "Kentuck" Breckinridge, Betty's love interest. Mrs. Murray's husband was from Kentucky, perhaps a nod to him was the basis for this name.
Shreveport Times 18-Dec-1920, Page 7
An advertisement for another showing in the Highland area of Shreveport.
Shreveport Times 21-Mar-1921, Page 7
Mrs. Murray entertained the Paul English Players, a theatrical troupe from Shreveport, in the town of Vivian where a showing of the film was held. The article identified the lead actors - Fred Kyle of Shreveport, and Bertha Steely of Mooringsport. Young Marie Irion was said to have a major role in an important scene.
Shreveport Times 08-Nov-1925, Page 16
What Became of "Belligerent Betty?"
What ultimately became of the film is not known. Below is what information could be found about those involved.
"Profiles of Mooringsport," a town history created for the nation's bicentennial, mentions a silent film written by an unnamed local woman and starring Gwendolyn Denison as heroine. It's not clear if that entry is referring to this film, of if perhaps another was produced. Gwendolyn's name does not appear in any articles about "Belligerent Betty."
Principals and Main Cast
Charles Henderson, photographer - The 29-Apr-1920 Times article mentioned the director and photographer coming from Chicago, so that was presumably Henderson's place of origin. Nothing additional is known about him.
Marie Irion (1912-?), cast member - Eight year-old Ellen Marie Irion (1912-?) was mentioned as having been the principal performer in a major scene. Per her father John's World War I draft registration, the family resided in Oil City in 1917, where he operated a garage. The aforementioned 08-Nov-1925 Times article notes the family as living in Vivian, however the following week an entry in the Vivian social column of the Times identified her as an Oil City resident. Regardless, shortly thereafter the family relocated to Shreveport. There she appeared as a child model for M. Levy and Palais Royal, and gave various dance performances. Later when grown she became a dance teacher.
Of note, she and her family, like Mrs. Murray; were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons). Below she is pictured as a newlywed in 1938.
Of note, she and her family, like Mrs. Murray; were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons). Below she is pictured as a newlywed in 1938.
Shreveport Times 06-Mar-1938, Page 25
Fred (Lee) Kyle (1888-1973), cast member (lead) - Kyle is identified as an oilfield worker employed by the Gulf Refining Company on his World War I draft registration. He had lived in the Vivian area in 1910, and by 1921 he and wife Jane were residing in Shreveport.
William Henry "Bill" Morefield (1875-1939) - was a prominent oil man, a former Mooringsport mayor, and officer in the local Masonic Lodge. His and J. T. Tanner's (see below) are among the names engraved on the lodge cornerstone. They were business partners in oil drilling and production operations, and investors in the Esale Picture Company that produced this film.
Grace Mel Murray (1872-1944), author, producer, and cast member - Born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania to Henry and Anna Good, Gracia grew up in the Greater Pittsburgh area. In 1895 she married Wayne Lockwood Murray, a telegraph operator. What became of Mr. Murray and how she ended up in Mooringsport is not known. At the time though several families from the Pennsylvania oil country migrated south to work in the new fields opening around Caddo Lake. By 1912, she was a Mooringsport resident as it was reported the house in which she was living burned due to a natural gas incident. Later that year she purchased 10 acres in the immediate Mooringsport area.
Mrs. Murray was a frequent contributor of letters published in the Shreveport Times, often on patriotic themes, or on occasion, in defense of her Mormon faith. She also published patriotic songs with titles such as "While We Are Marching To Berlin" and "From The American Women To Sammy In France," and was reported to have given a stirring reading of a self-penned poem at a local war bond drive in April 1918.
Mrs. Murray (shown left below) reported in collaboration with fellow Mooringsport resident and school music teacher Ruth Wright Ellett. [As an aside, Mrs. Ellett was the sister-in-law of Dick Ellett, who got into an altercation with Huddie Ledbetter; resulting in the blues/folksinger, nicknamed "Lead Belly," being sent to Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola. There he was discovered by music folklorist John Lomax and subsequently rose to fame.]
Shreveport Times 16-Jun-1923, Page 3
At some unknown point in time time she married Tobe Dresse of Beaumont, Texas. He had been an employee of Peerless Oil Company, owned by film financiers Morefield and Tanner. The marriage apparently did not last, as the 1930 Census shows the now Mrs. Grace Dresse living in Shreveport with son Lockwood Murray, Junior. She continued however to write and publish as Grace Mel Murray.
In 1932 the Times published a feature about her, in this case identified as Mrs. Dresse, possessing a painting of George Washington, for which the first American President is claimed to have posed at age 32.
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| The painting above was said to have been in Mrs Dresse's (Murray's) family for 168 years. |
She was listed in the "Who's Who of American Authors," and continued writing poems and songs until her death in 1944.
Bertha Steely. cast member (lead) - Bertha was reported to have attended a masquerade ball held in Mooringsport and put on by the Women's Benefit Association of the Maccabees. Also in attendance was Grace (Mel) Murray, and recognizable locals Maud Currie, A. C. Norman, and C. M. Flanagan. She is listed as the daughter of Clay and Alice Steely of Mooringsport in the 1920 U. S. Census, and by 1930 they were residents of Fort Worth, Texas.
James Thomas "Tom" Tanner (1885-1980 ), investor and cast member- Also known as "J. T." or "J. Tom," he like his partner W. H. Morefield had been mayor of Mooringsport and local Masonic officer. He served as cashier of the Bank of Mooringsport, and was organizer of Globe Oil Company.
In addition to serving as mayor of Mooringsport, he was a practicing lawyer, manager of the Mooringsport Bank, and later served in the Shreveport city government as city treasurer; and additionally represented Caddo Parish in the state legislature. The clip below refers to him as first mayor, though that may actually be first elected mayor as H. F. Ivey was appointed mayor in 1910.
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Source: Who's Who in the South and Southwest, Volume 6 (1959), Page 803
Shreveport Times 15-Sep-1955, Page 3-A
Other Cast Members
Cora Bounds
Solly Brennan,
LaVere Cubberle - likely Vera Claudia Bransford Cubberly. Husband William Elijah Cubberly was an oilman and business colleague of W. H. Morefield.
Mamie Cogley - Maria Mayme Jeanette Cogley (1899-?), daughter of Andrew Cogley of Mooringsport
Andolee Corbet
Jere Davidson
Margaret Murray Dees - daughter of Grace Mel Murray
Homer Ferguson - noted attending aforementioned masquerade party in 1918.
Col. James Furlong (1835-1922) - 85 year-old manager of the Phoenix Hotel in Shreveport. A Buffalo, NY native, he came to Shreveport by way of Kansas City, Mo; Beaumont, TX; and Port Arthur, TX; having similarly managed hotels in those cities. "Colonel" appears to have been an honorary title.
Mrs. Dero Graham
Byrne Hudson
Mrs. Ama Vance Jennings
George T. Martin (1860-1941) - also sales manager of the Esale Company. Per his obituary he was a native of Scotland, and had been a singer with the once popular Al G. Field Minstrels. During his performing years, he was noted for singing highland ballads while in full Scottish costume.
Mrs. Maples Martin - Adeline Poindexter Maples Martin (1859-1938), wife of George T. Martin
W. A. Miller
Mrs. Lucia Morefield - Lucy Riddle Morefield (1881-1947), wife of W. H. Morefield
Harrell Mulkey - Harrel Wadley Mulkey, Sr. (1899-1975), is featured below in a 1924 article about the Selber Brothers Department Store hat department in 1924.
Reggie Wigley
Henry Zwolle
