Gale Preston Henry (April 15, 1893[1] – June 17, 1972) was an American film actress. A prominent comedian, she appeared in more than 230 films between 1914 and 1933.

Gale Henry
Gale Henry- Joker Comedy Studio
Born
Gale Preston Henry

(1893-04-15)April 15, 1893
DiedJune 17, 1972(1972-06-17) (aged 79)
OccupationActress
Years active1914–1933
Spouse(s)John Rockwell Trowbridge
(m. 1913; div. 1915)
Bruno J. Becker
(m. 1916 – c. 1921)
Henry R. East
(m. 1925)
Gale Henry
Gale Henry

Early life and career

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Born in Bear Valley in San Bernardino County, California,[2][3] Henry was the daughter of Charles Herschel Henry and Mai Brantstetter.[4][3]

In 1920, Henry owned a film production company that had a contract with Special Pictures Corporation calling for her to make 12 two-reel comedies per year.[5]

In 1923, Gale Henry and Henry East began training dogs for motion pictures. Spread over two acres on the outer edge of Hollywood, the East kennels trained the most celebrated dog stars in the movies, including Skippy, the terrier who reached stardom as Asta in The Thin Man.[6]

 
"Art Aches" movie ad "posed by Gale Henry" from, Moving Picture Weekly, 1917

Personal life and death

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Henry married at least four times. On February 28, 1913 she married John Rockwell Trowbridge; they divorced in November 1915.[7][8][9] From December 1916 until at least January 1921, Henry's husband was her frequent collaborator, Bruno J. Becker,[10][9][11][12] and from March 1925 until at least 1938, she was married to fellow animal trainer Henry East.[13][14] She was married to Frederick Ernest Near from November 1939 until at least 1950, at which point they resided in Pearblossom, California.[15][16]

In 1972, Henry died in Palmdale, California.[17]

Partial filmography

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References

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  1. ^ "The Elongated Comedienne". Griffithiana. Issue 72, 73 or 74. 2003. p. 107. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  2. ^ "Asked and Answered: Lonely Yorkshire Lass". Pictures and Picturegoer. July 13—20, 1918. p. 70. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "California Births and Christenings, 1812-1988", FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:4VPM-5KMM : 11 January 2020), Gale Henry, 1893.
  4. ^ "Gale Henry". Films in Review. Volume 29. 1978. p. 122. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  5. ^ "Gale Henry Signs New Film Contract". Los Angeles Evening Express. July 16, 1920. p. 15. Retrieved October 27, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Griswold, J.B., "A Dog's Life in Hollywood"; The American Magazine, August 1938, pp. 16–17 and 61–62
  7. ^ "California, County Marriages, 1850-1953", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XL4C-HZ4 : Sun Mar 10 01:37:35 UTC 2024), Entry for Jack Rockwell Trowbridge and Gale Preston Henry, 27 February 1913.
  8. ^ "Vital Record: Marriage Licenses". The Los Angeles Times. February 28, 1913. p. 16. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Second Ceremony". The Los Angeles Times. Dec 3, 1916. Pt. II, p. 11. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  10. ^ "The City And its Environs; Events Briefly Told: All in a Day's Work". The Los Angeles Times. November 21, 1916. p. 10. Retrieved November 29, 2024. See also:
  11. ^ Miller, Blair (1995). American Silent Film Comedies : An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Persons, Studios, and Terminology. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 109. ISBN 0-89950-929-0.
  12. ^ "Secrets of the Movies Revealed". The Springfield Republican. Jan 7, 1921. p. 9. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  13. ^ "'Ruddy' Joins Schenk; Valentino in New Group to Release Through United Artists; Navarro to Make Super Specials for Metro-Goldwyn at One of Film's Highest Salaries; Dog Sends Actor to Hospital". The Kansas City Star. March 8, 1925. p. 19D. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  14. ^ "Mrs. Gale Henry East of Hollywood Is Owner of Famous 'Asta' and Other Canine Actors". The Sun Times. August 6, 1938. p. 10. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  15. ^ "Nevada County Marriages, 1862-1993", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL4P-S3D3 : Sat Mar 09 19:42:49 UTC 2024), Entry for Frederick Ernest Near and Gale H East, 20 Nov 1939.
  16. ^ "The Knight's Pioneers of Big Bear Valley; Chapter XIX: The Knights Sell Out". Big Bear Brizzly. March 3, 1950. p. 3. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  17. ^ Lowe, Denise (2005). An Encyclopedic Dictionary of Women in Early American Films: 1895-1930. New York: The Haworth Press. p. 271. ISBN 0-7890-1843-8.
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