Lila Chester
Acting
Biography
Wiki - Lila Hayward Chester was born in Richmond, Virginia, and was educated at the University of California. She followed a career in stock and vaudeville on the stage. Her middle name was rarely used in publicity. She worked with P.A. Powers in 1911 and January 1912. Around the same time she also was an actress with Gaumont and Edison. Early in 1912 Lila Chester moved to Thanhouser, for whom she played in many films through 1915. In 1913 The New York Times named her as "one of the prettiest girls of today," in a contest judged by artists who specialized in the so-called "American girl," including James Montgomery Flagg, C. Allen Gilbert, Clarence F. Underwood, and Penrhyn Stanlaws. In the same year, by arrangement with Thanhouser, she was seen in Sapho, a Majestic film starring Florence Roberts and Shelley Hull, produced in Los Angeles for release on the Mutual Program. A publicist for Thanhouser, quoted in The Chicago Tribune, February 14, 1914, stated that by that time she had appeared in over 400 films. If most of these bore the Thanhouser label, then she must have played hundreds of minor roles, for Lila Chester appeared in relatively few film credits or publicity notices. Her most important role with Thanhouser was as Susan Farlow, companion to Florence LaBadie, in the extremely successful serial, The Million Dollar Mystery. Miss Chester left Thanhouser toward the end of 1914. The New Rochelle Pioneer, June 19, 1915, reported: "Lila Chester has returned to the studio to work in screenplays." However, her stay there was brief, and soon she again departed. By 1916 she had moved to Fort Lee, New Jersey, where she appeared in the August 1916 film, Miss Petticoats, produced by Peerless for World. She remained with World, and by 1918 had played roles in Sins of Society, The Unpardonable Sin, The Page Mystery, and A Self-Made Widow. A 1918 directory noted that she was 5'5" tall, weighed 123 pounds, and had a fair complexion, titian hair, and blue eyes. Her home address at the time was 118 West 72nd Street, New York City, and she worked with the World Film Corporation in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Her hobby was clothesmaking, embroidery, knitting, and other needlework.
Known For
An indictment of the evils of child labor, the film was controversial in its time for its use of actual footage of children employed in a working mill.
The Cry of the Children
During a raid on a gambling establishment run by her father, Cosmo Lester, Diana Lester rescues Hugh Carton, a member of the English Parliament and a candidate for the Cabinet. Hugh gratefully offers Diana a position as his sister's companion, and soon, the two fall desperately in love.
Stolen Hours
Miss Petticoats stops a runaway horse, saves a wealthy woman from death, is rewarded with position as a private secretary. Society shuns her. She goes abroad; then see how she becomes the acknowledged daughter of a French Count and falls heir to a title.
Miss Petticoats
Comte Paul De Valreas is attracted to Frou Frou, the frivolous wife of Henri De Sartorys and the indifferent mother of their young son Georges. Paul persuades Frou Frou to bring her somber sister Louise, who secretly loves Henri, into the household, thus freeing her from any domestic duties.
Frou Frou
On the promise of marriage, Sylvia Smith, a simple girl from Lone Meadows, follows her lover to the city only to discover that he already has a wife.
A Self-Made Widow
This twenty-three episode serial told the story of a secret society called The Black Hundred and its attempts to gain control of a lost million dollars.
The Million Dollar Mystery
A French woman has to marry a Russian to preserve the reputation of her society mother. However she is in love with someone else.
Moths
David Spencer (Holbrook Blinn) is a basically good man, but like all men he has a few character flaws. Alas, these flaws deepen into weaknesses, leading to disaster for Spencer and his lady love.
The Unpardonable Sin
A foundling is raised in a convent and becomes a nun there, until she falls in love with a wounded soldier under her care. When she leaves the convent, a statue of the Virgin Mary comes to life and assumes the girl's appearance to carry on her work.
The Legend of Provence
No description available.
A Plugged Nickel
One little girl lived in the country. She was a model child, everybody admitted it, but it cannot be denied that she was more or less of a cry-baby and a coward.
Cousins
The pretty young stenographer in a New York lawyer's office had two weeks' vacation coining to her, and decided for once in her life she would cut a dash in society. She expended what for her was an enormous amount of money on clothes, and went to a fashionable seashore resort.
When a Count Counted
An American family in need of some money decides to pull a little innocent scam on a wealthy English relative.
Uncle's Namesakes
A romantic story utilizing flashback sequences, featuring Harry Benham, Mignon Anderson and Helen Badgley (http://thanhouser.org/).
Just a Shabby Doll
A society woman who lives in the suburbs near the sea had laid her plans to insure the marriage of her daughter to a wealthy young banker.
Peggy's Invitation
The merchant had succeeded in business because he was utterly heartless and had ground down all opposition. His employees hated him, his competitors feared him, and the servants in his home lived in mortal dread of him.