Clothing and Costumes Worn by Child Actors: Judson Melford (U.S., 1902?- )


Figure 1.--This portrait of Judson released by the Kalem studio was probably taken about 1912. He is wearing a white middy blouse. Judson's most important film appears to have been one he made with Alice Joyce--"On the Warpath" (Kalem, 1911). Image courtesy of the MD collection.

Judson Melford was a popular child actor in the earliest days of Hollywood. I have been able to find little information about him. Much more is known about his father. We have managed to piece together a few details. Several film studios in the late 1900s began to move west to California which because of the weather afforded more outdoors shooting time. One of those companies was Kalem. Judson got into films because his father, George Melford was an accomplished stage actor working in Cincinatti, Ohio. He often played hevies and character parts. He decided to try films in 1909 and proved very successful. George Judson brought his wife and young son Judson when he arrived in California in December 1910 with other Kalem actors. He soon succeeded Kenean Buel as director at the Kalem Glendale studio, Buel going to Florida for Kalem. Melford directed for Kalem from about 1911-14. He left Karem for the Lasky Company where he worked for several years and becoming very rich. George eventually directed one of the most famous silent films ever made, The Sheik (1922) starring Rudolph Valentino, but most of his films were B productions. They immediately started making movies. Many of George Judson's films were with the silent star Alice Joyce. Judson also appeared in one silent films with her--On the Warpath (Kalem, 1911).

Parents

Father

Judson Melford was a popular child actor in the earliest days of Hollywood. I have been able to find little information about him. Much more is known about his father, Geoege Medford. although we are positive if he was Judson's father or stepfather. Judson's full name was Judson Calkins Melford or LeRoy. His last name appears to have changed over the years to LeRoy, I suspect either because his real father was named LeRoy or because he changed it after his Mother, Louise Marsland of New York, divorced George Melford sometime between 1920 and 1930. [Smith] Tabloids from that era would probably reveal the full story but we have not gotten around to that yet.

Several film studios in the late 1900s began to move west to California which because of the weather afforded more outdoors shooting time. One of those companies was Kalem. George Melford (1889-1961) was an accomplished stage actor working in Cincinatti, Ohio. The indicated birth dates may be an error because they do not seem to correlate with what we believe to be Judson's birth date, about 1902. Gerorge often played heavies and character parts. He was know as a very committed and hard-working actor. He decided to try films in 1909 and proved very successful. The industry was very basic i 1910 and George even pitched in with the carpentry to build the Kalem Glendale studio. [Gauntier] He soon succeeded Kenean Buel as director at the Kalem Glendale studio, Buel going to Florida for Kalem. George brought his family along with him to California in December 1910 when he traveled along with other Kalem actors. Melford directed for Kalem from about 1911-14. He left Karem for the Lasky Company where he worked for several years and becoming very rich. George eventually directed one of the most famous silent films ever made, The Sheik (1922) starring Rudolph Valentino, but most of his films were B productions. They immediately started making movies. Many of George Judson's early films were with the silent star Alice Joyce.

Mother

Louise with Judson in tow accompanied George to Florida during December 1910. She played characters parts in several early Kalem silent films, but was more of a home body and doted on Judson. [Gauntier]

Childhood

Judson was born on November 3, 1900 in New York. He had very devvoted parents. Along with his parents, Judson grew up in the new movie community of California along with the family bulldog Bess.

Childhood Clothing

We have few details as to how Judson was dressed. Given the fact that his father became rich, he presumably was dressed very well. The one image we have here shows him waring a white middy blouse.

Film Career

Judson got into films because of his father. When his father became a director there wre of course many opportunities. We have few details on his films at this time. He apparently appeared in several Kalem films: The Touch of a Child's Hand (1910), Daniel Boone's Bravery (1911), On the War Path (1911), Rescue from the Desert (1911), The Driver of the Deadwood Coach (1912), The Power of a Hymn (1912), and The Runaways (1912). [Holmstrom] Judson's most important film appears to have been one he made with Alice Joyce--On the Warpath (Kalem, 1911). Judson starred in the silent film On the War Path which is in the AFI/Rippen Collection. The cast included: Alice Joyce and Judson's father. Judson plays the part of a boy who hears two old settlers describing their Old West fights with the Indians. This inspires the boy to defend the family cabin himself when Indians return to attack. The other settlers had sought refuge in a military fort. The boy hero stays in his cabin to fight. He is finally rescued by a half-breed trapper. We know Judson made films at Kalem. As far as we know, these were the only films he made. We know of no films after his father left Kalem in 1914. As his father beacme rich, there was no financial reason for Judson to continue making films.

Marriage

Judson married Ida Lolita Whitaker (1909- ). She was from Kansas. [Smith]

Later Life

Judson worked as an electrician for Paramount Studios for 30 years using the name LeRoy rather than Melford. He died in 1978 in Santa Paula, California. [Smith]

Sources

Gauntier, Gene. "Blazing the Trail" (1928).

Holmstrom, John. The Moving Picture Boy.

Smith, Michael C. E-mail message, May 6, 2003. The information Michael has provided is from his owm research and from information provided by Judson's Grandaunt Cora Marsland.






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Created: January 22, 2003
Last updated: May 6, 2003