Early life and education

Charlotte E. Burton was born on May 30, 1881, in San Francisco, California.^[1] However there is some debate on her date of birth; some sources state she was born ten years later, on May 30, 1891;^[4] and other sources state she died at age 48 (which would be a date of birth around 1894).^ ^[3]

Burton attended The Cooper–Gerson School of Acting in San Francisco, where she studied under Leo Cooper.^[5] In December 1902, Burton participated in a theatrical program in South Park, San Francisco, presented by The Cooper–Gerson School of Acting.^[6][5]

Career

Burton was signed by the American Film Manufacturing Company in 1912 where she worked for several years.^[4] She joined Essanay Studios which she sued in 1919 for $25,000 for breach of contract. She originally signed with the company believing she would be acting in mostly drama film but she was cast in mostly comedy films. Her salary had been $200 a week with an option for her services at the rate of $300 a week for a second year.

Charlotte claimed that she was signed by Essanay business manager, Vernon R. Day, to a contract extending from November 1916 until November 1918. She was discharged without reason. When Burton came to the Chicago, studio she refused a role offered her in a Black Cat comedy, presented to her by Essanay president George K. Spoor. She declined because she was not a comedian. Instead, she accepted a role as leading lady in a film featuring Henry B. Wallace. She admitted that she was paid for ten weeks, at $200 per week, prior to being dumped by Essanay. Essanay executives claimed Burton automatically voided her contract when she refused the comedic part.

Upon arriving in California, Burton stayed for a time at the Angleus. She came there from New York and was on her way to Santa Barbara, California, to work for the American Film Company, which had its studios there. In May 1916, Burton was involved in making The Man Who Would Not Die, directed by William F. Russell and Jack Prescott.

The company of American and Canadian players spent a week in Long Beach, California, filming water scenes. Others in the cast were Harry Keenan and Leona Hutton. The script was written by Mabel Condon. Among her many co-stars in motion pictures were Mary Miles Minter, William Russell, Harold Lockwood, and Lottie Pickford.^[7][8]