May Kitson (born Mary Ann Morrell, October 29, 1866 – June 17, 1945), was a British-born American
silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized Sound recording and reproduction, recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) ...
character actor active between 1917 and 1925.
Family
Kitson was born in
London, England
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major s ...
, to Tom and Elizabeth (née Chandler) Morrell.
Her family moved to
New Jersey, United States
New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware R ...
in 1873 after her father's death.
May and John William Kitson were married in 1882 and their first child Howard Waldo was born in March 1883; a daughter Velma May followed in 1887. Kitson was widowed in February 1888.
[''New York Times'', February 8, 1888; "Death of Mr. Kitson"] Robert Ellin and Kitson were co-executors of Kitson's estate. Her husband's firm, Ellin & Kitson, was changed to Ellin, Kitson & Company. JW Kitson Estate became a silent partner until the children reached maturity.
She was widowed again following a brief marriage in 1896. Her third husband, William J. Swan, also predeceased her, dying around 1909. She applied to the NY Court to change her name back to Mary Kitson. In 1920 she applied for a United States passport. In November 1914, her son Waldo married
Lela Cole, a short story writer of western romances. In 1910 her daughter Velma married Commodore
Byron McCandless
Commodore Byron McCandless (September 5, 1881 – May 30, 1967) was a longtime U.S. Navy officer who was awarded the Navy Cross during World War I and the Legion of Merit during World War II. He was also prominent in the field of vexillology (the ...
, a 1905 Naval Academy graduate.
Death
Kitson died on June 17, 1945, at the U.S. Naval Repair Base,
[Death Certificate of Mary Kitson; State of California, County of San Diego, Number 3767/45-044274, dated June 18, 1945.] in
San Diego, California
San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United Stat ...
, at her daughter's home, the Commanding Officer's Quarters. Her ashes are near her son Waldo's in
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Hollywood Forever Cemetery is a full-service cemetery, funeral home, crematory, and cultural events center which regularly hosts community events such as live music and summer movie screenings. It is one of the oldest cemeteries in Los Angel ...
,
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...
formerly The Hollywood Cemetery, located opposite Paramount Studios, not to be confused with the one on the east coast.
Filmography
*''
The Firing Line
''The Firing Line'' is a lost 1919 American silent drama film directed by Charles Maigne and starring Irene Castle. It was based on the 1908 novel by Robert W. Chambers and produced by Famous Players-Lasky. Paramount Pictures distributed the f ...
'' (1919) Constance Paliser
*''Come Out of the Kitchen'' (1919) Mrs. Daingerfield
*''The Burning Question'' (1919)
*''The Woman God Sent'' (1920)
*''Father Tom'' (1921) Mary
*''
The Family Closet'' (1921) Mrs. Dinsmore
* ''
Flesh and Spirit'' (1922) Mrs. Wallace
*''
Other Women's Clothes
''Other Women's Clothes'' is a 1922 American silent drama film directed by Hugo Ballin and starring Mabel Ballin, Raymond Bloomer and Crauford Kent.Munden p.393
Synopsis
Wishing to help financially support a struggling model he has fallen in lov ...
'' (1922) Mrs. Roger Montayne
*''
The New School Teacher'' (1924) Mrs. Buck
References
*''New York Times Movie Review'' (May 12, 1919), p. 11
*''Guide to the Actors' Equity Association: Records 1913-1991'' Allen, Miss Ray and May Kitson v. O'Brian Productions Father Tom (motion picture): Salary claims, 1921-192
*Listing of known movies:
citwf.comshowbizdata.comafi.com
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kitson, May
1866 births
1945 deaths
American stage actresses
American film actresses
American silent film actresses
Burials at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
British emigrants to the United States
20th-century American actresses