Ethel White/Blanche White

I am intending to update the imdb entry for Blanche White but need to provide evidence for any changes. As far as I know, nothing has been published elsewhere that states categorically that Ethel McCann is the same person as Blanche White. In this rather lengthy post, I strive to establish the connection by drawing together primary source data from births, marriages, deaths, census and migration records of Ethel McCann and her immediate family. There is quite a bit of repetition from previous posts.

I have not traced any formal documentation in the name of Blanche White. This is unsurprising as it is a stage name and has no legal standing. But I believe I can demonstrate that Ethel McCann was the first wife of the actor Leo White and must therefore be the same person as Blanche White.

Ethel Caroline McCann was born in Woolwich on 21 August 1892
Familysearch shows born in Woolwich 3Q 1892

Her father was James William McCann, born in Mauritius in 1851
His army service record, downloadable from www.findmypast.co.uk (payment required) confirms that he was a Roman Catholic and records his marriage to Mary Dunne (Dublin, 9 February 1879) and the birth dates of his children Elizabeth, Annie and James. He was discharged on 25 March 1890.

Ethel had five siblings:

Elizabeth, born Poona, India, 15 February 1880.
Annie, born Lucknow, India, 3 September 1882.
James Frederick, born Bareilly, India, 20 October 1888. Baptised in the R.C. Chapel at Bareilly.
Baptismal records for Elizabeth, Annie and James Frederick are here Baptismal Records McCanns.

Ada Mary, born West Ham, London 14 October 1890. Familysearch shows born in West Ham 4Q 1980

Linda Lilian, born Woolwich, London, 18 November 1895. Familysearch shows born in Woolwich 4Q 1895

In the 1891 UK census, James W, Mary, Elizabeth, Annie James F and Ada were living at 39 Marmadon Road, Plumstead, London
James W. Mary & Elizabeth Familysearch.
Annie, James F & Ada. Familysearch.

In the 1901 UK census, James W, Mary, Annie (now Mrs Precious), Ada, Ethel and Linda were at 43 Marmadon Road. Familysearch.
In the 1911 UK census, James W, Mary, Ada and Lilian were at 24 Brewery Road, Plumstead
Familysearch.

Nothing further has been found about Ethel in the UK between 1901 and 1909, either in online records or family archives.

Ethel travelled from the UK to the USA via Liverpool, Quebec  and Niagara Falls in 1909-1910. Details are given here Ethel Crossing Border from Canada to USA. These records are somewhat problematic; they are a ‘best fit’ with other known information about her, but she appears to be creative about her age (21 instead of 17) and relatives.

Familysearch records the marriage of ‘Reo. H. Weiss’ age 29, born in Berlin, Germany (parents Julius, Ada Heyman) to ‘Ethel E. Mc Cann’ age 23, born in London, England (parents James, Mary Dunn) on 3 May 1911 in Manhattan, New York. ‘Reo’ is most likely a transcription error of ‘Leo’. The birth date of actor Leo White is usually cited as November 10, 1882 e.g. Wikipedia, IMDb. If that is the case, he would have been only 28 at the time of his marriage. But some sources such as his WWI Draft Registration give the year of birth as 1881. Since he was born in Germany, it is likely that his surname at birth was ‘Weiss’ and this was later anglicised to ‘White’. So far, I have not found anything elsewhere about Leo to confirm the names of his parents. Give or take a final ‘e’, the parents’ names and birthplace are a good fit with Ethel from Woolwich. The middle initial ‘E’ instead of ‘C’ may be a transcription error. The same marriage record in www.findmypast.co.uk gives her first name as ‘Ethel E?’ indicating uncertainty. Here age is given as 23 and therefore an estimated birth year of 1888. At the time of this marriage, Ethel Caroline McCann would have been only 18 years old. This is not the first or last time that she has given an age inconsistent with her actual birth date. A record search finds no good match for an Ethel McCann, daughter of James McCann and Mary Dunn, born in 1888 +/- 1 year.

The 1920 census finds Leo Weiss, 38, Ethel C. Weiss, 27, Leo Weiss Jr, 8 and John Weiss, 5 at 5553-64 Hollywood Boulevard.  Familysearch.

The return shows Leo was born in Germany and both parents in East Prussia; he arrived in the US in 1903 and his occupation is ‘actor, motion pictures’. Ethel was born in England, her father in Scotland and her mother in Ireland; she arrived in the US in 1910 and her occupation is ‘actress, motion pictures. This looks a good match (allowing for the difference in Ethel’s stated age) with the couple married in 1911. Leo’s details match other published information about actor Leo White. Ethel’s details are a good match with Ethel from Woolwich. The only discrepancy is in her father’s birthplace. She may simply have been unsure about this; both her father and his father were military men who travelled extensively with their duties and it may have been difficult to keep track of who was born where. Her paternal grandfather was born in Ireland but married in Scotland and one of his daughters was born there. In other documents at various times, she gives her father’s birthplace as England or Scotland.

It has not been possible to track down a birth record for Leo Jr.; records may not be publicly available. https://www.reclaimtherecords.org/ . But a birth record exists for son John Frederick Weiss Familysearch. This shows the mother as Ethel Caroline McCann, aged 22.

By 1930, Leo and Ethel had separated. Most likely entry for Leo is here. He is rooming at 5724 Sunset Boulevard, but now under the name Leo White. He is 47, he and both parents are from Germany and he is a stage actor. This time, he states that he entered the US in 1899. The entry for Ethel and her two sons is here. They are at Hedvig apartments, 1819 North Kingsley Drive, Los Angeles. They are using the surname White. Details given are consistent with previous census data, except her father’s birthplace is given as England. Her mother’s birthplace is now given as Northern Ireland; the partition of Ireland took place on 3 May 1921 and Mary Dunne was born in Belfast.

Taking all these records together is, I believe, good evidence that Ethel McCann from Woolwich is the first wife of actor Leo White.

Ethel remarried in 1934. This is discussed here George Lewis Cooke White aka Bob or Bobo. The middle initial and parents’ names – even father’s middle name -confirm that this is the same Ethel that was previously married to Leo White, although she was again apparently being creative about her age, stating 34 rather than 42. In summary:

Ethel married George L Cooke-White, son of Edgar Mills White and Marietta Cooke, in Beverly Hills on 2 September 1934. Familysearch. George’s occupation at the time was ‘insurance underwriter’.

George was born in Manhattan on 28 February 1899. Familysearch. His name is given as George Curtis Cooke White; ‘Cooke’ here is a middle name rather than part of a hyphenated surname and ‘Curtis’ may be a mistranscription of ‘Lewis’. Parents’ names are same as in the marriage record.

The 1940 census finds George and Ethel at ‘Tract 383, Beverly Hills’; examination of the form indicates their address is 8950 Clifton Way, between North La Peer Drive and North Wetherly Drive. Ages and birthplaces are consistent with other records.  George is an ‘actor, motion pictures’ who earned $964 in 1939. (According to www.dollartimes.com that equates to $16,624.32 today.)

Ethel’s sons John (styling himself ‘Fred’) and Leo White are at 202 North La Peer Drive. Familysearch. ‘Fred’ is an ‘actor, motion pictures’ while Leo is a ‘shop foreman, venetian blinds’

Leo senior is at 822 North San Jose Street. Familysearch. Not only is he still using the surname White rather than Weiss, he also gives his birthplace as England. In view of events in Europe, he may have considered it politic to distance himself from any connection with Germany. His wife’s name ‘Maxine’ corresponds with information recorded elsewhere about his second marriage to Maxine Louise Furman. His age is shown as 51, when actually he would have been 57 or 58, depending on whether you take his birth year as 1881 or 1882. He is a ‘feature & character actor, motion picture studio stock'. He earned $2,500 in 1939, equivalent to $43,112.86 today.

Leo junior’s marriage record confirms his parents were Leo Herbert White, born in Germany and Ethel Caroline McCann, born in England. Familysearch. His occupation is given as ‘singer, show business’.

George died on 17 April 1962 in Los Angeles. Familysearch.
Ethel died on 5 October 1963 in Los Angeles. The record also includes her date of birth. Familysearch.

They are buried together in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery  San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA. Billiongraves.com has pictures of both headstones.

A number of family photographs survive with text on the back in Ethel’s own hand. These provide further confirmatory details. She consistently refers to her son’s as ‘Peter’ or some diminutive and John or Jack. ‘Peter’ may well be a family nickname adopted to avoid confusion since father and son were both called Leo. She refers to the older man in the photos as ‘Bob’ or ‘Bobo’ but this also appears to be a nickname and the details she gives are consistent with the biography of George Lewis Cooke White. There are references to Ada, Fred, Donald and Jack - her sister, brother and nephews in England. Some were taken in Beverly Hills and include specific street names.

Ethel Bob and Peter – Easter Sunday.
Ethel and Bob, Clark Drive, after 4 p.m. Sunday
Ethel having a bad hair day
Ethel and Jack – some years later
Ethel’s postcards of Mexican bandits
A few more cards from Ethel to Ada
A postcard of a church in Hollywood from Ethel to Ada
Peter at military school in Santa Monica
Peter and a friend
Peter in Alamagordo, New Mexico
Ethel’s “baby” – John Frederick
Ethel’s boy Jack in the army
A couple of Ethel’s boy Jack in uniform (photos only, no text)

Ethel Crossing the border from Canada to USA

In a previous post I included a link which could be a match for Ethel migrating from Canada to the USA at Niagara Falls in 1910. This came from the Family Search website and was a transcription only, without copies of original documents. Find My Past has now added records of US/Canadian Border Crossings and these do give links to originals.

 

This is the passenger list. It shows Ethel's occupation as actress, which seems to confirm that this is the right person. Her nationality is given as "England" - she was born in Plumstead, SE London - and her race as Irish. This must have been the logic of the time; her mother was from Belfast and her paternal grandfather from Seago. It also indicates she was being creative not just about her age (21 when really 17) but also her family! As nearest relative, she gives a sister Alice DuBois living in Antwerp. This does not equate even loosely to any of her known family. So far, I have not found anything about Isabell Routhwell. Her address looks like 14-E, 16 Street, Buffalo.

This is a somewhat curious document. It shows the date of her arrival as 5/28/10 i.e. 28 May 1910. There is a box on the form "Section and Subdivision - Act of 1924". This placed restrictions on immigration according to country of origin and numbers already in the US in 1890. Presumably when the Act was implemented, it was necessary to compile retrospective records of who had already entered the US and from where.
These documents also point to another detail that has so far eluded me - her departure from the UK. This tells us that she arrived in Quebec in July 1909 on the Empress of Britain. It is therefore quite likely that Ethel sailed from Liverpool.
This is looking likely. Departed Liverpool 2 July 1909, arrived Quebec 9 July. Just 55 pages to trawl through. http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/immigration/immigration-records/passenger-lists/passenger-lists-1865-1922/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=5143&
And here it is on page 18. Not the clearest image, I'm afraid. As far as I can make out, she is listed as Caroline McCann, aged 21 (would actually only have been 16), with an intended occupation in Canada of "Domestic". Possibly this was to meet a criterion of assisted passage, which might not have applied had she described herself as an actress. Religion given as Roman Catholic, which suggests that this is our girl.

 

I had been curious how Ethel could have travelled from England to Canada and the USA quoting an age that was at variance with the facts. Wouldn't her passport have given the game away? I am indebted to Tom at http://www.passport-collector.com/ for this information:

Until the Great War no travel documents were required to enter USA. Later on passports were issued based on birth certificates and citizenship/naturalization documents.



Whisky and Toughy

I think these can largely speak for themselves, but I am somewhat intrigued by the 'silly little ditty Fred used to sing when he was a kid':

Look at the foughts we've fighted
Look at the deeds we've done
Bravely fought by me you ask?
Yes bravely died without any fuss
Look at the foughts we've fighted
I'll quickly let them see
I'm one of he boys of the Bulldog Breed
For a Bulldog once bit me

Since Fred (presumably her brother James Frederick) was born in 1888 and Ethel in 1892 and she would not have seen him since she moved to the USA in 1910, it is certainly pre WWI and could even be pre 1900. I have tried a Google search for these lyrics without success.

Ethel as Blanche White in Film Fun - October 1919

I am indebted to Alan Miles for tracking down this photo of Blanche/Ethel in Film Fun and making an enhanced copy of the photo. The caption in the original reads Not all nymphs of the California studios are as sparsely garbed as the Sennett bathing girls. Here are two - Evelyn Nelson and Blanche White of the Bull's Eye Follies - who prove that femininity loses none of its charm by being modestly clad. From his researches into the Film Follies archives, Alan has discovered that by 1919 when she was 27, Blanche/Ethel was appearing more in shows rather than films.
This looks like all the 1919 issues of Film Fun. If you click on "see other formats" you should be able to view online and/or download.
https://archive.org/stream/filmfun357368lesl/filmfun357368lesl_djvu.txt

More about Ethel 4

Please excuse any repetition here. I am to some degree consolidating information for previous posts.

I had not been able to trace Ethel's marriage to Leo White. I tried various combinations of White/Weiss with no luck. But http://www.lordheath.com/index.php?p=1_965_Blanche-White tells us this took place on 11 May 1911 (should be 3 May) in New York City, citing https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2438-47S. I'm not surprised I couldn't find it, as there are some mistranscriptions and perhaps intentional bending of the truth. Their names are given as Reo H. Weiss and Ethel E. Mc Cann. Her parents' names match - give or take the 'e' on the end of Dunn(e). But Ethel gives her age as 23 when in fact she would have been only 18 at the time. This is not the first time Ethel appears to have modified her age to suit circumstances. The most likely fit in immigration records gives her age as 21 when she was actually just 17: http://mackiegenealogy.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/more-about-ethel.html. There may have been further embellishments when she left England, as I have not so far been able to trace her in emigration records. I am curious about how she became involved in the theatrical world and what took her to the USA. But all witnesses are now dead and surviving documents give no cue.

Ethel and Leo had two sons. Leo Herbert James was born c. 1912 in New York and married May Emanuella Oddo on 23 November 1947. So far, I have not found likely matches for Leo (as White or Weiss) or May in births or deaths registers, or births of children to parents named White/Oddo.
Leo junior is always referred to as Peter or suchlike in correspondence from Ethel. He may have been exempt from military service during WWII. In a note on the back of a photo, Ethel refers to a letter from Jack (her other son John) addressing Peter as "My Dear Exemptee". But he attended military school in Santa Monica - possibly Ramsey - and was a lieutenant in line for captaincy around 1938.
The marriage record of 1947 gives his occupation as "singer". Ethel tells of him singing songs such as "Loch Lomond", "Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair" and "A Garden in the Rain" on radio.

John (aka Jack) was born John Fredrick in Cook, Illinois on 24 September 1914. So far, I have not found any likely matches for marriages or death. He served in the army in WWII - photos here, here and here. Can anybody identify the uniform? That might assist in tracking down any enlistment record. In the 1940 census he is listed as an actor in motion pictures. On the back of a photo sent by Ethel to her brother Fred, she says that Jack is known as Fred in the studio.

Ethel's second husband was George Lewis Cooke White, born 28 February 1899 in New York, died 17 April 1962 in Los Angeles. I guess this must be the chap identified as Bob or Bobo in Ethel's photos. Here we have some photos of Ethel, Bob and Peter (Leo Jr) on Easter Sunday, year unknown but very likely during WWII. Ethel says he is letting his hair grow for a picture he was working on and compares him to a hopper in Kent. She says that "Old Captain Cooke must have been like his grandson". George White's mother was Marietta Cooke. Is Ethel implying that "Bob" is descended from Captain James Cook? It is stretching the facts a bit - the captain died in 1779 - but associating Bob with the Cooke name appears to confirm that Bob/Bobo and George Lewis Cooke White are indeed the same person. Here we have Ethel and Bob walking the dog in Clark Drive. On the back of a photo of Bob, Ethel writes "Bob is Welsh and English descent but I tell him he looks just good old New England Yankee". George was born in New York but his father was from Massachusetts and his mother from Rhode Island, which further strengthens the likelihood that Bob and George are the same. Here we have a few postcards from Ethel; in one of them she mentions Bobo comparing the picture to New England.

Here we have a couple more of Bobo. He is playing "Sad Sack", based on the comic character introduced in 1942 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sad_Sack. "Ted" is playing the sergeant. So who is Ted? This is a long shot, but a slight possibility.  Here and here are photos of a little girl called Sally Louise Jarvis. Her parents were Arthur Tedcastle Jarvis Jr. (1914-2004) Shirley Elizabeth Hamilon (1914- ). Ethel mentions her resemblance to "Grandpa Jarvis". Could Ted have been Arthur Tedcastle Jarvis Sr. born c. 1883?

More About Ethel 3

In a follow up post http://www.voy.com/225534/4/9314.html Jesse writes:
"If this is our Ethel, then she was born August 21, 1892 and died October 5, 1963. * almost gotta be, but I find it odd that if she remarried, she'd keep her divorced first husband's last name?"
with a link to California Deaths record
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VPCZ-1Z2
Mother's maiden name is given as Dunne, which fits what we already know.

In a further follow-up http://www.voy.com/225534/4/9315.html Jesse then writes:
"Maybe that was a false alarm. Still, what are the odds?" and includes links:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K8JF-2K5
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-29948-35419-53?cc=1804002
This shows Ethel marrying George L. Cooke-White in Los Angeles on 9 September 1934. This is definitely our Ethel - middle names and parents names match. But she is being somewhat creative about her age. She says she is 34 but would actually have been 42. Her address is 321 South Reeves Drive, Beverly Hills. She gives her father's birthplace as Scotland, not Mauritius, but as previously mentioned, her father and his father were military men and many of the McCanns were born overseas, so some confusion is understandable.
George's age is given as 37. His occupation is given as insurance underwriter. His address is 1732 North Whitley Avenue, Los Angeles and his birthplace New York. His parents were Edgar Mills White and Marietta Cooke.
Officiant was J.K. Stewart, Pastor of Beverly Vista Community Church. (Although raised a catholic, as a divorcee, Ethel could not marry in a catholic church.)

 https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K97C-SZY
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-27791-14008-46?cc=2000219
And this is Ethel and George at Tract 383 Beverly Hills in the 1940 census. Ethel's age is correctly given as 47. George now describes himself as an actor in motion pictures. He is listed as George L.C. White.

After some further research, I have found George and Ethel buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego California.
https://billiongraves.com/grave/Ethel-Caroline-White/18586140#
This has photos of both headstones. George's dates are given as February 28, 1899 to April 17, 1962. The inscription includes "PVT RCT DET 79 FIELD ARTY WORLD WAR 1". (I'm guessing the abbreviations mean Private, Regimental Combat Team Detachment, 79 Field Artillery but stand to be corrected) Fort Rosecrans is a military cemetery so no doubt his WWI service qualifies him and his spouse for interment here.

Can we find anything more about George?
Here is his birth record (indexed as George Curtis Cooke White but all other details match)
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WWH-BQH
He had an older sister Margaret Mary White, born 1898 in Manhattan.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2W8J-3C3
In 1900, 1905 and 1910 he was with his parents (see details below for Edgar). So far, I have not found him in the 1920 Census.
This looks like him in the 1930 census, lodging at The Crest Hotel, 4969 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles (now long gone as far as I can tell from Google Streetview), describing himself as a salesman
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCJ1-3B9
Here he is in the deaths register
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VP4W-6HM
Father was Edgar Mills White, born Charlestone, Suffolk, Massachusetts, 27 October 1858. He had a twin brother Waldo.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FHTL-N4F
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FXCR-H5F
 https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11846-35248-92?cc=1536925
Died on 26 January 1912 and was buried in Swan Point Cemetery, Rhode Island
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVPM-P75Q
The family was in Manhattan in 1900
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSKR-V87
and 1905
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SPN4-G33
and 1910
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M5HZ-2B1

More about Ethel 2

To quote from Jesse
"Now THIS is interesting...
John Frederick Weiss was born September 24, 1914 in Cook, IL (Leo would have been working for Essanay at the time, I believe)
Leo Weiss' age is 32 (birthdate: November 10, 1881), born in Berlin, Germany
Ethel Caroline McCann's age is 22 (birthdate: circa 1892), born in London, England"
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NQ14-CHD
So Leo and John, later known as White, appear in the records as Weiss.

"WWI Draft Card (Sept. 12, 1918)
Leo Weiss (AKA Leo White) is age 36, born November 10, 1881
Lives at 6806 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Calif.
He was born in Germany
He is an actor at Universal Film Co.
His wife is listed as Ethel Veronica White (GAHHH!)"
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KZVN-KKP
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-26181-16483-54?cc=1968530
This must be the same as I have a postcard from Ethel - date uncertain - where she gives her address as 6806 Hollywood Blvd. So the listing of Ethel's middle name as Veronica must be an error. Leo's date of birth is given her as November 10, 1881 but other sources say 1882. Since he has his wife's middle name is wrong, the date of birth may be unreliable.

"1920 Census (Jan 7 1920)
Leo (38 - birth year 1881) and Ethel (37? - 1882; adding 10 years?) live with their sons in Los Angeles
Leo's parents were born E Prussia, Germany (Leo's birthplace simply says Germany)
Ethel's dad was born in Scotland, her mom in Ireland; Ethel was born in England
Both act in motion pictures"
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MHQF-ZLF
https://archive.org/stream/14thcensusofpopu106unit#page/n605/mode/1up
So in the 1920 census, the family name is given a Weiss, not White. Dates of immigration for Leo and Ethel are given as 1903 and 1910 respectively. Ethel's age is given as 37 in the transcription, but the original actually shows 27. Ethel gives her father's birthplace as Scotland, although he was actually born in Mauritius. Both her father James and his father John were in the army and some of their children were born overseas. James's elder sister was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire. So it is quite likely that Ethel, after hearing family stories of relatives born abroad, got mixed up about who was born where.

"In the meantime, John (Fred) (25) and Leo (28) in the 1940 Census (Apr 8)
Interesting, John/Fred is an actor in motion pcitures as well!
Leo is a shop foreman (Venetian blinds)"
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K97C-1HS
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1961-27791-13474-97?cc=2000219
Brothers John and Leo at 202 North La Peer Drive. This is the address Leo's address at the time of his marriage in 1947. Possibly Leo's job as a shop foreman was a stopgap, as by 1947 his occupation was singer.

To be continued...

More about Ethel

I haven't been active for a while, but recently a lot more information has come to light about my great aunt Ethel White nee McCann for which I am indebted to Margaret (granddaughter of Ethel's sister Elizabeth) and Alan Miles.

To recap, Ethel married actor Leo White and had a theatrical career under the stage name Blanche White. Her film output was relatively modest http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0924527/?ref_=nmbio_bio_nm. So far, I had not seen any movies that included Ethel. So I was particularly delighted to be directed to this 1917 short "The Chief Cook" where Blanche appears as Maggie the 'slavery maid'.
Here is a synopsis
http://www.lordheath.com/index.php?p=1_963_The-Chief-Cook
And here is the movie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdaQry_z_34

Margaret and Alan also directed me to an online forum where some else had been researching Blanche/Ethel http://www.voy.com/225534/4/9313.html . "Jesse" had found my blog and compared it to his or her own researches. Working through Jesse's links:

Marriage of Leo and Ethel's elder son Leo Herbert James White to May Emanuella Oddo, 23 November 1947. (As mentioned in previous entries, young Leo is always referred to as Peter or a diminutive in correspondence from Ethel to her sister Ada.) I had not been aware of this marriage and it opens up new avenues for research:
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K8KK-8HD
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1942-29947-66158-80?cc=1804002
At the time, Leo was living at 202 North, La Peer Drive, Beverly Hills. Here it is on Google Streetview
202 No, La Peer Drive (although you do sometimes need to take with a pinch of salt just how accurate Google is at pinpointing individual houses.) But it gives an idea of the location. His occupation is shown as singer.

May is shown as divorced and this is her second marriage, but her father's name is shown as Charles Joseph Oddo, so presumably she reverted to her maiden name after divorcing. Her address is given as North Curson Avenue, Loss Angeles; the house number is indistinct. Her birthplace is Connecticut. So far, no trace of her first marriage,

Ethel's birth
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/2FMX-FPM
Woolwich 2Q 1892, matches what I already have.

Ethel in 1901 census
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X98P-1DF
This is Ethel, her parents, siblings and niece at 49 Marmadon Road, Plumstead (which is listed here as being in Middlesex). This property is still in existence. Search Google Maps and take a virtual tour with Street View. Postcode is SE18 1EA. It is the last house on the north side before Barth Mews and the wheelie bin outside is numbered 49. (In 1891, prior to Ethel's birth, the family was at 39 Marmadon Road, now demolished. You can see its position on this 1959 OS map)

Jesse thinks this could be Ethel arriving in America.
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XP29-63L
Ethel McCann, age given as 21, arriving at Niagara Falls, New York in June 1910 via a border crossing from Canada. Birthplace London, England and "Race" Irish. I hadn't been having much luck finding when Ethel left the UK, not least because I didn't know where and when she married Leo, so not sure whether I should be looking for her as McCann or White. And if she travelled via Canada, that would further confound the issue. In June 1910 Ethel would actually have been 17. That does seem rather young to be making such an epic journey. Maybe she was adding a few years to her age to avoid awkward questions, but surely she would have needed a passport. All this does raise questions about how she came to leave her family and start a new life across the Atlantic while still in her teens. Possibly she went over with a travelling theatre company. And did she meet future husband Leo in the USA or England? According to IMDB "Leo White started in comedy on the boards of English music hall in the late 1890's. He accompanied theatrical producer Daniel Frohman (later a partner of Adolph Zukor in Famous Players Lasky) to Hollywood in 1910". Since Ethel and Leo arrived in the USA at about the same time, they may have already known each other and might even have travelled together.

As to the rather odd classification of her "race" (rather than nationality) as Irish, her mother Mary was born in Belfast. Father James was born in Mauritius while his parents were there on military service. James's father John was a gunner in the Royal Artillery, born in Seago, Lurgan, Co Armagh. So maybe by the logic of the time, that made Ethel Irish.

Ethel with sons Leo and John, 1930 census at Hedvig Apartments, 1819 North Kingsley Drive, Los Angeles.
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XCV9-5LK
https://archive.org/stream/californiacensus00reel134rs#page/n254/mode/1up
This matches what I was told previously by E.J. Fleming.

To be continued...

News from E.J. Fleming

On 21st March, I posted a card from Ethel where she gives her address as 6806 Hollywood Boulevard. I did a Google search on this address and it led me to The Movieland Directory site http://www.movielanddirectory.com/ - to quote "This site is based on E.J. Fleming's Movieland Directory, which contains the largest and best researched guide to Movieland locations on Earth. Our primary focus is on the people and places, including homes, film locations, and other points, associated with the entertainment business. " I contacted the website and gave them a link to this blog, and very soon received the following very detailed reply from E.J. himself.

"Thanks for your note to the site re; Blanche White. I love that kind of stuff and loved the pics and her notes. Judging from the cars in the photos, most of them seem to be early-mid 1940's. She also mentioned that Bobby Bolter died a few years earlier and he died in 1937.As to the address, coincidently I've been doing a TON of research during the past year and Tony (my brother and web king) is getting ready to upload an updated database. I’ve gathered another 27,000 or so addresses that will put it at about 57,000 (with no end in sight… it’s a sickness…) Coincidently I’ve spent a good bit of time during the past month reviewing old L.A. voter registration records from 1922 through 1940 and have a ton of addresses from Clark Drive. Nothing on Blanche/Ethel, sadly, but I had uncovered an address for her from 1930 to go with the one for Leo.

First of all, there is a Clark Drive and a Clark Street. They aren’t terribly far apart but are distinctly different and since she mentioned “Clark Drive” specifically it’s pretty strong to assume she would not have gotten it wrong. Clark Street is in West Hollywood near the border to Beverly Hills (just east of Doheny on a map) and runs north off of Sunset. It’s a pretty schmaltzy area actually. Big money and stars’ houses. The pictures are taken in the "flats" so I'm sure it's not Clark Street.

Clark Drive on the other hand is south about a mile from Clark Street and runs north/south. It is a block west of Robertson Boulevard and runs from Beverly Boulevard on the north down past Wilshire Boulevard. It is technically in Beverly Hills but isn’t ritzy by any means. During the 1940’s the neighborhood – which was blocks of really nice stucco or California mission style bungalows – was a working neighborhood. Lots of movie people lived there but it’s not mansions or anything like that. Most bigger name stars lived and still live north of Santa Monica. Workers still live south. So I’m pretty sure that she lived on Clark Drive between Wilshire and Beverly. Many people like her and Bobby Bolder lived in that area.

Unfortunately I’ve not come across any listing for Ethel in the dozens of Clark Drive forms I’ve been through (but I’ll keep looking). I’ve got them all indexed so I know where blocks are and rechecked tonight but found only a few Ethels and none with occupations that matched.

Coincidently, I did dig up someone who I believe to be Ethel in the 1930 census when I searched for Ethel White. At the time of the 1930 census, there was an Ethel C. White living at 1819 North Kingsley (the Hedvig Apartments, a nice 8-10 unit apartment building over in the Los Feliz area at the eastern end of Hollywood. It’s between Franklin Avenue and Sunset Boulevard on a north-south street. In 1930 the area was very nice, very clean and full of movie people of all types. Beverly Hills was still the place to be for the super stars, as were the Hollywood Hills (streets north of Sunset in Hollywood). But the neighborhoods like Los Feliz were very popular because they weren’t crowded. Often the streets were only half full of buildings.

At the time of the April, 1930 census, there was a listing was for Ethel C. White, b. 1893 in England, immigrating to the U.S. in 1910, age (looks like) 37 but it was scratched out. She was 18 at the time of her first marriage, which puts it sometime during 1911-1912. Dates can be tricky because the census was in April so you can only confirm a 2-year range unless you know the specific date of an event as it applies to April. Ethel had two sons, Leo H. (age 18, b. 1912 in New York) and John F. (age 15, b. 1915 in Illinois).

There are several circumstantial things – aside from the obvious name matches – that tie in as well. In 1912, when Leo H., Jr. was born in New York, Leo, Sr. was making movies for [it looks like there is some text missing in E.J.'s original. Leo was working for Power Picture Plays in 1912, but I do not know where they were based - Phil] In 1914-1915 when John F. was born in Illinois, Leo, Sr. was making movies in Chicago, Illinois, for Essanay. Also his age at first marriage – 29 – mentioned on his census form (he was apparently already separated from her as early as April, 1930) and his age – 47- means he was in 1911-1912, matching that of Ethel.

Coincidently, director Claude Fleming lived at the Hedvig at the same time.

During the same census I found Leo H., Sr. (listing on the site already) at 5724 Sunset (a larger apartment building; don’t know the name). He gave his age as 47 (b. 1893) and birthplace as Germany, immigrated in 1899. He was still listed as married (as was Ethel) and “actor – stage” as occupation.

No idea who her “Bob” is, which must be terrible frustrating for you. If you can find out, let me know and I’ll do some research. In one of her postcards she mentioned “Bob” was working in a film so he was in the business. There was a Robert “Bobo” Cannon (b 1909, Ohio d 1964 in L.A.) who was a director and animation guy in the 1940’s-1950’s but that’s the only close thing I could find from the information she left.

Her 6806 Hollywood Blvd. address was the Bonnie Briar Hotel Apartments, a very large building at Hollywood and Highland in the heart of Hollywood. It is next to the new Academy Award complex and the Hollywood/Highland development. Very cool area. In the 1930’s-1940’s tons of interesting people lived there; here’s the list I have now:

[Sorry I have not been able to include the list of names. It was in a table and the formatting went haywire when I tried to copy and paste it here. If you would like to see the full list, please contact me (see my profile for e-mail address) and I'll forward the original message on to you.]

Not there any more I’m pretty sure…

Again if you come up with any additional information about Ethel or “Bobo” please let me know and I’ll see what I can find.

E.J. kindly provided me with copies of the 1930 census data for Ethel and Leo. They are in pdf format so I cannot post them here, but e-mail me if you would like copies.

If Ethel went to the USA in 1910, she would only have been 17 or 18 at the time. The census data also shows she first married at 18. So this still leaves a question mark over whether she met and married Leo before or after she emigrated.

Leo's age is consistent with the IMDb website database which says he was born in 1882. But if he immigrated to the US in 1899 he would only have been 16 or 17, which seems a little young, especially as some sources state he was already an established music hall performer in the UK before he went to the US. Possibly 1899 was the year he left Germany, not necessarily when he arrived in US. The census data also contradicts the birth year of 1873 shown on his gravestone.

A postcard of a church in Hollywood from Ethel

From Ethel to Ada. This card is a bit frustrating in some ways. The stamp has been removed, taking with it any postmark that might have helped to date it. And most of the address has been obliterated. Ethel does not actually tell us the name of the church; I have done a Google search for RC churches in Holywood, but cannot find one that looks like this. The text reads

"Dearest. This is our little church. Isn't it lovely. Other sides have orange, fig and palm trees. Bell marks historic spot where Padre Junipero Serra celebrated Mass of the Holy Wood of the Cross in old spanish days. Please write me 6806 Hollywood Blvd L.A. Calif. I haven't had a letter for ages. Love to all from Ethel"
I'll see what I can find about the address she mentions - see http://mackiegenealogy.blogspot.co.uk/2008/04/news-from-ej-fleming.html for further details.
Update. Leo Weiss's United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, dated September 12th 1918 as far as I can make out, gives his spouses name as Ethel Veronica White and her address as 6806 Hollywood Blvd. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZVN-KKP He gives his occupations as 'actor' his employer as 'Universal Picture Co' and his place of employment as 'Universal City, Los Angeles, California'. His date of birth is given as November 10th 1881 (the commonly accepted DOB for him is November 10th 1882, but I don't think anyone has any primary source evidence for this.) and he has signed as 'Leo Weiss' with 'Leo White' in brackets underneath. Give or take a middle name, this is further good evidence that Ethel McCann from Plumstead was married to US actor Leo White and therefore she was the actress known as Blanche White.

Uncle Leo, Blanche and Ethel

While watching old films on television, my dad would occasionally point out some minor character and announce "That's my uncle Leo". I presumed Uncle Leo must be connected in some way to Ethel McCann. But nothing I have found in the archives so far relates to anyone called Leo.

In particular, dad identified one of the three bearded avaitors in the Marx Brothers' "A Night at the Opera" as Leo. So I checked the internet movie database website and this identified Leo White as an aviator. I then followed the link to his imdb biography http://imdb.com/name/nm0925118/bio

This gives us the biographical details - born November 10, 1882 in Graudenz, West Prussia (now Germany), died September 20, 1948 in Glendale, California.

It also shows that his first wife was called Blanche White and they had two children. My sister remembers hearing that Ethel adopted the stage name Blanche White. So it now looks as if Peter and Jack were Leo's children and Bob/Bobo was Ethel's second husband/"significant other". Blanche's imdb entry is here http://imdb.com/name/nm0924527/ (Note. This blog was primarily set up for sharing genealogical information. "Ethel McCann" is generally used as an index label rather than "Blanche White".)

I have updated my tree in GenesReunited, but of course there is always the possibility that Leo White is a stage name.

I also made an image search for Leo White. These are links to stills from Charlie Chaplin movies on the BFI website.
http://chaplin.bfi.org.uk/resources/bfi/filmog/film_thumb.php?fid=59446&resource=Stills
Stills from "A Night Out"
http://chaplin.bfi.org.uk/resources/bfi/filmog/film_thumb.php?fid=59403&resource=Stills
Still from "The Champion"
http://chaplin.bfi.org.uk/resources/bfi/filmog/film_large.php?fid=59426&enlargement=bfi-00n-hqf.jpg
Still from "A Jitney Elopement"
http://chaplin.bfi.org.uk/resources/bfi/filmog/film_large.php?fid=58582&enlargement=bfi-00m-z7y.jpg
Still from "Work"
http://chaplin.bfi.org.uk/resources/bfi/filmog/film_large.php?fid=58393&enlargement=bfi-00n-j49.jpg
Still from "A Woman"
http://chaplin.bfi.org.uk/resources/bfi/filmog/film_large.php?fid=59395&enlargement=essanay_section1.jpg
Cast of "The Bank"
http://chaplin.bfi.org.uk/resources/bfi/filmog/film_large.php?fid=59401&enlargement=bfi-00n-jbv.jpg
Still from "Charlie Chaplin's Burlesque on Carmen"
http://chaplin.bfi.org.uk/resources/bfi/filmog/film_thumb.php?fid=59450&resource=Stills
Stills from "Police". Leo played one of the policemen
There are others if you look for them.

The false moustache gets in the way, but does anybody else think there is a family resemblance between Leo, Peter and Jack?

Here are some biographical links, but internet searches reveal often contradictory information. More is to follow.

Wikipedia has an entry for him http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_White (dates match those given in IMDB)

Answers.com tells he was born in 1880, has him dying one day later than is stated in most other sorces and refers to "his native England" http://www.answers.com/topic/leo-white?cat=entertainment [Update. The answers.com link is a secondary source. Data is actually drawn from the All Movie Guide http://www.allmovie.com ]


Did Leo and Ethel meet and marry in the States, or did they know each other in England?

Shirley and Sally Louise

Just when I thought I had finished with the Ethel McCann archive, another picture turns up. "This is Shirley and cute Sally Louise. It doesn't do Shirley justice really - she has lovely colouring auburn hair and blue eyed - she is Scottish descent (nee Hamilton)" Is Sally Ethel's granddaughter and if so where does the name Jarvis come from? Or possibly Shirley was married to Bob's son by a previous marriage.

*Update, July 2016*
My speculation that Sally is related to Ethel and/or Bob appears wide of the mark. But I have found some more information.
On 8 October 1937, Shirley Elizabeth Hamilton of 23 S. Catalina St. Los Angeles married Arthur Tedcastle Jarvis Jr of 817 North Bedford Drive, Beverly Hills. Witnesses were Samuel A. Street and Sally Louise Hamilton, Shirley's younger sister. The marriage was solemnised by Thomas J. O'Sullivan, catholic priest, of 5801 Carlton Way, Hollywood.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8VM-K32

The 1940 census finds Arthur, Shirley, daughter Sally (then 0 years old) and Arthur's parents at 817 Whittier Drive, Beverly Hills (now 90210)

For more about Sally, see http://mackiegenealogy.blogspot.co.uk/2008/02/sally-louise-jarvis.html

More about Shirley
Shirley was born on 16 January 1914 in Baxter, Jasper, Iowa. Her parents were (Dr.) William Franklin Hamilton, born in State Center, Iowa and Shirley Marks MacLennan, born in Clleveland, Ohio.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V46J-WTK

More about Arthur
Various records give his occupation as real estate.
Arthur was born on 22 March 1914 in Nashville, Tennessee. His parents were Arthur Tedcastle Jarvis, born in Virginia c. 1883 and Louise O'Keefe, born in Nashville c. 1887.
There is a good match in United States World War II Army Enlistment Records with Arthur T. Jarvis, born 1914 in Tennessee. He enlisted as a Private in the Air Corps on 14 July 1942 in Des Moines, Iowa
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K85J-N9T
Arthur remarried on 27 November 1946 in Los Angeles to Lura Joy White, 23. He was still at 817 North Bedford Drive. Lura's parents are given as Lewis A. White and "Ocy L. Jones" but the original image is indistinct. Best match I births register for Lura is Lura J White, 5 March 1923, Los Angeles.
His birth date was 2 July 1914 and died on 2 July 2004 in Beverly Hills 90212.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J5FC-VZL
He was buried in  Rose Hills Memorial Park, Whittier, Los Angeles, California

A few more cards from Ethel to Ada

I don't think these add too much to the story, but I include them for what they may be worth. This wraps up the bulk of what the archive holds about Ethel McCann and her family in the USA.

Ethel's postcards of Mexican bandits

This looks like a rather gruesome subject for a postcard. The pictures and Ethel's text relate to an incident which took place on March 9, 1916. According to http://mattstodayinhistory.blogspot.com/2007/03/pancho-villa-raids-columbus-new-mexico.html 'Two hours before sunrise, more than 500 Mexican raiders led by Francisco "Pancho" Villa crossed the US border and attacked the small town of Columbus, New Mexico.'

Apart from the history lesson, this gives a helpful fix in time. I don't think we have a date of death for Ethel's father recorded anywhere, but clearly he was still alive in 1916. There is a reference to "when Petsey was little". This implies her son Peter was born some time before 1916. My sister and I remember hearing from Ada that Ethel went out to America with Charlie Chaplin, which would be in 1912. No doubt she spent a bit of time establishing her career before starting a family. And she refers to husband Bob as a New Englander, so presumably she met and married him over there. [Update. Bob appears to have been her second husband. Her first was Leo White.] I would guess Peter was born around 1914 and John some time later.
Further updates:
'Bob' isn't actually mentioned on these postcards. If they were sent soon after the Pancho Villa raid, she would have still been married to Leo.
Migration records show that Ethel travelled to the US via Canada in 1909-1910, see later posts.
Ethel's father James McCann died 24 October 1921
'Peter' must be a nickname. Her elder son's name was Leo Herbert James White. He was born in 1911 or 1912, exact date not traced so far.
Ethel is keen for news of Fred - her brother James Frederick McCann. In 1916 her may well have been on military service.
She sent Jack a little book. This must be John Adam Mackie, son of her sister Ada and the original recipient of the postcards.

Sally Louise Jarvis

One from Ethel's archives and presumably sent to her sister Ada. I do not recognise the name so am not sure if she is actually related. Apparently "she looks like her grandpa Jarvis" - could this be Bob/Bobo? Ethel mentions Peter Alan Mackie. He was born in 1938 and Ethel would have been in her mid forties then. So I am not sure why she was musing on having a caesarian. I do not know what she means by "Still no baby." Perhaps Jack or Peter is married by now and Ethel is looking forward to becoming a grandmother. It is interesting that she makes a reference to Dory (short for Dorothy) Precious, the first child of Ethel and Ada's sister Annie.
Update July 2016*
Transcription of text Sally Louise Jarvis. Isn't she a sweet little kid. She looks like her grandpa Jarvis. I think I told you she was born caesarean - I'd have one that way myself - if I thought she would be like this one - or if not like her & a him - like Peter Alan Mackie - he is lovely. Still no baby but my own and yours have ever looked as beautiful to me as Dory Precious did.
This post http://mackiegenealogy.blogspot.co.uk/2008/02/shirley-and-sally-louise.html has a photo of Sally and her mother and I have added information about her parents so shall not repeat it all here.
Sally was born on 4 March 1940 in California https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VGDK-6LV
There are two likely marriage entries for Sally L Jarvis, born 1940, marrying Cecil H Abbott, aged 28 in California in 1960. One gives the date as 9 April in Imperial and the other as 25 June in Los Angeles.
 

Ethel and Jack - some years later

These are clearly taken a few years on from the previous batches of photos. Ethel is noticeably older, Jack has been in the army long enough to earn his sergeant's stripes and a couple of rows of medal ribbons and they have a new dog. Ethel mentions some of the pictures are taken in a vacant lot in rear of Beverly Wilshire Hotel. The hotel is 9500 Wilshire Blvd. I think the vacant lot

must be in the angle between North Beverly Drive and Wilshire Blvd, which is now occupied by No 9465, a modern office tower which is home to various theatrical agents. (I had fun playing with Street View on Google Maps to find that out. Alas Street View does not include Clark Drive, where Ethel and her family lived.) Another picture is taken on the corner of Charleville Blvd and El Camino Drive. She mentions telephoning Walsingham Lodge. That was in Manor Park, Chislehurst. I have a document dated June 1943 where this is given as Ada and Bert's address. [Entry updated. I have now added a few specific posts about Walsingham Lodge.] The mention of similarities between Jack, Fred and her father leads me to think that Fred must be her brother. Father and son were both James McCann and the son's middle initial was F. so maybe Frederick was his middle name and they called him Fred in the family to distinguish one from t'other. And how come Ethel was taking such an interest in where they wear out their trousers? (Actually this is not something peculiar to the McCann menfolk. That is where trousers tend to "go".)

Ethel having a bad hair day

Rebecca - from whom I have cribbed most of what is in my tree about the Precious side of the family - tells me that Ethel went to Hollywood as understudy to Pearl White. That fitted in with the vague idea my sister and I had that the name "White" came into it somewhere. Pearl White was born in 1889 and Ethel in 1892 so they would have been close enough in age. Pearl's movie career spanned from 1910 to 1924, all silents. But all her movies were made in East Coast studios and it is believed she never visited Hollywood. So perhaps there is more to the story that we do not know yet. The Beverly Hills pictures I have posted here show Ethel and her family enjoying the fruits of their success. Did she start out on the other side of the continent? Husband Bob was a New Englander, so he might well have begun his movie career in studios on the East Coast.

Ethel and Bob, Clark Drive, after 4 p.m. Sunday

There are two sets of pictures here. The first two prints are slightly smaller and the writing on the back looks a bit different. Maybe one set went to Ada and the other to Fred. (I think Fred must have been Ethel's brother James. See more in a future post.) She tells us their house is on Clark Drive. But did they move house? See my notes on the 'Ethel's "baby"' post.

Around the margins on tha back of one picture, she writes "Remember old 'Bobbie' Bolder at Essanay Chicago? They have lived on Clark for about 20 years. Bobbie died at 78 a little while ago. Bolders (Edney's) house is about where X is. Old Bobbie was for all his 78 years a spry white haired chubby John Bull type. He was a Christchurch boy in his youth - nice old Bobbie. Bobbie loved to tell Peter and Jack what a rosy cheeked fair lass I was when he met me." Bobbie Bolder was a movie actor. I cannot shed any more light on the "X" - perhaps a map or similar was enclosed. This also tells us that Ethel spent some time in Chicago. Leo appeared in a number of Charlie Chaplin movies for Essanay. Bobbie Bolder died 10 December 1937.

Updates:
Bobby Bolder/Edney must be the actor Robert Bolder (1859-1937), born Robert Jospeh Edney.
Ethel refers to 'Bobo' as 'good old New England Yankee'. As noted elsewhere (More About Ethel 3) he was actually George Lewis Cooke White. His father was born in Massachusetts, his paternal grandparents in New Hampshire and his mother in Rhode Island, which all fits the New Hampshire tag.
Ethel gives the name of her bulldog as "Whiskie" or in full "Leatherneck Gaiety Girl". This link topline-bulldogs.com/bulldog_pedigrees shows her as the grandmother (or whatever the correct term is) of Champion Cockney Gorblimey (dob 2/2/1942)