Ethel Hall
Encyclopedia
Ethel Hall was an American silent film
actress who died at the age of 29 on June 29, 1927 when her boat captsised in the rapids of the Merced River
near the town of Merced
in the San Joaquin Valley
. At the time she was performing as a stunt double
for actress Dorothy Dwan
in the film Tumbling River.
Hall was accompanied in the boat by Wallace McDonald
, who played villains in motion pictures. The actors were supposed to be rescued by a group before they entered the foot of the rapids. When the boat suddenly overturned McDonald was able to swim ashore. However Hall's head struck a rock and she was taken out of the water unconscious and soon expired.
She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John McGee of Fresno
and had just recently wed stage actor John Drayer, who was performing in Seattle at the time of her fatal accident. The film's male lead, Tom Mix
, was injured in a horseback accident just a few weeks earlier.
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
actress who died at the age of 29 on June 29, 1927 when her boat captsised in the rapids of the Merced River
Merced River
The Merced River , in the central part of the U.S. state of California, is a -long tributary of the San Joaquin River flowing from the Sierra Nevada into the Central Valley. It is most well known for its swift and steep course through the southern part of Yosemite National Park, and the...
near the town of Merced
Merced, California
Merced is a city in, and the county seat of, Merced County, California in the San Joaquin Valley of Northern California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 78,958. Incorporated in 1889, Merced is a charter city that operates under a council-manager government...
in the San Joaquin Valley
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
. At the time she was performing as a stunt double
Stunt double
A stunt double is a type of body double, specifically a skilled replacement used for dangerous film or video sequences, in movies and television , and for other sophisticated stunts...
for actress Dorothy Dwan
Dorothy Dwan
Dorothy Dwan was an American film actress. She appeared in 40 films between 1922 and 1930.Born Dorothy Ilgenfritz in Sedalia, Missouri, she married three times...
in the film Tumbling River.
Hall was accompanied in the boat by Wallace McDonald
Wallace McDonald
Wallace Reginald McDonald was a Liberal party member of the Canadian House of Commons. He was born in Portage-du-Fort, Quebec and became a merchant by career.McDonald attended the University of Ottawa...
, who played villains in motion pictures. The actors were supposed to be rescued by a group before they entered the foot of the rapids. When the boat suddenly overturned McDonald was able to swim ashore. However Hall's head struck a rock and she was taken out of the water unconscious and soon expired.
She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John McGee of Fresno
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
and had just recently wed stage actor John Drayer, who was performing in Seattle at the time of her fatal accident. The film's male lead, Tom Mix
Tom Mix
Thomas Edwin "Tom" Mix was an American film actor and the star of many early Western movies. He made a reported 336 films between 1910 and 1935, all but nine of which were silent features...
, was injured in a horseback accident just a few weeks earlier.