Bertram Burleigh
Bertram Burleigh was a British actor of the silent era. After early theatrical roles, Burleigh performed in leading roles in British films from 1914 to 1927. He retired from acting in the late 1920s, after which he managed cinemas and hotels in the West Midlands area.
Biography
Charles Bertram Burleigh was born on 15 February 1890 in Birmingham, England, the son of Charles and Lucy Burleigh. His father was the proprietor of a steam laundry. He was educated at the Whitgift School in South Croydon, London.Burleigh "was intended for the law" but commenced his acting career in a non-speaking role in a travelling theatre production. After taking on a speaking role, he was noticed by a London manager who hired him for a production in London. Burleigh later played lead roles in plays such as The Dawn of a Tomorrow, Priscilla Runs Away, The Second in Command and Magda. He was also a conjuror, "though conjuring is his hobby and an effective sideline". His older sister Maud was a dancer and singer at the Drury Lane Theatre in London.
On 20 September 1912 Burleigh married Dorothy Margaret Green, who was an actress and dancer in Brentford, Middlesex.
In about 1914, Burleigh was invited by the author of the play he was part of in the West End to appear in a film production. His first film was Wake Up! or, A Dream of Tomorrow, released in October 1914. The film was made by Union Jack Photo Plays Ltd., dealing thematically with a possible invasion of Britain. It was the beginning of a film acting career, during which he "was lost to the stage for many years".
Burleigh appeared in British films in the period 1914 to 1923, as well as two short films in 1926 and a final film role in 1927. He worked for a number of early British film production companies including G. B. Samuelson Productions, London Film Productions, Harma Photoplays, Stoll Pictures and Master Films. Burleigh also worked for the American company Paramount Pictures in their first film made in England, as well as the French company La Société d'Editions Cinématographiques. In January 1916 Burleigh commented that he "considers acting in pictures a higher art than on the stage because the story one has to tell must be told without the aid of the voice".
In 1920 Burleigh played a lead role in The Great Day, the first film made by Paramount Pictures in England. The film was made at the newly-built Famous Players-Lasky Studio in Islington.
Burleigh arrived in New York in late September 1920. It was his first visit to America where he intended to visit various studios. Burleigh returned to England in December 1920 aboard the Saxonia.
During the 1915 post-Christmas pantomime season, Burleigh performed in Red Riding Hood at the Wimbledon Theatre, playing the role of Richard Coeur-de-Lion.
In late May 1921 Burleigh and the actress Amy Verity travelled to Paris to appear in lead roles in the film L'Amour de Mort produced by La Société d'Editions Cinématographiques. Burleigh played the role of Hyde and Miss Verity played Débora.
In December 1922 Burleigh contributed his services to a fair at the Hotel Cecil in London to raise funds for hospitals. The actor was set up in a tent where he hypnotised people "for the small sum of a shilling". It was reported that he "made quite a lot of money for the hospitals by giving a number of performances daily", giving customers "the novel experience of going into a hypnotic sleep".
In about 1923 Burleigh took on a theatrical role in Partners Again at the Garrick Theatre in London's West End.
Burleigh and his wife Dorothy were divorced in 1924. Dorothy afterwards married twice more.
Burleigh retired from acting in the late 1920s. His final film role was in White Heat, made by Graham-Wilcox Productions and released in April 1927. In July 1928 Burleigh was appointed as the Midland Circuit manager for the Gaumont-British Corporation, with his headquarters at the Villa Gross Cinema in Handsworth, Birmingham. He worked as a manager for Wolverhampton Theatre Cinemas until 1935 and afterwards as a manager of hotels and inns in the Birmingham area.
In 1946 Burleigh married Mary Sabiston, the former wife of Herbert M. Sabiston.
Burleigh owned the Cock Inn at Wishaw, near Sutton Coldfield, in Warwickshire. He sold the Cock Inn in about 1958.
Burleigh died on 24 April 1961 in Goring-by-Sea, near Worthing, Sussex, aged 71.