Emory Johnson

Johnson's father, Alfred (Alf) Jönsson, was born in Veinge Halland Sweden, on February 7, 1864.

Johnson's mother, Emilie Mathilda Jönsdotter, was born in Gothenburg, Västra Götaland, Sweden, on June 3, 1867.

In 1884, his father emigrated to America when he was 20.

After his arrival, Jönsson anglicized his name to Johnson.

At age 24, Emilie Jönsdotter departed for America and reached Ellis Island in New York Harbor, on September 24, 1891.

While Emilie Jönsdotter was living in San Francisco, she met Alfred Johnson.

Following a brief romance, they exchanged vows at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church in San Francisco, California, on May 11, 1893.

Alfred Emory Johnson (March 16, 1894 – April 18, 1960) was an American actor, director, producer, and writer.

As a teenager, he started acting in silent films.

Early in his career, Carl Laemmle chose Emory to become a Universal Studio leading man.

He also became part of one of the early Hollywood celebrity marriages when he wed Ella Hall.

Their only son, Alfred Emory Johnson, was born in San Francisco on March 16, 1894.

According to the 1900 census, the Johnson family rented a large house on Bush Street in San Francisco, California.

The same census listed Emory's father as a On Wednesday, April 18, 1906, San Francisco suffered a major earthquake.

In the quake's aftermath, fires broke out, destroying 80% of the city and resulting in 3,000 deaths.

The Turkish bath, managed by Alf Johnson, was destroyed.

Following the quake, the Johnson family moved to nearby Alameda, California in 1908.

Emory's father established the Piedmont Baths in 1910 to provide for the family.

Johnson attended Oakland High School, then studied architecture at the University of California, Berkeley.

After spending a year and a half in college, he quit his studies and searched for employment.

Johnson would later say,

In 1912, 18-year-old Johnson began a motorcar journey through the picturesque Niles Canyon in the San Francisco Bay Area.

While driving, he heard noises that sounded like gunshots.

Out of nowhere, As events unfolded, he encountered a film crew shooting a Western movie.

The Essanay Studios, based in Niles, was creating one of their famous Broncho Billy westerns.

These early Essanay Westerns showcased the first cowboy star of the silver screen, Gilbert Anderson.

Future Western stars were forever indebted to this During that period, Essanay Studios was co-owned by Anderson and George Kirke Spoor.

Emory became captivated by the Film industry.

He began hanging around the film crews, offering to do odd jobs.

Eventually, Gilbert Anderson noticed Johnson.

In September 1912, Anderson offered to give the 18-year-old an entry-level job as an assistant cameraman, paying $8.50 per week ( or $13,400 yr).

His new job allowed him to learn about the movie business from the ground up.

Johnson operated in that capacity until September 1913, when he signed his first movie contract with Essanay.

He appeared in his first film, as an uncredited extra.

Johnson was 19 when this film came out on September 13, 1913.

In 1922, Emory acted and directed his first feature film – In the Name of The Law.

He would continue to direct more feature films until the decade's end.

By the early 1930s, his Hollywood career had faded, and Johnson became a portrait photographer.

In 1960, he died from burns sustained in a fire.

Emory Johnson was the son of Swedish immigrants.