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IMDbPro

Erle C. Kenton(1896-1980)

  • Director
  • Actor
  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Erle C. Kenton
Erle C. Kenton entered films as an actor with the Mack Sennett troupe (he was one of the original Keystone Cops). In addition to acting, he performed pretty much any kind of behind-the-scenes job he could get, and by 1919 Sennett gave him a job directing two-reel comedies. The next year he graduated to features. While specializing in comedies (he directed two of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello's best films, Pardon My Sarong (1942) and Who Done It? (1942)), Kenton also branched out into the horror field, turning out a few somewhat interesting efforts (House of Dracula (1945), House of Frankenstein (1944)) and one genuine classic: Island of Lost Souls (1932). In the 1950s, like many of his B-picture colleagues, he turned to television and finished his career there.
BornAugust 1, 1896
DiedJanuary 28, 1980(83)
BornAugust 1, 1896
DiedJanuary 28, 1980(83)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Awards
    • 3 nominations total

Photos2

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Known for

Lon Chaney Jr. and Evelyn Ankers in The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942)
The Ghost of Frankenstein
6.1
  • Director
  • 1942
John Carradine, Lon Chaney Jr., Martha O'Driscoll, Onslow Stevens, and Glenn Strange in House of Dracula (1945)
House of Dracula
5.7
  • Director
  • 1945
Boris Karloff, John Carradine, Lon Chaney Jr., J. Carrol Naish, Glenn Strange, and Elena Verdugo in House of Frankenstein (1944)
House of Frankenstein
6.2
  • Director
  • 1944
Bela Lugosi, Charles Laughton, Richard Arlen, Kathleen Burke, Leila Hyams, and H.G. Wells in Island of Lost Souls (1932)
Island of Lost Souls
7.3
  • Director
  • 1932

Credits

IMDbPro

Director



  • The Texan (1958)
    The Texan
    7.6
    TV Series
    • Director
    • 1958–1960
  • Greer Garson and Florenz Ames in Telephone Time (1956)
    Telephone Time
    7.0
    TV Series
    • Director
    • 1956–1958
  • Crossroads (1955)
    Crossroads
    7.3
    TV Series
    • Director
    • 1957
  • Fight for the Title (1957)
    Fight for the Title
    6.0
    Short
    • Director
    • 1957
  • Sneak Preview
    6.3
    TV Series
    • Director
    • 1956
  • Cesar Romero in Passport to Danger (1954)
    Passport to Danger
    7.0
    TV Series
    • Director
    • 1954–1956
  • Reed Hadley in Public Defender (1954)
    Public Defender
    7.3
    TV Series
    • Director
    • directed by
    • 1954–1955
  • Joe Kirkwood Jr. in The Joe Palooka Story (1954)
    The Joe Palooka Story
    6.7
    TV Series
    • directed by
    • Director
    • 1954
  • Mark Stevens in Big Town (1950)
    Big Town
    7.1
    TV Series
    • Director
    • directed by
    • 1953–1954
  • Racket Squad (1950)
    Racket Squad
    7.4
    TV Series
    • Director
    • directed by
    • 1952–1953
  • Flight to the Future ...to the World of Plastics (1952)
    Flight to the Future ...to the World of Plastics
    5.9
    Short
    • Director (as Erl Kenton)
    • 1952
  • Saint Nick on the Naughty List
    • Director
    • 1952
  • The Private Eye
    Short
    • directed by
    • 1951
  • Kroger Babb, Julie Bishop, Larry J. Blake, Myrna Dell, Richard Denning, Jo-Carroll Dennison, Ginger Prince, Jonnie Lee Macfadden, and Norma Gilchrist in Secrets of Beauty (1951)
    Secrets of Beauty
    5.8
    • Director
    • 1951
  • One Too Many (1950)
    One Too Many
    5.9
    • Director
    • 1950

Actor



  • The Gay Nineties (1942)
    The Gay Nineties
    7.1
    Short
    • Director in Skit
    • 1942
  • Louise Henry, Jack Holt, and Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams in End of the Trail (1936)
    End of the Trail
    8.3
    • Theodore Roosevelt
    • 1936
  • You Wouldn't Believe It
    Short
    • Minor Role (uncredited)
    • 1920
  • Phyllis Haver in Hearts and Flowers (1919)
    Hearts and Flowers
    5.6
    Short
    • The Violinist (uncredited)
    • 1919
  • Heinie Conklin, Phyllis Haver, and Ben Turpin in When Love Is Blind (1919)
    When Love Is Blind
    Short
    • The Smart Aleck (as Earl Kenton)
    • 1919
  • Louise Fazenda, Vera Steadman, and Ford Sterling in The Summer Girls (1918)
    The Summer Girls
    Short
    • The Heiress's Sweetheart
    • 1918
  • Her Blighted Love (1918)
    Her Blighted Love
    Short
    • The Bachelor's Lawyer
    • 1918
  • Chester Conklin, Harry Gribbon, and Marie Prevost in His Smothered Love (1918)
    His Smothered Love
    Short
    • 2nd Crook
    • 1918
  • Erle C. Kenton, Charles Murray, Mary Thurman, and Wayland Trask in Friend Husband (1918)
    Friend Husband
    Short
    • The Detective
    • 1918
  • Chester Conklin and Ethel Teare in An International Sneak (1917)
    An International Sneak
    Short
    • The Powder King - the Sweetheart's Father
    • 1917
  • Louise Fazenda and Ben Turpin in Are Waitresses Safe? (1917)
    Are Waitresses Safe?
    5.5
    Short
    • The Restaurant Owner
    • 1917
  • Two Crooks
    Short
    • The Banker
    • 1917
  • His Speedy Finish
    Short
    • Professional Killer
    • 1917
  • When Hearts Collide (1917)
    When Hearts Collide
    Short
    • 1917
  • Glass Slide, app 3" x 4"
    Black Eyes and Blue
    Short
    • The Cop
    • 1916

Writer



  • The Texan (1958)
    The Texan
    7.6
    TV Series
    • writer
    • teleplay
    • 1960
  • The Private Eye
    Short
    • adapted by
    • 1951
  • Gaston Glass and Anita Stewart in Name the Woman (1928)
    Name the Woman
    • story
    • 1928
  • Bring Him In (1924)
    Bring Him In
    Short
    • story
    • 1924
  • Among Those Present (1919)
    Among Those Present
    Short
    • writer
    • 1919

Personal details

  • Alternative names
    • Earl C. Kenton
  • Born
    • August 1, 1896
    • Norboro, Montana, USA
  • Died
    • January 28, 1980
    • Glendale, California, USA(Parkinson's disease)
  • Spouse
    • Gladys Roach1921 - 1928 (divorced)
  • Publicity listings
    • 4 Articles

Did you know

  • Trivia
    Started out as an actor at Mack Sennett Studios (as one of the Keystone Cops), worked as a gagman and assistant director and was eventually promoted by Sennett to the director's chair.
  • Salary
    • Island of Lost Souls
      (1932)
      $750 per week

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