Antonio Moreno — Blue Book of the Screen (1923) 🇺🇸

Antonio Moreno was born in Madrid, Spain. His full name is Antonio Garrido Monteagudo Moreno. His father, Juan Moreno, was a non-commissioned officer in the Spanish army, and his mother a daughter of one of the oldest families of Spain. Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Seville.

His father dying when he was quite young, Moreno’s early education was somewhat curtailed. He worked in the evenings and attended school during the day. His remuneration was one peseta a day. After six months in Algeciras he and his mother moved to Campamento, a small coast town near by. His mother still resides in Campamento.

While living there, he met many tourists who told him much of the world and on several occasions took him to the theaters. Thus was born his first desire to go on the stage. He became acquainted with Mr. Benjamin Curtis, nephew of Mr. Seth Lowe who in 1901 was Mayor of New York. He became interested in the boy and placed him in a school at Gibraltar. A few months later he received a cable from Mr. Curtis to join him in New York.

His first opportunity to go on the stage came one day when he was sent down to the theater to fix the lights. Maude Adams in one of Charles Frohman’s companies was there, rehearsing The Little Minister. He applied to the manager for work and was given a small part.

After finishing this theatrical engagement, in 1910, he left America for a visit to Spain, home and mother.

Then, renewing his career with fresh zeal, he obtained an engagement with Sothern and Marlowe in Shakespearian repertoire, playing in stock companies in the summers to develop his versatility. After playing with several companies and in vaudeville, he met Walter Edwin, an old Englishman who had understudied Sir Henry Irving and Beerbohm Tree.

The latter advised Moreno to try the films. He did, applying at the Rex studio on Forty-third street and Eleventh Avenue, New York City. He played an atmosphere role in a two-reeler, “The Voice of Millions,” Marion Leonard playing the heroine.

After playing with Mary Pickford, Blanche Sweet, Lillian [Lillian Gish] and Dorothy Gish, Lionel Barrymore and the late Robert Harron, under D. W. Griffith, he went to Vitagraph; then joined Pathé in serials with Irene Castle and Pearl White, and then returned to Vitagraph to star in serials.

His latest pictures are “The Bitterness of Sweets,” with Colleen Moore, “My American Wife,” for Lasky [Jesse L. Lasky], and “Captain Blackbird.”

—

When a “knock-out” deals a knock-out. Antonio Moreno in one of his recent productions.

Portrait by Richie • Los Angeles

Collection: The Blue Book of the Screen (1923)