- Pete Morrison
George D. Morrison, nicknamed Pete, was an American silent
western film actor bornAugust 8 ,1890 inWestminster, Colorado . During his childhood he lived atMorrison, Colorado (named for his grandfather George Morrison) and Idaho Springs, and got his early tastes of horsemanship riding with his father Thomas during the summer. They drove cattle and sheep from the summer ranges in Middle Park and Fall River in Colorado to supply beef and mutton to the mining camps of Georgetown, Idaho Springs, Nevadaville, Black Hawk and Central City. During his mid-teens Pete worked in the mining industry, with his older brothers driving in sections of theArgo Tunnel where Pete was a motorman, hoist operator, topside helper, teamster hauler, assisting several of the larger miners in the Idaho Springs area. In the summer of 1910 Pete Morrison was an engine fireman for theColorado Southern Railroad when he was lured away by the early western movies. Pete began working as a stunt man for theEssanay Studios of "Broncho Billy " films, soon discovering he could make more money working in movies in 2 weeks than he could make working for a month on the railroad. Pete followed his older brotherChick Morrison to California, where he also became a star in early western pictures. Through his career, Morrison transcended from very early film in 1909 to sound in 1935 starring in some 132 pictures.Film career
Pete Morrison began work with the
American Film Manufacturing Company , but soon was signed byUniversal Studios and appeared in western serials and short films. Over time Morrison worked with many of the famous actors of his time, includingTom Mix , Wallace andNoah Beery , andJohn Barry . He starred withCharlotte Burton in films such asThe Bruiser in 1916. He took some time away from movies to travel the country in a Wild West Show, then returned and did numerous Westerns for Triangle and Universal. He agreed to make a series of pictures in Central andSouth America , but eventually returned to Universal. With the arrival of sound pictures, his career declined somewhat and he went into supporting roles in movies including "Scarface," "Cleopatra," and "The Big Trail" where he met a young newcomer who happened to share his name,Duke Morrison , and reputedly taught the rising star Morrison some of his moves. The younger Morrison gained fame asJohn Wayne .In 1935 Pete Morrison retired and settled on his ranch near
Golden, Colorado which he had purchased in 1926. There his lived with his family including wife Lillian whom he married in 1912, and sons Clifford E. and Douglas K. Morrison. Pete became a deputy sheriff ofJefferson County, Colorado in 1936, and remained so for 37 years. He was also a member of the Golden Masonic Lodge, the Genesee Group and Jefferson County Sheriff's Posse. He ranched and farmed along with several outside jobs until his final retirement in the early 1960s. Pete Morrison died inLos Angeles, California onFebruary 5 ,1973 , of an abdominal aneurysm at the age of 82.The Pete Morrison Collection of his movie career paraphernalia now resides at the [http://goldenlandmarks.com Golden Landmarks Association] in
Golden, Colorado .elected filmography
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The Ghost City (1923)
* Kingdom Come (1919)
*By Indian Post (1919)
*The Gun Packer (1919)
* Gun Law (1919)
* Rustlers (1919)
* Ace High (1919)
*The Rustlers (1919)
*His Buddy (1919)
*The Fighting Brothers (1919)
*The Black Horse Bandit (1919)External links
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