Not to be confused with Atlas Shrugged character, Chick Morrison.
Charles Pacific Morrison (1878â€"1924), an American silent film actor,
was born April 3, 1878 in Morrison, Colorado. The grandson of pioneer
town founder George Morrison, he was known as "Chick" to many who knew
him, a nickname conjunction of his first and middle names. A keen
horse rider, he often appeared in riding contests and rodeos
throughout the American west. At Morrison he trained horses for trick
and fancy riding as well as break in wild horses. In 1909 Essanay
Studios brought one such horse to Morrison to film some of their
famous Broncho Billy series of 2-reel thrillers. Morrison got the
director's attention through his expert horsemanship, daring
maneuvers, as well as his control over the animals, and was used as a
double for the lead actor in some of the more dangerous
scenes.Morrison left Colorado that year for California. From that
point onward he appeared in feature films, rapidly growing to
prominence in the film making industry. Soon he played leads, and his
success and experience as an animal trainer, especially with horses,
put him in great demand for some of the largest pictures made in his
era. Morrison appeared in about 45 films, including ones with
Charlotte Burton in films such as Rose of San Juan, Quicksands and
Calamity Anne, Heroine. During his career he worked for Hal Roach
Studios, the Broncho Billy Anderson and Selig Polyscope Company, and
Universal Studios.Chick's career met a tragic end on June 20, 1924.
That day while filming at Hal Roach in Los Angeles, California,
Morrison's favorite horse, Young Steamboat, fell backward upon him,
killing him instantly at the age of 46. The horse had accompanied
Morrison to Hollywood, a horse Chick had often told friends was
especially wild and difficult to tame and train.Chick Morrison was the
older brother of another early western film actor, Pete Morrison.
Charles Pacific Morrison (1878â€"1924), an American silent film actor,
was born April 3, 1878 in Morrison, Colorado. The grandson of pioneer
town founder George Morrison, he was known as "Chick" to many who knew
him, a nickname conjunction of his first and middle names. A keen
horse rider, he often appeared in riding contests and rodeos
throughout the American west. At Morrison he trained horses for trick
and fancy riding as well as break in wild horses. In 1909 Essanay
Studios brought one such horse to Morrison to film some of their
famous Broncho Billy series of 2-reel thrillers. Morrison got the
director's attention through his expert horsemanship, daring
maneuvers, as well as his control over the animals, and was used as a
double for the lead actor in some of the more dangerous
scenes.Morrison left Colorado that year for California. From that
point onward he appeared in feature films, rapidly growing to
prominence in the film making industry. Soon he played leads, and his
success and experience as an animal trainer, especially with horses,
put him in great demand for some of the largest pictures made in his
era. Morrison appeared in about 45 films, including ones with
Charlotte Burton in films such as Rose of San Juan, Quicksands and
Calamity Anne, Heroine. During his career he worked for Hal Roach
Studios, the Broncho Billy Anderson and Selig Polyscope Company, and
Universal Studios.Chick's career met a tragic end on June 20, 1924.
That day while filming at Hal Roach in Los Angeles, California,
Morrison's favorite horse, Young Steamboat, fell backward upon him,
killing him instantly at the age of 46. The horse had accompanied
Morrison to Hollywood, a horse Chick had often told friends was
especially wild and difficult to tame and train.Chick Morrison was the
older brother of another early western film actor, Pete Morrison.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.