• Source: John K. Wells

John K. Wells (July 2, 1886 – December 27, 1953) was an American actor, director, producer, and writer of the Silent film era. Wells was a 29-year old actor who earned his first credited role in the 1915 Universal short film — The Queen of Hearts.
Wells worked his way up the ranks at Universal, ultimately being promoted from Assistant Director to full-time Director in 1917. In 1919, Wells worked on the Universal movie serial — The Lion Man. After directing the first two chapters of the production, he quit his job. Wells booked passage and departed for Australia, hoping to participate in their burgeoning movie industry. In 1921, Wells hit his high water mark when he wrote, produced, and directed the Australian film — Silks and Saddles.
Wells and his wife, Agnes Vernon, returned to America in 1922. Wells partnered in a real estate brokerage firm in La Jolla, California. He briefly emerged in the publishing world when he published his novel — Rafter Romance in 1932. In 1933, RKO picked up the rights to Rafter Romance and made it the basis for two films produced in the 1930s — Rafter Romance and Living on Love.
John and Judith Wells continued to live in both California and Arizona until his wife died in 1948. Wells would die five years later in 1953. He was 67 when he died.




Early years


John Wells's father, John Q. Wells, (c. 1849 – 1889) was born in New York. His mother, Josephine née Sherman (1855 – 1934) was born in Chicago. Josephine and John Q were married in Chicago on November 24, 1875. The 1880 census shows John Q Wells and Josephine living in Riverside, Illinois along with their two daughters Gracie, born in 1876, and Alice, born in 1879. The census lists John's occupation as "Real Estate." Coddington Wells was born in 1884 and John Kenneth Wells was born on July 2, 1886, in Evanston, Illinois. John Wells was one when his sister, Alice, died in 1887. Wells was 3 when his father died in 1889.
The 1900 census shows 44-year-old Josephine Wells is the widowed head of Household. The family consists of Josephine,
her 16-year-old son Coddington and 14 -year-old son John K. They have a live-in servant while continuing to reside in Riverside, Illinois. Little is known of Wells's personal life after 1900 until he appears on a Universal lot.




Career






= Hollywood

=
It is unknown if Wells appeared in movies as an extra or in any uncredited roles before September 1915. John K. Wells first surfaced in the media with a credited role in the " William Worthington" short film - The Queen of Hearts released on September 14, 1915. The Universal production starring Herbert Rawlinson and Anna Little. This first movie role also initiates a relationship with William Worthington, which will bear fruit in the future. Finishing out 1915, Wells landed roles as a supporting actor in three more films, including the December production of As The Shadows Fall. This Worthington-directed project starred Herbert Rawlingson and Agnes Vernon. This film is the first time Wells appears in a movie with Agnes Vernon.
His last supporting role is in the 1916 production Darcy of the Northwest Mounted (Working title of "Bloodhounds of North,") released on May 16, 1916. This last film was another Worthington-directed film starred Herbert Rawlingson and Agnes Vernon.
June 16, 1916, sees the release of the short film — The False Part starring Herbert Rawlinson and Agnes Vernon. Universal promotes Wells to an assistant director and writer. He continues his relationship with the William Worthington company. In July 1917, Wells was promoted from William Worthington's assistant to the full-fledged Director.
An article in the "Motion Picture News" dated July 7, 1917, states, "Universal City has a new director in the person of Jack Wells, a former assistant of William Worthington. Mr Wells will make a number of additional releases to the series, "The Perils of the Secret Service . . ."
The August 9, 1919 issue of The Moving Picture World contained an article headlined "Mrs. Baker Selects Staff." The article states Mrs. Baker "has selected a staff of five film experts" to take to Australia to make films. Her selections included Howard Gaye as an assistant director. However, Gaye had several contractual obligations to Universal which he would have to abandon if he left. He postponed his decision until a few days before the group was to sail for Australia. He informed the American contingent he had decided to honor his universal contract. Who could replace Gayne on this short notice?
John K. Wells was working on a Universal serial The Lion Man featuring Kathleen O'Connor. He had two episodes finished and was working on the third. Wells somehow catches wind of Gayle's backing out of the Australian adventure and volunteers to replace him. John K. Wells became a last-minute replacement for Gaye, which explained Well's late application for a passport. Wells was an upgrade over Gaye since he was an experienced director and assistant director. Besides his qualifications, the opportunity to be close to Agnus while gaining exposure to the Australian film market greatly influenced his decision.
Given these opportunities, Wells decided to forgo contractual obligations to Universal, quit his Director's job, and set sail for Australia on September 9, 1919.




= Australia

=
John K. Wells set sail for Sydney, Australia, and arrived on September 29, 1919. He would become involved in producing four films. The Australian adventure would be the directorial last hurrah for John Wells.
The first American contingent of film experts included Director Wilfred Lucas, his wife screenwriter Bess Meredyth Lucas, actress Brownie Vernon and Cinematographer John Doerrer and had arrived in Sydney on September 2, 1919. These professionals were personally recruited by Snowy Baker and approved by E. J. Carroll. They went to work immediately, beginning with Research and Location scouting.

The Man from Kangaroo (Jan 1920)

The fruits of the Lucas contingent resulted in a trio of films. The first film was The Man from Kangaroo, released in Australia on January 24, 1920. The film featured Snowy Baker, directed by Wilfred Lucas and written by Bess Meredyth. The film's leading lady was Agnes Vernon. They list John Wells as one of the Assistant Directors and a film editor. The 73-minute feature film was produced by E. J. Carroll and Snowy Baker. The film was shot on location in Kangaroo Valley during September and October 1919. The film was a success at the box office. The movie was repackaged for the American market, renamed to The Better Man and premiered in New York on November 1, 1921. This was the only movie of the trio of Lucas films to survive.

The Shadow of Lightning Ridge (Apr 1920)
The second film of the American troupe was "The Shadow of Lightning Ridge," released in Australia on April 3, 1920. The feature was directed by Wilfred Lucas and written by Bess Meredyth. The film's featured leads were Snowy Baker and Agnes Vernon. John Wells is listed as the Assistant Director. The seven-reel feature film was produced by E. J. Carroll and Snowy Baker and their production company, Carroll-Baker Australian Productions.
Filming started in early 1920 in the bush near Sydney, and at a studio built by E.J. Carroll. The film was well received in Australia and successful at the box office. The film was released in the U.S. under the same name on September 13, 1921, by William Selig and Aywon Film Corporation. It is considered a lost film.
The Carrolls folded their production company after completing this film. They said "Lack of Australian stories suitable for dramatization and the fact that oversea producers were releasing films more than sufficient for market needs had also forced him and his associates to abandon the production of films."

The Jackeroo of Coolabong (Oct 1920)
On October 16, 1920, Wilfred Lucas released his last Australian film. Brownie Vernon departed Australia on April 17, 1920, and John Wells was not involved in the project. During filming, E. J. Carroll clashed with Lucas over the cost of films. Wilfred Lucas and crew returned to Hollywood, arriving in San Francisco on April 5, 1920 Wells remained in Australia to work on other projects.

The Man from Snowy River (Aug 1920)
Since the Lucas collaboration had ended abruptly, Wells was searching for a project. He found an opportunity with the Australian company of Beaumont Smith's Productions. They were about to start production on a new film to be produced, directed, and written by Beaumont Smith. Smith offered Wells a chance to be a co-director, and Wells accepted.
Beaumont Smith had purchased the rights to a poem — The Man from Snowy River by Australian bush poet Banjo Paterson. He then spent two years developing a Screenplay for a film based on the poem. Shooting began in June 1920 in the Blue Mountains.
The final result was the release of The Man from Snowy River on August 28, 1920. The film would feature Australia's own Cyril Mackay and Stella Southern. It is considered a lost film.

Silks and Saddles (1921)

Silks and Saddles was John K. Wells's big chance to reach for the brass ring. Wells wrote, directed, co-edited, and produced Silks and Saddles The movie featured Wells's wife Brownie Vernon and Robert MacKinnon. They set the film in the world of horse racing.
Newly formed Australian company, Commonwealth Pictures, and The Carroll Brothers provided funding of £5,600 (approximately $250,000 in today's money). The film was released on March 5, 1921, and garnered good reviews. The film would eventually gross £50,000 (over two million in today's U.S. money). The Americanized version of the movie was renamed Queen o' Turf or Queen of the Turf and released in the United States on April 16, 1922. The film is one of the rare Australian silent movies to survive today. This film was the final production for Wells. He would never direct another film.

An item in the Billboard dated November 21, 1921, reads:"John K Wells, American picture producer and the husband of Brownie Vernon, recently framed up a singing act for vaudeville. He failed to make good and was closed after the first week."




= 1922-1953

=
John Wells and his wife booked passage on the S.S. Sonoma, arriving in San Francisco, California, on March 28, 1922.

The Producers Security Corporation incorporated in 1919. They started actively recruited talent for their new company including John K. Wells in 1922. A piece of news in the Exhibitors Trade Review dated May 6, 1922, stated: "John K. Wells, well-known Australian producer, before departing for Australia April 22 signed a contract for Producers Security to handle world's distribution of his entire output of pictures. Mr. Wells contemplates producing at least five features a year." There no record of another trip to Australia in April 1922 or any Wells movies produced for Producers Security.
Wells decided to follow in his father's footsteps. In January 1925, the "California Directory of Brokers and Salesmen" posted John K. Wells establishing a corporation — Lathrop-Wells Inc. They become a Real Estate brokerage firm headquartered in La Jolla, California with the following officials:

The 1930 census shows John Wells is living in San Diego, working as a realtor.




= Writer

=

John Wells completed his novel Rafter Romance and the book was published by Brentano's in 1932.
RKO Pictures purchased the rights to the book and decided to produce a film based on the book. Production began in mid-June 1933, and Rafter Romance was released on September 1, 1933. This first iteration of Rafter Romance was directed by William A. Seiter with a cast consisting of Ginger Rogers, Norman Foster, and George Sidney. Four years after the release of Rafter Romance, RKO producer Merian C. Cooper decided to reissue the film. The new movie was renamed Living on Love and featured a cast of James Dunn, Whitney Bourne, and Joan Woodbury. Shooting started in August 1937, and the second iteration, directed by Lew Landers, was released on November 12, 1937.




Marriage


A news article in Billboard, dated November 19, 1921, stated he was married to Brownie Vernon. The 1930 and 1940 Censuses bear this out. also verifies marriage. John Wells was married to Judith Vernon Wells née Agnes Vernon for 27 years. There were no children.




Deaths


John and Judith (Agnes Vernon) Wells were living in Phoenix, Arizona when she became ill. Due to her health condition, Judith relocated to her parents' residence in La Jolla, California. She died on Saturday, February 21, 1948, due to heart complications. She was 52. Her obituary does not make any reference to an acting career.
On Sunday, December 27, 1953, John K. Wells, died of a heart attack in Glendale, California. He was 67 years old. Wells had formerly been in charge of publications for the Church of Christ, Scientists in Arizona and currently worked as a sales representative for the Arizona radio station KTAR. There was no mention of any Hollywood connections in his obituary. John Wells was entombed in San Diego, California's Greenwood Memorial Park Mausoleum. His mausoleum plaque reads: John K. Wells 1895 - 1953.




Filmography






Gallery



Personalities mentioned in this article




























Notes






References






Further reading






External links



Man From Kangaroo on YouTube
The Man from Kangaroo at the National Film and Sound Archive
The Shadow of Lightning Ridge at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
The Shadow of Lightning Ridge at National Film and Sound Archive
The Man from Snowy River at National Film and Sound Archive
Silks and Saddles is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive
Silks and Saddles at National Film and Sound Archive

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