join the Allies involved in World War I overseas and in 1915 produced The Battle Cry of Peace. Former President Theodore Roosevelt was one of the film's staunchest supporters and convinced Gen. Leonard Wood to loan Blackton an entire regiment of marines to use as extras. Upon its release, the film generated a controversy rivaling that of The Birth of a Nation because it was considered as militaristic propaganda. Blackton left Vitagraph to go independent in 1917, but returned in 1923 as junior partner to Albert Smith. In 1925, Smith sold the company to Warner Brothers for more than $1 million. Blackton did quite well with his share until the Stock Market Crash of 1929, which destroyed his savings and made him bankrupt in 1931. He spent his last years on the road, showing his old films and lecturing about the days of silent movies. His daughter Violet Virginia Blackton (1910–1965) married writer Cornell Woolrich in 1930 but their marriage was annulled in 1933. He married actress Evangeline Russell in 1936. Blackton died August 13, 1941, a few days after he suffered a fractured skull after being hit by a car while crossing the street with his son. At the time of his death he was working for Hal Roach on experiments to improve color process backgrounds. Blackton was cremated and interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California. Select filmography Archives Blackton's film The Film Parade was restored by the UCLA Film and Television Archive in 2009. The Academy Film Archive preserved Blackton's 1910 film A Modern Cinderella in 2012. References Further reading External links J. Stuart Blackton at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films, American Film Institute 1875 births 1941 deaths Cinema pioneers American film producers American film production company founders Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) American film studio executives Road incident deaths in California Pedestrian road incident deaths Film people from Sheffield Vaudeville performers Articles containing video clips British emigrants to the United States American people of English descent