“I was born in San Francisco, the 17th of April, 1888. My mother died when I was only two years old, and my father when I was ten, so I have been pretty much alone during my life. My grandmother brought me up, and I think the world of her, for she sure is some grandmother, but one misses not having a mother or father and all-around player. I attended the public schools, and when I had completed the grade course, I was sent to Sacred Heart College, where I took up the study of electrical engineering. At that time it was a comparatively new course, and I could see a big future ahead for those interested and qualified to work, consequently my enthusiasm ran high. During my first year things went along fine, but after that baseball and college dramatics claimed a greater share of my attention than did my studies. My love of baseball dated from my childhood days, while my desire to become an actor was born when I first saw a stage performance. “ — Ray Gallagher
Source: Virginia West (1915)
“I wanted to be an actor even more than a great ballplayer, but didn’t imagine I had any talent along that line until I made a success in a small but important part in one of the plays our class put on. From that time on, to get on to the legitimate stage was the aim of my everyday existence. I completed my college course, graduated and obtained my degree, and then went right to the stage manager of the Central Theater and asked him what prospects I’d have in getting on. He was a friend of mine, had coached me in our college plays, and I guess he mush have thought I had ability of some sort, for he gave me a part in ‘The Resurrection’ – a mighty small part, I’ll admit – but it was a start, and from then on I went right along. I played the juvenile lead in R.L. Stockwell’s play, ‘Mrs. Temple’s Telegram,’ for one season, and then went back into stock in San Francisco for five or six months at the Central Theater. After that I was on the road, mostly in stock companies, for about five years.” — Ray Gallagher
Source: Virginia West (1915)
“My last stage appearance was at the Alcazar Theater in ‘Frisco, and it was there Mr. Méliès, of the Méliès Film Company, saw me and approached me with the proposition that I enter the Motion Picture field. He was looking for a leading man who had dark hair and eyes, and dimples; he said I was just the person he wanted. I was kind of dubious about it, but said I should try it for awhile. The first two weeks I didn’t like the work a bit and was going to quit, but Mr. Méliès and my director predicted a great future for me and held out such inducements that I decided to stick to it a little longer.” — Ray Gallagher
Source: Virginia West (1915)
“Then a trip around the world was planned for me, and I went and enjoyed myself. We made all sorts of pictures in all sorts of countries and under all sorts of conditions, and things were going along fine; then I got homesick and traveling was no longer a pleasure. I left the company in Japan and came back to California.” — Ray Gallagher
Source: Virginia West (1915)
Photo: A Tale of Old Tahiti (1913)
“I joined the Lubin Film Company at Los Angeles, and played leads in Western casts for one year. The Universal Film Company saw some of my pictures and hunted me up and offered me a better position and salary, so I joined the company and was engaged to play leading business for Edna Maison, but lately they have me in comedy work opposite Louise Glaum – high-class comedy work, you understand. And – well, here I am. Is there anything I haven’t said?” — Ray Gallagher
Source: Virginia West (1915)
