James Gleason was born in New York City to William Gleason and Mina Crolius who were both in the theatre He was married to Lucile Gleason born Lucile Webster and had a son Russell Gleason As a young man James fought in the SpanishAmerican War After the war he joined the stock company at the Liberty Theater in Oakland California which his parents were running James and his wife then moved to Portland Oregon where they played in stock at the Baker Theater For several years afterward they toured in road shows until James enlisted in the army during World War I When he returned he appeared on the stage in The Five Million He then turned to writing including Is Zat So which he produced for the NY stage He also wrote and acted in The Fall Guy and The Shannons on Broadway Next he wrote The Broadway Melody 1929 for MGM He collaborated in 1930 on The Swellhead 1930 Dumbbells in Ermine 1930 What a Widow 1930 Rain or Shine 1930 and His First Command 1929 He and his wife were then contracted to Pathe Lucille to act and James or Jimmie as he was known as a writer Probably his most famous acting role was as Max Corkle the manager of Joe Pendleton who was wrongly plucked from this life into the next in the hit fantasy Here Comes Mr Jordan 1941
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