Alfred Allen Santell

Alfred Allen Santell

• Alfred Allen Santell was born on 14 September 1894 in San Francisco County, California.
• He was married first to Ruth Lewis, in 1923, and they divorced in 1930.
• The following appeared on 11 October 1930 in The Boston Herald: Jane Keith, now appearing opposite Milton Sills in "The Sea Wolf," at the Fenway Theatre, used to be a stenographer in Michigan City, Indiana, until she took a free ride to California with her grandmother on a chance of getting into picturees. She had no luck at the studios, even when an agent took an interest in her and tried to get her work. Finally this same agent took Jane with him when he went to see Alfred Santell, director of "The Sea Wolf," about another player. Santell watched Jane with much interest and finally asked her to take a test. She broke down and cried, being very low on food and on funds, but she made the test and her grit as well as her looks and ability, got her the role.
• He married Jane Neave Keithley, daughter of Herbert R. Keithley and Harriet Mabel Tinker, on 27 May 1934 in Yuma, Arizona.
• Alfred Allen Santell and Jane Neave Keithley appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County, California, at 718 North Walden Avenue. Other members of the household included Allen Alfred Santell and Evan Allen Santell. Also in the household were nurses Margaret Hudson and Kathy Austell, a cook and a butler. The family was living in the same house in 1935.
• He was a motion picture director, according to the 1940 census.
• The following appeared on 9 October 1942 in The San Diego Union: (Los Angeles, Oct. 8) Film Director Alfred Santell was sued for divorce today by Mrs. Jane K. Santell, who charged curiely. They were married in Yuma, Ariz., in 1934 and have four children. She estimated his earnings at more than $80,000 a year.
• The following appeared on 5 March 1943 in the Richmond Times-Dispatch: Screen Director Alfred A. Santell disclosed that his wife, Mrs. Jane K. Santell, has dismissed the divorce suit she filed last October on cruelty grounds, and they are reconciled. Married in Yuma, Ariz., in 1934, they have four children.
• Alfred Allen Santell became a widower at the 13 September 1944 death of his wife Jane Neave Keithley.
• Alfred Allen Santell died on 19 June 1981 at age 86 in Salinas, Monterey County, California.
• He was interred at Garden of Memories, Salinas, Monterey County, California.

• Last Edited: 14 Jan 2015