Background
He was born in Woolwich in 1867.
director screenwriter film producer
He was born in Woolwich in 1867.
His name was sometimes spelt as George Ridgewell. He directed around 70 films including a series of adaptations of Sherlock Holmes stories featuring Eille Norwood as Holmes. His last film was Lily of Killarney in 1929.
He died in Hampstead in 1935.
He was the father of the actress Audrey Ridgewell. He also composed light music numbers and lyrics.
He was educated at the Royal Military Asylum, later the Duke of York"s Royal Military School (a school history is the source of this information Also see G&South Archive).
His early career was as an army musician (sergeant, band of the Coldstream Guards) and on the stage (he created the role of Abdallah in Sullivan"s "Rose of Persia" and was a member of The Doctorate"Oyly Carte Touring Opera Company for a season playing lead baritone roles).