Cleo Madison

Who was Cleo Madison?

Cleo Madison was a theatrical and silent film actress from Bloomington, Illinois. Madison attended what is now Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. Her family moved to California after she left school.

She made her first professional appearances on the Burbank and Belasco stages in 1911. Her initial engagement was in Santa Barbara, California. She played the role of the mother in Captain Swift. In March 1912 she debuted as the leading woman of Ernest Shipman's stock company in Phoenix, Arizona. Her first production was When We Were Twenty-One.

For a few years Madison appeared in western films with Dave Hartford and Walter Kerrigan. She became the head of her own company, during which time she was directed ably by Wilfred Lucas.

Madison demonstrated her dedication and versatility in The Trey o' Hearts, which was produced by Universal Pictures. The film featured the actress in shipwreck scenes. The filming was done in Bear Canyon, Devil Canyon, San Diego, California, Coronado, California, Tijuana, Mexico, Point Loma, California, San Pedro, California, and Dead Man's Island. Madison played three roles in the movie's fifteen instalments.