Ernest G. Batley

Ernest G. Batley was born in East London in 1874. During the 1890s he became a stage actor. He married Ethyle Gordon Murray, a fellow touring stage actress, in 1901. The following year they had a daughter, Dorothy. In 1910, Ernest began directing one-reel dramas for H.B. English films, with his daughter Dorothy often starring at the child heroine. In 1912 Ethyle began directing as well, becoming England's first female film director. By 1913 the family had established themselves at the British and Colonial Kinematography Company, where they stayed for the following 19 months, acting, writing and directing. The Batley family continued writing, acting and directing together until Ethyle died of cervical cancer in 1917. Following her death, Ernest directed one more film, 'The Sins of Youth', starring Dorothy. He appears to have left the film and stage industry soon after. He died in Bournemouth in 1955.

Performances associated with Ernest G. Batley