Arch Hall Sr.

Archibald Williams Hall (December 21, 1908 – April 28, 1978), better known as Arch Hall Sr., was an American actor, screenwriter, and film producer, best known for making a series of B-movies in the early 1960s which starred his son, Arch Hall Jr. Hall used various names throughout his career including Nicholas Merriwether, William Waters, and Archie Hall.

Arch Hall Sr.
Arch Hall Sr. in Eegah
Born
Archibald Williams Hall

(1908-12-21)December 21, 1908
DiedApril 28, 1978(1978-04-28) (aged 69)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other namesArchie Hall
Arch Hall
Nicholas Meriwether
Nicholas Merriweather
Nicholas Merriwether
William Watters
Waa-toe-gala Oak-Shilla
OccupationActor, screenwriter and film producer
Years active1938-1974
Spouse(s)
Addalyn Pollitt
(m. 19341978)
ChildrenArch Hall Jr.

Early life and career

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Hall grew up in South Dakota, a genuine cowboy. He spoke the Sioux language and had a Sioux name, "Waa-toe-gala Oak-Shilla" (translation: Wild Boy). Hall graduated from the University of South Dakota, wrote for radio, interviewing elderly Native Americans on KOTA, and was a pilot in the United States Army Air Forces. Hall's experience in the Air Force was satirized in The Last Time I Saw Archie, a 1961 film by Bill Bowers which starred Jack Webb, Robert Mitchum, and France Nuyen. The film was loosely based on Hall's experience in the Army after being declared to be too old to fly fighters, but too inexperienced to fly bombers, leaving his only option to fly troop transport gliders.

He then worked as a stuntman in Hollywood in the 1930s, a job which expanded into small acting roles in various films, usually Westerns. Hall Sr. formed his own movie studio, Fairway Productions, in Burbank, California. In the 1960s, it made a series of B-films targeted towards the drive-in market, later hailed as some of the worst films ever made. They starred himself, his son Arch Jr., and his wife Addalyn, who would appear as an background extra or character actor. The sound was handled by Arch Jr. and his friend from high school, Alan O'Day, who later rose to notoriety as a writer of hit pop songs in the 1970s.

Personal life

He married Addalyn Faye Pollitt (born June 5, 1906). She worked with him in the radio days, as a staff writer. During World War II, she was a Navy Inspector at Lockheed Aircraft. They had one child, Arch Hall Jr., born in 1943.

Death

Hall died of a heart attack on April 28, 1978, in Los Angeles, and was buried with honors in a Sioux funeral in Philip, South Dakota. The service was presided over by the Lakota Sioux spiritual leader Frank Fools Crow.

His life and times are extensively discussed in the 51-page interview with Arch Hall Jr. that appears in the 2005 book Earth vs. the Sci-Fi Filmmakers, by Tom Weaver (North Carolina: McFarland & Co.).

Filmography

Year Film Role Notes
1938 Dick Tracy Returns Blackie, Phony Intern (Chs. 11–12) Uncredited
Overland Stage Raiders Joe Waddell Credited as Archie Hall
The Mysterious Rider Rancher Andrews Credited as Arch Hall
Alternative title: Mark of the Avenger
Rhythm of the Saddle Rusty – Henchman in Stage Credited as Archie Hall
1940 The Sagebrush Family Trails West Jim Barton Credited as Archie Hall
Alternative title: The Sagebrush Kid Goes West
1941 Two Gun Sheriff Henchman Dunn Credited as Archie Hall
Tumbledown Ranch in Arizona Rodeo announcer Uncredited
The Lone Rider in Ghost Town Brent's partner Credited as Archie Hall
Alternative title: Ghost Mine
The Lone Rider in Frontier Fury Clyde Barton Credited as Archie Hall
Alternative title: Rangeland Racket & Frontier Fury
Billy the Kid Wanted Henchman Uncredited
1942 Raiders of the West Entertainer Tex Uncredited
The Lone Rider in Texas Justice Trimmer Davis Alternative title: Texas Justice
1945 His Brother's Ghost Deputy Bentley Credited as Archie Hall
Apology for Murder Paul Credited as Archie Hall
Alternative title: Murder with Apology
Border Badmen Banker Gillian Credited as Archie Hall
1961 Magic Spectacles
-
Producer
Alternative title: Tickled Pink
The Choppers Jim Bradford Uncredited
Producer
Writer (as Arch Hall)
1962 Eegah Robert Miller Credited as William Watters
Alternative title: Eegah! The Name Written in Blood
Producer (as Nicholas Merriwether)
Director and story (as Nicholas Merriwether)
Wild Guitar Mike McCauley Credited as William Watters
Producer and writer (as Nicholas Merriwether)
1963 The Sadist Opening Narration/Radio Announcer (Voice) Uncredited
Alternative titles: Sweet Baby Charlie & Profile of Terror
1964 What's Up Front! Cash Johnson Credited as William Watters
Alternative titles: The Fall Guy & A Fourth for Marriage
Executive producer (as Nicholas Merriwether)
Writer
The Thrill Killers
-
Producer
The Nasty Rabbit Marshall Malout/Malcolm McKinley Credited as William Watters
Alternative title: Spies-a-Go-Go
Producer (as Nicholas Merriwether)
1965 Deadwood '76 Boone May Credited as William Watters
Producer (as Nicholas Meriwether)
Story
Writer
1971 The Irv Carlson Show Morrison Whales Credited as Arch Hall
Alternative title: The Weird Ones
Producer
Writer
1972 The Corpse Grinders
-
Writer (as Arch Hall)
Alternative title: The Flesh Grinders
1974 Thieves Like Us Alvin Credited as William Watters

References

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