Men O’ War
United States Draft Registration Cards are a useful genealogy resource. They are freely viewable at FamilySearch, both for World War One and Two.
World War One
James’ U.S. WWI Draft Registration Card from 1917 shows he was living at the Hotel St. George on 115 East 3rd Street in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is registered as an Alien from England. His profession was given as Theatrical and his employer is given as Elco Company in Hollywood. This is presumably the L-KO Kompany. Marital Status is given as Single.
World War One United States Draft Registration Card of James Finlayson, Courtesy of FamilySearch.
His height is listed as 5ft 7in, his build as Slender, his eyes as Blue, his hair as Brown. The question Bald? is answered as No and then scored out and replaced with Little! His distinguishing features are given as Lost Two Toes On The Left Foot, from which we could perhaps conjecture to be as a result of an industrial accident when he was working as a tinsmith before his acting career.
World War Two
James’ U.S. WWII Draft Registration Card from 1942 lists his address as 1966 North Beachwood Drive, Hollywood, California and his employer is given as Hal Roach, Culver City, California.
World War Two United States Draft Registration Card of James Finlayson, Courtesy of FamilySearch.
The card also shows that his brother Robert lived at 2019 Canyon Drive, which looking at Google Maps is only 4 blocks away. It also looks like both houses are still pretty much as they would have been in the 1940’s.
- ‘Men O’ War‘ was the title of a 1929 film starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy where James Finlayson played the role of Soda Clerk.
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