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1-50 of 1,543
- Writer
- Soundtrack
Pedro Calderón de la Barca was born on 17 January 1600 in Madrid, Spain. He was a writer, known for The Night of Love (1927), Der Richter von Zalamea (1920) and El príncipe encadenado (1960). He died on 25 May 1681 in Madrid, Spain.- Writer
- Soundtrack
Antonio Salvi was born on 17 January 1664 in Lucignano, Grand Duchy of Tuscany [now Tuscany, Italy]. He was a writer, known for Ariodante: Opera in tre atti (2008), Rodelinda (1998) and Ariodante (1965). He died on 21 May 1724 in Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany [now Tuscany, Italy].- Benjamin Franklin FRS FRSA FRSE (January 17, 1706 - April 17, 1790) was an American polymath who was active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. Among the leading intellectuals of his time, Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, a drafter and signer of the United States Declaration of Independence, and the first United States Postmaster General.
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
François-Joseph Gossec was born on 17 January 1734 in Vergnies, France [now Hainaut, Belgium]. François-Joseph is known for In the Good Old Summertime (1949), Reservation Road (2007) and Love & Friendship (2016). François-Joseph died on 16 February 1829 in Passy [now Paris], France.- Mrs. Henry Wood was born on 17 January 1814 in Worcester, Worcestershire, England, UK. She was a writer, known for Ex-Flame (1930), East Lynne (1931) and East Lynne (1913). She was married to Henry Wood. She died on 10 February 1887 in London, England, UK.
- The youngest of the talented Brontë siblings, Anne was born January 17th, 1820 to Rev. Patrick Brontë and Maria Branwell Brontë. Her mother died of cancer when she was only a year old, and growing up Anne was especially close to her elder sister Emily Brontë. Along with their other sister, Charlotte Brontë and their only brother, Branwell Brontë, Anna and Emily invented the imaginary realms of Gondal and Angria, which absorbed most of their childhoods on the lonely Moors.
Despite her fragile health, Anne worked as a governess for some years before her brother, Branwell, entered the service of the same family she worked for. He was supposed to tutor the family's elder sons, but was dismissed in 1845 after having an affair with his employer's wife. Anne also resigned her position, and took up writing with her sisters, publishing "Poems" in 1846, a compilation of the Brontë girls' poetry. Encouraged by her literary success, Anne published two more novels, "Agnes Grey" and "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall".
After her brother Branwell and sister Emily died within three months of one another in 1848, Anne herself came down with consumption. She was taken to the seaside, which she adored, by her sole surviving sister Charlotte, in the hopes of finding a cure. Anne Brontë died at Scarborough in 1849, a victim of tuberculosis. - Soundtrack
José White was born on 17 January 1836 in Matanzas, Cuba. José died on 15 March 1918 in Paris, France.- Florence Montgomery was born on 17 January 1843 in Chelsea, Greater London, England, UK. She was a writer, known for Gyermekszív (1920), Misunderstood (1984) and Misunderstood (1966). She died on 8 October 1923 in London, England, UK.
- Daniel Gilfether was born on 17 January 1849 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He was an actor, known for The Love Liar (1915), Brand's Daughter (1917) and Zollenstein (1917). He died on 3 May 1919 in Long Beach, California, USA.
- Eugene Silvain was born on 17 January 1851 in Bourg-en-Bresse, Ain, France. He was an actor, known for The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928) and Molière, sa vie, son oeuvre (1922). He was married to Louise Silvain and Annie Whiteford. He died on 21 August 1930 in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France.
- Alva Vanderbilt was born on 17 January 1853 in Mobile, Alabama, USA. She was married to Oliver Belmont and William Kissam Vanderbilt. She died on 26 January 1933 in Paris, France.
- Horace James was born on 17 January 1853 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. He was an actor, known for Finger Prints (1922), A Woman's Woman (1922) and Adam and Eva (1923). He died on 16 October 1925 in Orange, New Jersey, USA.
- Writer
- Composer
Wilhelm Kienzl was born on 17 January 1857 in Waizenkirchen, Upper Austria, Austrian Empire [now Austria]. He was a writer and composer, known for Der Evangelimann (1924), Der Evangelimann: O Zitterbart, o, Zitterbart (1908) and Der Evangeliemann (1914). He was married to Helene Bauer and Pauline Hoke. He died on 3 October 1941 in Vienna, Austria.- Eugène Lauste was born on 17 January 1857 in Montmartre, Paris, France. He was a director, known for Bullfight (1896) and Drill of the Engineer Corps (1896). He died on 27 June 1935 in Montclair, New Jersey, USA.
- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Charles K. French was born on 17 January 1860 in Columbus, Ohio, USA. He was an actor and director, known for The Abysmal Brute (1923), Hands Up! (1926) and Gentle Julia (1923). He was married to Doris Herbert, Isabelle Gurton and Helen French. He died on 2 August 1952 in Hollywood, California, USA.- David Lloyd George was born on 17 January 1863 in Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester, England, UK. He was a writer, known for The First World War (2003), Hearst-Selig News Pictorial, No. 26 (1915) and Pathé News, No. 24 (1915). He was married to Frances Stevenson and Mrs. Lloyd George. He died on 26 March 1945 in Ty Newydd, Llanystumdwy, Gwynedd, Wales, UK.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
David Torrence was the second child born out of eleven children to Henry Torrance Thomson and Janet Bryce. Davis given name was 'David Bryce Thomson." Born on Jan 17,1863 in Edinbough,Scotland. David's brother was character star 'Ernest Torrence' who was 15 years younger than David. Ernest was the first of the two to come to California and become actors. Educated in both England and Germany, David moved with equal ease from stage to screen in the early part of the 20th century. Following the completion of the classic silent films Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1913) with the legendary stage actress Minnie Maddern Fiske, and The Prisoner of Zenda (1913), however, David returned to focus on Broadway plays and enjoy life on a Mexican ranch. A steep reversal of fortunes aggravated a necessary return to Hollywood following World War I, and, fortunately for his fans, he stayed for nearly two decades. Playing a number of leads during his silent heyday, many of them men of influence, his portrayals of stern-faced villains may not have rivaled that of brother Ernest, but David made for quite a contemptible gent in a few. In his first sound picture, the historical drama Disraeli (1929), he played an austere-looking anti-Semitic head of the Bank of England whose refusal to finance the Suez canal results in action taken by Prime Minister Disraeli, played by George Arliss. David also went on to lend Arliss prime support in the comedy drama A Successful Calamity (1932), and in another biopic history lesson, Voltaire (1933). Come the advent of sound, his characters continued to prestigious characters (bankers, merchants, lawyers, and attorneys), but grew smaller in size until he faded out in unbilled parts, such as in The Dark Angel (1935) and Lost Horizon (1937). Comedy fans might remember David for his performance as Scots attorney Mr. Miggs in the Laurel and Hardy feature Bonnie Scotland (1935). His last roles included, Rulers of the Sea (1939) and Stanley and Livingstone (1939). David Torrence died Dec 26,1951 Beverly Hills, Ca. and is buried at the Inglewood Cemetery while others give 1951.- Milica Mihicic was born on 17 January 1864 in Crikvenica, Croatia, Austrian Empire [now Croatia]. She was an actress, known for Dama sa crnom krinkom (1919). She died on 9 February 1950 in Zagreb, Croatia, Yugoslavia [now Croatia].
- Actor
Louis Romaine was born on 17 January 1865 in Pennsylvania, USA. He was an actor. He died in 1938 in New York, USA.- Director
- Actor
- Writer
Rudolf Kafka was born on 17 January 1866 in Prague, Bohemia, Austria [now Czech Republic]. He was a director and actor, known for Soférka (1913), Záhadný zlocin (1913) and Falesný hrác (1913). He died on 8 January 1913 in Pilsen, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic].- Producer
- Additional Crew
- Actor
The roots of Universal Pictures can rightfully be traced back to 1906 when Carl Laemmle returned home to Chicago after a stint as a bookkeeper in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and opened up a chain of nickelodeons. This in turn led to the ambitious 39-year-old organizing a film exchange network he boldly called the Laemmle Film Service, which expanded west and north into Canada. Although he was an original member of the Edison Patents Company, he bristled at the idea of paying royalties to move to the next level: film production. Laemmle founded IMP (Independent Motion Picture Company) in New York in 1909 and for the next three years produced a number of economical multi-reel films while Edison's agents did their best to shut him down. Thomas Edison's General Film Company (known as "The Trust") filed incessant claims of patent infringement on those companies that refused to pay. Many of these independents (which included such future film moguls as Adolph Zukor and Jesse L. Lasky) pulled up stakes and left for California. As for Laemmle, he doggedly fought 289 legal actions brought about by GFC from 1909-12 and was ultimately victorious. IMP reformed in 1912 as Universal, filming two final productions in New York, The Dawn of Netta (1912) and a one-reeler, The Nurse (1912), before relocating his company to Los Angeles. From 1912-14 Universal operated two California studios, one in Hollywood and the Universal "Oak Crest Ranch" in the San Fernando Valley. The two operations were move to the new Universal City ("Taylor Ranch") in 1914 For a short time in 1912, the New York Film Company battled with Universal over the ownership of the Bison Motion Picture properties at Evendale and Santa Monica. New York Film Company wins the right to withdraw from Universal. Universal/Bison Evendale plant was returned to the New York Film Company. Universal was given the rights to trade names "Bison" and 101 Bison" Universal/Bison brand began production at the Providencia Ranch ( Universal Oak Crest ranch- the first Universal City) in 1912.
Universal began newsreel production in 1913 under Jack Cohn. In 1914 Laemmle acquired the Taylor Ranch on the north side of the Hollywood Hills and set about building Universal City. Damon and Pythias (1914) was Universal's first film completed there, just prior to the studio's official opening in March 1915 and, until 1925, Universal City would be the largest and most prolific studio in the world (eventually supplanted by MGM soon after its inception). Organized studio tours began in 1915 (they were discontinued in 1928 with the arrival of talkies, but resumed in 1964), which proved highly profitable. Laemmle, lacking a theater network, instituted a three-tiered branding system to market Universal's releases: Red Feather (low-budget), Bluebird (mainstream/medium budget) and Jewell (prestige releases, often roadshow attractions commanding premium prices). Heavy emphasis was placed on one-, two- and three-reel productions.
Universal became known as the most paternalistic of all the Hollywood studios. Virtually all of "Uncle" Carl's relatives (including his son Carl Laemmle Jr. and his vastly more talented nephew, William Wyler, were employed there). The studio enjoyed enormous hits during the 1920s, especially Lon Chaney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) and The Phantom of the Opera (1925) before the actor was lured away to MGM. Lacking a theater network, Universal concentrated on independent rural theatrical houses, offering affordable exhibitor's packages which allowed them to change bills numerous times per week. This marketing strategy largely concentrated on product that would appeal to rural theaters through 1930. During the 1920s Europe also became a major source of revenue, with Universal actively involved in co-productions overseas. Sound productions became the norm by 1929 and Universal responded by increasing the number of quality productions, scoring its first Academy Award for Best Picture with All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) the following year. The studio became famous for popularizing the monster craze, beginning with Dracula (1931), that remained strong into 1935. Unfortunately, the studio's other product was proving less successful as the ravages of the Depression took hold. Laemmle's emphasis on quality productions misfired in the mid-'30s and he was forced to take an unfavorable $750,000 loan from Standard Capital which, after cost overruns on the production of Show Boat (1936), resulted in his ouster from the studio. He was forcibly retired from the movie industry in 1936 and sold Universal to Standard Capital Company, headed by Charles R. Rogers, who instituted drastic cost-cutting measures that coincided with the signing of Deanna Durbin, whose popularity virtually single-handedly saved the studio from financial disaster from 1937-40, until other popular stars (notably the comedy team of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello) were added to the studio's roster by a later management team headed by J. Cheever Cowdin. Universal was also--briefly--home to displaced low-budget veteran producers Trem Carr and W. Ray Johnston, who worked there in 1936 while reforming Monogram Pictures after breaking off from an unhappy association with Republic Pictures.
While many contemporary observers disliked Rogers' handling of the so-called "New" Universal, the undeniable fact is that he saved the studio at a critical point in its history. Carl Laemmle died in 1939 of a heart attack in Los Angeles at age 72. As with most Hollywood studios, production boomed during WW2, and by 1945 the studio was averaging a release of one feature film per week. Universal merged with International Pictures, an independent studio headed by ex-20th Century-Fox executives William Goetz and Leo Spitz in 1946 and renamed Universal-International Pictures (reverted to Universal in 1963). Since the company had consciously avoided building a proprietary theater chain it was unaffected by the 1949 Supreme Court theater anti-trust decision. Indeed, the studio was actually better positioned than the other majors as it's revenue stream continued unabated. Universal was purchased by and merged with Decca Records in 1952.
While not a pioneer in television production (most majors, with the notable exception of Columbia, initially stonewalled it), the medium became a huge part of Universal City in the late 1950s. In 1962 Universal was purchased by and merged with The Music Corporation of America (MCA) and became MCA Universal. MCA's television production company, Revue Televsion Productions with its Leave It to Beaver (1957) unit, would relocate to the sprawling Universal lot. Matsushita Electrical Industrial Co. purchased MCA in 1991. The Seagram Co. purchased MCA in 1995 and MCA Universal was renamed Universal Studios. In 1998 Universal purchased the USA television network. The company merged with a French global media company, Vivendi Media Group, and became Vivendi Universal in 2000. In April 2004 Vivendi Universal was purchased by and merged with the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) and became NBC Universal.- Belle Angstadt was born on 17 January 1867 in Iowa, USA. She was an actress, known for Wolf's Brush (1926). She was married to Harry Elmere Angstadt and Arthur E. Towsle. She died on 25 May 1926 in Idaho, USA.
- Hope Iselin was born on 17 January 1868. She was married to C. Oliver Iselin. She died in April 1970.
- Karl Eitel was born on 17 January 1871 in Stuttgart, Germany. He was married to Maria Boldenweck and Ann Schmidt. He died on 9 March 1954 in Santa Barbara, California, USA.
- David Beatty was born on 17 January 1871 in Stapeley, Cheshire, England, UK. He died on 11 March 1936 in London, England, UK.
- William Parke was born on 17 January 1873 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA. He was a director and actor, known for The Mystery of the Double Cross (1917), Ten Scars Make a Man (1924) and The Paliser Case (1920). He was married to Alice Harrington . He died on 28 July 1941 in New York City, New York, USA.
- Edna Wallace Hopper was born on 17 January 1874 in San Francisco, California, USA. She was an actress, known for Who Killed Simon Baird? (1916) and The Perils of Divorce (1916). She was married to Albert O. Brown and DeWolf Hopper Sr.. She died on 14 December 1959 in New York City, New York, USA.
- Pepi Glöckner-Kramer was born on 17 January 1874 in Berlin, Germany. She was an actress, known for 1. April 2000 (1952), Seesterne (1952) and Wir bitten zum Tanz (1941). She was married to Leopold Kramer. She died on 9 March 1954 in Vienna, Austria.
- Lloyd Peddrick was born on 17 January 1874 in Pennsylvania, USA. He was an actor, known for He Did and He Didn't (1916). He died on 3 October 1943 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.
- Pedro Mata was born on 17 January 1875 in Madrid, Spain. He was a writer, known for El tonto de Lagartera (1927), Un grito en la noche (1950) and El hombre que se reía del amor (1933). He died on 27 December 1946 in Madrid, Spain.
- Florencio Sánchez was born on 17 January 1875 in Montevideo, Uruguay. He was a writer, known for Pasión imposible (1943), Barranca abajo (1937) and La tigra (1954). He was married to Catalina Raventos. He died on 7 November 1910 in Milan, Italy.
- Writer
- Actor
Morten Korch was born on 17 January 1876 in Denmark. He was a writer and actor, known for De röda hästarna (1954), De røde heste (1968) and De røde heste (1950). He died on 28 September 1954 in Denmark.- Vera Gerald was born on 17 January 1876 in Ramsgate, Kent, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Under Suspicion (1930), The Flaw (1933) and The Melody-Maker (1933). She died on 28 February 1947 in Hackney, London, England, UK.
- Rohan Clensy was born on 17 January 1877 in Liverpool, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Devil's Profession (1915) and The Chance of a Lifetime (1916). He died on 24 February 1919 in Calais, Pas-de-Calais, France.
- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Entering the film industry almost at its beginning, Oscar Apfel began his career in 1911 as a director. He hit the big leagues in 1914 when he was given many prestigious assignments for Paramount Pictures, often in collaboration with Cecil B. DeMille. In 1916, he switched to Fox, and then freelanced for many smaller studios. His directing career began to fizzle out in the 1920s, and he wound up churning out low-budget features for minor studios. He retired from directing in 1927 and began a new career as a character actor, often cast as a senior government official, banker, businessman or other type of authority figure.- John C. McCallum was born on 17 January 1878 in Scotland, UK. He was an actor, known for The Voice from the Sky (1929). He died on 1 December 1953 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Will Levington Comfort was born on 17 January 1878 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA. Will Levington was a writer, known for Somewhere in Sonora (1933), Somewhere in Sonora (1927) and The Angel of Contention (1914). Will Levington was married to Adith Duffie-Mulholland. Will Levington died on 2 November 1932 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Nap de la Mar was born on 17 January 1878 in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands. He was married to Sien De la Mar-Kloppers. He died on 3 July 1930 in Zeist, Utrecht, Netherlands.
- Additional Crew
- Producer
- Director
Karger was married to Ann Conley of the "Ann & Effie Conley Sisters" Vaudeville Act. He was one of the original founders and the general manager of Metro Pictures in New York before they moved to Hollywood and merged with Samuel Goldwyn and Louis B. Mayer to form MGM Pictures. His son Fred Karger was a composer and a vocal coach at Columbia Pictures. Romantically involved with a young Marilyn Monroe from 1948-1949, Fred broke with Monroe, and eventually married Jane Wyman in 1952.- Producer
- Actor
- Director
Mack Sennett was born Michael Sinnott on January 17, 1880 in Danville, Quebec, Canada, to Irish immigrant farmers. When he was 17, his parents moved the family to East Berlin, Connecticut, and he became a laborer at American Iron Works, a job he continued when they moved to Northampton, Massachusetts. He happened to meet Marie Dressler in 1902, and through her went to New York City to attempt for a career on the stage. He managed some burlesque and chorus-boy parts. In 1908, he began acting in Biograph films. His work there lasted until 1911; it included being directed by D.W. Griffith and acting with Mary Pickford and Mabel Normand. By 1910, he was directing.
In 1912, he and two bookies-turned-producers--Adam Kessel and Charles Bauman--formed the Keystone Film Company. Sennett brought Mabel Normand with him and soon added Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle, Chester Conklin Al St. John, Slim Summerville, Minta Durfee and Charles Chaplin (who was directed by Sennett in 35 comedies during 1914). He told Chaplin, "We have no scenario--we get an idea, then follow the natural sequence of events until it leads up to a chase, which is the essence of our comedy." To the slapstick chase gags of the Keystone Kops were gradually added the Bathing Beauties and the Kid Komedies. In 1915 he, Griffith and Thomas H. Ince formed Triangle Films.
Comedy moved from improvisational slapstick to scripted situations. Stars like Bobby Vernon and Gloria Swanson joined him. In 1917, he formed Mack Sennett Comedies, distributing through Paramount--and later Pathe--and launching another star, Harry Langdon. When Sennett returned to Paramount in 1932, he produced shorts featuring W.C. Fields and musical ones with Bing Crosby. After directing his only Buster Keaton film, The Timid Young Man (1935), he returned to Canada a pauper. In 1937, he was awarded a special Oscar--"to the master of fun, discoverer of stars... for his lasting contribution to the comedy technique of the screen."
Mack Sennett died at age 80 on November 5, 1960 in Woodland Hills, California, and was interred at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California. For his contributions to the motion picture industry, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Gabriel García Moreno was born on 17 January 1880 in Mexico. He was a director and writer, known for El puño de hierro (1927), The Ghost Train (1927) and El buitre (1925). He died on 24 January 1943 in Mexico City, Mexico.- Dagmar Dahlgren was born on 17 January 1880 in Oakland, California, USA. She was an actress, known for Greek Meets Greek (1920), Queens Up! (1920) and The Sleepyhead (1920). She was married to Herbert S. Calvert, Victor Rodman, Norman Selby, Lambert R. Hynes and Alek Kipper. She died on 20 October 1951 in Oakland, California, USA.
- Morris Gest was born on 17 January 1881 in Vilnius, Russian Empire [now Lithuania]. He was an actor, known for Camille (1926) and John Miljan: Vitaphone Trailer Announcement - 'the Jazz Singer' (1927). He was married to Reina Belasco. He died on 16 May 1942 in New York, New York, USA.
- Harry Price was born on 17 January 1881 in London, England, UK. He died on 29 March 1948 in Pulborough, West Sussex, England, UK.
- Visual Effects
José André was born on 17 January 1881 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He died on 13 July 1944 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Respected character actor of the silent and early sound period, specializing in cruel villains. The son of Kansas City policeman Noah Webster Beery and Frances Margaret Fitzgerald Beery, Noah Nicholas Beery and his younger brother Wallace Beery both left home in their teens, each seeking a career as a performer. Noah made his stage debut at the age of 16 and worked steadily in the theatre until his early 30s. Following his brother into films, he quickly established himself as a competent player and a familiar heavy in all sorts of films, particularly westerns. He never achieved the great fame of his younger brother, but succeeded in carving a memorable niche for himself in the history of film. His son Noah Beery Jr. became equally familiar as a character actor, though usually in more genial roles.- Arnold Rothstein was born on 17 January 1882 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. He was married to Mrs. Arnold Robinson. He died on 6 November 1928 in New York City, New York, USA.
- Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia was born on 17 January 1882 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. She was married to Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark. She died on 13 March 1957 in Athens, Greece.
- Ida Barr was born on 17 January 1882 in London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Happy Days Revue (1936), Laugh It Off (1940) and Let the People Sing (1942). She was married to Gus Harris. She died on 17 December 1967 in London, England, UK.
- Writer
- Actor
Compton MacKenzie was born on 17 January 1883 in West Hartlepool, England, UK. He was a writer and actor, known for Sylvia Scarlett (1935), The Ballet Girl (1916) and Sinister Street (1922). He was married to Lillian McSween, Christine McSween and Faith Stone. He died on 30 November 1972 in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.