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- American novelist Edgar Evertson Saltus was born in New York City in 1855. His family had been in New York City for quite some time--his ancestor, Adm. Kornelis Evertson of the Dutch Navy, had led the expedition that captured New York from the British in 1673.
Saltus got his schooling in New York City and attended Yale University in 1876, but left after a year. He spent several years traveling around Europe. He returned to the US and attended Columbia University, where he obtained a law degree (although he never practiced law). His first published work was a biography of 'Honore de Balzac', "Balzac", in 1884. "The Philosophy of Disenchatment", which came out the next year, was an account of philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer and his school.
His first novel was "Mr. Incoul's Misadventure" in 1887, and was well received. He turned out several more works over the next few years, both fiction and non-fiction (his 1893 book "Imperial Purple", a study of Roman emperors, was a favorite of US President 'Warren G. Harding'). He is also thought to have written several "potboilers" under other names, including such works as "The Lovers of the World" and "The Great Battles of All Nations".
Married three times--the last to the woman who wrote his biography--he died in 1921 in New York City after a long illness. - Tim Sullivan was a U.S. House of Representative politician from New York's 8th District. He appeared as himself in one short, Actor's Fund Field Day(1910). Sullivan is remembered as a somewhat corrupt politician. He was often involved with women in the Broadway Theatre world hence his appearance in a film function about actors. He died on August 31, 1913 after being hit by a train.
- Writer
- Director
- Actor
Harry G. Stafford was born on 4 October 1871 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. He was a writer and director, known for The Phantom Thief (1916), Love Triumphant (1916) and Marianna (1915). He died on 8 September 1917 in New Rochelle, New York, USA.- Actor
- Cinematographer
Walter Cameron was born on 27 November 1872 in Manhattan, New York, USA. He was an actor and cinematographer, known for The Varsity Race (1914) and Leave It to Susan (1919). He died on 26 April 1942 in Culver City, Los Angeles, California, USA.- W.C. Robinson was born on 22 April 1873 in Manhattan, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for The Wooing of Alice (1912), Winning Back His Love (1910) and Destiny Decides (1915). He died on 13 July 1942 in Maywood, California, USA.
- Herbert Ashley was born on 18 April 1874 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Midnight Limited (1940), King of Burlesque (1936) and Little Old New York (1940). He died on 23 July 1958 in Los Angeles County, California, USA.
- Art Director
- Set Decorator
Charles O. Seessel was born on 27 August 1877 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. Charles O. was an art director and set decorator, known for Luck (1923), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920) and The Seventh Day (1922). Charles O. died on 31 October 1927 in New York City, New York, USA.- Between 1926 and 1947, Harry A. Bailey's plumpness earned this fine character actor dozens of bit parts as the fat man in office. Often a politician - most often a senator (it looks as though they ate too much at the time!) he was also regularly seen in court trial scenes (whether as a lawyer, a court clerk or a juror). He also embodied with ease your good-humored bald-headed neighbor or the the conductor of the train you travel in. Incidentally, Harry Bailey appeared in three masterpieces, Frank Capra's 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington' (as a... senator it goes without saying!) and Orson Welles's 'Citizen Kane' and 'The Magnificent Ambersons'. But look closely if you do not mean to miss him!
- Writer
- Actor
- Producer
Born out of wedlock in Manhattan, Kansas, but grew up in Denver. A close friend of fellow New York sportswriter--and former western gunfighter--William Barclay 'Bat' Masterson, who knew the Runyan family in Denver. In the late teens and early 1920s both Ed Sullivan and Walter Winchell worked as Runyon's leg men. Buried in New York's Woodlawn Cemetery.- Earle S. Dewey was born on 2 June 1881 in Manhattan, Kansas, USA. He was an actor, known for This Gun for Hire (1942), Rogues Gallery (1944) and In Old Missouri (1940). He was married to Billy Rogers. He died on 5 February 1950 in Hollywood, California, USA.
- Otto Berman was born on 10 August 1881 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. He died on 24 October 1935 in Newark, New Jersey, USA.
- 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.
- Richard Barrows was born on 28 January 1882 in Manhattan, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Lights Out (1946), Naked City (1958) and Cameo Theatre (1950). He died on 14 August 1969 in Buffalo, New York, USA.
- Millicent Hearst was born on 16 July 1882 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. She was married to William Randolph Hearst. She died on 5 December 1974 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.
- Josephine Hopper was born on 18 March 1883 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. She was married to Edward Hopper. She died on 6 March 1968 in the USA.
- Producer
- Actor
- Editor
E.H. Allen was born on 12 February 1884 in Manhattan, New York, New York, USA. He was a producer and actor, known for The Super Snooper (1934), The Little Big Top (1935) and Choose Your Partners (1935). He was married to Margaret Thompson. He died on 23 May 1955 in Glendale, California, USA.- Director
- Writer
- Actor
Born in Manhattan, KS, Louis Chaudet was a photographer and vaudeville comic before getting into the motion picture business as a director. He wrote and directed quite a few two-reelers for the Nestor Film Company, the first film company in Hollywood. He retired with the advent of sound, making his last film in 1929. He died in Burbank, CA, in 1965.- Fred C. Jones was born on 24 August 1884 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for The Gates of Eden (1916), A Beggar in Purple (1920) and An Arabian Knight (1920). He died in January 1966 in New York, USA.
- Writer
- Script and Continuity Department
Coolidge Streeter was born on 10 October 1884 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. He was a writer, known for The Man from Beyond (1922), Out of the Chorus (1921) and Ramshackle House (1924). He was married to Lola D Moore. He died on 30 November 1924 in New York, USA.- Writer
- Script and Continuity Department
- Director
John Grey was born on 19 December 1885 in Manhattan [now in New York City], New York, USA. He was a writer and director, known for Fighting Fate (1925), Wide Open (1927) and Super Speed (1925). He died on 11 December 1964 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Ethel Intropidi was born in New York City, , New York, USA. The daughter of renowned character actress Josie Intropidi, Ethel entered the profession at the age of thirteen in "Pinafore." She began her training for the operatic stage, but after several seasons turned to musicals and then dramatic plays where she was originally an understudy in John Drew's company. Then she was in "Mind The Paint Girl" with Billie Burke. "Seven Keys to Baldpate," "Arms and the Girl," "The Kiss Burglar," East is West," and "The Guilty One," in which she was chief support to Pauline Frederik. She starred in the film "The Madonna of the Slums" (1919).
Ethel died on 18 December 1946 in New York City, New York, USA. - Sadie Harris was born on 7 February 1888 in Manhattan, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for The Day of Days (1914). She was married to Arthur Aylesworth. She died on 15 May 1933 in New York City, New York, USA.
- Lucille Desmond was born on 28 July 1888 in Manhattan, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for The Reckoning Day (1918). She died on 20 November 1936 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Writer
- Actress
Maie B. Havey was born on 15 September 1889 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. She was a writer and actress, known for Her Purchase Price (1919), Kitty Kelly, M.D. (1919) and Tangled Threads (1919). She died in June 1971 in New York, USA.- Walter Gilbert was born on 12 April 1890 in Manhattan, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Pearl of Love (1925), She's My Weakness (1930) and Dynamite Delaney (1938). He died on 12 January 1947 in Brooklyn, New York, USA.
- Music Department
- Actor
Jack Feinberg was born on 13 September 1891 in Manhattan, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Laugh, Clown, Laugh (1928). He died on 13 August 1982 in Queens, New York City, New York, USA.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Dorothy Green was born on 5 March 1892 in Manhattan, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for Forest Rivals (1919), Patria (1917) and The Dark Star (1919). She was married to Sam Pomerance and Norman November. She died on 16 November 1963 in New York City, New York, USA.- Irene Morra was born on 31 July 1893 in Manhattan, New York, USA. She was an editor, known for Just Imagine (1930), One of the Bravest (1925) and Calamity Jane (1953). She died on 25 November 1978 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Production Manager
- Producer
Fred Scheld was born on 5 September 1893 in Manhattan, New York, USA. Fred was an assistant director and production manager, known for Midnight Limited (1940), Hidden Enemy (1940) and Heroes in Blue (1939). Fred died on 3 July 1983 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Joe Devlin was born on 7 February 1894 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Dick Tracy (1950), Nazty Nuisance (1943) and The Flame of New Orleans (1941). He was married to Iva Beaudreau. He died on 1 October 1973 in Burbank, California, USA.- Actor
Grahame Covert was born on 20 February 1894 in Manhattan, New York, USA. He was an actor. He died on 12 November 1955 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Editor
- Editorial Department
- Director
Philip Cahn was born on 18 June 1894 in Manhattan [now in New York City], New York, USA. He was an editor and director, known for I've Been Around (1935), Nurse from Brooklyn (1938) and Black Friday (1940). He died on 28 September 1984 in Thousand Oaks, California, USA.- Grace Williams was born on 10 October 1894 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for The Truth About Helen (1915), The Cossack Whip (1916) and On Dangerous Paths (1915). She died on 4 January 1987 in Mineola, Long Island, New York, USA.
- Louise Owen was born on 1 February 1895 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for Igorrotes, Crocodiles and a Hat Box (1916), The Skating Rink (1916) and The Emerald Pin (1916). She died on 19 November 1973 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Script and Continuity Department
James T. O'Donohoe was born on 10 March 1895 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. He was a writer and assistant director, known for The Hawk's Nest (1928), The Lady of the Harem (1926) and Serenade (1921). He was married to Laska Winter. He died on 27 August 1928 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Actress
Gladys Faye was born on 14 April 1895 in Manhattan, Kansas, USA. She was an actress. She died on 30 June 1979 in San Bernardino, California, USA.- Henrietta Burnside was born on 24 July 1896 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for Ladies Should Listen (1934). She died on 29 September 1982 in Riverside, California, USA.
- William S. Gray was born on 26 August 1896 in Manhattan [now in New York City], New York, USA. He was an editor, known for The Great Ziegfeld (1936), In Gay Madrid (1930) and Flying High (1931). He died on 16 December 1946 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Mona Palma was born on 26 September 1897 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for The Canadian (1926), Fascinating Youth (1926) and The Quarterback (1926). She died on 19 April 1989 in Oxnard, California, USA.
- Best known as publisher and founder of Random House. Published many giants of 20th century American literature, including William Faulkner, James Michener, and Ayn Rand. Published James Joyce's Ulysses in the US after winning landmark Supreme Court obscenity case. Edited compilations of humor and joke books. Appeared regularly on "What's My Line?" and other TV shows.
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Charley Foy was born on 12 June 1898 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for King of the Underworld (1939), The Adventurous Blonde (1937) and Out Where the Stars Begin (1938). He was married to Sarah "sugar" Demers/King and Grace Hayes. He died on 22 August 1984 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Salvatore De Lorenzo was born on 2 July 1898 in Manhattan, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for The Lemon Drop Kid (1951). He died on 10 April 1962 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Boxing referee who worked mostly in Southern California from the mid 1920s until the late 1950s. Roth was at the center of many controversial fights, and wasn't afraid to get involved. Once, after several warnings, he stopped a fight in the tenth round and declared it a no-contest because the two boxers weren't mixing it up enough. Toward the end of his career, he made several questionable decisions during fights, stopping some too soon and others not soon enough.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Fay Marbe was born on 4 February 1899 in Manhattan, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for Dorine und der Zufall (1928), The Very Idea (1920) and Her Indiscretion (1927). She died on 2 June 1986 in Fairfield, Connecticut, USA.- Producer
- Production Manager
Irving D. Koppel was born on 1 May 1899 in Manhattan, New York, USA. Irving D. was a producer and production manager, known for Rogue River (1951), The Diamond Queen (1953) and Fort Defiance (1951). Irving D. died on 16 December 1969 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Writer
- Director
Arthur J. Beckhard was born on 1 June 1899 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. He was a writer and director, known for Girl on the Run (1953), Sky Parade (1936) and Border Flight (1936). He was married to Esther Dale. He died on 24 April 1961 in Hollywood, California, USA.- Ruth Poll was born on 10 June 1899 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. Ruth was married to Dr. Daniel Poll. Ruth died on 14 March 1955 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.
- Director
- Additional Crew
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
George Cukor was an American film director of Hungarian-Jewish descent, better known for directing comedies and literary adaptations. He once won the Academy Award for Best Director, and was nominated other four times for the same Award.
In 1899, George Dewey Cukor was born on the Lower East Side of New York City. His parents were assistant district attorney Viktor Cukor and Helén Ilona Gross. His middle name "Dewey" honored Admiral George Dewey who was considered a war hero for his victory in the Battle of Manila Bay, in 1898.
As a child, Cukor received dancing lessons, and soon fell in love with the theater, appearing in several amateur plays. In 1906, he performed in a recital with David O. Selznick (1902-1965), who would later become a close friend.
As a teenager, Cukor often visited the New York Hippodrome, a well-known Manhattan theater. He often cut classes while attending high school, in order to attend afternoon matinees. He later took a job as a supernumerary with the Metropolitan Opera, and at times performed there in black-face.
Cukor graduated from the DeWitt Clinton High School in 1917. His father wanted him to follow a legal career, and had his son enrolled City College of New York. Cukor lost interest in his studies and dropped out of college in 1918. He then took a job as an assistant stage manager and bit player for a touring production of the British musical "The Better 'Ole". The musical was an adaptation of the then-popular British comic strip "Old Bill" by Bruce Bairnsfather (1887-1959).
In 1920, Cukor became the stage manager of the Knickerbocker Players, a theatrical troupe. In 1921, Cukor became the general manager of the Lyceum Players, a summer stock company. In 1925, Cukor was one of the co-founders the C.F. and Z. Production Company. With this theatrical company, Cukor started working as a theatrical director. He made his Broadway debut as a director with the play "Antonia" by Melchior Lengyel (1880-1974).
The C.F. and Z. Production Company was eventually renamed the Cukor-Kondolf Stock Company, and started recruiting up-and-coming theatrical talents. Cukor's theatrical troupe included at various times Louis Calhern, Ilka Chase, Bette Davis, Douglass Montgomery, Frank Morgan, Reginald Owen, Elizabeth Patterson, and Phyllis Povah.
Cukor attained great critical acclaim in 1926 for directing "The Great Gatsby", an adaptation of a then-popular novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940). He directed six more Broadway productions until 1929. At the time, Hollywood film studios were recruiting New York theater talent for sound films, and Cukor was hired by Paramount Pictures. He started as an apprentice director before the studio lent him to Universal Pictures. His first notable film work was serving as a dialogue director for "All Quiet on the Western Front" (1930).
After returning to Paramount Pictures, he worked as aco-director. His first solo directorial effort was "Tarnished Lady" (1931), and at that time he earned a weekly salary of $1500. Cukor co-directed the film "One Hour with You" (1932) with Ernst Lubitsch, but Lubitsch demanded sole directorial credit. Cukor filed a legal suit but eventually had to settle for a credit as the film's assistant director. He left Paramount in protest, and took a new job with RKO Studios.
During the 1930s, Cukor was entrusted with directing films for RKO's leading actresses. He worked often with Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003), although not always with box-office success. He did direct such box office hits as "Little Women" (1933) and "Holiday" (1938), but also notable flops such as "Sylvia Scarlett" (1935).
In 1936, Cukor was assigned to work on the film adaptation of the blockbuster novel "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell. He spent the next two years preoccupied with the film's pre-production, and with supervising screen tests for actresses seeking to play leading character Scarlett O'Hara. Cukor reportedly favored casting either Katharine Hepburn or Paulette Goddard for the role. Producer David O. Selznick refused to cast either one, since Hepburn was coming off a string of flops and was viewed as "box office poison," while Goddard was rumored to have had a scandalous affair with Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977) and her reputation suffered for it.
Cukor did not get to direct "Gone with the Wind", as Selznick decided to assign the directing duties to Victor Fleming (1889-1949). Cukor's involvement with the film was limited to coaching actresses Vivien Leigh (1913-1967) and Olivia de Havilland (1916-). Similarly, the very same year, Cukor also failed to receive a directing credit for "The Wizard of Oz" (1939), though he was responsible for several casting and costuming decisions for this iconic classic.
In this same period, Cukor did direct an all-female cast in "The Women" (1939), as well as Greta Garbo's final motion picture performance in "Two-Faced Woman" (1941). Then his film career was interrupted by World War II, as he joined the Signal Corps in 1942. Given his experience as a film director, Cukor was soon assigned to producing training and instructional films for army personnel. He wanted to gain an officer's commission, but was denied promotion above the rank of private. Cukor suspected that rumors of his homosexuality were the reason he never received the promotion.
During the 1940s, Cukor had a number of box-office hits, such "A Woman's Face" (1941) and "Gaslight" (1944). He forged a working alliance with screenwriters Garson Kanin and Ruth Gordon, and the trio collaborated on seven films between 1947-1954.
Until the early 1950s, most of his Cukor's films were in black-and-white, and his first film in Technicolor was "A Star Is Born" (1954), with Judy Garland as the leading actress. Casting the male lead for the film proved difficult, as several major stars were either not interested in the role or were considered unsuitable by the studio. Cukor had to settle for James Mason as the male lead, but the film was highly successful and received 6 Academy Award nominations. But Cukor was not nominated for directing.
He had a handful of critical successes over the following years, such as Les Girls (1957) and "Wild Is the Wind" (1957), and also helmed the unfinished "Something's Got to Give" (1962), which had a troubled production and went at least $2 million over budget before it was terminated.
Cukor had a comeback with the critically and commercially successful "My Fair Lady," one of the highlights of his career., for which he won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Director, along with the Directors Guild of America Award. However, his career very quickly slowed down, and the aging Cukor was infrequently involved with new projects.
Cukor's most notable film in the 1970s was the fantasy The Blue Bird (1976) , which was the first joint Soviet-American production. It was a box-office flop, though it received a nomination for the Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film and was groundbreaking for its time. Cukor's swan song was "Rich and Famous" (1981), depicting the relationship of two women over a period of several decades., played by co-stars Jacqueline Bisset and Candice Bergen, Cukor's final pair of leading ladies.
He retired as a director at the age of 82, and died a year later of a heart attack in 1983. At the time of his death, his net worth was estimated to be $2,377,720. He was buried at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA. Cukor was buried next to his long-time platonic friend Frances Howard (1903-1976), the wife of legendary studio mogul Samuel Goldwyn.- Actor
- Additional Crew
Gustave Lax was born on 2 October 1899 in Manhattan, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Norby (1955). He died on 30 December 1972 in Riverside, California, USA.- Gladys Egan was born on 24 May 1900 in Manhattan, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for The Adventures of Dollie (1908), Romance of a Jewess (1908) and After Many Years (1908). She was married to John Edward Jacoby. She died on 8 March 1985 in Lemon Grove, California, USA.