1937-38 international motion picture almanac (1938)

Lac — Lae 1932: "Aren't We All" and "Insult." Paramount-British. Under contract to Vox Films. In 1933 directed "Face In the Sky," "Paddy, the Next Best Thing," Fox; "Mistigri." "La Couturiere de Luneville," Paramount. In 1934 directed "Baby Take a Bow," collaborated on direction of "George Whites Scandals," Fox; "1 Like It That Way," Universal, in 1935: "Dante's Inferno," "Dressed to Thrill," Fox. In 1930: "The Man Who Lived Twice," Columbia; "Charlie Chan at the Circus," 20th CenturyFox; "Our Relations," MGM. Member of the Legion of Honor and Mason's Lodge. LACHMANN, MARC: Studio publicity director. Universal, b. Chicago, March 19. 1897; h. 6 ft. 2 in.; w. 190 pounds; lu. Melva Cornell; e. Notre Dame preparatory school. With Universal Pictures handled "Hunchback of Notre Dame," "Merry Go Round," "Foolish Wives." With Charles Dillingham as general publicity director up to time of his death. General press representative. E. Ray Goetz and other producers. Ran own publicity offices handling shows and motion pictures. Member of Friars. LACKEY, WILLIAM T.: Associate Producer, b. Saugerties, N. Y., Feb. 4, 1897; e. Cornell and Columbia Law School. Sigma Nu Fraternity. Started in picture business as associate producer of the original Torchy comedies. Was supervisor, Columbia and Tiffany. Made "Klondike" on Monogram 1931-32 program and in 1933 produced "Phantom Broadcast " and "The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi. ■ Monogram. In 1934: supervised "Beggars in Ermine." "The Loud Speaker," "City Limits," "Girl of the Limberlost," Monogram. In 1935: supervised "Two Fisted," "Nevada," "Wanderer of the Wasteland." Paramount; "The Keeper of the Bees," Republic. In 1936: "Forgotten Faces," "And Sudden Death," "Desert Gold," Paramount. LACKTEEN, FRANK: Actor, b. Kubber-Ilias, Asia Minor, Aug. 29, 1894; e. Protestant American school in Kubber-Ilias, five years In Lawrence. Mass. Visited Spain. Porto Rico, Jamaica, then came to United States to live. Went to Canada, where he obtained work with motion picture company. Played in New York in comedies and Universal pictures. Early screen work also with Pathe, Paramount, PDC, First National. Appeared with Mary Pickford In "Less Than the Dust," next in serial, "The Yellow Menace." Went to California, where he obtained work with Vitagraph, then supported Antonio Moreno, and Ruth Roland. Played engagement with W. S. Van Dyke and George Seltz. Appeared in 14 consecutive serial productions made by Pathe, with feature length films between serial engagements, among the serials "Mark of the Fog," also "Hawk of the Hills," and In "Melting Millions," "The Warning" (Columbia) ; "Prowlers of the Sea" (Tiffany-Stahl). In 1933: "Tarzan the Fearless," Principal; "The Perils of Pauline." Universal serial In sound. In 1935: "Escape from Devil's Island," Columbia. In 1936: "Under Two Flags." 20th Century-Fox; "Mummy's Boys," BKO-RadIo; "Isle of Fury." WB. LACOMBE, GEORGES: Film director, b. Paris, Aug. 19. 1902. 1925: assistant to Rene Clair for "Le Fantome Du Moulin Rouge." "Le Voyage Imaginalre," "La Prole Du Vent," "Le Chapeau de Paille D'ltalle," "Les Deux Timldes." "Sous les Toits de Paris," "Le Million." Assistant to ,Tean Gremillon for "Maljione" and to Andre Berthomleu for "Mon Ami Victor." 1927: "La Zone." 1929: "Un .Tour D'Ete." Also "Un Coup du Telephone," "Pan Pan." "Ce Couchon de Morin," "La Pemme Invisible." "Jeunesse," "Les Epoux Scandaleux," "La Route Heureuse," "Le Coeur Dispose." LACY. JEAN: Actress, b. Seattle, Wash., 19 years ago; e. graduate of Hollywood high school. Has appeared in a number of two-reel comedies for Roach. Educational, and Mack Sennett. and the lead in a Paramount comedy, with Walter Catlett. Trained singer, and has made appearances over the radio. Also has New York stage experience, and has posed for national advertisers, through the advertising firm of Lord. Thomas and Logan. GENE: (See 1936-37 Motion Picture LADOUX, Almanac.) LAEMMLE, CARL: b. Lauphelm. Germany. January 17, 1867; h. 5 feet, 2 Inches; gray hair and blue eyes; w. 140 pounds; p. Rebekka and Julius Laemmle, nonprofessionals; e. Germany; m. Recha Stern of FUeden. Germany. Feb. 14, 1884 landed In New York. For short period worked in a drug store in New Y''ork. then a department store In Chicago, next on a farm In South Dakota; returned to Chicago and went to work for Butler Brothers ; later was employed aa a bookkeeper for the wboleiale jewelry firm of L. Heller & Company; thereafter he worked for Mandel Bros., as assistant bookkeeper; then became a clerk In the stock yards for Nelson Morris & Company; also worked for the firm of Otto Young & Company, wholesale jewelers; thence to Oshkosh as bookkeeper in Continental Clothing house, and after four years was promoted to manager. Was naturalized in 1889. Back to Chicago In 19Ub and intended establishing a chain of 5 and 10 cent stores but became interested in moving picture theatres Instead. Opened his first theatre, the Whitefront, on Milwaukee avenue, Chicago, February 24, 1906; two months later opened his second theatre on iialsted Street; then established Laemmle Film Service, Chicago; the next year (19071, he established exchanges in Evansville, Memphis and Omaha, and in June of that year returned to Europe for a visit. In 1908 he established exchanges in Minneapolis, Portland, Ore., Salt Lake City, Montreal and Winnipeg. In April, 1909, he QUlt the Patents Company and became an independent, organized Imp Company, incorporated as Yankee Films Company; released his first picture, "Hiawatha," 989 feet in length, the second release being "Love's Stratagem," 954 feet long. From 1909 to 1912 he fought the Patents Company; and In May, 1912, Laemmle, R. H. Cochrane, Charles Bauman, David Horsley, P. A. Powers and W. H. Swanson combined their interests and formed Universal Film Manufacturing Company with offices at 1 Union square. New York City. Later that year Laemmle went to Europe and opened his first American independent foreign office. Laemmle and Cochrane bought out P. A. Powers and obtained control of Universal and in 1924 they moved to new quarters. Fifth avenue and 57th street; In 1925 Universal Pictures Corporation issued the first stock to the public and became established on the New York stock exchange. In June, 1926, Laemmle was stricken with appendicitis on board the S. S. Berengaria and operated upon in London. In December, 1926, he bought the Thomas H. Ince estate near Hollywood and became a resident of California. On the anniversary of his sixtieth birthday he was honored by a great demonstration by all of Hollywood under the leadership of Mary Pickford and other celebrities of screen and stage who worked for him. "All Quiet on the Western Front," completed in 1930, was awarded every competitive prize offered in this country and abroad for the Best Picture of 1930. These awards included the gold statuette of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Film Daily poll, the gold medal of the Faculty of Arts of London, and the Photoplay Magazine Gold Medal. In September, 1930, Laemmle became a grandfather and "Grand-daddy Carl" took the place of "Uncle Carl" as the Industry's affectionate nickname foi the veteran producer. Fitting observance was made in February, 1931, of his silver jubilee in the business, and a bound volume of letters received from exhibitors on the occasion was presented to him in Hollywood, the presentation being made by Martin Quigley and William A. Johnston. In connection with the silver jubilee, a biography of Carl Laemmle, by John Drinkvvater, was published in England by Helnemann and In America by Putnam's. A handsomely bound volume of letters of congratulation complied by Mr. Hays and presented by him before the producing heads of all the companies was the climax of this Silver Jubilee. On February 14, 1934, celebrated his fiftieth year In America, and on May 1, after a ten year occupancy of quarters in the Hecksher BIdg., moved to Rockefeller Center on March 15. 1935; celebrated 20th anniversary of the opening of Universal City. In March, 1936, resigned as president of Universal and sold Interest in company to Standard. LAEMMLE, CARL, JR.: Producer, b. Chicago, April 28, 1908; h. 5 feet, 3 inches; w. 130 pounds; black hair, brown eyes; e. boarding school near New York, and Clark School. Conceived, wrote, cast, supervised and edited the Universal Junior Jewel Series, "The Collegians," starring George Lewis and featuring Dorothy Gulliver, aa well as Hayden Stevenson of "Leather Pushers." Wai appointed general manager. In complete charge of all production. In 1929. Some of the photoplays made under his direction were "Lonesome," "Broadway," "King of JazE," "Little Accident," "Lady Surrenders," "Dracula," "The Spirit of Notre Dame," "Frankenstein," "Strictly Dishonorable," "East of Borneo," "Lonesome Broadway," "Heaven on Earth," "Waterloo Bridge," "Free Love" and "Seed." He produced "All Quiet on the Western Front," which won the Gold Medal Award of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the year 1930, as the outstanding picture produced that year. It also won the Photoplay gold medal as the best picture of the year and was awarded the gold medal of the Faculty of Arts for the Federation of the Related Arts of Great Britain. Some of the photoplays made under his supervision since are "Airmail," "Okay America," "The AH American," "Private Jones," "Only Yesterday," "The Invisible Man," "Imitation of Life." "Little Man. What Now?" "The Man Who Reclaimed His Head," "Night Life of the Gods," "The Good Fairy." "The Bride of Frankenstein." "Show Boat." "Remember Last Night?" Universal. Resigned as vice-president and general manager T H F 9 3 7-38 MOTION C T U R E ALMANAC 537