Carl Laemmle, Jr.

Carl Laemmle, Jr.

L. to. R. : Joseph P. Bickerton, Jr. (theatre producer), Elmer Rice (playwright) and Carl Laemmle Jr. sign a contract for the film version of Counsellor at Law
Born Julius Laemmle
April 28, 1908
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died September 24, 1979 (aged 71)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Cause of death
 stroke
Years active 1926–1936

Carl Laemmle, Jr. (April 28, 1908 – September 24, 1979) was an American heir and businessman. He was in charge of production at Universal Studios from 1928 to 1936.

Biography

Early life

He was the son of Carl Laemmle, the founder of Universal Pictures. His mother Recha Laemmle (née Stern) died in 1919 when Carl, Jr. was eleven years old. She was buried in Salem Fields Cemetery, in the Glendale section of Brooklyn. On July 19, 1941, the family arranged to move her remains to the family mausoleum within the Home Of Peace Cemetery in Los Angeles. Prior to the family's move to Los Angeles, California, Carl, Jr., his sister Rosabelle Laemmle (pre-marriage to Stanley Bergerman), and their father shared a large New York City apartment located at 465 West End Avenue.

Career

During Carl, Jr.'s tenure as head of production, the studio had great success with films such as All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), Dracula (1931), Waterloo Bridge (1931), Frankenstein (1931), East of Borneo (1931), A House Divided (1931), The Mummy (1932), The Old Dark House (1932), The Invisible Man (1933), Imitation of Life (1934), and Bride of Frankenstein (1935).

However, Carl, Jr. (often referred to as "Junior" Laemmle) had developed a reputation for spending too much money on films that did not earn back their cost. By the end of 1935, the studio had spent so much money, and had so many flops, that J. Cheever Cowdin offered to buy the Laemmles out. The notable success, both financially and critically, of the 1936 film Show Boat, was not enough to stem the downslide, and both men were forced out of the company. Neither worked on another film again, despite the fact that Carl, Jr. lived forty-three more years. Charles R. Rogers became the new head of production at the studio.

Personal life

He resided at 1641 Tower Grove Drive in Beverly Hills, California. He died from a stroke at the age of 71 on September 24, 1979, 40 years to the day of his father's death. He was buried in the Chapel Mausoleum at Home of Peace Cemetery.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Carl Laemmle, Jr..