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B. P. Schulberg

December 15, 2023

B. P. Schulberg (born Percival Schulberg, January 19, 1892 – February 25, 1957) was an American pioneer film producer and film studio executive.

B. P. Schulberg
Schulberg in 1914
Born
Percival Schulberg

January 19, 1892
Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.
DiedFebruary 25, 1957(1957-02-25) (aged 65)
Key Biscayne, Florida, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Other namesBenjamin Schulberg
Occupation(s)Film producer, film studio executive
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1913; div. 1933)​
Children3, including Budd
FamilySam Jaffe (brother-in-law)

Biography edit

Born Percival Schulberg in Bridgeport, Connecticut, he took the name Benjamin from the boy in front of him when registering for school to avoid mockery for his name.

Schulberg was impressed with Edwin S. Porter's films and managed to get a job with the famous director as a scenario writer.[1] He became a publicity manager at Famous Players–Lasky, but in the power struggle around the formation of United Artists ended up on the losing side and lost his job.[1] The public later learned that it was Schulberg's idea to bring together the "Big-4" before they were ever founded.[2] He was one of the founding members of the Associated Motion Picture Advertisers.[3]

In 1919, at age 27, he founded Preferred Pictures and built it around actress Katherine MacDonald. In 1923, his old school-mate and associate Jack Bachman convinced him to offer a New York starlet, 18-year-old Clara Bow, a three-month trial contract.[4] Within days of her arrival, she was made part of the studio permanent stock.[5]

On October 21, 1925, Schulberg's Preferred Pictures filed for bankruptcy, with debts of $820,774 and assets of just $1,420 due to his addiction to gambling.[6] Three days later it was announced that Schulberg would join with Adolph Zukor and became associate producer of Paramount Pictures, bringing his organization, i.e. Clara Bow.[7]

As head of production at Paramount, Schulberg produced hits starring Bow including It and Wings, which went on to win the first Academy Award for Best Picture at the first award ceremony in 1929.[8]

Schulberg used his background in publicity to create some of the best-known phrases and slogans in film. He dubbed Mary Pickford "America's Sweetheart," and came up with the slogans "Famous Players in Famous Plays" and "If it's a Paramount Picture, it's the best show in town."[9] During his time at Paramount, he also helped to launch the careers of Cary Grant, Ernst Lubitsch, Emil Jannings, Maurice Chevalier, Marlene Dietrich and Shirley Temple.[8]

In an era when the film industry was filled with conservative studio executives, B. P. Schulberg was a "New Deal" liberal, described by Moving Pictures magazine as "a political liberal in the reactionary world of Mayer and Hearst."

In 1931, Paramount top-star Clara Bow left the studio, and within a year Schulberg was "squeezed out" and went back to independent film-production.[10] In 1937, Paramount stopped distributing his films and he remained out of the business until 1940 when he began producing for Columbia Pictures. He produced six films for Columbia in three years.

In 1950, after feeling forgotten and underappreciated by Hollywood, he unsuccessfully offered his services in the film trade papers.[11] He suffered a stroke the same year and retired permanently.[8] Schulberg died at his home in Key Biscayne, Florida, on February 25, 1957. His son Budd stated in 1981 "I completely supported him for the last five years of his life".[10]

For his contribution to the motion picture industry, B. P. Schulberg has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1500 Vine Street. The Paramount studios' "Production Building" was renamed the "Schulberg Building" in his honor.

Personal life edit

In 1913, he married Adeline Jaffe who was also Jewish[12] and who had founded a talent agency taken over by her brother, producer/talent agent Sam Jaffe. They became the parents of renowned novelist and screenwriter, Budd Schulberg, producer Stuart Schulberg, and writer Sonya Schulberg O'Sullivan. They divorced in 1933.[12]

Partial filmography edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Moving Pictures, Budd Schulberg, p.100, 1981, Allison & Busby, London UK, ISBN 0-7490-0127-5
  2. ^ Jobes, Gertrude (1966). Motion Picture Empire. Connecticut: Archon Books. p. 228.
  3. ^ "Movie Ad Men in Association". The Fourth Estate. August 5, 1916. Retrieved August 10, 2012.
  4. ^ "My life, by Clara Bow". Told to and edited by Adela Rogers St. Johns. Published by Photoplay Magazine in February, March and April 1928
  5. ^ Morning Avalanche, August 5, 1923
  6. ^ New York Times, October 22, 1925
  7. ^ Associated Press news-wire, October 24, 1925
  8. ^ a b c "B. P. Schulberg Dies in His Sleep at 65; Headed Par Prod". Variety. February 27, 1957. p. 7. Retrieved June 8, 2019 – via Archive.org.
  9. ^ Beck, Nicholas (2001). Budd Schulberg: A Bio-Bibliography. Maryland: The Scarecrow Press. p. 2. ISBN 0810840359.
  10. ^ a b The Post, October 2, 1981
  11. ^ Indiana Evening Gazette, p6, January 21, 1950
  12. ^ a b Jewish Women's Archive: "Adeline Schulberg - 1895 – 1977" by Mik Moore retrieved August 30, 2015
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to B. P. Schulberg.

External links edit

  • B. P. Schulberg at IMDb

December 15, 2023
schulberg, born, percival, schulberg, january, 1892, february, 1957, american, pioneer, film, producer, film, studio, executive, schulberg, 1914bornpercival, schulbergjanuary, 1892bridgeport, connecticut, diedfebruary, 1957, 1957, aged, biscayne, florida, nati. B P Schulberg born Percival Schulberg January 19 1892 February 25 1957 was an American pioneer film producer and film studio executive B P SchulbergSchulberg in 1914BornPercival SchulbergJanuary 19 1892Bridgeport Connecticut U S DiedFebruary 25 1957 1957 02 25 aged 65 Key Biscayne Florida U S NationalityAmericanOther namesBenjamin SchulbergOccupation s Film producer film studio executiveSpouseAdeline Jaffe m 1913 div 1933 wbr Children3 including BuddFamilySam Jaffe brother in law Contents 1 Biography 2 Personal life 3 Partial filmography 4 References 5 External linksBiography editBorn Percival Schulberg in Bridgeport Connecticut he took the name Benjamin from the boy in front of him when registering for school to avoid mockery for his name Schulberg was impressed with Edwin S Porter s films and managed to get a job with the famous director as a scenario writer 1 He became a publicity manager at Famous Players Lasky but in the power struggle around the formation of United Artists ended up on the losing side and lost his job 1 The public later learned that it was Schulberg s idea to bring together the Big 4 before they were ever founded 2 He was one of the founding members of the Associated Motion Picture Advertisers 3 In 1919 at age 27 he founded Preferred Pictures and built it around actress Katherine MacDonald In 1923 his old school mate and associate Jack Bachman convinced him to offer a New York starlet 18 year old Clara Bow a three month trial contract 4 Within days of her arrival she was made part of the studio permanent stock 5 On October 21 1925 Schulberg s Preferred Pictures filed for bankruptcy with debts of 820 774 and assets of just 1 420 due to his addiction to gambling 6 Three days later it was announced that Schulberg would join with Adolph Zukor and became associate producer of Paramount Pictures bringing his organization i e Clara Bow 7 As head of production at Paramount Schulberg produced hits starring Bow including It and Wings which went on to win the first Academy Award for Best Picture at the first award ceremony in 1929 8 Schulberg used his background in publicity to create some of the best known phrases and slogans in film He dubbed Mary Pickford America s Sweetheart and came up with the slogans Famous Players in Famous Plays and If it s a Paramount Picture it s the best show in town 9 During his time at Paramount he also helped to launch the careers of Cary Grant Ernst Lubitsch Emil Jannings Maurice Chevalier Marlene Dietrich and Shirley Temple 8 In an era when the film industry was filled with conservative studio executives B P Schulberg was a New Deal liberal described by Moving Pictures magazine as a political liberal in the reactionary world of Mayer and Hearst In 1931 Paramount top star Clara Bow left the studio and within a year Schulberg was squeezed out and went back to independent film production 10 In 1937 Paramount stopped distributing his films and he remained out of the business until 1940 when he began producing for Columbia Pictures He produced six films for Columbia in three years In 1950 after feeling forgotten and underappreciated by Hollywood he unsuccessfully offered his services in the film trade papers 11 He suffered a stroke the same year and retired permanently 8 Schulberg died at his home in Key Biscayne Florida on February 25 1957 His son Budd stated in 1981 I completely supported him for the last five years of his life 10 For his contribution to the motion picture industry B P Schulberg has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1500 Vine Street The Paramount studios Production Building was renamed the Schulberg Building in his honor Personal life editIn 1913 he married Adeline Jaffe who was also Jewish 12 and who had founded a talent agency taken over by her brother producer talent agent Sam Jaffe They became the parents of renowned novelist and screenwriter Budd Schulberg producer Stuart Schulberg and writer Sonya Schulberg O Sullivan They divorced in 1933 12 Partial filmography editGet Your Man 1921 The Woman Conquers 1922 The Woman s Side 1922 Thorns and Orange Blossoms 1922 Heroes and Husbands 1922 Refuge 1923 April Showers 1923 Maytime 1923 Mothers in Law 1923 Are You a Failure 1923 Poor Men s Wives 1923 Chastity 1923 The Scarlet Lily 1923 The Hero 1923 White Man 1924 The Breath of Scandal 1924 The Triflers 1924 My Lady s Lips 1925 The Mansion of Aching Hearts 1925 The Other Woman s Story 1925 With This Ring 1925 The Boomerang 1925 The Lawful Cheater 1925 Parisian Love 1925 Free to Love 1925 The Plastic Age 1925 Mantrap 1926 The Eagle of the Sea 1926 It 1927 Wedding Bills 1927 The Whirlwind of Youth 1927 Wings 1927 Special Delivery 1927 Underworld 1927 Swim Girl Swim 1927 The Woman on Trial 1927 Beau Sabreur 1928 Red Hair 1928 The First Kiss 1928 The Love Doctor 1929 The Greene Murder Case 1929 The Virginian 1929 Dangerous Paradise 1930 Paramount on Parade 1930 co producer No Limit 1931 Make Me a Star 1932 Million Dollar Legs 1932 Madame Butterfly 1932 Three Cornered Moon 1933 Luxury Liner 1933 The Crime of the Century 1933 Pick Up 1933 The Girl in 419 1933 Jennie Gerhardt 1933 Her Bodyguard 1933 Good Dame 1934 Thirty Day Princess 1934 Little Miss Marker 1934 Kiss and Make Up 1934 Behold My Wife 1934 She Couldn t Take It 1935 Crime and Punishment 1935 Meet Nero Wolfe 1936 Counterfeit 1936 Wedding Present 1937 A Doctor s Diary 1937 The Great Gambini 1937 She s No Lady 1937 Bedtime Story 1941 The Adventures of Martin Eden 1942 The Wife Takes a Flyer 1942 Flight Lieutenant 1942 City Without Men 1943 References edit a b Moving Pictures Budd Schulberg p 100 1981 Allison amp Busby London UK ISBN 0 7490 0127 5 Jobes Gertrude 1966 Motion Picture Empire Connecticut Archon Books p 228 Movie Ad Men in Association The Fourth Estate August 5 1916 Retrieved August 10 2012 My life by Clara Bow Told to and edited by Adela Rogers St Johns Published by Photoplay Magazine in February March and April 1928 Morning Avalanche August 5 1923 New York Times October 22 1925 Associated Press news wire October 24 1925 a b c B P Schulberg Dies in His Sleep at 65 Headed Par Prod Variety February 27 1957 p 7 Retrieved June 8 2019 via Archive org Beck Nicholas 2001 Budd Schulberg A Bio Bibliography Maryland The Scarecrow Press p 2 ISBN 0810840359 a b The Post October 2 1981 Indiana Evening Gazette p6 January 21 1950 a b Jewish Women s Archive Adeline Schulberg 1895 1977 by Mik Moore retrieved August 30 2015 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to B P Schulberg External links editB P Schulberg at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title B P Schulberg amp oldid 1168543706, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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