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Larry Darmour

February 13, 2023

Lawrence J. Darmour (1895–1942) was an American film producer, operator of Larry Darmour Productions from 1927, and a significant figure in Hollywood's low-budget production community.

Larry Darmour
Born
Lawrence J. Darmour (189

January 8, 1895
Flushing, New York, United States
DiedMarch 17, 1942 (aged 47)
Los Angeles, California, United States
OccupationProducer
Years active1927-1945 (film)

Career

Darmour was born in Flushing, Queens, New York. After completing his education at Princeton University, he entered the motion picture industry as a film inspector for the Gaumont company. Within the year he was a newsreel cameraman, offering his footage to both the Gaumont and the Mutual weekly newsreels. He enlisted in the U. S. Army during World War I and served in the Signal Corps as a cameraman. He had the distinction of being the first American soldier on the battlefield at Chateau-Thierry; he had been taking a stroll along the front the night before the Allied forces were scheduled to attack. He awoke to find himself in the middle of a barrage, the only soldier on the field.[1]

After the war he resumed his work in newsreels.[2] He joined Lewis J. Selznick's company as editor of its newsreel, and was promoted to vice president of Selznick's distributing arm.

In 1925 Darmour organized Standard Cinema Corporation, best known today for releasing short comedies produced by Joe Rock and starring Stan Laurel. The following year, Darmour opened his own studio at 5823 Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles.

In September 1927 he produced the first of the Mickey McGuire series of short subjects, based on the Fontaine Fox comic strip and starring a young Mickey Rooney. The series ran for seven years, encompassing some 60 two-reel comedies between 1927 and 1934. They were released through Joseph P. Kennedy's FBO, then FBO's successor RKO Radio Pictures. Rooney's popularity prompted Darmour to expand his line of comedy shorts, including the Toots and Casper series with Thelma Hill and Bud Duncan, and star vehicles for Karl Dane & George K. Arthur, Alberta Vaughn, Louise Fazenda, and others.

Majestic Pictures

Entering the feature-film market in 1931, Larry Darmour founded Majestic Pictures, with himself as company president.[3] The company's first feature was Sea Devils (1931), starring Molly O'Day. Majestic began producing a stream of dramas and thrillers for small neighborhood theaters. Darmour gave these films higher production values than the usual independent features, with expensive-looking sets and big-name casts familiar from major motion pictures. Majestic's most famous feature is probably The Vampire Bat (1933), a horror thriller starring Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, Melvyn Douglas, Dwight Frye, and George E. Stone. Majestic ceased operations in 1935 when Larry Darmour arranged to release his films through Columbia Pictures.

Columbia Pictures

Darmour produced dozens of action and western features for Columbia. In 1937 he took over Columbia's popular Jack Holt series, and signed Ken Maynard for a series of westerns. He also produced Columbia's "Ranger" westerns with Bob Allen and a companion series of westerns with Bill Elliott. Curiously, Larry Darmour never took screen credit for his own productions -- much as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer executive Irving Thalberg disdained putting his name on his pictures.

In 1940 Darmour was entrusted with production of Columbia's serials. Darmour, already very busy with feature films, placed serial veteran and comedy director James W. Horne in complete charge of the serial unit. Horne freely indulged his sense of humor in such serials as The Green Archer, Terry and the Pirates, and Holt of the Secret Service (Holt's last film for Darmour, and only serial). Horne's serials combine action and adventure with tongue-in-cheek comedy.

Illness and death

Darmour underwent an abdominal operation in late 1941 and never recovered; he died three months later.[4] His production units became the responsibility of Columbia staff producer Rudolph C. Flothow. The Majestic physical plant, known informally as "the Darmour studio," continued to operate as the Larry Darmour Studio after his death, and closed its doors in 1949. Darmour is buried alongside his wife, the former Alice Whitaker, at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City.[5]

Filmography

In addition to numerous shorts and serials, Darmour produced the following feature films:

References

  1. ^ Motion Picture Herald, "Larry Darmour, Producer, Dies," Mar. 21, 1942, p. 34.
  2. ^ Film Daily Product Guide (1937 edition), p. 209.
  3. ^ Film Daily Year Book of Motion Pictures (1935 edition), p. 567.
  4. ^ Motion Picture Herald, "Larry Darmour, Producer, Dies," Mar. 21, 1942, p. 34.
  5. ^ "Lawrence J. "Larry" Darmour (1895-1942) - Find A Grave Memorial".

February 13, 2023
larry, darmour, lawrence, darmour, 1895, 1942, american, film, producer, operator, productions, from, 1927, significant, figure, hollywood, budget, production, community, bornlawrence, darmour, 189january, 1895flushing, york, united, statesdiedmarch, 1942, age. Lawrence J Darmour 1895 1942 was an American film producer operator of Larry Darmour Productions from 1927 and a significant figure in Hollywood s low budget production community Larry DarmourBornLawrence J Darmour 189January 8 1895Flushing New York United StatesDiedMarch 17 1942 aged 47 Los Angeles California United StatesOccupationProducerYears active1927 1945 film Contents 1 Career 2 Majestic Pictures 3 Columbia Pictures 4 Illness and death 5 Filmography 6 ReferencesCareer EditDarmour was born in Flushing Queens New York After completing his education at Princeton University he entered the motion picture industry as a film inspector for the Gaumont company Within the year he was a newsreel cameraman offering his footage to both the Gaumont and the Mutual weekly newsreels He enlisted in the U S Army during World War I and served in the Signal Corps as a cameraman He had the distinction of being the first American soldier on the battlefield at Chateau Thierry he had been taking a stroll along the front the night before the Allied forces were scheduled to attack He awoke to find himself in the middle of a barrage the only soldier on the field 1 After the war he resumed his work in newsreels 2 He joined Lewis J Selznick s company as editor of its newsreel and was promoted to vice president of Selznick s distributing arm In 1925 Darmour organized Standard Cinema Corporation best known today for releasing short comedies produced by Joe Rock and starring Stan Laurel The following year Darmour opened his own studio at 5823 Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles In September 1927 he produced the first of the Mickey McGuire series of short subjects based on the Fontaine Fox comic strip and starring a young Mickey Rooney The series ran for seven years encompassing some 60 two reel comedies between 1927 and 1934 They were released through Joseph P Kennedy s FBO then FBO s successor RKO Radio Pictures Rooney s popularity prompted Darmour to expand his line of comedy shorts including the Toots and Casper series with Thelma Hill and Bud Duncan and star vehicles for Karl Dane amp George K Arthur Alberta Vaughn Louise Fazenda and others Majestic Pictures EditEntering the feature film market in 1931 Larry Darmour founded Majestic Pictures with himself as company president 3 The company s first feature was Sea Devils 1931 starring Molly O Day Majestic began producing a stream of dramas and thrillers for small neighborhood theaters Darmour gave these films higher production values than the usual independent features with expensive looking sets and big name casts familiar from major motion pictures Majestic s most famous feature is probably The Vampire Bat 1933 a horror thriller starring Lionel Atwill Fay Wray Melvyn Douglas Dwight Frye and George E Stone Majestic ceased operations in 1935 when Larry Darmour arranged to release his films through Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures EditDarmour produced dozens of action and western features for Columbia In 1937 he took over Columbia s popular Jack Holt series and signed Ken Maynard for a series of westerns He also produced Columbia s Ranger westerns with Bob Allen and a companion series of westerns with Bill Elliott Curiously Larry Darmour never took screen credit for his own productions much as Metro Goldwyn Mayer executive Irving Thalberg disdained putting his name on his pictures In 1940 Darmour was entrusted with production of Columbia s serials Darmour already very busy with feature films placed serial veteran and comedy director James W Horne in complete charge of the serial unit Horne freely indulged his sense of humor in such serials as The Green Archer Terry and the Pirates and Holt of the Secret Service Holt s last film for Darmour and only serial Horne s serials combine action and adventure with tongue in cheek comedy Illness and death EditDarmour underwent an abdominal operation in late 1941 and never recovered he died three months later 4 His production units became the responsibility of Columbia staff producer Rudolph C Flothow The Majestic physical plant known informally as the Darmour studio continued to operate as the Larry Darmour Studio after his death and closed its doors in 1949 Darmour is buried alongside his wife the former Alice Whitaker at Holy Cross Cemetery Culver City 5 Filmography EditIn addition to numerous shorts and serials Darmour produced the following feature films Sea Devils 1931 Defenders of the Law 1931 Air Eagles 1931 The Vanishing Frontier 1932 The Crusader 1932 The Unwritten Law 1932 Manhattan Tower 1932 Law and Lawless 1932 Outlaw Justice 1932 Via Pony Express 1933 Gun Law 1933 The Vampire Bat 1933 Trouble Busters 1933 What Price Decency 1933 The World Gone Mad 1933 Cheating Blondes 1933 Sing Sinner Sing 1933 Curtain at Eight 1933 Gigolettes of Paris 1933 The Sin of Nora Moran 1933 Unknown Blonde 1934 The Scarlet Letter 1934 She Had to Choose 1934 Night Alarm 1934 The Fire Trap 1935 The Awakening of Jim Burke 1935 The Perfect Clue 1935 Shadows of the Orient 1935 Reckless Roads 1935 Western Frontier 1935 Heir to Trouble 1935 Motive for Revenge 1935 Western Courage 1935 Lawless Riders 1935 Mutiny Ahead 1935 Heroes of the Range 1936 Avenging Waters 1936 Ranger Courage 1936 The Cattle Thief 1936 North of Nome 1936 The Fugitive Sheriff 1936 Rio Grande Ranger 1936 The Unknown Ranger 1936 Trouble in Morocco 1937 Law of the Ranger 1937 Reckless Ranger 1937 Roaring Timber 1937 The Rangers Step In 1937 Outlaws of the Orient 1937 Under Suspicion 1937 Trapped by G Men 1937 Rolling Caravans 1938 Making the Headlines 1938 Phantom Gold 1938 Crime Takes a Holiday 1938 The Strange Case of Dr Meade 1938 Pioneer Trail 1938 Flight into Nowhere 1938 Stagecoach Days 1938 Reformatory 1938 In Early Arizona 1938 Frontiers of 49 1939 Whispering Enemies 1939 The Law Comes to Texas 1939 Hidden Power 1939 Lone Star Pioneers 1939 Fugitive at Large 1939 Trapped in the Sky 1939 Passport to Alcatraz 1940 The Great Plane Robbery 1940 Outside the Three Mile Limit 1940 Ellery Queen Master Detective 1940 Fugitive from a Prison Camp 1940 The Great Swindle 1941 Ellery Queen s Penthouse Mystery 1941 Ellery Queen and the Perfect Crime 1941 Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring 1941 A Close Call for Ellery Queen 1942 A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen 1942 References Edit Motion Picture Herald Larry Darmour Producer Dies Mar 21 1942 p 34 Film Daily Product Guide 1937 edition p 209 Film Daily Year Book of Motion Pictures 1935 edition p 567 Motion Picture Herald Larry Darmour Producer Dies Mar 21 1942 p 34 Lawrence J Larry Darmour 1895 1942 Find A Grave Memorial Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Larry Darmour amp oldid 1137265953, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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