Maurice S. Campbell (October 7, 1869 or 1870 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – October 16, 1942) was an American journalist, Broadway producer, Army officer, silent film director, and enforcer of Prohibition in a long and varied career.
Campbell was born the fifth child of Samuel Campbell (1829–1920), a candymaker, and his wife Mary. Shortly after his birth the family moved to Leadville, Colorado where Samuel made money in the mining boom there. After the death of Campbell's mother, his father remarried, to Caroline Brooke (1840–1905) of Lower Pottsgrove Township, Pennsylvania, and the family lived, first in Philadelphia and by 1883 on the Brooke farm. His father eventually had a 30-room mansion built on the property.[1]
Campbell graduated from New York University in 1889 with a degree in veterinary medicine. Instead of establishing a practice, Campbell went into journalism, working for the New York Herald, covering the Spanish–American War, and later becoming the assistant city desk editor.
Show businessEdit
In 1896 Campbell married actress Henrietta Crosman and moved into the world of show business. He became a press agent and then a writer, producer, and director. Between 1902 and 1913 he produced many Broadway plays, most of them featuring his wife, including the only Broadway production of Henrik Ibsen's When We Dead Awaken in 1905[2] and Where There's a Will (1910), which Campbell himself adopted from a French comedy by Paul Gavault and Robert Charvay; it ran 64 performances and was briefly revived in 1939.[3]
Campbell served in the US Army 4th Division during World War I, reaching the rank of major; he probably served as a veterinarian.
In 1926 Campbell, who was an active supporter of Prohibition, became Supervisor of the Great Lakes and North Atlantic Zones for the Bureau of Prohibition, the federal agency charged with enforcing that law. In June 1927 he was appointed the administrator for Prohibition District 2 of the state of New York, a district which included New York City – a center of opposition to Prohibition.
Campbell's enthusiastic enforcement efforts, including a massive series of nightclub raids in New York City while New York state's "wet" governor, Al Smith, was being nominated at the Democratic national convention,[5] were politically embarrassing to Republican party leaders. In July 1930 he was reassigned to upstate New York and resigned in protest.[6] By then Campbell had concluded that enforcement was impossible and a cause of corruption and crime.
Campbell accused Assistant Treasury Secretary Seymour Lowman and others of asking him to reduce Prohibition enforcement in New York City for political reasons, publishing a series of articles in the New York World about the matter and later complaining directly to President Hoover about Lowman's conduct.[7][8] In 1931 Campbell became the editor of a new anti-Prohibition publication, "Repeal".
Personal lifeEdit
Campbell and Crosman had a son, Maurice Jr., in 1897. They moved to Pelham Manor, New York in 1913 and lived there the rest of their lives, except for Campbell's war service and his time in Hollywood in the early 1920s.
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For the Canadian curler see Maurice Campbell Maurice S Campbell October 7 1869 or 1870 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania October 16 1942 was an American journalist Broadway producer Army officer silent film director and enforcer of Prohibition in a long and varied career From a 1921 magazine Contents 1 Early life 2 Show business 3 Prohibition 4 Personal life 5 References 6 External linksEarly life EditCampbell was born the fifth child of Samuel Campbell 1829 1920 a candymaker and his wife Mary Shortly after his birth the family moved to Leadville Colorado where Samuel made money in the mining boom there After the death of Campbell s mother his father remarried to Caroline Brooke 1840 1905 of Lower Pottsgrove Township Pennsylvania and the family lived first in Philadelphia and by 1883 on the Brooke farm His father eventually had a 30 room mansion built on the property 1 Campbell graduated from New York University in 1889 with a degree in veterinary medicine Instead of establishing a practice Campbell went into journalism working for the New York Herald covering the Spanish American War and later becoming the assistant city desk editor Show business EditIn 1896 Campbell married actress Henrietta Crosman and moved into the world of show business He became a press agent and then a writer producer and director Between 1902 and 1913 he produced many Broadway plays most of them featuring his wife including the only Broadway production of Henrik Ibsen s When We Dead Awaken in 1905 2 and Where There s a Will 1910 which Campbell himself adopted from a French comedy by Paul Gavault and Robert Charvay it ran 64 performances and was briefly revived in 1939 3 Campbell served in the US Army 4th Division during World War I reaching the rank of major he probably served as a veterinarian After the war Campbell became a director in the new silent film industry Most of his work was done for Realart Pictures a production unit associated with Adolph Zukor s Famous Players Lasky studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures His output included at least 14 films between 1920 and 1925 including Oh Lady Lady 1920 starring Bebe Daniels in a version of a popular play by P G Wodehouse An Amateur Devil 1920 Burglar Proof 1920 She Couldn t Help It 1920 First Love 1921 The Speed Girl 1921 Two Weeks with Pay 1921 The March Hare 1921 Ducks and Drakes 1921 One Wild Week 1921 Through a Glass Window 1922 Midnight 1922 The Exciters 1923 and Wandering Fires 1925 Most of his films have been lost While in Hollywood Campbell on behalf of the Motion Picture Directors Association managed an elaborate gala production of Shakespeare s A Midsummer Night s Dream in the Hollywood Bowl on October 7 1922 as a benefit for the Actors Fund of America The production included the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra under director Frederic Richard Sullivan 4 Prohibition EditIn 1926 Campbell who was an active supporter of Prohibition became Supervisor of the Great Lakes and North Atlantic Zones for the Bureau of Prohibition the federal agency charged with enforcing that law In June 1927 he was appointed the administrator for Prohibition District 2 of the state of New York a district which included New York City a center of opposition to Prohibition Campbell s enthusiastic enforcement efforts including a massive series of nightclub raids in New York City while New York state s wet governor Al Smith was being nominated at the Democratic national convention 5 were politically embarrassing to Republican party leaders In July 1930 he was reassigned to upstate New York and resigned in protest 6 By then Campbell had concluded that enforcement was impossible and a cause of corruption and crime Campbell accused Assistant Treasury Secretary Seymour Lowman and others of asking him to reduce Prohibition enforcement in New York City for political reasons publishing a series of articles in the New York World about the matter and later complaining directly to President Hoover about Lowman s conduct 7 8 In 1931 Campbell became the editor of a new anti Prohibition publication Repeal Personal life EditCampbell and Crosman had a son Maurice Jr in 1897 They moved to Pelham Manor New York in 1913 and lived there the rest of their lives except for Campbell s war service and his time in Hollywood in the early 1920s References Edit http www pottsmerc com article MP 20130106 LIFE01 130109703 How the Campbell Family Came to the Pottstown Area Michael T Snyder The Mercury Pottstown Pennsylvania January 6 2013 https www ibdb com broadway production when we dead awake 6072 Broadway League entry for When We Dead Awake https www ibdb com broadway production where theres a will 7117 Broadway League entry for Where There s a Will Los Angeles Music Notes Carrie Woods Bush The Musical Observer Vol 21 no 12 p 63 Nightclub City Politics and Amusement in Manhattan Burton W Peretti University of Pennsylvania Press 2013 p 84 http www pottsmerc com article MP 20130106 LIFE01 130109793 Pottstown s Maurice Campbell was a man of many talents Michael T Snyder The Mercury Pottstown Pennsylvania January 6 2013 PROHIBITION Campbell s Inferno Time Sept 22 1930 PROHIBITION SCANDAL IS THREATENED Ex Administrator in Charges Against Treasury Man Healdsburg Tribune Number 183 9 June 1931External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Maurice Campbell film director Maurice S Campbell at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maurice S Campbell amp oldid 1161145124, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
