E. W. Hammons
Earle W. Hammons, known professionally as E. W. Hammons (December 2, 1882 – July 31, 1962), was an American film producer, . He produced more than 220 films between 1921 and 1938.
E. W. Hammons | |
|---|---|
 Hammons in 1920 | |
| Born | December 2, 1882 Winona, Mississippi, USA |
| Died | July 31, 1962 |
| Other names | Earle W. Hammons |
| Years active | 1921–1938 |
Biography
Born in Winona, Mississippi, in 1882, Hammons founded Educational Pictures in 1915 with the intention of making educational films for schools. Hammons found that there was a larger market for short comedies in movie theaters, and shifted the firm's focus. Although Educational Pictures would continue to release occasional documentary shorts, its primary output was comedy.
Hammons became a highly respected film executive, and in 1938 he attempted to branch out into the lucrative feature-film market by joining forces with Grand National Pictures. The merger failed, owing to insufficient capital to operate both companies, and Hammons declared bankruptcy in 1940.
He remained a consultant to the industry, associated with documentary shorts for Paramount Pictures during World War II and with ABC-TV in the 1950s.[1] In 1962 he died of a heart ailment, in New Rochelle, New York.
For further discussion of Hammons and his studio, see Educational Pictures and Buster Keaton.
Selected filmography
- Air Pockets (1924, with Lige Conley)
- The Iron Mule (1925, with Al St. John, directed by Roscoe Arbuckle)
- The Movies (1925, with Lloyd Hamilton, directed by Roscoe Arbuckle)
- Drama Deluxe (1927, with Lupino Lane, directed by Roscoe Arbuckle)
- Honeymooniacs (1929, with Monty Collins, directed by Jules White)
- The Right Bed (1929, with Edward Everett Horton)
- Honeymoon Trio (1931, with Al St. John, Walter Catlett, and Dorothy Granger, directed by Roscoe Arbuckle)
- Windy Riley Goes Hollywood (1931, with Jack Shutta and Louise Brooks, directed by Roscoe Arbuckle)
- Keep Laughing (1932)
- I Surrender Dear (1932, with Bing Crosby)
- Always Kickin' (1932, football comedy)
- The Hitch Hiker (1932, with Harry Langdon and Vernon Dent)
- Two Black Crows in Africa (1933, with Moran and Mack)
- Million Dollar Melody (1933, with Lillian Roth)
- Krakatoa (1933, narrated by Graham McNamee, produced by Joe Rock)
- Dora's Dunkin' Doughnuts (1934, with Andy Clyde and Shirley Temple)
- Hotel Anchovy (1934, with The Ritz Brothers, directed by Al Christie)
- Going Spanish (1934, with Bob Hope)
- Three Cheers for Love (1934, with Sylvia Froos and Warren Hull)
- Grooms in Gloom (1935, with Tom Howard and George Shelton)
- Hail, Brother (1935, with Billy Gilbert and Shemp Howard)
- Dumb Luck (1935, with the Easy Aces)
- Mr. Widget (1935, with Joe Cook)
- Way Up Thar (1935, with Joan Davis, directed by Mack Sennett)
- Blue Blazes (1936, with Buster Keaton)
- Grand Slam Opera (1936, with Buster Keaton)
- Playboy Number One (1937, with Willie Howard)
- Montague the Magnificent (1937, with Bert Lahr)
- The Bashful Ballerina (1937, with Imogene Coca)
- Dates and Nuts (1937, with Herman Timberg, Jr. and Pat Rooney, Jr., and June Allyson)
- Getting an Eyeful (1938, with Danny Kaye)
- All's Fair (1938, with The Cabin Kids)
- Col. Stoopnagle's Cavalcade of Stuff #2 (1939, the final Educational comedy)
References
- Motion Picture Exhibitor, Aug, 8, 1962, p. 4.
External links
