Knowledge (XXG)

Maury M. Cohen

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159:, gave thrifty moviegoers two full-length films for the price of one. The major studios resisted this policy, not wishing to let their product be sold for less than the usual price. Smaller companies like Chesterfield and Invincible catered to the "bargain night" exhibitors with lower-priced pictures, and the majors began losing business to the minors. Only then did the major studios make budget films specifically for double-feature programs; the studios established their own "B" units, and the double feature became the standard program everywhere. 1252: 1211: 1164: 1131: 1098: 1065: 1016: 983: 950: 917: 881: 848: 815: 760: 727: 694: 661: 602: 569: 130:
Low-budget production companies had budgets of around $ 10,000, and shot pictures in a matter of days, rather than weeks. They would use rented facilities, and would incorporate stock footage and musical numbers in order to lengthen their pictures. The combined company of Chesterfield-Invincible
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Cohen announced in August 1934 that C and I would produce 18 films in the 1934-35 schedule. In early 1935 Cohen survived a health scare, when he had to undergo emergency appendectomy procedure. Rumors began circulating in May 1935 that Cohen's company, along with Batcheller's, were to merge with
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By 1933, C and I had a production and distribution deal with Universal Pictures which allowed them to use the resources of the major studio, including the studio's sets, film and recording equipment. The latter was especially important, enabling C and I to exceed the audible quality of the other
147:, whereby Allied would provide Chesterfield and Invincible with financial support allowing them to create a higher caliber of picture than then had been producing during the early 1930s. Also in 1933, Cohen was at the forefront of a movement by independent producers to change the 151:
code, in order to assure the validity of theaters being able to show a second feature on a program. Cohen and Batcheller ended their deal with Universal in 1934, and entered into an agreement with Pathe, to utilize their facilities and equipment.
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Republic Pictures. Cohen denied those rumors. In December 1936, it was reported that Cohen was seeking to sell Invincible and begin producing for one of the major studios. Less than two weeks later, Cohen had signed agreements with
227:. During World War II it was an extremely successful endeavor, particularly among military personnel, and it remained a popular dance spot through the 1940s and 1950s. Cohen would work on the production for one last film, 1977's 1370: 212:. In 1940, Cohen was part of a government anti-trust lawsuit against the major film production companies, which claimed that independent producers were systematically excluded from producing by the majors. 107:
studios, Invincible films, which specialized in making low-budget feature films. After leaving film in the early 1940s, Cohen founded and ran the historic dance club in Los Angeles, the
204:, to produce a series of films for the company. In 1939 Cohen was hired by United Artists to produce a Spanish language film, slated solely for the foreign market. The film was titled 1407: 242:
Cohen married Bonnie Jean Williams in 1950. The couple had two children, Jonathan and Richard. The couple remained married until Cohen's death on March 15, 1979.
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to leave Invincible and had signed on with RKO to produce, which led to Invincible being disbanded. The remnants of Invincible were one of a number of
773: 1402: 127:, and they were often referred to as "C and I" or "Chesterfield and Invincible". The two companies shared the same personnel and equipment. 1412: 1078: 996: 861: 148: 1191: 897: 828: 795: 740: 707: 674: 641: 582: 1111: 285: 549: 1144: 1045: 329: 963: 930: 527: 429: 119:
In the early 1930s, Cohen founded Invincible Pictures, which specialized in low-budget films. His company teamed with
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In 1941, Cohen opened a dance venue in Hollywood, the Palladium, located on the site of the original
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in an attempt to create a dominant low-budget producer with enough power to take on the
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independent studios. In 1936, Cohen led a contingent which negotiated a deal with
103:, was an American film producer most active during the 1930s. He owned one of the 453: 194: 168: 104: 58: 62: 219:. The Palladium opened on October 29, 1940, with an opening act headlined by 43: 131:
produced more than 100 features, and launched the careers of directors
39: 1145:"Lesser to Concentrate on UA Deal, Breen to RKO; Wagner After Ford" 1031:
Grand Design: Hollywood as a Modern Business Entertprise 1930-1939
231:, on which he was the associate producer. The film stars 528:"Forgotten (Chesterfield/Invincible/Universal, 1933)" 155:
The double feature, which came into vogue during the
200:At the end of 1938, Cohen signed an agreement with 86: 78: 70: 51: 28: 21: 1033:. University of California Press. p. 322. 892: 890: 183:. His first film at his new studio was 1937's 1229:"When Hollywood Shakes a Leg, It's Colossal!" 8: 1316:"Damnation Alley". American Film Institute. 1222: 1220: 613: 611: 99:(ca. 1913 - March 15, 1979), also known as 90:Bonnie Jean Williams (1950-1979, his death) 1192:"U.S. Bares 550 Witnesses for Trust Trial" 18: 1408:American film production company founders 257:An * denotes a featured or starring role 175:in 1936 and merged into his newly formed 898:"Report Maury Cohen Will Join Major Co" 526:Conlan, Mark Gabrish (April 16, 2012). 515: 1330: 1319: 1289: 1287: 1265:Rasmussen, Cecilia (October 7, 2007). 406:It Couldn't Have Happened – But It Did 16:American film producer (c. 1913–1979) 7: 1267:"Palladium keeps in swing of things" 521: 519: 1295:"Hollywood Palladium - 1940 - 1961" 997:"Maury Cohen Joins RKO as Producer" 620:"A Crash Course In ... Poverty Row" 1227:Thomas, Robert (August 24, 1944). 1046:"A "Little" From Hollywood "Lots"" 14: 618:Parkinson, David (May 28, 2014). 1250: 1209: 1162: 1129: 1096: 1063: 1014: 981: 948: 915: 879: 846: 813: 758: 725: 692: 659: 600: 567: 1351:. Legacy.com. February 20, 2013 1118:. December 31, 1938. p. 70 642:"Allied to Back Indie Producer" 550:"First Division to Get 12 More" 1297:. Go-Go Notes. January 1, 2009 1044:Wilk, Ralph (August 6, 1937). 1003:. December 31, 1936. p. 1 937:. December 30, 1936. p. 4 904:. December 28, 1936. p. 1 714:. November 20, 1933. p. 8 675:"Things We Like for '36 - '37" 589:. November 18, 1933. p. 2 225:Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra 1: 1085:. December 7, 1937. p. 5 747:. August 28, 1934. p. 10 1403:Film producers from Illinois 1371:"Maury M. Cohen filmography" 970:. January 6, 1937. p. 4 802:. August 22, 1934. p. 7 556:. August 28, 1935. p. 7 1151:. March 29, 1939. p. 3 1112:"Smith With Meglin-Fanchon" 835:. March 26, 1935. p. 2 774:"The Economics of B Movies" 681:. August 5, 1936. p. 1 145:Allied Pictures Corporation 1434: 1198:. March 7, 1940. p. 7 1180:. American Film Institute. 1373:. American Film Institute 868:. May 10, 1935. p. 2 648:. May 27, 1936. p. 9 1413:Film people from Chicago 583:"Reach West Coast Today" 171:studios taken over by 1116:Motion Picture Herald 1079:"Maury Cohen to Quit" 829:"Cohen Out of Danger" 360:Death from a Distance 264:The Secrets of Wu Sin 121:Chesterfield Pictures 1196:Motion Picture Daily 1083:Motion Picture Daily 1029:Balio, Tino (1995). 1001:Motion Picture Daily 866:Motion Picture Daily 833:Motion Picture Daily 800:Motion Picture Daily 796:"Ready to Launch 18" 745:Motion Picture Daily 712:Motion Picture Daily 587:Motion Picture Daily 438:Murder at Glen Athol 387:Hitch Hike to Heaven 125:George R. Batcheller 399:The Bridge of Sighs 323:Port of Lost Dreams 286:By Appointment Only 233:Jan-Michael Vincent 189:(originally titled 109:Hollywood Palladium 964:"New York Tip-Off" 931:"New York Tip-Off" 862:"No Merger Intent" 741:"To Work at Pathe" 708:"To Work At Pathe" 462:You Can't Buy Luck 414:Brilliant Marriage 368:Symphony of Living 217:Paramount Pictures 191:Love in a Basement 1329:Missing or empty 1271:Los Angeles Times 1233:Pottstown Mercury 968:The Film Bulletin 935:The Film Bulletin 679:The Film Bulletin 646:The Film Bulletin 554:The Film Bulletin 346:Condemned to Live 308:In Love with Life 210:Fortunio Bonanova 177:Republic Pictures 165:Samuel J. 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MovieMail.com 617: 616: 609: 599: 592: 590: 581: 580: 576: 566: 559: 557: 548: 547: 543: 533: 531: 525: 524: 517: 513: 508: 502:Damnation Alley 430:Three of a Kind 316:The Ghost Walks 248: 229:Damnation Alley 193:), directed by 117: 66: 65:, United States 56: 47: 46:, United States 37: 35: 34: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1431: 1429: 1421: 1420: 1415: 1410: 1405: 1400: 1390: 1389: 1385: 1384: 1362: 1340: 1308: 1283: 1257: 1245:Newspapers.com 1216: 1183: 1169: 1136: 1103: 1070: 1050:The Film Daily 1036: 1021: 988: 955: 922: 902:The Film Daily 886: 853: 820: 787: 765: 732: 699: 666: 633: 607: 574: 541: 514: 512: 509: 507: 506: 498: 490: 482: 478:Living on Love 474: 466: 458: 450: 442: 434: 426: 418: 410: 402: 396: 390: 384: 378: 372: 364: 356: 353:Public Opinion 350: 342: 334: 326: 320: 312: 304: 298: 290: 282: 274: 268: 259: 247: 244: 237:George Peppard 208:, and starred 202:Meglin Kiddies 186:Living on Love 137:Charles Lamont 133:Richard Thorpe 116: 113: 101:Maury M. Cohen 92: 91: 88: 84: 83: 80: 76: 75: 72: 68: 67: 57: 55:March 15, 1979 53: 49: 48: 38: 32: 30: 26: 25: 22: 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1430: 1419: 1416: 1414: 1411: 1409: 1406: 1404: 1401: 1399: 1396: 1395: 1393: 1377:September 12, 1372: 1366: 1363: 1350: 1344: 1341: 1336: 1323: 1312: 1309: 1301:September 11, 1296: 1290: 1288: 1284: 1272: 1268: 1261: 1258: 1253: 1246: 1234: 1230: 1223: 1221: 1217: 1212: 1197: 1193: 1187: 1184: 1179: 1173: 1170: 1165: 1150: 1146: 1140: 1137: 1132: 1117: 1113: 1107: 1104: 1099: 1084: 1080: 1074: 1071: 1066: 1051: 1047: 1040: 1037: 1032: 1025: 1022: 1017: 1002: 998: 992: 989: 984: 969: 965: 959: 956: 951: 936: 932: 926: 923: 918: 903: 899: 893: 891: 887: 882: 867: 863: 857: 854: 849: 834: 830: 824: 821: 816: 801: 797: 791: 788: 775: 769: 766: 761: 746: 742: 736: 733: 728: 713: 709: 703: 700: 695: 680: 676: 670: 667: 662: 647: 643: 637: 634: 621: 614: 612: 608: 603: 588: 584: 578: 575: 570: 555: 551: 545: 542: 529: 522: 520: 516: 510: 504: 503: 499: 496: 495: 494:La Inmaculada 491: 488: 487: 486:Double Danger 483: 480: 479: 475: 472: 471: 467: 464: 463: 459: 456: 455: 451: 448: 447: 446:Danger Patrol 443: 440: 439: 435: 432: 431: 427: 424: 423: 419: 416: 415: 411: 408: 407: 403: 400: 397: 394: 391: 388: 385: 382: 379: 376: 375:Society Fever 373: 370: 369: 365: 362: 361: 357: 354: 351: 348: 347: 343: 340: 339: 338:Twin Husbands 335: 332: 331: 327: 324: 321: 318: 317: 313: 310: 309: 305: 302: 301:Fugitive Road 299: 296: 295: 291: 288: 287: 283: 280: 279: 275: 272: 269: 266: 265: 261: 260: 258: 255: 253: 245: 243: 240: 238: 234: 230: 226: 223:, along with 222: 221:Frank Sinatra 218: 213: 211: 207: 206:La Inmaculada 203: 198: 196: 192: 188: 187: 182: 181:major studios 178: 174: 173:Herbert Yates 170: 166: 160: 158: 153: 150: 146: 140: 138: 134: 128: 126: 122: 114: 112: 110: 106: 102: 98: 89: 85: 81: 77: 73: 69: 64: 60: 54: 50: 45: 41: 33:Maurice Cohen 31: 27: 20: 1418:1910s births 1375:. 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Movie Magg 500: 492: 484: 476: 470:The Big Shot 468: 460: 452: 444: 436: 428: 420: 412: 404: 398: 392: 386: 381:Ellis Island 380: 374: 366: 358: 352: 344: 336: 328: 322: 314: 306: 300: 292: 284: 278:In the Money 276: 270: 262: 256: 249: 241: 214: 205: 199: 190: 184: 161: 154: 141: 129: 123:, headed by 118: 100: 96: 95: 1398:1979 deaths 1235:. p. 4 454:Quick Money 246:Filmography 195:Lew Landers 169:Poverty Row 105:Poverty Row 97:Maury Cohen 59:Los Angeles 23:Maury Cohen 1392:Categories 1331:|url= 511:References 393:Easy Money 254:database) 71:Occupation 63:California 1276:August 9, 1239:August 9, 1322:cite web 271:Escapade 74:Producer 44:Illinois 1149:Variety 82:1932–77 40:Chicago 36:c. 1913 505:(1977) 497:(1939) 489:(1938) 481:(1937) 473:(1937) 465:(1937) 457:(1937) 449:(1937) 441:(1936) 433:(1936) 425:(1936) 417:(1936) 409:(1936) 401:(1936) 395:(1936) 389:(1936) 383:(1936) 377:(1935) 371:(1935) 363:(1935) 355:(1935) 349:(1935) 341:(1934) 333:(1934) 325:(1934) 319:(1934) 311:(1934) 303:(1934) 297:(1933) 289:(1933) 281:(1933) 273:(1932) 267:(1932) 115:Career 87:Spouse 422:Tango 250:(Per 1379:2015 1357:2015 1335:help 1303:2015 1278:2015 1241:2015 1204:2015 1157:2015 1124:2015 1091:2015 1058:2015 1009:2015 976:2015 943:2015 910:2015 874:2015 841:2015 808:2015 782:2015 753:2015 720:2015 687:2015 654:2015 628:2015 595:2015 562:2015 536:2015 235:and 135:and 52:Died 29:Born 252:AFI 149:NRA 1394:: 1326:: 1324:}} 1320:{{ 1286:^ 1269:. 1231:. 1219:^ 1194:. 1147:. 1114:. 1081:. 1048:. 999:. 966:. 933:. 900:. 889:^ 864:. 831:. 798:. 743:. 710:. 677:. 644:. 610:^ 585:. 552:. 518:^ 239:. 139:. 111:. 61:, 42:, 1381:. 1359:. 1337:) 1333:( 1305:. 1280:. 1247:. 1206:. 1159:. 1126:. 1093:. 1060:. 1011:. 978:. 945:. 912:. 876:. 843:. 810:. 784:. 755:. 722:. 689:. 656:. 630:. 597:. 564:. 538:.

Index

Chicago
Illinois
Los Angeles
California
Poverty Row
Hollywood Palladium
Chesterfield Pictures
George R. Batcheller
Richard Thorpe
Charles Lamont
Allied Pictures Corporation
NRA
Great Depression
Samuel J. Briskin
Poverty Row
Herbert Yates
Republic Pictures
major studios
Living on Love
Lew Landers
Meglin Kiddies
Fortunio Bonanova
Paramount Pictures
Frank Sinatra
Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra
Damnation Alley
Jan-Michael Vincent
George Peppard
AFI
The Secrets of Wu Sin

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