Charles O. Baumann

Charles O. Baumann (January 20, 1874 – July 18, 1931) was an American film producer, film studio executive, and pioneer in the motion picture industry.

"Charles Baumann" redirects here. For the American football player, see Charlie Baumann.

Charles O. Baumann
Born(1874-01-20)January 20, 1874
New York City, New York
DiedJuly 18, 1931(1931-07-18) (aged 57)
New York City, U.S.
OccupationFilm studio executive, film producer
Years active1908–1920

Biography

Early life

Charles O. Baumann was born on January 20, 1874 into a Polish Jewish family in New York City.[1]

Career

He was a partner in the Crescent Film Company formed in 1908 and in the Bison Life Motion Pictures production company formed in 1909. In 1912, he was a founder and the first president of Universal Film Manufacturing Company (now Universal Studios).

One of his most-successful companies was the Keystone Film Company, the production unit headed by Mack Sennett, which produced the first films to feature Charlie Chaplin. Adam Kessel and Baumann's New York Motion Picture Company produced many films under a number of brand names, including Broncho, Domino and Kay-Bee Pictures. Other companies formed by Baumann include the 101 Bison Company and Reliance Motion Picture Corporation.

In the mid-1910s, Kessel and Baumann also branched into film distribution with their Mutual Film Corporation, which later was absorbed into Triangle Film Corporation. Baumann continued in production in the early 1920s as a partner in the Kessel-Baumann Picture Corporation production company.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

Death

He died on July 18, 1931 of influenza in New York City.

References
  1. Erens, Patricia (1988). The Jew in American Cinema. Indiana University Press. ISBN 0253204933. Retrieved December 12, 2013.
  2. Charles O. Baumann at Silent Era. Retrieved 2013-01-14.
  3. Koszarski, Richard (2004), Fort Lee: The Film Town, Rome, Italy: John Libbey Publishing, ISBN 0-86196-653-8, , p. 11, 13, 33, 34
  4. Fort Lee Film Commission (2006), Fort Lee Birthplace of the Motion Picture Industry, Arcadia Publishing, ISBN 0-7385-4501-5, , p. 17
  5. The Moving Picture World, "C.O. Baumann Talks of Plans", Sep 5, 1914, p.1349
  6. The Moving Picture World, "Mecca of the Motion Picture", July 10, 1915, p.215-218
  7. The Moving Picture World, "Motion Picture Studios in California", March 10, 1917, p.1599-1612

Further reading
  • The Moving Picture World, archived issues at Media History Digital Library at archive.org
  • Lahue, Kalton (1971); Mack Sennett's Keystone: The Man, the Myth and the Comedies; New York: Barnes & Co.; ISBN 978-0-498-07461-5 (p. 17-42, 64, 109, 155, 241, 242, 289)
  • MacGowan, Kenneth (1965); Behind The Screen: The History and Techniques of the Motion Picture; New York: Dell Publishing Co. (pg.171, 175, 208)
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