William L. Sherrill

William L. Sherill was a producer in the early film industry of the United States. He served as president of the Frohman Amusement Company. A 1918 issue of Theatre Magazine reported he was the single most important figure among independent producers of motion pictures.[1]

Biography

Sherrill was president of the Frohman Amusement Corporation and several of its productions were advertised as being "presented" by him. He also became president of the Producers and Exhibitors Affiliated company.[2][3][4]

Sherrill traveled to Frohman's studios in Tampa, Florida to check in on production of Birth of a Race.[5]

The New York Times reported on a dispute involving allegations Mayor Mitchell used his position to influence coverage of an automobile accident in which Sherrill was one of those involved.[6]

Poster advertisement noting "William L. Sherrill presents Miss Texas Guinan in The Boss of the Rancho"

In 1918 he presented a photoplay starring H. B. Warner in God's Man (1918 film).[7] Texas Guinan was one of the stars featured in Sherrill's Frohman productions.[8]

Sherrill was involved in film industry discussions about hiring extras directly rather than via agents.[9] He was also at meetings of the National Association of the Motion Pictures Industry seeking to have presidential candidates address censorship issues.[10] Sherrill volunteered to pay for an artificial limb for an individual at a Rotary Club meeting in Tampa.[11]

His oldest son William L. Sherrill Jr. joined the U.S. Army in 1918.[12] Film director (formerly a child actor with Frohman) Jack Sherrill and W. L. Sherrill Jr. were among those arrested in 1924 at Jr.'s Laurel Canyon home where a party with alcohol took place during the prohibition era.[13]

References
  1. "Theatre Magazine". Theatre Magazine Company (inckudes photograph of Sherrill). January 30, 1918.
  2. "Dramatic Mirror of Motion Pictures and the Stage". Dramatic Mirror Company. January 30, 1918.
  3. "New Sales Plan Wins Many Friends". Motography. XIX: 411. March 2, 1918 – via Google Books.
  4. "Sherrill Heads New Organization". Motography. XIX: 508. March 16, 1918 – via Google Books.
  5. "Motography". 30 January 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019 – via Google Books.
  6. "Mayor in Dispute Over Motor Smash". The New York Times. 1917-01-26. p. 18. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-01-30.
  7. "Frederick News Post Newspaper Archives, Jul 27, 1918, p. 6". newspaperarchive.com.
  8. Berliner, Louise (January 1993). "william+sherrill"+film&dq="william+sherrill"+film Texas Guinan, Queen of the Night Clubs. ISBN 9780292781115.
  9. Segrave, Kerry (March 23, 2009). Film Actors Organize: Union Formation Efforts in America, 1912-1937. McFarland. ISBN 9780786452859 – via Google Books.
  10. "Motography". January 30, 1916 – via Google Books.
  11. International, Rotary (May 30, 1918). "The Rotarian". Rotary International – via Google Books.
  12. "Dramatic Mirror of Motion Pictures and the Stage". Dramatic Mirror Company. January 30, 1918 – via Google Books.
  13. "Mitchell Evening Republican Newspaper Archives, Sep 4, 1924". newspaperarchive.com.
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