Photograph of Lewis J. Selznick.
Lewis J. Selznick

Overview

Lewis J. Selznick (May 2, 1870 - January 25, 1933) was a US film producer.

Born Lewis Zeleznik to an impoverished Jewish family in Kiev in what is now the Ukraine, as a young boy he emigrated to London, UK. He eventually moved to the United States, settling in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he worked as a jeweler.

Fascinated with the fledgling motion picture business, and recognizing a business opportunity with great potential, he made his way to New York City, where he joined a film production company. In 1914 he founded World Pictures Corporation, a film distribution company in Fort Lee, New Jersey. He soon merged with the Peerless Pictures Studios and the Shubert Brothers, Shubert Pictures Co. Selznick's company became very successful, in 1915 hiring Sidney Olcott away from Kalem Studios plus the French director Maurice Tourneur away from the American arm of the giant, Pathé. By 1916, personality conflicts with his partners saw him ousted from the firm by the Board of Directors.

Lewis Selznick continued in film on the East Coast until 1920 when he moved to Hollywood, California where he teamed up with Adolph Zukor and Jesse L. Lasky. However, within a few years his company, Lewis J. Selznick Production, Inc., experienced severe financial difficulties and went bankrupt in 1925. He retired from the business and died in Los Angeles, California in 1933.

With his wife of thirty-seven years, Florence Sachs, Lewis J. Selznick had four children. His son Myron Selznick (1898-1944) would work as a producer and studio executive until establishing a successful talent agency. His other son, David O. Selznick (1902-1965), became one of Hollywood's greatest filmmakers.

For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Lewis J. Selznick has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6412 Hollywood Blvd.

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That biography says:

...A favorable contract was signed with the World Film Corporation, an independent production company founded by Jules Brulatour and Lewis J. Selznick. This was a sizable community of expatriate French directors in America looking to participate in the rapidly growing American film industry...

This biography says:

...Selznick's company became very successful, in 1915 hiring Sidney Olcott away from Kalem Studios plus the French director Maurice Tourneur away from the American arm of the giant, Pathé. By 1916, personality conflicts with his partners saw him ousted from the firm by the Board of Directors...

This biography says:

...His son Myron Selznick (1898-1944) would work as a producer and studio executive until establishing a successful talent agency. His other son, David O. Selznick (1902-1965), became one of Hollywood's greatest filmmakers....

That biography says:

Selznick was born to a Jewish family in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of silent movie distributor Lewis J. Selznick and Florence A. (Sachs) Selznick....

That biography says:

...In 1918, film mogul and master promoter Lewis J. Selznick signed her for Selznick Pictures Company. The following year, gossip columnists such as Louella Parsons were gushing over her, while magazines were filled with stories and photos of her soaring career, and the name "Olive Thomas" was emblazoned in electric lights on Broadway...

That biography says:

...The film, which is now lost, was an enormous success and launched Clara Kimball Young and Earle Williams into first place in the popularity polls and Young was immediately signed to a contract with legendary pioneering Hollywood mogul Lewis J. Selznick....

This biography says:

...With his wife of thirty-seven years, Florence Sachs, Lewis J. Selznick had four children. His son Myron Selznick (1898-1944) would work as a producer and studio executive until establishing a successful talent agency...

That biography says:

...Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he was the son of film executive Lewis J. Selznick and brother of renowned producer David O. Selznick. As a young man, Myron Selznick learned the film production business from his father and worked for his father's film company as a production supervisor...

This biography says:

...He soon merged with the Peerless Pictures Studios and the Shubert Brothers, Shubert Pictures Co. Selznick's company became very successful, in 1915 hiring Sidney Olcott away from Kalem Studios plus the French director Maurice Tourneur away from the American arm of the giant, Pathé...