Benedict Bogeaus (May 4, 1904, in Chicago โ August 23, 1968, in Hollywood), was an independent film producer and former owner of General Service Studios.
Biography and filmography
Bogeaus' business career started when he was seventeen, working as an accountant in a junk yard. He bought into the yard, and used it to get a loan of $2,000 to build an apartment block. "Borrowing money then was as easy as buying a sandwich", he said.[1]
He became a property developer in Chicago, accumulating a fortune of $18 million, which he lost during the Great Depression. He went to Europe with what money had had left, looking for new opportunities. He produced a film in France, The Virgin Man (1932) with Fernandel and another in Germany, Daughter of the Regiment (1933) and later said both were "very bad".[1]
He settled down in Chicago again and in 1935 established the radio manufacturing company, the General Extolite Corporation. In 1939 he bought into the Zitpit Company in Belgium, but had to flee on the advent of World War II. Bogeaus moved to Hollywood in 1940 and went into partnership with Herbert Huston making a portable developing machine. The advent of World War II saw this become a huge success.[1][2]
When AT&T's Western Electric unit that manufactured sound equipment for film was forced by an antitrust action to divest itself of the General Service Studio complex, Bogeaus outbid producer Edward Small to acquire the studio.[3] He allowed the United States Government to use his complex for film work and leased it out to various independent film producers, keeping his eye on their progress. Eventually he decided to make films himself.[2] Later, in 1946, William Cagney's production company brought a substantial interest in the studios.[4]
Though these films were critically acclaimed, they didn't set the box office on fire. Realising the public's attraction to low and middle budget films with star power, Bogeaus signed George Raft on for a few films, beginning with Mr. Ace (1946), directed by Edwin Marin.[1] The movie was not a financial success.
Most of Bogeaus' films had been released through United Artists. He signed a deal with RKO for Count the Hours (1952) and Appointment in Honduras (1953).
Bogeaus' final films included two directed by Byron Haskin in Mexico: From the Earth to the Moon (1958) and Jet Over the Atlantic (1959). The latter was the first production from Inter-Continent Films and Inter-Continent Releasing, two companies formed by Bogeaus and James R. Grainger. They announced a series of films, including Jet Over the Atlantic, The Gold Bug, Shoot Out!, Early Autumn and The Glass Wall.[7] However, only Jet was made.
His last production was Most Dangerous Man Alive directed by Dwan that was filmed in 1958 in Mexico but not released until 1961. Dwan and Bogeaus cooperated in three unfilmed projects, a remake of The Bridge at San Luis Rey, Will You Marry Me, written by Dwan, and The Glass Wall.[8]
"All independent producers go broke sooner or later. It's because they try and make artistic pictures. I make good commercial ones. It pays off".[11]
Notes
^ abcdTHOMAS M. PRYOR (November 25, 1945). "RAGS TO RICHES: Or the Hectic Saga of Benedict Bogeaus, Producer and Man of Many Affairs Hooking the Big Fish Zippers to Movies". New York Times. p. 55.
^ abc"Benedict bogeaus, 64, is dead; an independent film producer". New York Times. August 25, 1968. ProQuest118446497.