Fred Hibbard
Encyclopedia
Fred Hibbard was a film director
, screenwriter
and producer
of the silent era
. He directed 104 films between 1916
and 1925
. He also wrote for 61 films between 1918
and 1925.
As Freddy Fischbach, he began his screen career as a cameraman at Mack Sennett
's Keystone studio, where he worked with comedy star Roscoe Arbuckle. Sennett promoted Fischbach to director, with his surname Americanized to Fred Fishback.
Anyone with Keystone credentials was welcomed by lesser comedy studios, and Fishback secured a job directing comedy shorts for Universal Pictures
, many of them featuring former Keystone and Hal Roach
bit player Lige Conley
.
In 1921 Fishback was involved in the famous sex scandal surrounding his friend Roscoe Arbuckle. Arbuckle hosted a party in San Francisco that got out of hand, and Fishback was a member of Arbuckle's coterie. Both Arbuckle and Fishback had to change their professional names to keep working as the notoriety subsided. Performer Arbuckle became director William Goodrich, and Fishback adopted the pseudonym Fred Hibbard.
Both Arbuckle and Hibbard were hired to direct at Educational Pictures
. Hibbard, reunited with Lige Conley, helped to develop Conley into a comedy star in a lengthy series of slapstick short subjects. Hibbard also directed one of Educational's leading comedians, Lloyd Hamilton
. Hibbard died at the age of 30; his last films were released posthumously.
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
and producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
of the silent era
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
. He directed 104 films between 1916
1916 in film
The year 1916 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* October 17 - release of A Daughter of the Gods, the first US production with a million dollar budget, with the first nude scene by a major star....
and 1925
1925 in film
-Events:*November 5: The Big Parade holds its Grand Premier*December 30: premier of Ben-Hur the most expensive silent film ever made costing 4-6 million dollars -Top grossing films :...
. He also wrote for 61 films between 1918
1918 in film
The year 1918 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*Following litigation for anti-trust activities, the US Supreme Court orders the Motion Picture Patents Company to disband....
and 1925.
As Freddy Fischbach, he began his screen career as a cameraman at Mack Sennett
Mack Sennett
Mack Sennett was a Canadian-born American director and was known as the innovator of slapstick comedy in film. During his lifetime he was known at times as the "King of Comedy"...
's Keystone studio, where he worked with comedy star Roscoe Arbuckle. Sennett promoted Fischbach to director, with his surname Americanized to Fred Fishback.
Anyone with Keystone credentials was welcomed by lesser comedy studios, and Fishback secured a job directing comedy shorts for Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures
-1920:* White Youth* The Flaming Disc* Am I Dreaming?* The Dragon's Net* The Adorable Savage* Putting It Over* The Line Runners-1921:* The Fire Eater* A Battle of Wits* Dream Girl* The Millionaire...
, many of them featuring former Keystone and Hal Roach
Hal Roach
Harold Eugene "Hal" Roach, Sr. was an American film and television producer and director, and from the 1910s to the 1990s.- Early life and career :Hal Roach was born in Elmira, New York...
bit player Lige Conley
Lige Conley
Lige Conley , was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 140 films between 1915 and 1938....
.
In 1921 Fishback was involved in the famous sex scandal surrounding his friend Roscoe Arbuckle. Arbuckle hosted a party in San Francisco that got out of hand, and Fishback was a member of Arbuckle's coterie. Both Arbuckle and Fishback had to change their professional names to keep working as the notoriety subsided. Performer Arbuckle became director William Goodrich, and Fishback adopted the pseudonym Fred Hibbard.
Both Arbuckle and Hibbard were hired to direct at Educational Pictures
Educational Pictures
Educational Pictures was a film distribution company founded in 1919 by Earle Hammons . Educational primarily distributed short subjects, and today is probably best known for its series of 1930s comedies starring Buster Keaton, as well as for a series of one-reel comedies featuring Shirley...
. Hibbard, reunited with Lige Conley, helped to develop Conley into a comedy star in a lengthy series of slapstick short subjects. Hibbard also directed one of Educational's leading comedians, Lloyd Hamilton
Lloyd Hamilton
Lloyd Vernon Hamilton was a major silent film star. Hamilton is best remembered as the stocky half of silent comedy's "Ham and Bud" , and later, his own series of short comedies...
. Hibbard died at the age of 30; his last films were released posthumously.