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Louis Weiss (producer)
Encyclopedia
Louis Weiss was a low budget independent producer of the Frank Buck
serial Jungle Menace
(1937).
producers averaged a six-reel length, or about sixty minutes, Weiss continually tried to pare that down to five reels, lasting just over fifty minutes.
The first Weiss film was The Revenge of Tarzan
(1920). By the time Louis Weiss came to produce Jungle Menace
for Columbia Pictures
, he had had considerable experience making silent jungle films, as well as westerns with plenty of action.
Unlike Universal Studios
, in the early 1930s Columbia could not offer exhibitors a complete package including serials and newsreels. However, with the disappearance of such independent serial producers as Mascot Pictures Corporation
and smaller companies, Columbia decided in 1937 to enter the serial field with Jungle Menace
, competing primarily with Universal and Republic Pictures
. Columbia was already a mainstay of the Saturday afternoon audience through its Westerns, and the steady profitability of these films may have convinced studio boss Harry Cohn
to expand his participation in this market to include serials. To produce Jungle Menace
, Columbia contracted with Louis Weiss and hired Frank Buck
for his first dramatic starring role. Jungle Menace was very successful, attracting more than the typical number of juvenile audiences for its fifteen weekly chapters. Exhibitors were immediately convinced that Columbia was a viable entry into the serial field, where it would remain active through the mid-1950s and the death of the form.
Louis Weiss went on to produce more successful serials, both for theaters and television. He was the father of producer Adrian Weiss, who worked with him on Jungle Menace
.
Frank Buck (animal collector)
Frank Howard Buck was a hunter and "collector of wild animals," as well as a movie actor, director, writer and producer...
serial Jungle Menace
Jungle Menace
-External links:* * * **...
(1937).
Early Films
The brothers Max, Louis, and Adolph Weiss entered film production in the early 1920s with money earned from a New York lamp-and-fixture store, phonograph sales, and ownership of a theater that developed into a small chain. Operating under such monikers as Superior Talking Films, Stage and Screen Productions, Artcraft Productions, Exploitation Pictures, Consolidated Pictures, and International Pictures Corporation, the brothers produced a variety of low budget films. Most were never reviewed or copyrighted, apparently deliberately avoiding press attention. The only record of their existence is found in an occasional release chart, a few advertisements, and surviving prints. Though most Poverty RowPoverty Row
Poverty Row is a slang term used in Hollywood from the late silent period through the mid-fifties to refer to a variety of small and mostly short-lived B movie studios...
producers averaged a six-reel length, or about sixty minutes, Weiss continually tried to pare that down to five reels, lasting just over fifty minutes.
The first Weiss film was The Revenge of Tarzan
The Revenge of Tarzan
The Revenge of Tarzan is a silent adventure film, and the third Tarzan film produced. The film was produced by the Great Western Film Producing Company, a subsidiary of Numa Pictures Corporation. It was sold to Goldwyn Distributing Company before release...
(1920). By the time Louis Weiss came to produce Jungle Menace
Jungle Menace
-External links:* * * **...
for Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
, he had had considerable experience making silent jungle films, as well as westerns with plenty of action.
Jungle Menace
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
, in the early 1930s Columbia could not offer exhibitors a complete package including serials and newsreels. However, with the disappearance of such independent serial producers as Mascot Pictures Corporation
Mascot Pictures Corporation
Mascot Pictures Corporation was a minor film company of the 1920s and 1930s best known for producing film serials and B-westerns. Mascot's serial The King of the Kongo was the first serial to include sound, beating Universal Studios by several months.Mascot was formed in 1927 by film producer Nat...
and smaller companies, Columbia decided in 1937 to enter the serial field with Jungle Menace
Jungle Menace
-External links:* * * **...
, competing primarily with Universal and Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures
Republic Pictures was an independent film production-distribution corporation with studio facilities, operating from 1934 through 1959, and was best known for specializing in westerns, movie serials and B films emphasizing mystery and action....
. Columbia was already a mainstay of the Saturday afternoon audience through its Westerns, and the steady profitability of these films may have convinced studio boss Harry Cohn
Harry Cohn
Harry Cohn was the American president and production director of Columbia Pictures.-Career:Cohn was born to a working-class German-Jewish family in New York City. In later years, he appears to have disparaged his heritage...
to expand his participation in this market to include serials. To produce Jungle Menace
Jungle Menace
-External links:* * * **...
, Columbia contracted with Louis Weiss and hired Frank Buck
Frank Buck (animal collector)
Frank Howard Buck was a hunter and "collector of wild animals," as well as a movie actor, director, writer and producer...
for his first dramatic starring role. Jungle Menace was very successful, attracting more than the typical number of juvenile audiences for its fifteen weekly chapters. Exhibitors were immediately convinced that Columbia was a viable entry into the serial field, where it would remain active through the mid-1950s and the death of the form.
Louis Weiss went on to produce more successful serials, both for theaters and television. He was the father of producer Adrian Weiss, who worked with him on Jungle Menace
Jungle Menace
-External links:* * * **...
.