William Sistrom
Encyclopedia
William "Billy" Sistrom was an English
film producer. He was born in Lincolnshire
, England
. He began work with Universal Pictures
. Later he joined RKO in 1935, where he worked on the film adaptation of Leslie Charteris
' The Saint in New York
. He produced 30 UK and US films between 1930 and 1949.
As well as a producer, William also worked as a studio manager. Actor Lon Chaney, Sr.
tells of confronting Universal studio manager William Sistrom in 1918 demanding a payrise and contract. According to Chaney, Sistrom told him that he knew a good actor when he saw one but that looking directly at Chaney he saw only a wash-out.http://eric.b.olsen.tripod.com/chaney.html According to their website William managed Hollywood Center Studios for a time from the 1925.http://www.hollywoodcenter.com/history/story_111.php
Wiliam's first wife Louise Rowan had two American-born sons and three daughters microbiologist
William, Hollywood producer Joseph, Suzanne, Rosemary, and Mary Louise.
During World War II the Sistroms opened their Hollywood home to many American servicemen. One notable Army Air Corps pilot, and wannabe actor was Dan David. Dan assumed Mrs. Sistrom's maiden name as a stage name and was known as Dan Rowan. He was member of the comedy team of the 1970's TV show Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In.
After Louise's death he married actress Rosalyn Boulter
when he was 68 and she was 36. Boulter's daughter Carol Haynes Johnson, who was 8 when they married, described William as "gentle, loving, giving. I always called him 'Daddy.' Daddy came into our lives when I was about 4."http://www.georgeformby.co.uk/ladies/boulter/biog.htm After the wedding, William retired, and the family moved to Phoenix, Arizona
where he managed a turkey ranch in Buckeye
, about 40 miles outside the city.
He died in March 1972 in Los Angeles, California
, United States
.
unless otherwise specified)
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
film producer. He was born in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He began work with 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...
. Later he joined RKO in 1935, where he worked on the film adaptation of Leslie Charteris
Leslie Charteris
Leslie Charteris , born Leslie Charles Bowyer-Yin, was a half-Chinese, half English author of primarily mystery fiction, as well as a screenwriter. He was best known for his many books chronicling the adventures of Simon Templar, alias "The Saint."-Early life:Charteris was born to a Chinese father...
' The Saint in New York
The Saint in New York
The Saint in New York is a mystery novel by Leslie Charteris, first published in the United Kingdom by Hodder and Stoughton in 1935. It was published later that year in the United States by Doubleday...
. He produced 30 UK and US films between 1930 and 1949.
As well as a producer, William also worked as a studio manager. Actor Lon Chaney, Sr.
Lon Chaney, Sr.
Lon Chaney , nicknamed "The Man of a Thousand Faces," was an American actor during the age of silent films. He was one of the most versatile and powerful actors of early cinema...
tells of confronting Universal studio manager William Sistrom in 1918 demanding a payrise and contract. According to Chaney, Sistrom told him that he knew a good actor when he saw one but that looking directly at Chaney he saw only a wash-out.http://eric.b.olsen.tripod.com/chaney.html According to their website William managed Hollywood Center Studios for a time from the 1925.http://www.hollywoodcenter.com/history/story_111.php
Wiliam's first wife Louise Rowan had two American-born sons and three daughters microbiologist
Microbiologist
A microbiologist is a scientist who works in the field of microbiology. Microbiologists study organisms called microbes. Microbes can take the form of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protists...
William, Hollywood producer Joseph, Suzanne, Rosemary, and Mary Louise.
During World War II the Sistroms opened their Hollywood home to many American servicemen. One notable Army Air Corps pilot, and wannabe actor was Dan David. Dan assumed Mrs. Sistrom's maiden name as a stage name and was known as Dan Rowan. He was member of the comedy team of the 1970's TV show Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In.
After Louise's death he married actress Rosalyn Boulter
Rosalyn Boulter
-Selected filmography:* Return of a Stranger * Holiday's End * A Royal Divorce * The First of the Few * The Gentle Sex * George in Civvy Street * This Man Is Mine...
when he was 68 and she was 36. Boulter's daughter Carol Haynes Johnson, who was 8 when they married, described William as "gentle, loving, giving. I always called him 'Daddy.' Daddy came into our lives when I was about 4."http://www.georgeformby.co.uk/ladies/boulter/biog.htm After the wedding, William retired, and the family moved to Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
where he managed a turkey ranch in Buckeye
Buckeye, Arizona
Buckeye is a town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States and is the westernmost suburb in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The population of the town as of Census 2010 was 50,876, a 678% increase from the 2000 population of 6,537.-Geography:...
, about 40 miles outside the city.
He died in March 1972 in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Partial filmography
(ProducerFilm 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...
unless otherwise specified)
- 1926 - Young AprilYoung AprilYoung April is a 1926 silent film romantic comedy starring Bessie Love. It was financed by Cecil B. DeMille and directed by Donald Crisp. Young April is an extant film and has been on home video and/or DVD.-Cast:*Joseph Schildkraut - Prince Caryl...
- 1927 - The Angel of Broadway
- 1930 - The Fall GuyThe Fall Guy (film)The Fall Guy is a 1921 silent comedy film featuring Oliver Hardy.-Cast:* Larry Semon - Larry, the Fall Guy* Norma Nichols - Prima Donna* Oliver Hardy - Gentleman Joe, alias Black Bart * Frank Alexander - Sheriff* William Hauber...
- 1930 - Runaway BrideThe Runaway Bride (film)The Runaway Bride is a 1930 comedy film starring Mary Astor and Lloyd Hughes. It was directed by Donald Crisp .-Cast:*Mary Astor as Mary Gray / Sally Fairchild*Lloyd Hughes as George Edward Blaine*Paul Hurst as Sergeant Daly...
- 1931 - The Black CamelThe Black CamelThe Black Camel is the fourth of the Charlie Chan novels by Earl Derr Biggers.-Plot summary:It tells the story of a Hollywood star , who is stopping in Hawaii after she finished shooting a film on location in Tahiti. She is murdered in the pavilion of her renter house in Waikiki during her stay...
(Associate Producer) - 1931 - The Spider
- 1932 - The Crocked Circle
- 1935 - A Dog of Flanders
- 1936 - Bunker BeanBunker BeanBunker Bean is a 1936 American black-and-white comedy film adapted from a novel by Harry Leon Wilson. It was directed by William Hamilton and Edward Kelly, produced by William Sistrom starring Owen Davis Jr as the title character. The cast included Lucille Ball as Mrs Kelly.-External links:*...
- 1938 - The Saint in New YorkThe Saint in New York (film)The Saint in New York is a 1938 crime film, based on Leslie Charteris's novel of the same name. Released by RKO Pictures, The Saint in New York marks the first screen appearance of Simon Templar - "the Saint"...
- 1938 - I'm From the City
- 1943 - Escape to DangerEscape to DangerEscape to Danger is a 1943 British thriller film directed by Lance Comfort and Victor Hanbury and starring Eric Portman, Ann Dvorak and Karel Stepanek. During the Second World War a British schoolteacher working in Denmark is caught up when the Germans invade.-Cast:* Eric Portman ... Arthur...
- 1943 - The Saint Meets the TigerThe Saint Meets the TigerThe Saint Meets the Tiger is the title of a crime thriller motion picture produced by the British unit of RKO Pictures and released in 1943 by Republic Pictures that RKO sold the film to after a dispute with Leslie Charteris...
- 1941 - Dangerous MoonlightDangerous MoonlightDangerous Moonlight is a 1941 British film, starring Anton Walbrook, best known for its score written by Richard Addinsell with orchestrations by Roy Douglas, which includes the Warsaw Concerto...
- 1947 - Hungry HillHungry Hill (film)Hungry Hill is a 1947 British film directed by Brian Desmond Hurst and starring Margaret Lockwood, Dennis Price and Cecil Parker with a screenplay by Terence Young and Daphne du Maurier, from the novel by Daphne du Maurier....
- 1949 - Woman HaterWoman HaterWoman Hater is a 1948 British romantic comedy film directed by Terence Young and starring Stewart Granger, Edwige Feuillère and Ronald Squire. Lord Datchett invites a French film star to stay as his house but pretends to be one of his employees while he tries to romance her with the help of his...