A Van Beuren Production

<p> Prolific American film producer Amedee J. Van Beuren (1879-1938) did not start out in the film industry. After a decade spent in business and advertising Van Beuren turned his intellect and creativity towards acquiring a foothold in film and began building his empire. He is best known to animation fans for his bizarre cartoons of the 1920s and 1930s featuring such zanies as <I>Molly Moo Cow Cubby Bear</I> and <I>Tom and Jerry</I> (not the cat-and-mouse duo). But the majority of the 1499 films produced by Van Beuren between 1918 and 1937 were live-action short subjects--travelogues comedies musicals sports reels and more. His roster of star performers included Bert Lahr Shemp Howard Ethel Waters and (indirectly) Charlie Chaplin. Van Beuren also made several feature films starring legendary big-game hunter Frank Buck and a 12-episode serial headlining horror icon Lon Chaney Jr. </p><p> Capped by a complete list of his films this engrossing chronicle of Amedee Van Beuren's vast output is the first all-inclusive history of one of moviedom's most successful and least-known filmmakers.</p>