Amedee J. Van Beuren

Amedee J. Van Beuren (born Amedee Vignot; July 10, 1879 – November 12, 1938) was the producer of Frank Buck's first three films, as well as many cartoons and short films.[1]

Amedee J. Van Beuren
Amedee J. Van Beuren
Born
Amedee Vignot

(1879-07-10)July 10, 1879
New York, US
DiedNovember 12, 1938(1938-11-12) (aged 59)
Carmel, New York, US
OccupationFilm producer
Known forCartoons and Frank Buck's first three films
Spouse(s)Blanche van Beuren (divorced 1925)
Ethel V. Anderson (1927-1936, divorced)

Early years

Van Beuren was born in New York, the son of Alfred Vignot, who died in 1894, and Marietta Ferguson. Subsequently, Marietta married Alfred Van Beuren on January 13, 1898, when Amadee was 9 years old, and he took on his stepfather's surname. Alfred Van Beuren was head of the Van Beuren advertising company, which became a part of the General Outdoor Advertising Company. Amedee was educated at public and private schools and a business college. He worked in the livery business, groceries, and then as a salesman.

Van Beuren Productions

One of Amedee Van Beuren's earliest and most successful projects was a series of cartoons produced by his Van Beuren Studios, Aesop's Film Fables. Later movies produced included the Frank Buck features Bring 'Em Back Alive (1932), Wild Cargo (1934), and Fang and Claw (1935). Van Beuren Studios also issued more than two hundred animated shorts. Van Beuren was president of the Colorado Springs Theatre Corporation and the Kernab Corporation. He was a life member of the Society of The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.

Lowell's lawsuit against Beuren
Joan Lowell in Adventure Girl (1934)

A 1935 lawsuit by Joan Lowell against Amedee Van Beuren and Van Beuren Studios demanded an accounting of the profits from the film Adventure Girl. Lowell wrote and starred in this filmed version of her book, Cradle of the Deep. Van Beuren promptly made a counterclaim for $300,000 damages alleged to have been sustained because of Lowell's inexpert performance in the picture. Lowell alleged that she had not received 15 per cent of the earnings guaranteed her. Van Beuren replied that they lost $300,000 on the picture. In making the counterclaim for that sum Van Beuren asserted that Lowell "carelessly, negligently, inefficiently, inexpertly, and improperly acted and performed in the motion picture produced as to seriously impair and damage the reputation, fame, and business capacity of the defendant."[2]

Final years

In July 1938, Van Beuren had a stroke but gradually recovered, although he was confined to his home. He died of a heart attack, age 59 on November 12, 1938, at his 63-acre (250,000 m2) country estate, Dreamwold, in Carmel, New York.[3][4]

References
  1. Lehrer, Steven (2006). Bring 'Em Back Alive: The Best of Frank Buck. Texas Tech University press. pp. x–xi. ISBN 0-89672-582-0.
  2. SUIT ON 'INEXPERT' ACTING. New York Times. August 29, 1935
  3. A. J. VAN BEUREN, 58, FILM OFFICIAL, DIES. New York Times. November 13, 1938, Sunday p 45
  4. THEATER GOSSIP. Evening Independent - Google News Archive - Feb 20, 1938
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