The roots of Universal Pictures can rightfully be traced back to 1906 when Carl Laemmle returned home to Chicago after a stint as a bookkeeper in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and opened up a chain of nickelodeons. This in turn led to the ambitious 39-year-old organizing a film exchange network he boldly called the Laemmle Film Service, which expanded west and north into Canada. Although he was an original member of the Edison Patents Company, he bristled at the idea of paying royalties to move to the next level: film production. Laemmle founded IMP and became NBC Universal.
Laemmle inaugurated the film career of Irving Thalberg , who started as a $35/week secretary in Universals New York office and quickly became head of its California studios. During his Universal period Thalberg had an ultimately unhappy romance with Laemmles daughter, Rosabelle.
Uncle of William Wyler and Robert Wyler.
Great uncle of Catherine Wyler and Judy Wyler.
Father of Carl Laemmle Jr.
Uncle of director Nat Ross.
Uncle of director Ernst Laemmle.
Uncle of producers Max Alexander and Arthur Alexander.
Ousted from Universal by a corporate takeover (due to too many film flops) just before the release of the lavishly budgeted, but very successful, Show Boat .
He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6301 Hollywood Blvd.
All of the sound films presented by Laemmle at Universal showed the cast list twice, at the beginning and at the end of the film, and when the list was shown at the end, the slogan "A good cast is worth repeating" usually appeared on the screen. One of the few exceptions was Show Boat , which simply listed the cast as "The Players".
Head of Universal Pictures
Great-uncle of Richard Dreyfuss.
In 1936 he sold Universal Films, the studio he founded, to a group of investors for a little over $5 million.
Established the renegade studio Independent Motion Picture Company of America (IMP) in 1909, which fought against the Motion Picture Patents Company (MPPC)--known as The Trust--head by Thomas A. Edison and which was trying to control all film production in the country.
In 1912, started Universal Film Manufacturing Company, which became Universal Studios.
Was originally hesitant to make horror movies and had to be persuaded by son Carl Laemmle Jr. to make Dracula .
Great great uncle of actress Antonia Carlotta.
His son Carl Laemmle Jr. died on the 40th anniversary of his death.
Uncle of Carla Laemmle.
Motion Picture Distributing and Sales Company.
Co-founded, with Charles Bauman and Mark M. Dintenfass , the Motion Picture Distributing and Sales Co. in 1910.
He was so famous for nepotism that he was nicknamed "Uncle Carl" because of how many of his relatives were employed at Universal Studios. A common joke in Hollywood was the rhyme "Uncle Carl Laemmle (pronounced "LEM-lee") has a very big family".
We love the thing that shocks us and sends chills down our spine. .
