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Edward
Small, Hollywood Renegade.
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Edward Small
SIMPP Member (1943-1951)
Excerpt from Hollywood Renegades by J. A. Aberdeen
Edward Small had one of the most prolific careers of any independent
producer, a longevity to rival even Sam
Goldwyn. However unlike Goldwyn, Small
shunned publicity, so that even though he was one of the most influential and
wealthy Hollywood producers, his low profile left him largely unknown to the
public.
Edward Small, whose physical stature befit his name, was a talent agent with
production ambitions much like Myron Selznick. At the age of 15, Small organized
his own agency in New York, and adopted his life-long slogan: "Personality
is a commodity." Beginning in 1917 at age 26, his entrance into production
was gradual. He moved his operation, the Edward Small Agency (later the Small
Company), to Hollywood and turned to producing full-time in 1924.
He cofounded several memorable independent production companies. In 1932 he
formed Reliance Pictures in a three-way partnership with Joseph Schenck and
Harry M. Goetz. With his company releasing through United Artists, Small
produced I Cover the Waterfront (1933), Palooka (1934), and The
Count of Monte Cristo (1934). In 1938 he formed Edward Small Productions
where he continued to make some of his high-grade literary projects including The
Man in the Iron Mask (1939). Small was also a critic of the United Artists
management, and threatened to lead a sit-down strike against the studio owners
in 1942 when UA failed to meet his terms. Edward Small joined SIMPP in 1943, and
became the chairman of the membership committee during the Society's great
expansion at the end of World War II.
SOURCES:
Edward Small: "Pioneer Indie Producer Edward Small, 85,
Dies," DV, January 26, 1977, p. 1; "Small Sez Big Studios
Going," DV, December 8, 1948; "Eddie Small Puts Up Bid His Bid
for E-L," Variety, May 12, 1949; "Edw. Small Leaving Col for
UA," DV, April 30, 1952, p. 1.
See Bibliography.
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