Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-01-06
Brenon' .5Career
WasChrsckered
But Unchecked
We Brides Director Has
Been Actor, Manager
and Scenario Editor

| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, ,.dramatic train.
L ng the eye for grouping all lie behind
the career NJ Herbert Bipnon, director.
one OF Lewis i Selzuicts group Of high
saiaried. hirl.tdcad iuen. Brenon has done
several notable ihn productions. "A
Daughter OF the Gods which some time
ago left Philadelphia. was one. His most
recently released picture, War Brides"
which with Aha N,nimova inJthe. principal
part comes to the Stanley next week, ia
another.
Here are some sfacts abouE Brenon and
his career: He was born in Dublin,
Ireland January 13. 1880 lie is the son
Of Edward and Fraues Brenon. His
mother was the author of a playlet entitled
"The Intruders," which yas played by her
son for three years, and. Of series Of con-
tributiuns 10 the New York Evening Tele-
gram and the Moiming Telegraph and
various newspapers throughout the country
The son was educated at St Pauls and
Kings College, London England, and while
studying for the medical profession he took
part In the Greek play performed by tho
students Of Kings College and directed by
Ben Greet. whose eucouragcmenttaw awakened
Il desire to go on, the stage
He left college. and came to the United
states in 1896. He first secured employ
mput in Pittsburgh and later he came to
New Yorl, with an introduction to Augustin
Daly from kyrle Bellew, and was given a
small part in Daly's company After Mr..
Daly's death. in 1898, he was engaged by
Walker Whiteside as assistant stage man
ager, and received training under the DAILY
management. Subsequently he appeared in
the part of William Marley in a revival of
The still Alarm" His first engagement as
a stage manager was in Minneapolis, MINI,
at the lyCeum Theatre. After his marriage
in 1905 he appeared in vaudeville for
several seasons. assisted by his wife Under
the partnership name Of Herbert Brenon
and Helen Dowping, they appeared in a
sketch Ey VIII Nj Gressy, entitled zone
Christmas Eve and in the playlet The
lutruders'
In 1908 MIR. Brenon and his wife left
vaudeville and, bought n moving picture
theatre in Johrstown. Pa. which they man
aged together for two years, II was while
watching the pictures in this theatre that
Mr.. Brenou determined to enter the pro-
1uctiun field of the then young industry.
julius Stern, manager of the Imp studios
for Carl laemmle offered him an engage
ment as scenario editor, and five months
later gave him his first opportunity to d-
rect.
He soon rose to be director in-Chicf OF
the Universal Film Manufacturing Com
puny. and monG his successful productions
were Leah the Forsaken,' "Gvanhoe."
"Absinthe, and "Neptunes Daughter" said
to be the first American production to en-
JOY Broadway run. sThis last-named
ph toplay ran at the Globe Theatre, New
York city, for twcnty-aiX weeks, and at
the Fine Arts Theatre, Chicago, H., for
twcuty-sevcn weeks
In 1914 Mr., Rrcnon became associated
with William Fox. the first production
under the laters management being The
ErcGt@cr Sonata" Among his other sue
Cesses may De mentioned the cemenceau
Case" The Two Orphans" THE Soul OF
Broadway and "A Daughter Of the Gods"
in which Annette Nellcvmann appeared as
the star. In this production Mr.. Brenon
branchcd out along entirely new lines.
taking his inspiration more from tho
painter, the artist and the sculptor than
from the dramatist. In 1916 he severed his
connection with the Fox Film Corporation
TO produce photodramas for Selznick-Pic-
lures His first production is War Brides"
with Nazimova as the star this being the
lattcrs first appearance in motion pictures.
Mr. BrcnOn was a brother Of the late
Agernon st John-Brenon. musical critic
and humorist, who wrote for a New York
paper.