B. F. Zeidman

B. F. Zeidman (October 4, 1896 – August 7, 1970) was a Hollywood film producer whose long film career began while he was still in his teens during the era of silent film.

B. F. Zeidman
The Moving Picture World, (July 29, 1916)
Born
Benjamin F. Zeidman

(1896-10-04)October 4, 1896
Philadelphia
DiedAugust 7, 1970(1970-08-07) (aged 73)
Los Angeles
Other namesBennie Zeidman
OccupationHollywood Publicist and Film Producer

Early life

He was born Benjamin "Bennie" Zeidman at Philadelphia, the middle of five children raised by Joseph and Clara Zeidman. Bennie's birth-mother most likely died sometime around the turn of the century leaving his father to wed Clara about 1902. His father was Russian, as were his mother and step-mother, and supported his family as an owner of a Philadelphia area butcher shop.[1][2]

Career

As early as 1911 Bennie was doing publicity for Lubin Studios,[3] and had gained the nickname "Bennie of Lubinville."[4] In 1914 Bennie worked as publicity manager for the Liberty Motion Picture Company,[5] and then for Eaco Films in New York.[6][7] Over the next several years he would work as publicist for D. W. Griffith, Fine Arts Films, Yorke-Metro Studios, and Douglas Fairbanks.[8] In 1922 Bennie produced the film Where Is My Wandering Boy Tonight?, and would go on to produce or co-produce some twenty-six films over the following twenty-two years including Prison Train, Grand Central Murder, and the 1936 documentary Beneath the Seas. His last two productions were the Laurel and Hardy films Air Raid Wardens and Nothing But Trouble.[9]

At 101 pounds and just under five feet, Zeidman was once described as the "smallest press agent in captivity".[10]

Death

Bennie Zeidman died in 1970 at the age of 73 in Los Angeles.[11][12]

Filmography

As producer

As actor
  • The Mystery of the Leaping Fish (1916) as Scenario Editor
  • A Practical Demonstration(1914) as The Office Boy
  • His Wife's Mother (1912)
  • The Office Favorite (1912) as Jimmie Watkins - the Office Boy

As editor

As writer

References
  1. 1910 US Census Records
  2. World War One Draft Registration
  3. New York Dramatic Mirror, December 13, 1911
  4. The Photo-Play Weekly, May 29, 1915
  5. The Photo-Play Weekly, September 25, 1915
  6. The Editor, Volume 40 – 1914
  7. "Prominent in the Photo-Play World". The Photo-Play Review. September 25, 1915.
  8. Motion Picture Studio Directories, 1919
  9. B. F. Zeidman IMDb.com
  10. The Moving Picture World, Volume 29 July 29, 1916
  11. California Death Index (Bennie Zeidman)
  12. Social Security Death Index (Bennie Zeidman)
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