Screen Snapshots

Screen Snapshots were a series of documentary short subjects produced by Columbia Pictures (and its predecessor CBC Film Sales Corporation) between 1920 and 1958.[1] They featured behind-the-scenes footage of Hollywood stars of the day at various Hollywood events or parties.

History

In 1919, Jack Cohn, brother of future Columbia president Harry Cohn, wanted short one-reel size films showing the reality of Hollywood.[2] The two brothers created Hall Room Boys Photoplays, with Harry in Los Angeles to produce and Jack in New York for distribution.[3] While Harry considered himself in charge of everything the company made, it was Jack's project and so he brought in Louis Lewyn to coproduce.[4]

From about 1930, these short documentaries were almost exclusively written, produced and directed (and occasionally edited and narrated) by Ralph Staub, until the series was discontinued in 1958. They usually ran for 9 or 10 minutes and were shown in cinema theatres like newsreels alongside main features.

Awards

Three of these documentary shorts were nominated for an Academy Award, Best Short Subject, One-reel. They are:

References
  1. "Jack Cohn Dead; Film Pioneer, 67". The New York Times. December 10, 1956. p. 31. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  2. Dick, Bernard F. (1993). The Merchant Prince of Poverty Row: Harry Cohn of Columbia Pictures. University Press of Kentucky. p. 30. ISBN 978-0-8131-1841-3.
  3. The Merchant Prince of Poverty Row: Harry Cohn of Columbia Pictures. p. 31.
  4. The Merchant Prince of Poverty Row: Harry Cohn of Columbia Pictures. p. 33.


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