- William Sistrom
William "Billy" Sistrom (
March 19 ,1884 –March 1972) was an English film producer. He was born inLincolnshire ,England . He began work withUniversal Pictures . Later he joinedRKO in 1935, where he worked on the film adaptation ofLeslie Charteris 'The Saint in New York . He produced 30 UK and US films between 1930 and 1949.As well as a producer William also worked as a studio manager. Actor
Lon Chaney, Sr. tells of confronting Universal studio manager William Sistrom in 1918 demanding a payrise and contract. According to Chaney, Sistrom told him that he knew a good actor when he saw one but that looking directly at Chaney he saw only a wash-out. [http://eric.b.olsen.tripod.com/chaney.html] According to their website William managed [http://www.hollywoodcenter.com/ Hollywood Center Studios] for a time from the 1925. [http://www.hollywoodcenter.com/history/story_111.php]Wiliam's first wife Louise Rowan had two American-born sons and three daughters
microbiologist William, Hollywood producer Joseph, Suzanne, Rosemary, and Mary Louise.During World War II the Sistrom's opened their Hollywood home to many American servicemen. One notable Army Air Corps pilot, and wannabe actor was Dan David. Dan assumed Mrs. Sistrom's maiden name as a stage name and was known as
Dan Rowan . He was member of the comedy team of the 1970's TV showRowan and Martin's Laugh-In .After Louise's death he married actress
Rosalyn Boulter when he was 68 and she was 36. Boulter's daughterCarol Haynes Johnson , who was 8 when they married, described William as "gentle, loving, giving. I always called him 'Daddy.' Daddy came into our lives when I was about 4." [http://www.georgeformby.co.uk/ladies/boulter/biog.htm] After the wedding, William retired, and the family moved toPhoenix, Arizona where he managed a turkey ranch in Buckeye, about 40 miles outside the city.He died in March 1972 in
Los Angeles, California ,United States .Partial filmography
(Producer unless otherwise specified)
* 1926 -
Young April
* 1927 -The Angel of Broadway
* 1930 - The Fall Guy
* 1930 - Runaway Bride
* 1931 -The Black Camel (Associate Producer)
* 1931 - The Spider
* 1932 -The Crocked Circle
* 1935 - A Dog of Flanders
* 1936 -Bunker Bean
* 1938 - The Saint in New York
* 1938 -I'm From the City
* 1943 -Escape to Danger
* 1943 -The Saint Meets the Tiger
* 1941 -Dangerous Moonlight
* 1947 - Hungry Hill
* 1949 -Woman Hater External links
* [http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/SearchResult.aspx?s=1&TBL=PN&Type=PP&ID=156417&pName=%20%20William%20Sistrom William Sistrom's filmography on the American Film Institute website]
* [http://entertainment.msn.com/celebs/celeb.aspx?mp=f&c=134267 William Sistrom at NSM Movies]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0803162/ William Sistrom at Internet Movie Database]
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