Howard J. Green — Biographical Sketch (1927) 🇺🇸

One of the most meteoric rises in the screen-writing ranks is that of Howard J. Green, who has been hitting the bull’s-eye with amazing consistency, though in Hollywood slightly more than a year.

Even while Green was attending Hasting’s Law College in San Francisco he was writing for the world of make-believe. It was in those days that he penned several musical comedies which were given local production, causing him to give up law for newspaper reporting. Like most of the Fourth Estate he bounced from one city to another, and finally found himself near the theatre again when he joined the staff of the New York Clipper. After serving in the war he was managing editor of Theatre World.

This gave Green the urge to do theatrical writing again, and the Keith and Orpheum vaudeville programs started billing his name when he wrote special material for such stars as Marie Cahill, Anna Chandler and Harry Fox, as well as sketches for the Garrick Gaieties and the Greenwich Village Follies. Later, as a member of the vaudeville producing firm of Hocky & Green, he wrote and directed innumerable headline acts for the “big time.”

It was Johnny Hines who suggested to Green to turn his hand to screen writing, and, as comedy constructor for “The Brown Derby,” he made his picture debut. Next he was claimed by Harold Lloyd, receiving screen credit on “The Kid Brother,” after which he joined the First National ranks. As comedy constructor of “The Patent Leather Kid” and “The Private Life of Helen of Troy,” and as the adapter of “White Pants Willie” and “The Life of Riley,” he has gained high recognition as a writer of comedy.

Green’s latest assignment is an original story for Charlie Murray [Charles Murray] and George Sidney, to be produced by First National.

Though Green’s rise has been rapid, and though he is credited with several successes, he does not feel that he has risen to the heights yet. Asked to name his best story for the screen, he smiles cynically and promptly volunteers the information that he has not yet written it.

—

Howard J. Green

Originals, Adaptations, Continuities and Comedy Construction

Adapted

• The Life of Riley

with Charlie Murray & Geo. Sidney

• White Pants Willie

Starring Johnny Hines

Comedy Construction

• The Kid Brother

Harold Lloyd Production

• The Patent Leather Kid

Starring Richard Barthelmess

• The Private Life of Helen of Troy

Now Writing an Original

Starring

Chas. Murray and Geo. Sidney

for First National

Collection: Motion Picture News, October 1927 (Booking Guide and Studio Directory)