Marshall Neilan — Blue Book of the Screen (1923) 🇺🇸

If Horatio Alger had waited a while until Marshall Neilan came along to supply material for those boys’ stories, he would have found all the material at hand, thereby avoiding anything like a mental struggle.

After entering this old world at San Bernardino, California, April 11, 1891, he soon revealed signs of activity. As a “kid” he combined study with business. He arose at 3 a. m. and delivered milk, snatched a breakfast, and then peddled newspapers until it was time to brush up and set out for the educational institute.

He quit school at the age of 11, and was messenger for the Fruit Growers’ Association: then he was office boy for the Santa Fe. Evidently born with the spirit of a crusader, he continued his change of program and places. He was helper to blacksmith and machinist; then went to Los Angeles, where he stumbled upon a boy’s part with the old Belasco stock company.

In 1905 he returned to school for two years. Always he had evinced a deep interest in mechanics. Therefore he attended business college, and then, during the next three years, studied mechanics evenings while working daytimes. His aim was the Boston School of Technology, and, although he has not reached that institute yet, he avers that he still will complete his course there after he has made a few more pictures.

He tested the wanderlust, drifting all around the country, washed autos and dishes, played mechanic, drove the stage between California and Nevada, and came in contact with all types of people, while gaining experience which was to stand him in good stead in the making of motion pictures.

He entered pictures by playing juvenile with the old Kalem; he wrote scenarios and moved along the line from Kalem to the American, to the Biograph and Universal. He returned to Kalem as general manager and chief director.

Entering the later feature field, Mr. Neilan directed Mary Pickford in Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Stella Maris and Daddy-Long-Legs. Mr. Neilan now is director-in-chief for Goldwyn [Samuel Goldwyn]. His first production there was The Strangers’ Banquet.

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Blanche Sweet visited the Goldwyn studio and none other than her famous husband, Marshall Neilan, acted as her guide.

“Doug” Fairbanks is tearing his hair with envy to see Marshall Neilan balancing an iron girder nonchalantly on his right shoulder.

Collection: The Blue Book of the Screen (1923)