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{{short description|American film producer (1900–68)}}
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{{Infobox actor

| bgcolour = silver
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{{Infobox person
| name = Hugh McCollum
| name = Hugh McCollum
| image =
| image =
| imagesize =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| caption =
| birthdate = {{birth date|1900|3|9|mf=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1900|3|9|mf=y}}
| location = [[Ridley Park, Pennsylvania]]<br>{{USA}}
| birth_place = [[Ridley Park, Pennsylvania]]<br>U.S.
| deathdate = {{death date and age|1968|3|16|1900|3|9}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1968|3|16|1900|3|9}}
| deathplace = [[Corona del Mar, Newport Beach, California]]<br>{{USA}}
| death_place = [[Corona del Mar, Newport Beach, California]]<br>U.S.
| yearsactive = [[1929 in film|1929]]-[[1960 in film|1960]]
| yearsactive = [[1929 in film|1929]]-[[1960 in film|1960]]
| spouse = Josephine Chippo
| spouse = Josephine Chippo
| birthname =
| birth_name =
| othername =
| othername =
| homepage =
| website =
| academyawards =
}}
}}


'''Hugh McCollum''' ([[March 9]], [[1900]] — [[March 16]], [[1968]]) was an [[United States|American]] [[film producer]] best known for his credits on [[Three Stooges]] [[short subject]] comedies.
'''Hugh McCollum''' (March 9, 1900{{spaced ndash}}March 16, 1968) was an American [[film producer]] best known for his credits on [[Three Stooges]] [[short subject]] comedies.


==Career==
==Career==
McCollum was born in the [[Philadelphia]] suburb of [[Ridley Park, Pennsylvania|Ridley Park]], [[Pennsylvania]]. He attended the Episcopal Academy in Philadelphia and later matriculated at the [[University of Pennsylvania]] for one year.<ref name="Okuda">{{cite book
McCollum was born in the [[Philadelphia]] suburb of [[Ridley Park, Pennsylvania|Ridley Park]], [[Pennsylvania]]. He attended the Episcopal Academy in Philadelphia and later matriculated at the [[University of Pennsylvania]] for one year.<ref name="Okuda">{{cite book | last = Okuda | first = Ted | author-link = Ted Okuda |author2=Watz, Edward | title = ''The Columbia Comedy Shorts'' | publisher = McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers | year = 1986 | pages = 224, 225 | isbn = 0-89950-181-8}}</ref> In 1929, McCollum was hired as a [[secretary]] to the [[Columbia Pictures]] head [[Harry Cohn]]. He gradually worked his way up the corporate ladder, and when the studio's short-subject department became successful enough to support two units, department head [[Jules White]] led the first unit, and Hugh McCollum was placed in charge of the second.<ref name="Okuda"/>
| last = Okuda
| first = Ted
| authorlink = Ted Okuda
| coauthors = Watz, Edward
| title = ''The Columbia Comedy Shorts''
| publisher = McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
| date = [[1986]]
| location =
| pages = 224, 225
| url =
| doi =
| id =
| isbn = 0899501818}}</ref> In 1929, McCollum was hired as a [[secretary]] to ruthless [[Columbia Pictures]] head [[Harry Cohn]]. He gradually worked his way up the corporate ladder, and when the studio's short-subject department became successful enough to support two units, department head [[Jules White]] led the first unit, and Hugh McCollum was placed in charge of the second.<ref name="Okuda"/>


==McCollum and Ed Bernds==
==McCollum and Ed Bernds==
In 1945, McCollum gave Columbia sound man [[Edward Bernds]] an opportunity to write scripts for the shorts department, and then to direct. His first assignment in the director's chair was the Three Stooges film ''[[A Bird in the Head]]''. Bernds was excited at his big chance, but was shocked when he saw that popular Stooge [[Curly Howard]] was ill, having suffered several minor strokes prior to filming (something Jules White failed to mention to Bernds).<ref name="Scrapbook">{{cite book
In 1945, McCollum gave Columbia sound engineer [[Edward Bernds]] an opportunity to write scripts for the shorts department, and then to direct. His first assignment in the director's chair was the Three Stooges film ''[[A Bird in the Head]]'' (1946). Bernds was excited at his big chance, but was shocked when he saw that popular Stooge [[Curly Howard]] was ill, having suffered several minor strokes prior to filming (something Jules White failed to mention to Bernds).<ref name="Scrapbook">{{cite book | last = Lenburg | first = Jeff | author-link = Jeff Lenburg |author2=Joan Howard Maurer |author3=Greg Lenburg | title = ''The Three Stooges Scrapbook'' | publisher = Citadel Press | year = 1982 | pages = 76 | isbn = 0-8065-0946-5}}</ref> Years later, Bernds discussed his trying experience during the filming of ''A Bird in the Head'':
| last = Howard Maurer
| first = Joan
| authorlink = Joan Howard Maurer
| coauthors = Jeff Lenburg, Greg Lenburg
| title = ''The Three Stooges Scrapbook''
| publisher = Citadel Press
| date = [[1982]]
| location =
| pages = 76
| url =
| doi =
| id =
| isbn = 0806509465}}</ref> Years later, Bernds discussed his trying experience during the filming of ''A Bird in the Head'':


⚫
{{cquote|It was an awful tough deal for a novice rookie director to have a Curly who wasn't himself.<ref name="Fleming">{{cite book | last = Fleming | first = Michael| title = The Three Stooges: An Illustrated History, From Amalgamated Morons to American Icons | publisher = Broadway Publishin | year = 2002 | orig-year = 1999 | location = New York | pages = 79, 80 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=iPIAAAAACAAJ | isbn = 0-7679-0556-3}}</ref> I had seen Curly at his greatest and his work in this film was far from great. The wallpaper scene was agony to direct because of the physical movements required to roll up the wallpaper and to react when it curled up in him. It just didn't work. As a fledgling director, my plans were based on doing everything in one nice neat shot. But when I saw the scenes were not playing, I had to improvise and use other angles to make it play. It was the wallpaper scene that we shot first, and during the first two hours of filming, I became aware that we had a problem with Curly.<ref name="Scrapbook"/>}}
{{cquote|"It was an awful tough deal for a novice rookie director to have a Curly who wasn't himself.<ref name="Fleming">{{cite book
| last = Fleming
| first = Michael
| authorlink = Michael Fleming
| coauthors =
| title = ''The Three Stooges: An Illustrated History, From Amalgamated Morons to American Icons''
| publisher = Broadway Publishing
| date = [[1999]]
| location =
| pages = 79, 80
| url =
| doi =
| id =
⚫
| isbn = 0767905567}}</ref> I had seen Curly at his greatest and his work in this film was far from great. The wallpaper scene was agony to direct because of the physical movements required to roll up the wallpaper and to react when it curled up in him. It just didn't work. As a fledgling director, my plans were based on doing everything in one nice neat shot. But when I saw the scenes were not playing, I had to improvise and use other angles to make it play. It was the wallpaper scene that we shot first, and during the first two hours of filming, I became aware that we had a problem with Curly.<ref name="Scrapbook"/>}}
[[Image:Micropohnio.jpg|thumb|350px|right|In order to secure [[Edward Bernds]]' directing position at [[Columbia Pictures]], McCollum released the [[Three Stooges]] film ''[[Micro-Phonies]]'' first.]]


Bernds feared that his directing days would be over as soon as they began if ''A Bird in the Head'' (featuring a sluggish Curly) was released as his first effort. Hugh McCollum acted quickly, and reshuffled the release order of the films Bernds had directed (Bernds had also completed ''Micro-Phonies'' and ''[[The Three Troubledoers]]'' in addition to ''A Bird in the Head''). As a result, the superior ''[[Micro-Phonies]]'' (in which Curly was on his mark) was released first, securing Bernds's directing position. Bernds would forever be indebted to McCollum for this act of kindness; henceforth, McCollum produced all of Bernds's Stooge films.<ref name="Fleming"/>
Bernds feared that his directing days would be over as soon as they began if ''A Bird in the Head'' (featuring a sluggish Curly) was released as his first effort. Hugh McCollum acted quickly, and reshuffled the release order of the films Bernds had directed (Bernds had also completed ''Micro-Phonies'' and ''[[The Three Troubledoers]]'' (1946) in addition to ''A Bird in the Head''). As a result, the superior ''[[Micro-Phonies]]'' (in which Curly was on his mark) was released first, securing Bernds's directing position. Bernds would forever be indebted to McCollum for this act of kindness; henceforth, McCollum produced all of Bernds's Stooge films.<ref name="Fleming"/>


McCollum continued to function as a short-subject producer, in close collaboration with writer-director Edward Bernds and writer [[Elwood Ullman]]. Columbia's comedy stars alternated between the McCollum and Jules White units. Unlike White, who personally directed most of his productions, McCollum preferred to concentrate on the business aspects of production, and directed only a few films. McCollum's attention to the studio's business activities paid off when he arranged to use sets and costumes commissioned for important Columbia feature films. This efficient, money-saving arrangement gave McCollum's productions a much glossier look than usual.
McCollum continued to function as a short-subject producer, in close collaboration with writer-director Edward Bernds and writer [[Elwood Ullman]]. Columbia's comedy stars alternated between the McCollum and Jules White units. Unlike White, who personally directed most of his productions, McCollum preferred to concentrate on the business aspects of production, and directed only a few films. McCollum's attention to the studio's business activities paid off when he arranged to use sets and costumes commissioned for important Columbia feature films. This efficient, money-saving arrangement gave McCollum's productions a much glossier look than usual.

When Bernds was unavailable, McCollum directed ''[[Hula-La-La]]'' (1951), a South Seas satire with the Stooges.


== Dismissal from Columbia Pictures ==
== Dismissal from Columbia Pictures ==
Both McCollum and Bernds often clashed with White, and when Columbia downsized the shorts department in 1952, White convinced the studio executives that two units were no longer necessary, resulting in McCollum's dismissal. Out of loyalty to McCollum, Bernds resigned as well, leaving White to run the entire short subject department alone. This left White as the sole director of the Stooges films from late 1952 to 1957 when the Stooges' contract with the studio expired.<ref>Forrester, Jeff (2002). ''Three Stooges: The Triumphs and Tragedies of the Most Popular Comedy Team of All Time'', p. 102. Donaldson Books, ISBN: 0971580103</ref>
Both McCollum and Bernds often clashed with White, and when Columbia downsized the shorts department in 1952, White convinced the studio executives that two units were no longer necessary, resulting in McCollum's dismissal. Out of loyalty to McCollum, Bernds resigned as well, leaving White to run the entire short subject department alone. This left White as the sole director of the Stooges films from late 1952 to 1957 when the Stooges' contract with the studio expired.<ref>Forrester, Jeff (2002). ''Three Stooges: The Triumphs and Tragedies of the Most Popular Comedy Team of All Time'', p. 102. Donaldson Books, {{ISBN|0-9715801-0-3}}</ref>


==Later years==
==Later years==
After Columbia, McCollum became the production manager for [[Gene Autry]]'s Flying A Productions, a position he continued until his retirement.<ref name="Okuda"/>
After Columbia, McCollum became the production manager for [[Gene Autry]]'s Flying A Productions,<ref name="Okuda"/> then served as production manager for [[Jack Wrather]] Productions, a position he continued until his retirement.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VY_j1vzWnasC|title=The Three Stooges Scrapbook|last=Lenburg|first=Jeff|last2=Maurer|first2=Joan Howard|last3=Lenburg|first3=Greg|date=2012-01-01|publisher=Chicago Review Press|isbn=9781613740859|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0566136/|title=Hugh McCollum|website=IMDb|access-date=2016-04-09}}</ref>


Hugh McCollum died on March 16, 1968.<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/hugh-mccollum?cat=entertainment/ Answers.com]</ref>
Hugh McCollum died on March 16, 1968, in the [[Corona del Mar, Newport Beach|Corona del Mar]] section of [[Newport Beach, California]].<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/hugh-mccollum?cat=entertainment/ Answers.com]</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*{{imdb name|id=0566136|name=Hugh McCollum}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0566136|name=Hugh McCollum}}
{{ThreeStooges}}
{{Authority control}}


{{BD|1900|1968|McCollum, Hugh}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCollum, Hugh}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McCollum, Hugh}}
[[Category:1900 births]]
[[Category:1900 births]]
[[Category:1968 deaths]]
[[Category:1968 deaths]]
[[Category:American film producers]]
[[Category:American film producers]]
[[Category:20th-century American businesspeople]]
[[Category:Columbia Pictures people]]

Latest revision as of 15:28, 26 February 2024

Hugh McCollum
Born(1900-03-09)March 9, 1900
Ridley Park, Pennsylvania
U.S.
DiedMarch 16, 1968(1968-03-16) (aged 68)
Corona del Mar, Newport Beach, California
U.S.
Years active1929-1960
SpouseJosephine Chippo

Hugh McCollum (March 9, 1900 – March 16, 1968) was an American film producer best known for his credits on Three Stooges short subject comedies.

Career

[edit]

McCollum was born in the Philadelphia suburb of Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. He attended the Episcopal Academy in Philadelphia and later matriculated at the University of Pennsylvania for one year.[1] In 1929, McCollum was hired as a secretary to the Columbia Pictures head Harry Cohn. He gradually worked his way up the corporate ladder, and when the studio's short-subject department became successful enough to support two units, department head Jules White led the first unit, and Hugh McCollum was placed in charge of the second.[1]

McCollum and Ed Bernds

[edit]

In 1945, McCollum gave Columbia sound engineer Edward Bernds an opportunity to write scripts for the shorts department, and then to direct. His first assignment in the director's chair was the Three Stooges film A Bird in the Head (1946). Bernds was excited at his big chance, but was shocked when he saw that popular Stooge Curly Howard was ill, having suffered several minor strokes prior to filming (something Jules White failed to mention to Bernds).[2] Years later, Bernds discussed his trying experience during the filming of A Bird in the Head:

It was an awful tough deal for a novice rookie director to have a Curly who wasn't himself.[3] I had seen Curly at his greatest and his work in this film was far from great. The wallpaper scene was agony to direct because of the physical movements required to roll up the wallpaper and to react when it curled up in him. It just didn't work. As a fledgling director, my plans were based on doing everything in one nice neat shot. But when I saw the scenes were not playing, I had to improvise and use other angles to make it play. It was the wallpaper scene that we shot first, and during the first two hours of filming, I became aware that we had a problem with Curly.[2]

Bernds feared that his directing days would be over as soon as they began if A Bird in the Head (featuring a sluggish Curly) was released as his first effort. Hugh McCollum acted quickly, and reshuffled the release order of the films Bernds had directed (Bernds had also completed Micro-Phonies and The Three Troubledoers (1946) in addition to A Bird in the Head). As a result, the superior Micro-Phonies (in which Curly was on his mark) was released first, securing Bernds's directing position. Bernds would forever be indebted to McCollum for this act of kindness; henceforth, McCollum produced all of Bernds's Stooge films.[3]

McCollum continued to function as a short-subject producer, in close collaboration with writer-director Edward Bernds and writer Elwood Ullman. Columbia's comedy stars alternated between the McCollum and Jules White units. Unlike White, who personally directed most of his productions, McCollum preferred to concentrate on the business aspects of production, and directed only a few films. McCollum's attention to the studio's business activities paid off when he arranged to use sets and costumes commissioned for important Columbia feature films. This efficient, money-saving arrangement gave McCollum's productions a much glossier look than usual.

When Bernds was unavailable, McCollum directed Hula-La-La (1951), a South Seas satire with the Stooges.

Dismissal from Columbia Pictures

[edit]

Both McCollum and Bernds often clashed with White, and when Columbia downsized the shorts department in 1952, White convinced the studio executives that two units were no longer necessary, resulting in McCollum's dismissal. Out of loyalty to McCollum, Bernds resigned as well, leaving White to run the entire short subject department alone. This left White as the sole director of the Stooges films from late 1952 to 1957 when the Stooges' contract with the studio expired.[4]

Later years

[edit]

After Columbia, McCollum became the production manager for Gene Autry's Flying A Productions,[1] then served as production manager for Jack Wrather Productions, a position he continued until his retirement.[5][6]

Hugh McCollum died on March 16, 1968, in the Corona del Mar section of Newport Beach, California.[7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Okuda, Ted; Watz, Edward (1986). The Columbia Comedy Shorts. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. pp. 224, 225. ISBN 0-89950-181-8.
  2. ^ a b Lenburg, Jeff; Joan Howard Maurer; Greg Lenburg (1982). The Three Stooges Scrapbook. Citadel Press. p. 76. ISBN 0-8065-0946-5.
  3. ^ a b Fleming, Michael (2002) [1999]. The Three Stooges: An Illustrated History, From Amalgamated Morons to American Icons. New York: Broadway Publishin. pp. 79, 80. ISBN 0-7679-0556-3.
  4. ^ Forrester, Jeff (2002). Three Stooges: The Triumphs and Tragedies of the Most Popular Comedy Team of All Time, p. 102. Donaldson Books, ISBN 0-9715801-0-3
  5. ^ Lenburg, Jeff; Maurer, Joan Howard; Lenburg, Greg (2012-01-01). The Three Stooges Scrapbook. Chicago Review Press. ISBN 9781613740859.
  6. ^ "Hugh McCollum". IMDb. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  7. ^ Answers.com
[edit]
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