~Director King Vidor~

Born: February 8, 1894 in Galveston, Texas, USA
Died: November 1, 1982 in Paso Robles, CA, USA
~Promotional photograph of Director King Vidor
with actress Laurette Taylor - most likely taken
while Ms. Taylor was in Hollywood to bring her
stage performance to screen in "Peg 'O My
Heart," in 1922~
~The Los Angeles Times~
November 2, 1982
King Vidor was one of the great early filmmakers who helped invent the language and define the
possibilities of the motion picture. He was the first to depict and celebrate the lives of ordinary men
and women when he made "The Big Parade" (1925) and "The Crowd" (1928), two classic silent films.
Vidor's acclaimed film, "Hallelujah" (1929), was the first major Hollywood film with an all-black cast.

Among his other acclaimed films were the original "The Champ" with Jackie Cooper and Wallace
Beery (1931); A. J. Cronin's "The Citadel" with Robert Donat (1938); "The Fountainhead" with Gary
Cooper (1948); and "Ruby Gentry" with Jennifer Jones and Charlton Heston (1953). Through most
of his films ran Vidor's sketches of a world as it was and a world as it someday might be.

Vidor first started working as a child in the family lumber business but abandoned it immediately
upon seeing his first one-reel film. He found work as a projectionist at the Globe Nickelodeon. After
watching the reels of "Ben Hur" 147 times, he grew critical of the hammy acting and stilted action,
nursing a passion to make his own films. He built his first camera from a cigar box, using some used
projector parts.

He experienced modest success making newsreel footage, one-reel comedies and industrial films in
Galveston. In 1915 he, along with his wife, Florence Arto, and a friend, set out for California in a
Model T. shooting promotional footage for the Ford Motor Co. along the way. They arrived broke in
San Francisco, where, according to legend, they survived on free food samples at the World's Fair
until a check caught up with them.

Next, they headed for Los Angeles where Vidor began hanging out at studios, working as an extra
and writing treatments for one- and two-reel comedies. Eventually he sold one to Vitagraph for
$30, called, "When it Rains it Pours." It was his 52nd submission. It was not long thereafter that he
made his first feature film, "The Turn in the Road" (1919).

King Vidor was married three times. He had three daughters, eight grandchildren and seven great-
grandchildren.

— Charles Champlin in the Los Angeles Times Nov. 2, 1982
~Silent Filmography~
~Director~

Show People (1928)
The Patsy (1928)
... aka The Politic Flapper (UK)
The Crowd (1928)
Bardelys the Magnificent (1926)
La boheme (1926)
The Big Parade (1925)
Proud Flesh (1925)
The Wife of the Centaur (1924)
His Hour (1924)
Wine of Youth (1924)
Happiness (1924)
Wild Oranges (1924)
Three Wise Fools (1923)
The Woman of Bronze (1923)
Peg o' My Heart (1922)
Conquering the Woman (1922)
Dusk to Dawn (1922)
Real Adventure (1922)
Love Never Dies (1921)
The Sky Pilot (1921)
The Jack-Knife Man (1920)
The Family Honor (1920) (as King W. Vidor)

Poor Relations (1919)
The Other Half (1919) (as King W. Vidor)
Better Times (1919) (as King W. Vidor)
The Turn in the Road (1919)
I'm a Man (1918)
The Accusing Toe (1918)
Tad's Swimming Hole (1918)
The Chocolate of the Gang (1918)
Bud's Recruit (1918)
A Boy Built City (1918)
Dog vs. Dog (1918)
Love of Bob (1918)
Marrying Off Dad (1918)
The Case of Bennie (1918)
The Lost Lie (1918)
The Preacher's Son (1918)
The Rebellion (1918)
Thief or Angel (1918)
Hurricane in Galveston (1913)
The Grand Military Parade (1913)

~Actor~

Love & Money (1982) ... Walter Klein

It's a Great Feeling (1949) ... King Vidor (uncredited)

Our Daily Bread (1934) ... Farmer Yelling 'Let It Go!' (uncredited)

Show People (1928) ...  Himself
Faith (1916)
Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages (1916) ... extra
.