Charles R. Rogers
| Charles R. Rogers | |
|---|---|
| Born |
July 15, 1892 New York City, New York United States |
| Died | March 29, 1957 (aged 64) Hollywood, California, United States |
| Occupation | Producer |
| Years active | 1924–1947 |
Charles R. Rogers, also known as Chas. R. Rogers, was an American film producer whose career spanned both the silent and sound film eras. He should not be confused with Charles "Buddy" Rogers, who was an actor and film producer, as well as being married to Mary Pickford. Rogers began his career on the 1924 silent film, A Cafe in Cairo, produced by the short-lived Hunt Stromberg Productions. After Stromberg ceased productions in 1925, Rogers would found his own independent company, Charles R. Rogers Productions. He would also produce for major studios such as RKO Radio Pictures, Universal, and United Artists. The pinnacle of his career would be from 1936 to 1938 when he was chosen as the vice-president in charge of production for Universal Pictures. He died as the result of injuries sustained in a car accident in 1957.
Rogers was born in New York City on July 15, 1892, he had six siblings: three brothers and three sisters. He went to high school in Boston, before beginning in the film industry in Buffalo, New York, running the Star Theatre. He was married on June 17, 1913. In February 1957 Rogers was in a serious car accident in California. He remained in the hospital until March 29, when he would die due to his injuries.
After acting as an exchange operator, he joined Hunt Stromberg's independent film production company in 1924. When Stromberg left to join the fledgling MGM Studios in 1925, Rogers would form his own eponymously named independent studio. His first film would be the successful western, Driftin' Thru, starring Harry Carey and released in early 1926. He would produce a series of four westerns starring Carey, which would be released through Pathé Exchange. The success of these films would lead to a deal to produce four independent films per year to be released through First National Pictures, starring Ken Maynard, and written by Marion Jackson.
Rogers deal with First National expired in 1929, after which he signed an agreement with RKO. When there was a management shake-up at the studio in the beginning of 1931, Rogers was named head of production for the studio in January of that year. His tenure at RKO would not last long, his last picture with that studio being 1932's Carnival Boat, which was released in March. It would not be long before he had signed a deal with Paramount Pictures to provide them with independent films through his own company. The first of those released would be 70,000 Witnesses in September 1932. While at the studio, his production unit would be housed in the historic Mary Pickford bungalow, which would be slated for demolition after his departure. He would make sixteen films for Paramount over the next four years, the last of which was released in September 1935, and was titled The Virginia Judge.
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