Volume I: Narrative History

Chapter 11: Epilogue Interviews

Edwin and Gertrude Thanhouser were in Argentina early in the year 1949, where the Buenos Aires Herald, on January 13, printed a feature article by "Leila" about them:

Interesting couple in town this week is Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Thanhouser, who, in their own words, have been "following the sun" for over thirty years....

The Thanhousers, who are on their first visit to the Argentine, might be described as the grandparents of the Hollywood film industry. Mr. Thanhouser, whose company was among the first to be established in the film capital way back in 1900, was chiefly responsible for making Hollywood known to millions all over the world.... Note

The article went on to relate the often-told tale that he refused to hire Mary Pickford and her husband because he would have had to have paid them more than $100 per week jointly, how he hired Charlie Chaplin in 1915 and paid him his first big salary, and how "in 1915 Mr. Thanhouser decided to retire permanently and severed his connections with the Thanhouser Company, from which, incidentally, has sprung all of the big Hollywood film companies of today."

The former film producer told the reporter his reasons for retirement:

"I was tired and I wanted to travel." A close friend chided him, "If you retire so early, you'll soon get bored doing nothing." To which Mr. Thanhouser retorted, "Far better to be bored once in a while than be tired all of the time." And once again he proved he was right because his friend, and many others, he said, who could not bring themselves to relinquishing the reins and amassing more wealth were either too worn out to enjoy life or had died in the interval.

Virginia Clair, a reporter for the New Rochelle Standard-Star, contributed this article to the December 9, 1949 issue: "Thanhouser, Pioneer in Films, Finds Audiences Critical: There is nothing wrong with present day films but with the modern movie-goer who has become a super-critical movie sophisticate since the days when audiences thrilled at just seeing a moving object. Such is the opinion of Edwin Thanhouser, pioneer moving picture producer in New Rochelle more than 30 years ago.

Mr. Thanhouser, whose movie-making here with his Thanhouser Film Corporation provided many local residents with an income as well as excitement, is still enthusiastic about filmland and thinks today's movies are "splendid." The advancement of the motion picture industry during his 30 years away from it, Mr. Thanhouser described as spectacular and its technical improvement as something undreamed of in his day.

"When I compare movies now with those we made, ours were really primitive," declared the former producer during an interview in his New York apartment. Recalling that in his production of Romeo and Juliet the studio trademark was placed on Juliet's tombstone, he said, "No one paid much attention to its location, and it served its purpose to protect our film rights." The same film, Mr. Thanhouser explained, was made to run a half hour, but because the picture houses then could not handle such a "long" movie, it appears in serial form, with two 15-minute showings.

Mr. Thanhouser has nothing but praise for the work and talents of modern day film producers, and although readily recognizing that the novelty of movies is gone, he firmly believes the film industry has a long and great future. His faith in its advancement remains unshaken. "There is a need at present for better plots," he continued, "but, then, good plots have been a constant cry in all theatrical forms," he reminded.

Since Mr. and Mrs. Thanhouser left New Rochelle in 1918, they have literally "followed the sun" with trips, almost too numerous to record, throughout the world. Until four years ago their permanent home was at Sands Point, Long Island, where Mr. Thanhouser, who is also an art collector, housed his assemblage of 19th century paintings.

"Having a house began to complicate our life, so we decided to simplify things and sold the house and the art collection and moved into a New York apartment," the producer explained. "The best advice I can give to people getting on in years," he continued, "is to rid themselves of most of the things they have collected during their lives and live simply. It makes life much easier as you get older, and, besides, these are the things of the young."

But Mr. Thanhouser's art instinct is still with him and at present he busies himself tracking down works of the 16th century Dutch masters. This specialization was appropriately chosen, however, for, as Mr. Thanhouser explained, the small sizes of these paintings suit his simplified life and present quarters much better.

After the Thanhousers left New Rochelle they lived for three years in Switzerland, following which they traveled the world. Only last year saw this enthusiastic couple in South America for six months. Even a trip to the South Sea Islands has been part of their itinerary "because there were so few places left to see. I guess the only spots left are the North and South poles," Mr Thanhouser said humorously.

The retired producer expresses no regret at having left the movie industry especially since his early entry into it would have presupposed him a tremendous return. Although his earliest ambitions were to be an actor and he did play with such notables as Mary Hampton and Alexander Salvini.... Mr. Thanhouser soon found himself in a managerial role in the theatre. [Here followed a description of his theatre and motion picture activities.]

"I have done with my life exactly what I wanted. I was in the theatre and made enough money, but most of all I retired young enough to enjoy it," said Mr. Thanhouser, explaining why he left the movie industry in its young stage. However, he continued. "I wish I could give it all away just to be again the visionary 16-year-old I once was. The years have flown so.

"But don't think that everything I touched was successful," Mr. Thanhouser stated. "I had misfortunes, too, but they were part of the gamble of life." His wife, the pioneer movie man said, has always shared his many interests and has been a wonderful companion during their half century together....

Mr. Thanhouser, as he appears today after many years of active living, is a man of medium height, straight, and dignified. Slight of build, he has gray hair and clear, shining blue eyes which reflect his enthusiasm for living, and a knowledge of the world and its inhabitants. He possesses a lively sense of humor and relates his adventures with zest and simplicity.

Edwin Thanhouser enjoyed fishing, and from the 1930s onward he took numerous trips to Punta Gorda, Florida, to Maine, and to other locations to engage in the sport. He grew bald and eventually acquired a hairpiece. Note Edwin and Gertrude enjoyed the visits of their children and grandchildren. The latter called Gertrude "Nana." Edwin called Gertrude "Doll" and "Dollie." Often Edwin would perform magic tricks for the children, taking quarters from their ears and fooling them in other ways. His granddaughter, Joan Thanhouser Sherman, recalled that Edwin Thanhouser was very parsimonious and made every nickel count, a reputation unchanged from his earlier days in business. On his Sands Point estate he would pay granddaughters Joan, Gertrude, and Margaret to catch Japanese beetles. The grandchildren had strict rules of behavior when visiting, as both Edwin and Gertrude were fastidiously neat and clean, and everything had to be just right and in its proper place. Meals were often formal, complete with finger bowls with each place setting. Granddaughter Pego Paar recalled the luxury of bathing in a fine, deep, claw-footed bathtub at the estate, and the presence of witch hazel in an enormous Golliwog-shaped bottle kept nearby. Note

On November 16, 1950 the Motion Picture Pioneers had their award dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Spyros P. Skouras, president of the 20th Century Fox Corporation was named man of the year. Among 109 new members inducted was Edwin Thanhouser. For the next several years he revived his interest in films and kept abreast of current productions. Recalling his own early activities, on sheets of paper he listed various films which had been produced under his direction. His memory was jogged by consulting files of The Moving Picture World at the New York Public Library.

Edwin Thanhouser was an astute investor and money manager. His son Lloyd recalled: Note

Edwin continued for many years to attend personally to every detail of his financial affairs, from purchasing new blocks of bonds to cutting each coupon when it became payable and depositing it in his checking account. As time went on, however, he felt it advisable to place all of his bond holdings in a safekeeping account at the U.S. Trust Company. On that occasion he pointed out to me that his then holdings, plus the bonds he had put in trust for my sister and me in 1935, totaled more than $1,000,000. This had been his lifelong goal, and he was gratified to have achieved it.

In her later years, Gertrude Thanhouser lost her enthusiasm for living, often became depressed, suffered from insomnia, and took to secret drinking. At one time she nearly died in a suicide attempt. Her final years were not happy. Her son Lloyd recalled: Note

[After Edwin retired] she had little to occupy her time and mind besides keeping house and ministering to Edwin's wants. She did edit one film, and she and Lloyd Lonergan collaborated on some plays, one of which was accepted by a Broadway producer but never put on. During her early fifties Gertrude's personality began to change.... She considered one of life's greatest tragedies to be old age. And so it was, in her case.

On May 29, 1951 Gertrude Homan Thanhouser died at the Thanhouser apartment at the One Fifth Avenue Hotel. She was survived by her husband, by her daughter, Mrs. Arthur Paar, of Great Neck, Long Island, her son, Lloyd F. Thanhouser, of Houston, five grandchildren, and one great grandchild. Her death was a great blow to Edwin. Shortly thereafter he underwent major surgery.

Edwin Thanhouser died in his apartment at the One Fifth Avenue Hotel on Wednesday, March 21, 1956, at the age of 90. An obituary in The New York Times Note noted that "he was for a while a partner of the late Carl Laemmle. Among the pictures he produced were The Million Dollar Mystery and a two-reel Romeo and Juliet." Although he was never Laemmle's partner and although he did not produce The Million Dollar Mystery, he did supervise Romeo and Juliet, thus at least a third of the information was correct!

Edwin Thanhouser remained alert until about his 90th birthday, after which most of his faculties left him. However, to the very end the sentiment, "life is just a bubble," expressed earlier to a reporter, described his outlook. Mr. and Mrs. Thanhouser were buried in the family plot in Kensico Cemetery near White Plains, New York, not far from New Rochelle. Curiously, New Rochelle was almost forgotten by Edwin in his later life, and his grandchildren recall that he almost never mentioned it, nor did he ever take them there to see where the studio was once located.

On October 17, 1956, Wednesday evening at 8, at Parke-Bernet Galleries, 980 Madison Avenue, New York City, a sale titled "Notable Paintings" was held. Crossing the block were properties consigned by the Edwin Thanhouser estate as well as items belonging to the New York Public Library and the Dr. Walter Timme estate. Twenty-one of Edwin Thanhouser's paintings were sold for a total of $11,775.

Among the more important paintings from Edwin Thanhouser's holdings were Grace Before Meals, by Jan Miense Molenaer, at $800; Winter Pleasures on Ice, by Antonie Verstralen, $600; The Card Players, by Adriaen Brouwer, $650; Tavern Brawl, by Jan Steen, $1050; Landscape Study, by John Constable, $1100; and the most expensive of the group, The Shepherdess, by Jean Francois Millet, $3000.

Unsold paintings, antiques, and other artifacts amounting in value to about $10,000 were subsequently marketed elsewhere, including through Coleman Auction Galleries, Inc. and Hirschl & Adler Galleries, Inc., both of New York City, and by additional consignment to Parke-Bernet. Proceeds went to Edwin Thanhouser's two children and executors of his estate, Lloyd F. Thanhouser, who lived at 514 West Friar Tuck Lane, Houston, Texas, and Marie (Mrs. Arthur) Paar, 200 East End Avenue, New York City.