Trem Carr

Trem Carr (1891–1946) was an American film producer, closely associated with the low-budget filmmaking of Poverty Row. In 1931 he co-founded Monogram Pictures, which developed into one of the leading specialist producers of B pictures in Hollywood.[1]

Trem Carr
Born
Tremlet C. Carr

November 6, 1891
Trenton, Illinois, USA
DiedAugust 18, 1946 (age 54)
San Diego, California, USA
OccupationProducer
Years active1926-1946 (film)

In 1935, the company was merged into the newly created Republic Pictures, but a year later, Carr broke away and reestablished Monogram as an independent company. Following his death in 1946, Monogram changed its name to Allied Artists and began producing films made on higher budgets.

Biography

Carr was born in Trenton, Illinois, and attended the University of Illinois. He worked for a construction firm in St. Louis.[2] He moved into the film industry making a series of short comic features with Al St. John. He and W. Ray Johnston formed Rayart Productions, and Carr worked for him for seven years as vice president.[3] From 1925 to 1930, he was vice president in charge of Syndicate Pictures. From 1928 to 1929, his Trem Carr Productions made 15 films.[4]

In 1931, he helped form Monogram Pictures, becoming vice president in charge of production. (W. Ray Johnston was president.)[5] In 1934, he was elected president of the Independent Motion Pictures Producers Association. In April 1935, Carr and Johnston reorganised Monogram as Republic Pictures.[6] Carr became vice president of Republic Pictures. Carr eventually sold out his interests and produced a series of movies at Universal. Most of his films were "outdoor action pictures."[7] In 1938, he rejoined the board of Monogram.[8]

In 1940, he rejoined Monogram and stayed there until his death. He died of a heart attack while on holiday at the US Grant Hotel in San Diego. He was survived by a wife and a daughter.[2] On Carr's death, Steve Broidy took over as executive in charge of production at Monogram.[9]

Selected filmography

References
  1. Pitts p.392
  2. Film Executive Trem Carr Dies of Heart Attack Los Angeles Times (19 Aug 1946: A1.
  3. TREM CARR, FIGURE IN FILM INDUSTRY: Production Chief at Monogram Once Head of Independent Producers Group, Is Dead Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES 19 Aug 1946: 18.
  4. FILM PRODUCTION MOVED: Trem Carr Operations Transferred From Hollywood to Mack Sennett Plant at Studio City Los Angeles Times 9 Sep 1928: E4.
  5. SCREEN NOTES New York Times 20 Oct 1934: 20.
  6. FILM GROUP CHANGES ITS CORPORATE NAME: Monogram to Be Succeeded in August by Republic Pictures -- Schedule Increased. New York Times 13 Apr 1935: 11.
  7. MACLEAN SPLITS WITH GRAND NATIONAL; NEW ALLIANCE HINTED: Trem Carr Lines Up With Charles Rogers Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 6 Mar 1937: A7.
  8. Monogram Pictures Wall Street Journal 1 Nov 1937: 7.
  9. OUT HOLLYWOOD WAY: The Voice of the Turtle" MORE NEWS OUT OF HOLLYWOOD Coastscripts By THOMAS F. BRADYVandamm. New York Times 8 Sep 1946: X1.

Bibliography
  • Michael R. Pitts. Poverty Row Studios, 1929–1940: An Illustrated History of 55 Independent Film Companies, with a Filmography for Each. McFarland & Company, 2005.
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