Fred C. Newmeyer

Fred C. Newmeyer (August 9, 1888 – April 24, 1967) was an American actor, film director and film producer.

Biography

A native of Central City, Colorado, Newmeyer is best known for directing a handful of films in the Our Gang series and for directing several Harold Lloyd movies, eight of them being features. With Sam Taylor, Newmeyer co-directed Lloyd in films including Safety Last! (1923), Girl Shy (1924), and The Freshman (1925). Newmeyer also had an extensive directing and acting resume in other comedy short films. He appeared as an actor in 71 films between 1914 and 1923.

Prior to his film career, Newmeyer played professional baseball. Partial statistics exist for his time as a left-handed pitcher in Minor League Baseball at the Class D level from 1911 to 1913 in the Southwest Texas League, Michigan State League, and Central Association.

Newmeyer was the original director of the first short in the Our Gang series, also titled Our Gang; his version tested poorly, and producer Hal Roach scrapped most of the footage and remade the short with Robert McGowan as the director. Newmeyer, after directing numerous other shorts at Roach, returned to the Our Gang series in 1936 to direct The Pinch Singer, Arbor Day, Mail and Female and the feature film General Spanky.

Newmeyer and his wife, Berna, had a son, Fred W. After his film career, Newmeyer worked with the athletic department of University High School in Los Angeles. Newmeyer died on April 24, 1967, in Woodland Hills, California, at the age of 78.

Selected filmography

Year Title 1916 (all as actor) Luke's Shattered Sleep Luke Locates the Loot Luke's Fireworks Fizzle Luke, Rank Impersonator Luke's Movie Muddle Luke's Newsie Knockout Luke, Patient Provider Luke, the Gladiator Luke's Preparedness Preparations Luke, the Chauffeur Luke and the Bang-Tails Luke's Speedy Club Life Luke and the Mermaids Luke Joins the Navy Luke Does the Midway Luke's Lost Lamb Luke, Crystal Gazer Luke Rides Roughshod Luke's Society Mixup Luke's Late Lunchers Luke, the Candy Cut-Up Year Title 1917 The Big Idea Step Lively Bashful Move On We Never Sleep All Aboard Clubs Are Trump Love, Laughs and Lather Rainbow Island From Laramie to London Birds of a Feather By the Sad Sea Waves Pinched Lonesome Luke Loses Patients Over the Fence Lonesome Luke's Wild Women Lonesome Luke, Messenger Lonesome Luke on Tin Can Alley Year Title 1918 Two-Gun Gussie It's a Wild Life Pipe the Whiskers The Tip Year Title 1919 From Hand to Mouth Captain Kidd's Kids Bumping Into Broadway His Only Father Pay Your Dues Count the Votes Soft Money He Leads, Others Follow The Rajah Be My Wife Don't Shove Heap Big Chief Chop Suey & Co. Count Your Change Spring Fever Off the Trolley Swat the Crook Pistols for Breakfast The Marathon Si, Senor Ring Up the Curtain Crack Your Heels Young Mr. Jazz A Sammy in Siberia On the Fire Year Title 1920 Number, Please? Year Title 1921A Sailor-Made Man Year Title 1922 Doctor Jack Year Title 1923 Safety Last! Why Worry? Year Title 1924 Girl Shy Year Title 1925 The Perfect Clown The Freshman Year Title 1927 On Your Toes Year Title 1928 Warming Up Year Title 1929 It Can Be Done Year Title 1930 Queen High The Grand Parade Year Title 1931 Subway Express Year Title 1932 The Gambling Sex The Fighting Gentleman Year Title 1933 Easy Millions Year Title 1934 No Ransom Year Title 1935 Secrets of Chinatown Year Title 1936 The Pinch Singer Arbor Day Year Title 1937 Mail and Female