Volume III: Biographies

O'BRIEN, John B.

Director (1916-1917)

Thanhouser Career Synopsis: John B. ("Jack") O'Brien directed a Thanhouser film released in 1917.

Biographical Notes: Born in Richmond, Virginia in 1885 and educated at St. John's College in Brooklyn, New York, John B. O'Brien intended to become a lawyer, but Daniel E. Frohman convinced him to follow a stage career. Before the footlights he played juvenile leads with the Augustus Thomas Company and appeared in The Belle of New York on Broadway. Later he toured Europe in Arizona and The Virginian. The actor's screen career is believed to have commenced with Essanay, for whom he played juvenile leads. O'Brien directed films, acted as cameraman for G.M. ("Broncho Billy") Anderson, toured Mexico and Hawaii, and wrote a number of scenarios for the Essanay and became well versed in many different aspects of motion picture work. At one time he traveled with Col. William F. Cody and under very trying circumstances, after two other directors had failed, produced a five-reel film, The Life of Buffalo Bill, which was said to have been the first five-reel feature produced in America.

John B. O'Brien later acted for Powers, after which he became a director with Universal, later going to Majestic, where he directed The Psychological Moment, The Body in the Trunk, The Hunchback, The Different Man, and other films. In 1914 he worked with D.W. Griffith as an assistant during the production of The Birth of a Nation. For Famous Players he directed The Foundling, Destiny's Toy, Hulda from Holland, and other pictures, a number of which starred Mary Pickford. In October 1916 it was announced that O'Brien had signed a long-term contract to direct for Metro at the Popular Plays and Players studio, after which he produced Vanity, released in January 1917. However, the arrangement with Metro proved to be brief. Motion Picture Mail, November 4, 1916 announced that he had recently been signed by Edwin Thanhouser and would begin work immediately. It was intended that he should direct several films, the first of which was to star stage actress Charlotte Walker. However, it developed that because of the poor business outlook early in 1917, Mary Lawson's Secret, the Walker film, was the only work O'Brien did for the New Rochelle studio. At the time he lived in New Rochelle at 39 Edgewood Park.

The New Rochelle Pioneer, November 11, 1916, printed this item: "John B. O'Brien, one of the most famous directors in motion pictures, has joined the Thanhouser forces and is working on Mary Lawson's Secret, a feature starring Charlotte Walker, famous for her work on the stage and in motion pictures. Mr. O'Brien is perhaps best known for his Mary Pickford productions. His early stage experience was gained as an actor in stock and plays produced by Augustus Thomas. He has been a director for Essanay, Powers, and Universal, when D.W. Griffith saw several of Mr. O'Brien's pictures and engaged him, assigning him to the Reliance-Majestic studio in Hollywood."

John B. O'Brien's other credits include directing Maternity for World, Souls Triumphant for Triangle, and for Empire All-Star, Queen X, A Daughter of Maryland, The Girl and the Judge, and The Richest Girl. In 1918 he was working for Empire All-Star at their studio in Glendale, Long Island, New York. In addition to Mary Pickford, among the notable performers whom he directed during his long career were Mae Murray, Blanche Sweet, Doris Kenyon, Lon Chaney, and Wallace Reid. Following ill health for two years, John B. O'Brien died in Hollywood, California on August 15, 1936, following an operation. His wife survived him.

Thanhouser Filmography:

1917: Mary Lawson's Secret (4-1-1917)

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