Edgar Selwyn

Edgar Selwyn (October 20, 1875 – February 13, 1944) was an American actor, playwright, director, and producer. He was known for his work on Broadway.

Selwyn worked with his brother, Archibald Selwyn. They started a company to make theatre shows. He also owned many theatres called Selwyn Theatres.

Selwyn also worked in movies. He directed a film that helped Helen Hayes win an award.

In 1916, Selwyn helped create Goldwyn Pictures. This became important in the early film industry. His work helped shape theatre and film in America.

Biography

Edgar Selwyn was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He became well-known in Broadway theater as an actor, playwright, director, and producer from 1899 to 1942. With his brother Archibald Selwyn, he started a theater company called The Selwyns. This company made plays from 1919 to 1932, including one called Wedding Bells. They owned several theaters across the United States, such as the Park Square Theatre in Boston, the Hanna Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio, the Selwyn in Chicago, and theaters in New York City like the Selwyn, Apollo, and Times Square.

Selwyn also worked in Hollywood, producing and directing eight films from 1929 to 1942. One of these films was The Sin of Madelon Claudet from 1931, which he directed for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The movie starred Helen Hayes, who won an Academy Award for her acting. Selwyn also wrote two screenplays, and many more films were based on his plays. He passed away in Los Angeles, California.

Titanic sailing

In April 1912, Edgar Selwyn and his wife, playwright Margaret Mayo, had tickets to travel to New York on the RMS Titanic. But they did not get on the ship because Edgar had to stay in Paris to hear a new play. This choice likely kept them safe. They had been traveling in Europe and Algiers with Broadway producer Henry B. Harris and his wife Renee.

Later, Edgar married actress Ruth Selwyn, who was the sister of director Fred M. Wilcox and the sister-in-law of Nicholas Schenck.

Partial filmography

Edgar Selwyn acted in and directed many plays and films. Some of his works are:

• Pierre of the Plains (1914) (actor, play)
• The Arab (1915) (actor, play)
• For Better, for Worse (1919) (play)
• The Mirage (1924) (play)
• The Sin of Madelon Claudet (1931) (director)
• Skyscraper Souls (1932) (director)
• Men Must Fight (1933) (director)
• Turn Back the Clock (1933) (director and co-writer)
• The Mystery of Mr. X (1934) (director)