William "Billy" H. Clune (August 18, 1862 – October 18, 1927) was an American railroad property developer, film exchange and then theater chain owner, film studio owner, and film producer.

Career

Born in

Hannibal, Missouri Hannibal is a city along the Mississippi River in Marion and Ralls counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the population was 17,312, making it the largest city in Marion County. The bulk of the city is in Mario ...

, Clune owned a chain of theaters in Southerm California. He launched his studio in 1915. His film productions were based on novels. His first production was 1916's ''

Ramona ''Ramona'' is a 1884 American novel written by Helen Hunt Jackson. Set in Southern California after the Mexican–American War, it portrays the life of a mixed-race Scottish– Native American orphan girl, who suffers racial discrimination and ...

''. He played hardball with competitors. He came into dispute with

Nell Shipman Nell Shipman (born Helen Foster-Barham; October 25, 1892 – January 23, 1970) was a Canadian actress, author, screenwriter, producer, director, animal rights activist and animal trainer. Her works often had autobiographical elements to them and ...

over their film projects together. He died in

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

, two months past his 65th birthday. He is buried at the

Hollywood Forever Cemetery Hollywood Forever Cemetery is a full-service cemetery, funeral home, crematory, and cultural events center which regularly hosts community events such as live music and summer movie screenings. It is one of the oldest cemeteries in Los Angeles ...

in a crypt. Clune was an investor in Epoch Film Producing Corp. ''

The Birth of a Nation ''The Birth of a Nation'', originally called ''The Clansman'', is a 1915 American silent epic drama film directed by D. W. Griffith and starring Lillian Gish. The screenplay is adapted from Thomas Dixon Jr.'s 1905 novel and play ''The Cla ...

'', originally released as ''The Clansman'' in February 1915, had its world premiere at Clune's Auditorium on Pershing Square in the

Core Core or cores may refer to: Science and technology * Core (anatomy), everything except the appendages * Core (manufacturing), used in casting and molding * Core (optical fiber), the signal-carrying portion of an optical fiber * Core, the central ...

of Los Angeles.

Filmography

*''

'' (1916), based the book ''

'' by

Helen Hunt Jackson Helen Hunt Jackson (pen name, H.H.; born Helen Maria Fiske; October 15, 1830 – August 12, 1885) was an American poet and writer who became an activist on behalf of improved treatment of Indigenous peoples of the Americas, Native Americans by t ...

about life in California's early days *'' The Eyes of the World'' (1917), filmed in

Redlands, California Redlands ( ) is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 73,168, up from 68,747 at the 2010 census. The city is located approximately west of Palm Springs and east of Lo ...

, adapted from the

Harold Bell Wright Harold Bell Wright (May 4, 1872 – May 24, 1944) was a best-selling American writer of fiction, essays, and nonfiction. Although mostly forgotten or ignored after the middle of the 20th century, he had a very successful career; he is said to hav ...

story *'' From Manger to Cross'' *'' A Bear, a Boy and a Dog'' by

*'' The Girl From God's Country'' (1920)

References

External links

* * *
"Unsung Film Pioneer: William H. Clune; theater and film producer"
from Hollywoodland {{DEFAULTSORT:Clune, W. H. 1862 births 1927 deaths People from Hannibal, Missouri American film producers