Producers Distributing Corporation was a short-lived Hollywood film distribution company, organized in 1924 and dissolved in March 1927. In its brief heyday, film director

Cecil B. DeMille Cecil Blount DeMille (; August 12, 1881January 21, 1959) was an American film director, producer and actor. Between 1914 and 1958, he made 70 features, both silent and sound films. He is acknowledged as a founding father of the American cine ...

was its primary shareholder and major talent.

Corporate history

PDC's beginnings lay with film pioneer

William Wadsworth Hodkinson William Wadsworth Hodkinson (August 16, 1881 – June 2, 1971), known more commonly as W. W. Hodkinson, was born in Independence, Kansas. Known as ''The Man Who Invented Hollywood'', he opened one of the first movie theaters in Ogden, Utah in 190 ...

, founder of Paramount Pictures in 1912. In late 1924 Hodkinson sold one of his struggling distribution companies to Jeremiah Millbank, a "wealthy, extremely religious, and politically conservative financier."Empire of dreams: the epic life of Cecil B. DeMille, Scott Eyman, page 212 Millbank partnered with DeMille and renamed the company Producers Distributing Corporation. Part of Millbank's investment went to purchase the former

Thomas H. Ince Thomas Harper Ince (November 16, 1880 – November 19, 1924) was an American silent film - era filmmaker and media proprietor. Ince was known as the "Father of the Western" and was responsible for making over 800 films. He revolutionized the mo ...

Culver Studios The Culver Studios is a movie studio in Culver City, California. Originally created by silent movie pioneer Thomas H. Ince, classics from Hollywood's Golden Age were filmed there. It is currently owned by Hackman Capital Partners, which completel ...

, the property whose main building is a replica of

Mount Vernon Mount Vernon is an American landmark and former plantation of Founding Father, commander of the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War, and the first president of the United States George Washington and his wife, Martha. The estate is on ...

. In March 1927, Pathe Exchange and Producers Distributing Corporation merged under the control of the

Keith-Albee-Orpheum The Keith-Albee-Orpheum Corporation was the owner of a chain of vaudeville and motion picture theatres. It was formed by the merger of the holdings of Benjamin Franklin Keith and Edward Franklin Albee II and Martin Beck's Orpheum Circuit. Hist ...

chain of theaters. In early 1928,

Joseph P. Kennedy Joseph Patrick Kennedy (September 6, 1888 – November 18, 1969) was an American businessman, investor, and politician. He is known for his own political prominence as well as that of his children and was the patriarch of the Irish-American Ken ...

merged Film Booking Offices of America (FBO) and KAO, in part to promote the new

RCA Photophone RCA Photophone was the trade name given to one of four major competing technologies that emerged in the American film industry in the late 1920s for synchronizing electrically recorded audio to a motion picture image. RCA Photophone was an opt ...

sound-on-film system, and created

RKO Radio Pictures RKO Radio Pictures Inc., commonly known as RKO Pictures or simply RKO, was an American film production and distribution company, one of the "Big Five" film studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orph ...

. PDC is unrelated to the company of the same name organized by Ben Judell in 1939, and which produced four films then evolved into the

Poverty Row Poverty Row is a slang term used to refer to Hollywood films produced from the 1920s to the 1950s by small (and mostly short-lived) B movie studios. Although many of them were based on (or near) today's Gower Street in Hollywood, the term did ...

studio Producers Releasing Corporation. PDC is also unconnected to the Producers Distribution Agency founded in 2010 by John Sloss and Bart Walker.

Filmography

* '' The Hoosier Schoolmaster'' (1924) * '' Try and Get It'' (1924) * '' Hold Your Breath'' (1924) * ''

Another Scandal ''Another Scandal'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by Edward H. Griffith and distributed by W. W. Hodkinson. Based on a 1923 novel ''Another Scandal'' by Cosmo Hamilton, the film stars Lois Wilson and Holmes Herbert. Plot As de ...

'' (1924) * ''

Her Own Free Will ''Her Own Free Will'' is a 1924 American silent film, silent drama film directed by Paul Scardon and starring Helene Chadwick, Holmes Herbert, and Violet Mersereau. It was based on a novel of the same name by the British writer Ethel M. Dell. Ca ...

'' (1924) * '' Legend of Hollywood'' (1924) * '' The Wise Virgin'' (1924) * ''

Welcome Stranger The Welcome Stranger is the biggest alluvial gold nugget that has ever been found, which had a calculated refined weight of .Potter, Terry F. (1999) ''The Welcome Stranger: a definitive account of the worlds largest alluvial gold nugget''. I ...

'' (1924) * '' Another Man's Wife'' (1924) * '' Trouping with Ellen'' (1924) * '' The House of Youth'' (1924) * '' Reckless Romance'' (1924) * '' The Chorus Lady'' (1924) * '' The Flaming Forties'' (1924) * '' Roaring Rails'' (1924) * ''

The Siren of Seville ''The Siren of Seville'' is a 1924 American silent adventure film directed by Jerome Storm and Hunt Stromberg Hunt Stromberg (July 12, 1894 – August 23, 1968) was a film producer during Hollywood's Golden Age. In a prolific 30-year career b ...

'' (1924) * ''

Ramshackle House ''Ramshackle House'' is a 1924 American silent romantic drama film directed by F. Harmon Weight and starring Betty Compson. It is based on the novel ''Ramshackle House'' by Hulbert Footner. It was released by Producers Distributing Corporation (P ...

'' (1924) * '' A Cafe in Cairo'' (1924) * '' Barbara Frietchie'' (1924) * ''

The Mirage The Mirage is a casino resort on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, United States. It is owned by Vici Properties and operated by Hard Rock International. The 65-acre property includes a casino and 3,044 rooms. Golden Nugget, Inc., le ...

'' (1924) * ''

Chalk Marks ''Chalk Marks'' is a 1924 American silent drama film directed by John G. Adolfi and starring Marguerite Snow and June Elvidge. It was distributed by Producers Distributing Corporation. Cast Preservation With no prints of ''Chalk Marks'' locat ...

'' (1924) * ''

Let Women Alone ''Let Women Alone'' is a 1925 American silent comedy film directed by Paul Powell and starring Pat O'Malley, Wanda Hawley and Wallace Beery.Munden p.430 Plot After her husband is reportedly drowned at sea, his wife supports herself and their c ...

'' (1925) * ''

The Million Dollar Handicap ''The Million Dollar Handicap'' is a 1925 American silent sports drama film directed by Scott Sidney and starring Edmund Burns, Ralph Lewis, and Ward Crane. It is based on the 1902 novel ''Thoroughbreds'' by William Alexander Fraser. The film w ...

'' (1925) * '' On the Threshold'' (1925) * '' The Crimson Runner'' (1925) * '' Friendly Enemies'' (1925) * ''

Beauty and the Bad Man ''Beauty and the Bad Man'' is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by William Worthington and starring Mabel Ballin, Forrest Stanley, and Russell Simpson. Plot As described in a film magazine review, Cassie, an orphan with vocal abil ...

'' (1925) * ''

Stop Flirting ''Stop Flirting'' is a 1925 American silent comedy film directed by Scott Sidney and starring Wanda Hawley, John T. Murray, and Ethel Shannon. It is based on the 1923 play of the same title by Frederick J. Jackson.Hell's Highroad'' (1925) * ''

Steel Preferred ''Steel Preferred'' is a 1925 American silent drama film directed by James P. Hogan and starring Vera Reynolds, William Boyd, and Hobart Bosworth. The film portrays a power struggle at a steelworks. Plot As described in a film magazine review, ...

'' (1925) * '' Off the Highway'' (1925) * '' Seven Days'' (1925) * '' The Girl on the Stairs'' (1925) * '' Silent Sanderson'' (1925) * ''

The Bad Lands ''The Bad Lands'' is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Dell Henderson George Delbert "Dell" Henderson (July 5, 1877 – December 2, 1956) was a Canadian-American actor, director, and writer. He began his long and prolific fil ...

'' (1925) * '' The Texas Trail'' (1925) * '' Beyond the Border'' (1925) * '' Without Mercy'' (1925) * '' The Coming of Amos'' (1925) * '' The Prairie Pirate'' (1925) * '' The People vs. Nancy Preston'' (1925) * '' Simon the Jester'' (1925) * '' Private Affairs'' (1925) * '' Her Market Value'' (1925) * ''

The Man from Red Gulch ''The Man from Red Gulch'' is a 1925 American silent Western film featuring Harry Carey. Copies of the film are held at Cineteca Italiana, Milan and the UCLA Film and Television Archive. Cast * Harry Carey as Sandy * Harriet Hammond as Betse ...

'' (1925) * '' The Girl of Gold'' (1925) * '' Soft Shoes'' (1925) * '' The Wedding Song'' (1925) * '' Braveheart'' (1925) * ''

The Awful Truth ''The Awful Truth'' is a 1937 American screwball comedy film directed by Leo McCarey and starring Irene Dunne and Cary Grant. Based on the 1923 play ''The Awful Truth'' by Arthur Richman, the film recounts how a distrustful rich couple begins ...

'' (1925) * '' Madame Behave'' (1925) * ''

The Road to Yesterday ''The Road to Yesterday'' is a 1925 American silent romantic drama film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. The film is significant because it was Cecil B. DeMille's first release from his new production company, DeMille Pictures Corporation. It wa ...

'' (1925) * '' The Flame of the Yukon'' (1926) * '' Red Dice'' (1926) * ''

Jim, the Conqueror ''Jim, the Conqueror'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by George B. Seitz and starring William Boyd and Elinor Fair. Cast Preservation A print of ''Jim, the Conqueror'' survives in the French archive Centre national du ciné ...

'' (1926) * ''

Eve's Leaves ''Eve's Leaves'' is a 1926 American silent romantic comedy film starring Leatrice Joy and William Boyd. The film was produced and distributed by Cecil B. DeMille and directed by Paul Sloane

'' (1926) * ''

The Danger Girl ''The Danger Girl'' is a 1916 American silent comedy film directed by Clarence G. Badger and starring Bobby Vernon and Gloria Swanson. Plot Reggie's sister disguises herself as a boy to prove to her brother and sweetheart that a vamp is on ...

'' (1926) * '' Cruise of the Jasper B'' (1926) * '' Pals in Paradise'' (1926) * '' Fifth Avenue'' (1926) * '' The Clinging Vine'' (1926) * ''

The Speeding Venus ''The Speeding Venus'' is a 1926 American silent film, silent drama film directed by Robert Thornby and starring Priscilla Dean, Robert Frazer and Dale Fuller (actress), Dale Fuller.Munden p.754 Cast * Priscilla Dean as Emily Dale * Robert Fraz ...

'' (1926) * ''

Her Man o' War ''Her Man o' War'' is a 1926 American silent war drama film directed by Frank Urson and starring Jetta Goudal, William Boyd and Jimmie Adams.Goble p.240 The film's sets were designed by the art director Max Parker. Synopsis After being captur ...

'' (1926) * '' West of Broadway'' (1926) * ''

Gigolo A gigolo () is a male escort or social companion who is supported by a person in a continuing relationship, often living in her residence or having to be present at her beck and call. The term ''gigolo'' usually implies a man who adopts a lifes ...

'' (1926) * '' Paris at Midnight'' (1926) * '' Wild Oats Lane'' (1926) * ''

For Alimony Only ''For Alimony Only'' is a 1926 American silent drama film directed by William C. deMille and starring Leatrice Joy, Clive Brook, and Lilyan Tashman. The film's sets were by the art director Max Parker while the costumes were designed by Adrian ...

'' (1926) * ''

Silence Silence is the absence of ambient audible sound, the emission of sounds of such low intensity that they do not draw attention to themselves, or the state of having ceased to produce sounds; this latter sense can be extended to apply to the c ...

'' (1926) * ''

The Dice Woman ''The Dice Woman'' is a 1926 American silent action adventure film directed by Eddie Dillon and starring Priscilla Dean. No known prints of it exist, and it is presumed lost. No longer a Universal contract star in 1926, Dean was in her career' ...

'' (1926) * '' For Wives Only'' (1926) * ''

Corporal Kate ''Corporal Kate'' is a 1926 silent film comedy romance directed by Paul Sloane and starring Vera Reynolds and Julia Faye. The film was produced by C. Gardner Sullivan, with production at De Mille Pictures Corp., and released by Producers Distr ...

'' (1926) * ''

The Sea Wolf Seawolf, Sea wolf or Sea Wolves may refer to: Animals * Sea wolf, a wolf subspecies found in the Vancouver coastal islands * Seawolf (fish), a marine fish also known as wolffish or sea wolf * A nickname of the killer whale * South American sea ...

'' (1926) * '' Forbidden Waters'' (1926) * ''

The Nervous Wreck ''The Nervous Wreck'' is a 1926 American silent film, silent comedy film, comedy adventure film directed by Scott Sidney and starring Harrison Ford (silent film actor), Harrison Ford, Phyllis Haver and Chester Conklin.Connelly p.182 It is based ...

'' (1926) * '' The Last Frontier'' (1926) * ''

Whispering Smith ''Whispering Smith'' is a 1948 American Western film directed by Leslie Fenton and starring Alan Ladd as a railroad detective assigned to stop a gang of train robbers. The supporting cast includes Robert Preston, Brenda Marshall and Donald C ...

'' (1926) * '' Rocking Moon'' (1926) * '' Shipwrecked'' (1926) * '' Three Faces East'' (1926) * '' The Unknown Soldier'' (1926) * '' Up in Mabel's Room'' (1926) * '' The Volga Boatman'' (1926) * '' Young April'' (1926) * '' Meet the Prince'' (1926) * ''

Bachelor Brides ''Bachelor Brides'' is a 1926 American silent comedy film directed by William K. Howard and starring Rod La Rocque, Elinor Fair and Eulalie Jensen. It is based on a 1925 British-set stage play by Charles Horace Malcolm.Goblp.303/ref> The film ...

'' (1926) * '' Risky Business'' (1926) * '' Made for Love'' (1926) * '' The Prince of Pilsen'' (1926) * '' Almost a Lady'' (1926) * '' Sunny Side Up'' (1926) * '' The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary'' (1927) * ''

Rubber Tires A tire (American English) or tyre (British English) is a ring-shaped component that surrounds a wheel's rim to transfer a vehicle's load from the axle through the wheel to the ground and to provide traction on the surface over which t ...

'' (1927) * ''

Nobody's Widow ''Nobody's Widow'' is a 1927 American silent comedy film directed by Donald Crisp and starring Leatrice Joy, Charles Ray and Phyllis Haver. It is an adaptation of a 1910 play of the same title by Avery Hopwood.The A to Z of American Theater: Mo ...

'' (1927) * ''

Fighting Love ''Fighting Love'' is a 1927 American silent drama film directed by Nils Olaf Chrisander and starring Jetta Goudal, Victor Varconi and Henry B. Walthall. The film survives complete. It is based on the 1925 novel '' If the Gods Laugh'' by the B ...

'' (1927) * '' Jewels of Desire'' (1927) * '' Vanity'' (1927) * '' The Little Adventuress'' (1927) * '' Man Bait'' (1927) * '' No Control'' (1927) * '' The King of Kings'' (1927) * '' The Heart Thief'' (1927) * '' White Gold'' (1927) * '' Getting Gertie's Garter'' (1927) * '' The Night Bride'' (1927) * '' The Yankee Clipper'' (1927) * '' Turkish Delight'' (1927)

References

Mass media companies established in 1924 Mass media companies disestablished in 1927 Film distributors of the United States Defunct American film studios 1925 establishments in California 1927 disestablishments in California {{US-film-company-stub