Benedict Bogeaus

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Benedict Bogeaus (May 4, 1904, in Chicago – August 23, 1968, in Hollywood), was an independent film producer and former owner of General Service Studios. He became a property developer in Chicago, accumulating a fortune of $18 million, which he lost during the Great Depression. He went to Europe with what money had had left, looking for new opportunities. He produced a film in France, The Virgin Man and one in Germany, Daughter of the Regiment and later said both were "very bad".

Bogeaus moved to Hollywood in 1940 and went into partnership with Herbert Huston making a portable developing machine. The advent of World War Two saw this become a huge success.

When AT&T's Western Electric unit that manufactured sound equipment for film was forced by an antitrust action to divest itself of the General Service Studio complex, Bogeaus outbid producer Edward Small to acquire the studio. He allowed the United States Government to use his complex for film work and leased it out to various independent film producers, keeping his eye on their progress. Eventually he decided to make films himself.

Forming Benedict Bogeaus Productions in 1944, his first film was The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1944), directed by Rowland V. Lee and released though United Artists. He followed it with Dark Waters (1944), directed by Andre de Toth), and Captain Kidd (1945), directed by Lee with Charles Laughton and Randolph Scott. He also produced The Diary of a Chambermai…