Fred C. Newmeyer

Fred C. Newmeyer

Born: August 8, 1888
Died: April 24, 1967
in Central City, Colorado, USA
A native of Central City, Colorado, Newmeyer is best known for directing a handful of films in the Our Gang series and for directing several Harold Lloyd movies. With Sam Taylor, Newmeyer co-directed Lloyd in films including Safety Last! (1923), Girl Shy (1924), and The Freshman (1925). Newmeyer also had an extensive directing and acting resume in other comedy short films. He appeared as an actor in 71 films between 1914 and 1923.

Prior to his film career, Newmeyer played professional baseball. Partial statistics exist for his time as a left-handed pitcher in Minor League Baseball at the Class D level from 1911 to 1913 in the Southwest Texas League, Michigan State League, and Central Association.[6] He made at least 66 appearances and was the winning pitcher of at least 26 games.

Newmeyer was the original director of the first short in the Our Gang series, also titled Our Gang; his version tested poorly, and producer Hal Roach scrapped most of the footage and remade the short with Robert McGowan as the director. Newmeyer, after directing numerous other shorts at Roach, returned to the Our Gang series in 1936 to direct The Pinch Singer, Arbor Day, Mail and Female and the feature film General Spanky.

Newmeyer and his wife, Berna, had a son, Fred W. After his film career, Newmeyer worked with the athletic department of University High School in Los Angeles. Newmeyer died on April 24, 1967, in Woodland Hills, California, at the age of 78.

Movies for Fred C. Newmeyer...

Safety Last!
Title: Safety Last!
Character: Car Driver Who Gets Parking Ticket
Released: April 1, 1923
Type: Movie
When a store clerk organizes a contest to climb the outside of a tall building, circumstances force him to make the perilous climb himself.
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Captain Kidd's Kids
Title: Captain Kidd's Kids
Character: Ah Nix (Chinese Cook)
Released: November 30, 1919
Type: Movie
After a wild bachelor party, our hero finds himself aboard a sailing vessel where he encounters numerous adventures. In a dream sequence, he fantasizes that the ship is seized by a band of female pirates.
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Bumping Into Broadway
Title: Bumping Into Broadway
Released: November 2, 1919
Type: Movie
A young playwright spends his last cent to pay the past-due rent for the pretty dancer who's his boarding house next-door neighbor. Soon after, he winds up at a gambling club, where he wins big - just before a police raid.
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Don't Shove
Title: Don't Shove
Released: August 31, 1919
Type: Movie
Harold and his rival fight over Bebe on her birthday, first at her home and then at a nearby skating rink.
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Count Your Change
Title: Count Your Change
Released: August 10, 1919
Type: Movie
Harold becomes the victim of a clever bulldog pup who chases him in and out of various places.
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The Marathon
Title: The Marathon
Released: May 25, 1919
Type: Movie
Boy trying to impress girl, gets chased by her father and the police right into an ongoing marathon.
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Young Mr. Jazz
Title: Young Mr. Jazz
Character: (uncredited)
Released: April 20, 1919
Type: Movie
While running away from his girl's father, Harold's car breaks down in front of a dance hall run by crooks. Harold has to not only stay one step ahead of the girl's father, but also those trying to rob them of everything they have.
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A Sammy in Siberia
Title: A Sammy in Siberia
Character: (uncredited)
Released: April 6, 1919
Type: Movie
A bumbling American soldier saves a girl from a bunch of Cossacks.
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We Never Sleep
Title: We Never Sleep
Released: December 2, 1917
Type: Movie
Luke is an inept detective who follows the wrong man to a seaside hotel.
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Clubs Are Trump
Title: Clubs Are Trump
Released: November 18, 1917
Type: Movie
In pre-historic times (dream sequence), our hero, in a loin cloth, battles other cavemen over the opposite sex.
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Love, Laughs and Lather
Title: Love, Laughs and Lather
Released: November 4, 1917
Type: Movie
An Englishman and his valet have adventures in the American West.
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Rainbow Island
Title: Rainbow Island
Released: October 28, 1917
Type: Movie
After finding a note in a floating bottle, our hero is off to resue the heroine. He runs into a tribe of cannibals.
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From Laramie to London
Title: From Laramie to London
Released: October 21, 1917
Type: Movie
An Englishman and his valet tour the American West.
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By the Sad Sea Waves
Title: By the Sad Sea Waves
Released: September 30, 1917
Type: Movie
Our vagabond hero dons a lifeguard's uniform and madcap antics ensue on the beach, and in the changing stalls!
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Pinched
Title: Pinched
Released: September 23, 1917
Type: Movie
Harold's checked cap, blown from his head by a freakish wind, gets him into trouble. First he comes into conflict with the police as a highwayman, then the cap serves to identify him as a housebreaker and lands him in jail, while the innocent cause of his trouble becomes his cellmate for another reason. Eventually a distracted wife rescues both her husband and Harold from the clutches of the law, the cap this time aiding him to regain his freedom.
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Lonesome Luke Loses Patients
Title: Lonesome Luke Loses Patients
Released: September 16, 1917
Type: Movie
Luke operates a sanatarium, which he has naturally staffed with a bevy of attractive nurses.
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Over the Fence
Title: Over the Fence
Character: (uncredited)
Released: September 9, 1917
Type: Movie
Snitch steals Ginger's (stolen) baseball tickets and takes Ginger's girl to the game. Finding himself without tickets, Ginger dresses as a baseball player and wins the game. A possible debut of the "Glasses" or "Boy" character.
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Lonesome Luke, Messenger
Title: Lonesome Luke, Messenger
Released: August 5, 1917
Type: Movie
While on the job, delivering a message, Luke finds himself in a girl's seminary.
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Luke Locates the Loot
Title: Luke Locates the Loot
Released: December 24, 1916
Type: Movie
As a detective, Luke is after a gang of crooks who are robbing party guests of their jewels.
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Luke's Fireworks Fizzle
Title: Luke's Fireworks Fizzle
Released: December 17, 1916
Type: Movie
Luke, working in a fireworks factory.
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Luke, Rank Impersonator
Title: Luke, Rank Impersonator
Released: December 10, 1916
Type: Movie
Luke crashes a society affair, thereby livening things up.
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Luke's Movie Muddle
Title: Luke's Movie Muddle
Released: December 3, 1916
Type: Movie
Lonesome Luke has a movie theater and also works the box office and as an usher. He has to put up with, among other things, an incompetent projectionist who falls asleep all the time. Complications ensue.
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Luke, Patient Provider
Title: Luke, Patient Provider
Released: November 19, 1916
Type: Movie
When a doctor is forced, because of a lack of patients, to dismiss his pretty nurse, Luke comes to the rescue and uses his flivver to supply a ready supply of accident cases.
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Luke and the Bang-Tails
Title: Luke and the Bang-Tails
Released: October 15, 1916
Type: Movie
Lonesome Luke at the Tijuana Races.
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Luke's Speedy Club Life
Title: Luke's Speedy Club Life
Released: October 1, 1916
Type: Movie
Luke is a bellboy at a fancy club.
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Luke and the Mermaids
Title: Luke and the Mermaids
Released: September 18, 1916
Type: Movie
Lonesome Luke asleep in the briny deep.
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Luke Joins the Navy
Title: Luke Joins the Navy
Released: September 4, 1916
Type: Movie
The beginning of the film you find Harold Lloyd playing his "Lonesome Luke" character. Out of the blue, Lloyd decides he's going to join the navy and you really wonder if part of the film leading to it is missing. After all, the decision seemed to come from no where and why Snub Pollard would also join is unclear. And, oddly, they seem to skip all training and are stationed on a navy ship. Soon Pollard's wife comes to the boat looking for him and she's put off the boat as the movie ends very, very anticlimactically.
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Luke Does the Midway
Title: Luke Does the Midway
Released: August 21, 1916
Type: Movie
Lonesome Luke at the San Diego Exposition.
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Luke's Lost Lamb
Title: Luke's Lost Lamb
Released: August 7, 1916
Type: Movie
A day at the seaside chasing a lost child.
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Luke, Crystal Gazer
Title: Luke, Crystal Gazer
Released: July 24, 1916
Type: Movie
Luke happens into a spiritualist's shop where he is smitten by her daughter. He decides to stick around and take a job there.
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Luke Rides Roughshod
Title: Luke Rides Roughshod
Released: July 10, 1916
Type: Movie
Out west, Luke changes clothes with an outlaw and proceeds into town. Of course, he is mistaken for the wanted man and a chase ensues.
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Luke's Society Mixup
Title: Luke's Society Mixup
Released: June 26, 1916
Type: Movie
Luke, a mechanic, stands in for a famous violinist. At first, his bad manners and rough behavior are accepted as the eccentricities of genius. Then matters get out of hand.
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Luke's Late Lunchers
Title: Luke's Late Lunchers
Released: May 22, 1916
Type: Movie
Luke runs a beanery, in which the bad service, terrible food and filthy conditions lead to hi-jinx.