4. Going it Alone
It seems that the completion of Luna Park marked the end of Leon and Herman's formal partnership with Williams. Being particularly ambitious, J.D returned to America where he became a producer in Hollywood's burgeoning film industry as co-founder of First National Pictures; a major cinema chain and production facility based in Burbank, California. By 1920, he had two of the biggest screen idols of the day - Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford - on his payroll. He also made movie history when he signed Chaplin to the first million-dollar contract.
Williams then went to England where he established the Elstree Studio Centre with his next company, British National Pictures (later renamed British International Pictures) where, at the age of 6, future Hollywood star and "Rat Pack" luminary Peter Lawford made his celluloid debut in a creaky little opus titled Poor Old Bill (1931) `
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But back to Williams.....according to his biographer, Emeritus Professor Jill Julius Matthews of the ANU, when he left the South Pacific, J.D (and presumably the Phillips) "controlled a circuit of fifteen picture theatres in Melbourne, Brisbane and New Zealand. He also ran five film exchanges, had agents in London and America and a distribution outlet in China". This was in addition to his Sydney venues. However, Williams had merged with other important exhibitors to form a new business called Union Theatres (AKA "The Combine") - a powerful group that dominated the Australian film business for a decade or so and which, eventually, morphed into Greater Union Cinemas. Presumably, a new board had to be elected and it is yet to be confirmed if the Phillips continued as directors and major share holders.
Williams had a few other vexations as well which included legal disputes and occasional controversies. However, the feisty West Virginian had an admirable ability to overcome adversity and serge ahead in his blue surge suit, at least until ill-health caught up with him. And his talent as an organizer of large-scale entertainment projects was never in doubt. In Australia, he transformed film exhibition and distribution. In America, First National became one of the most innovative and successful operations of its type in the country, concentrating on quality movies such as the groundbreaking 1925 science fiction classic Lost World - a personal favorite of famed reviewer Leonard Maltin. And just as a side note, the picture starred Lloyd Hughes who later appeared in the Sydney-produced film Luggers and Lovers (1937)
BEFORE KING KONG: A LOST WORLD FOUND – Leonard Maltin's Movie Crazy
The Los t World (1925) Newly Restored Blu-ray Preview Clip - YouTube
The Lost World (1925) - Brontosaurus Rampage - YouTube
https://leonardmaltin.com/before-king-kong-a-lost-world-found/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Dixon_Williams
But what happened to the others who came "Down Under"?
Yearsley went back to the States with Williams to take charge of publicity at Burbank. In retirement, he became an art collector in Palm Springs. Passing away in 1957, he was buried at the Hollywood Memorial Cemetery - a place of internment which, as you will find out later, has significance to the Phillips (.... or just scroll down to Part 10 right now if you're...dare I say it?...absolutely dying to know!)
Lou Corbeille acted as manager of Luna Park for a short period. However, he had also gone home by the start of the Great War (1914) and, after a series of assignments in various locations, settled in Illinois where he founded the firm of Golden & Corbeille; Amusement Park Rides.
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Daily News Leader,
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New York Clipper, December 14, 1923
The Whitneys lingered in Melbourne for quite some time with a combined "Quick Finish" photo shop, penny arcade and shooting gallery at 118 Bourke Street before they relocated to San Francisco where they took over "Playland" fun fair and became property developers. Vernon Churchill was still around the southern states of Australia in 1925
Border Watch, Mount Gambier, Feb 10, 1925
Tom Eslick's association with Australia also continued, on and off, for many years. As previously mentioned, he created the La Monica Ballroom in Los Angeles. He then built "Cloudland" in Brisbane. However, like the Whitneys, he finally returned to the West Coast of America.
But, apart from Yearsley, these men appear to have been strictly Luna Park imports i.e. they worked exclusively on that project. However, JD brought others (like John Ruel) over here to help with his movie business that was primarily run from Sydney by Williams, Yearsley and Phillips until the latter, apparently, decided to move, permanently, to Melbourne.
Of all those who made the trip across the Pacific, Herman and Leon had, by far, the most substantial "post JD" Australian career. Staying on mainly to operate Luna Park (although also listed as being the owners of the Britannia Theatre in one directory https://caarp.com.au/venue/view/616) , they soon got other attractions up and running as well
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