W. Merle Connell
American film director (1905–1963)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William Merle Connell was born on January 7, 1905 in Yakima, Washington. In 1926, Connell married Jennie Ramsey.[1] Connell died on November 25, 1963 in Los Angeles. Connell directed a number of American burlesque films,[2] and exploitation films, including Untamed Women.
W. Merle Connell | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 7, 1905 |
| Died | November 25, 1963 (aged 58) |
| Occupation | Film director |
| Years active | 1947-1967 |
| Notable work | Untamed Women |
Career
Connell's "Quality Pictures"[3] distributed a one-reel burlesque compilations, including: Juke-Box Follies (1945),[4][5][6][7] and Variety Girls (c. 1955).[8]
"Quality Pictures, a small studio on Santa Monica Boulevard run by producer-director W. Merle Connell,[9] was one of the preeminent companies putting out burlesque films for the peepshow and theatrical markets. Connell filmed Los Angeles burlesque dancers in short, two-to-three-minute performances and packaged the segments as single-reel compilations, producing twenty-five of these by 1947. Keeping a hand in the peepshow market, Quality also bought and sold Panorams and converted them for a fee. By the 1950s, Quality had begun focusing on narrative films as well; the Quality Pictures studio was even used for several Ed Wood movies, including Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959)."[7]
Film director
- A Night at the Follies (1947)[10][11] with Evelyn West
- filmed at a burlesque stage show at the Follies Theater in Los Angeles
- Test Tube Babies (1948)[10][11][12]
- The Devil's Sleep (1949)[10][11]
- Trouble at Melody Mesa (1949)[10][11]
- Midnight Frolics (1949)[10][11][13] with Annette Warren
- International Burlesque (1950)[10][14][11]
- Ding Dong (1951)[10][11][15]
