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American businessman (1872–1958) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Rudolph Freuler (November 17, 1872 – 1958) was an American businessman in the film industry who owned theaters, film exchanges, and film studios.[1][2][3] He signed Charlie Chaplin to a lucrative contract at Mutual Film. Later in his career he owned Monarch Films studio. The Chicago History Museum has a collection of his papers.[4]
Freuler was born in Monroe, Wisconsin and schooled in Milwaukee. His father had emigrated from Switzerland. Freuler studied at Spencerian Business College.[5]
Early in his career he worked in the real estate business. He opened a theater in 1905 and after he sold it, he opened a film exchange.[5][6] In 1910, Freuler formed a partnership with Chicago film distributor Samuel S. Hutchinson, establishing the American Film Manufacturing Company.[7] In 1912 he helped organize the Mutual Film Corporation.[5]
Freuler and Harry Aitken, who worked together on film projects, had both grown up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[8]
He was photographed with Charlie Chaplin and his brother Sydney Chaplin signing the Mutual Film contract. In the 1930s he established Freuler Film Associates, a film production company that produced westerns starring Tom Tyler.[9]
Freuler Associates set up a Monarch Melodramas division to release action films.[10]
He married Augusta J."Jessie" Golz and had two daughters. His brother-in-law, Otto E. Golz (1876-1917), was the Milwaukee, Wisconsin branch manager of Mutual Film. (Motion Picture News Vol 16, page 3652).
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