| Fred Niblo (1874-1948), whose real life name was | | | | His second effort was a 40-minute silent film entitled |
| Frederick Liedtke, was an American actor and film | | | | 'Officer 666.' In this movie, Niblo appeared with two |
| director who developed remarkable silent films | | | | of the top talents of the time, Enid Bennet (who |
| including the epic story 'Ben-Hur.' | | | | would become his second wife) and her brother, |
| Fred Niblo was born on January 6, 1874 in York, | | | | George Bryant. The movie was a comedy and its |
| Nebraska. His mother was French and his father | | | | original script is preserved at the National Screen and |
| served as a captain during the the American Civil War | | | | Sound Archive in Canberra, Australia. |
| and was wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg. | | | | As his Hollywood journey continued, Fred worked on |
| Fred's film career started with a passion for film | | | | several significant films such as 'The Mask of Zorro' |
| editing that steered him to Broadway where he met | | | | (1920) and 'The Three Musketeers' (1921) both |
| and married Josephine Cohan in 1901. Josephine was a | | | | starring Douglas Fairbanks. He also directed, what |
| talented Broadway actress and is the older sister of | | | | many feel is the greatest silent screen epic of all |
| legendary American entertainer George M. Cohan | | | | time, 'Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ' in 1925. This |
| who is regarded as the father of American musical | | | | motion picture, which had a running time of one |
| comedy. | | | | hundred forty-three minutes and was distributed by |
| Josephine died in 1916 and that same year, Fred | | | | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, was hailed as one of the |
| began his acting career using the stage name Fred | | | | most expensive films of its time. The movie is about |
| Niblo. Their son, Fred Niblo Jr. (1903-1972), would later | | | | the inspiring and fascinating life of Ben-Hur and his |
| become a successful Hollywood screenwriter. | | | | deceiving Roman Centurion friend, Messala. Ben-Hur |
| Fred was seventy-four when he died of pneumonia | | | | was portrayed by Ramon Novarro with Francis X. |
| on November 11, 1948 in New Orleans, Louisiana. His | | | | Bushman as Messala. |
| body is buried at Forrest Lawn Memorial Park | | | | Fred Niblo also had the good fortune to team up with |
| Cemetery in Glendale, California. | | | | two more giants of film industry, John Gilbert and |
| Career Years | | | | Renée Adorée, in the 1930's classic 'Redemption.' |
| For twenty years, Fred Niblo traveled the world | | | | As one of the more notable directors in the movie |
| participating in vaudeville as well as acting in several | | | | industry, Fred founded the Academy of Motion |
| small theater productions. In 1916, he decided to try | | | | Picture Arts and Sciences and directed his last picture |
| his luck in the field of directing and his first silent film, | | | | 'Diamond Cut Diamond,' in 1932. With at least sixty |
| 'Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford,' was filmed in Australia. | | | | films under his belt, he retired the next year. |
| The film was released on January 31st of that year. | | | | |