Motion Picture Producer. Born Louis Burstein in Russia, he entered American films as a writer and established the Vim Comedy Film Company in Jacksonville, Florida in 1915. He cranked out over 200 slapstick one-reelers, many starring Chaplin imitator Billy West and a pre-Laurel Oliver Hardy, who was paired with Billy Ruge in the "Plump and Runt" series. He also gave early employment to comedian Charley Chase and is credited with discovering screen idol Leatrice Joy. After Vim folded in 1917 Burston moved to Hollywood and made occasional feature films, among them "The Silent Mystery" (1918), "The Hawk's Trail" (1919), "Forget Me Not" (1922), and "Desire" (1923). He was killed in an auto-train collision near Pomona, California. Lost with him in the accident was a Moss Hart script, "Oscar Wilde", which he had intended to produce.
Motion Picture Producer. Born Louis Burstein in Russia, he entered American films as a writer and established the Vim Comedy Film Company in Jacksonville, Florida in 1915. He cranked out over 200 slapstick one-reelers, many starring Chaplin imitator Billy West and a pre-Laurel Oliver Hardy, who was paired with Billy Ruge in the "Plump and Runt" series. He also gave early employment to comedian Charley Chase and is credited with discovering screen idol Leatrice Joy. After Vim folded in 1917 Burston moved to Hollywood and made occasional feature films, among them "The Silent Mystery" (1918), "The Hawk's Trail" (1919), "Forget Me Not" (1922), and "Desire" (1923). He was killed in an auto-train collision near Pomona, California. Lost with him in the accident was a Moss Hart script, "Oscar Wilde", which he had intended to produce.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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