Jules E. Brulatour, 76, film business pioneer, who for four years had been distributor of raw stock for Eastman Kodak, died Saturday night (26) at Mt. Sinai hospital, N.Y., after an illness of about a month. His wife, former actress Hope Hamilton, was at his bedside when he died.
Brulatour was one of the organizers of Universal Film Co. and its first president. He resigned after a short time to devote all his energies to the sale of unexposed motion picture film. Originally coming to N.Y. in 1898, he at first was associated with the Manhattan Optical Co., of Creskill, N.J., manufacturer of photographic paper, cameras and lenses, traveling from Maine to California as sales representative. Subsequently he became sales chief for Lumiere North American Co, which had headquarters in France. Company established a branch in Vermont to handle photographic plates and motion picture raw stock. With Lumiere, he sold raw stock to all independent film producers or all non-members of the patents group which were being sold by Eastman. His activity led to his being elected president of the Motion Picture Sales Co., comprising a group of independent producers. He gave up the Lumiere agency to go with Eastman.
Many myths have grown up about how much Brulatour netted for each foot of film he sold, ranging from a half cent to one penny per. Actually he received many times less than either figure, his big profits stemming from immense volume and quick turnover plus his intimate knowledge of the then-pioneering industry.
He married Miss Hampton, for whom he had acted as agent, in 1923. He had been married twice before, both marriages terminating in divorce. Brulatour's activity as an agent took Miss Hampton into motion pictures and opera.
Survived by son, C. Jules Brulatour, daughters, Mrs. Harry C. Mills and Mrs. F. W. Cochran, all children by his first wife, Clara Isabelle; two brothers, Henry and Thomas, and a sister, Mrs. R. Poslethwaite.
Brulatour was one of the organizers of Universal Film Co. and its first president. He resigned after a short time to devote all his energies to the sale of unexposed motion picture film. Originally coming to N.Y. in 1898, he at first was associated with the Manhattan Optical Co., of Creskill, N.J., manufacturer of photographic paper, cameras and lenses, traveling from Maine to California as sales representative. Subsequently he became sales chief for Lumiere North American Co, which had headquarters in France. Company established a branch in Vermont to handle photographic plates and motion picture raw stock. With Lumiere, he sold raw stock to all independent film producers or all non-members of the patents group which were being sold by Eastman. His activity led to his being elected president of the Motion Picture Sales Co., comprising a group of independent producers. He gave up the Lumiere agency to go with Eastman.
Many myths have grown up about how much Brulatour netted for each foot of film he sold, ranging from a half cent to one penny per. Actually he received many times less than either figure, his big profits stemming from immense volume and quick turnover plus his intimate knowledge of the then-pioneering industry.
He married Miss Hampton, for whom he had acted as agent, in 1923. He had been married twice before, both marriages terminating in divorce. Brulatour's activity as an agent took Miss Hampton into motion pictures and opera.
Survived by son, C. Jules Brulatour, daughters, Mrs. Harry C. Mills and Mrs. F. W. Cochran, all children by his first wife, Clara Isabelle; two brothers, Henry and Thomas, and a sister, Mrs. R. Poslethwaite.
Comment and discuss