Warren Doane

name: Warren H. Doane
born Oct. 30, 1890, in Valley City, ND (also listed as 1891)
died May 12, 1964

During his roughly seventeen and a half years with the Roach studio, Warren Doane received very little onscreen credit, which is typical for a studio general manager. When he did receive credit, it was on those rare occasions when he directed. Nevertheless, as general manager, he would have had at least a casual involvement with every film made at the studio during those years, including every Our Gang film made until late 1931.

Doane taught school briefly in North Dakota before moving to California in 1909. After taking a course at the Business College in Long Beach, he spent two years working in the railroad industry and five years doing secretarial duties, the latter including the period in which he served as an assistant manager at the Rolin Film Company.

1914

Doane was an assistant to Dwight Whiting when the latter worked in the automobile business. Logically enough, when Whiting joined the board of directors of the Rolin Film Company on Aug. 17, 1914, Doane began to work for the company as an assistant manager (or at least he had reached this position by January 1918).

1918

With the departure of Whiting in April, it would have made sense if Doane had left with him, but he instead opted to remain with Rolin.

1920

Doane was elected as a vice president of Rolin on January 26th. This is approximately the point at which he took over the role of general manager at the studio. The new Roach studio in Culver City officially opened on April 20th, though filming had been going on since February, and this may have been directly related to Doane's promotion.

1923

On May 29th of this year, Doane was made a partner in the company, along with H. M. Walker and Thomas Crizer. They would now relieve Roach of the duties of active direction of production. Doane would continue in his capacity as general manager.

1927

No Man's Law (co-location coordinator): Apr. 24, 1927 - Roach/Pathé - 7 reels - prod. J-5 - Rex The Wonder Horse feature; Also listed for May 1, 1927. Also featuring Barbara Kent, James Finlayson and Oliver Hardy. According to Rob Stone's list, this was filmed Dec. 11, 1926, and Dec. 18, 1926, to Jan. 7, 1927. His book revises this information, however, as Dec. 11 to 30, 1926. ©Apr. 7, 1927. UK title: Man's Law. Doane left on Mar. 12, 1926, with Fred Jackman to look at the location in Lone Pine.

1928

During Roach's round-the-world vacation from mid January through May 24th, Doane was essentially in charge of the studio. When Leo McCarey's contract as director-general expired on Dec. 28th, Roach and Doane resumed production supervision.

1929

With the arrival of the talking picture at the Roach studio, Doane took over as director of the Charley Chase unit, a position he held from April until October. He also received credit on a couple of Harry Langdon shorts, but this may have been an instance where the actual director didn't want the credit and the general manager received it by default.

The Big Squawk (director): May 25, 1929 - Roach/MGM - talkie - 2 reels - prod. C-21 - Charley Chase series; Filmed Apr. 8 to 13, 1929. ©July 29, 1929.
Leaping Love (director): June 22, 1929 - Roach/MGM - talkie - 2 reels - prod. C-22 - Charley Chase series; Filmed Apr. 29 to May 3, 1929. ©Dec. 9, 1929.
Snappy Sneezer (director): July 27, 1929 - Roach/MGM - talkie - 2 reels - prod. C-23 - Charley Chase series; Also listed for July 29, 1929. Filmed May 25 to 30, 1929. ©Aug. 12, 1929.
Crazy Feet (director): Sep. 7, 1929 - Roach/MGM - talkie - 2 reels - prod. C-24 - Charley Chase series; Filmed June 20 to 27, 1929. ©Aug. 26, 1929.
Sky Boy (uncredited director): Oct. 5, 1929 - Roach/MGM - talkie - 2 reels - prod. S-25 - All Star series with Harry Langdon; Filmed July 16 to 22, 1929. ©Sep. 23, 1929. According to IMDb, directorial credit went to Charley Rogers, but the studio production sheets credit Doane.
Stepping Out (director): Nov. 2, 1929 - Roach/MGM - talkie - 2 reels - prod. C-25 - Charley Chase series; Filmed July 16 to 22, 1929. ©Sep. 23, 1929.
Great Gobs! (director): Dec. 28, 1929 - Roach/MGM - talkie - 2 reels - prod. C-26 - Charley Chase series; Filmed Sep. 16 to 21, 1929, with retakes Sep. 25 and Oct. 7, 1929.

1930

The Real McCoy (director): Feb. 1, 1930 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. C-27 - Charley Chase series; Filmed Oct. 14 to 21, 1929. ©Dec. 26, 1929.
The Big Kick (director): Mar. 29, 1930 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. S-29 - All Star series with Harry Langdon; Filmed Nov. 20 to 29, 1929. ©Feb. 17, 1930. Also filmed in Spanish as La estacion de gasolina.

1931

Henry Ginsberg took over as general manager in November. However, it appears that Doane lingered at the studio for a few months, resuming his position as director of the Charley Chase unit.

War Mamas (uncredited co-director): Nov. 14, 1931 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. A-3 - Thelma Todd & ZaSu Pitts series; Filmed Aug. 15 to 21, 1931, with added scenes Aug. 22, 1931. ©Nov. 30, 1931. Doane directed the added scenes.

1932

Doane's last work with the Chase unit occurred in January. Within a few months, he was producing two-reel comedies for Universal and receiving onscreen credit on a regular basis for the first time in his career. My sources for these comedies are the Copyright Catalog and the Internet Movie Database, the latter of which seems to derive its information from the former. Neither credits Doane with all of the shorts he probably produced for Universal. Therefore, I've given him a 'probable producer' credit for several of these.

The Nickel Nurser (director): Mar. 12, 1932 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. C-6 - Charley Chase series; Filmed Nov. 30 to Dec. 7, and Dec. 18, 1931. ©Feb. 17, 1932.
In Walked Charley (director): Apr. 23, 1932 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. C-7 - Charley Chase series; Rob Stone's list states the filming took place from Dec. 18 to 22, 1931. Anthony & Edmonds state that filming began on the 19th. ©Apr. 11, 1932. UK title: In Walked Charles.
First In War (director): May 28, 1932 - Roach/MGM - 2 reels - prod. C-8 - Charley Chase series; Filmed Jan. 14 to 21, 1932. ©May 31, 1932.
Union Wages (producer): Aug. 31, 1932 - Universal - 2 reels - Louise Fazenda series; ©June 14, 1932.
Yoo-Hoo (probable producer): Sep. 1, 1932 - Universal - 2 reels; ©Sep. 13, 1932.
Who, Me? (producer): Sep. 7, 1932 - Universal - 2 reels - Frank Albertson series; ©June 14, 1932.
The Finishing Touch (producer): Oct. 19, 1932 - Universal - 2 reels; ©Sep. 28, 1932.
Hesitating Love (producer): Nov. 16, 1932 - Universal - 2 reels - Louise Fazenda series; ©Oct. 28, 1932.
Boys Will Be Boys (producer): Nov. 30, 1932 - Universal - 2 reels - Frank Albertson series; ©Nov. 12, 1932.
Lights Out (producer): Dec. 14, 1932 - Universal - 2 reels - James Gleason series; ©Nov. 4, 1932.
Oh! My Operation (probable producer): Dec. 28, 1932 - Universal - 2 reels - Vince Barnett series; ©Dec. 5, 1932.

1933

The Trial Of Vince Barnett (probable producer): Mar. 1, 1933 - Universal - 2 reels - Vince Barnett series; ©Mar. 8, 1933.
Mister Mugg (producer): May 10, 1933 - Universal - 2 reels - James Gleason series; ©Apr. 19, 1933. Nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Short Subject, Comedy.

1934

Palsie Walsie (probable producer): prob. Jan. 1934 - Universal - 2 reels - Lillian Elliott series; ©Jan. 16, 1934. Filmed prior to mid-November 1933.
Demi-Tasse (producer/director/story): Oct. 3, 1934 - Universal - 2 reels - Warren Doane Brevities series; ©Oct. 2, 1934.
Sterling's Rival Romeo (producer): Nov. 14, 1934 - Universal - 2 reels - Sterling Holloway series; ©Nov. 7, 1934. Also known as Rival Romeos.

1935

Doane's tenure with Universal seems to have ended either at the beginning of this year or the end of 1934. After this, my information on him simply dries up, except for the one item listed for 1954.

Old Age Pension (probable producer): Mar. 1, 1935 - Universal - 2 reels; ©Mar. 27, 1935.
There Ain't No Justice (producer): May 23, 1935 - Universal - 2 reels; ©May 8, 1934.

1954

This Is Your Life episode: Stan Laurel And Oliver Hardy (appearance): Dec. 1, 1954 - Edwards/NBC - 30 min. - TV episode

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My thanks to the following people for assisting with this page:
Rob Stone (for providing production numbers and shooting dates)