Ernest G. Shipman

Ernest G. Shipman

Ernest G. Shipman, "Ten Percent Ernie," film producer, promoter (born at either Hull, Qué, or Ottawa 16 Dec 1871; d at New York C 7 Aug 1931). The most successful film producer during the expansive period 1914-22, Ernest Shipman was responsible for 7 feature films, all adaptations of Canadian stories and filmed on location. Educated at Ryerson, he established the Canadian Entertainment Bureau in Toronto and later became a successful promoter of theatrical stock companies in New York. Following a move to California in 1912, he became increasingly active in films as publicist, agent and then promoter. A 1918 contract for the film rights of James Oliver Curwood's stories led to the establishment in Calgary of a company to film Back to God's Country (1919), a major success. He then created production companies in Winnipeg, Ottawa, Sault Ste Marie and Saint John. Five of the films made were modest successes, but the last, Blue Water (1923), was not released. He left Canada in 1931 and died in relative obscurity.

See also Nell SHIPMAN.