G. B. Samuelson

This article is about the film-maker. For the politician, see Godfrey Samuelson.

G. B. Samuelson
Born6 July 1889
Southport, England, UK
Died17 April 1947(1947-04-17) (aged 57)
OccupationProducer
ChildrenSydney, David, Michael Samuelson
RelativesPeter Samuelson (grandson)
Emma Samms (Emma Wylie Samuelson) (granddaughter)

George Berthold Samuelson (6 July 1889 – 17 April 1947)[1] was a director and film producer.

Born in Southport, Lancashire, Samuelson was the youngest son of Henschel and Bertha Samuelson, tobacconists originally from Prussia.[2] Attended the University School in Southport until the age of 14. By 1891, his mother was widowed and was carrying on the business.[3]

He then held various jobs over a number of years, eventually running a cinema in Southport. In 1910 he founded a film distribution company, the Royal Film Society, with which he moved to Birmingham in the same year. Profits from the firm enabled him to found the Samuelson Film Manufacturing Company in 1913 . Here, with Will Barker, he produced the film Sixty Years a Queen, which became a financial success.[3]

Samuelson had an extensive film career and was the creator of Southall Studios, one of the earliest film production companies in the United Kingdom. He also ran G. B. Samuelson Productions from 1914 to 1933.

He was the brother of Julian and Lauri Wylie and the father of Sir Sydney Samuelson.

  1. ^ The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History
  2. ^ 1881 United Kingdom census, 41, Nevill Street, Southport, at ancestry.co.uk, accessed 5 May 2020 (subscription required)
  3. ^ a b 1891 United Kingdom census, 41, Nevill Street, Southport, at ancestry.co.uk, accessed 5 May 2020 (subscription required)