Elwood Ullman (May 27, 1903 â€" October 11, 1985) was an American film
comedy writer most famous for his credits on The Three Stooges shorts
and many other low-budget comedies.A native of Memphis, Tennessee,
Ullman chose a writing career, supplying humorous articles for
magazines in the 1930s. He submitted script ideas to Columbia
Pictures, and the studio assigned him to the short-subject department.
Producer Jules White teamed Ullman with Al Giebler, a former sight-gag
writer for Mack Sennett in the silent-film days. Ullman was soon
completing scripts by himself, and wrote for most of Columbia's short
subject stars, including The Three Stooges, Buster Keaton, Charley
Chase, Harry Langdon, and Hugh Herbert.Ullman worked closely with
Columbia producer Hugh McCollum and writer-director Edward Bernds
until McCollum and Bernds left the studio in 1952. Bernds then became
a writer-director for The Bowery Boys, and hired Ullman to write for
the popular feature-length comedies.Ullman and Bernds were nominated
for an Oscar in 1955 for the film High Society. Unfortunately the
Academy had confused the high-budget Bing Crosby-Grace Kelly feature
with Ullman's work on a Bowery Boys movie of the same name. Ullman and
Bernds declined the nomination but were permitted to keep the
certificates of recognition.
comedy writer most famous for his credits on The Three Stooges shorts
and many other low-budget comedies.A native of Memphis, Tennessee,
Ullman chose a writing career, supplying humorous articles for
magazines in the 1930s. He submitted script ideas to Columbia
Pictures, and the studio assigned him to the short-subject department.
Producer Jules White teamed Ullman with Al Giebler, a former sight-gag
writer for Mack Sennett in the silent-film days. Ullman was soon
completing scripts by himself, and wrote for most of Columbia's short
subject stars, including The Three Stooges, Buster Keaton, Charley
Chase, Harry Langdon, and Hugh Herbert.Ullman worked closely with
Columbia producer Hugh McCollum and writer-director Edward Bernds
until McCollum and Bernds left the studio in 1952. Bernds then became
a writer-director for The Bowery Boys, and hired Ullman to write for
the popular feature-length comedies.Ullman and Bernds were nominated
for an Oscar in 1955 for the film High Society. Unfortunately the
Academy had confused the high-budget Bing Crosby-Grace Kelly feature
with Ullman's work on a Bowery Boys movie of the same name. Ullman and
Bernds declined the nomination but were permitted to keep the
certificates of recognition.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.