Herman Cohen

Herman Cohen (August 27 1925 - June 2 2002) was a producer of B-movies during the 1950s, who helped to popularize the teen horror movie genre with films like the cult classic I Was a Teenage Werewolf.

Related Topics:
August 27 - 1925 - June 2 - 2002 - B-movies - Horror movie - Cult classic - I Was a Teenage Werewolf

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Cohen began his career in show-business as a gofer and later an usher at the Dexter Theater in Detroit, starting he was just 12. By 18, he was managing the Dexter. From there he went on to become assistant manager of the Fox Theater (also in Detroit) - a theater featuring 5200 seats. After a tour of duty with the Marines, Cohen became sales manager for Columbia Pictures in the Detroit Area and moved to Hollywood to work for the publicity department of Columbia in the 1940s. In the 1950s he started producing films, first working as assistant (and later associate) producer for Jack Broder and Realart Pictures on such films as Bride of the Gorilla, Battles of Chief Pontiac (featuring Lon Chaney, Jr.), and Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla. He later worked for Allied Artists and United Artists producing such films as Target Earth, Magnificent Roughnecks (with Mickey Rooney), and Crime of Passion (with Barbara Stanwyck and Raymond Burr).

Related Topics:
Detroit - Marines - Columbia Pictures - Hollywood - Realart Pictures - Lon Chaney, Jr. - Bela Lugosi - United Artists - Mickey Rooney - Barbara Stanwyck - Raymond Burr

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Cohen really struck it big in the mid 50s though, with a horror film for American International ? I was a Teenage Werewolf which he both wrote and produced. The film cost about $100,000 to make, but earned more than $2 million in box office receipts. He also discovered young Michael Landon, cast in the lead role for I was a Teenage Werewolf. Cohen followed this success by writing and producing more teen horror films, such as I was a Teenage Frankenstein, How to Make a Monster, and Blood of Dracula. In a later interview Cohen would reflect, "I have always felt that most teenagers think that adults ? their parents, or their teacher, anyone who was older and who had authority ? were culprits in their lives."

Related Topics:
American International - Michael Landon - How to Make a Monster

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In the 60s and 70s, he began producing horror films in the United Kingdom, working with such stars as Joan Crawford in Berserk! and Trog and Jack Palance in Craze. In 1961, he returned to his roots in Detroit purchasing the Fox Theater he had worked for in his youth. By the late 1970s, Cohen was working more in writing and distribution than in film production. He founded Cobra Media, a domestic distribution company, in 1981. Cohen died of throat cancer June 2, 2002.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - Joan Crawford - Jack Palance - 1961 - June 2 - 2002

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