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Screen Snapshots are a series of Documentary film short subjects featuring movie-related public events and behind-the-scenes glimpses of moviemaking, with appearances by current and former movie stars. The series was produced by Columbia Pictures and its antecedents from 1920 to 1958.
Jack Cohn and Louis Lewyn set up Screen Snapshots, Inc. and began production in May 1920. Motion Picture News, June 26, 1920, p. 107. The shorts were distributed first through Pathe Exchange (1920-1924), then by the Cohn brothers' own C-B-C company, which became Columbia Pictures (1925-1958). The New York Times, "Jack Cohn Dead; Film Pioneer, 67", December 10, 1956, p. 31.
Louis Lewyn left Screen Snapshots in 1929 to produce a new series, in sound: The Voice of Hollywood, released by the independent Tiffany Pictures. Writer-director-cameraman Ralph Staub took over Screen Snapshots until 1933 when Harriet Parsons, daughter of influential gossip columnist Louella Parsons, joined Columbia. Harry Cohn entrusted the production of Screen Snapshots to her. Parsons continued the series until 1940, when she left Columbia to make a similar series about moviemaking, Meet the Stars, for Republic Pictures.
After Parsons moved on, Harry Cohn assigned staff producer Hugh McCollum to oversee the series, with Ralph Staub returning to the series as director. In 1943 Staub became both producer and director, International Motion Picture Almanac, Quigley Publishing Company, 1945, p. 374. and he devoted himself to Screen Snapshots for the next 15 years. Each reel was hosted by a celebrity, who would introduce the topic and narrate the location footage.
In the 1950s, when budgets were lowered for short-subject production, Staub would save time and money by hosting the films himself, and would consult his film library for old footage that he could fit into his new productions. For example, an untitled 1940 reel (Series 21, No. 1) emceed by Ken Murray and covering a gay-nineties-themed party, was recycled for Staub's 1951 reel Hollywood Pie Throwers. Certain of the Screen Snapshots reels received special attention (and custom-made promotional accessories) when they featured exceptionally popular stars. Hollywood Fun Festival (1952) covered the appearances of Martin and Lewis at the opening of Lewis's camera shop in Los Angeles, and at other Hollywood functions. "With Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis as the lure, this can be sold. This is exploitable to the hilt," advised the trade paper The Exhibitor. The Exhibitor, Sept. 24, 1952, p. 3388. Theater owners could post the stars' names on the marquee and outside the theater without having to pay feature-film prices.
By 1956 Ralph Staub was working with all-time-low budgets, and resorted to more old film and even promotional announcements. The Exhibitor took pointed notice of this trend. Reviewing Fabulous Hollywood (1956): "Ralph Staub is shown with Jack Carson in Las Vegas where Carson gets in a plug for his hotel and engagement, after which Staub resurrects some old footage from showing Jack Benny celebrating an early anniversary in radio." The Exhibitor, Jul. 25, 1956, p. 4194. Appraising Mr. Rhythm's Holiday (1956): "Dusting off some footage lying around from, Ralph Staub tells Peter Lawford and Las Vegas hotel proprietor Wilbur Clark all about Frankie Laine's entry into the antique business and how he and his wife had a regular premiere for the opening of the store. There are commercial plugs all over the place until it becomes uncomfortable." The Exhibitor, June 27, 1956, p. 4183. Staub himself was uncomfortable with having to cut corners so often, and came to Harry Cohn with an idea to rejuvenate the Screen Snapshots.
Ralph Staub attended many local functions where movie stars congregated: the Ice Capades ( Hollywood Glamour on Ice, 1957), The Exhibitor, Nov. 27, 1957, p. 4412. an all-star party in Walter Winchell's honor ( The Walter Winchell Party, 1957), The Exhibitor, June 26, 1957, p. 4347. a fan-magazine awards ceremony ( Meet the Photoplay Winners, 1957), The Exhibitor, Aug. 21, 1957. p. 4371. Hollywood parties ( Salute to Hollywood and Hollywood Star Festival, both 1958), Boxoffice, Feb. 16, 1959, p. 151. and a rodeo ( Rock 'em Cowboy, 1958), Boxoffice, Feb. 16, 1959, p. 151. among others. The new, color Screen Snapshots took on an improvised, "live television" look, as The Exhibitor observed when screening The Mocambo Party (1957): "Ralph Staub sticks a microphone in the faces of celebrities and makes with nonsensical comments as they enter the Mocambo nightclub for a cocktail party." The Exhibitor, Aug. 21, 1957. p. 4371.
Staub proudly stated, "I don't have any contract. Every Christmas I just go up and shake hands with Harry Cohn. Then I'm all set for another year's work!"Staub to Herman, p. 462. Cohn died in February 1958; had he lived longer, Screen Snapshots would almost certainly have continued. The last film in the series was Glamorous Hollywood (released June 26, 1958, after Cohn's death), with Staub and crew setting up cameras at a charity function hosted by Jane Russell.
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