Information on Raymond Rohauer

[Matthew White]

Could someone provide me with some information on film archivist Raymond Rohauer. Whenever I am reading about Buster Keaton his name comes up but when I start digging I find precious little information on this gentleman.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

[Richard M Roberts]

Could someone provide me with some information on film archivist Richard Rohauer. Whenever I am reading about Buster Keaton his name comes up but when I start digging I find precious little information on this gentleman.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Hmm, Richard Rohauer is a new one, but if you do a name search on Raymond Rohauer on Nitrateville, you'll find plenty of information on the old and happily long-gone pirate. He was basically a scumbucket.


RICHARD M ROBERTS

[Matthew White]

Oops, my mistake. Yes, any information on Raymond Rohauer would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Wm. Charles Morrow]

Oops, my mistake. Yes, any information on Raymond Rohauer would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Kevin Brownlow’s book The Search for Charlie Chaplin is a very good source of information on Rohauer. It tells the story of how Brownlow and his collaborator David Gill created their great documentary Unknown Chaplin. During the course of their work they were (reluctantly) forced to deal with Rohauer, for he was the source of footage they needed: hours of priceless out-takes from Chaplin’s Mutual comedies. The story of how Rohauer got his hands on the material is strange and fascinating. And there’s lots more in the book about R.R. and his nefarious activities.

To give you a sample: Brownlow tells how, in the early 1950s, Chaplin came to hire a woman named Rachel Ford to represent his legal interests. The day she started her job, he told her: “I must warn you, you’ll be mixing with the scum of the earth.” Soon after, we learn that Ford spent years wrangling with Rohauer over rights to the original silent version of The Gold Rush. So, although Brownlow doesn’t exactly call Rohauer the scum of the earth, nor does he put those words in Chaplin’s mouth, the implication is there.

Beyond the material on R.R., Brownlow's book is a great read for its own sake, a Treasure Island for film buffs. And I guess that makes Rohauer the King of the Scallywags . . .

[Scoundrel]

Matthew,

I have a pdf copy of Willam Eversons eassy on Rohauer.

Send me a private message with your e mail address and I will send the pdf file to you.

[Matthew White]

Oops, my mistake. Yes, any information on Raymond Rohauer would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Kevin Brownlow’s book The Search for Charlie Chaplin is a very good source of information on Rohauer. It tells the story of how Brownlow and his collaborator David Gill created their great documentary Unknown Chaplin. During the course of their work they were (reluctantly) forced to deal with Rohauer, for he was the source of footage they needed: hours of priceless out-takes from Chaplin’s Mutual comedies. The story of how Rohauer got his hands on the material is strange and fascinating. And there’s lots more in the book about R.R. and his nefarious activities.

To give you a sample: Brownlow tells how, in the early 1950s, Chaplin came to hire a woman named Rachel Ford to represent his legal interests. The day she started her job, he told her: “I must warn you, you’ll be mixing with the scum of the earth.” Soon after, we learn that Ford spent years wrangling with Rohauer over rights to the original silent version of The Gold Rush. So, although Brownlow doesn’t exactly call Rohauer the scum of the earth, nor does he put those words in Chaplin’s mouth, the implication is there.

Beyond the material on R.R., Brownlow's book is a great read for its own sake, a Treasure Island for film buffs. And I guess that makes Rohauer the King of the Scallywags . . .

Thanks very much for the info. I'll check it out.

[Mike Gebert]

Here's a link for the essay.

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B61NVG ... YyZDQxMjBl" target="_blank

[Matthew White]

Thanks for the link Mike.

[FrankFay]

If Hollywood was going to do a Rohauer biography, who should play him?

[Wm. Charles Morrow]

If Hollywood was going to do a Rohauer biography, who should play him?

This may sound off-the-wall, but how about Richard "John-Boy Walton" Thomas? He's past 60 now, but looks a lot younger. I've seen him on stage, and he's versatile. Just recently he played the uptight, villainous mayor in a stage revival of Ibsen's An Enemy of the People. Put a pair of horn-rimmed glasses on him, and he could play Rohauer.

The problem, of course, is that nobody in Hollywood would greenlight The Raymond Rohauer Story in a million years, not even with Johnny Depp in the lead. But if they did, I'd go see it.

[Jim Reid]

I can see Phillip Seymour Hoffman as RR.

[filmnotdigital]

From personal acquaintance I can say Rohauer was mousier and with a less deep voice than this actor, but
otherwise if we could bring back the sleazy Warren William of the pre-code era he would be perfect!

[R Michael Pyle]

From personal acquaintance I can say Rohauer was mousier and with a less deep voice than this actor, but
otherwise if we could bring back the sleazy Warren William of the pre-code era he would be perfect!

Only problem with Warren William is that he didn't have horns coming out of the top of his scull...

[Christopher Jacobs]

If Hollywood was going to do a Rohauer biography, who should play him?

Alan Rickman is a master of playing characters who can be alternately charming, clever, devious, and downright slimy. Although Philip Seymour Hoffman is a great choice, as well.

[Rollo Treadway]

Re: "Who could play Rohauer in a biopic?"

How about Penn Jillette?



Such a film might perhaps turn out good if handled as a bizarre comedy à la Tim Burton's Ed Wood.

[Christopher Jacobs]

Re: "Who could play Rohauer in a biopic?"

How about Penn Jillette?



Such a film might perhaps turn out good if handled as a bizarre comedy à la Tim Burton's Ed Wood.

Inspired casting! Although I'm wondering if David Lynch might be the one to handle a Rohauer biopic. Tim Burton or even Baz Luhrman might be better to do the Larry Austin and Silent Movie Theatre story (but Lynch might have fun with that, as well). Maybe Luhrman could do "Rohauer the Musical!"

[Changsham]

I read that he used to be a grave digger. The mind boggles to what he may have done to the corpses.

[Joe Migliore]

Rollo Treadway wrote:

How about Penn Jillette?

Good call, Rollo! I'll bet Jillette would enjoy playing the rogue, and I suspect a large enough audience would enjoy watching it.

[Jay Salsberg]

Another good source for Rohauer anecdotes is Anthony Slide's "Nitrate Won't Wait". Amongst others, there's a very amusing story about the underhanded lengths RR went to in order to claim ownership of the Library of Congress's print of BOAN.

[gjohnson]

What makes any of you think that Jillette can act. Stop casting roles with non-actors.

[didi-5]

In defence of PJ, he did appear in Penn and Teller Get Killed and earlier than that, appeared in an episode of Miami Vice amongst other things. He'd do just fine in an off-the-wall take on the Rohauer story IMO.

[s.w.a.c.]

Looking at that photo of RR, and the first guy I thought of was comedian/actor Lewis Black.

[Rollo Treadway]

What makes any of you think that Jillette can act.

Perhaps the fact that he's been a professional magician/comedian for 30 plus years, and quite a brilliant performer in my book. His brash, loud, fast-talking stage persona should be easy to transfer to the ruthless, overweening wheeler-dealer that Rohauer would probably be portrayed as.

In any case, as Charlie notes above, it's not exactly the likeliest project to ever happen.

[Joe Migliore]

gjohnson wrote:

What makes any of you think that Jillette can act. Stop casting roles with non-actors.

What makes you think you've ever seen him not acting?

[Matthew White]

Another good source for Rohauer anecdotes is Anthony Slide's "Nitrate Won't Wait". Amongst others, there's a very amusing story about the underhanded lengths RR went to in order to claim ownership of the Library of Congress's print of BOAN.

I've been meaning to pick up that book for awhile now.