B.P. Schulberg

An early Hollywood mogul, B.P. Schulberg was one of the first studio heads at Paramount, which evolved from humble origins into a major force in the world of motion pictures. Bright and motivated, Schulberg entered the industry in a publicity capacity and had his own distribution company by the time he was 27. That venture ended in failure, but he gained much experience and acquired what turned out to be his greatest asset: Clara Bow. Under Schulberg's guidance, the unknown teenager became a huge star of the silent era. During his time with Paramount, Schulberg helped to oversee the creation of such landmark pictures as "It" (1927), "Wings" (1927), and "The Last Command" (1928). In addition to "It Girl" Bow, his eye for talent also brought Marlene Dietrich to America and he was instrumental in launching the careers of other performers, notably Gary Cooper, who would dominate movie screens for over two decades.