Elias Koopman(1860-1929)
- Producer
Elias Bernard Koopman was founder of the Magic Introduction Company
(1889) and one of the founders of the KMCD syndicate, which in 1895
became the American Mutoscope & Biograph Co. Koopman had marketing
rather than film production experience; his business, the Magic
Introduction Company, marketed magical toys and optical novelties,
which included the pocket watch camera invented by
Herman Casler and
William K.L. Dickson, and the
Pocket Lighter.
After establishing the American operation of the American Mutoscope & Biograph during 1895 and 1896, Koopman traveled to England in 1897. The next invention (The Biograph Projector) called the American Biograph opened at the Palace Theatre in in March, and had its run until 1902. Howewver, the agreement that Koopman negotiated with the Palace was unsatisfactory, and even though he became Managing Director of the British Mutoscope and Biograph Company, he was soon overshadowed by personality conflicts and the greater financial skill of the Chairman, W.T. Smedley. A combination of bad results and an accusation that he was not spending enough time running the company forced his resignation in June 1903. Koopman continued as a merchant in London until 1927. He then returned to the US and later headed the Runsyne Corp., a maker of electrical signs.
In 1929 while staying at the Cumberland Hotel he attempted suicide by stabbing himself in the abdomen. He was taken to the hospital while still alive, but he died a few hours later. He left a note for his brother, Harry Koopman, stating his intention to end his life. In the note he asked that his family not mourn for him, and asked that his body be donated to science. He was 69 years old.
After establishing the American operation of the American Mutoscope & Biograph during 1895 and 1896, Koopman traveled to England in 1897. The next invention (The Biograph Projector) called the American Biograph opened at the Palace Theatre in in March, and had its run until 1902. Howewver, the agreement that Koopman negotiated with the Palace was unsatisfactory, and even though he became Managing Director of the British Mutoscope and Biograph Company, he was soon overshadowed by personality conflicts and the greater financial skill of the Chairman, W.T. Smedley. A combination of bad results and an accusation that he was not spending enough time running the company forced his resignation in June 1903. Koopman continued as a merchant in London until 1927. He then returned to the US and later headed the Runsyne Corp., a maker of electrical signs.
In 1929 while staying at the Cumberland Hotel he attempted suicide by stabbing himself in the abdomen. He was taken to the hospital while still alive, but he died a few hours later. He left a note for his brother, Harry Koopman, stating his intention to end his life. In the note he asked that his family not mourn for him, and asked that his body be donated to science. He was 69 years old.