Profile of the Day: Cecil B. DeMille

Posted August 12, 2016 by Hiromimarie | No Comment

Cecil DeMille

On this day in 1881, director and producer Cecil B. DeMille was born in Ashfield, Massachusetts to Henry de Mille and Matilda Samuel. His surname is of Dutch origin and was spelled as de Mille which he used in private life, however he chose to use the spelling DeMille for professional purposes.

He is recognized as a founding father of the Hollywood film industry. Edendale, a historical name for a district in Los Angeles, California was originally home of most major movie studios during the silent movie era. In 1913, DeMille was planning on shooting his first silent film, The Squaw Man, in Arizona, however due to the quality of light he decided to go to California and chose to shoot in Hollywood instead of Edendale.

DeMille successfully transitioned from silent films to sound films when sound was innovated. He is best known for his films Cleopatra (1934), The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) and his last film The Ten Commandments (1956). The Greatest Show on Earth won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1953.

Did you know DeMille was asked for help in designing the cadet uniforms for the United States Air Force Academy? In 1954, Secretary of the Air Force Harold E. Talbott asked DeMille for his help. His design of the cadet parade uniform was the most notable and was approved by the Air Force Academy.

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