12 Facts About Sol Lesser

Sol Lesser received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 and was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1961.

In 1913, while living in San Francisco, Sol Lesser learned that the authorities were about to clean out the Barbary Coast district, a raucous area of gambling houses, saloons and brothels.

Sol Lesser grabbed a camera and a friend, future Hollywood cameraman Hal Mohr, and roamed the area, especially the parts that were best-known before the area was shut down.

Sol Lesser signed Jackie Coogan to a movie contract in 1922, establishing both as major Hollywood names.

Sol Lesser made a successful transition to sound films, with his own Principal Pictures company; he would either distribute his productions himself under the Principal name, or arrange for a major studio to release them under their own trademarks.

In 1933 Sol Lesser succeeded in buying screen rights to Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan character.

Only one Tarzan film Tarzan's Revenge featuring athletes Glenn Morris and Eleanor Holm was produced; Lesser sold the rights back to MGM.

Sol Lesser returned to the Tarzan property in 1943, after MGM relinquished the rights.

Sol Lesser retired in 1958, selling the Tarzan rights to producer Sy Weintraub.

Sol Lesser was buried at Hillside Memorial Park in Culver City, California.

Sol Lesser was the recipient of The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1960.

Sol Lesser has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.