H. M. Walker

The title cards he wrote for Harold Lloyd, Charley Chase, Our Gang and Laurel and Hardy comedies "have entered legend, both for silent films, and as opening remarks for the earlier talkies.

[2] Like many screenwriters of the time such as Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, Walker came to the screen trade from the freewheeling world of newspaper journalism.

"[3] As sound came to motion pictures, Walker and his staff were writing cards for Roach series including the Our Gang and Laurel and Hardy comedy short subjects.

A turning point was reached at Roach in 1931 with the arrival of a new general manager, Henry Ginsburg, a boorish man universally despised on the lot and called by Stan Laurel "The Expeditor".

[6] After leaving the Roach studio, Walker wrote dialogue for comedies produced by ex-Roach general manager Warren Doane at Universal Pictures.

[6] Walker died of a heart attack on June 23, 1937, four days short of his 59th birthday, while dining in the Chicago apartment of Leroy Shield, his friend and composer of much of the Roach Studio's music.