His father was a theatrical manager,[2][3] before the American Civil War, had joined the United States Navy, where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant.
[5] His first job after school, at age 18, was as a bank clerk,[6][10] but he left to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
[6] He was hired by the play's director, Cecil B. DeMille to take over for an actor who departed a road company production in Sioux City, Iowa.
[6] He also worked in the motion pictures industry, as an assistant director for actress Alla Nazimova at Metro Films (one of the predecessors of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer).
[6][15] He directed over 200 productions with RCP, keeping the organization solvent and operating with full programming through the financial difficulties of the Great Depression and the limitations on materials and unavailability of actors during World War II.